Studio Audience Members Wanted (and a cool giveaway!)

Feeling a bit like Ellen today. Okay, perhaps that's a bit extreme, but I am seeking live studio audience members. Isn't that fun? And I will be giving away free and awesome things to my audience. Sounds kind of Ellen-esc, don't ya think? 

What's up? Well, I've made brief mention of this before, but I want to elaborate now in the hopes you'll join me, either live as an audience member or online via video streaming...

I'm teaching with CreativeLIVE!

Woot! And I owe a great BIG word of thanks to Becky Higgens for suggesting me. What a compliment from a very talented teacher and crafter! (Thank you, Becky!) 

I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity. Or nervous, if I'm being perfectly honest. I LOVE teaching, but this is a game changer. This is a big deal, and I really, really want it to go amazingly well. I'd be forever indebted to you if you could help me make that happen, either by joining me from your computers or actually attending the class. I assure you we'll have a ball!

{THE DEETS}

Who: You & me, of course! And some special guest appearances by some of my friends in the scrapbooking industry. (More on that fun in a future post!)

What: From App to Archive: Social Media Scrapbooking

We're going to take our awesome social media moments and turn them into memorable memory-keeping projects we can enjoy long after the internets is dead and gone. Okay, so perhaps the WWW isn't going anywhere anytime soon, but I do want to help you get your amazing stories off your computers/phones and into a more tangible place. And we'll learn many new tricks and tips along the way. Whether you're an avid Instagrammer, a FB fanatic, a Pinterest playa, or you simply dabble in one or all of these sites, you'll find tidbits to apply to your memory keeping. Even if you've never crossed the social-media threshold, you'll get something out of this class and just may find the courage/interest to make that leap (Mom, I'm talking to you here!). ;) 

Where: Your house AND/OR San Francisco, CA. 

If you want to join me as an audience member, then you'll be headed to Trolly Town. (More info on that below.) Otherwise, you can be in the comfort of your own home, or office, or glamper... wherever you have an internet connection and a computer! And join me for two days of projects, ideas, advice, new product reviews, and experts. (Yes, I'll have several special guests joining me!)

When: July 23 & July 24; 9:00 am—4:00 pm (pacific time)

Why: Because crafting is fun! 

Because there are so many amazing parts of our lives being lost to the internet that need rescuing. Because there are new tricks and tips for simplifying your crafting, new gadgets to explore, and new paper to play with. Because I LOVE creating and always have more fun when you join me! 

Audience Members Wanted

Interested in joining me in the studio audience? If you live in the San Francisco area (or feel up to a little road trip), I'd love for you to apply. You'll find information on doing so here.

One of the perks: An impressive student package, which includes delights from We R Memory Keepers (hint: Instagram Albums & Albums Made Easy Kits!), Maya Road, Fuji Film, and more! Plus, two full days of FREE instruction! Hard to resist that kind of deal, right? Space is limited, so please take a min. to fill out the form between now and July 18. Thanks so much!

Announcement Giveaway!

You know me. I like to give things away as part of my big-news parties. In honor of this special celebration, I have a We R Memory Keepers 4x4 Instagram Made Easy Album up for grabs. Want to win? Simply leave me a comment (including your email address, unless your email is already listed in your Blogger profile) on this here post between now and Friday, June 6 for your chance. I'll select a winner at random and send this beauty on its way.

And the Winner Is...

Speaking of giveaways, thanks to all who entered my posie bracelet giveaway. Your kind words made me feel so good. I would reach of them to my husband with a smile. You always know how to say just the right things! I'm delighted to announce the winner of that giveaway! Congratulations....

Kailash! 

I'll email you with details on how you can collect your bracelet! 

Hope to see you all in San Fran soon! Thanks for your interest and support, friends. Hope to see you in San Fran soon! xo

Cheers!

Giveaway + Pretty Little Studio Blog Hop

It's a holiday hop! So happy you've stopped in today. I have a couple of Pretty Little Studio projects I've created in celebration of this hop.

Woodland Christmas
I was delighted to receive pieces from this darling collection and put them to work on a few holly jolly projects.

Since Mr. Claus himself will be visiting in less than a month, I decided to help Maggie prepare her wish list. To do this, I created a pocket by stitching two of the Twas the Night Bookmark Tags together.

Before stitching, I added a few decorative embellishments to the pocket, including a slice of doily, a strip of washi tape, a sequin, and one of the Pretty Little Studio Balsam Fir Paper Ribbon.

To make sure this works as a pocket, I didn't stitch across the top. I left it open so a tag could be slipped inside for Santa.

I made sure to wrap part of the embellishment cluster around back, creating a quick front/back embellishment approach. To complete the back, I added Maggie's name, using stickers from BasicGrey, and sprinkled on a few small toppings (heart and star).

For Maggie's wish list, I simply noted a few things I knew she'd love using a Shipping Tag from Pretty Little Studio and my typewriter.

