Welcome in to a new week of product picks. Lots of creating going on in the studio this week. Lots.
On top of the fun products listed below and the corresponding projects I'm using them on, I am the February guest designer for Studio Calico. I am beyond thrilled. Huge, huge fan of Studio Calico kits. And the February kit and add-ons...my favorites...ever. :)
So, so, so excited that my 2peas order arrived chalk full of KI Memories and Doodlebug goodness! Two of my favorite companies with tons of amazing new product.
I did today's post in video form. I can't wait to get home from vacation and start playing with all this goodness!
Last week was so super fun! I just want to thank you all again for spending the week with me. I love reading each and every one of your comments. I hope if you had questions I got them answered. If not be sure to drop me an email. :) Giveaway winners will be announced soon.
If you're new to my blog this is a (mostly) weekly blog post where I feature items that I am using this week, products that are inspiring me and new products that I am looking forward to using.
This week's product picks are going to be a bit different than usual.
I've had multiple requests to show the products I will be using in the upcoming Christmas/Holiday Blog Reader Appreciation Week so here they are!
I am not going to do any descriptions, etc. because each project will be detailed in depth during the upcoming blog week, however, here are the links to the products I will be showcasing.
Please keep in mind that this is a tentative list. Some projects are not complete and so I may add some other product in addition to the ones shown here. Thanks!
And if you are wondering what the heck I'm talking about here is a little run-down of what's to come in November:
Coming the week of November 1-5 (with a bonus day on Saturday the 6th):
Christmas/Holiday Projects and Video Tutorials
Six days of Christmas/Holiday projects, a new project(s) each day
Cards, gift-giving, scrapbook layouts will all be included
Each day will have a project + how-to video
Fabulous give aways/blog candyeach day from fabulous companies/manufacturers that have generously agreed to supply amazing prizes! I am SO very, very excited to share these with you!
Today's is a Special Edition of What I'm Using This Week.
All of the items shared here will be making an appearance in this weekend's Halloween/Fall Tutorial Event. :) No descriptions today. Just links and photos of the products. Tutorials start Thursday morning so be sure to check back then!
Various embellishmnets (googly eyes, buttons, ribbons, string and more)
Keep in mind that with each of the daily tutorials full supply lists with exact products (if applicable) will be given.
I can't wait to share these new fall projects with you!
Check back tomorrow for an early Halloween/Fall Tutorial project: the latest class in my year-long series at Two Peas, Making the Most of Die Cutting Machines.
This week's video features not only my product picks for the week but entertainment provided by my 4 year old. What can I say? He likes the camera! ha!
PRODUCT PICKS
Lawn Fawn Stamps: I'll be using the Heebie Jeebies Set and Havest Season Stamps will be featured during the Fall/Halloween Event on my blog. The Cozy Christmas set will be making an appearance during the November Holiday/Christmas Blog Event. And the Teeny Tiny Backdrops is just a fun background stamp that will be fun to use for backgrounds. The hearts and stars are my favorite!
Papertrey Ink Wool Felt: I am addicted to this stuff! They have the yummiest colors and I think these just scream "Fall". I want to try cutting leaves from these and all kinds of things. So pretty.
October Afternoon Seaside Collection: What can I say? I adore October Afternoon. This collection is no different. The colors and designs are perfection. And I always love the label stickers that coordinate with their collections. And I use them with non-OA layouts too.
October Afternoon Seaside 4x6 Stamp Set: The stamp sets by OA are hit and miss for me but something about the adorable vintage boy and girl images on this one just scream for Copic Coloring, don't you think? I am a sucker for vintage images like this. Love them.
Studio Calico Elementary Collection: Gorgeous colors, gorgeous designs. Perfect for school layouts...or not. I can see using these in so many different ways. I picked up the papers and the Fabrips adhesive sticker strips.
Snow Globe Die Cut by Silhouette America: Okay, last week I talked about using THIS snowflake punch in a snow globe design of some sort. I was thinking I would just come up with something on my own. But then as I was installing the new Silhouette software for my Mac and recovering my library of images I did a little search in the Silhouette Online Store and found this bad boy. And I am in love. I haven't used it with the snowman...yet, but I did use it with several of the new Whiff of Joy October Release Stamps and I love, love, love it. Be sure to check back tomorrow for new cards featuring it.
READER QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
I was asked the following question regarding the punch shares from THIS post.
