Anaheim Scrapbook Expo 2017

Anaheim Scrapbook Expo 2017

So.....I have been hiding :) I've been doing small projects here and there that can been seen on my facebook page. Nothing too big: mainly simply cards because that is my new thing.  I have also been out of touch of writing so please excuse the blah blah. 

Anywho, I ran out of double sided tape and needed more, so I asked my friends if they were in for a Girls Road Trip to Anaheim, since the Scrapbook Expo no longer comes to Sunny San Diego - it's all good. It's always nice to get away, especially, now that we are all married with kids. AAAAAH!

Here is a quick photo of all the goodies I picked up.  My limit was double sided tape and markers... well, I got both and a little more...BUT, the amount of money I spent was my usual limit so I guess that is good.  I'll share in detail below.

The Freebie Bag the Scrapbook Expo gives to all attendees.  Perfect for 12x12 paper and whatever else you wanna fit in there.  I really love the print of this one.  There was another on that had polka dots - this one suites me.  I now use it to carry my 'crafter's pillow.' Details will be shared below.

Here's the double sided tape my friends and I will drive to buy. They used to be $1 A DOLLAR!!!! But, now they are 2 for $3; not bad, not that much of an increase, considering I probably haven't bought in a few years.

AND, I know...why in the heck did I buy these when I don't even print photos and I swore I was I was gonna scrapbook my son's life using Shutterfly.  Um, because these can be used for other things.  For example, one of girlfriend's uses these for her diecuts or sizzlets, you know those die cutting template thingys.  My other girlfriend and I were like...we need these to keep for the Christmas Photo Cards (great minds think a like. lol).  Another thing I wanted to do was to keep my running bibs or wallet size photos I receive from my sister's keikis.  

Scrapbooking may be out of style, but hey, can always find to make use of obsolete stuff. 

The Markers 

I am in LOVE with pineapples so maybe a year ago or less than I bought this large pineapple stamp from Stampin' Up! AND I have this vision of having a colorful pineapple, BUT I didn't want to mess up my Close to My Heart ink pads (oooh, who's name droppin' now?! lol.) So, I was on the lookout for cheapy solo ink bads; I saw the ink pads that are used for embossing, but I didn't really want that because those inks take awhile to dry.  I ran into Local King Stamps.  Did a demo and was sold.  The owner claims it is not the markers, but the stamps that make these images so beautiful.  I just wanted her markers because they don't try up like some that I used in the past.  Was gonna almost buy the show special, but really didn't want to cough up the extra $20 and they stamps on hand didn't really resonate with me.

So this is what I stamped quickly thus far...not sure what I am going to do next, but of course, make some kind of card.  AND, I now believe the founder...I want their stamps, just wish there was a pineapple stamp..I will have to email them.

Okay, no judgement right...Who in the heck goes to the Scrapbook Expo and buys therapeutic I love myself stuff?!  Um, I do. So while I left the Scrapbooking world about 3 years ago, no one really knew why because I didn't share....I decided to start my Yoga Journey and became a certified yoga instructor.  And, now I'm all about nourish me please.

So this is how I got suckered.  I saw a massage table and essential oils and handmade soaps.  I love my local company, but this girl  had a good deal: $5 FIVE DOLLARS!!! for a mystery box...sure it's probably soaps, bath bombs and chapstick that she's had for a while, but it's worth a buy / try for me. I love discounts.  I haven't used any of them yet (I still have soap that I am still lathering through...mmm, am I a soap  hoarder? Maybe, I surely, do not oppose to receiving soap as a gift). I'm also a chapstick hoarder... I need one in every purse / bag / car nook I have...besides I always loose them.

I turned another corner and ran into THE PILLOW, omg, I have a nonpracticing yogi - don't always practice what I preach, am overweight, a mommy to a 2.75 year old boy, sit all day and obviously, I have been walking around the scrapbook expo for a few hours. I sat down in their chair leaned back and stepped on their pillow.  AMAZING!  I carry it with me to work, I only bought one..they had a great deal for two, but that would had been over my budget.  I carry with me on car trips, it's almost always attached to me.  Check out The Pain Free Pillow.  It's not to shabby to have a massage therapist on had wherever you go.

In any case, I hope you enjoyed this short read about my return to the Scrapbook Expo, the blogging world.  Don't have time to proof read since technically I shouldn't be blogging at work...especially on Good Friday. ;P

Maybe more blogs will come that I have been sitting on like my yoga journey and mommy journey.

Until then,

Stay crafty my friends!
Namaste
'til the next wave

Melika

Holiday Cookie Exchange

Happy Holidays My Crafty and Creative Friends!

'Tis the Season for baking, creativity, family and friends!!! I have been out of the crafting groove for a while, BUT I thought this event was the perfect opportunity for me to get back into creativity.

A group of girlfriends and I got together for a cookie exchange and it was so much fun!  This is the first time I participated with them, but I have been baking cookies for about a year.  Click HERE for the recipe that started it all.  It's the base of my cookie I made for the cookie exchange with a few changes I made. I'll share the changes I made later.

First, I want to share with you the cookie box I made with the CTMH Cricut Artiste Collection and Cranberry Cardstock.

The box I used is on page 38 cut at the suggested cut of 5".  The size of the box is 2 3/4  x 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 inches.  Fits about five cookies.

