Paper crafting... ocbrandy style!

New Albums and a Giveaway on Facebook!

2012-01-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

This week on ebay I have two paper bag albums listed!
The first is made with October Afternoon's Farmhouse line. It took me forever to get the title to sit within that woodgrain circle that came in the Flower Sack die cut pack that coordinates with the line :) I painted the Maya Road chipboard letters with acrylic paint, and then sanded them here and there...I just love that worn look.

The next album is made with Basic Grey's new line called Kissing Booth. I used Cosmo Crciket Tiny Type stickers to create the title and used alcohal inks on half of a Clear Scraps acrylic frame the help finish it off. Click on the picture to see it close up :)

You can check them out on ebay HERE!

I also want to tell you about the giveaway I have on my Facebook Page! If you stop by and share my Giveaway post, you will entered to win a handmade card and handmade flowers by Me!

Newly Listed On Ebay!!

2011-12-29T18:56:00.001-07:00

Well after what must have been a well needed break over Christmas, I finally have some finished creations to list on ebay!

The first is a chipboard album, made with a Glitz Designs line called, Laced with Grace. Though they are not the heavy cardstock paper I am used too they are all really beautiful papers :)

The next is made from a classic Maya Road sheer acrylic album. I never get tired of using these :)

I used October Afternoon's Farmhouse line...that has become a new favorite! I already have a couple other albums started with these papers! I love the challenge of layering everything to accent the pages before and after the pages left sheer :)

Check them both out on ebay right HERE! Thanks for looking :)

New design team!!!!

2011-11-01T07:23:00.001-06:00

I'm happy to announce that I have joined a new eBay design team called, The Paper Hen House! (I'm sure you have heard of them :) Just type in TPHH on ebay, and you'll be blown away! Never have I seen as much variety and creativity, all in one place...they really are a lovely bunch of ladies!! If had me bookmarked with PFOP before, it's time to update :)

Where has this week gone to? I listed some albums, a week flew by, now I'll blog about them too :)

I love how the cover of this first album came out! Papers for this paper bag album are from the Random collection, by Crate Paper.

Once in a while...I'll have no clue what to do for a cover, then it dawns on me, make it quilted! well it looks like a quilt, but i just weaved strips of paper together :) It's the perfect way to use up some scraps too! I also made the fabric flowers, and the chipboard "moments" where cut on my cricut. I must need a new blade..I had to sand the edges of these to make them "oc" quality. :) I like the tiny highlight of white around each one anyway. The tiny like letter stickers are by October Afternoon. These are my most favorite!!!! I am growing quite the collection of "other brands" letter stickers, because I always go for OA first! They have a matte finish and are perfectly sized :)

Each page has a tiny journal spot, and many have more handmade flowers :)

It ends tonight on ebay, so check out the entire album right HERE!

The second album, is a handmade chipboard binder album. 50% of the winning bid goes to Susan G. Komen to help the fight against Breast Cancer!!!

This album is full of handmade flowers too!

The beautiful rolled flowers are by the talented Tammy. I LOVE these flowers...they are perfectly sized for all sorts of paper crafting projects!! Check out her Etsy store and pick yourself up some!! ILOVETHIS

In trying to follow through with a bit of a country theme for this album, I used tea dyed denim for making some of the flowers, and they turned out so sweet!! I used frayed fabric for the closer ribbons, and even tied a little grapevine wreath to the spine.

This album also ends on ebay tonight. Check it out HERE!!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week :)

Finally an Etsy shop I can be proud of ;)

2011-09-24T10:45:00.002-06:00

Have you seen my Etsy store lately? Keepsake Quality Paper Creations by ocbrandy...is full of goodies! A few mini scrapbook albums, and a whole lot of handmade greeting cards have found (hopefully temporary ;) homes there. I plan on trying out a few other paper crafts to list in there as well! So keep an eye out :)

Here are a few samples...

Come on down and check them out! Thanks for stopping by :)

Fall Frolic begins this week at PFOP!

2011-09-23T22:14:00.001-06:00

Happy first day of Fall! I know it's beginning to look a lot like fall here in the Rocky's....the aspens are starting to change into their fabulous fall colors. Today also marks the beginning of Pocket Full of Papers Fall Frolic Design Challenge! This week our members will be showing off some amazing fall creations!

For my first fall paper crafts, I decided to make some Halloween goodies. I used the 6x6 pad from My Minds Eye, called Mischievous. I LOVE how they found a way to add light blue to the rest of the Halloween mix of colors! My first project is a paper bag album I titled All Hallows Eve. I inked and painted lots of chipboard shapes to adorn each page :)

The second project I made were Halloween greeting cards. I made six in all...not bad from one tiny little six by six paper pad :)

You can see more pictures and place your bid HERE on ebay! Thanks for looking!

99 cent listings on ebay!

2011-09-04T10:35:00.001-06:00

I'm a few days late, (seems like the story of my life :) but I wanted to show off this months 99 cent listings on ebay!

The first of two chipboard albums, is made from a 6x6 pad from Trimcraft, called Desert. This is the first time I have used paper by them, and I really like it. Part of the pad has embossed glitter pages, the other is just nice matte pages. The print is scaled really nice for the 6x6 size too. I look forward to using more from them!

I used some letter stickers from my Crate Paper stash to name it "Family".

I love how the colors are a gentle ease into the many fall colors I'll soon be using!

The second album is also made from chipboard. I cut the pages by hand, from tracing the edges of a few Maya Road sheer acrylic albums, and a few other misc. chipboard pages I had around, to make them all roughly the same size :) It is no easy feet cutting the chipboard either...esp. the curves, but if you are going to sand the edges as much as I do, it turns out perfect anyway :) The paper is from the new Six by Six pads out by My Minds Eye. I know I'll be using every single pad from that line! They are all so cute :)

I used October Afternoon Mini Market letters to title it, "these are the days".

To see more pics and place your bid :) you can check them out HERE on ebay!!

I'm still using some of the lovely rolled flowers I got from Tammy. I'm getting low now....I need more! :) Check them out for yourself at her Etsy store...I Love This!

Thanks, as always, for stopping by to read :)

Where did the summer go?? :)

2011-08-26T21:25:00.001-06:00

Well, my oldest went back to school this week, and boy did this summer fly by!

I wanted to do a quick post on my latest ebay listing. I used a October Afternoon rub-on to title it, "A perfect kind of day." I love the red and aqua colors! The papers are from the Odds and Ends line by Cosmo Cricket. In this album I also had the opportunity to use some super pretty flowers I bought from fellow PFOP's member Tammy (scrapn4mygirlz on ebay). She has tons she has made up for etsy store! They are really sturdy and not as tall as the other rolled rose paper flowers I have seen or even made myself, making them... well, pretty much PERFECT :) Check out her Etsy store here!

