Monday 23 July 2012

My Paper Art Studio

Ingvild Bolme from My Paper Art Studio Blog is giving away a mountain of Prima Products!
She is having this amazing give-away to celebrate her new blog design.
Check out her blog : www.ingvildbolme.com

To give you an idea about what a "mountain of Prima products" look like, here is the picture and the information given on Ingvild's blog :




This huge lot of Prima products contains :
*Ingvild Bolme Comfort-Craft Tools Distressing Tool * Ingvild Bolme Comfort-Craft Tools Craft Knife * Ingvild Bolme Comfort-Craft Tools knife blade refills * Ingvild Bolme Comfort Craft Tools Chalk Edgers - 6 colors! * Ingvild Bolme Shabby Chic Resin Treasures "Roman Pillars" * Ingvild Bolme Shabby Chic Resin Treasures "Window Closers" * Ingvild Bolme Shabby Chic Resin Treasures "Mushrooms" * two Prima trim/laces * Prima Pebbles * two Prima flower vines * 4 packs of Prima alphabets * two packs of Prima butterflies * three packs of Prima "Say it in Pearls" centers * two packs of Prima canvas buttons * two packs of Prima "Say it in Pearls" swirls * three packs of Prima "Say it in Crystals" swirls * two Prima felt sticker trims * three Prima clear tapes * Donna Downey trim * Ruby-Violet cuff * Prima decorate border * Prima felt DeVines * Prima Fancy Felt Matties * Prima Vines Jewelry * pack of Prima journaling notecards * lot of Prima notecards * lot of 21 Prima flowers and mulberry flower * huge lot of 21 packs of Prima flowers! * 12x12 Prima Embossed Chipboard * two Prima 12x12 paintables * Prima 12x12 overlay * huge lot of 39 Prima 12x12 two sided pattern papers!

What do you have to do to get a ticket to this "lottery"?
1. Post the picture above in your blog. Where, how, how large and so on is up to you!
2. Link back to my blog - www.ingvildbolme.com
3. Write some words about this giveaway. All I ask for to be mentioned in the text is that the giveaway is a celebration of the new blog design. The rest is up to you! ;O)
4. Post a comment with a link (directly to where your post is!) below in this post.
5. Then you have to cross your fingers! ;O)

Who can join? - everyone! ;O)
I ship international. But please note that I do not have any responsibility for any extra charges from customs etc. It will be shipped as a gift as it is. All products on the picture will be included.

The giveaway ends 31st of August 2012. I will accept comments in this post to the 31st of August 12.00 p.m. GMT-time. The winner will be picked and announced within September 5th.

Please note that you can also follow updates, news and works @
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
Scrapbook.com
Two Peas in a Bucket

I also recommend you to visit Primas blog here to see all their amazing new products, wonderful DT works and lots of great news and updates to follow.

I hope you will join this giveaway, appreciate all shares, and wish you all Good Luck! 

*hugs and smiles*
Ingvild

Sunday 22 July 2012

Hard Core Crop Challenge #3 : Char - Antiquing 

Here is my take on the Antiquing Challenge :



I made a simple card with a weathered clock using the Tim Holtz bigz die.
Everything is made out of core-cardstock.
I distressed the edgeg with Tim's paper distresser and some pumice stone ink.

I feel like there is something missing in this card but I'm not sure what it is.
I might finish later or use it as an embellishment on a bigger project.

This is also my last Hard Core Crop Challenge of this weekend.
I'm almost out of time, almost out of supplies and out of ideas that are worth crafting.
I could make some more cards for the Ad, scoring, stripes and trendy challenges but it would be rushing it and without any inspiration and therefore I wouldn't like the endresult anyways! :-)

I had lots of fun and I came to realize that even with a small amount of supplies, in this case core cardstock, you can go a long way! I have some cardstock left-overs and 2 sheets 12x12 that are untouched but I still managed to make 3 LO's, 1 card and 1 embellishment.

Here are the 2 smaller projects together and somewhere in the deepest corners of my mind an idea is taking shape that may one day turn into a lovely project..


