Heart-to-Heart from Scrapbooks from the Heart

Technique Tuesday-Silhouette

To SD or not to SD, that is the question......

Hi Bloggers!

Since the new Silhouette was delivered, many customers have asked whether they should upgrade to the new SD or look for the older original Silhouette. Let me share some of the differences today.

Both machines are Quikutz, so they are quailty products with absolutely the best customer service-ever!

Both machines have the ability to cut .gsd and .gst files, plus weld, and shadow titles and images. You can also sketch, do print and cuts, design your own files, and use any true type font or dinglebat already installed on your computer.

SD offers an SD card reader built in. Just use the included software to save your favorite Designs onto a standard SD card, plug the card into your Silhouette and use the built-in LCD screen to find and cut designs without your computer. Great for crops!

SD is also quieter. Orignial Silhouette sometimes sounds like a Moose looking for a mate!

SD has an auto-loading feature whereby materials can be loaded with the push of a button rather than with a manual feed-knob (as the original Silhouette has).

SD has blade cap holders (located under the machine's lid) to safely store your additional blade caps when not in use.

SD comes with a $25 gift card to the online shop, a special 1/2 off download offer for a year, a scraper, glass etching creme, and a piece of vinyl and transfer paper.

So, if you are considering a move to Silhouette, come by the store and try out our SD! We also offer Silhouette 101 and 102 classes to teach you the tips and tricks of your fabulous new machine.

Georgia

Oreo Bon Bons

 

We had such a great time at the First-Ever QuicKutz Elite Club Party! We had over 50 members in attendance!  Thanks to everyone who came!  For all you who are still thinking about joining, we do two parties a year! QuicKutz sent presents for everyone and there were incredible deals!  We will do the next party in January, but there are special privileges all year long!

One of my favorite parts of the party was the FOOD!  My sister, Andrea did the catering and it was fabulous--Apricot Almond Spread, Chipolte Chicken Bites, Peppered Roast Beef Canapes, Veggie Crudite, Cappucino Trifle and Oreo Bon Bons!  OOh, makes me hungry just thinking about it!   Most of her recipes are trade secrets but she did give me permission to share the Bon Bon recipe.  And by the way, by the time I got back to the food they were all gone!  I didn't get a one! All I got was this picture!  Maybe I can get the chef to make me a special stash!

Oreo Bon Bons

1package Oreos, finally crushed

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

Blend together with mixer until combined. Make into small balls. Dip in white almond bark. Drizzle with chocolate almond bark. Eat!

I'm More of a Sunday Driver...

We just got back from Pole Position Go-Cart Racing.  Ryan and Greg had gone last year, and for 365 days Greg has been chompin'-at-the-bit for a re-match.  Well this time Ryan's girlfriend, Amanda and I went too.  Now let me just say up front that I have never really understood why guys are always concerned with how fast a car can go, when the highest speed limit is only 75 mph. That kinda gives you an idea of my whole outlook on speed.  I'm definitely more of a Sunday kind of driver.

Anyway, when you first get there you have to sign a waiver AND wear a helmet, over a most attractive black I'm-r obbing-a-bank-type head sock.  You get 10 times around the yellow and black track racing other drivers and the clock.  I thought I had chosen a pretty good race name--Scrapook Outlaw. 

We start one by one and these carts go fast--like 40ish mph!  Everyone passes me once--some drivers even lap me twice!  Each lap I feel like I'm doing better and better, going faster and faster, even starting to like this thing called speed--until... some total stranger suddenly rams me from behind!  Hello!  This IS NOT bumper cars! He waves as he goes by but somehow totally escapes the black you're-kicked-out-of-the-race flag!! I, on the other hand, get the blue you're-going-too-slow-you-better-speed-it-up flag!  The nerve!

I have to admit, I was somewhat relieved when they waived the flag that signaled our last lap!  When we got our race cards, Scrapbook Outlaw shockingly came in last place!  What's more, my driving performance was rated at a negative 26, and my speed chart was so slow compared to other drivers that it went off the chart.

I'm not sure I really liked this field trip.  I walked away with a most annoying case of go-cart whiplash.  That weird headsock thing ruined what started out as a perfect hair day.  And, I realized I am even a worse driver than I originally thought.  But let's look on the bright side! I got to an "exhilarating" day with my family.  And, I got some fun pics that will make an award-winning scrapbook page!

Better Get Busy!

