The Trending: Craft Tape Wars

 I had so much fun in my last post talking about scrap book trends that I decided to follow it up with another trend and freebie.  Leave a little love to show how much you like these post and freebies and I just might make it a regular thing.

   Who doesn't love Washi Tape? While not a new trend to scrap booking, washi tape is still relatively new to American manufactures. But, On my latest trip to Target I discovered that they are catching up. I snapped a few pictures to share what I found with you guys. 

1 & 2) Scotch Tape: These rolls of colored and patterned masking tape come in hugh sizes of 1in x 20yd rolls and you got to love those colors of Mint and Tangerine.

3 & 4) K & Company SMASH: With new product on the shelves, K & Co. has added new tape tape patterns as well as these adorable tape dispensers with built in cutters.

5) Scotch Tape: Has added this expression line of tapes in bright colors and funky patterns. I even came across a 3 pack that included 1 pattern and 2 solid rolls of tape.

6) Mara Mi: This last find and my favorite, came with 5 rolls of craft tape and a pretty wooden tape dispenser that one could easily customize if they wished. 

Inspired by all the great bold colors, I threw together this set of Craft Tapes that you can use in you digital creations. Download available for a limited time. Enjoy!

Download Here

It's Been A While

Whew, it's been a while since my last post. I am alive and kicking just took a little time off to peruse some other endeavors. So what have you been up to while the cat was away? I've been up to no good of course, LOL. I joined the promo team at Real Life Scrapped, learned how to grout while installing new tile floors in my kitchen and powder room, tilled up my garden beds, started my daughters potty training (over due but hay what's the rush) and more. But I'm sure your not here to listen to me ramble about everyday life.

Today I want to update my gallery links and talk about digital scrap-booking. Have you kept up-to-date on the latest trends? I'll be the first to admit that I don't usually follow trends (in real life or in the digital world) but I have noticed those cute little cut out journaling cards and decided to whip up a batch to use in my own layouts. To make up for my time away from this blog I'm sharing them with you. You can use them as is or clip your favorite papers to them and layer them over another paper. Would love to see what you make with them. Links will be active till I run out of bandwidth. Enjoy!

Click on the Image or Download Here

2012 DIY Gift List Break Down Part #1

With Halloween just around the corner and the holidays fast approaching, many of us are staring in on (or maybe if your a real go getter, finishing up) our holiday gift lists. Now my budget is pretty small this year so I will be making a number of my gifts. In addition to Christmas I also celebrate Hanukkah with a few of my friends and need little gifts to help fill in all eight days of gift giving. Today and over the next few posts I'm going to share with you a list of DIY gift tutrials I planning to make, have made or would like to make this year.

# Easy DIY beaded hoop earring - from How About Orange

I'm sure you could easily make your own hoop wires out of silver wire by wrapping it around a large round form.

# Ink Effects Pillow - from matsutake

# Wrap Bracelet from Honestly... WTF

Other good similar bracelet tutorials:

-Bohemian Braided Bracelets from Life Ann Style

-Anthropologie inspired bracelet from Yellow Blackbird

-Molly's Sketchbook: Friendship Bracelets from the Purl bee

# Car Travel Organizer from Just Sew Sassy

Great for your friends with kids. It might even make a good gift for someone who works from the car and has to carry a lot of forms and paper work with them.

# Old Jean Potholders from Aarnilintu

This one is not in english but I think you get the idea.

# Old Book Art Prints from Ruffles And Stuff

# Lego Belt and Tie Pin from kojo Desgins

# Wire and Bead Earrings from handmadeology

# Lotion Bars from My Yellow Umbrella

# Bath Bombs from The Frugal Vegan

Layouts, Galleries and Freebies, Oh My!

 This month was the month for contests in the digital scrap booking community. Did you participate in any? Did you have fun, learn something new, and make new friends? Those are the things that I like most about competitions (aside from the prizes *wink*). In the past couple of weeks I participated in the Iron Scrapper over at Scrapbook Orchard and the Sweet Shop's Summer Games.
 I added a link to my Sweet Shop Designs gallery and wanted to share one of my layouts from each competition. There's also a template freebie at the bottom of this post. Enjoy!
Summer Games- Boxing:

(Products: Every Day of the Year by Sugarplum Paperie, Isn't She Lovely by Zoe Pern, Underwater Escape by Erica Zane, In Training by Erica Zane & Kaye Winiecki, Birdcage by Picture Designs - (staple), A 'lil Shinshine Love by Fuzzie Pixel(clear tape) )

Iron Scrapper Week #3 Layout:

(Products: Light My Fire by Secret Stash,Red Hot Love by MLE Card, A Rockin' Kind of Love by Megan Turnidge, Love Me Tender by Tracie Stroud)

I love my daughter's pouty face in this layout. I might have to go back and add some drama word art. Now, how would you like a template for this layout? Just say the magic words via the comment box and download below!

download via Dropbox

Freebie Find #009 /And I'm Back

I apologize! It has been so long since my last post. I took a little unforeseen hiatus to clear my head and work on some personal projects. Some of you who know me personally may know that my mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a mastectomy a couple of weeks ago and is healing but we are concerned about infection. Once she is healed, she will have to undergo two long rounds of chemo and then radiation after that. We are sincerely grateful for all the prayers and kind words that have come from all of our friends, family and communities. Thank you and keep them coming because we will need them still.

Ok, on to the fun stuff. I have just two quick freebie finds I stumbled onto tonight. First up, look under the "Quirky Gift!" tab for a Facebook Exclusive Freebie from 2am Designs. I love these adorable envelopes!  If you like these then check out her other new envelope set in her ZZS store and of course the matching "Quirky" kit.

 Next up is the Friday Freebie over on Megan Turnidge Blog. These pinstripe papers are just too sweet and you might even want to use them with the above mentioned envelope set. Who knows....

Enjoy and have a great night!

iNSD Aftermath.........

So last weekend was (i)NSD and in the wake of all the craziness I was feeling a little "scrapped" out. Good thing that feeling didn't last long. When I felt like looking at my computer again, I couldn't help but run my mouse through all the pretty new kits and products I picked up. These are some of the highlights of what I both bought and picked up for free via blog trains, FB fan pages, RAKs and game prizes.

All in all, I ended up with over 100 new products including mini kits to mega collab kits, templates, alphas, styles, journaling cards, stitches, and many other various products. The most amazing thing is that I only went over my budget by .30¢. Truly Amazing! Ah retail therapy. What a wonderful way to work out some of the stress from my very long week and I even managed to scrap some pages. One of my favorites was this page I scrapped for Secret Stash's May Template Challenge. I love how the chalk ended up all over Cora from head to toe!

Products used: Secret Stash~Work of He{ART} & May Template Challenge iNSD Edition

So now you've heard about my weekend, I'd love to hear some of the highlight from your (i)NSD weekend. Comment away please:

iNSD Freebie

In the spirit of iNSD I wanted to make a little something special to give back to the scrapbooking community. I know I love the freebies and specials at this time of year. Introducing my first blog freebie "A 'lil Sunshine Love" Mini Kit. It will be available through the month of May (or until My bandwidth is exceeded, lol). Happy iNSD Weekend!!!

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Don't forget to leave a little love for an aspiring designer -_~ I would of course love to see what you do with the kit too!