I then inserted the tag into my stitched pocket. Top things off with a little homemade popcorn ball and, of course, a glass of milk, and you've got a gift the big man in red will cherish.

My Layout
Now, time to go back in time to last Christmas. I'm so happy to finally have a layout done about that joyous time in our lives. This line was just the ticket for completing such a project.

I was immediately drawn to the various stars in this line and knew I wanted to incorporate them throughout. Since Maggie is our own little star, it only made sense that the page be about her. And no time shines quite like Christmas time, so it was a perfect pairing.

I cut strips from the 8x8 star paper to create the border on the left side of the page.

I used this same paper on one of my grid pieces, as well as a slice of doily and this darling Pretty Little Studio flair.

As fun as a good banner can be, I decided to turn one of these cute Spruce Pine Bunting Flags on its head instead, making it a Christmas tree.

The ornaments are dots to letter Is in my Making Memories sticker sheet. The trunk is a letter T from the same set.

These fun file-folder tabs offer much creative potential. Unfortunately, they were a bit large for my grid purposes. No problem. I simply altered them a bit to dress up a few of my pictures.

On a layout where I want to include as many photos as possible, I'm all for space-saving solutions when it comes to journaling, which is why I created this flip tag.

To create the journaling flap, I simply stitched one of the sassy Twas the Night Bookmark Tags to one of the Shipping Tags (similar to the tags shown below). By scoring along the seam before stitching, it created an easy-to-open door.

Finally, I added a little twinkle twinkle by punching a star from my cardstock, adding a few of the Woodgrain Star Stickers around the negative shape (area where I punched), and topping it with tracing paper. From there, I added a couple of stars on top of the tracing paper to complete this grid square.

Hop to shop! 
From this hop, you'll want to shop. The Pretty Little Studio shop has so much to choose from, and much of it is under $5, so this prize of five buckaroos will hook you up with a ticket to some new delights. For a chance to win, simply leave a comment on this post between now and Friday, Dec. 6.

Hey, kid, hop and roll; hop on!
Great news! Every hop stop has a giveaway attached, so you'll want to visit each of the sites and leave a love note at each stop along the way for more chances to win.

Next hop stop on the list: the incredible Maggie Holmes. Tell her I said hello while you're there, okay? :)

For a complete list of hopper bloggers, check out the Pretty Little Studio blog.

And don't forget to visit Pretty Little Studio for complete information on all the happiness happening today with their fabulous Cyber Monday sale. It's only a two-day event, so you'll want to act fast!

Thanks so much for visiting today! I always love hearing from you and appreciate your support!

Cheers!

Win a Spot in Maggie Holmes Design's Photo Workshops!

Today I'm excited to announce the launch of some must-experience online photo fun--Maggie Holmes' Photography Workshops. Maggie has an amazing eye for photography with seven years of professional experience. I have the pleasure of working with her on many photo projects for Creating Keepsakes magazine, and I can assure you her style is striking, fresh and full of life. 

Now's your chance to learn from Maggie and use her tricks of the trade to master your own photography style! Here's a peek at just some of her impressive work:

Aren't these pics perfect? I adore how she combines light and color to capture true personality. You can see more of Maggie's work here. 

This is your opportunity to learn from Maggie and watch your own photo skills...ahem, develop! 

These two online classes have just opened for registration, and, for the first time ever, Maggie is offering an early bird discount if you sign up before the month's end. Giddy up! 

Win a Seat in Class

Naturally, this blog hop party wouldn't be complete without a chance to win a spot in class. Leave a comment on this post on or before this Wed., May 23, and Maggie may randomly choose you to join in the photo fun for free. Yes, free! She's selecting one of her winners from the comments entered at every stop along the blog hop way, so make sure you take a minute to up your odds by also entering at your next two stops, which are:

Kim Watson

Maggie Holmes

Double the pleasure--Maggie will randomly select a second lucky winner from comments received on her blog, so you'll definitely want to enter there. 

A Little Fine Print: If you purchase a class and then are drawn as a winner for that class, your registration fee will be refunded. Does not apply to purchases made for previous classes.

Good luck to you, my blog friend! Whether you win a spot or simply sign up for your seat, I'm sure you'll love this experience. Now, hop on!

Cheers!

Hungry for prizes? Let's talk winner winners!

Someone grab the napkins. I'm serving up a tasty chicken dinner-dinner to two winner-winners!

First, Congrats to my Bravissimo winner, Savannah. Or perhaps bravo is the more appropriate sentiment for this occasion. Savannah, your sweet comment has randomly been selected. Please expect the following brand spankin' new Making Memories goodies soon. :)

Next, in the spirit of giving, I thought I'd send out another Follower Freebie. This box o' creative happiness is going to Ashley.

Cute Ashley, please e-mail me with your full name and mailing address with "Follower Freebie" in the subject line, and I'll get your box sent out. Thanks so much!