"I have a question for you why do u buy punches when you can use your Silhouette to cut out the same stuff. It's a lot cheaper to buy them from the silhouette online store than it is to purchase a punch."
I wanted to answer that here rather on the original post in case someone else had that same question.
I will not always address these types of questions here but in this case I felt that it was needed.
I share and use punches in addition to die cut images from my Silhouette for several reasons:
Even though, yes, it would more cost effective for me to die cut similar images using the Silhouette, not all of my blog readers use, have or even want a Silhouette. I try to show a variety of ideas using a variety of products here on my blog. Punches included.
I like punches. Punches have been a staple of paper crafting for me since I started this hobby thirteen years ago.
Punches often times are small images and some designs just don't die cut all that well at a smaller scale on a digi die cutting machine. They just don't.
This is my job. As such, I try to show a variety of ideas, not just the ones that may be my personal favorite. If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I am passionate about the Silhouette. However, I am passionate about paper crafting in general. That includes tools in addition to the Silhouette.
That being said, this is my blog disclaimer: all the items shared here on my blog are things I like, things I use and things that work for me.
One more question, regarding a project I forgot to share. Bad me!
I actually found an old to-do list a few days ago and it was to ask you about an old project-in-progress that I thought you mentioned on your blog some time ago. It was something fun to do with the Actopus to Zelephant alphabet cards...does this sound familiar? If so, I would love to know what you created with these. My daughter loves them and I thought that it would be fun to make a project for her but haven't gotten around to it yet.
I did make something with them! Nothing very exciting, I'm afraid, but fun for my youngest, all the same. I laminated each card with a Xyron and punched holes through the top of each card and bound them together with color jump rings from Creative Cafe. It's a little flip book of letters, plus, by making them into a book, we can read about each animal on the back. Here's a couple of photos. Thanks for reminding me about that Nikki!
I will be sharing new Whiff of Joy October 1st Release Stamps here and there throughout the week. I am loving, loving, loving this release. Cute penguins, a baby seal, polar bear, Christmas birds and more.
Here's a peek of one of the images I used on a card.
It's not the best photo. It was taken with my cell phone. I'll share the whole thing tomorrow, so be sure to check back then. Oh, that is the snow globe Silhouette die that I stamped the penquins "in". It is adorable. I am in love with this die cut. And I used my Mac + Silhouette for the first time on this card. So, so, so happy. I can't even begin to tell you how long I have been wishing for Mac compatible Silhouette software. Dream. Come. True.
I've been wanting to share this layout for two weeks.
So excited it went up on Monday at Two Peas.
By the way,Monday is the day to check the gallery for an influx of GG designed layouts). I think that is fun to have a weekly GG layout share. I grab my cup of coffee and ooh and ahhh over the fabulousness shared. Happiness I tell ya!
(c) Two Peas in a Bucket | Sept. 20, 2010
Lots of Bella Blvd paper goodness here. And from multiple collections. They don't necessarily go together but look good together. :) And even though these particular school-themed papers may seem geared towards older students (high-school or college) I love how amazing they look on my daughter's elementary school layout.
And Kerri Bradford digi die cuts. I used my Silhouette to cut these but you can also use your Cricut. Or Wishblade or other digi die cutters. I encourage you to try them out. How amazing that the same die cut designs will work on a multitude of digi craft cutters so that we can all use the same things. Happiness!
And odds and ends. Like those Making Memories chipboard pencil stickers. Those are old. I love taking an older product and marrying it with newer ones. And in this case everything coordinates and flows together perfectly. And I used some of my stash. I need to do more of that.
And don't be afraid of cutting your titles from patterned paper. Here I cut mine from both patterned paper and cardstock, layering the pattern on the black cardstock to help it stand out.
And the apple was completely pieced together from die cut patterned papers as well.
Buttons finish everything off, right? I think so.
Besides I seem to think I need every button ever made so I best be using them every chance I get!
Black w/ Silver Handle Printers Tray by 7Gypsies: Using this fabulous little tray for the next product, Kerri Bradford's This & That Halloween Digi Die Cut Kit. I can't wait to start this. I have plans for adding to the die cuts. FUN.
Above is Kerri's fabulous tray. Here is what all the components look like:
Copic Blending Card X-Press Paper Pack: I was dying to get this. Dying. Copic released this at CHA Summer. You can read about it HERE. I WILL be using it this week. I know, how can someone be so excited about paper? It's all about the right tools. To be successful with Copics, you really do need the right tools. I have a feeling this might be replacing my current go-to paper for Copics. My Aussie friends already know all about this paper, right ladies!!!?!!!
