Scrapbook Show-off

Last weekend I went scrapbooking with the fabulous ladies at SSWA.  While I didn't get a lot of pages done, I did have a lot of fun!

Sketch #9 @ Inspired to Scrap (I2S)-



Scallop Trim Border Punch



2011 In Color Printed Brads



Sketch #16 @ I2S- 

To add the brads to Max's page, I used a paper piercing tool and the mat pack.  I put the mat under my paper, and pierced a hole through the paper, then I pushed the brad through the hole. 



Paper Piercing Tool



Mat Pack



Basic Glimmer Brads



Layout of Avery learning how to roll over for the first time.  :)  For those of you who wonder, Avery is my neighbor's daughter.  I spent her first year of life babysitting her.  Precious times.  I've had this paper in my "stash" for years.  It was fun to be able to finally use it.



3/8" Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon

I2S Sketch #12-

Made this embellishment using my Cricut. 

I2S Sketch #15-

The great thing about sketch class is I tend to use up more of my scraps.  It also get my creative juices flowing.  Monday I was able to whip out 6 pages in less than 2 hours.  That's more than I did all day Saturday at the crop. 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North


Card Making 101- Stamps

Welcome to Card Making 101, my virtual class on the basics of stamping, card making, and Stampin' UP!  I might even throw in some scrapbooking tips along the way.  ;)   Many of my friends do not make cards (yet) and want to learn how, just as I did.   I'm not claiming to be an expert, I just want to share with you some of the things I have learned over the years so you can become more confident in your skills as well.

To start this series I am going to go over the basics of Stamps.   This will include how to mount your stamps, differences between wood mount and clear mount, tips for more successful stamping, etc. 

I will be adding to this series and keep all the videos on my Card Making 101 page.  If you have any questions or want to see a specific video on how to do something, please let me know. 

Video 1: Wood Mount vs. Clear Mount

Video 2: Wood Mount Basics

Video 3: Clear Mount Basics

Creative Blessings,
Heather North


Sanding Blocks




Clear Mount Blocks



Cleaning Cloth



Scrapbook Retreat

Today is the annual SSWA January scrapbooking retreat.  I'm so excited to be spending the day scrapbooking with friends.  Is there a better way to spend the day?  :)  I don't have a cool picture to show you, but I can show you my packing-in-progress. 

I'm on a mission to complete my 2009 family album.  If I complete everything I packed for the crop I will be on June.  I can tell, because I see 4th of July pictures still in the box from dotphoto.com.

Part of my creative process is the layout my pictures in a 2 page spread.   Then I grab some paper that coordinates with the colors and/or them of my photos. Sometimes I will look for sketches to design my page, other times I will quickly sketch what I want to do.  Often I just make sure I have paper/stickers/etc. that will work with my pictures.

Then I stack them in this sturdy box and throw in some title stickers or other embellishments I might need.  Now I am ready to take it to my crop, or just leave it in my craft room for whenever I have some free time to scrapbook.

Hope you have some time to create today.  If you are in the Renton/Kent area and want to join us, call me.  :)  When it comes to workshops, the more the merrier!

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Snowflake Flowers

The inspiration for today's card came from the card club I was in last fall.   Instead of snowflakes or doilies, I used the new Mixed Bunch Stamp Set with some cool blue inks to create a "frosty" background.  (Those flowers look like snowflakes to me when stamped in these cool colors)

The sentiment, and swirly frame around it, on this card are from a FREE Sale-A-Bration stamp you can get with any $50 order you place this month on my SU website.  (Elementary Elegance)

To make this card sparkle a bit I added a basic rhinestone to the center of several of the snowflakes. (aka flowers)

Here's a look at the inside of the card.

Such a simple card to make.  This would make a nice set of cards to give as a gift.  The color combos are endless.  Look through your stamp sets and see if any of them might make a nice background for your next card.  :)

Card Recipe:
Ink: Pool Party, Baja Breeze, Marina Mist, Wisteria Wonder
Paper: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Pool Party, 2012-2013 In-Color DSP (inside of card)
Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Elementary Elegance (SAB)
Misc.  Basic Rhinestones, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Curly Label Punch



Scallop Trim Border Punch



Basic Rhinestones



Mixed Bunch Stamp Set



Curly Label Punch


Creative Blessings,
Heather North
Click here to visit my SU store

Mixed Blossom Bookmark

Creative solution to cleaning up my desk.  :)

After making the video showing how to create this fun flower detail using the new Blossom Punch and Mixed Bunch Stamp Set I had an extra flower laying on my table. This video shows what I came up with. Enjoy!

Here's a picture of my finished bookmark. I think I'm going to try this technique with different styles of ribbon as well as different colors.  Wouldn't this make a sweet gift tucked into a new book or journal for a friend?



Blossom Punch

***Sale-A-Bration is going on right now!  For every $50 you spend you can choose a FREE item from the Sale-A-Bration catalog.   Click here to go to my website store for more details.  :)  Happy Shopping!


Mixed Bunch Stamp Set



Vintage Vogue



5/8" Satin Ribbon (Whisper White)



Sticky Strip



Circles #2 Original Die

Creative Blessings,
Heather

Card Candy Winner!

Thank you for all the wonderful comments on my blog, Facebook and various other places.  Sorry the power outage delayed this posting. 

We have a winner for my card "candy".  Lu said:

Hey! I'm not laughing at all...great videos! You have such a pleasant voice.
My fav card is the one with the tree.

