Joyful Scraps

Chuffed

Obviously, it doesn't take much to make me happy as the following will prove.

My oldest asked for a present for one of her new friends (she is in high school now and I am still finding my way with teenager protocol) and I asked what she would like - the answer - lollipops please.

That sounded easy, but me being the over achiever that I am, suggested maybe a bouquet of lollipops would be cute. she thought that was great, so off I went on my mission to find lolliops - not just the small chuppa chups etc, but old fashioned Shirley Temple type lollipops. Tried the bouquet, but that just didn't look right - I was obviously trying too hard.

Brainwave- and this is something that I have gleaned from a couple of blogs and melded together, so my thanks to whomever it was that contributed unknowingly... I went to Wendy's and they sell the clean cups with lids (and cardboard holders), so got that. Stuffed the cup with small lollipops, put in the big one & emebllished.

I used the cupholder as a template and cut out a new one from some patterned paper I had. Stuck a jelly butterfly on a swirly straw and popped that in too. My daughter thinks it is sooo cute that the next 3 birthdays coming up are all getting the same thing (well variations on it).

Sometimes you don't need to scrap book or card make to be creative (but this is going to be a layout at some stage - or I wouldn't be me).

TTFN

xxpeabee

Free stuff, New stuff and Bargain stuff all at Joyful Scraps!

ok so we are getting to the end of the financial year - and that means gearing up to do stock take- yuk! counting everything is such a chore but that doesnt seem to stop me buying in the new ranges LOL!

check out all the yummy new stuff that has arrived, by clicking here, far to much to mention.

We also have some great Bargains listed on the specials page, here. But this would have to be one of my favourite value for money items at the moment, Little miss kit from Kaiser craft. Everything you need to make the adorable off the page crown album plus two layouts and you have extras. Yep it includes everything right down to the paint and the glue, check it out here.

Ok now for the part we all like, something for nothing, a freebie, a gift, something from me to you.

Everyone who makes a purchase between now and June 30 can have a free gift! how cool is that. to get your gift you just make a purchase and write 'blog' in the comments section.
Hugs
L

Out of the mouths of babes....

PeaBee and I share more than just scrapbooking in common. Apart from having a very similar sense of humour, one of the other things in common is that we each have a youngest child who is 11.

Now these two have been known to converse and commiserate in their respective lots in life. Especially one eventful conversation that was overheard that included snippets such as "I know she is always scrapbooking" "never get taken any where" "need to look at the camera" "spends a lot of time on the computer" "never get taken any where"

Im sure you get the drift and I must say that some of the snippets we probably would even agree with, the "never get taken anywhere" that was heard more than once however I do not agree with, in fact I have whole scrapbooks to prove other wise!

And then PeaBee found this  cartoon

Dont you just love that she says "....I promise not to laugh too hard."

My sons response when he read it "please dont"

so very possible hmm....

hugs
L

think i may just be in love...

Im not waiting till spring to feel love in the air, right now while it is sooooo cold there are heaps of things I am falling in love with!

The first and most fabulous love is my wonderful grandson Zac, he is so busy and full of life and looking at him is like looking back in time, he is the spitting image of Steven as a little tyke!

Im also loving watching Steven be a daddy, this boy of mine is really good at it!

Im loving the show 'Home made' can someone spend $50,000 and do up my home... except I would be the client from Hell LOL.

I am loving this hot chocolate that my daughter Alisa put me onto. 99% fat free and tastes like it is full of fat - Jarrah Chocolatte mm, mmm

And a love that you can all share in is that I am in love with this wonderful new range of Stampers Anonymous stamps by Tim Holtz. They are single cling mounted rubber and they contain so much detail. (if you havent used a cling mounted stamp before, they stick onto your acrylic block just the same as your acrylic stamps) Fantastic designs and great prices - see I told you that you could share in this love, how cool are these?
  why not have a look to see what ones you will fall in love with? be prepared cause I know it wont just be one LOL!
Tim Holtz stamps

Hugs
L

Tip # 31 its time

Well today is the 31st of May and so brings the close to our daily tips, we hope that you have found them helpful, and maybe even inspiring or just given you a laugh.

So we leave you with a very important tip, its all about time.

Tip # 31- make time to scrapbook.

We have spoken about guilt free scraping, making sure that the chores are done first. We have spoken about how scrapbooking can be a kind of therapy and about bringing your craft into your daily life so that it can inspire you.

And now we are talking about time, does it mean get a day set aside to scrap? well if you can manage that then more power to you! Realistically though you will probably find that this craft is fitted around other things, and i must admit that is one of the reasons I love it so much - I can walk away and then come back, again and again.

Making time probably means working out what is going to work for you and the people who share your life. I am lucky enough to have a dedicated scrapbook table and a corner of a room. I have the table set up so that I can see the tv and it is adjacent to the kitchen, so more oft than not you will find me watching the news, cooking dinner and scrapbooking. This works for me, and the people I share with don't complain too loudly so I take it that it works for them.

