New Layout: "Love Notes" --pink, brown & BLACK!

Pink and Brown "go".

Pink and Black "go".

So why can't pink, brown AND black go together?!?!?!?

Don't forget the #1 rule of scrapbooking....there are NO RULES!

Ignore the ole fashion rules of not mixinf browns and blacks and step outside of the box!

I made this layout today after getting inspiration from a recent scrapbooking magazine. I absolutely love this paper and really like that they pushed the envelope by making it various shades of pink along with brown AND black...that seems to be a rarity!

New layout PLUS a challange for YOU!

New Layout..."Aca-dem-ic-al-ly"

Terra was selected by her teacher to do the daily announcment to the entire school! Seeing as though i am in love with the paper, and want to make it go as far as humanly possible, i planned ahead and made sure to maximize the usage to get the most i possibly could from it!

The first photo below is of the peices i cut in order to complete this layout. The second photo below is of the scraps i was left with! Instead of using 3 12x12 pages of heavyweight (and slightly pricey) patterned paper plus 3 12x12 sheets of heavyweight textured Bazzill Cardstock, i used roughly the equivelent of 1 sheet of cardstock and 1 sheet of patterned paper! By cutting the center of the blue cardstock out entirely, i had plenty of cardstock to not only mat my pink journaling block, but also to cut out my title using QuicKutz! The second sheet of patterned paper (the pink stripes and the brown and pink polka dots) was a double sided beauty, so that saved even more!

CHALLENGE! Make the most of your paper! All you have to do is think ahead, and make a plan. Get out a piece of scratch paper, or your idea book and draw your layout ideas. Then determine exactly how much of each paper you will need. Be sure to use enough of the largest piece so that the page is nice and sturdy, but don't waste paper.

Note that in my layout, at the bottom of the page, there was potential to have 6 layers of photos/papers for this one page! SIX! By planning ahead and piecing the layout together carefully, i was able to not only save money by saving paper, but i was also able to save height in my scrapbook as the page is much thinner than it would have been had i used full sheets, six pages thick!

ORGANIZE those Quick Kutz dies!

In the past i found some binder sheets (think divided page protectors for a binder) that fit the Cuttlebug dies and embossing folders. I have now found some for QuickKutz! I have seperated my alphabets from my everyday dies, and have put all of the alphabets into binder sheets. They are so easy to find now, nice and organized, neat, and compact! WOOHOO

I'm in L*O*V*E....

with a paper line! HA!

If you haven't seen the new Penny Lane paper line yet, RUN to your closest LOCAL scrapbook store. The national chains like Hobby Lobby and Michaels are very unlikely to have it! This line is perhaps my favorite in YEARS. My last true favorite was the Basic Grey Lollipop Shoppe from 4+ years ago! I had a very hard time NOT buying at least one of every single sheet, it is so PERFECT! They are heavy weight, textured, gorgeous colors and the matching diecuts are gorgeous, and it says a TON that i am saying that. I typically do not like the cheesy matchig diecuts that the companies produce...but these are awesome! Here are a few photos of a small portion of the papers i snagged....ENJOY!

Get Organized on a budget!

I think most of you know how Anal Retentive I am when it comes to organization....my favorite parts of Target are the school supplies, and the organization sections! We decided to move around my bedroom/scrap room and I am *almost* finished with it, and I love the way it turned out! I will list approximate prices and where I purchased items along with the photos for those that need to get a jump start of finishing their own scrap spaces (And I know you guys are out there, so quit hiding...get started!).

Desk:
My father made my desk out of a large wood piece with 3 attached legs. It is about 6 feet in length, and 2 feet deep. The left side of the desk rests on the top of a salvaged sanded and spray painted filing cabinet. It holds my files, but sadly enough, not 12x12...but it still does quite a bit for "hiding" ugly papers!

COST: $20 total (includes the paints for both the desk and the filing cabinet!)

Long Shelves:
My father made the long shelves as well, out of the same piece of wood that the desk came from. They are the same length as the desk, and are 12 inches deep.

COST: $7.50 (6 white 10x12" brackets from Wal-mart shelving section, wood is included in above desk cost!)

White Baskets:
I purchased these at the same time as the above blue pails. The baskets were packaged 2 to a set, and were only $.50 per set, again, at 90% off of summer themed items! They too are super easy to move around, and look cute to boot...what could be better?!?!?! Items stored in the baskets: MM Foam sets, Just Rite Monogram tools & accessories, Various bare chipboard pieces, Hot Glue Gun/Ribbon Iron, non-holiday Wood Block Stamps, Metallic Paints, Label Makers, Bulk Adhesives, and new cards I’ve finished and need to photograph. I also have a basket set aside for Terra for small scraps, and her glue, etc, etc.

