Kit of the Week!

This week's "Quic-Kit" has us looking forward to summer!!  One of these days I am sure the rain will stop and we will see the sun again!!!

Remember, "Quic-Kits" are limited in quantity so get yours today!!

Design Team Monday!

An extra week this month means an extra challenge from the Design Team. For this one, we are focusing on cards.

Your challenge (should you choose to accept it) is to use 3 different papers on your card.

Julie

Best Creation "Let's Party" papers

PomPom trim

Bazzill 1/2 borders

Misc cardstock

_______________________________

Cherie

All supplies Safari Boy by Best Creation

Bazzill Cardstock 

___________________________________

Michele

Material Used:

Paper: Best Creation Bunny Love collection and blue-white cardstock

Inks: blue Cat's Eye chalk ink, Memento ink and Copics

Ornaments: brads and stick-on ribbon. 

________________________

Virginia

Supply list:

Patterned paper - Best Creation Safari Girl

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics and Bo Bunny

Embellishments - Rub on - October Afternoon; Flower Sticker - Dear Lizzy; Cardstock Flower; Bazzill Just the Edge

What's new!!

Doodlebug Design Create-A-Card

Occasions are best remembered when they're celebrated with a heartfelt card... and the perfect way to send your love is with a Doodlebug Create-a-Card. A one-stop shop of colorful cards and whimsy envelopes sure to make your every occasion an extra special one. Perfect for wedding announcements, birthdays, baby showers and more...this uique array of cards and envelopes was created to make your card crafting a snap. Each card & envelope is available in 9 brilliant Doodlebug colors, and in 8 one-of-a-kind styles; all housed in our beautiful card carousel for ease of shopping and display.

Doodlebug Create-a-Card - for those moments in life that need a note of love.

Fancy Pants Designs

Check out this post on the Fancy Pants blog for some incredible Beach Bum projects created by their Design Team.

Check out this post on the Fancy Pants blog for some gorgeous Beach Babe projects created by their amazing Design Team.

Kaisercraft

Check out this post on the Kaisercraft blog to see some of the coordinating embellishments as well as some gorgeous layouts from their Design Team.

Sew Easy Tutorials

Restocked and on our shelves you will find all of the Sew Easy products from We R Memory Keepers.  So, of course, a little inspiration to use said products is in order.  Check out the video tutorials below (taken from the We R Memory Keepers website).

DT Special Assignment Day!

It is Thursday again and that means so more fabulous inspiration from a Design Team member.  Julie is up today and is sharing some fabulous embossing goodness with us!

_____________________

This week I have 2 simple embossing techniques to share:

1. Embossing with an embossing folder

Choose an embossing folder and a piece of cardstock, tag or even a flower or chipboard embellishment. Place the cardstock inside of the folder and run it through your Sizzix or Cuttlebug. (Embossing chipboard pieces should only be used on machines designed specifically for heavy duty embossing, unless the chipboard is very thin - Cuttlebug and Revolution. It is recommended that you lightly spray the chipboard with water to make it more pliable before embossing.)


I've also embossed foil (the heavy duty kind you wrap/cook food with), as well as aluminum (I've cut pieces from disposable foil cookie sheets for example).

Embossing foil works best if you fold your foil piece in 3 before running it through your machine. For 2 reasons: If you don't and your foil is thin, it will make holes in it. And the second one is that, once it's embossed, your piece won't hold well and it will be hard to alter it with any ink because the bumps will flatten as you work with your embossed piece afterwards.

By folding in 3, you avoid all these problems and it does work very well!!

Did you know that you can emboss plastic too? And Tortillas!!!!!!!!! Yes you can!! It works great! Credit for this idea goes to «Francofun». You run the tortillas uncooked or still soft (the way you buy them) through your machine and then you cut into little squares and you bake them a bit to brown them and you have fantastic crackers, fun to serve at any party!!

Also, remember Mim's Smooch tutorial? You can alter metal (your embossed foil pieces) with Smooch or any alcohol based ink and also acrylic inks and paints!! Just give them a few minutes to dry

2. Embossing with inks and embossing powder and heat gun

Stamp your image with pigment ink and sprinkle with embossing powder. After shaking off excess powder use the heat gun to "melt" the embossing powder. 