My 26 year old single nephew Ryan is visiting us for a week.  He comes every summer after school is out to "play" with Greg, my hubby--and to see me too of course.  He coaches and teaches high school in Texas.

He came to visit me at the shop yesterday, and after having been there for a while he said this, "I have scanned the store and I am seeing pictures of everyone else in the family but me."  Oopsy. I have had the perfect page in my head for Ryan for a long time now--guess I better get busy!

You see he comes to visit every summer--we play pool, go swimming, watch movies and generally just hang out together.  My hubby has a "playmate" for the week, and towards the end of his visit I usually get a little overdosed on testosterone.  Anyhoo, Ryan always makes us his signature bbq porkchops and mac and cheese.  It is now a much anticipated tradition.  I have this cute pic of him cooking and--especially now--am going to get it scrapped!  Hopefully before his visit is over! Here is another one of my favorite pics of him--and by the way single girls--he has a girlfriend:)

Trends We *Heart*

Mixed-Up Minis

When it comes to mini-albums, people are turning more and more to the mixed-up minis! Whether it's a cascading album by BoBunny, a hodge-podge you've created on your own, or a mixture of different sized and shaped pages, mixed-up minis are here to stay! The nice thing about mixed up-minis is that anything goes! It takes the pressure off sometimes when you can incorporate all the elements you want and the album doesn't have to follow the same set size and shape.

For example, travel albums can include ticket stubs, receipts, envelopes, and other odd-sized items. You can bind your mixed-up minis with a hole punch and jump rings/book rings or you can get even more high-tech and use a binder like the Zutter! You can incorporate photo holders, pockets, timecards, odd-sized keepsake pages, and more! There's no limit to what you can bind together! There have been some cute mixed-up minis made from all sizes of greeting cards, too. Use your imagination. Or let necessity be your guide! (What items need to be included in the story you're trying to tell?)

 

Guest blogger: Joyce McCall

Tim-Time Thursday

Hi Bloggers,

I wanted to share another of my favorite Tim Holtz products by Ranger with you today. Its Distressing Ink! I use Distressing Ink on almost every layout and card I make. Its so versatile and easy to use! The colors are rich but yet go with almost every paper you can find. I recently found a terrific video by Tim Holtz who is demonstrating some of the different techniques you can use with Distress Ink.

Here are some key points that make Distress Inks different:

STAYS WET LONGER - (allows you to blend and shade on photos and paper - also emboss) other dye inks dry too fast especially on photos so you end up with lines and marks if you go direct from the pad.

COLOR WICKS OR SPREADS OUT - (these inks will travel across the surface of your paper when spritzed with water) other dyes do not travel as much although they might bleed a little when wet, the Distress Inks actually "wick" or spread out much further creating several tone on tones.

COLOR STABILITY - (the colors of the Distress Inks will not break down when wet or heated allowing you to have more color control for the finished look) other "brown colored" dyes will break down when water is added leaving a pink & green hue.

Have a look at Tim's video and try these ideas out for yourself!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV-8nWHplaY&feature=player_embedded

Georgia

Products We *Heart*

The Zutter Bind-It-All Machine

If you've taken any classes this year you already know how much we love to play with the Zutter machines and all the fun accessories! Originally released in the light teal, and then re-released in pink (along with the new color there were some improvements to the product overall!), it has matching storage bags and tool kits. It's a very versatile binder - you can make a continuous line of binding down the spine of your album, just bind a few notches at the top & bottom or dead center of your project, or even make a gatefold album (bound on each side and opening in the center like a double door). Tracy and Joyce have taught several mini-book classes utilizing the Zutter Bind-It-All and the store offered a $5 Make-N-Take a few times featuring it. If you went to the last Camp Canyon Retreat then you probably got to try your hand at using the machine, too!

Zutter keeps releasing fun album covers in multiple sizes, colors, and spine options. The O-rings come in lots of colors to coordinate with your favorite paper products, and they come in several sizes to accomodate whatever size album you need to create. And now they have Cover-Alls to hide the O-rings - just decorate the cover any way you like and insert your bound album! Check out Zutter's demo video and see for yourself how easy it is to use the Bind-It-All!

 

Guest blogger: Joyce McCall

Website on the Fritz!

First, let us apologize for the main website being down! We do have a tech support ticket open with our webhost. The first line of support could not diagnose the problem so we're now bumped up to level 2 (I'm pretty sure that's not a good thing!). It should be working again soon! In the meantime, you can still get to the current newsletter here, past newsletters here, and other news HERE at the blog!