COST: $5.00 total for 10 baskets

12x12 Drawer sets:
These were purchased at Target for $8.99 each on sale last week (through the end of today!), regular price is only $9.99 so don’t make a special trip today unless you just really want to save that extra $1!!! The exact same drawers are $14.99 at Wal-Mart, and $14.99 at Hobby Lobby (so $9 after a 40% off coupon). Items stored in the drawers: (on top shelf...items used once per year or less) Christmas, Love, Baby, Halloween & Mothers/Fathers Day items. Each of the 5 on that shelf is for each separate holiday, one drawer for paper, one for embellishments, one for stamps. The 2 sets that are on top of the desk hold a TON of stuff....all my MM paints, Stickles, Embossing powders, all inks and Flocking mess, Colored Floss, Envelopes and my business cards and stamps. This was the most expensive of the entire set up, but I don't know how i ever lived without them!

COST: $62.93 for 7 of the 12" 3-drawer sets

Small white desktop shelves:
This was one of my favorite finds E*V*E*R! I got these at Target, 75% off about 2 years ago. They ended up being roughly $6.24 per set of 2! I just knew I’d have the perfect use for them some day, and I loved the way they fit on the desk! These run about $24.99 each set!

COST: $12.48 for 2 sets of 2 cubes


Blue Pails:
I actually purchased these almost 3 years ago at Target. I scored them for only $.15 each during an after summer 90% off clearance! I bought all they had, 10 total. They are the perfect size to hold items that I use constantly, and they can quickly be moved around when I need certain tools and product. They also have awesome little slots for labels....a place for everything and everything in its place! Items stored in the pails: Pens/Pencils, Scissors/Sanding Tools, Adhesives, Acrylic Blocks, Tombow Markers, Paint Brushes, Colored Pencils.

COST: $1.50 total for 10 pails





Flower/Ribbon Jars:
These are all from Hobby Lobby. The flower jars were $2.33 each (so $1.39 each with 40% off coupon...or even lower if you score them on a 50% off sale!). As always, the flowers are ROYGBIV'd. The ribbon jars are slightly larger and therefore they have to lie down, but they still work perfect, and you can see the pretty ribbons nicely! These larger jars are $2.99 each (so $1.79 each w/coupon, again, cheaper if you wait for a 50% off sale).

COST: $13.71 for 6 short and 3 tall jars




Button Jars:
These are Making Memories jars and were purchased at Eclectica for $9.99 for the set of 6 (so $6.99 after a 30% off coupon). The buttons are ROYGBIV’d, of course, and I love the look of the colors showing through the jars. The fit perfectly inside the shelves of the cube sets!

COST: $6.99 for set of 6 small jars


Making Memories Embellishment Boxes:
I purchased 4 from Eclectica and one from the above EBay seller. Items stored in the 5 boxes (I am still searching for a 6th box to round out the collection!): Brads (separated by color of course), Specialty Brads (think 3’s, flowers, etc, etc), Small Embellishments, Misc Embellishments & Eyelets (separated by color)

COST: $24.95 for all 5 boxes at $4.99 each




Paper Trays:
I purchased these for $6 last weekend at the Eclectica Craft Yard Sale. I REALLY scored with these! They appear to be made by Display Dynamics. I have my 12x12 cardstocks stored here, ROYGBIV'd of course. The bottom tray is for "special" cardstocks, like glitters and scalloped edges, etc, etc.

COST: $6.00 for the set of 6 trays




Cropper Hopper Vertical Paper Holders, dividers, & files:
I am so happy with how these turned out! Some of these i purchased long ago, some are new. I now have 7 of the 12" holders, 5 of the 8" holders, and 3 of the 6" holders. As always, everything is organized to a "T" and labeled as such! :) I purchased some of the holders at Eclectica and some on EBay...try this seller for a great experience: Kimscotti

.....12" holders......
Basic Patterned Papers: separated by main color of background, ROYGBIV'd
Theme Patterned Papers: birthday, animal, sports, etc, etc
Patterned Paper Scraps: separated by theme/main style
Large Cardstock Scraps: separated & ROYGBIV'd
Prepared Layouts: Files contain sets ready to be worked on...photos, papers & CS
Prepared Projects: Files contain all supplies for projects/books waiting to be worked on
Bulk Patterned Papers: Papers i bought in bulk for special reasons

.....8" holders.....
8.5x11" Cardstocks: Neutrals
8.5x11" Cardstocks: Colors ROYGBIV'd
8" Patterned Paper Stacks
Medium Cardstock Scraps
Other: Acrylic sheets, Stamps sheets, Stamp boards, Labels

.....6" holders.....
Small Cardstock/Mat Stacks
6x6" Patterned Paper Stacks
6" Cardstock


COST: Roughly $74.85 for all 15 holders, not including the MANY sets of files and dividers!







Total cost of Room Re-Do:
$235.91

If you see anything else in the photos that you’d like to know about, please let me know! I tried to hit all the mail sections, but I’m sure I missed things!

Wall Art

I guess you can call it that. I decided i needed some color in my lovely bathroom, so i sat down with some paints, some scrapbooking embellishments (the black felt borders) and a few small (read: cheap) canvas boards. I like the way they turned out!