Once a week I try to set aside a block of time to scrap the pages for my classes. The finishing touches happen during the news, cooking etc. What I haven't yet worked out how to do is make the time to clean up my scrap area and it often looks like a hurricane has hit...

Going to classes is another good way to make sure you are taking the time to scrap and learning new techniques along the way.

Wether you can find 5 minutes, an hour or a day each week, set it aside and mark it as your time, after all you are worth it!
Hugs
L

Tip #30 - Glazed looks

No, not the ones your husband gives you when you start talking scrapbooking...the other ones that look professional and slick.

I have stated before that I LUV chipboard and in addition to colouring raw chipboard (see tip#15 ) I also love to top it off with a glaze. there are a few products that are very similar- diamond Glaze, Glossy Accents and Dimensional Magic are the ones that leap straight to mind. What they all have in common is that they give a professional finish to lots of things.

I use it on my chipboard all the time, but you can also go over stickers with it as well to create an epoxy look. It can be used on paper flowers to make them look like they are enameled. It also makes a terrific adhesive for metal embellishments.

(note: bubbles may be "removed with a pin or needle swirled through the glaze before drying, which is what I did after I took the photo)

All in all a very useful "must-have" in the scrap cupboard.

TTFN

xxpeabee

Tip # 29 Scrapbooking is cheaper than therapy

Ok well this tip might just depend on how much you spend on your stash and what the going rate of therapy is in your part of the world. But lets face it if you do something that makes you happy you will feel happier.

Scrapbooking is also such a great way to process all of those events that make up life, the good the bad and the down right ugly.

One of the things that I have noticed that I do when I am feeling down,is grab an album and sit and look through the pages, it reminds me of why I am a mum, how I became to be the person I am and along the way those issues that have been nagging at me, no longer seem so overwhelming.

Now even though our photo today is a bit tongue in cheek the tip is serious, let your scrapbooks tell your stories and be your therapy. At least this way you have something tangible to show for it.

Hugs

L

Tip #28 - Get the kids involved

I know that not everyone has kids that scrapbook, so don't think I am being biased towards mums, because I am sure we all have a child somewhere close by, whether it is a neighbor, a grandchild, a nephew or niece, I am sure we all know some child that would love to get creative.

Both my girls dabble in scrapbooking, one more than the other, but I find it is a great way to spend time with them and also to talk about the photos and our family.

The funny thing is that my oldest (the one not so into scrapbooking) in her last year of Primary school had to do an assignment on herself and she chose to do an album.

We went through all the photos I could find of her and she chose which ones she wanted to use. I gave her (limited) free reign in my stash and let her go. She planned it out, so she knew what she wanted on each page and made it logical. She typed up her own journaling and printed it out and each and every layout is her very own creation with (virtually) no help from me....and she is the one that isn't as keen to scrap, but she now has a treasured keepsake forever.

and this just choked me right up.

TTFN

xxpeabee

Tip # 27 Chocolate stamping

Really is there anything nicer than spending time scrapbooking with chocolate on the side? (ok maybe ther are some things LOL!) Well today's tip is one that cracks the girls in my class up, but I will let you into the secret as well. I have a weakness for Ferrero Rocher chocolates, so my kids will buy me the ones in the clear perspex containers for birthdays, mothers day, when he had totally lost his school blazer etc etc. And I not only love the chocolates but then you have these cute clear little boxes perfect for putting embellishments, stamps etc in.

So here is the secret sometimes when I am scraping I just can't be bothered to go and find my stamp block, or another stamp block if I am doing double ups. And so I found that the lid of the chocolate box is just perfect for putting your stamps on...

As you can see with chocolates at your elbow you don't even have to get up, you can just keep on stamping!

Hugs
L

Lucky door prize winner

Well we are just back from a fabulous weekend away, we scrapbooked, laughed to the point of tears, ate way to much chocolate and had such fun. I still haven't unpacked my car properly yet and am still trying to catch up on all that I missed while I was away , you know how it is. But this morning I received such a lovely email from one of the girls that I thought I would share it, it relates really well to tip # 24

Hi everyone my name is Avie and I am the lucky door recipient of this lovely storage idea called Lazy Letters.

 What an absolutely fabulous idea! I am shocked at how much each little storage container can actually hold.

It will take chipboard letters up to 6cm or 2.5inches tall. I have taken some photo's to show you what it looks like filled with my chipboard letter's.

I have also taken photo's of how each container unclips into seperate little containers.

You can take all your letter's with you wherever you go to scrap. I am absolutely amazed at how many letter's it holds. So far I have filled them with 456 letters of the alphabet! I promise you I am not lying and I have more room for more letters.  Having all your letter's together and being able to take them with you where ever you go because it is so easy in the special carry case is just fantastic.
 
So if you wish to buy one then believe me it is so very much worth every penny. I'm sure Leanne would be more than happy to have them ordered in for you if you wish to buy one for yourselves.

Wow what a great spiel on this product, I did only get this in as a lucky door prize but if people wish to purchase one, just send me an email only to happy to oblige.

And thank you Avie, it is so great to get feedback on products! Enjoy
hugs
L