Martha Stewart Scoring Board Score Craft Tool: I thought I didn't want or need one. I was wrong. I am using this all the time. Perfect creases. I briefly touched on this in THIS post. I'll be sharing more with this soon.
Martha Stewart DIY Large Snowman Punch: I think this will make super cute projects. Imagine gift tags or a wintertime bookmark (perfect small size) and I want to make a snow globe and stick this guy in it. ;)
Martha Stewart XL Punch Witch Hat: I think this little guy could be used in so many fun ways. Stick it on top of a pumpkin stamped image. Or use it on top of a letter in a title as a fun Halloween motif. Or...and don't laugh, okay? This reminds me of the Sorting Hat from Harry Potter. We are going to Orlando later this year and I am most excited for all the Harry Potter fun at Universal. :)
EK Success Large Reindeer Punch: I think this will make the cutest gift tags and/or cards and even scrapbook page accent. Add a red pom pom or button for the nose and some googly eyes to dress him up. Fun!
Dear Lizzy American Crafts Christmas Papers: I'm going to use these for last year's Holiday Cards/Photos from friends and family layouts. If you are new to my blog you can see past year's layouts and read all about how I scrap these HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. Some of my favorite layouts to scrap each year!
I also really love that not all of the papers in this collection scream "Christmas" and can be used for many different themes or occasions.
Dear Lizzy Enchanted Just Write Journaling Cards: I think these will be fun for all sorts of projects. I love little tags that you can tuck underneath things and layer on layouts. These are cute. Lots of perforated pieces and unique designs.
Video Presentation of this week's picks:
Have a super day!
p.s. If you won blog candy/giveaways last week and emailed me your address, your package went out today! :)
Here's my product picks this week, via video format. Enjoy!
PRODUCT PICKS
Art Warehouse Class Act Journaling Pad: In the video, I lied. It's not on clearance, that was something else I was thinking of. Whoops! But still, this is a great product. I really, really like these.
Jillibean Soup Monster Stew Collection: Obviously great for Halloween layouts and projects but I think these will be great for boy pages as well. Not too Halloween specific in color or design. Love that.
Jillibean Soup Pasta Fagioli Collection: The colors in this collection are so me right now. Bold, bright primary colors with a hint of classic design with damask prints, etc. Those border strips... oh. my. yum.
Jillibean Soup Atomic Soup Collection: Great pieces to mix and match for school layouts, boy pages, etc. I think some of these would be so fun to use for kids (and big kids!) who love to do science experiment-types of things. Really cool retro look to the designs.
Jillibean Soup Baker's Twine: I am loving the fresh, fun colors of Baker's Twine. Imagine these thread through buttons, wrapped around elements on scrapbook pages or cards, used on tags, etc.
Real Leaves Clear Stamps by Hero Arts: Fell in love with these when I watched THIS video last week and had to have them. Love the "real" look of these. Imagine creating your own patterned paper backgrounds with these for fall layouts or using them as your focal point on a card like Jennifer McGuire did in the linked video. Gorgeous!
Fabulous Flourish Wood Block Stamp by Hero Arts: This stamp is absolutely stunning. I know this one will see a lot of airtime on my projects. It is maybe my favorite stamp from Hero Arts newest release. I love that you can use it for not only Holiday cards and projects but any time of the year cards or projects. Nothing too "Christmas-y" about this one.
Metallic Stazon Inks by Tsukineko: I fell in love with these when I saw Jennifer McGuire do a video using them HERE. I specifically bought the Real Leaves HA stamps above to use with that Copper Metallic Ink. I think they will be gorgeous! I can't wait to try them out!
Kerri Bradford has two ah-mazing new kits this week!
The Round & Round kit is such a great versatile kit that could literally be used for anything.
And the Boy-itude Kit...LOVE! I have an idea of cutting these big (Kerri suggests cutting these at least 7" because of all the intricate little parts), framing them and hanging them in my big boy's room. He will seriously love these dude! (yeah, I know...I am a dork!)
These designs will be incorporated into my layouts and projects very soon.
Okay, that is it for this week! I have a new tutorial on the Whiff of Joy Tutorial Blog for tomorrow, so check back soon to see what's new!