The rolled flowers in the picture are Tammy's!! :)

Thanks for stopping by! You can see more pictures of this album on EBAY! :)

Momentary loss of ocd????

2011-06-15T20:42:00.000-06:00

Whoa! I just about made a BIG mistake....well it probably would have been more embarrassing than anything :)

How fast can you find it???

LOL! First I made the cover...then the rest of the album....then took pictures....then edited them...then uploaded them to SSB....then put the code onto my eBay page....THEN, while choosing a gallery picture, I saw it! I was so bummed :( I mean that's a good one. Not a misspelled word, not something a little crooked, or even those little glitches in the sewing....

So, here is what it should look like of course :)

I had a lot of fun making this one. There's nothing better than having it just go together so smoothly...lol :)

Have a peek on EBAY! Thanks for looking! :)

New albums :)

2011-06-03T19:31:00.001-06:00

Hi there! Just wanted to share a couple of my most recently created albums for ebay.

The first is a rustic looking paper bag album done with the Restoration collection by Crate Paper. I made most of the flowers in ths album from a few of my daughters old shirts :) By dyeing them with distress ink and glimmer mists, I turned white to just right! I'm also growing an obsession with old buttons...just love 'em :)

The second album is a tiny 4x4.5 chipboard album.

Since my albums are usually so chunky, I made this one with leftover pages from a couple of Maya Road binder albums. I used the last of the last of my 5 & Dime collection from October Afternoon. I LOVE October Afternoon....the patterns on their papers just always seem to be perfectly sized, shaped, and placed.

I made every flower in this album too.

I cut the tiny flowers from OA paper misted them to get them just a little bit wet, then made them rounded by pushing on the front or back of each petal with the end of a paint brush over a mouse pad. I thought they were just right without centers :)

And there you have it- THIS WEEKS LISTINGS :) Thanks for stopping by!

It's the first of the month!

2011-05-01T15:42:00.001-06:00

At the beginning of every month, I will be listing items for the LOW LOW LOW price of just 99 cents starting bid! You can't pass up that chance :)

I listed two albums today. Both happen to be 4.5 x 5.5 inches. Though that is pretty tiny...I think they are my most favorite sizes to make! They fit a wallet size photo that is cropped to fit just right.

The first album is made with the beautiful new line from Pink Paislee, called butterfly garden.

I cut the photo mats with my Cricut, so with this album I've also included templates for your pictures :)

I cut them a size smaller than each mat, with thin clear acrylic. So just center wherever you need to on your picture, trace around it, then cut it out...just inside your lines! Quite revolutionary :)

This little gem is loaded with handmade fabric flowers... even hand died flowers made from coffee filters!

Check it out HERE on ebay to see more pictures!

The second album is another cutie. I made it My Minds Eye's new papers, and each page has a fun shaped top.

Two of the pages have have tiny double mats, great for accent shots of the adjacent page!

Check it out HERE on ebay!

Thanks for looking!

New listings!

2011-03-21T20:02:00.001-06:00

We have two challenges going on right now at PFOP!

Through the month of March we have been having Masterpiece Monday's! Each week we can list something on Monday that shows each of our unique creative styles. Last week I listed a paper bag album featuring lots of tiny handmade flowers on the cover. Before Prima came out with so many beautiful flowers I used to rely on my own ;) This album ends tonight...hope you get a chance to take a peek!

This week I listed a set of five handmade greeting cards. I started out on eBay almost six years ago with "Keepsake Quality Handmade Greeting Cards" on eBay! The time sure has flown :) And boy has my style and ability grown :)

Our newest PFOP challenge, SPRING IS BLOOMING, began yesterday. I chose a chipboard album, and used the new line from Crate Paper called Emma's Shoppe.

I love it so much I can't wait ot use up every last scrap of it :) For more picks, or to place your bid, check it out on eBay right HERE! Thanks for looking!

New cards and albums on eBay!

2011-03-04T13:11:00.001-07:00

I've been having fun playing with the four 6x6 pads of paper i recently bought from the new Stells & Rose collection from My Minds Eye! They are adorable :)

I have three more almost ready to go...so keep an eye out!
Finally I made more cards too. It's been forever! I used the scraps from each pad, and they make beautiful cards too :)

Plus while I was waiting for these papers to arrive, I busted out some (what's seems ancient!) papers from a huge MME stack. I still have soooooo much of it left, and they really are too cute. I must remember to use more :)

More pictures are waiting for you HERE! Thanks for looking!

Newly listed on eBay!

2011-02-13T18:37:00.000-07:00

Tonight I listed another album on eBay. It's the second album I made with the Making Memories Flutter line. The first album was called "Sugar and Spice", so I felt it was only right to name this one, "and everything nice!"

This is a handmade chipboard binder album, is 5x6 inches and has five inner pages. Each page has a tiny journal spot so you can just put in a simple name or date.

I decided to use a big button for the closure, but this time I couldn't decide between the fuchsia hair tie, or blue lace seam binding!

I guess I'm going with the seam binding, though the hair tie is super easy to use, the seam binding is just prettier. :)

I ran out of white thread, (and everything else I had was too dark) right at the beginning of the album! So this is a no sew, except for the circles edge on the front. :)

Turned out pretty cute though. You can check it out eBay HERE. Thanks for looking!

Newly Listed on ETSY!

2011-02-10T13:46:00.002-07:00

It has been forever since I listed anything in my etsy shop. Ever since I started auctioning my albums for 99 cents starting bid on eBay....well lets just say they sell every time, first time around! :D While I'm feeling a little abundant in the album count this week, I though it would be the best time.

I must say, I'm pretty in love with this album! I used a MME journal tag to title it, Memories like this. The cover is really 3D and those cute little chipboard butterflies have 3 layers of cotton candy stickles on them. :) I have been using seam binding to tie my binder albums closed, with a unique button tied through the heavy chip cover. Finally a ribbon that looks better the more wrinkles you get in to it!

I'm not much for one to use the flat stickers that come with paper collections, but I did manage to tastfully use a few this time. :)

So glad I finally got some of these cherry blossom paper flowers everyone seems to be using these days :)

These cut tiny butterflies from a piece of trim.

And there it is. Feel free to check it out! Thanks for looking!

Welcome to the SWEET SHOPPE!

2011-01-30T10:13:00.001-07:00

The Pocket Full Of Papers "Sweet Shoppe" Challenge is in full swing! Be sure to search PFOP on eBay through February 14th to see all of our SWEET creations!

Here are a couple of the albums I have listed so far. I've still got two more to come later this week!!

You can check out the rest of their pictures and place your bid HERE :)

Thanks for looking!

Passing on some great Maya Road Info!! Look at all these new peeks!

