12 days until HOF is due!

And I plan on mailing no later than Monday 2/5, so that cuts the time in half. Here's my status:

Assignment A: Inventive Technique: Planned but not started.
Assignment B: 4x6: DONE!
Assignment C: Journal Your Passion: DONE!
Assignment D: Crafty Combo: DONE!
Assignment E: Color Watch: DONE
Assignment F: Mini Album: 50% done
Free Layout #1: DONE!
Free Layout #2: TBD
Free Layout #3: TBD
Free Layout #4: TBD

I was hoping to be further along, but I am so happy with the layouts I've done. We're talking personal bests here. I don't know why I thrive so much on competition.

More Strano Goodness....

If you go to the Strano Designs website (HERE), you'll see not only my ribbon dresses, but layouts by my dear friends Maryfrances and Sarah. They rocked the ribbon. If you refresh the page, you can see the different images. :D

Wicked Awesome Thursday 1/18

Wake yourself up this morning with some Pink Martini! Check out what the design team at Scrapbooker Online has been creating with this fabulous line of papers and rub-ons HERE.

Strano Ribbon Dresses

I wanted to post this picture last week, but Blogger was being wonky. Credit to Lou Strano for this gorgeous picture of the dresses that I made with Strano Designs ribbon and their new product Ribbon Stiff.

My Contest Entry is In!

Okay, not for HOF, but for the Prima wood products contest. I created a vase project and a tray project. I do have one more tray, but I don't have time to make another one, since the deadline is today. Now, to get back to my HOF entry. :D

And she makes her debut....

Last month I was chosen to be a Creative Team member at the Everyday Digital Scrapbooking blog, and I was so excited to be part of the team! Well this week, I had my first tutorial go live on the blog. It's an introduction to Photoshop actions, how to install, use and create actions! If you use your computer for any part of your scrapbooking, check out this blog. This week has been all about beginner tutorials, and the team has put together some fabulous writeups. Scroll down to this past Tuesday's entry to see my Actions Tutorial, and learn how I made digital textured cardstock.

RibbonStiff by Strano Designs

Strano Designs makes the most gorgeous ribbon out there. I'd love to have a bowl full of it on my coffee table that I could run my hands through it whenever I wanted. So when I had the opportunity to play around with a brand new Strano product along with some yummy ribbon, I jumped at the chance.

RibbonStiff is a product that you apply on one side of ribbon, let it dry, and you can cut, punch, fringe, whatever you want to the ribbon, and it won't fray. It goes onto the ribbon as a white liquid, similar in appearance to white school glue. It then dries perfectly clear, with no residue. You can apply multiple layers of RibbonStiff to increase the stiffness of the ribbon, but one coat is enough to prevent fraying, even cutting against the grain. Below are a few samples that I created using Strano Designs ribbon and the RibbonStiff product.

RibbonStiff will be debuting at CHA later this month. This product really multiplies the potential applications of the ribbon, and I've had a ton of fun playing around with it.

Strano Designs "Peggy" 1.5" ribbon, dress form from Michaels, misc bling. Ribbon cut with standard and wavy scissors.
Strano Designs "Peggy" and "Truly" 1.5" ribbon, cut with circle punch, wavy scissors. Also Bazzil Basics cardstock, K and Company chipboard quote, MM and CBX stickers, BG rub-ons.

My friend Maryfrances made a stunning mini-book using Strano ribbon and RibbonStiff, check it out HERE. And if you live near Manchester, NH, you can make this book at CKC-Manchester this spring!

37 Days

until the Creating Keepsakes Hall of Fame contest deadline! My goal is to send my entry at least a week before the deadline, so we're talking 30 days now..... here's my current status:

Assignment A: Concept has been worked out, now need to develop a layout around concept.

Assignment B: Complete!

Assignment C: Theme is set, journaling has been written, time to create layout.

Assignment D: Theme is set, need to create layout. Even got a cool title.

Assignment E: Complete!

Assignment F: Theme is set, need to create minibook. This will take the most time.

Not doing Assignments G or H, unless I have an epiphany (and cleaning my scrap space to take pics for G is not in the schedule).

Additional 4 layouts: I have 3 potential candidates that are already completed.

I was hoping to be further along, but I am happy that I made it this far. I am confident that I can put together a quality entry. Yay!

Happy Hour Comes Early..

....with a little Pink Martini! Pink Martini is the sponsor of this month's DT kit at Scrapbooker Online. I've got to say, the rub-ons are very very nice. They go on smooth and easy, and have just enough stickiness.

Materials:
Patterned Paper and Rub-ons: Pink Martini (Pink Squirrel line)
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper
Number Rub-ons, green jewel: Heidi Swapp
Ribbon: Strano Designs
White Pen: Sharpie Poster Paint Marker
Eyelet Brads: I Kan Dee by Pebbles Inc.

The most Wicked Awesome thing that could happen...

The most Wicked Awesome thing that could happen to me (concerning scrapbooking) has happened. Mary Frances Fabbri, the fabulous owner of Scrapbooker Online, has asked me to join her design team as a full time permanent member! Scrapbooker Online is my scrapbooking home, and to be part of this DT is amazing. These ladies are so wonderful. For sure this will be a lot of work. I won't be just designing with the monthly DT kit, but also working challenges, writing articles and developing classes for the new SBOUniversity venture.

To MF, thanks so much for this opportunity. To Nikki, Carolyn and Sarah, I can't wait to be working with you all again! And I also need to thank Julie-Ann, even though she's no longer on the DT, she has been a fabulous inspiration to me and my growth as a scrapbooker.

I also need to give a shout out to my friend Nicole who will also be joining the DT full time. You rock, sista!