Hard Core Crop Challenge #6 : Melissa - Handmade Embellishments Challenge

Here is my take on Melissa's Challenge :


Some close-ups :




And from an angle so you can see the depth in the flowers :


I decided to go with some advice May Flaum gave on her blog ;

When you have an idea but don't know what the finished project will look like, just make it and save it. There will be a moment in time where it will be exactly what your looking for.**

So I did. I made a brickwall covered with flowers which I'm sure I'll use someday on an altered object or a lay-out.


(** for the record; this isn't a qoute and therefore not her exact words but it is the advice she gave.)
Hard Core Crop Challenge #14 : Kristine - Sketch

Here is the Sketch :


And here is my take on Kristine's Sketch :


Some close-ups :



As I mentioned in the #4 : Cardstock Only! Challenge, there 2 LO's are a matching set of schoolpicture's.
I love the colours for this theme since they match up perfectly with my daughter's age, she's 3 years old now.
I did a lot of embossing and a bit more sanding then I did on the #4. I did keep it simple on purpose.
The only thing that isn't made out of core cardstock are the cardboard sticker alpha's I used for the name of the school. I used a Spellbinders Label Die Cut for the journalling spot.

And here is a picture of the matching set :


Hard Core Crop Challenge # 4 : Debbie : Cardstock Only!

Here is my take on the Cardstock Only Challenge that Debbie gave us:


Here are some close-ups :




I used a lot of embossing and a little sanding on the stripes and banners.
Other then that I left it simple because I didn't know what I might want to add later like some journalling and probably the dates.
This is a schoolpicture of my 3 year old daughter and I plan om making an album with just those picture's. That would mean 2 picture's each year : 1 portrait picture and 1 group picture of her classmates.
This is her first year in school and I thought those colours would be perfect for her age and what they learn at school right now.
This LO is a matching set with the LO I made for the #14 Kristine - Sketch Challenge.

Saturday 21 July 2012

Hard Core Crop Challenge # 9 : Ellen - Pinterest Challenge

The Core'dinations sheets I used for these challenges :
(It was a bit dark but the 12x12 sheets are purple, red, yellow, blue and green. The 6x6 where a collection of lighter colours.)


And to proof that it's really Core'dinations! : (lol!)


In case I needed some pattern paper I selected this sweet collection I picked up at a local store :


And here is my take on the Pinterest Challenge that Ellen gave us.
I loved the sketch Ellen selected and the colours she used were just perfect for the picture's I had in mind so I decided to use the same one.


And offcours some close-up picture's to show a bit more of the details :

For some reason the embossing shows better on the darker picture's.
I embossed, scored, sanded, distressed and a die cut (flower) on the core cardstock and I used 3 square's of pattern paper, 1 button and some cardstock alpha stickers.








Core'dinations Hard Core Cropper Challenges.


Core'dinations has organized a challenge bonanza called Hard Core Cropper!
All you need is core'dinations-cardstock and it's up to you in which ones and how many of the challenges your going to participate in.
You have untill Sunday night, July 22th at midnight EST to get your entries posted and linked to the blog of the challenge designer.
For more information check out : www.coredinations.com

Master Challenge List :

Day 1 July 17th

1) Lydia - Ad challenge - Chocolate Box
2) Kim - Trendy Things - White Wash
3) Char - Antiquing - Core Essentials
4) Debbie - Cardstock Only - Core Essentials
5) Jennifer - Strip It challenge - Core Prize Pack
6) Melissa - Handmade Embellishment challenge - Vintage Cardstock
7) Andrea - Core Die Cut challenge - Core Cuts

Day 2 July 18th

8) Lydia - Color challenge - Spotted Collection
9) Ellen - Pinterest challenge - Glitter Silk
10) Char - Journalling - Core Essentials
11)***
12) Debbie - All Cardstock challenge - Core Armour
13) Cari - Scoring challenge - Tim Holtz Kraft Core
14 ) Kristine - Sketch - Core Prize Pack

Over the next 24 hours I will post my entries for the different challenges.
I didn't have a lot of core'dinations cardstock so I bought a few extra sheets and hope to at least be able finish 3 LO's and maybe some cards made out of the left-overs... If I have the time! ;-)

*** There isn't a #11 challenge as far as I can tell. I think they made a mistake with the numbers and left it this way in order to prevent more confusion.
Bazzil Card Shoppe Cardstock Give Away!
Happy National Lollipop Day!!


