Our Memories....A Vintage Book

Once again, I had a BLAST participating in the Creative Cafe at Vintage Plum this past Tuesday! (CLICK HERE FOR THE TUTORIAL ON CC). Beth hosted CC and posted a tutorial on how she altered a vintage book! Miss Beth is so CRAZY TALENTED! (Click on that last link to learn more about my wonderful friend!)

I am soooooo happy with what I created! For the longest time I've been waiting to find a way to showcase some of my early childhood family photos. Then, Vintage Plum put together the April Kit called Hopscotch and I KNEW I had some wonderful materials to use! Then....Beth showed us some CRAZY vintage books she made a few weeks ago and I went BALLISTIC!

I have to say that I've learned few things about my scrap booking style these past couple of months being addicted to Vintage Plum! I've expanded my talents and learned so much! Thanks to all the VP Homies!!!!!! Woot woot!

Here's my book!I grabbed everything vintagy I had and laid it around the table and just let the MoJo flow! I loved these papers from the Hopscotch kit....the colors reminded me so much of Hawaii! I'm soooo happy!

And then my two-year-old son was running around with this little red fabric flower he pulled off one of my fake plants....I grabbed him and said "Can I have that?".....thank goodness he didn't pitch a fit...he handed it right over! It looks wonderful with the paper!

I love that turquoise color! And the font on the rub ons (another yummy part of the Hopscotch Kit) are sooooo perfect!

I grabbed my bag of ribbon scraps and went WACKY! The messier the ribbon looked...the better it worked! And I found that cute fabric heart in that stash. I actually saved it....it was part of he tag from a baby outfit that was given to my son! Isn't it so adorable! I knew I'd find a good way to use it in my crafting!

Here's a side view so you can see the tags and hanging-outy thingys that peek out from my book! I love that look. It's so here-and-there-and-everywhere....just like my brain! (Don't believe me? Ask my friends and family!)

And to be totally honest.....I wasn't sure about the whole doily thing in the VP Kit...but MAN did it look good on this book! I went from anti-doily to DOILY FREAK! I need more doilys!

My booky book...you're looking so beautiful! Beth! She looks so beautiful, doesn't she?????? (he he he)
I couldn't stop snapping pictures of this book! I can't wait for my sisters to see it in person! My mom saw it and thought it was wonderful!

Look at that red flower....it's like it's just lookin' at you and smiling!

So I got a good start on this...it's not done. I just started few pages. It's gonna take a bit because I have to scan my photos first (I can't cut up the originals!). I'm so glad I got a printer/scanner last year!

Here's my first page. I love this stamp! It's by Provo Craft and it's a rolling journaling stamp called CIRCA. I will be using this lots in my vintage book!

About the photo: For the first 3 years of my life we lived in Guam (Dad was in the Navy. GO NAVY!). Then we moved to Hawaii. Yes, my dad's first car was a VW bug!

I broke into my big button jar....yay! I'm using up all kinds of stuff! Here I am just chillin' and relaxin'.....yes, they made swings back then (1977)! Look....it's made of aluminum!!!! He he.

The little birdy was made with my trusty Big Shot (It's the Birds and Blooms Sizzlits Die)! Order from Stampin' Up! If you don't already have a SU Demonstrator....order from ME ME ME! The black and white paper is part of a journaling book by Making Memories called 5th Avenue.

I asked my dad why they didn't smile in these old photos....he said they hadn't invented smiling in photos yet.....(he's a smart a**)! I never got a straight answer.

Here's a couple pages I started. I used another journaling page from my MM 5th Avenue spiral notebook. That beautiful strip of orange patterned paper is part of the March VP Kit "Hill Country" (can't remember the manufacturer).

Hope you liked the pics! I'll show you guys the pages as I complete them! This was tons of fun! Creative Cafe is on Tuesday at Vintage Plum (here are all the projects so far)! Can't be there on Tuesdays? The tutorials are posted and so you can do them later on your own time! Post your creations to the gallery! Want to peek at the other vintage books? CLICK HERE! Check back often to see new photos!

Okay your link lovers! I'm officially link overloaded AND I've got carpal tunnel! I'm done! See you soon!

Spreckels Sweets & Treats!