 

Finishing touches:  I pressed ink onto my Ranger craft map and spritzed with water. I then "dragged" my tags through the ink, dried them with the heat gun and then repeated with another colour. 

 

I then inked the edges with distress inks using a sponge applicator. I also used the applicator to go over deeper portions of the tag where there was no colour for ma resist technique. I then added embellishments..inchies, twinchies, buttons...and added twine and ribbon to finish it off. I'll probably continue to play and add to these over the next few days or when I decide to use them on a layout.

The middle tag was the one done with the embossing folder and the ones on either side were done with embossing powder. You can also do the stamping and embossing powders after dragging the tag or cardstock through the ink and drying it.

Kit of the Week!

It's time to show off another fantastic "Quic-Kit" by the super talented ladies of Fruit & Nuts.  Supplies are limited so get your today!



Design Team Monday!

This week we are bringing you a Style Challenge. Check out what Michele has to say about our chosen style.....

The Clustering Style

For those who are new to this style or have heard of it but know little about it, basically, just think of «clustering» as its definition explains: Grouping. This style entails scrapbooking in clusters, it’s as simple as that. It’s about regrouping all elements in one or more areas of your layout, leaving the rest of the space empty. Clustering can also be referred to as Clean & Simple (although C&S is not necessarily Clustering), and I also heard the term «American style». In reality it isn’t a scrapbooking style per say, it’s more of a laying out technique.

Clustering, in its traditional form, can be extravagant by leaving a lot of empty space with only one or two small clusters; Often described as using less than a quarter of your page and aiming at that «less is more» feeling.

However this popular style evolved and the clusters don’t necessarily have to be tiny. Clustering can be created by laying out one or two or more larger clusters. You can make the empty space stand out by using a plain background or camouflage it by using a busy background or altering the plain background. It’s a matter of taste.

Some cannot handle the empty space and some drool over it. It really is a matter of taste!! And I am very pleased to present very different examples of the Clustering Style, thus reaching out to everyone’s taste!! We hope we were able to inspire you in trying out this style in your own scrapbooking layouts!

Julie

Best Creation "Let's Party" paper

Bazzill 1/2 borders

Smooch spritz

BoBunny chipboard

Misc buttons, ribbon and wire spirals

Misc title stickers and chipboard letters

_____________________________________________

Michele

Material Used:

Paper: Best Creation Bunny Love collection and cardstock

Inks: White pigment ink

Other: Stardust Stickles, EK success punch

Ornaments: Best Creations stickers and chipboards, Prima vine flowers, white twist wire, brads, transparent pieces and Sassafras feltie

______________________________________________

Cherie

Cardstock: Bazzill

Paper: Safari Boy by Best Creation

Stickers: Best Creation

________________________________

Virginia 

Supply list:

Patterned paper - Best Creation - Safari Girl

Stickers - Cosmo Cricket

Letter Stickers - Cosmo Cricket

Paper Filters - Fancy Pants

Bead sticker - Best Creations

___________________________________

Jenn

Products:

Best Creation Inc - Jubilee Paper

Fancy Pants Filter Paper Embellishments 

Smooch - Sun Kissed

EK Success Border Punch

Bazzill Half the Edge

Bo Bunny Brads

QuicKutz Squeeze for the letters and squares

Bazzill Cardstock

Special Orders

Need or want something but can't find it on our shelves or in our online store?!?!

Call or send us an email and we will order it in for you*. 

*As long as it is carried by our distributor, we can get it.

Happy Victoria Day!

From the Turtle family to all of yours, we hope you have a fabulous Victoria Day weekend!

Just a reminder that the store is OPEN on Monday so come on down and visit us!

100 Days of Summer

Doesn't that sound nice right about now?!?!  At this point I think I would take 1 day of summer!!!

Anyway, I know that fabulous sunny weather will be on its way soon and when it gets here, we have the perfect collection for scrapping those 'fun in the sun' memories!!

100 Days of Summer from Simple Stories is now on our shelves and soon to be online!!



DT Special Assignment Day!