Have you tried the Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock yet?!

Bazzill has been working with its paper mills to create the perfect premium, 
smooth, heavy-weight cardstock that will be a sweet treat for every card-maker. 
Now available in 28 coordinating colors. 
The paper is a stout 100 lbs. and folds with a crisp edge. 
It won’t warp when used with markers,
inks, or mists, and can handle loads of embellishments without sagging.

Did you know that we carry all 28 colors at the Ribbon Carousel store?!
The Ribbon Carousel Crewmates have fallen in love with the stuff! 

We are thrilled to be teaming up with Bazzill today to show off their amazing new cardstock!  

After you check out the cards, head right on over to the Ribbon Carousel store to pick up some 
cardstock to try!  We've discounted the Bazzill Card Shoppe cardstock 25% off for you so no codes necessary! 

Would you like to WIN a sampler pack of the Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock?

Bazzill has sent us 3 sampler packs of 2 sheets each of all 28 colors
Find out how to to win at the end of this post!

~~~~~

Bazzill donated 3 sampler pack of the Card Shope cardstock for us to give away!
Here's what you need to do:

1. Leave a comment on this blog post
(www.blog.ribboncarousel.com or click on the link on the right sidebar!)
2. Head on over to the Bazzill Facebook page to "like" them and tell them the Ribbon Carousel 
sent you and then head back over to our Facebook page and tell us you did!
3. SHARE this post on your blog or Facebook page and let us know you did here OR 
on our FB page. Please include a direct link so we can check it out!

Tuesday 17 July 2012

First arrival of new Goodies!!

Well, as soon as I recieved the Big Shot I placed an order for the Tim Holtz Die Pick and the Tim Holtz Alterations Bigs Die Gears.
The Die Pick because of what it is, a tool to clean out your dies, and the Bigs Die Gears because I know that's the Die I'm going to use the most.

Days went by and I didn't recieve anything. Not an email that the package had been send, not a package in my mailbox.. and since I was impatient to start with I send the company an email last friday.

That same evening I got a call from the owner;
Something went wrong because I should have had a call earlier from one of his employees.
The Bigz Gears, just like the Big Shot, are unavailable in europe because of the problems with the distributor in Germany.
His best guess was that they would arrive somewhere next month maybe..
Offcours the Die Pick was in stock so what to do now?

I asked him if he had any other Bigz Dies in stock and he had.
So, the solutions for this particulair order was to swap the Gears Dies for the Weathered Clock Die, it was on my "wish-list" anyways, just on a lower piority then the gears were.
The guy was relieved that I didn't make a bigger problem out of it and promised me he would send it immediately, and he did! Including some free doily-like metalic shine stickers, which was a suprise!

So today I found my new goodies in the mail! YAY!!


At least now I can really start using my Big Shot for some of the awesome projects I have in mind!
And, my sister helped me out with the Gears problem. She lives in the UK and Amazon.co.uk still had 1 of them in stock which she ordered for me and will arrive somewhere between July 20th and July 26th.

And with this lovely package of goodies came a message from the post office that they tried to deliver a international package but I wasn't home. I can pick it up tommorrow. Which probably means that my Spellbinders have arrived!

I love receiving goodies!! :-)

Sunday 15 July 2012

Camp Scrap 2012

Hi all,

May Flaum has organized Camp Scrap 2012 on her website.
This is 7 weeks full of learning new technique's and ideas for scrapbooking.
I have been following this for a few weeks now and she has found a lot of awesome sponsors for this.

I've been participating in a Happy Mail Challenge with my First Lay-Out ever and I was one of the random winners for a pack of Bazzil goodies! YAY!!

What an awesome way to start my sunday morning!

If you want to know more about Camp Scrap check out : www.mayflaum.com

Enjoy your day!

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Homemade Storage Solution : Dies, Folders & Stamps!

I've been looking around online to find some good storage solution ideas in order to organize my stamps, dies and embossing folders. I even asked my followers/readers for tips & ideas.