2011-01-19T11:33:00.001-07:00

Day 1 of Maya Road Sneak Peek Week!!

Here a couple of my faves!

You better just go and check it out for yourself :) And this is just day one!

"Our Fairytale"

2011-01-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share a few pictures from a recent custom album order. The title is Norwegian and says, "Our Fairytale." Had to get creative with the lil circle above the a!

These poor MR chipboard letters went from brown to aged copper glitter, then with pewter highlights, then full pewter, then back to aged copper! I think I like copper best :)

So in love with this 7gypsies book knob!

Finally found the perfect home for some of these prima centers that I think I have had forever!

A great paper line. I have been waiting for the need to buy it. Good thing I have lots more, so I can make another:)

Thanks for looking!

You can watch the full slide show on photobucket HERE.

It's beginning to Look a lot like Christmas!

2010-11-04T09:33:00.000-06:00

PFOP has started bringing out the Holiday goodies! Check back each Friday all month long to find unique Christmas items as well as our gorgeous everyday items that make the PERFECT Christmas gifts!

New on eBay!

2010-10-02T22:10:00.001-06:00

I listed a couple albums on eBay tonight...and thought I'd share :o)

The first is a paper bag album with a poem on the front by Oliver Wendell Holmes.

"We don't quit playing because we grow old,

we grow because we quit playing."

I've always loved it :o) It's perfect for the man in life...young and old! There are lots of little places to jot down some memories.

Second is another paper bag album fit for photos. I think i have had these papers forever..I don't even know where they came from ;o) I made many of the tiny roses in it, after watching a few tutorials on you-tube. The front took many tries and tons of rearranging..lol... I finally got my way with it!

The last one listed tonight, is probably the last Halloween album I'll list on ebay this season. I used up the last of my Cosmo Cricket Haunted scraps from last year for it. I love love love this line :o)

I am trying to get into the holiday spirit enough to start shopping for Christmas/winter supplies! I need to stay on top of it, or I'll be late like always. For now though, I am happy to I have more beautiful paper coming... and it's not winter themed just yet! :o)

Check them out on eBay!

Thanks for stopping by!

2010-09-28T14:24:00.000-06:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and the design team Pocket Full of Papers is holding its 5th Annual auction the week of Sept. 24-30th. Please come see what the team has created for this special auction.

Then and now!

2010-07-10T09:36:00.002-06:00

I made an album yesterday- start to finish- in the time it took my youngest to take his nap! It is only 4x4 inches, but I am still pretty proud :o) Could I be getting a teeny bit more efficient??? I'm waiting on three new paper collections...seems like it's taking forever. What to do... what to do...LOL :O)
One of my fellow PFOPers, was talking about trying to use up some papers from three years ago... so I gave myself a little dig through my older bits and pieces. I found my extremely old bag of Cosmo Crickets Jitterbug line! Though most of it was cut to finish a 5x5 mini album one day, I chose to use some chip and acrylic shapes I had cut on my cricut a couple months back.

So here is what I created! It is so cute and so tiny.

A couple of the mats will hold a cropped wallet size picture.. the rest need about half that.

I stamped and cut out a few journal spots to put them on the acrylic pages.
I'm going list this on eBay one of these days...but here's a peek for now :o)

Now for the cool part of this post :o) I thought I would post some pictures of the albums I first made with Jitterbug! These are both from early 2008. First is a 5x7 chipboard album.

I remember my thumb hurt terribly after forming/curling all those flowers over the cap of my glue pen!

The second is a paper bag album. No sewing...pop dots under every photo mat. :o)

The outer pockets were probably full of tiny little journal tags, I must not have taken a picture? And those flower center gems? Hand glued them all down...thank goodness for adhesive backed bling :o)
I have really come a long way, I would say. LOL.. and the fact that scrapbooking is always evolving...I love to look back at some of my older work :o) Thanks for reading!

Time for a post!

2010-07-07T10:38:00.001-06:00

As much as I try to be a more regular blogger, I just find it really hard to get my butt on here and get it done!

That being said..lol..I have new albums listed on ebay, so what better time to post :o) Oh and you probably should get a little comfy...this ones going to be bit lengthy!

I made this first album a week or so ago, and finally got it listed!

It's a Maya Road Binder album, the first one I have ever made. My albums are usually quite fat, and to fit all that in a binder album takes a bit planning and cramming :O) I used Cosmo Cricket's Early Bird collection...they are still ever so intimidating to me...I just love 'em anyway!

To keep it all closed up, I used a yellow hair tie around stacks of buttons that I tied though the heavy chipboard covers. Works great :o)

I tried to be extra creative with the flowers on the cover. There sooooo fun to make. I think the only con with them is they are too thick to put many other places throughout albums :o(

This next album has mixed chipboard pages, and is done with October Afternoons line, Fly a Kite! I love these papers! I love all the colors and sizes of all the patterns. Definitely must buy more October Afternoon papers...:o)

The kit has tons of cute journal tags, cardstock stickers and rub-ons...mmmm.....

I can't end my post today without showing a few shots of the album ending today on eBay too :o)

It's a paper bag album done with Basic Grey's Porcelain line.

It has almost 400 page views and 50 some watchers, are very high counts for my usuals. Hope it means good things :o)

To see the rest of the pictures of all three albums search ocbrandy on eBay!

Thanks for stopping by :o)

BACK WITH A SPLASH!

2010-06-22T20:26:00.000-06:00

PFOP is having a summer challenge! After a little needed down time, we've come BACK WITH A SPLASH!

Check us out on eBay this week to see what we have been up to!

My newest albums, and one of my favorite quotes!

2010-05-20T22:26:00.000-06:00

I just love the quote on this album! "The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough." by Rabindranath Tagore. What a great title for a few beautiful pictures.

I love the soft colors of this DCWV collection called The Linen Closet. Despite all the sanding I do on these mixed shape albums, lol, it was very fun to make... pretty sure it just flowed right out of me! :O)

Album number two this week is made from the Basic Grey Offbeat collection. This was VERY tricky for me! So many colors and patterns.... I think it turned out pretty nice though :O)

I used a Mellisa Francis envelope and tag album for the base, so each page has a pull-out tag for journalling. I finally decided on "lighthearted" as the title, I knew I needed something a little quirky! :O) I used the "horseshoes and lemonade" font, printed it out on cardstock and cut out each letter.

The "rolled" flower on the cover is my second or third attempt at these...they are not the easiest things to make! LOL...one of these days I hope to better perfect the technique!
You can check out the rest of these albums on ebay. Thanks for stopping by!

New on eBay!

