The continuation of my Swapping Addiction: Toilet Paper (TP) Mini Albums

You may not be able to tell yet, but I am addicted to swapping.  After the stockings I created, I decided to join more swaps, and more swaps, and more swaps.  This next share, came from an online forum community I like to hang out at - Scrapjazz.  I have been here for years, I feels like almost an eternity really (and not in a bad way).  Anyway, one of the awesome ladies over there, decided to organize a TP mini album swap (Thankyou Lindsay such a great idea!).  I didn't really have a use for a TP mini album, but the idea sounded like so much fun, that I just could not resist!  We were matched with partners, and all of them had the same theme "Favorite Things" - each album was different as they were based on the preferences of the partner - My partner was Lindsay.  She likes the colors Black and Pink - and this is what I came up with:

The nice part of this project: EVERYTHING was from my stash and scraps - seriously, I did not have to crack a single piece of brand new unused paper or other supplies.  If you have lots of scrap paper you want to use up, I suggest making TP mini albums.  Not to mention that you get to repurpose those TP rolls that you just through away.  Seriously, I'm pretty sure I am hooked on this whole swapping thing.  It is a Blast.  And to give a little shout out to my partner (Virginia) who sent me mine (which I LOVE) here are some more beautiful TP mini album pictures:

 I am in LOVE with that handmade flower, it's gorgeous! and Pretty!

 Isn't that Owl just the cutest?  I love it!

 Love those tags!  They all look the same, and they ALL look perfect.

My Very First Swap

Hello ladies,

I am here to share my experience with you of my first swap.  I realize that some of you may be pros at Swaps, and some of you may be wondering what I am talking about (like I was).  And some may even think "swaps aren't for me" which is what I thought!  But I'm pretty sure that I am hooked!  It's a great way to meet other crafters from everywhere really, and find uses for all those fun little paper crafty things you want to do but don't because you aren't sure if is useful or not!  Well the swaps make it useful!  I go turned onto swapping by a good friend of mine, Nichole - who is a very very very talented Stampin Up! demo, her work is just beautiful and I always admire the things she makes especially for swaps.  Every time we get together, I am excited to see what she it working on.  So I decided I wanted to try swapping, because really, anything she does it awesome and try worth in my book.  This decision lead to these:

Supplies: DCWV Holiday Collection The Christmas Stack, GCD Animal Fanatic, Bazzill (Paper); Stampin Up! (Ink), Spellbinders (Label); Simplicity Halloween Trim (Fur Top); Stampin Up! Tags Til Christmas (Stamp)

I have been dying to make these forever really, I love them and have had a similar idea for ages, but simply did not want to go through the trouble of designing it myself.  The template was created by Claire Brennan and can be found here.  Because I was lazy, I converted it to an SVG file to cut with my Cricut and Sure Cuts a Lot - took a little more work, but a lot less by hand cutting! And here is the inside

Scrappy Area

As some of you know, the past few months have been months on transition and stalled transition.  A move from our little home, to my mothers, to California all within a 4 month frame.  I can honestly say that my little bit of scrappy heaven space has suffered greatly. I've gone to my own room, to an unused room, and a shared space.  This particular photo was taken mid crafting between projects.  It's not ideal, but it is still a crafty and creative space.  The best part.... that bookcase.  I'll be honest, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the expedit cubbie bookcase.  It's got some nice design elements, but I can put all my stuff into boxes and straight into the cubbies creating a streamlined clean look.  Heaven.

Major Life Changes

That's Right.  I've started school again, and with that has come some mixed emotions and feelings.  It's been nice to have a year off.  Scrapping every day, seeing my man everyday, being unstructured and unscheduled.  But, not all things last forever, and back to structure, separation, limited time.  I'll be honest, I prefer this way of life much more.... if I only had more time for scrappy fun and paper play.  I know.... It's not like I'm good at keeping up on posting anyway.  But, I do want to be.  Really.  But, Time. Is. Limited.  Very Limited.  I have been giving this much thought, and although I fall asleep at my books regularly, and often have candy and redbull by my side for instant energy.... I still want scrappy and paper play to be part of my regular life.  And I love sharing with you all, even if I do not do it very much.  Sharing my creations with others and getting ideas from others for new creations, bring me joy, and my small and growing family joy.  It's good times all around.  So, I did what I am good at.  Research.  Lots of it.  And More of It.  And my conclusion:

It is possible to have both an active craft life and an over active academic life.  Hopefully, I have found a system that will work for me.  The solution.  Scheduled Posts.  Oh. My. Goodness.  This will change my life.  Stay tuned for more!.

