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Friday 12/16 Roundup!

A quick post today – sorry for my silence this week! Trying to catch back up (more on that in a moment). I have two guest posts up, if you’d like to check out some holiday crafting ideas today.

I’ve got a gift card (card) tutorial at Foiled Fox blog here.

I’ve got a trio of projects and a video here at Ellen Hutson here.

Using 28 Lilac Lane embellishments and having a ball! In fact, I just put in some more finishing touches on some new kits coming (CHA 2017)… stay tuned! So where has my December gone? Well the family and I took off for a wild good time in Florida earlier this month…

If you want to read about the zany antics and good food – you can check out my family vacation Instagram account here. I created that account for two reasons – one to share but secondly to create a “documenting” system I’ve not tried before in past for reference when I begin scrapbooking the trip. You know me – always the crafter! I tried a few (some successful some not) ideas for memory keeping on the road and will report back soon.

But first, I’ve got holiday shopping to do! and baking! We’re keeping it simple and minimal hoopla here, but I didn’t do any of the Santa stuff or gifts for the girls prior to the trip instead giving them more freedom to spend during trip (which they didn’t – go figure!!) so I’ll be doing that first, then reporting in.

But before I go, something sweet! I got some amazing cookies in the mail (always a surprise!) and today Sandy Allnock has a how-to video up on her blog.

I do have some last minute holiday (and New Year’s fun!) posts coming for you next week – so stay tuned! I hope you’re having a very merry and not too stressful December…

5 tips for a group photo

I am no professional photographer – and I don’t claim to be. But I do love a good picture. Today I want to share my top 5 tips for getting a good group photo. Kids, dogs, cranky adults – whomever!

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Set up your spot and take some test photos BEFORE you call people in or gather the hounds. This is vital because once everyone is in? You’ve got a minute or two before revolts begin to happen. Take your time working out lighting, opening more windows, adjusting for shadows, etc. before you get your lovely models called in.
Be quick. Snap a lot of photos while cheerily reminding folks where to look. Just nonstop keep snapping away to increase your odds. Do NOT snap a photo. Look and see how it turned out. Snap a photo… Nope!! Go for bulk!
Keep the setting simple. In my case I just went for the chair that is in front of a pretty blank wall. Bushes, trees, Christmas tree… pick a setting that lets your subjects shine.
Have some food to shake/wiggle/crinkle. Meat is what I usually use for the dogs as they can smell it. But a bag of candy and promise of treats/cookies works just as well – and bonus the kids know what it means too.
Embrace reality. Maybe one kid just always has an angry face or grandma looks like she is sucking on a lemon. So? Let it be. Don’t expect perfection from your crew, just go for capturing a great moment at that time. It’s ok if parts are a bit off in color or blurry.

Above all, don’t expect yourself to suddenly become a master family photographer without training. These 5 rules of mine plus remembering to watch where the lighting is best is just about all I do. Know what? I find a photo from every such session with friends, dogs, kids, and family that I like. Because it’s all about capturing the moment for me, and having a photo I can cherish down the road.

Do you have tips or suggestions to share? Ideas for creative backdrops? Feel free to share with us!

stencil + distress crayon background

How do supplies work together? What combinations are great and what don’t work so well? How much water to use with what color?

All these questions and so much more get answered when I let go of trying to make project and just play! From color mediums to stamps to whatever else I’ve got – I do so enjoy a good creative play session.

My usual choice for such experiments is manila tags. Watercolor paper, standard cardstock, or if another material is used then I’m really testing how a material works with something else. No wrong choices here – just play! On this particular day I decided to test distress crayons, paste, and a new stencil. Sometimes stencils and stamps look different than I expect. I know that might sound crazy – but sometimes when you actually go to color and use them, it’s not what you have in your mind. So these kind of exercises prove extremely helpful!

Want to see this in action? Here is a link to my YouTube video.

I really didn’t love how the pink blended with the other colors in this pack. I do love it and use it often – just apparently usually with other colors. This is one of many reasons I so like tests! Interested in the supplies I tested today? (affiliate links) supply links are listed below.

