a few projects for you ...

Hi everyone !!
I have a few projects for you this week ... and there are new items in stock as well in beads and paper. Edit : The TWELVE WEEKS OF CHRISTMAS will start in SEPTEMBER NOT December !!!
How about these earrings ?

They are made with the new Graphic Swarovski crystals ... they don't really need much more !!! GLAM !!
And here's a mini album using the Girls Paperie Travel paper ... quick & fun, all ready for your vacation pictures, ticket stubs, etc ...

Here are inside pages ...

You can make it with just a few sheets of paper & six pieces of 6x6 chipboard.And what do you do with your scraps ? Make cards of course !!
Here are just a few ideas for you ... I used some of the Sassafras Lass flowers that I got in last week ... love them !!
But if you don't want any scraps I will have kits with all the supplies ... precut & ready to assemble ... $16.50. Let me know if you want one . I just have to type up the directions !!


And now for something completely different ... CHRISTMAS !!! It will be here before we know it ... and if you want to make anything for the holiday, you need to start soon ! So , starting in SEPTEMBER I will have THE TWELVE WEEKS OF CHRISTMAS with a new paper project EVERY WEEK and a small kit for the project. I'll try to keep the kits at just a few dollars each so the whole series would be affordable. You can pick them up week by week if you want them or have a kit reserved for you each week. Just let me know ! It will be a great way to jump in and start getting all kinds of things made for Christmas !!


And for the beaders, I am starting to order in the components for the crystal Christmas Trees and Snowmen. ( I already have orders for 80+ kits !!) And I will have some new designs as well ... angels, snowflakes, etc ... Look for those in September & November.
This year Christmas will not surprise me when it arrives on the 25th of December !!!!
Have a great week. Drop in !!
This week is Cookies for CAPS week ... homemade Whoopie Pies and something not yet decided on ... !!
** the deadline for the Challenge is August 21st **

Oh More Lovelies ...

Every box that arrives holds the loveliest things ... I think I have new favourites every week !!! Here are some great ones this week ...

BEADS : 2 boxes of treasures ... some of the contents aren't really photogenic - you know headpins, eyepins, jumprings, etc... - but oh so necessary !! But there are a few really great things that are picture worthy !!


NEW BEADALON PRODUCTS : Beadalon has introduced a whole line of "Designer Series" products that will take your jewelry making to a whole new level !! There are some wonderful new findings for earrings and pendants as well as a really heavy jewelry cable that will make excellent necklaces for heavier larger stones. Some of the pendant & earring pieces are in the form of pinch bails that will leave beads suspended and twirling. Great for those tricky drop beads. Beautiful !! I hope to have some samples worked up for next week.
Beadalon has also introduced a multi pack of crimp beads ... 4 different colours , 150 pieces each, in size #1. A great kit for those who use different metals.

SWAROVSKI GRAPHIC CRYSTALS ...oh my ! ... these are gorgeous !! Like JEWELS !!! I have 2 sizes and 6 different colours in each. I can just imagine amazing earrings with the smaller sizes and beautiful bracelets with the larger ones ... can't wait to make something with these ... Just look at them

... aren't they amazing ?!!

PAPER : some really fun new products as well as some old favourites !

ADHESIVES & MARKERS :

more adhesives ... Terrifically Tacky Tape from Provo and Tombow's Tape Runner & refills. Also Metallic Markers from American Crafts - great for those Christmas cards that we should all be making ... SOON !

RIBBON :

this is THE MOST beautiful crepe ribbon !! It is 3/4" wide and soft as soft can be. It has a beautifully soft wrinkled texture and colours that will thrill you and get you inspired !! I can't wait to use it !!

TATTERED ANGELS CHALK LINE Mist :

This spray will give you a more solid chalky finish. Great for chipboard ... or, well, anything !! Beautiful colours and so much potential !!

EMBELLISHMENTS :

These have been out for a while but I couldn't resist them ... from Sassafras Lass ... these embellishments are so fun. Just one on a card or page would add so much !! The flowers are thick canvas like paper and the others are FELT !!! Too fun !! (Ignore the prices on them ... I priced them wrong !! The flowers are $4.99pk and the Felties are $5.99 pk.)

PUNCHES, TAGS, etc ...