Bookmarks

I love books.  A LOT.  And apparently I married a man, that loves books and reads more than I do.  I never thought that that was possible, nor did me dear family.  With a love of books, also comes a love of bookmarks.  As a book reader and a student, I often am reading 3-10 books at a time (yes I know).  Thus, I never have enough markers to mark by books with.  I have been looking for fabulous ways to create bookmarks, because of my love for them.  After looking at good images, and several tutorials, I came up with this:

Supplies:  Patterned Paper (My Minds Eye); Cardstock (Bazzill); Inks (Tsukineko); Stamps (Stampin! UP, Unity Stamp Co.)

I was very pleased with the outcome. The idea for this one cam specifically from Paper Crafting In Cocoa and Midwestern Moms.  I just have a love for corner bookmarks in particular.....  Above I mentioned, that my husband, also loves to read.  Remember?  Well he also has a very deep appreciation for and fondness of my handmade goodies.  No matter how terrible I think my papercrafts are or are not, he thinks they are the beautiful and lovely.  Thus at Easter, I had made a cute little name tag for his Easter basket - this little name tag was so loved that he turned it into his bookmark.  And, he has been requesting additional little guys of the same sort.  Thus, I made him these today as well:

Supplies:  Patterned Paper (My Minds Eye, Basic Grey); Cardstock (Bazzill, Unknown); Ink (Tsukineko); SCAL Cut File (SVGcuts.com)


These were made so that when he puts them in a book, their little eyes will be peering over the top.  He loved them.  And I loved making them.  In part because I enjoy doing little things like this for him - it is fulfilling and a deep expression of love and admiration, and in part because I got to play with my new YourStory.  If you look closely, you will notice that the little animal guys are laminated.  I did this for durability sakes - my man always feels dreadful when my well loved papercrafts go the way of well loved papercrafts - tattered and worn.

Thanks for stopping by!

A quick Update!

Hello my fellow crafters!

I know, it's been too many months.  I am very bad at this blogging thing.  I really enjoy it, but often feel too overwhelmed by the idea of posting crafty stuff everyday.  So while I have been rethinking my plan of attack for this whole crafty thing, and how to make it more about the fun and sharing, without feeling that it is ONE MORE thing I HAVE TO DO, I have been very busy with life.  As some of you know, I am a graduate student in transition.  This transition will come to an end it about 2 weeks when I return to school and will get my PhD!  This is very exciting and daunting to me.  Part of my current considerations with the blog, is how to continue crafting on a regular basis and sharing it with you.  Because, I really do love sharing.  So I guess my mid year resolution is to live a more balanced and holistic life, in which my crafting addiction, limited funds, and being a graduate student can live harmoniously.  I know I do not have very many followers, but what are you thoughts and suggestions on how to keep a crafty balanced life?

Honored Recipient of a Blog Award and a little Share

The other day, when checking comments (which I do not do every day to be honest), I saw a little comment by Emily Leiphart.  I stumbled across Emily as part of a Unity Stamp Company Friends with Flair blog hop.  I was inspired by her work, it is always so beautiful, clean, and just inspiring.  Truly a very talented and creative woman.  Well Emily, left a comment letting me know that I had won a Blog award.  (Emily, you taught me what Blog Awards are!)  She named me as a recipient of the Liebster Blog Award.

The purpose of this award?  To identify other bloggers in the blogging community who may not have very many followers, but have inspiring work.  In honor of that, I will pass this on.

1. Debbie Tehrani.  She designs for Color Combos Galore, and her work is just AMAZING, I love all her texture, layers, colors, everything.  Not to mention she is just wonderful!
2.  Fi.  I know her just as Fi, and her work is also gorgeous.  Lots of texture, color, flair, pizzaz! 
3.  Nora.  I have been internet scrap buddies with Nora for ages now.  And recently she sent me a beautiful card.  She makes beautiful cards and I love looking at her works of art!

Take a gander at these lovely ladies work, I promise you it will be well worth it and result in your going back again and again!

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And my share for today....

I completed this layout for a challenge over at Scrapjazz.com.  The challenge was to create a layout in which you use stitching in part of your title.  I wasn't sure what to do, then one night while trying to fall asleep, the phrase "Let Them Eat Cake" popped into my head, and I knew EXACLTY what I was going to do.  I am very happy with the turn out! 
And for those that like a little bit of story picture background......
My husband had NO idea I was gonna shove the cake in his face.  We never talked about it before we got married (to be honest there was a week between proposal and marriage), so he was more than shocked when he opened his mouth to be fed some cake and got a face and nose full of it.  His only comment later was that his head hurt because of cake in his sinuses!  poor guy, he married........

Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill), Patterned Paper (Unknown - left over bits from other layouts), Flower (Prima), Flourishes (Basic Grey, Me and My Big Ideas, American Crafts), Journaling block (Pink Paislee), Letters (American Crafts), Font (Bickham Script Pro), Paint (Delta), Spray (Tattered Angels)