Open Discussion

So, a cousin of Angie's is holding an awesome charity crop this weekend (and of course, I'm telling you too late, so sorry) and I've spent the week getting geared up for the event. (We'll post some of our favorite pages and cards on Tuesday)

I don't know how many of you are scrapbookers, but you can relate to preparing for a crop if you imagine taking all the supplies you need for any other craft to somewhere other than your DCA (designated crafting area). It's madness! What do you take? What do you leave and not regret it later?

So, if you scrapbook (or don't), how do you prepare for a crop or similar event?

Me?

I figure out what pictures I'm going to use then print them.

Then I go through scrapbook magazines for inspiration. I find layouts that match the number of photos I have for each subject.

Then I shop.

Lately, to try and save myself money by avoid impulse purchases, I take my photos to the scrapbook store with me. I did this today and though I could post a craft, I thought it would be more fun to discuss.

If you scrapbook, but don't scrapbook anywhere but your own home, what's holding you back? May be you've never considered going to a crop? May be you think it's too much work?

Angie and Anisa and I went to Scrapbook USA last fall and had such a great time. Nothing like being surrounded by hundreds of people enjoying the same hobby as you.

Huh...I guess that explains Star Trek conventions. Beam me up, Scotty!

"Be Mine" Valentine Blocks

Traditionally Wednesdays here at Twiddle Thumbs are reserved for a seasonal and/or holiday craft. Well folks, it's January. Not much going on. I'm not big into snowflakes and snowmen (unless I'm using the former to make the latter). What else do you make? The big holiday of the month happens on the first. I opted to start our Valentine projects a little bit early with my "Be Mine" blocks, and I'm very happy with the final results. Here are the supplies:

1. Wooden blocks (mine were 2 x 3)

2. Scrapbook paper

3. Paper trimmer

4. Corner rounder-optional

5. Paint

6. Sand paper

7. Modge podge

8. Letter stickers or stamps

9. Embellishments

Here's the how-to (but don't worry they are super easy):

1. Paint your blocks on all sides.

2. Trim your paper, 1/4 inch smaller (all the way around) then your block

3. Round your corners if you want

4. **Modge Podge one side of your block.

5. Lay a paper on and modge podge again over top the paper. Push bubbles out starting from the center working your way out.

6. **If you are using stamps, stamp your letters on the paper before modge podge-ing. Otherwise continue: Put your sticker or vinyl letters on the block.

7. For an antiqued look go ahead and sand the block edges now.

8. Modge Podge over letters.

9. Add embellishments if you want them.

10. Display on a shelf! You're done!!

Here's my final result:

Dabbling in Digital

I am a scrapbooker:) I am a traditional scrapbooker and I will never concert to digital. I love the hands-on approach and I love texture.  I love ribbons and buttons and things with dimension.  However, I thought it would be fun to dabble in a little digital scrapbooking with my December Daily album.  I downloaded some free kits from Shabby Princess.  Then I bought some more kits from Shabby Princess.  I love their stuff and I love that they have a lot of great freebies.  Here is one of my finished pages. I just ordered the prints today and I may have a heart attack when it comes back with all of these fake buttons on it. But it was nice to be able to scrapbook in my car or sitting in my bed late at night.

Here are a few more sites that I like for digital scrapbooking.

Scrapbooks etc. freebies

Scrapgirls

Designer Digitals

Bird-days

Anisa mentioned the other day that she wanted to do some cards. That got me thinking. I have lots of stamps which I mainly bought to do cards. Then I got the itch to do some stamping. So, thanks Anisa for helping to inspire me to make what is one of my favorite cards!

I made the scalloped circles with my Cricuit, but I'm sure you could find a stencil/template to do the same thing. Better yet, you may even be able to find them precut somewhere. The pink scallop is attached to the green one with a brad. Swivel open to write a "bird" day greeting!

Supplies: Card stock: Provo Craft; Patterned Paper: from my stash; Stamps: Happy Spring (Stampin Up); Ink: Pink Passion (Stampin Up!); Marker: Pink Passion (Stampin Up!) Idea: paper trends magazine march/april 2008

I also have spent a little time beading. My friend and I actually made the colored beads on this necklace with sculpy clay and polished it with sparkly nail polish. It was a very simple necklace to make even with having to make our own beads.