A few fun punches ... a multi layered monkey (who doesn't love monkeys ??) and a lacy cut-away butterfly. There are also some new metal adhesive tags as well as some metal coin like pieces that would be great for scrapbooking or jewelry. Their verdigris finish is awesome !

And, lastly, here's a sample for the gift bag challenge ... Get creating !!! Kits are ready !!

And don't forget the charm challenge in the jewelry category. And the deadline is not until Aug 21st !!!
Have a great week & stop in !!

*** SALES from last week are still on !! Bead Spinners and Journalling Cards !!

camera ... WORKING !!!

Today I can finally share some photos with you !!! All - well, most- of the camera glitches have been fixed !!
So ... new product this week, new projects, and some great techniques !! Let's get started !

BEADS :
I am unpacking a box today full of headpins, eyepins, jumprings, bails, chains, earrings, pearls, crystals, wire, and threads.
Among the crystals are a new shape called "Graphic" from Swarovski that I have decided to try. I have them in 12mm and 18mm ... they would be great as a focal bead in a bracelet or necklace. Nice and showy but not fussy. Awesome !
I also have long bugle beads - many of you have been asking for them for earrings and long chain necklaces. Well , they're here !!
And now ... charms ... I have awareness ribbons for breast cancer (restocked) , yellow ribbons for Hope (restocked) , as well as new ones for autism.

PROJECT :

How about making your own pendants ? It is super easy and really fun ! These pendants are made with glass tiles, glue, and paper of your choice. I made them with handmade Japanese paper but you can use anything - scrapbooking paper, book paper, collage, ... the sky is the limit !! I have the pendants, glue, bails, small pieces of Japanese paper, and ball chain in stock now. Drop in & I'll explain the steps to you !!! Easy. Fast. Fun.

** SPECIAL **
Buy 6 vials of seedbeads & get a free Bead Spinner. This little baby will string your seedebeads quickly & easily !! (needle not included.)

PAPER:
* Basic Grey : Oliver and Olivia paper. Nice colour combinations. Can be used for baby books without being too cutesy or for adult projects. Very versatile. Great for cards too. I have the sheets of letter stickers for each. I also have the 6x6 pads for each - another great card supply.
Olivia
Oliver
* CRICUT Cartridge "Winter Woodlands" ... I have 2 cartridges here at a great price ... only $59.99 !!! This is the cartridge that will cut out the 3D winter village, among other things. Get it quickly !!
* eyelets, pearl brads, jeweled brads, adhesive gems,
* stamps - mini stamps, card stamps, more Pure Innocence stamps, Inkadinkadoo Inchies sets. These are a great deal. You get 9 1" stamps plus a block that will hold three stamps all for $7.99. There are several different theme packages. Also more from Technique Tuesday including "Dog and Pony Show" ... all pet animal stamps !!! Hmmm ... I know one stamper who probably has almost all of these animals herself ... TC ... are you out there ???
* more Distress Ink, Stickles, ink blender pens
* Embossing Powder Kits - 14 jars of fabulous colour !!!
* Thickers alphabets in various colours and styles
* more Cuttlebug & Sizzix embossing folders
* metallic markers
* chipboard in 6x6 and 12x12
* Crepe ribbon ... oooo ... nice !
* Cosmo Cricket "Delovely" 6x6 pads
* punches
* buttons
* metal words & tags
* Sassafras Lass Felties & Flowers
* Clear Snap Design Adhesives - great product !! 4 sheets per package. Add glitter or flocking to the 2 sided adhesive designs. Great for borders, cards, etc ...
* Smooch - 2 new colours - Pink Sprinkles and Wineberry
* Heidi Swapp - Fastenation Folder & Add-ons
* Tattered Angels Chalkline - a new paintable product that gives you a deep chalklike coverage in wonderful bubblegum type colours. Awesome for chipboard !!!

**SPECIAL **
Buy 10 sheets of October Afternoon paper (Fly a Kite or Thrift Shop) and get a free sheet of matching journaling cards !!

PROJECT : EMBOSSING !!
I am in love with embossing right now - sit still too long & I will emboss you !!! Here are a few projects using embossing ...

Birthday Tag : I just embossed the image in clear then rubbed ink over it. Attach it to a tag & you have a fast and easy tag !!