Last month, I took a MUCH NEEDED mommy only vacation to see my sister (yes....minus my 2 monsters and my hubby), Emmy in Encinitas, CA!!!!! It was a "sister trip" so I flew down (up?.....) with my other sister Krystal too! We had lots of sister fun!!!!!

I have tons more pics...so here is a batch of em!

One of the days we went to Hotel del Coronado and walked around. Here's a picture of the hotel I took....but you REALLY should click on the link I just gave to see how massive this hotel is!!!!

There were tons of shops...but one of my favorites is this lovely candy shop called Spreckels, Sweets & Treats! The ladies there were sooooo nice and the shop was just a feast for the eyes! My photos below just do not do it justice. For one, I'm still learning some photography skills, and two....my camera has been dropped one too many times!

Yummmmmmmmmm! Brownies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was so spring looking all around! Awesome candies in wonderful packaging! So inspiring! I took a few photos of the super cute displays!

My mouth is just watering looking at these photos! Yummmmmmm!

I'm loving all these colors together! I'll have to use them as scrapbooking inspiration one of these days!

We got a kick out of this candy dispenser! I'm sure they sooooooo wanted to call this "Poops-A-Daisy!" but thought it wasn't appropriate!...but we get the hint!

MOVE OVER Pez.....

I loved the red buckets!!!!

Well, hope you liked the photos! Until next time!

Wanna win some free stuff?

Check it out! My girl Samantha is having a giveaway on her super cool blog, Scrapmaster's Paradise! This is the April Blog Candy Giveaway....look!.....two stamp sets!

I love black and white!!!!....if you haven't figured that out already! So just follow the directions to enter!

So.....lemme show you the way........CLICK HERE......TOOTLES!...and have fun!

Ramona Quimby We LOVE You!

First off, lemme just say...I FINALLY got Photoshop and figured out a way to watermark my photos! Man! I was screaming at my computer screen last night! I tried some photo tutorials but I have Photoshop Elements 7.0 and I would reach a dead end at times :( But you know what? You Tube NEVER let's me down! I found a cool tutorial that works for me....I'm a visual learner so it's MUCH MUCH MUCH easier for me to watch and listen than it is to read....BLECH! Anyway, I had to get that out! Yay for me!!!! Do a dance for me K?

Well, I made another cool thing inspired by Creative Cafe at Vintage Plum!!! I had a crazy Tuesday this week so I didn't find the time until earlier today to make this bookmark. And now my daughter Isabel and I will enjoy looking at this bookmark when we settle down at night to read our daily chapter from one of the Ramona books. Remember Ramona Quimby? Some of you may not, but if you've got little girls...they may just enjoy these books!

I was walking through Borders one day and found this huge hardcover book "Ramona the Pest" on the bargain book section for like $8! So I scooped it up...along with "Ramona Quimby: Age 8". As a little girl, I loved reading these books. Our mother would take us to the library when she could. She was soooooo busy but took the time to do a lot of things with us...thanks Mom! It probably just made her happy to see my sister and I reading a book rather than looking like zombies in front of the television!

Back to the project. This week, Creative Cafe was hosted by Lea! Anytime I get to use my flowers....I'm SUPER EXTRA HAPPY! Lea's idea was spectacular. We made flower bookmarks! I love doing quick projects! I wanna make more!

And here's a secret............this bookmark......

is TWO-FACED! Yes! You flip it over...and you get this other side!

Isn't SHE cute?????? Uh huh, it's a SHE.

I didn't have any floral wire so I used some Old Olive 5/8" ribbon by Stampin' Up! And I added this totally cute Filigree charm to the end. It's part of the Filigree Designer Brad set by Stampin' Up! Item # 112577. Here's a photo:

I got the idea of adding a charm from this YouTube video with Dawn (she's so sweet)! Here's the video below:


I think I subscribed just to hear her cool accent and cheery voice saying "Hi Stampers!".

I used some old Making Memories paper flowers and some Prima flowers I had. I decided to paint some parts with white...I used Making Memories paint and a tiny flat brush to paint the white onto my flowers. Just touch the petals lightly with your brush so that the raised ridges pick up the white paint...add some here and there till you get the look you want. I wanted to add some stability to the flower so I figured I needed to add a chipboard piece somehow.