2010-05-03T19:27:00.002-06:00

I finally have a couple new albums listed on eBay :O) Seems this month has been all starting albums and no finishing them! I finally got some gumption and finished up two new ones.
Both albums are made with Basic Grey papers, that I must say I got an awesome deal on from Crafty Steals. Check them out and sign up your email, or you can fan them on Facebook to find out which "steal" they have to offer everyday! I got four 6x6 Basic Grey pads for $15! :O)
The first album is done with the Granola line. I used a paper bags for the base, and the cover features weaved strips of paper, and flowers I cut from one of the pages.

The second I made with the Eva line and made lots of the flowers included in it. Below I'll show you how :O)

I made the wrinkly little perfectly coordinating flowers, by hand cutting random flower shapes.

Then I sanded all the edges to accent the different "petals".

Then I crumpled them up and made them into little balls while rolling my hands together. Folded them back out and they looked like this :O)

Put on a brad to hold them altogether, and there you have it! I just love wrinkly flowers what can I say :O)

Check them out on eBay--Starting bids are just 99 cents !!!

A new (to me) technique!

2010-03-30T12:57:00.000-06:00

Too many times throughout my paper crafting adventures, I come across a new idea... or a better way of doing things...maybe just perfecting something I have been battling and think to myself, wouldn't this make a good blog post??? Then time gets the best of me and feel like I missed my opportunity! Though I used this nifty little technique at least a month ago, and someone else probably thought of it before me, I wanted to share it now while I am thinking about it! :o)

I know there are different colored book binding rings for sale somewhere....maybe 7gypsies....Tim Holtz.... You know something distressed and simply anything other color than those same old silver rings! Since I have been experimenting with the Tim Holtz alcohol inks, I knew I had to try it out on them shiny rings. It is suppose to stick to just about anything so I applied some of the natural colors set, and it worked great!

Don't forget to protect your work surface! I use the cellophane packaging my papers come in. It took a couple of applications on each side to get the deep color that's on these.

So much nicer than uncalled for plain silver rings! It limits the shopping around for color coordination... and makes me a happy camper! :o) Give it a try! Thanks for reading!

PFOP's Spring Challenge!

2010-03-16T11:07:00.002-06:00

Search PFOP on eBay this week to see our adorable spring baby designs!

Just a quick post to show you some pictures of the album i have listed on ebay for PFOP's Spring Challenge! I made a Baby girl album, using K&Co's Paper*Doll collection papers. I fell in love with them as soon as I spotted them...don't you just hate it when a paper line slips under your radar, and you feel like you may be the last one to enjoy it?? LOL I hope you enjoy it too! Thanks for looking :O) Check it out on eBay!

Custom album for the parents of "Sweet Layla"

2010-03-12T11:53:00.001-07:00

I had to pop in and show off an album I just finished. Though Layla is a bit young to enjoy her album to it's fullest, I'm sure someday it will be a treasure :O)
Made with the paper*doll collection by K&Co, I had no trouble coordinating a few baby embellishments and ribbons from Martha Stewart and K&Co, to make finish off this sweet little album :O) I look forward to using the rest of the papers for PFOP's next challenge album and maybe even a mother's day project!
Thanks for looking!

2010-02-22T07:16:00.001-07:00

I do say, I'm long over due for a post! Though I haven't really had the time to post lately, I have still been creating ;O)
My last two projects were a bit of experimentation to me!! Until a few weeks ago, the only Tim Holtz products I had used were the Ranger Distress Ink pads. I love distressing my work, I just love the way you can make something look like you have cherished it for many years :O) So curiosity got the best of me at Michaels one day, and I picked up a few more Tim Holtz goodies. To start my new venture I picked out some Adirondack inks in the neutrals colors, an applicator, the alcohal mixitive, and extra felt pieces. Brought it all home watched a few videos on Timholtz.com and bam i was off like a rocket. I practiced on a few clear acrylic tags (also by tim holtz) and later perfected my first attempts on a couple Acrylic and chipboard album kits from Clear Scraps. Never had so much fun. I LOVE working with acrylics and what better way to enjoy them than by learning new techniques to make them beautiful! Though they have been listed and sold on ebay, I thought I'd still list a few pictures to give you an idea of what I've been up to! :O)

Blog Candy Giveaway!

2009-12-21T22:49:00.000-07:00

Feeling lucky?? Check out this fellow PFOP members blog candy!

Click HERE to head over to Veronica's blog and leave her a comment for your chance to win :0)

My latest ACRYLIC album!

2009-12-11T22:23:00.002-07:00

I found this poor album at M's awhile back, the packaging was tattered but the album was in perfect condition! Oh, and did I mention the best part??? It was on clearance for like 7 bucks...can't beat that deal! I bought some K&Co Wild Saffron paper that day too, so I guess they were meant to be together :-) The pictures I have posted don't really go so much with what I am actually saying..LOL I didn't take pictures as I went. They are just for your viewing pleasure as you read ;-)

Okay, back on track! This is deffinetly one of those bold, large print paper packs, but I made some cards with it last week too. It sat for a long time, this album was probably on the corner of my desk for a week! Waiting for the front page to come to me.

Finally, I saw a scrap with the butterfly tilted in just the right direction and remembering I still had the other sheet of the paper, knew I could cut out the other matching butterfly and place it directly over the top of it for the very front page of the album. After the front was stacked and ready to go I started with the back page, made it with one of the largest sized mats I would use.

I love to use double sided papers on acrylic, then you can use it for the mat on the back side of the page too. Cutting out each pages mat, I made my way back to the front. One tip, leave that protective sheet on the album til you absolutely HAVE to take it off! I glue right to it with my Zig glue pen, I just give the glue a moment to dry a little so it is only a temporary bond. After I had all the mats finished i sat down at the sewing machine and stitched around each mat. The temporary glue allows you to pull off the mat, sew it, and stick it right back on! Too easy...

Next, I find homes for lots of pretty flowers, taking care to see what will hide the backs of each of them. Sometimes the edge of a mat works, sometimes it's just another flower. When you have a good idea of what will go where on your page, pull the mat back off ONE MORE TIME, and peal off that protective sheet. With very clean hands design your page, my favorite permanent adhesive these days are those wonderful little glue dots!

After each page was all put together, I pushed the edges of the pages into my white Stazon ink pad, just enough to accentuate the scalloped edge. they can really get lost IMO without a little definition! :-)

Now I just bind it together with some book rings, tie on my coordinating ribbons, and finally my album is complete!

Check it out on eBay!

Before I go, is it just me or is anyone else finding it hard to find nice pretty paper collection and kits? I seem to be having a lot of trouble finding anything that trips my trigger! So many bold, large patterns... I have been thinking of going back to some previous lines for a bit. Who knows! If you have any suggestions, feel free to introduce me to them :-)

GOT CARDS?

