Scrapfest 2009: Imaginisce

Imaginisce featured the nifty new tool the iTop.

We made a fairly simple card - but the brad is the magic part.

If you look closely, you will see that it is actually a large brad covered by paper! You can now cover a brad with your choice of top - just like the buttons mom used to make for all those totally rad outfits she made in the 70's!

Pretty neat concept even if it is a throw back to a sewing tool from years ago. First you use the punch to provide the cover and then apply to the brad with the iTop. You can see an example of the punched shape used as a background "flower" for the brad "center" on the card.

Go check it out!

Scrapfest 2009: Cosmo Cricket

Somehow, we managed not to go through the line for the wonderfully creative and popular Cosmo Cricket.

Honestly - considering how totally cool their products are, and because I had already bought several of the new ones, and seen some cool project ideas, I thought the cards they were making were not worthy - so sorry guys. I mean seriously - how could you make "jolly-by-golly" so boring?!

Enjoy these peeks at the creative kits and rub-ons I bought instead.

Then check out their blog for some terrific ideas, especially the "wintertime" mini-book they did for a Scrapfest Crop event! Can't wait to make one with my purchase!

Scrapfest 2009: Hambly Studios

Hambly Studios is by far my favorite vendor at the show. Only problem is that they give us so many options of products to combine I freak out trying to select just a few! Luckily... there was an owl to pick so that helped tremendously! We lined our envelope with Hambly paper, and then created the card using an overlay cut to size combined with a paper and rub-on. Lot's of possibilities here! Could be a cute card or an invitation or thank you note as well.

Their products are so fresh and fun and I love working with them.

Each item is hand printed in their shop - check out some nifty photos of the process on their blog here and here.

If you look closely - you can see last years class project, the one with "today" on the cover as part of their display... my favorite from last year!

In addition to completing their make-and-take, we also took a class this year featuring Allison Kreft Abad as the instructor: FAB-U-LOUS! The theme of the mini-book we created was "My Favorite Things." You can see the instructions for the original here. Also discovered Tombow's Vellum Adhesive Runner - it is the "clearest" adhesive I've used and seems to have a good tight hold. As I have not yet invested in a cropadile (it's on the list with my next discount coupon) - the holes have not yet been punched to apply the two rings that will "bind the book" together. You will have to use your imagination for that...

Without further ado, enjoy mine!

(image from flickr)

(image from flickr)

We were also treated with some random freebies fresh off the presses! Yea us! I might just sneak in one more page later made with the elephants since they are so cute. After all - how can it be that I do not have a page for my favorite owls? Such an oversight!

Wish it was easier to find these in my local store!

Scrapfest 2009: Teresa Collins Designs

Next on the list is Teresa Collins Designs.

This accordion card is part of the Friendship Accordion Book Kit.

Here is a photo of the kit

and the finished book cover - check out the bling! Those crystals are her T-drops embellishments.

and one last shot of the inside of the completed book.

I really like Teresa Collins Designs products - very high quality and a polished style I appreciate. She also has several product lines that are made to work with the Bind-It All that was a must have item after last years Scrapfest!

Scrapfest 2009: Sizzix

Booth number one at Scrapfest was Sizzix.

There are lots of embossing and diecutting machines out there, and the Big Shot Express is one of the coolest! No cranks, no ratchets - just load and press a button.

Nice!

Also, they are now providing the option of a small unit - totally cute - that only embosses. They call it the Texture Boutique.

We created the large dot texture background and the phrase card using the latter and the snowflake using the former.

As we used Die Cuts With a View's white core texture paper, we were able to sand off the surface layer on the phrase to expose the center and highlight the raised words.

...and we got FLAIR! Flair is swell.

Scrapfest 2009: Away we go!

Spent the long weekend before last in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Mall of America for Scrapfest 2009 Sponsored by Archivers. Edwina accompanied me once again and may I just say that she is the worlds best traveling partner ever - seriously!

Lot's of new things and some more of our old favorites too...

It was quite the merry-go-round - but we had a blast!

Got lots of goodies... (tip of the iceberg folks, tip of the iceberg!)

And can't wait to go back again next year!

Stay tuned for more eye candy...

as the excitement builds for about thirty days of Scrapfest fun! (In an effort to post in this century - I'm gonna do a vendor a day.)

This could be the longest sustained finer than frog hair series ever!

Banned Books Week - no Firemen allowed

Did you know we were in the middle of Banned Books Week? It runs September 26th through October 3rd this year.

Read a bit more about it here on the American Library Association Web Site.

I shudder whenever I think about folks who have the ability to read who are kept from greater knowledge and understanding of themselves and the world by those who are too afraid of truth.

Let's not even get into all of those people, particularly women, who are banned from even learning to read. I've heard so many quotes and statistics lately dealing with the quality of life improvement for women and their children by simply teaching mothers to read.

Words do have power.

We must protect our freedoms, even if it means that occasionally content we do not agree with might be available.

These are dangerous times...

Celebrate your freedom to access the written word - Read a book this week! Maybe Fahrenheit 451? Or go crazy - Be brave - read one that is banned somewhere in the world!