I chose a flower from my On Board Batch of Blooms by Stampin' Up! (Item #112087)

Here's what I did to spice up the chipboard piece:

1) Press your chipboard flower onto a VersaMark pad

(watermark pad).

2) Quickly sprinkle some embossing powder onto the flower.

3) Heat with a heating tool.

4) Paint edges with white acrylic paint.

5) Squirt on some Stickles in Lime Green and spread with a small flat paintbrush! Let dry.

6) Punch a hole in the middle of your chipboard piece with a Crop-A-Dile Big Bite or piercing tool.

See below for instructions on how to assemble this TWO-FACED FREAK of a bookmark!

I ended up getting the rest of the series on paperback from Borders! (They're having a FREE SHIPPING sale right now with purchases over $25.)

Take you're ribbon and cut it at the desired length. (Tip: Be sure when measuring it, you account for the extra length needed to knot it on the bottom.)

Take one end of your ribbon and cut it at a slant so you can thread it through the filigree hole. Knot it. Take the other end and fold it over so that you have a flap measuring about 3/4" long. Basically you want to fold over the ribbon so that you can punch a hole in two layers of it (your ribbon will shred through less easily this way...and won't pop off of your flower one day in the near future). The easiest way to punch this hole is to use the Crop-A-Dile, but a piercing tool will also work here.

Now you're ready to assemble your flower. Start with a big brad. Add your chipboard flower, then medium sized flower layer, folded over ribbon piece, your biggest flower layer (which will be seen on both sides), the medium flower for the reverse side, and the last smaller flower. Secure by flipping out the ends of the brad. You will then cover this ugly BRAD BUTT with a button or chipboard piece which will serve as the center of your other flower. Use a glue dot or glue gun for best results.

And there you have it! You've got a cutey patootey book mark! Wanna check out all the Happenin' bookmarks the VP (Vintage Plum) gang made?

CLICK HERE for Lea's Flower Bookmark Tutorial on Creative Cafe!

CLICK HERE for the Creative Cafe Gallery which features everyone's bookmark!

Oh ho ho...that's NOT all....tune in next Tuesday April 28, 2009 at 6 pm CST! My girl Beth Perry is making the long awaited ALTERED VINTAGE BOOK! Sneak a peek at her creation HERE. So, if you plan on being there....start now and find a vintage book! Beth said $3 or $4 would be reasonable per book but don't pay more than $6 because you'll be altering it!

"See" you then!!!

Oh! Here's my first attempt at a Signature using Photoshop.....he he....I'll get better....I hope!

Thanks So Much Card

So here's another card we made at the Seattle Regionals for Stampin' Up! (SU)! And again, I have to make it clear that I did not design this card. I am only sharing the make-n-takes we did that day. Again, we used my NEW FAVORITE stamp set called Soft Summer! Here's a supply list......

Card stock/Paper:

Bashful Blue card stock

Chocolate Chip card stock

Naturals White card stock

Old Olive card stock

Urban Oasis Designer Series paper

Ink:

Cocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad

Jet Black StazOn pad

Versamark pad

Watercolor Pencils by Stampin' Up!

Accessories:

Bashful Blue grosgrain ribbon

Library Clip in Chocolate Chip

Mini Glue Dots

SNAIL Adhesive

Stampin' Dimensionals

Paper Cutter with cutting blade

Paper Snips

Eyelet Border punch

Blender Pen

We distressed the bottom edge of the front of the card. You can use your fingernail but I find it easier using scissors by running one of the blades across your paper. Also distress the white and chocolate chip card stocks as well. Unfortunately, you can't really get a good look from this picture...but you get the idea.

I am not a person that does a lot of floral cards....I don't know why! But I love the look of them! And I had so much fun making this one! I realized, I really need to work on bringing in more Botanical stuff to my layouts and card making!

As you can see from my photo, I messed up a little with the stamping...but that's okay. I'll just have to recreate the card when I order this stamp!!!! I'm getting the Eyelet Border punch too! I can't stand it anymore...I HAVE TO HAVE THEM!

Well, hope you enjoyed the prettiness of this card! I love looking at it! Until next time!

Happy Hump Day!

My Swap Card for SU Seattle Regionals!

I've been so busy trying to make a bunch of these cards that I forgot to share it! Here's the swap card I made for the Stampin' Up! Regionals in Seattle. I attended the event yesterday 4/18/09. It was awesome. Watch out! I've got fresh new ideas I can't wait to share!