Thursday means another DT Special Assignment.  Today's is brought to you by Jenn.

We've had some WONDERFUL tutorials from our DT this term, but I wanted to switch things up a little. So, for your reading pleasure I've written an article about my take on the importance of journalling!

Beyond the Words and Pictures

====================

A journal is typically defined as a daily record of occurences, experiences and observations which may, or may not be specific group, society or profession. Journalling could therefore be defined as the action of recording the occurence, experience or observation.

In the scrapbooking world, most people journal their work for those exact reasons. They want to commemorate and/or capture the specifics of the events, experiences and observations of the memories they are preserving. Usually journalling on a scrapbook page will identify dates, people in the pictures and what the event was in the picture; these details are important and wonderful for preservation of these details. For some pages, just these basic details are all that are needed or all that a scrapbooker wants to include.

However, creativity more often than not, flows from the artist's canvas of paper, ribbon and embellishments, into the words and/or way the words are presented in the journalling. Some people create poems to serve as their journal, others write a story or narrative of the details they want to capture and some just use creative words to vividly describe the memory they have captured.

Not only is the style of writing part of the creativity, but the presentation of the journalling can be just as adventurous and creative. You may choose a journalling block, pre-printed or self stamped, and write all the details by hand. Exploring different font in hand writing can also add character to the journalling. Some people, particularily those with a very "neat and tidy" style, prefer to print it on a computer and add it to the page in a more formal way. Making the journalling more whimsical and less structured can add fun and vibrancy to story as well as the piece of art itself.

Although the words in journalling capture the details of what you want to remember, which is very important, your journalling is also be beyond the words you have written. The words which you use to describe the event, occurence and experience, coupled with the creativity of the journalling presentation show who you are and what's important to you. Both are essentials to good journalling and good scrapbooking in general.

Scrapbooking is most definitely a great way to preserve your memories, but it also a very effective way to express yourself as a person. As a scrapbooker you want to achieve both the preservation and the expression. If these weren't important, you wouldn't be putting all the time and effort that you do into the pages you create. For these reasons, always remember that the journalling is just as important as the pictures and paper you choose for your masterpiece.

So take that few moments to include some journalling no matter how short or long you choose to make it. Have fun with it, be creative and remember to make the words your canvas too!

Your Next Stamp now at the Turtle

Your Next Stamp rubber is now available at Scrapping Turtle!  This is a fabulous Kitchener-based business with lots of adorable images!  Be sure to stop in today and check them out!!

Below are a couple of samples using their stamps.....

 Created by Simonne Clay.  Stamp used is Fetch the Dog.

Created by YNS DT member Maureen Wong. Stamp used is Ellie Loves Music.

Created by YNS DT member Kerri Michaud. Stamp used is Chompy.

Kit of the Week!

A new week means a new "Quic-Kit"!  I think the ladies of Fruit & Nuts just continue to outdo themselves.  They have another gorgeous kit this week!

Quantities are limited so get yours today!!

Design Team Monday!

Monday is here again and that means the team is back for another round of reveals.  This week, is a technique challenge.  It is all about the Embossing!

Julie

Here is a sample of using an embossing folder on cardstock and then highlighting the raised images with ink

This closeup shows an example of using heat embossing on the flag banner. The cardstock was inked and then covered with embossing powder. Using a heat gun to melt the powder gave a shiny silver finish.

Products used for "Stars" layout include:

Best Creations "Let's Party" paper

Bazzil Basics Paper Half the Edge cardstock strips

pom pom trim

BoBunny chipboard circle

Misc letters, small gems and cardstock

__________________________________________

Cherie

Embossed chipboard title:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Paper: Safari Boy by Best Creations

Chipboard: Best Creations

Die Cuts: Jillibean Soup

Letter Stickers: Basic Grey

Chipboard Title: Maya Road

__________________________________________

Michele

I love embossing!! Since we are featuring just that this week, I used both my Big Shot and my heat gun! I embossed and double embossed several pieces on this LO to show you the different things you can do with both heat and cold embossing and the 2 combined.