Always fun to give a few thing away. Without much more to say today, I'll leave you with this tidbit:

Find joy in the little things today, my friends. Happiness is all around us, sometimes we just have to look a little harder to see it. Thanks for being part of my daily happiness.

Cheers!

Medallions and a Making Memories Giveaway! Mmmmm!

This is my 200th blog post! And it's Valentine's Day ta boot. Sounds like two very good reasons to host a giveaway to me. Do you agree? Good! Because I have an assortment of the brand new (and awesome) Bravissimo products from Making Memories to give to one lucky winner. Woot!

This giveaway is part of the Studio 5 segment I did today, which was all about medallions.

Like that? You can watch more of my segments on the Creating Keepsakes website. Thanks for your interest and support!

Now, here's how to make your own medallion base (the fluffy back part).

1. Cut a strip of flexible material (paper, fabric, crepe paper, burlap, felt, etc.) into a 1" x 12" strip.

2. Knot the end of a string several times, and run a basting strip along the bottom edge of the material.

3. Pull the fabric tight along the string to form the medallion shape.

4. With the medallion shape formed, stitch the two ends together and snip any excess thread. With that, you have your medallion base. Now it's just a matter of adding a delightful center.

Here are a few things you can make from a medallion base:

A medallion card

A medallion banner

A medallion gift bag.

A medallion gift bag (would also look cute on an Easter basket).

A medallion wreath, good for Valentine's Day or any other day of the year!

Medallion treats, made using my new cotton candy machine. Yum!

I hope these ideas get you in the medallion mood. For a chance to win the Bravissimo line from Making Memories, please leave a comment between now and this Friday, Sat 19. I'll randomly select a winner from the comments received.

Cheers!
Megan

Craft-room cleanup and a Follower Freebie!

I’m determined to start the new year off on an organized note...at least where my craft room is concerned. I’ve spent the majority of my holiday break cleaning and sorting, sorting and cleaning. I’m tired (what else is old?). The pic above (taken today) may not look like it, but I’ve actually made much progress. For one, I can actually see my desk, my daybed, and even my floor. That’s progress, baby.

Here are just some of the supplies I’ve sorted out to give away. Whew! No wonder I’m tired.

The Problem

I’ve decided the problem is I’m a hoarder. I hang on to stuff for waaaaay too long. For example, I have Stampin’ Up! stamp sets from 1999! I was in high school in 1999. I have paper and supplies from companies that, sadly, aren't even in business anymore (Luxe Designs, Scenic Route, Imagination Project, Rusty Pickle, and many, many more). I have beautiful Making Memories ribbon cards that I purchased when I was a teenager, just discovering the magic of Michaels. In other words, I have a lot!  

It’s time for a change. As much as I LOVE my supplies, I just don’t have room for all of them anymore. My craft room is small, and I’ve decided that I need to keep only what I can contain. 

The Favorites! (some of them, at least)

Of course, there are those favorite lines that I’ll never bring myself to get rid of (what’s left of them), no matter how old they may get. We (scrapbookers) all have these. For me, some of these oldies-but-goodies include:

Mellow by BasicGrey: As soon as I saw the cute little people, pups, and tress in this collection, I was hooked! 

Girl Friday by Cosmo Cricket: I've always adored rotary phones (you can read more about that obsession here), and this line is one of the first I remember offering that cool motif (as well as many others). Also, the colors are so bright and happy! 

Little Pieces stamp set by Stampin' Up!: Funny story about this set. I actually came up with the idea for it's counterpart, Big Pieces, when I was working at Stampin' Up!. It was a happy accident that I'll have to tell you about sometime. In the meantime, don't you just love these versatile, bitty images?

Craft Fair by American Crafts: This line came out right after I got my sewing machine. I loved (and continue to love) all of the sewing sassiness found in this collection. 

Scrumptious by Sassafras (back when “lass” was still in their name): This is one of the first lines I remember seeing with an owl in it. And it was pink to boot! What's not to love?

And many more! 

Do you have some all-time favorite lines or products? If so, I’d love to read about them here. Just drop me a line in the form of a comment, and let me know what makes your must-keep product list. 

The Giveaways!

Alas, as much as I love some of the products I’ve gathered over the years, I’ve decided that it’s time to bid some of them adieu. (Note: I will not be giving away the ones listed above. Sorry.) On the bright side, this means giveaways! I’ll be dividing and boxing some of my stash to use as Follower Freebies over the next several months, starting today. 

The December 2010 Winner!

Congratulations to Brenda! You’re my lucky Follower Freebie winner for December. Thanks so much for your interest in my blog. I value and appreciate your readership. Please e-mail me with your mailing address and I’ll get your box sent out. You may even find some cute baby-girl scrappy goodness in it. (Brenda’s having a baby soon.) Huzzah! 

(Please e-mail me at M2E2G @ aol.com with your address and I'll get the box sent.) 

Happy new (and organized) year, all! 

Cheers!