ScrapHappy

The word is out.

My big announcement.

:)

I am a dork...

...because I am inordinately happy over my discovery of this:

At Memory Trends, I found I'd forgotten my toothpaste. I didn't check any bags, so I was very limited to the gel-like substances I could bring, and somehow the toothpaste got left behind. I was a bit concerned about putting myself in close quarters with people I cared not to offend, but no worries... Angie Lucas to the rescue! She slipped me a bit of this magic-in-a-tube and I was hooked.

"This could quite possibly be the perfect toothpaste," I told her, and she concurred.

And it can be yours, too. Who knew $3.99 could bring such happiness?

*And you can score a $1.50 coupon if you visit Aquafresh. Try it, then tell me your life hasn't changed for the better. I dare you.

REALLY AND TRULY

... Episode 23 is up. Really.

:)
xoox

While you are waiting...

Well, durnitallanyway. The server is down at mypodcast.com and episode 23 will not upload until they get their technical ducks in a row. You know about me and my technology issues, right??? I'd complain and ask for my money back, but seeing as it's a free service, it's probably best if I just keep my mouth shut.

In the meantime, I'm holding a little contest over at the Simple Scrapbooks Studio blog. Go check it out.

Christmas Countdown Project #8

Question: What does every woman want at the holiday time?

Answer: Not a giftwrapped visit from George Clooney... though that would be nice... No, she wants MORE TIME! She wants an ORGANIZED HOLIDAY! She wants to RELAX AND ENJOY!

Now, I can't give you more than 24 hours in the day, and I can't give you George. But I can give you a little

HANDY-DANDY HOLIDAY ORGANIZER!

(otherwise known as Christmas Countdown Project #8)

Inside this little box, you can keep track of all the comings and goings of your holiday season... presents to buy, cards to send, shopping, receipts, and thank-yous...

And the best part is, you can even adhere a photo of George to the inside cover, and no one will be the wiser (wink, wink)!

Supplies:

-Ready-to-paint wooden recipe box (I got mine from the craft store for around $2 on sale)

-Acrylic paints in your choice of colors (I used Making Memories Paper Bag and Delta gold metallic paint from the craft store)

-Foam brushes

-Sandpaper

-Scallop scissors (of course)

-Seasonal patterned paper, letter stickers, and tags (I used Paper Salon's Christmas line)

-Seasonal ribbon and epoxy stickers (I used Making Memories)

-Other embellishments (I used Heidi Swapp bling and Stickles from Ranger)

-File tab punch (I used McGill)

-Paper cutter

-Adhesive (I used my Xyron)

-Ink for distressing (I used Ranger)

-Hairdryer or craft heat gun in case you are impatient (we don't know anyone like that, now do we??)

1. Sand rough edges of box (I tried to skip this step as I am a great believer in not doing the things that do not show... but I soon regretted it as I almost sliced my finger on the rough inside edges. So trust me, just do it now and get it out of the way).

2. Paint the outside with a coat of the gold paint. To keep the paint from sealing the box shut, I have developed this patented "box-drying-propping-thingy" mechanism, demonstrated above. I hold the rights, but you may use it for your personal use (non-commerical usage only, all rights reserved).

3. After the paint has dried, coat with a second "loose" coat of the Paper Bag color. Obviously, I was going for the distressed look here. I am often distressed, and figured that something pre-worn would fit right into our home decor.

4. Once the second coat has dried, begin embellishing the box.  I used the patterned paper to cut strips for each side, trimmed with the scalloped scissors (of course), and inked the edges. I ran each through my Xyron sticker maker (with permanent adhesive) and adhered to the sides. Please note how I carefully lined up the bottom sticker with the top so the colors were the same order (I may be impatient, but I'm still a perfectionist!).

5. I made other embellishments like this one. I took a cardstock sticker from the Paper Salon set and placed a Making Memories epoxy sticker in the middle. Then I double-mounted the sticker on chipboard for stability and inked the edges, then adhered to the center front of the box.

 

6. Other embellishments:  I also added MM ribbon around the top and bling to jazz things up (Yes, it was a pain in the booty. Yes, it did fall off. Let's not talk about that. I prefer to keep things happy). 

7. Spell out "Naughty or nice?" on the lid using letter stickers (or cuneiform, if you are Etta). Add Stickles glitter in strategic places. (Other possible phrases I was considering: Ho Ho Ho with snowflakes for the O's, Santa Please Stop Here, or the generic, Merry Christmas).

8. While the whole shebang is drying, create the divider cards for inside the box. cut 4x6" cards from a selection of cheery seasonal patterned paper. If the PP is too thin, you may need to adhere it to chipboard or blank index cards.

9. Using pre-made file tabs or a punch, create tabs and adhere to your divider cards. Label as desired. Mine read: Cards, Gifts, Cookies, Reciepts, Shopping, Thank Yous. Some will have addresses tucked in behind them, some will have shopping lists, recipes, etc. Use your imagination! You might have a category for sizes, for "never again" gifts, and for people who deserve coal (I know a few of those).

10. Sit back and enjoy your stress-free holiday season. Tell Georgie I said hi if you see him.

Episode 23: The Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker

Episode 23 is up! Listen here or subscribe on iTunes.

Show notes:

-Back from Memory Trends!

-I meet Becky Higgins for the first time -- and I'm nervous about it!

-Inteview with Wendy Smedley and Aby Garvey of the Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker

-Send me your organizational questions for Aby and Wendy for a future interview!!!

-Stacy Julian rocks the house with her keynote speech.

-We talk about speed scrapbooking -- how long does it take YOU to create a page? Email me your answer and you can win goodies.

-The Christmas Countdown continues -- project #8 will be posted later today.

ETA: I know, I know... it's not up yet. Mypodcast.com is having troubles! I am trying to make it work... check back soon. And to make your wait worthwhile, I'm giving away a copy of the Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker! Leave me a comment or send me an e-mail with your biggest organizational challenge and/or how long it takes you to do a page, and I'll do a drawing for next week's podcast. Sorry!

ETA#2... we're good to go! Should now be available... sorry again!

Calling all B2B salespeople...

I am working on a story for Selling Power Magazine and I need to interview a few B2B salespeople (if you don't know what that is, then don't worry -- you don't qualify -- hahahah!)

If you, your spouse, neighbor or child is a B2B salesperson, or if you play one on TV, please email me ASAP. I am desperate!

If you give a Gluestick...

If you give a Gluestick a layout...

...Deena just might turn it into this:

And if Deena hands that layout off to Etta, she could come up with this:

And if Etta gives that to Tamara, Tamara could turn around and design this:

Then Tamara could send THAT to Susan, who would create this:

And after creating that, Susan just might want to send it to Stephanie, who would turn it into:

And then they all might want to do it again. See you in November!

Wherever you go...

If you start with this:

...And then Juel does this:

...and then Heidi does this:

...then Maria does this:

 

...then Abbie does this:

...and finally, Amy does this:

...then there you are! 

Give me 30 minutes...

...I'll make you a scrapbook page.

That's my new theme -- quick and cute pages, projects, and FUN! After all, if it doesn't get done during a single episode of CSI (without the commercials), it's not gettin' done.

Here's what I did today while Warrick and the gang were crime-fighting:

Stemma and Rusty Pickle patterned paper, Ranger ink, American Crafts thickers and alpha stickers, Heidi Swapp chipboard letters, and brads.

What can you do in 30 minutes or less? Show me. Post your creations in the Simple Scrapbooks Gallery with the tag "30" and I'll pick a few winners next week to get some Memory Trends goodies.