Lu...shiregal

Contact me with your address and I will send this card right out to you, along with a couple of other goodies.  :)

If you missed the original post and want to watch the video on how to make this card with the Baker's Twine Mat, just click here.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Sale-A-Bration Begins!

Today is the first day of Sale-A-Bration.  (SAB)  If you are not familiar with Sale-A-Bration, here's how it works.  For every $50 you spend you get to choose 1 SAB item for FREE from the SAB catalog!!!  Many of the items are exclusive to SAB, but there are also some items from the Catalog in there too. 

Plus, when you spend $150 you get a FREE SAB tote.  Plus, when you place a $400 order (or hostess a $400 party) you get all the items on pages 6 & 7 FREE.  (Paper Pack, Stamp Set & Ribbon + Brad Pack in the Bundle)  You must contact me to get this bundle, as I need to order it through my demonstrator website.  ;)  In addition you will get $65 in hostess credit and 1 item at 1/2 off! 

Flirtatious Designer Series Paper Pack

PLUS, if you order through my website you will also receive hostess benefits when your order reaches $150 or above.  That is a LOT of FREE!  Click here to go to my website now.

There is so much to love about Sale-A-Bration.  If you would like to sign up to be a demonstrator and enjoy all the benefits I am enjoying right now there is a special offer for that too!   Sign up during Sale-A-Bration for $125 (that's $75 off the kit) and you will get a FREE DSP pack every month for the rest of the year!!!  You can customize most of your kit with the products/colors you want.  Sign up through my website or give me a call or email me to find out more.  This is the great offer I took advantage of last month when it was offered for 2 days.  I don't regret the decision one bit, and I think it would be fabulous for us to start our SU journey together!


Open publication - Free publishing

Creative Blessings,
Heather North 

Winter Wonderland

My posts might be hit or miss for awhile.  We had a huge snow storm last week, that brought well over 18" of snow to Rochester, WA.  It was followed by freezing rain and ice.  The ice and snow on the trees caused many trees to bend and break off branches and limbs.  They fell on power poles and power lines.  Now the snow is melting fast and there is a danger of flooding. 

We've been without power since 8:30am on Thursday.  Estimates say it could be Wednesday before power is restored.  Yes, that would be a FULL WEEK!  My hobby room is dark and cold, without power there is no internet nor charging the laptop.    Sooooooooooooo, until power is restored, and our laundry is done, posts will be hit or miss.    We bought a generator last night so I should be able to work on my laptop for a while today and bring some scrapbooking stuff inside and play. 

Can you see how the weight of the ice around the limbs are pulling the down the branches on the right side of our tulip tree?  Some of our trees were bent over so far they touched the snow.  Thankfully we only lost one tree so far.
Thanks for your patience and prayers.   The 3 hardest things about being without power so long are:
1. No showers, no hot water
2. No internet, no computer, no phone, no connection to the outside world
3. No scrapbooking, cardmaking or stamping.

Next time there is a storm warning, I'm going to pack up a bag like I'm going to a crop, so I can at least be crafty during daylight hours.  :)

I'm really looking forward to sharing some of the new Sale-A-Bration items with you.  Sale-A-Bration (SAB) starts on January 24th.   For every $50 you spend you can choose a free gift from the SAB catalog.  Woo-Hoo!  If your order reaches $150 you get a free tote, in addition to the $25 hostess credit.  (Let me know if you need a SAB catalog, and I will send one to you.)

Creative Blessings,
Heather North
Rochester, WA

Blossom Punch Flower Video

On Monday I posted a card with this flower on it made using Stampin' UP!'s new Blossom Punch. Today I'll share with you the video I made on how to create this flower yourself.

 In the video I kept called the marker "Going Gray".  That's because I have a really old marker set and it was called Going Gray.  Now it is called Basic Gray.  If you want a laugh, see if you can count how many times I called it by the wrong name.  :)

 

Oh, and website address is upside down because I had issues.  :)  Hopefully the next video will have it right side up.  Someday I will figure out what I am doing...maybe.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Creative Blessings,

Heather North

My Stampin' UP! Store: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/cr8tvblessings/



Blossom Punch




BASIC GRAY Marker
(Melon Mambo & Pretty in Pink too)





Mixed Bunch Stamp Set



Drawing soon...

I'll be drawing a winner soon for my card contest mentioned in this blog post.  If you are having trouble making a comment, try logging out of google, and unchecking the "remember me" box.  I find when I have this box checked I cannot add comments on other blogs sometimes. 

Thank you to everyone who follows my blog and/or leaves a comment on my blog.  I do read every one of them and they are a blessing to me.

New Videos Coming...

Just a little update for you today.  It's been snowing here since Saturday in beautiful Southwest Washington.  Monday there was a break in the clouds and I got this lovely shot. 

Yesterday the pond looked like this picture above.   This morning looks like the picture below.

And finally, a picture of Miss Bella eating the snow on Monday.  She thought it was great!

*Yum-Snow*

This week I've been working on some new videos.  Friday I will post a video showing how I made the flower on Monday's card.  Next week I will begin my Cardmaking 101 series for all you newbies who want to learn some of the basics of Stamping, Cardmaking, and Stampin' UP!  I may even add some scrapbooking in there.  If there is something you would like to learn how to do, leave me a comment, or email me cr8tvblessings@hotmail.com, and let me know.