2009-11-05T19:27:00.001-07:00

I'm a little late as usual posting, but I have great news! I've been inspired to once again make a few cards! After making thousands of handmade greeting cards, most of which were sold on eBay, I suddenly grew tired of making them. I'm sure a new baby (my second child), many life changes, and of course my interest in mini albums, just drained me of my card making mojo. This week Pocket Full Of Papers is having a handmade greeting card challenge that is part of the Holiday Shoppe we're hosting this month.

Be sure to search PFOP on eBay to see all the handmade paper goodies and designer handmade cards,we have to offer this week!

I had no idea when I started making a couple cards for the challenge I would end up with a whopping 25 so far!

Some of them really have a lot of my "oc" designs, like bouquets, or tiny flowers adorning a fence.

Something new for me in cardmaking has been machine sewing many of the layers. I love on cards just as much as on album pages!

Instead of using the regular quarter-fold size cards, I've given square, 5x5 cards a try. These have been a nice fun change too.

I listed two sets of cards on Sunday, and just listed three more this evening on eBay so be sure to check out the rest!

New eBay listings!

2009-10-27T00:38:00.002-06:00

My oh my, I am so far behind on posting...AGAIN! I have two new albums listed on ebay right now. Both were created using DCWV papers.

The first is from the Garden Party line, and I chose to use only the teal, green, and brown coordinating pages.

With an any occasion theme, it's sure to suit a variety of your photos. Each page is adorned with butterflies and pretty prima flowers.

It's 7x8 inches and features tabbed inner pages. Check it out!

Secondly, is a 6x9 inch album with mixed shape pages.

I made it using DCWV's Rustic papers. I just love every page in this line. Can't wait to use more! I named it Shine, using a K&Co chipboard word sticker. I was really impressed to find stickers that matched this line just right! It is very seldom I can cross brands and be happy with the way they go together.

I scissor distressed each layer of the photo mats in it again, I tell you I'm hooked on that technique!

I used stacked word stickers by K&Co to give each page a little bit of inspiration for choosing the perfect photo. A couple of gem swirl packs later... ta-da! Check out all the pictures here on ebay!

Thank for reading, and have a great week :)

CHECK OUT this blog giveaway!

2009-10-14T23:17:00.001-06:00

I have followed this blog for some time, after (hearting) this fabulous seller/crafter on Etsy. Right now Tam has an awesome RAK giveaway going on! Chipboard & Cosmo Cricket.....it doesn't get any better than this! The drawing is Oct. 20th, go check it out to see how you could be the lucky winner :)
LIVING OUT LOUD BLOG GIVEAWAY!

Pocket Full Of Papers Cancer Awarness Charity

2009-10-09T09:56:00.013-06:00

Hello! I hope you like the new look to my blog, I had to do just a touch of fall decorating!

My post today is to announce that I have joined a new design team on ebay. You may have heard of them before... Pocket Full Of Papers! If you haven't, you had definitely better go check out their listings!! They are truly an elite group of paper crafters. I am so happy to be a member!October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and PFOP is holding it's annual charity auctions to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure!

Each members listing with the word "PINK" in the title will be donating a percentage of the final selling price to help save lives and end breast cancer forever.

Here is the beautiful album I have contributed, I posted on it a couple days ago,if you missed it you can find it here.

Inspiring Butterflies!

2009-10-07T17:53:00.010-06:00

Well I think I said in my last post, that I loved fall/Halloween colors... Don't get me wrong, I do love this time of year. though the leaves have just begun to change here in southern Colorado, I really want to be done paper crafting in fall colors! I've still got some albums to finish up, but I had to take a break. This is what I came up with!
I knew after flipping through the pages of the DCWV Garden Party Stack at JoAnns I would be using some of the pages pretty quick!

One of them had glitter swirls atop various sizes of beautiful butterflies-- it is so pretty! I think I had the butterflies cut cut out before I even set up the album :) I also made many handmade flowers. I must say, luckily my DH was happy to help me out with these!! First I traced a circle shape and tore it out. Then I crumpled them into tiny balls and rolled the around and around and around..(get the picture?) in the palms of my hands. When you un-crumple them they are full of texture and the torn edges have been smoothed perfectly. I really like them! I have seen many similar ones, but I really like the *been pulverized* look!

So I went through my chipboard pages stash, picked out a couple pages from my Michaels $1 albums and traced and cut out the rest with my own hand drawn templates.

This page is from the butterfly album from Michaels but I trimmed the tops and bottoms off the wings so the shape better fit the butterflies on the pages. I never did like the shape of that butterfly album anyway! ;) I love this quote, i got it from quotegarden.com. Be sure to check there next time you are in need of a neat quote.

There aren't many DCWV embellishments, but I did find some K&Co epoxy stickers that matched great and really helped me with the theme of the album.
And there it is! I hope you like it as much as I do :) Check it out on ebay!

Let's Go A Haunting!

2009-10-01T19:21:00.008-06:00

I love Halloween, it's one of my favorite holidays. Fall comes in colors of red, orange, brown...then BAM, Halloween comes and throws in purple and black and green, making for one of the most awesome color pallets!
Tonight I listed my first Halloween album. I like the horizontal rectangle, it gives great little layouts just the right room. This paper line is called Haunted by Cosmo Cricket. Yeah, I LOVE me some Cosmo Cricket!! The paper pack comes with awesome stickers, so you can't help but spend the extra $$$ and get the chipboard shapes that the stickers fit perfectly over top of!
After all that careful tracing, cutting, gluing, and of course finally sanding every edge, I had one pretty neat album to fill :) I have to point out one funny thing... this dang little swirl is suppose to show the bats flight pattern right? I made it from one straight row of connected pearls and it was soooo hard to get it right! LOL!
I love how this page turned out, I cut that leafy-vine-flourish thing out by hand and inked the chipboard bat with metallic ink. This picture really doesn't do it justice now that I stare at it for awhile! LOL
I have been a little bored with the usual machine stitching lately so I scribble stitched some photo mat corners by hand with orange thread. I scissor distressed all the photo mats and a few accents too. I think it turned out alright, I already have some plans for an album to finish off the papers though! Check it on ebay!

Brown Paper Bags: Not just for lunch!

2009-09-30T11:24:00.005-06:00

I just love how paper bag scrapbook albums are so unique in their own special way! Though chipboard is my favorite base for mini albums, I can't help but make a bag album now and again. I prefer to use a heavy paper weight, so there isn't as much rippling of the pages from gluing. I also love to use my most favorite glue... the Zig Memory Two way glue pen. If you apply the glue and almost immediatly attach your papers it makes a perfect bond that dries superfast and never rinkles and ripples like other gluing can! I used up most of the rest of the fall themed paper pack I got by Making Memories for it. Unlike chipboard albums, there is no need for perfect trimming and sanding all the edges of the pages. For this album however, I distressed the edges and it made for quite a time consuming and dusty technique! Probably not a favorite of every buyer out there... let's just hope someone can't live without it :) I printed out a few fall sayings including the covers title and distressed them all too. For the distressing, I used a sharp pair of scissors, and scraped it along the sides of the papers. I love how no matter how gental you are, you can easily get a random tear or two along each side! Then I inked the edges just a little bit with some distress ink by Ranger Ink... looks like I used "antique linen", it's on the top of the pile in my drawer :)

Check it out on ebay!

