Supply List:
Z1322 My  Creations Recipe/Photo Box
X7123C Cherry-O Level 2 Paper Packet
X8625 My Originals Sugar & Spice Card Kit
Z1319 Opaques Cherry-O
Z2108 Chocolate Ink
Z697 Sponge
Mod Podge

Remember, the Summer 2010 Idea Book goes LIVE on May 1st!

Now hop over to Adeline’s blog to see her work!

Click here for a list of all the blog hop participants and direct links to their blog posts.

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Wendy Kessler ~ MyScrapbookingBlog.com <—- You are here!
Adeline Brill
Sherrie Thornton
Sheila Bennett
Terrie Dodd
Lisa Stenz
Jody Gustafson
Kathleen Rensel
Lori Scott
Beth Naumann
Teri Baxter
Wendy Fording
Laurie Newton
Meredith Burgess
Clerissa Lewis
Jennifer Kojder
Georgia Hauglid
Antoinette Herrin
Haley Dyer
Tanya Mae
Priscilla
Cassandra
Jean McNulty
Carrie Haines
Janelle Janish
Maranda Dickerson
Cheryl Even
Karen Johnson
Cindy Leek
Nancy Walters
LaJeania Hicks
Traci
Emma Hubert
Kristine Fowler
Amanda DesJardins
Tamra Meservey
Melinda
Erin Herring
Carla Ironside
Dawn Ross
Amy Edwards
Tresa Black
Dawn Heuft
Kimberly Smith
Jessica Moore
Leisa Hubley
Helen Onulak
Brae Montgomery

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Studio J is the new online design software available through Close to My Heart.  It is great for all types of scrapbookers from beginners to advanced.  You can easily create custom-printed two-page layouts using Close to My Heart’s foundational scrapbook patterns, exclusive color palates, and theme designs.  All you need to get started is an active internet connection and some of your favorite photos.  There is not software to download, install, or buy.  The program is online and available to everyone.  It costs nothing to try out, just create an account and login.  You can try it out here now!

Don’t miss this Special Introductory Offer!
Receive free Memory Protectors and free shipping/handling based on the number of layout prints you purchase in a single order as follows:

• For 5–9 layout purchases: Receive a pack of 5 Memory Protectors free!
• For 10–20 layout purchases: Receive free shipping/handling plus a free pack of 5 Memory Protectors for every 5 layouts in your order.

Click here now to check out Studio J and see for yourself how fun and easy it is to use!!!

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Layout Challenge: #30 of 210

This layout is for the April Challenge at Scrap Our Stash.  I used Robin’s layout as the inspiration for my layout.  I stamped on the MM frame with pigment ink, heat set it (kind of), and sprayed with a sealer.  I used to hate bright green and now I just love it in combination with pink.

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I found this set of drawers at Lowe’s that works perfect to store my CTMH stamps.  Unfortunately, I don’t think they carry it anymore.  You could do something similar with any drawers or I also like to keep my stamps in baskets like at the top of the picture.  Baskets are fun and come in many shapes and sizes and it is easy to flip through the stamp sets.

I have my stamps sorted alphabetically by name.  This makes it quick and easy to pull out the ones I use often and know by name.

Something else I do is flip the stamp set around in the envelope so the images face the front.  With my current system it doesn’t matter much but before I had my stamps cataloged this made it easy to flip through them and see the images.  The easier they are to see, the easier they will be to find and use!

The best part of my stamp organization process is my binder where I have made a catalog of all my stamps.  When I used wooden stamps I actually stamped all the images (this is a lot of work) but for my acrylics I just lay the stamp set on my scanner and print.  I do one set per sheet because as a consultant I go through a lot of stamps and do a lot of buying and selling.  This system is easy to keep updated.  My previous catalog I had the stamps on 6×6 cardstock pieces and they were on the front and back.  That was hard to update.  In my new catalog I just make a copy and add when I get a new stamp set and I toss the sheet when I get rid of one.  When choosing the categories for your own catalog, think about how you search for stamps and what you have in your collection.  My categories are Alphabets, Sentiments, Flowers, Holiday, Misc.  I have a flowers section because it’s an obsession.  You may not have this issue but you may have a shapes or backgrounds section instead or in addition to some of the categories I have.

Other ideas:
For wooden stamps you can store them in short drawers so you can see all the images.  I used this system before I went to all acrylic.  I had an iris cart and the stamps were laid out in the drawers so I could open a drawer and easily see all the stamp images.  I had each drawer organized and labeled by category.

Good luck and I hope you find an organizational style that suits your needs.  What works for one person may not work for the next but the one thing that holds true for us all is that we work better when organized!

Now hop to Ramona’s Blog and see what she has come up with for ink pad storage.

Here is a list of all the participants:
Photograph Storage – Leanne
Embellishment Storage – Jo
Ribbon & Fiber Storage – Shellie
Stamp Storage – Wendy K. <—–You are here!
Ink Pad Storage – Ramona
Pen & Pencil Storage – Jeanne M.
Sticker, Die Cuts and Rub-On Storage -Amanda
Tools Storage and Paper Storage – Mary

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I chose to use the Topstitch papers because are my absolute favorite.  I altered a My Creations Memory Keeper for my daughter.  I used Mod Podge as my adhesive for the paper and inked around the edges of the boxes (and all the papers) with Chocolate ink.  Once dry, I applied another coat of Mod Podge over the top of the entire box to protect it.  The Love Story Rub-ons were an afterthought but they worked well right over the Mod Podge.  I love how it made it look like a wide piece of lace.  I painted the Just Blooms Big Pink flowers with the Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint to give them a nice shimmery look and adhered them to the box with Liquid Glass.  The Z1039 Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint is currently not available but check my website again after April 23 for it to be back in stock.  I finished off the flower with a Filigree Charm in the center.  I used brown Staz-on ink and a sponge dauber to color the charm to match perfectly.

Now hop on over to Tracy’s blog and see what she has created!

There is a list of all the participants in the previous post.

If you’d like to see more altered items, click here.

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Kellie is celebrating 100,000 hits with this pretty blog candy.  This set is so cute.  I would love to win it!

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That tall cabinet in the corner is a favorite of mine.  I bought it on sale at K-Mart.  It holds all of my 12×12 papers.  The shelves are the perfect height and I love that it is behind closed doors because (1) it looks neater and (2) my papers are out of the sun and protected from fading.

The clipboard to the left is on my to-do list; I want to alter it.  It holds my layout goal list for the year and is a reminder of what I’ve completed and what I still need to do!  Notice how I fit the lamp through the middle of the desk.  I like lots of light!

This is the girls area.  I don’t think it was clean much more than 5 minutes after I took the picture.  We’ll have to work on that.

Not sure anyone wants to see my closet, but here it is.  In addition to scrapbooking stuff, the closet also stores PTA stuff, Girl Scout stuff, a stash of last-minute gifts, and more.  Since I have no shelving, the organizer with baskets (from Target) is a good substitute.

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Layout Challenge: #29 of 210

This layout was from Convention last fall but I am just getting it finished now.

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The pink flowers are Heidi Swapp rubons and can be easily removed if I want to do something different some day.  The “Express” is from “North Pole Express” cut on the Wild Card cartridge.  I just cut off the word I wanted.  The word “yourself” is from Graphically Speaking.  This is the first time I have cut vinyl and I used the Cricut Cuttables.  I will definitely be cutting more for around the house.

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