Have you tried the Stampin’ Up! digital paper crafting program, My Digital Studio? I have been using it more and more for cards, calendars, and scrapbook pages. The program is pretty easy to use and if I can’t figure something out I go to the My Digital Studio online community. It has a bunch of tutorials, project samples, FAQ’s, and forums. It is really a great resource.
The other day I used My Digital Studio to make a cute St. Patrick’s Day card featuring the Sweet Shop DSP.
Isn’t it darling! I made the card for a monthly card swap I participate in. The theme for this month was St. Patrick’s Day cards. I like the unexpected color combination in the card. I don’t typically think of light green (specifically Lucky Limeade), light blue (aka Pool Party), and white for St. Patty’s day. Do you? But how could I not use Lucky Limeade on a card with the sentiment of “Luck of the Irish” – lol I had to use it!
You can try My Digital Studio for FREE for 30 days – click here for the details!
Tomorrow’s the big day! Day 1 of the New Jersey Crop Weekends Winter 2012 Crop – whoooooo hooo!!!! Can you tell I’m just a little bit excited – lol!! I am so looking forward to this weekend. I need a break and a little time for myself. A bunch of my scrapping buddies are joining me and I know we will have a fun time paper crafting and laughing. It will be a nice break from the day to day craziness! But before I can head out on my weekend adventure, I’ve got to pack. And of course there is a method to my madness.
No surprises here, I start with a list. Actually I’ve made a couple lists. My first list contains the items I need for the scrapbooking class I am teaching and the second is a list of all the projects I plan on working on.
For my list of projects, I have tried to break down each project on the list. That break down includes things like the paper and embellishments I plan on using as well as my project sketch. I then make project kits of everything I need for that scrapbook page or paper crafting project. I put the kits in a 13x13 paper keeper so everything is all together in 1 place.
For me it makes things easier at the crop to pack this way. You know, you don’t have a ton of space at a crop and if I know that all the stuff I need for that Christmas layout is in a given spot, I can just grab that kit and start working instead of searching for everything and trying to remember where I put the red ribbon or that certain patterned paper I wanted to use – everything is together.
Of course this assumes I know what I am going to do ahead of time….if I don’t know exactly what I am doing but have a topic in mind (ie: my daughter’s birthday or Thanksgiving) I will gather all the items I will most likely use and put it in my kit. By planning and packing this way I avoid taking everything with me to the crop.
Don’t get me wrong…I generally have an ambitious list…and I do still over pack, but not to the extent I used to. Several of my scrapping buddies have tried this method of planning and packing for a crop and they said it has made their life easier. I put together a YouTube video showing how I pack for a crop. You can check it out here:
Now we can't forgot to pack the other “all purpose” items that I need for the weekend. Of course I have a list for those things too :) These items include:
My scrapbooking sketch book
Ott light (often times the lighting isn’t the best at crops)
Extension cord
Idea books and sketches
cutting mat
paper trimmer (I have forgotten it before)
mini garbage can (it folds flat for storage)
cup holder (it attaches to the table so my cup isn’t on the work surface)
wine bottle opener & wine (a must have for cocktail time! - LOL)
extra adhesive
comfy shoes/slippers
iPod & headset
computer
So that’s it – my crazy thought process on how I pack for a full weekend crop.
Oh, before I forget – our next crop is on August 11 & 12, 2012 at the Dolce in Basking Ridge, NJ! I’d love for you to join me! If you register and pay in full by this Sunday you will be one of our Queens of the crop! Our queens get the extra specialtreatment including lots of opportunity for extra door prize tickets, a decorated cropping space, discount on classes, and much more! Contact me today if you are interested in attending!
Now I’ve got to get packing – see you at the crop!
Are you bummed that you can’t make it to my monthly classes? Do you wish you lived closer so you could attend? Are you busy with various activities and work that my evening classes just don’t fit in your schedule right now? No worries! I have the solution to your problem. A way to get my hands on step by step instruction as well as two fresh, trendy and pretty card samples every month. It is my stamp set of the month club!
With my stamp set of the month club there are no meetings, no driving, and no extra time out of your already busy schedule, but ALL the fun! This virtual club is the best of both worlds!
Here are the club details:
This is a virtual club! ANYONE in the US can join no matter where you live as it's all via the mail!
All club members have access to a member only, password protected site with project samples and instructions!!
Click here for sample Stamp Set of the Month instructions featuring the Field Flowers stamp set
Your subscription lasts 7 months. You can renew your subscription after the 7th month if you choose.
You choose if you would like to receive clear mount or wood mount stamp sets.
Sometime during the month you will receive a brand new stamp set plus TWO finished sample cards!
Easy billing with a credit card on file
Referral program: refer a friend to my Stamp Set of the Month Club and receive a FREE catalog item of your choice (value $19.95 or less) during your 7 month subscription!!
This club will run year round, you can join at any time! Your 7 month subscription begins with the month after you join. (ie: if you join in January you will receive your first stamp set in February and your membership runs until September)
So what are you waiting for? Join my stamp set of the month club today!