Here are detailed photos to better see the embossing. Note here that the background paper (the little bunnies) is already embossed by Best Creations. 

Material Used:

Paper: Best Creations Bunny Love collection and white-pink cardstock

Inks: White, pink and blue pigment ink, enamel embossing powder, Glossy Accent and Crackled Accent

Other: Embossing Folder, EK Success punch

Ornaments: Best Creations chipboards, brads, Bazzill Half The Edge, Bazzill Just the Edge, pompom ribbon, transparent piece and Zva pink bling

__________________________________________

Virginia 

It is difficult to see in the photo but I embossed the border around the photo with a border punch that also embosses.

Supply list:

Patterned paper - Safari Girl by Best Creation

Cardstock - Bo Bunny

Letter Stickers - October Afternoon

____________________________________________

Jenn

I embossed the green card stock on the backgroud of the pictures using a cuttlebug embossing folder. Then I used ink and lightly brushed it over the raised part of embossing. To add a little more definition to the embossed area, I traced the embossing with my Sakura glitter pen.

Products used:

Best Creation Inc - Jubilee Paper Line

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Sakura Glitter Pen

Tim Holtz Distressing Ink - Shabby Shutters

Bazzill Half the Edge - Pink

Pom Pom Trim

Bazzill Card Stock

DT Special Assignment Day!

I am finally here with last week's special assignment!  These Blogger issues were making me crazy!!  This is not my main blog so of course Blogger would not let me sign out of mine and sign into this one.  It was making me a little NUTS!!!  Anyway, I am here now so let's get on with it.

This week's tutorial is from Michele and she is going to show you how to make some super fabulous Milk Carts.

The milk cart; good for any occasions. It makes a really nice gift for all ages. And it’s actually very easy to do. I’m slow; I like to take my time. And I made these 4 milk carts, including decorating and taking half of these pictures, all in one afternoon. Try it, it’s fun!! And you are bound to make someone, on the receiving end, very happy!

Ingredients:

One 12x12 card stock or any sturdy paper

Four 6cm x 11cm (2.3 inch x 4.25 inch) leftover papers and whatever to decorate a bit

One 28cm (11 inch) piece of ribbon

Four eyelets (optional)

Glue

First, start with a 12x12 cardstock, or any paper, but choose one that is sturdy, not flimsy. Measure where your folding lines and cutting lines will be. I drew thick lines across mine to make it clear for you but you could just mark with tiny dots.

2 cm = 0.8 inch

4 cm = 1.6 inch

7 cm = 2.75 inch

12 cm = 4.75 inch

Now cut the excess off and you have something like this. Mark to round the top corners and cut the indentations on the right:

This is it:

Mark four more folding lines (the two triangles):

Score along every line:

Erase your marks:

And you have something like this:

Cut on the bottom and also the small part on the top right (that you see well on pics 2 and 3):

(I forgot to cut it earlier!! LOL Sorry, that's why it's light and hand-drawn... so sorry, hehehe)

Now fold every line:

This is what you get:

Mark 2 spots on each tab (center in the same place on both, they will line up when you glue your container together:

Pierce your four holes:

Set in your eyelets (this is optional, just holes will do if you don’t have eyelets):

Don’t glue yet but if you now fold, this is what you get; you’re already seeing your cart:

Now you can decorate as you please. It’s easier to decorate before gluing, this way you can work flat on the table:

If you want an edge going all the way around, unless you use fabric ribbon, I suggest you cut into 4 pieces (instead of one long piece); this way it will fold better in the end.

Once you have finished decorating, you are ready to glue your container. Start on the bottom:

Bring your four flaps together one by one:

Like this:

Now you can glue the side:

And the top part:

Cut a ribbon (about 11 inches) and before you close the container with it, fill with goodies of course, here I have Easter chocolates but you could put anything in here, hot chocolate, what not:

And tada!! This is the finished product.

Notes:

I placed the chocolates in a plastic bag that went in the Milk Carts... What if the chocolate melts...)

And of course, the dimensions can be changed to fit any need!!

I used papers and stickers from the beautiful Best Creations' Bunny Love collection to decorate my milk carts.