SNEAK PEAK! Up coming FALL albums

2009-09-23T16:17:00.013-06:00

Fall is here! It's my most favorite season! I thought I would take the opportunity to jump a head a few days and show you some new albums. I won't be listing them until next week, but this way I can post on some Halloween albums next week.
I made these two albums with precut chipboard shaped albums I bought from one of my favorite ebay stores, Fancy Fibers for Scrapbooking (her ebay id is nice2cu). Besides beautiful fibers and ribbons, she caries TONS of chipboard shapes and albums. I love 'em! She has awesome prices, even her shipping rates kick butt :-) These ones are even a little over sized to give you more room to design your pages!
The first one is done in Making Memories papers. I named it Thankful. They had the cute rhinestone word with the papers and embellish- ments at Michaels. I'm hooked on tearing up the edges of my papers, (hopefully in a good way) giving that worn- been- around- awhile feeling. It's amazing how you can find enjoyment in carefully planning and trimming photo mats and accents, only to take your scissors or even fingernail and just yuck up all the edges! I'm really trying to ad a little more to each page too. You've got to love the detail and placement of accents you can get on a 12x12 one picture layout! It's not all there..lol... but I really like adding just a little more.

The second album is much more whimsical. It has got to be my favorite album made for some time. I did my silly machine stitching on cricut cut photo mats and made it with a family/fall theme.
I feel really bad at the moment, I used what I could, recycled the scraps, and cannot remember who the paper is by! I remember it said Granny's Kitchen and was purchased at Michaels also, I'll post back after I have a chance to check and see who makes it!
I have some albums listed this week, I just never posted on them. Have a look see :)

Few new albums... and a few re-lists!

2009-09-05T11:25:00.027-06:00

Finally I have something listed on ebay! I finished up a couple albums last week, but just couldn't get them listed!
First up, I have to show you a Hannah Montana Star shaped album. I made it with a little bitty kit I got from Micheal's. A few flowers & charms and ribbons & fibers later, I had a cute little keepsake album any Hannah fan would love!
I also finished up two smallish albums that I actually have had cut, bagged up and ready to go for many months. I named them both "Memories", and they are both made with My Minds Eye papers. On the teal one, I used primas pretty flower gems for the centers of some of the flowers and printed the memories title the little word blocks on each page, using a 50's style font.

The other is done in pink, red, and brown colored papers. The cover title was printed in a country font. Some of the pages have a pull out tag for journaling or an extra picture. It features white felt swirl accents and my very own pocket full of posies creation.

Next is two albums I'm re listing. I never posted on them, so why not show them off now?! The first is an acrylic album, made with the Delight line from fancy pants. I really lost my mind using these papers! They were very busy, and it was kinda tricky to find perfectly matching flowers etc. That added to the complexity of see thru pages... I was not too surprised the first time around when it never sold. Then I made another using the rest of the papers and didn't like it any better! To my complete surprise though, it sold last week for over $100! Isn't it *funny*just when the ones that could be your least favorite are just perfect in someone else's eyes?!

My second re list is a road trip album I listed earlier this summer. I used little epoxy stickers for the flower centers, and think it was a neat & different way to pull it all together. I used all different shaped pages, the cover being a hand designed and cut road sign shape.
Well this has been one loooong post! Check out the rest of the pictures at: http://shop.ebay.com/ocbrandy/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=
Thanks for looking!

I love the colors on this album!

2009-07-28T20:01:00.008-06:00

The color teal, that deep greenish one, is sooo popular now! It seems almost every brand has a this deep teal going on right now. I do so love the color, but I've been finding it a little hard to find flowers and ribbons to go with each one just right.

It features the mixed shaped pages that I have been so hooked on. They are so unique, and since I cut most of my own shapes from my own patterns, they are just a little different from everyone else's. I do get inspiration from those awesome brand name albums, but I just love pulling it off for a lot cheaper!

My mother in law found this paper in a LSS in Oklahoma, and knew that I would just love i!

As usual I didn't hold back on the sanding and sewing on this baby. I mixed cricut cut flowers and primas to make up some really pretty flowers combinations.

And what is a chipboard album without a little bit of acrylic somewhere?! I added a heart shape that rests over an extra special picture. Checkout the rest of the pictures on ebay!http://cgi.ebay.com/PREMADE-ADORE-SCRAPBOOK-CHIPBOARD-ALBUM-ocbrandy-MLDT_W0QQitemZ310158373125QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4836e13105&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

2009-07-20T23:01:00.005-06:00

Two posts in one night???

Well I can't go away tonight without sharing the project that has had me busy most of this month! As a sort of grand finally, my Accent Scrapbooking design team owner gave us the opportunity to choose our final project. I picked an album I have had my eye on for months, knowing it may very well be the most challenging project I have done for them. I could have picked a no-brainer, but *nooo*, I had to choose the acrylic accordion fold train album! I was a blast to make, but it really brought me out of my creative box. So many times I was unsure of just where i was going with it, but I think it came out pretty darn good :) The hardest part I think, was coming up with some sort of theme and choosing the right papers. Once I got past that... I used my trusty cricut machine, and made my own little cardstock embellishments. I get easily overwhelmed with all the embellishments out there! And for the wheels and photo mats... it worked great so that the main page elements could be duplicated on the other side of the page. My acrylic album tip of the evening: wash your hands constantly! LOL um seriously though! I also found that the little swifer dust cloths work great for pulling any dust and finger prints right off. They disappear like magic.

Check out the entire ebay listing at: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310156676722&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123

2009-07-20T22:01:00.004-06:00

Lemonade anyone?

Hey, remember me? LOL I sooo need to catch up! We are all moved, well we have been for a couple weeks--or so ;) I needed to "squeeze" a post in last week, for Making Lemonade Design Teams 2nd anniversary challenge, but I just never did. We did a "FRESH SQUEEZED" challenge, and came up with our most summery/refreshing/lemonade paper crafts. It was fun seeing all the variety of all our work , starting with a common theme, but completely done up in our own crafty ways! Here is a sneak peek of two of the three albums I made, but I can't for the life of me figure out where I've put the pictures of the third one! AH!

