Cute weekend project

This may be a little larger in the picture than in real life. I call it a name badge album but it's a neat way to do a brag book for a purse and not have everything get ruined.

Start with name badges from Wal-Mart or Staples. Wal-Mart's are about $1.88 for 12 badges though they're a little smaller than Staples name badges ($3.99 for 10). If you have the Wal-Mart version, cut your paper to be 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches (Staples 3 in. by 4 in.)

In this example, I did 8 name badges for a total of 16 pages. I held my name badges together with some library clips to add two additional holes with my Crop-a-Dile (a total of 5 pages) to slide my ribbon through in order to bind the book. I embellished the pages with paper flowers, brads, stickers, and stamping. I did use some buttons on some of the other versions I made, but it did make the albums rather bulky.

For pictures, I used a Kodak picture maker in the store. There I was able to get photos off my digital camera and put four toal pictures, scaled down on one 4x6 picture. This not only saves money but then you get the entire picture on one small page!

I'm trying to remember the scraps of paper I used...but needless to say, the line has escaped me. They did coordinate well with Blue Bayou, Close to Cocoa, Purely Pomegrante (SU).

For my mom for Mother's Day, I used the Once Upon a Time line; it turned out glittery and ephemeral. My mother-in-law's was John Deere...which was positively adorable!

Good luck and have fun!

Sneak Peek Preview

Sneak Peek Preview! Stampin' Up! has previewed the June special, which is a sneak peek stamp set from the Fall/Winter 2008 Catalog! It's not very often that Stampin' Up! offers stamp sets that won't even hit a catalog until August!!! The stamp set is entitled Fresh Cuts and it features flowers/silhouettes, with Thank You as a sentiment. The set is $21.95 and you can then purchase the corresponding cards for $5 (or choose just the cards for $8.95). If you host a show (with sales at $400), you get BOTH for FREE! This is such a great opportunity for customers and hostesses!



Likewise, the May special is 25% off chipboard after a $35 order. The other special is a hobby blade for FREE with purchase of the cutting mat!

This weekend I spent a lot of time on new little projects (mini albums using name badges from Wal-Mart and boxes)! I'm hoping to get some pictures and instructions posted soon! Sadly, I think if I get out of the chair and away from my icebag (for my foot), I'll get in trouble from my hubby!

Our latest purchase

Among other things today, my father-in-law and husband bought the most beautiful car. It's a Ford Festiva...bright red...with a pink racing stripe. I can't hardly wait to get in and go for a spin. I know it must sound as though I'm being sarcastic, but that bad boy will save me so much money in gas!!!! I'm ready for them to drive it tomorrow.

I took some fabulous pictures but I have yet to upload them onto our computer. I'm just not feeling that ambitious today...right now anyway.

Did I mention this thing has a sun roof? It's a bonafide beauty!

Ahhh, spring

Finally spring has arrived! The smell of freshly cut grass...airing out the house...tractors going obscenely slow down the highway. All seems well with the world.

This year, B is old enough to play outside and let me tell you, he wants to! He is like a child obsessed, coming in only when I bribe him with food or a bath. This morning he even decided that he was going to play, despite the fact that we had to get to the sitter's! He was also not a happy camper when we had to leave the sitter's (imagine that, he was playing outside!)!

I love the temper tantrum phase! It is so funny to watch him become upset at the slightest inconvenience and stomp, growl, and throw himself down on the ground. I try not to laugh because that only makes him more angry but seriously, it's comical! I'm doing my best to get a picture of it, but the minute he sees the camera, he's all ham!

Not a lot of stamping going on...I've been too busy trying to catch up from being gone all weekend. Hopefully when the little guy goes down for a nap over the weekend I'll get something done, finally!

A parting survey: Vertical house siding: Classy or trashy? We're having a major discussion at our house about this very question. I'm interested in your opinion, as it just may make my case!

Specials!

Just a quick update on all the current SU! specials!

From now through the end of April, there are two specials!

1. Host a $350 show and get an additional $25 in hostess benefits! This is a great way to get more free product!

2. Free Wheelin'! Purchase one of 6 qualifying stamp sets and get the coordinating wheel for FREE!

May Promotions, celebrating National Scrapbooking Month!

1. Make a $35 purchase and you can get 25% off any On Board chipboard sets, as many as you want! Chipboard makes great embellishments for your cards, scrapbook layouts, and even home decor! You can adhere paper, paint, emboss, doodle...the possibilities are endless!

2. Purchase the cutting mat and get the hobby blade FREE! This is PERFECT for cutting paper around chipboard!


On a completely different matter, any suggestions for handling tantrums in a 14 month old? What about refusing food? How do you deal with that? Keep giving him things he will eat?

This is my mantra: Someday I will appreciate that he does have a mind of his own....someday I will appreciate that he does have a mind of his own.... (When is that someday again???)

Brown Paper Bag Album

Here it is! The brown paper bag album! This is such a cool album! The instructions can be found on HGTV's website under the scrapbooking section, but here is the Cliff's Note's version. Take four brown paper bags and cut the bottom of the bag off. Fold in half, punch with the Crop-A-Dile, and tie with ribbon. Adhere designer paper to all pages, add pictures and embellishments, and add cardstock inserts inside the brown paper bags! This album goes together quickly, especially when when you're using Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper because all the pages already coordinate and the cardstock is simple to match/coordinate!

May 10 from 10 am to whenever, we'll be creating this album!

Wow!

Wow, this is sad. I'm trying to sit here and think about something to write and all I've come up with is.....nothing. My life must be really boring. After a day of grocery shopping, birthday present shopping, and cleaning, I cannot find one exciting thing to write out.

I am really excited about the upcoming scrapbook class: the brown paper bag album. Super cute and super simple. I'm hoping to take pictures of the album and post them here. We'll see if I can figure that part out. I'm off to bed before the little one wakes and wants to start another exciting day all over again.

Although, tomorrow should prove to be more interesting. A three-year-old's John Deere birthday party! Can't wait!