A Crafty Light

I'm seeing that crafty light at the end of my tunnel growing larger and larger! I know Christmas seems so far away but for us crafty folks it takes some major advance prep and I have some very exciting holiday opportunities coming up that I'll elaborate on later. For now I'm just giving a little sneak peak because I'm so excited to finally have gone craft supply shopping! It's been a long time and I'm feeling scrappy!

Three Years Late And Fifty Dollars Short

Peek-a-boo! Yep, that would be six packs of photos. Whew, I have my work cut out for me!

I am so incredibly behind on scrapping my own pictures. My four year old's first year isn't even scrapped. This weekend I decided it was time to change that. Well, actually, last weekend I decided to change that but when I took my picture CDs into Walgreens all pumped to have an entire weekend of scrapbooking ahead of me it quickly became a comedy of errors. It's been a very long time since I've had pictures printed. When I had completely filled two sizable photo storage boxes of unscrapped prints I decided it was time to pause on the printing until I was caught up.

Now all I have to say is what happened to the good 'ole days when you didn't have to mess with kiosks and online uploads?! When I failed at my attempt to load at the kiosk and the man behind the counter told me he can't take my media I spent 4 tedious hours uploading to the website. Woe is me! I miss my local print shop where I just handed them my stuff, told them what I wanted and they gave me gorgeous prints by the end of the day. I must say though that Walgreens had a good price and their standard shipping was free so, though I had to put my creative itch on hold for an entire week, my bank account was happier.

Stay tuned for all the new layouts featuring my little man that I'm sure I'll be show-and-telling soon!

The Holidays, They Are A Comin'

Custom Framed Pet Silhouette made from your photo, 13x13 now at The Beehive

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

And I'm a busy little bee! I've applied to my very first craft show, Handmade for the Holidays, and I'm giddy with excitement and nervousness. It should be the perfect show for getting my virgin craft fair feet wet, it's just one day, the fees are low and it's right here in town at a really cool space called The Art Church. The only problem is I won't find out if I've been accepted until the week before the show, which means accepted or not I'm prepping now as though I am. I'm practicing optimism! And hey, if I'm not accepted I'll be completely ready for another one!

Custom Two Figure Silhouette made from your photo, 13x13 now at The Beehive

Already I'm seeing that craft show prep is hefty stuff. Not only do I have to try and figure out how much stuff I might sell, and make it, I have to figure out how I'm going to accept payments and custom orders, the best way to package and display my items, there are signs, banners and business cards to be made...whew. My lovely husband and friends are offering help and I'm taking it. Even though I only have one boy home now it can still be amazingly impossible to get anything that's not house/family related done.

I made a bowl full of glass chip flower pins for the show along with some additional examples of how my custom silhouettes can be made. The silhouettes are now up for purchase in my shop and they will travel with me to the show, along with some I made of my adorable boys! I suppose if I don't get into the show the pins will go in the shop as well.

On other exciting news I've been in several treasuries these days. I haven't been able to keep up with posting them the way I'd like to. The most recent is a lovely treasury called Something Worth Leaving Behind created by Eco Creations jewelry. You can also see my Custom Pet Silhouette featured in Riley's Pooch Pics on an adorable blog called Hello Little Riley.

That's all for now, Happy Scrapping!

Sneak Peak Sunday

(click to enlarge)

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

Slowly, ever so slowly I'm receiving the supplies I ordered online. The handmade supplies I purchased from Etsy sellers arrived super fast. The non-Etsy paper orders, not so much. And there's one that's still MIA that I'm getting a little concerned about. I'm whipping up some fun stuff for The Beehive so keep your eyes peeled for shop updates. I also have some promo and giveaway ideas in the works that I hope to be throwing out there in the next week or so. Though I'm having trouble with orders, I did get a fantastic surprise in the mail! An interior designer friend of mine sent me some really cool fabric swatches that I hope to turn into something equally cool. I love suprises in the mail!

Hope everyone has a fantastic week. Happy Crafting!