In the end it all came to the same conclusion : a binder with sleeves for the different items you want to store.

I bought 2 binders ; 1 for my stamps and 1 for my embossing folders & dies.

Here are some picture's of the front of the binders. I was thinking about getting some plain looking binders and then alter them myself but I found these cheaper ones that have an absolutely beautifull drawing on the front.



Here are some picture's of the sleeves in the binders with folders & dies;


I could only find 2 types of sleeves in the store, full page pockets (clear) and small photo-pockets with journaling space pockets (black).

Below I used the black ones with smaller pockets for the Sizzlits Dies and I've put some magnet sheets in the full page pockets for the Double Do Dies (Unfortunately I don't have the right plate yet for my Big Shot to use these.) and later on to store my Spellbinders Dies.


Because I needed some pockets that have the size of half a page I made those myself from the full page ones and stored my collection of embossing folders in them.


I used the same sleeves for the storage of my stamps.

I stored the single stamps in the smaller black pockets. I tried storing my clear acrylic blocks in there but they were to heavy.


To make the half page pockets I've used some double sided tape to glue the top half close at the bottom of the pocket after I've cut the front sheet in half. I then glued a black paper strip over it as a finishing touch.


After all I'm happy I made these although I couldn't store everything I wanted in there.
I still don't know how I'm going to store my Bigz Dies ones I get more then 1 and the clear acrylic blocks are lying around in my toolbox because they are to heavy for the pockets.
I probably figure out some different system someday but for now this works just fine!
Clear Scraps Blog : Shout It Out To Win! : New Release Give-Away!

Good morning Clear Scraps friends!

It's been 1 week since we released the amazing NEW  Send It Clear designs, have you BLOGGED/Facebooked/Twittered yet? Here is your chance to win BIG!
Check out the new designs here - 

The more you spread the word the more you win! Not only will we be giving away an entire set of these brand new cards, but we will also be giving away a SECOND set on Facebook! 
The more you spread the word, the more chances to WIN, Enter every single day! You have 5 DAYS to win BIG!
SHOUT IT OUT!!
Every time you BLOG about the new release you receive FIVE entries- PER DAY!!
Facebook about it, it will be 3 entries PER DAY!
Twitter about this post and it is 1 entry per day!
5ways
Just leave a comment here (www.clearscraps.typepad.com) with links to your posts and we will post a winner on Monday Morning.
You have untill Saturday night at midnight.
Goodluck & Have Fun!

Monday 9 July 2012

Happy Birthday Winnie!

I just wanted to take this moment to congratulate my friend Winnie with her Birthday today!

Winnie,


I know you'll will read this somewhere today,
I wish you all the best and I hope that you'll find the time to do something you love each day in your live.


Sincerely, Dee


Winnie Inky Fingers ; Paper + Ink = Bliss at : http://winniesinkyfingers.blogspot.nl
My first Lay-Out!

Hi all,
Today I made my very first lay-out ever!
I've tried to put as many different ideas and techniques in it as possible without cluttering the page.
A little while back I read a post on May Flaum's blog about Flat Lay Outs and I decided I would try to keep it as flat as possible.
I'm really pleased with the end-result, considering I've never did this before.

Here are some picture's :


I've distressed the edges of the top layer of cardstock with the Tim Holtz Paper Distresser and the Pumice Stone Distress Ink.
I have to admit; when I first opened the mail and took out the distresser my first reaction was : That's it?
But tiny as it is, it works like a charm!

I've distressed some beautifull white lace with the Pumice Stone Distress Ink and put it between the two layer's of cardstock all around the edges.


I embossed the brown paper with the brickwall embossing folder and torn of the left side of the paper to create a distressed look.


I've used lots of K&Company cut-outs all over the lay-out because the colours and sentiments worked perfectly with the cardstock pattern and the story of my lay-out.


And offcours I used the Sizzlits Die # Flourish!
I had to use my Big Shot as much as I possibly could just because I wanted to use it! LOL!!