The stamps sets I used are A Holiday, Enjoy!, and Perfect Fit-Holidays. I also used the CTMH Cricut Art Collection to cut the "frame with love" and the circles for the snowflake.

Another requirement for the cookie exchange is that the recipe be provided.  This EXCITED me because it gave another opportunity to be creative!  

I took it upon myself to create my own recipe cards...I have been wanting to create or decorate recipe cards, but I didn't know if I wanted to keep an electronic or physical recipe book.  I guess both is good to have.  Here are the photos of the recipe.

Lastly, to close the box and attach the recipe cards, I punched a hole in the recipe cards and used Cranberry Twine to tie it together.  As an additional touch I used the Free Monthly Rediscover CTMH Printable Download to finalize the project.  The holiday tags are available until December 31, 2013.  They change monthly so be sure to check back in.

Other materials used:
Cranberry Ink
Cranberry Marker
Lagoon Ink
Lagoon Marker

Thank you so much for checking in with me!

Happy scrappin'!

PS
If my links no longer work please visit K Pekin's site by clicking HERE.

Hi There!

Hi there my creative friends!

I deeply apologize that I have not kept you updated with the latest awesome stuff that Close To My Heart has to offer.  Life happened. Enough said. :)

Good news!  I will work on getting you all up to speed going forward...and back into the groove of crafting.

Happy scrappin'!

A Beautiful Rose

Happy Friday My Creative & Crafty Friends!

Today I am going to share a card made by a new friend, Bart.  He was visiting his friend, from Los Angeles and they both stopped by the Seaside Farmer's Market that I participate in every other Saturday.

I was very excited that someone else besides me loves to be creative using stamps.  (I only say this here because with my experience I learned that the FM customer's rather buy something that was created versus creating something themselves :))

Here's the beautiful card he made using the Love Blooms Stamp Set.

Created by Bart

I really love how he distressed the edge of the card and looks water colored.  If you would like to get in contact with Bart please send me a message and I will provide you with his contact information.  He currently does not have a website.

Happy scrappin'!
Melika

Business Card Holder

Happy Hump Day Creative and Crafty Friends!

Today I am going to share an oldie, but goodie from the CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy Collection.

I cut the door hanger at 9" to hold my hand stamped business cards. 

Stamp Set: Card Word Puzzle (Flower); Sentiment Stamp (Retired-Wings WOTG). Suggestion: Scrapbook Statement-Poets, Scrapbook Statements-Women.

Did you notice that I used the liquid glass in the middle of the flower?  Looks neat huh?  It added the perfect touch for this project.

The downfall of making the door hanger this small is that the circle is not exactly big enough for a typical sized water bottle (12-16 oz.).  When I thought of making this I was using a bottle with a smaller diameter.  It's all good though, I am just going to use it as is with the bottle I have. :)

Hope you enjoyed!

Happy scrappin'!

Melika

"Beautiful Friendship" Gift Box

Hi there!

Today's project was inspired by San Diego Bath & Body Company's "Living the Dream" soap cover.  I love their products.  I mainly use their  bar soap and lotion bars.  But, I have tried their deodorant, sugar scrubs, lip balms, soy candles, and liquid soap. AND, I just love everything!

I am a lavender feign.  I really love the mix of lavender with mint.  I think I bought this one maybe twice, maybe three times-not sure.  I try to buy a different scent every time so I can be sure to try them all.  This time I bought it for a friend as a Thank you gift.

I used the Cricut Artiste Collection to make this box.  It's a perfect size for the soap bar. The box was cut at 4", the recommended size notated on the instruction booklet of this Cricut Collection. 

The stamp set I used is Beautiful Friendship.  I used my favorite stamping technique, Background or Random stamping, - it's an easy, fun way to create a unique B&T pattern.  You can even Random stamp on B&T paper.  I've done it and it turned out great.

To finish the project up, I added burlap ribbon, (my hubby liked this addition because he said I never done that before-true), Baker's Twine, and Markers to color in the butterfly. *Please note when coloring images with the alcohol based markers, such as CTMH's, it is best to use Archival Ink or Stazon Ink.  The water base inks bleed.  But, I was okay with it because I wanted the butterfly to be purple.

Other items used:
Lagoon Ink
Gypsy Ink
Sponge Daubers
Liquid Glass ***NEW FAVORITE***  Liquid Glass has been around for a while, but I just began using it.  A fellow consultant recommended it to use as glue.  It's main purpose is for adding a crystal effect to embellishments.  However, it's an awesome glue-it's not too sticky, it dries fast & clear, and it's permanent.  I used it for the entire project, except for the box-I used strip tape.

Thanks for visiting!

Happy scrappin'!
Melika

Surf's Up 6x6 Accordion Album

Whoo-hoo! It's FRIDAY!!!  Who's ready for the weekend?!  Summer is here and I thought I'd create something summer inspired to share.

I used the My Creations™ 6x6 Accordion Album and the Surf's Up Paper Packet to create this nifty 8-page album perfect to hold those weekend pictures from the beach or pool.

Stamp Sets:
Posterboard (retiring)
Trinity (retiring)
Just Chillin'
Under the Sea

Hope you enjoyed!  Have a great weekend and happy scrappin'!

Melika