On the happier side, we DO have the latest Basic Grey lines: Lemonade and June Bug! These are too cute. So versatile! Lots of great embellishments like transparency notecards, woolie stickers, pop up stickers, doilie laser cut papers...you have to come and see!! Fancy Pants Summer Soiree is restocked, too! We got a large restocking order from our main vendor so adhesives and other staple products should be back in stock. If you haven't been in the store lately, the Lovies got antsy and did some rearranging! Now you can deposit your hubbies in the cozy chairs right inside the front door!

Don't forget we have great classes still to come for June! Page Maps, Zoo-bilee, and Rocking the House have spaces left. Call the store to sign up!

 

Technique Tuesday for Silhouette

Hi Bloggers!

Our question today is about the mats for Silhouette.  "When I start to make a cut, the mat doesn't hold the paper down well. What can I do? "

There are several possible fixes for this situation:

Clean the mat. You can use a lint roller or wash the mat with a bit of dishwashing soap and air dry. This removes the bits of paper and lint left behind during cuttings.
In addition to cleaning the mat, it is vital to replace the cutting mat's liner on top of the sticky surface when not in use. If left uncovered while not in use, the mat's adhesive surface may collect dust or other particles.

In addition to cleaning and covering your mat, I also would recommend using a scraper (like the flat edge of a credit card) or a brayer tool to press your material onto the cutting mat rather than pressing them onto the mat by hand. This is especially helpful with smaller sizes of material. We sell a scraper at SBFTH that is very useful for cleaning the mat and pressing paper on.

Mats do lose their adhesive quality over time, so you may want to purchase a new one. We now have the new, heavier mats with grids in stock at the store. They are great and have been reformulated to have the adhesive last longer!

Do you ever have problems getting items off your mat?  I found that I was tearing several of my newly-cut pieces while trying to remove them from the mat. I have 3 tools now that work awesome! One is the scraper that we just talked about and second is the hook tool. It picks up even the smallest pieces from the mat and works well for "weeding" vinyl. The third tool is the QuickStik. It is amazing! I use it to pick up anykind of small paper or even bling from any surface.  it also has a small spatula to help pry things up from a sticky surface.

Drop by the store and give the tools a test drive to see if they would be useful for you, too! And, don't forget to leave comment and questions for next week's Technique Tuesday!

Georgia

 

Trends We *Heart*

Cardmaking!

We love to give homemade sentiments to friends & loved ones (maybe even perfect strangers!) for most any occasion. Cardmaking can be cheap, too! We can use our leftover scrapbooking paper and it becomes cheaper than a store-bought card (unless you shop at Dollar General!). It's fun to miniaturize a page layout or technique onto a card. We get to use up stickers we didn't need on a layout. We get to play with our die-cuts. Let's face it: it's just one more creative outlet for us to make cool stuff and share it with people!

I like to keep a box of cards on hand so I'm prepared for last-minute occasions. My stash usually has masculine & feminine birthday cards, anniversary wishes, a couple baby and get well cards, plus lots of blank or all-occasion cards (I can always stamp a sentiment inside if I have time!). If I really, really, really like a card design I make several copies of it. It's not likely I'll give the same card to the same person - hopefully I'll use them all up within that year!

Where to get ideas for cards? First: classes! SBFTH offers 2 card classes every month. Karen teaches Handmade Hellos the first Thursday of every month. She makes and sells cards so she always has beautiful techniques to share! Joyce teaches QuicKards one Saturday each month. Her class features QuicKuts dies and Accucut dies, plus lots of fun techniques. Next: idea books. We sell a monthly publication in the store called Cards that is published by Northridge Media. They have pages and pages of amazing samples and basic instrucions. Sometimes we get special edition cardmaking and stamping magazines as they are published, too! After that: try the web! Becky Fleck's Page Maps site also has Card Maps a few times each year. Jennifer McGuire, well-known for her articles in Creating Keepsakes magazine and her designs with Hero Arts stamps, has a great blog with samples and tutorials! Last but not least: apply the same inspiration starters that you use to create scrapbook pages! Look at your own past work, look at your cropping buddies' work, look in old catalogs for idea-starters, or attend a Make-N-Take at the Art Bar!

Guest Blogger: Joyce McCall