Various Products : Light aqua - Stamp'N'Bond from Stampendous ... stamp with a slow drying ink like Versamark, sprinkle with the Stamp'n'Bond, Heat until clear. Then add glitter ... also from Stampendous.
Blue - same technique except I used flocking. A furry little butterfly !!
Pink - I used Distress Embossing Powder. Rub the heated embossing powder with your finger to knock off the loose particles and create an aged look.

Butterfly Card : embossed the text stamp with white embossing powder as well as the butterfly. Then I rubbed various Distress inks over the design until I got the colour I wanted.

LIVE Card : I used a chicken wire stamp from Prima for the background with the white embossing powder. More Distress ink on top. I stamped the Tim Holtz LIVE stamp on a tag that I had also inked up. Then I used Tim Holtz Tissue Tape to attach it to the card and added one of his metal flowers. A little strip of Bazzill's Just the Edge Half in brown made for a nice little accent. I also added some of the tape inside.

And here's another little card using the tissue tape ... I adhered it in layers on the front. The tape is so lovely and thin that you don't even get ridges. A very simple card !




**NOTE** I am extending the deadline for this month's challenge to August 21st because ... I have been TOO SLOW getting the kits ready. So you have a whole extra month !!!

ahhhhhhhhhhh ... this is not going well !!!

Oh my ... the heat is unbearable today ( I haven't turned on the AC) ... and nothing is working !!! ( and I wish I wasn't either ... haha). My camera refuses to download the photos I took so I have set up the items again, rephotographed them all with another camera ... and ... it won't download either !!! So I have to find both discs at home & have the programs reinstalled. That means unfortunately - no photos this week. So I will save the embossing , pendants, & core'dinatins paper until next week ! Hopefully by then, I'll be back on track !!
There are more items that I have unpacked in both beads & paper. Thursday I will have the air conditioning on so why not drop in to poke around and see what's new ?? I may even have lemonade ... I'm working on it !!
For now, I can share with you that I have just pre-ordered a few lines from My Mind's Eye ... you can go to their website (www.mymindseye.com) and check them out if you wish ! I ordered the full line of papers from Lost & Found ...oh the projects I can imagine with this !! ... and will add embellishments next week when they are listed for ordering. I also ordered the paper kits for Alphabet Soup ( Boy and Girl), Blackbird, Haunted, Holly Jolly, and I Believe. The kits are almost all $9.99 except for Haunted ($16.99) because it is flocked papers and I Believe ($11.99) because it is glittered paper. If you want to reserve any, just let me know !!
Next week should be a more "normal" (what's that ??!!) week so I hope to get some samples & kits ready ... this week was bookwork, sorting, cleaning up the workroom, vet appointments, and just plain being too hot !!!
So right now I am crabby & hot, mad about my dumb cameras, and wanting a Popsicle ... so I will suck it up and get to work on the challenge bags. I hope to get them done up tonight & posted tomorrow morning ... with or without pictures !!!
So drop in for a visit ... I promise to be over being crabby by then !! ( And I may have lemonade ...)

Just a quickie ... It's Canada Day !!!

Just a quick post ... Thursday is a holiday so the week seems really short ! So ... to match the week ... a really short post !! Next week I'll have photos of the winners of the Challenge, a new challenge for July, a new card kit, a little bit about embossing, and a few of my favourite can't-live-without'em tools.
But this week I do have some new things ...

BEADS :
I have unpacked more of the crystals & metal beads and findings. I also have some new products from Beadalon and new cord necklaces.
PAPER :
More Cuttlebug folders : Winter Borders, Holly Ribbons, Stars A2, Floral fantasy A2, Nature's Messenger A2, Pop Culture Borders, Ironworks, Organic Flourish Borders, Forest branches A2, Frills Borders, with Love Borders, Just My Type Borders, Caged Bird 12" border.
More Sizzix folders & dies : Fall Leaves Die, Fall Pumpkin Die, Fall Owl Die, Birthday Set Impressions
Tim Holtz Folders & Dies for Sizzix : Styled Labels die, Tattered Floral die, Checker Board & Cracked Set (embossing), Bingo & Patchwork Set (embossing), On the Edge Die Scallops, On the Edge Die Plaque & Postal, On the Edge Cutting plates.

So that's my QUICK post ... have a great Canada Day, stop in Friday or Saturday, and come back to the blog next week for MORE !!!

** The winners for this month are : jewelry - Natalie W
card - Rosetta M.

Lots of New Stuff !!!