Eagerly Awaiting Their Crafty Fate

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

When I sold a 12x12 album I was so excited to be able to go supply shopping. I think The Beehive is in need of some new, super fun items and I just happen to have some ideas rolling around in my head! I went immediately to the Etsy shops I had just featured and bought my favorite things from all three shops! I am not disappointed, every single item is even more gorgeous in person. Unfortunately they are getting a little lonely in the drawer because I also bought supplies off of two non-Etsy sites, important supplies, paper, and though it's been a painful 13 days since I ordered I've seen neither hide nor hair of them. Paper would be a pretty important part of what I do so I wait. I don't like to wait and I really hope they get a move on it or I won't be waiting any more. I can't stand to see adorable embellishments languish in darkness, pining for the day they become a full of cuteness scrapbook layout or adorable kitchsy spiral bound album. Fantastic paper, we eagerly await your arrival.

A Family Record Of Apologies

Since Boy #2 was just a baby I've been wanting to scrap some less conventional subject matter. I've been milling this about in my little brain for so long but with the latest artistic identity crisis I decided it was time to dig in. I need an artistic outlet, not just a crafty one. They are two separate parts of me that need indulged, it's time for art to make a comeback! I'd been in debate as to whether or not I'd start painting again, and I may some day, but for now it's not piquing my interest. I decided I really do love paper and scrapping I just need it to hold an artistic edge. So that's what I'm embarking on, scrapping with an artistic edge. I'm still going to do my traditional books for family photos, this is just extra, just for me. I don't think I'll put them in a scrapbook, maybe a decorative box? Or framed in shadow boxes? Not sure. But here's my first piece A Family Record of Apologies. You are getting slightly ripped off here. The small tags next to the chipboard numbers will have my apologies to each family member written on them, I'm just not that into sharing, maybe someday.

I really do love the way it turned out and can't wait to do some more. I pulled out the sewing machine to stitch the paper and I was in love with that process. There's some nice layering going on and I enjoy the distressed photos printed on linen textured cardstock. It was hard for me to do that. Books and photos are both something I prize and take great care of. The process of damaging a photograph, even one I'd printed myself, took a bit of a push. Worth it.

The Joys Of Boys Scrapbook Layout

Just a little show and tell! This is another page layout I did for my youngest boys' scrapbook. I'm going for more simple layouts in my personal scrapbooks for economy and so I can get his book finished before he graduates from college! I think it looks nice and love the rhinestones in the corners of the photo mattes, even boys' scrapbook pages and layouts can handle a little bling! I also like the pocket/photo matte on the right that holds an over-sized journaling tag. The blank space surrounded by photo corners is also for journaling but is blank right now because I do all the journaling at once. So, when I'm finally done with his two, heavily stuffed albums covering only the first year of his existence I'll buy a bright and shiny new pen and have a writing party! I'm hoping to get a boat load of scrapping done this weekend, for myself and for my etsy shop so stay tuned!

AREtsy Team Talent

Katzetsy has done it again, created a fantastic AREtsy team treasury full of happy spring time color, and I'm in it! Thanks! My Happy 12x12 scrapbook layout is third row down, far left and you can see my shop listing here.

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

The Beehive's Latest Arrivals: Premade Scrapbook Pages

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

I'm really excited about how my newest additions are turning out and hope to be adding a new layout or two per week to my shop. I plan on doing some traditional baby, wedding etc etc and will always do special orders on anything in my shop but mostly I want to be doing more general, all occasion, unique and artful pages. Know anyone who loves scrapbooks but isn't thrilled about scrapbooking? Send them my way! These layouts are completely designed and handmade by me. Just add your pictures, slide them into your scrapbook and voila, you're a scrapper! Click any image to enlarge it or visit the listing by clicking the title link under the image.

"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."
~The Wonder Years~

Lepidoptera
(′lep·ə′däp·tə·rə)
From Greek lepis — a scale + pteron — a wing

Large order of scaly-winged insects, including the butterflies, skippers, and moths; adults are characterized by two pairs of membranous wings and sucking mouthparts, featuring a prominent, coiled proboscis.

Satisfy the closet entomologist in you with this beautiful vintage style butterfly layout.

Happy

Handmade scrapbook pages make you happy? This one's putting in some happy overtime! Bright flower and dot print papers, coordinating ribbons, rhinestones, brads and fabric flower embellishments make this one cheery layout.

Love Ya' To Death

Love, punk style! This two page layout can be used for pictures and journaling of any person, pet, place or thing you love madly. I must admit, I love this layout to death! Pink, black and red; skulls, hearts, ribbons, and stars, what's not to love! Lots of layers and wonderful textures with a dash of bling.