I recently got a Big Shot! I LOVE it! I already have a Cricut, but having a Big Shot IS DIFFERENT! I'll talk about his another time....I wanna get to the card so you can see it! Plus, I woke up early the morning of the Regionals so I could print out the recipe (supply list) on the back of my cards, but......MY PRINTER RAN OUT OF INK! Luckily I had some left over stickers with my name and blog website on it which I quickly slapped on to the backs of my swaps! So, for those SU Demos that need a supply list, see below! Sorry!

I went with my upline Caroline...I will have to ask her first if I can share her swap card which is...so beautiful! Wink Wink!

It was too much fun! The kids were at their grandparents' house and hubby was at work. I was in PARTY mode! But I only made 40! I had lots of fun putting the cards together while I watched Twilight (for probably the 7th time) and some Cameron Diaz movie called "What Stays In Vegas"...I think that's the title. It was a cute movie. Wow....it's soooooooo nice watching movies without interruptions or screaming and yelling...you know what I mean?

Supply List:

Stamp Set: A Beautiful Thing Item# 113618

Cardstock: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Good Morning Sunshine DSP

Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals, VersaMark Pad, Big Shot, Daisies Flower #2, Birds & Blooms Bird

This card is super simple to make with the help of the Big Shot. I'm excited to use it for workshops now!

Here's a better look at the stamp set and printed paper (images below copyright Stampin' Up!):

Well, that was fun. I will have to put up a slideshow of all the beautiful cards I had the opportunity to see! Enjoy my explosion of sharing while it lasts...I have at least enough for 5 blog posts! I just need to find the time to post!

peaking of time.....my time is up today. I've got things to clean, little people to govern, books to read, potato salad to make....Have a great week!

Kind People Card from Stampin' Up! Seattle Regional

Yay! Stampin' Up! had Regional in Seattle this year!!! Woooppeeeeee! I had a blast! We made totally smokin' make-n-takes!!! And guess what????? I'm sharing them with YOU! I loved all the cards we made! FAB ideas for Mother's Day Cards! So take a peek! As I have time, I will post the next card to share....so come back and visit! Just to clarify. I DID NOT design these cards. They were designed for Stampin' Up! Regional and I don't have any names to credit this to. It's such a treat to be a Demonstrator because you can take advantage of an exclusive event like this! We stamped and talked and swapped cards and got really cool and fresh ideas! Anyway, on with the show.

They called this the "Kind People Card" and I have to say this was my FAVE one! I am loving this stamp! On one side, you have the outline stamp, which is the one I used above. and the other side is a solid image of the same stamp. Now, I did not follow the directions that were provided so It didn't turn out exactly as it should have (I did not read the instructions provided to me and made mistakes!)....but it's still turned out beautiful! The stamp set is called Soft Summer set #113802. I think it's a great buy at $23.95. This stamp is from the Occasions Mini Catalog. CLICK HERE to download the catalog!

Below is an image of the stamp (image copyright Stampin' Up!), so you can get a better look at it and what else comes in this FABULOUS set....guess what I'll be owning sooooooon!

Here's a Supply List:

Soft Summer stamp set

Confetti Cream card stock

Ruby Red Card stock

Watercolor paper

Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad

Jet Black StazOn pad

Watercolor Pencils

Blender Pen

Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon

Stampin' Dimensionals

Paper Snips

I LOVE watercoloring! I ended up finishing this card at home since I messed up on the directions while at the event. I'll just explain to you how I made this specific card...it almost looks like the one used as an example at the meeting earlier anyway.

I colored the image using my watercolor pencils. I colored the flowers lightly, then came back in and used more pressure towards the middle of each flower. After coloring in everything, you just take blender pen (which is colorless) and color over everything again. Be sure to drag your blender pen on a scrap piece of paper till it's clean before you change colors!

Love this set? Order from your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator! Don't have one???? PICK ME...PICK ME! Order from my website: www.maureenkao.stampinup.net

Check out the current promotions HERE. You get a free catalog when you purchase online AND if you spend $40, you can choose some free product! Really, click to see the promotions!

Hope you enjoyed this card as much as I did! Check back for more sharing! Have a great weekend and thanks for visiting!