Hi everyone ! Lots of new stuff to share this week ... let's get started !!

BEADS:

I have unpacked 3 boxes of beads this week so there is plenty to choose from including 15lbs of crystals !! Here is a quick list of some of what's new !

* strands of vintage and bright 8mm round beads

* strands of cut edge beads

* strands of teeny tiny Peacock beads ... cute & sparkly !!

* strands of mini copper glass beads

* 3 hole spacers in several styles

* more charms ... and more charms...

* large resin beads for chunky jewelry ... but still light. I'm going to try a crazy random bracelet on elastic.

* sparkle crimp covers - by the piece as well as prepackaged - only 20 cents each for the individual ones

* WATCHES and WATCHES and WATCHES ... and are they ever nice !!! Silver, antique copper, copper, antique brass, modern, vintage ... watch heaven !!

* PRECIOSA CRYSTAL ... now these little beauties are the way to go if you need several crystal bicones but not a big bag full. They are strung in little strands and come in MANY colours. And the price point is GOOD !

Here is an example of what I have ...

3mm (42 pcs) ... $2.99 to $3.49

4mm (31 pcs) ... $2.99 ... that's only .096 each !!! Compare to .20 each for Swarovski .

6mm (21 pcs) ... $2.99 ... that's .14 each compared to .35 from the Swarovski tray.

5mm (25 pcs) ... $2.50 ... a different size.

8mm (15 pcs) ... $4.50 ... only .30 each compared to .65 from the trays !

10mm (12 pcs) ... $6.99 ... another different size.

I am still figuring out how to display them but for now I have just put them in trays ... can't wait to share them !!

And, in case you are thinking "But they aren't Swarovski ..." , I'll tell you they are every bit as beautiful and come in different colours than Swarovski. I often use these in my jewelry as well as the Swarovski and the Chinese crystal. They are all gorgeous and each offers a different detail to your creations.

* sparkly crossed strand tubes

* tiny ... and I mean tiny ... crystal studded spacers in silver and gunmetal

* beautiful new metal tube beads

* magnetic 3 strand tube clasps

* gunmetal pinch bails

* and MAGNETIC BALL CLASPS ... these are so popular that I sell out quickly ... but I have LOTS now !! I have them in silver, antique brass, and antique copper as well as in small and medium. The magnets are really powerful and make doing up bracelets a SNAP ! I love them and use them on many of my bracelets. I have them individually as well as in bags for a bit of a discount !

And there are more beads, bead caps, and findings still being unpacked. I don't have any samples made up yet - as much as I wanted to just make things, I decided to was more important to get them unpacked and out so you could buy them !! I hope to have a few pieces made up next week !



PAPER :

Another exciting box of treasures here too !
(oops - a bit blurry !!)
* Fancy Pants "Wishful Thinking" paper ... this is so pretty ! Double sided. Pale pinks, aquas, greens, browns in celebratory patterns of banners, flowers, stripes, scallops, plaids ... great for summer party pages, birthday scrapbooks and cards, anything happy !!

* jillibean soup "summer squash" series ... joyful colours and designs ... pink, blue, yellow, orange, red ... party lanterns, flowers, and sweet little colourful fish on a happy yellow background. Celebrate something just so you can scrap a page or make a card !!

* Pebbles "Tree House" Collection ... fun strong summer colours ... red, teal, yellow, green, and brown. Birdhouses and flowers as well as the tone on tone backs of the pages and built in trim stripe. Matching Word Stickers.

** These papers are all only $1 per sheet **

* American Crafts "THICKERS" in several different fonts, finishes and colours. These dimensional letters make great titles on pages or words on cards.
* Doodlebug letter stickers ... inexpensive, plentiful, colourful, FUN !!

* Buttons Buttons ... from Hero Arts & Doodlebug. Can you ever have too many buttons ????

* Glue Dots - now these I KNOW you can never have too many of !! I love Glue Dots !! I have mini, pop up, vellum, larger ... they are great !!

* Fancy Pants "Roadshow" Paper Kit . Beautiful kit includes 12 sheets of double sided paper, stickers, alpha stickers, printed transparency, flocked transparency, coloured rub-ons, and glitter cuts. Not to mention how beautiful the paper is ...

* BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND !!! ... the Cosmo Cricket veggie paper !!