Instead of a picture I used a stamp of a mask surrounded by butterflies.
Although I've never used the stamp before it is my favourite because of the image itself.
I speaks to my imagination!


The story of this lay-out is my advice in live;

Follow your heart, Just be yourself, Wonder, Grow, Play, Love and Live.


I'll be entering this lay-out in the following challenges :

Simon Says Stamp and Show... Layered Challenge :
http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.nl/2012/07/challenge-layered.html

May Flaum Designs : Camp Scrap Happy Mail Week 5 :
http://mayflaum.com/2012/07/08/camp-scrap-entering-week-5/

Paper Crafter's Library : Win a One Year Membership!

This past January Paper Crafter’s Library celebrated our first year anniversary – and in that time we have established ourselves as the THE all-in-one learning solution for paper crafters with the largest {and best} online library of video tutorials on the internet. From beginner through to advanced, covering product instruction, techniques and project ideas for stamping, card making, scrapbooking and altered art – we have something for everyone! We’re proud of how far we have come, and we’re hoping you can help us spread the word!
That’s why as part of our first anniversary celebrations we have an exciting new contest which we are running for a total of 9 months – where we will be giving away a total of 18 ONE YEAR MEMBERSHIPS to the Paper Crafter’s Library – each valued at $200! We will announce 2 winners at the beginning of EACH MONTH – we started in April, and we’ll be ending in January of 2013.
There’s several ways to enter, and each way gives you 1 entry into our draw – so the more ways you participate the greater your chances of winning:
1. Put our Fan Badge on the sidebar of your blog or website. In the right hand sidebar of our blog, under the heading “Grab Our Fan Badge” you’ll find a box with the html code which you just need to copy and paste into the sidebar of your blog.
2. Create a post on your blog letting everyone know they can win a One Year Subscription to Paper Crafter’s Library and linking back to this post for instructions on how to win.
3. Post about our give-away on your Facebook Page linking back to this post.
Once you have done any or all of these things, leave us a comment here on this post letting us know, with a link back to your blog or FB page and we’ll pop by for a visit. When you leave your name, make sure that if you don’t put your full last name, at the very least you put your last initial.
So how do you enter if you don’t have a blog or FB page? Simple, leave us comments on our daily blog posts. We love hearing back from you, we love your feedback and we read each and every comment. For every comment you leave on one of our blog posts* you get one entry into that month’s draw. * Please note Freebie Friday is separate from this contest – comments left for our Freebie Friday give-aways do NOT count as entries in this contest.
Remember, we’ll be running this contest for the next 5 months, so you will have LOTS of opportunities to win. The next two winners will be announced at the beginning of August. Please note this contest is open to current Paper Crafter’s Library members – if you are a current member and you win, that time will be added on to the end of your subscription.
We’ll be picking two more winners in August – so if you’ve entered already but weren’t picked, there are still plenty of opportunities to win! Make sure the badge is still there on your blog, put up another post or tweet or FB letting people know about our contest and then leave a comment here in this post linking back, or simply keep visiting and leaving us comments.


Paper Crafter's Library Link : Click on the Fan Badge in the sidebar!

Friday 6 July 2012


Our Prairie Home.

Last week I came across the blog from Our Prairie Home.

This blog is about Laura and her familie who bought an old house that they want to renovate and Laura wants to salvage old furniture to decorate the house with.

She tells us in her blog about her day-to-day live with her husband and 6 kids and at the same time trying to restore the house and salvage different pieces of furniture to decorate it with.

She started her blog in Juli 2011 and in the mean time things have changed.
Not only is she still busy with the house and offcours her familie, she is now also selling her salvaged furniture in store!

I started reading her blog from the very first post she wrote and I absolutely LOVE reading it!