Anyway, both of these feature a handmade glass of lemonade! I cut some left over thin acrylic from accent scrapbooking --of course!-- made some glass shapes, put a couple basic grey rub-ons on, cut a piece of yellow vellum just a tiny bit smaller than the glass and then glued it on where the rub-ons where. Got to be creative when using them acrylics! LOL Then I used the itty bitty pop dots on the back side of the vellum where the rub-ons where too, so they didn't show either. Lastly I cut a strip of doubled cardstock for the straw(again I only glued where those lil' rub-ons were!) and there you have it, a nice cool glass of lemonade!

Blog Award

2009-06-10T16:14:00.004-06:00

I received this award from a very tallented fellow scrapper Tammy. You can see her blog at http://scrapn4mygirlz.blogspot.com/!

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to five bloggers who must choose at least five more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

I'd love to share this award with,

http://ourscrapbookmemories.blogspot.com/ aka Kristi

http://thefunkiejunkie.blogspot.com/ aka Linda

http://hintstoascrappyheart.blogspot.com/ aka Lisa

http://cherishpaperart.blogspot.com/ aka Erica

http://auntmargaretdesigns.blogspot.com/ aka Margaret

For all of you who received this, just copy the award logo and use it in your own blog. Nominate 5 to 10 blogs that you feel show great attitude and gratitude. Link to your nominees within your blog post and comment on their blogs to let them know they've received the award. Link back to the person who gave you the award to show your appreciation.

Little Wonders

2009-06-05T21:35:00.004-06:00

Hello! I'm going to be brief tonight, but I wanted to post on my newest album. It will probably be my last made for the next couple weeks, as we will be moving. I'm so not looking forward to all that work! Though I am happy to be moving from the house we have lived in for the last three years.

Talk about your unique papers! This line is by Crate Paper. It's called Little Sprout... a little woodland creature meets baby themed adorable paper. "Little Wonders" is the first of three albums I've got going on with them.

It's set up like most of the rest of my paper bag albums... Large journal pages in the bag sides, and smaller ones where the bottom of the bag is folded over. Primas, die cuts, ribbons, fibers, machine stitching, clips, glitter, and brads, all wrapped in three little paper bags! I guess I might mention I do my bag albums a little different than I see most people do them regarding the binding. I like them to be as free moving as possible, so instead of stacking them inside each other, I stack them on top of each other. Does that make sense? LOL...I need to catch up on some sleep!
To see the rest of the pictures, you can check out the auction on ebay right now! Thanks for looking :) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=310147009141

"the little things"

2009-06-03T12:52:00.017-06:00

I didn't get to this last night as planned, but alas I have album #2 completed from the Lillian line by Crate Paper!

I will be listing this cutie tonight on ebay, so keep an eye out. I am going to try to list every couple days instead of only once a week and see what it brings.

As I've said before, am not only a member of the phenomenal Making Lemonade Design Team on eBay but I am also a member of the Accent Scrapbooking Design Team. It's a small group and we are still working out the kinks, but I have loved working with the acrylic pieces they have to offer.
So in between projects, I used up a few of my left overs to help me create this one of a kind flower chipboard album!

The cover has the individually hand cut petals as my last flower album did. I used an acrylic circle for the center, and used cardstock stickers to name it, "the little things". i love the dimension you get with acrylic in between the background and the letters! Since I'm a big chicken and don't want to goof anything up with any other stamping, I just kissed the edge of the circle with white stazon ink... just enough to highlight it.

Yes, this one's full of them kooky lil birds also! The front and back are flower shaped, there's part of a circle, an acrylic rectangle, a square, and a tag in all.

I love the challenge of the different sized and shape pages. You have to plan ahead to make sure they will accentuate each other. I think it turned out pretty good! I'd love to hear any comments or suggestions you might have! Thanks for letting me share! :)

***Before I close, I just have to take a moment and share a new Favorite seller on ebay. These last two albums would not be nearly as pretty if I had not stumbled on the FABULOUS primas flowers I got from the seller angbankosh! Her store, Island Scrapbooking, is full of primas as well as centers, papers, stamps... all sorts of pretty goodies. But the condition and variety of her primas will definitely keep me coming back for more! They were all flawless. Her shipping was fast, cheap, and safe too. So whether you need one or two packs, or ten or twelve, you won't go broke on those dreaded shipping charges! I can't wait to shop there again!***

Perfect Harmony

2009-06-01T22:48:00.006-06:00

Well, well, well, it looks like I may just get a post in before I have four albums to show you! I have been working with two lines of paper by Crate Paper. Tonight I will showcase my first of three albums from the Lillian collection.

This is an adorably busy and bright bunch of bird themed paper! Say that three times fast! Full of quirky shaped birds and houses. I love the coral and teal together and the other colors compliment them even more.

I just love that linin texture all CP's papers have!

As usual all but the tag pages had to be traced and cut by hand. Then all were machine sewn, glued to their page and then (pain stakingly might I add!) sanded smooth, so that no paper hangs over the edges. The cover was so fun. I know... I have been stuck on birds, but atleast I added a birdhouse this time :)
I am loving all these albums I have been making with only one ring. It's too tidy to have that one little ring with the usual short tied ribbons and fibers, and definitly not showy enough! So I've been using longer pieces, and I just love how crazy it looks!

Have a look see at my listing on ebay to check out the full album!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310146152680&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123

2009-05-27T22:45:00.011-06:00

Boy have I been dragging today! Crashing hard from staying up way to late last night and then woke up way to early today! I am pleased to say I finished up some albums that have been taking me forever to finish up! Four of them to be exact :)

This was the second album made with this Karen Foster paper. Since Mother's Day I've needed to get this thing done! Yeah today is the day :) Orinially it was intended for my mother, but I just couldn't pull it together!

This next album was made with some paper that was adorable I loved it! I am so glad It's all gone, not one scrap left! I think I did pretty good, starting out with only nine sheets of the My minds Eye "bloom" paper... and be able to make two albums? (the flower/coffee filters album in my last post was the second) I love making the paper bag albums and leaving that extra pocket jobby in the pages, rather than waste that little space just calling for some journalling tags!

Yes, that is Spongebob Squarepants that you see! I have three kids... I saw the papers....I couldn't resist! I wish I could have found more embellishments, but I think the stickers and my trusty bottle cap turned out alright.
This is the other set of My minds Eye papers I bought. I made two albums from these also! I made this flower one below, different than I usually do. Instead of tracing and cutting out the whole flower shape by hand, i made a petal template and cut them all out individually! 10 pages x 8 petals = 80 of them babies! Love the buttons too :)

This is the other made with "grow" papers. It was a big album compared to what I am used to, 6x10. With this album I used some of the pages from those making memories journalling notebooks. They are really a challenge to use I think, if you are not using a 12x12 page! They just barely fit, but i think itdoes give a neat way of expressing your thoughts about the photo on the page. The auction on ebay ended this evening on this one.