It Couldn't Be Cuter Than This!

I'm so honored to be in another Treasury titled It Couldn't Be Cuter Than This! by lucibu. What a gorgeous front page worthy Treasury, thank you for the honor! My Pink Button Constellation paper bag album is bottom row center (and here!)

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

Boy Little Scrapbook Layout

You know those dreams where you're trying desperately to run but you move like you're running through a beach of molasses? That's the way it's been for me since this weekend. A little bit of everything is getting done but nothing is getting done thoroughly or very well. I have managed to do a few more personal scrapbook pages, yippee! I've decided it's time I wrapped up my 3 year old's baby book for his first year. These pages are from his 8th month, I'm a smidge behind.

I've been intentionally going simple so I can make some progress but as simple as this layout is I really like it. It's some nice rough and tumble boy paper and simple cut from coordinating paper embellishment. The brads holding the stars on the right hand side spell "boy" and under it are sticker letters that spell "little". Boy Little is what we called Lil' Spitfire when he was a baby. It was his super hero name.

Sneak Peak Sunday

These supplies are busy fulfilling their destiny of becoming some great items for the beehive. Stay tuned this coming week to find out what! (click to enlarge image.)

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

Love Ya' To Death Scrapbook Layout

Love Ya' To Death 12x12 album layout (click image to enlarge)

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

I discovered this cool thing over at Your Memories By Design, Saturday Scraplift. It's a little weekly challenge they put out to use one of their designer's layouts as inspiration for your own, then share it with everyone and possibly win a prize, a gift certificate to their shop, gotta love that! So I'm throwing mine into the ring, more for the challenge than the prize, though the prize would be good too! It was a good way to jump start making premade page layouts for my etsy shop. To see the inspiration layout click here.

I turned it into a 2 page spread, here are pics of the other page!

The Crafting Sickness

I'm still sick, or sick again, not really sure. I thought I was getting better then Kablam! sick. So no wonderfully wordy posts just show and tell. Newly added to my shop, Flapper Girl appreciation box and Blue Button Constellation paper bag album. Enjoy!

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

Ignorance Is Not Bliss: Silhouette Craft Robo

Pink Punk Sweetheart Box

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

So my beloved Silhouette Craft Robo digital craft cutter machine thingamajiggy doohickie's blade has gone dull again. It's only the second time but it made my heart sink with thoughts of the last time I had to replace it (you can read about that here). I started digging around online for the cheapest replacement. Ugh, I live in a town without an adequate scrapbook supply store for a snoot like myself! So I have to stop in the middle of a project, something I despise, and order and wait for supplies. Boohoo for me. Or do I? In this need I learned something marvelous at The Quilling Patch, I can sharpen my own blade, very very easily! All I had to do is cover my cutting matte with tin foil and run it through! No more arm and a leg replacements for me! This site is a fantastic resource for scrappers so check it out: The Quilling Patch. She not only tells you how to sharpen your blade (here) but has free GSD file Friday where you can download free designs and shows you how to make your own cutting mattes!

I also noticed that the Quickutz website seems to be a little deceptive in the selling of their blades. The expensive set (it costs $45 and you can see here) has plenty of details, while there's a much cheaper blade without all the unneeded doodads but they don't have an item description and it actually took me much hunting to realize that was even what it was (it costs $10 and you can see that here). Then I went to purchase it and couldn't. It didn't say out of stock or unavailable it just mysteriously sent me to a page full of other products, including the expensive blade replacement set. Smells a little like fish market to me.

Off to play with my beloved again. I'm working on some new designs for cute little appreciation boxes to add to my shop like the one at the top of this post. Happy Crafting!

Baby Prince Scrapbook

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.I

have decided to stick to my New Year's shop resolutions and am starting with curing my crafting ADD. For now I am going to trim down my focus to scrapbooks and memory catchers only. That is a huge enough category that I should still be able to feel creative but also be creating a more cohesive shopping experience that will hopefully result in better sales. This is also all in line with my new mellowed out philosophy, "This isn't a business yet, just a way for me to test the waters and learn the ropes. No pressure" So I'm testing those waters and getting revved up to stock my etsy shop with scrapbooks and think about delving into the realm of premade layouts. All this said, here's the newest arrival to my shop, a 12 x 12 Baby Prince Album! Another goal to add to the business list: professional photographer!