* STAMPS ... more from Inkadinkadoo, Pure Innocence Stamps ( and others) by My Favourite Thing, Stampendous stamps ... lots ! ..., Technique Tuesday. Oh so many nice ones ...

* Maya Road - Chandelier Trinkets

* Ranger - new Distress Inks, more Stickles, Gloss Paper, Brayers
* Stampendous ... in addition to the great stamps I also have glitter, embossing powder, and flocking from them. Great colour kits as well as individual bottles.
* Tim Holtz : AWESOME new tissue tape in 4 designs ... LOVE IT !! Also grunge paper, film strip ribbon, grungeboard, and the Tiny Attacher.

* SIZZIX : great embossing folders !!!
* Spellbinders : Snowflakes Impresabilities, Cupcake Shapeabilities
* Staz-On ink

Again, no samples ... too much unpacking !! Next week !



NOTE :

This week is COOKIES FOR C.A.P.S. and I am thrilled to say that Sara Bates is providing cupcakes !!! Many of you have seen her beautiful cakes and - if you are really lucky - tasted them too !! So a very special thank you to her for this wonderful gesture !!



This week is also the last week for Monthly Challenge entries. Get them in by Saturday !!



Anyway, Purolator just dropped off 3 more boxes so I better get unpacking !!

Hope to see you this week !!

Oh BLOGGITY ...poop

ERR ... I am having trouble with my camera/download system so ... so far ... no pictures. I am quite frustrated and have wasted more than an hour of time that I don't have today so I am MOVING ON !!! There may not be pictures this week. Sorry !

(EDIT : I did manage to get a few !! YAY !!)

But there are some great new things that I have put out so I will just get to them !
** SPECIAL - 50yd spools of double faced satin ribbon, 1/4" ... $5.99 **

PAPER :

* some great stuff from 7 Gypsies ... really nice metal book corners , book rings/knobs , mini keys, reinforcers ( metal rings for punched holes) ... these items all come in several metal colours. There is also TONS of new book covers, masking tape, tags, chip letters, fun dangles, and awesome hardware pieces. They are great additions to a project to make a real statement. I am working on a kit for all those of you who would like to try all the different things 7 Gypsies has but don't want to buy whole packages of the items. A sampling of all their great cards, tags, envelopes, metallic bits, tape, etc ... would be fun, don't you think ?


* fun little stamps from Prima - each set includes a little stamp, ink pad, and 3 tags ... all for $3.49. Cute themes too ... owls, love, bugs, pirate owls ...


* EMBELLISHMENTS like CRAZY !!! ... buttons in all colours, metal tags, charms, coins, keys in all sorts of style - from plain to super fancy - and in silver, brass, and copper. All these little elements add charm to projects for not much money.

* rub-on stitches ... 15 feet of rub on stitches actually ! These are so cute on cards and pages.(now if you could only hem pants with them ...)

* Heidi Swapp Crepe Paper ribbon ... this is such fun stuff ! You can mist it with Glimmer Mist or other sprays. It is printed with designs but the colour only heightens the effect ! You get 8 20" pieces per package ... imagine the fun !!





* some new Cuttlebug folders as well as Cuttlebugs ! Buy one and get freebies !! More folders and dies coming in a week or so !!


This is a card I have been making lately ... "The Butterfly Card" ... I love it (if I do say so myself ...!). SO I have made up kits for anyone that wants to make one - includes everything you need (prestamped Birthday card base, cream paper, ribbon,butterflies, and diagram) for $1.50 . Or, if you just want the butterflies, I have bags of 20 of them for $1. If you are not a card maker, I have the completed cards for $2.50 or 5/$10. I will also have small gift tags next week.

BEADS :
... 2 boxes full ...
* lots of new Miyuki size 11/0 in great colours.
* new charms ... I see a great charm bracelet in the future ...
* lots of TOOLS ... including great crimpers and Japanese style cutters ... nice
* crystals crystals and more crystals
* strands of AMAZING beads ... my mind is running full speed with ideas !!
* large link chain
* ribbon
* Tierra Cast charms ... ohhh so nice and excellent quality !
* keys and double loop coins/charms ... great for long summery necklaces .
* strands of mini Peacock beads ... silvery & shimmery.

Remember - next Saturday is the challenge deadline ... don't forget to bring your projects in !! Next week is also "Cookies for C.A.P.S." with a special guest baker . YUM !!