So this means I have four albums listed right now! That's a lot to choose from, I hope they do well :) Go check 'em out, you know you want to see the rest of the pictures anyway! :)

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/ocbrandy_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZ

New flower album

2009-05-13T22:27:00.005-06:00

Well I finally listed a new album tonight. Feels like I've been working on it forever...I suppose that's because I have been! I am using the new my minds eye, bloom and grow collections. So far I've made two albums from each variety of papers. Two flower albums, a chipboard and a bag album. I'll be listing them as I finish up their final touches. I hope they all do well, with bids that is! And boy, does that bring me right in to my next subject... I just had a second album of this week end with no bids. I'm pretty frustrated too! They were both so unique, I just don't get it. I have listed them on etsy, hoping their owners will find them soon! :) well, go check out the latest anyway!------>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=310142114860

Accent Scrapbooking's Chipboard LOVE Album

2009-05-03T12:14:00.007-06:00

I just finished up my latest Accent Scrapbooking design team project. It was a word album that says "LOVE". Now there's something a little more special about *this* word album... this one has clear acrylic letter overlays! This is only my second word album but it was pretty fun! The acrylic letters make for a very sharp word album I must say! You can give each letter that silhouette and really make it stand out! BUT, as working with all acrylic, you must spend all the time and care keeping them crystal clear. It is not easy! At one point all my letters where zipped up in snack baggies! I got so eager, finished up the letters and still had all the photo mats to do. It worked great, I think it helps to know just what will show on the outside, then fit the inside in afterward. I hope to be listing it on ebay today! Hope you check it out!

Behold the beauty!

2009-04-29T11:38:00.027-06:00

Well I think it took me every bit of this last week to get this baby done. Like I have said, it's been a long week. And although the other album is not quite done it is very similar to this one. I can't figure out why it would be so hard for me to make a couple albums with this paper. Sure, I bought a limited amount of sheets, but I seldom waste any. The only thing that I can figure is that one would be for my mom! Whenever I make something specifically for someone, I feel lots of pressure. When I make something for ebay or etsy, I really feel NO pressure. I just figure someone will love it...and hope they want it ALOT! :O)

This is Karen Foster paper, yep the flimsy stuff. LOL! It was just too cute to pass up. Plus it says my moms name written all over it! I lay out my papers, make my chipboard pages, I pull out ALL coordinating ribbons, some fibers, and embellishments I have.

Then I start tracing my chipboard pages on the papers. I like being able to poke around with everything laying around, sort of brainstorm! The next couple steps are very boring...LOL

After cutting out each page by hand, I sew around the outer edge of each one. While going through the stack of pages so many times, I now am getting a good idea for the colors, patterns, and sizes of photo mats. (many of these were cut with my cricut) Before I get to far from the sewing machine I stitch around them quick too. Where the seems come together, I always pull the threads through to the back of the paper and tape them securely. The "oc" in me will not allow me to overlap seams and I definitely wouldn't want them coming undone!

The bird on the front is from Maya Road. I covered it with paper, then sanded the edges and inked it with Jim Holtz Distress ink. This is pretty much the way I make every page. I glue all the pages on to their chipboard, sand and ink them all, then punch holes and bind them with book rings. If the front page will come easily to me I do it first, as to not use up any embellishments, that I might have wanted it to have. For this album I made lots of beautiful unique flowers by pairing up primas with my own hand cut cardstock flowers. Curling and inking them took forever too!

Now all the preparation and brainstorming is done. I tie ribbons and fibers on each binder rings now, I think it really sturdies up the book and helps make sure it will all open and close smoothly. Lastly...decorate them pages!! You almost can't go wrong here. Attach the photo mats, a few flowers here and there, a ribbon, little bit of balance and creative imagination and you have yourself one beautiful album!

2009-04-28T11:18:00.002-06:00

Wow, It's been days! So much for pictures of that album progress eh? Well i have had sick babies, if you could really even call it that! The girls got the weirdest RED cheeks, then brock out in a rash. Turned out it is wgat they call slap cheek, or fifth's disease. Never heard of it before, but by the time your cheeks get red and you have a rash, your not contagious anymore! So no meds to take or anything, just rest fluids and baby the rash a bit. They say you're suppose to be sick at some point before you get the rash, but I never saw any signs of them being sick?! Well, that's my first excuse...

2009-04-23T21:38:00.003-06:00

Well another day races past...wish I had a time machine! Between kids growing up too fast and house chores, I sure find it hard to fit much "me" time in. Then fit crafting in there too? We are talking mass amounts of coffee, and wee hours! I love them both dearly.
This seems to be a very wishy washy time of the month for me. My creative drive must be run by the moon or something! You know, sometimes you can only imagine... sometimes you just want to be a base maker drone...sometimes all you can do is the beautifying. Sometimes it is really hard to get an album to flow right out!
I have come across some super-cute spring papers and my head is just spinning thinking of the ways of using them! Number one, I'm thinking I might make my Mom an album with them for Mothers day... then of course theres ebay. I have to make two albums without burning myself out in the process!
So I've littered the kitchen table once again with the papers, chipboard, primas, ribbons, and any & every coordinating embelishment I have on hand! Then it's like going to my favorite buffet, and ready for a feast! :O) I feel like getting more progress done on them tonight, but I'll try and post some pictures of my productive mess tomorrow.

Hello & Welcome to my first ever post on my first ever blog!

2009-04-22T14:57:00.009-06:00

Well, I'm all settled in with a new group of ebay peers. I've joined the Making Lemonade Design Team! They sure are a group of great women :)
The first challenge I've been around for was to make a "green" project. I chose to use my cricut and make this *fancy* little birdhouse album like this kit another seller had on ebay. I bid up to $41! {This would make the coolest Mothers Day gift!} I bid a second or two too slow and lost, but I couldn't be happier for that! I figured out that a cricut cartridge called "stretch your imagination" had the dang thing right there on it! So I spent $35 and got the cartridge instead! Hey I'm a paper artist, I should be able to come up with the kit part myself, right!? Now, back to my "Green" project. After much tinkering with the new deep cut blade and housing, I finally got my chipboard birdhouses cut out--which I might add were cut from Reeses puffs cereal box and a box from the individual packs of Quaker instand oatmeal! Plus to be my best "green" I figured instead of picking out some special -just out- papers, that I should use up some from my overwhelming stash. I chose some MME...did some basic swirls and flowers from the cricut, a couple simple primas, added rings -n- ribbons, and ta-dah! I have my first ever *made from scratch* birdhouse chipboard album! I learned sooo much, (besides the fact that I don't ever want to use regular weight papers again!) & can't wait to make my next :)