This week she is having a give-away to celebrate the debut of Prairie Patina at The Changing Season.


You can get up to 9 entries for entering this give-away and the price is a custom made pillow!

Below is an example but you can choose your own colours and/or qoutes to go on that pillow!

Go and check out her blog at : http://littlebighouseontheprairie1.blogspot.nl/

Even when you are not interested in the give-away this is a very fun, interesting and inspiring blog to read and follow!!


BIG SHOT IN THA HOUSE!! 

Yesterday my husband decided it was time to order my Big Shot Starter kit.
When he was checking out the website he figured it would be possible to get in the car and drive there to pick it up.

Since I didn't want to drive all the way across the country only to find out didn't have it in stock I called to ask.
Not only did the friendly man tell me that they didn't have it in stock, he also told me the European Distributor no longer had it in stock and at this moment there was no possibility of ordering.
This didn't just mean HIS store was unable to deliver the Big Shot, it means that ALL crafting stores in europe have this problem at the moment!

My heart sank.. I was so looking forward to getting one this month and I already had ideas for projects I wanted to try out with my newest toy.. And this man (who was really friendly and understanding!) told me I wouldn't be able to get one AT ALL!!

But, my genius husband asked me to check out ebay. Just in case!
And I did, without any hope because I really didn't want to spend money on an used machine because you never know if it might be broken or is having problems or what not.

Ebay did have international stores selling the Big Shot. But, for the same reason I'm not able to order it for example at Simon Says Stamp or any other USA located store, the shipping costs are insane!

Then there was my last hope Marktplaats.nl which is a website similar to Ebay. In fact, Ebay is the owner.
And I got lucky!
Only 13 km from my house was a lady who bought herself a Big Shot Starter kit and then got one more for her birthday which she couldn't return.

I drove there, checked it out and once I noticed that everything was still sealed in it's original packing I bought it and brought it home with me. (Offcours my husband paid for it!)
At the end of the day we've spend about 28 euro less then I would have in the store AND got a brand new Solo Thin Die Adapter included in the deal. AWESOME!!

So... (drumroll please!) here are some picture's of my newest toy!

The Starter Kit includes :
1 Big Shot
1 Solo Platform
1 Solo Shim
1 Pair Standard Cutting Pads
1 instruction DVD
1 instruction booklet
1 Bigz Dies (656334 Hearts)
2 Sizzlits Dies (#9 Flower Layers & #10 Flourish)
1 Embossing Folder (Sizzix Dotts)
10 Card Stock Samples (Core'dinations Colour Core, although mine have white core instead of colour core)
And in my deal with the lady who sold it I got the Solo Thin Die Adapter included.

I already bought some embossing folders earlier this week because they were on sale and I knew that I would be getting the Big Shot.
After trying out some of the folders and dies I went online and from the money we saved on this deal I ordered the Tim Holtz Die Pick, the Tim Holtz Paper Distresser and the Tim Holtz Alterations Bigz Dies Gears. All of which I'm hoping will arrive tomorrow in my mailbox!! And then there is still the Spellbinders Label 4 set that will arrive someday!

AND

Wednesday we were in a town a little away from my city and the local crafting-outlet-store was unpacking a box of Tim Holz Distress inks!!
Now, I only had 4 minutes to get in that store and look around because we had to get back in the car. (paid parking, and our time was almost up) So, needless to say; I was rushing!

The box with distress inks was the first thing I saw and my first instinct told me to pick up the box and run!

However, my mind told me I could only buy 2.
I wanted to get the Black Soot and the Vintage Photo but while rushing to get back to the car in time I picked up the Black Soot and the Pumice Stone instead.
It doesn't really matter since there aren't any colours of distress ink I wouldn't want to have!

It's fair to say that I am very, very, very exited about my early birthday present and my newest editions to my crafting supplies.
And since my husband is away for the weekend I'm going to spend my weekend playing with my dies, folders, stamps, inks and other lovely crafting supplies! Let's have some fun!!