I will be featuring the Spring Fever Simply Scrappin’ kit from the 2012 Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog in an upcoming scrapbooking class on March 10th from 10am-3pm in Mansfield, NJ. I am teaching the class with fellow Stampin’ Up! demonstrator Jennifer Cagnassola. We are so excited for this 8 page 12x12 layout class! Registration closes next week on Feb 29!
Here is a photo of Spring Fever Simply Scrappin’ Kit
I love this kit! The Spring Fever Simply Scrappin’ kit will be perfect for all of your spring paper crafting needs from cards to scrapbook pages. The colors in this kit are some of my favorites including Melon Mambo, Deffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, and Basic Gray.
Check out a couple of the pages we will be making in the class:
Your class fee includes all of the following:
8 beautiful single 12x12 page layouts
Full color step by step instructions!
A full Simply Scrappin’ kit “Spring Fever” from the 2012 Stampin’ Up! Ocassions Mini Catalog.
All the embellishments needed to complete the pages…any leftover will be yours to keep!
Additional 4 sheets of 12x12 card stock!
Light snacks throughout the class.
Hourly door prizes!
I hope you can join us for a fun day of scrapbooking! Click here for a registration form and all of the details. And remember registration closes on Feb 29th!
Have you seen the new Sweet Shop product suite in the 2012 Stampin’ Up! Occasions Mini Catalog? This collection is just so cheery and happy! Perfect for birthday parties and celebrations!
Sweet, tasty designs in all five 2011-2013 In Colors (Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Soft Suede, and Whisper White) make this paper an easy choice for your Sweet Shop projects! Two sheets have embossed designs to make this paper extra special. The Sweet Shop product suite has a variety of products including designer series paper, stickers, scented embossing powders (I’ll have a blog post about them next week!), stamp sets, embellishments, My Digital Studio templates, and Decor Elements!
The treat bag was easy to put together using the Big Shot and Fancy Favor die. Remember when you use the Fancy Favor die be sure to use the crease pad otherwise instead of getting creases, your seams may be cut instead. I jazzed up the stamped cupcake from the Easy Events stamp set with some Dazzling Details glitter glue.
Don’t you just love those ice pops on the birthday card?! They are from the new Mouthwatering stamp set. I used markers to color the stamps. I cut out the stamped images and adhered the Calypso Coral ice pop with some Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Next week I will be attending the NJ Crop Weekends Winter crop. There is about 8 days to go until my weekend of paper crafting bliss! I am so excited to spend the weekend away with the ladies scrapbooking, relaxing, and having a great time!
Plan My Projects:
I am so excited and really need a ladies weekend. When I go for a full weekend of scrapbooking I have a game plan for the projects I am going to work on. I have a notebook with scrapbooking sketches, to do lists, etc and in that notebook I make a list of the projects I would like complete while at the upcoming crop. I go as far as listing what items I need to complete each project. I will also create project kits with everything I need (paper, embellishments, buttons, ribbon, etc) to complete the layouts I have planned.
Order photos:
This week I ordered any additional enlargements and reprints that I need for the weekend. It seems I am always ordering pictures. Are you?? On day 1 of a crop I always set aside an hour or 2 to organize my photos. So in addition to the photos I’ll be scrapping, I’ll also order current photos as well. I don’t scrap every photo I take. Most photos go into a standard photo album and the doubles/extras I store in a photo safe storage box. It will be those photos I will be organizing on day 1 of the crop.
Gameplan for the upcoming week:
Now onto my game plan for the next 8 days. These steps are like the icing on the cake, the finishing touches that will help you be more productive at the crop. Here they are:
I will continue to work on creating my cropping kits, layouts, etc
Since I have a sketch for most of my layouts, for those layouts that I will include typed journaling, I will type out and print the journaling and include it in my layout kit. I will plan all of my journaling if possible/time allows
Coordinate with my friends so everyone is not bringing the same stuff – share big items if possible. For example each one of us doesn’t need to bring our own Big Shot and all of our dies. One of us can bring the Big Shot to share. Each person brings their own platform and cutting pads. And we discuss which dies everyone is bringing.
Confirm which items are at the help desk. At a lot of these crops there is a help desk with all sorts of tools you can use. For example, usually there is a punch station. I will bring my “go to” punches, the ones I use all of the time and maybe my “unusual” or “uncommon” punches. The rest will stay home and I’ll use the ones on hand.
Make sure I have enough SNAIL adhesive, sticky strip, cutting blades, glue dots, etc. For a crop weekend I probably bring 6-8 SNAIL refills plus liquid adhesive, and 1 box of glue dots.
Here is a non-scrapping item but never the less, it is an important: make sure I have comfy clothes and slippers ready to go.
So that’s it for now. It will be a busy week or so getting these last items together but it will all be worth it. How do you plan for a scrapbooking weekend away? Leave a comment below with your tips and tricks!
Happy Valentine’s Day! Yesterday I went to my son’s class to make Valentines with the kids. I got the idea for this adorable punch art Valentine card from a neat kid website called Family Fun.
Isn’t this bunny just too cute! The card idea on Family Fun was made using paint and finger prints. Our card is a less messy punch art version. If your child needs a last minute Valentine today, then this is your go to card.
This is my personal blog. I am an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and responsible for its content. Stampin' Up! does not endorse the use of or contents of the classes, services, or non-Stampin' Up! products I may offer here.