Crafty Chica Stencil available at Simon Says Stamp & Scrapbook.com

Tim Holtz Distress Crayons (and Ranger Texture Paste) available at Ellen Hutson.com, Simon Says Stamp, and Scrapbook.com

Brother Blogger Bash!

** Give-away now closed. Congrats to LynneR! **

Today I am so excited because not only do I have some ScanNCut projects fresh off my table to share with you, but I also have a give-away! As I always share I do work with Brother with the ScanNCut, something I simply love doing! (official disclaimer as always – I am a paid consultant for Brother, but all ideas and opinions shared on this blog are my own) The lovely ladies I work with at Brother reached out to me about doing a particular product feature and a give-away as a part of a “Brother Blogger Bash” that they are doing. Please read on to get more information about that, and of course check out the project I’ve created with the stamp material!

The stamp material Brother offers for the ScanNCut is a really fun accessory to play with because it allows me not only to make my own custom stamps, but once cut I can utilize those stamps 5, 10, 100 times. However much I like! I’ve done several videos in the past, here are two:

SNC stamp material

Stencil with leftover stamp material

and here is my new tutorial, where I will share how I created my own floral stamp design, cut it out, and even cut out some paper accents to really amp up the texture and fun on this holiday tag.

link to YouTube

I love that the colors and theme are holiday – but with a more playful flower element! I have a few tips to share with you when making your own stamps:

Consider how the stamp will be to work with once cut out. For example, I enjoy single stamps vs lots of small parts so a flower like the one I am showing here works well for me.
If for some reason you lose or throw away the plastic covering that must be over the top of the stamp material: soft plastic like a sandwich or freezer bag works wonderfully. How do I know? Well let’s just say a dog ate mine and I had to get creative! No way was I going to waste stamp material!
Take a ruler to your projects past. Consider what a good usable size would be and what size would work most often when cutting a stamp. I get tempted to go big – but stamps around 1-2″ get the most use here.
The pigment ink pads (usually the ‘spongy’ style ones) work the best with this stamp material. I also enjoy paints with them though that can get messy and fast!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this in-depth look at the Brother ScanNCut stamp material. It is available online as well as in stores such as Brother retailers. Today I am giving away an Acrylic block set, the stamp starter kit, and a deep cut blade and holder so one of you lovely readers can get creating your own stamps with your ScanNCut!

** Give-away now closed. Congrats to LynneR! **

This give-away will remain open through 11/17, and on 11/18 I will use random.org to pick a random comment # and that will be our winner! I will notify the winner via email, as well as updating this post to include the information. Thank you SO much to Brother for providing this generous give-away! I hope that you’ve enjoyed this video tutorial – and that you stay tuned. I have a whole week of ScanNCut projects and ideas to help jump start holiday crafting lined up for you.

My favorites: October 2016

Every time I check the news these days I cringe! So much hate, so much ugliness, and so depressing! Now I know life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows – believe me I know. But you know what? There are awesome things happening and creative people doing wonderful things too! World changing? Maybe not, but I thought I would share my “loving on” list in this moment.

Neat & Tangled made a cowbell stamp (referencing an old SNL skit that I loved)- and I had to have it! You can find it on their website or at retailers carrying their products now if you need one too. I can’t wait for a nice sunny day when I can sit down and make something with mine! (Yes, I’ll film a video to share).

November 25 brings us “year in the life” of Gilmore Girls. All new. It gives me all the giddy feels – thank you Netflix! (here’s the trailer on YouTube) The original show is one that I frequently enjoy while crafting so the chance for new? and with the whole cast? A reason to look forward to November!

Netflix also recently delighted me with “Haters Back Off” an 8-episode series that I hope we will get picked up again. Kind of a Napoleon Dynamite sort of funny – I’m always on the hunt for funny!

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Next week I get to go to Orange County (with Miss E traveling as my assistant!) and teach my only classes of the year at Stamp Fever. After so many struggles with my wrist this year I am thrilled to spend some crafty time at a new to me shop and I can’t wait to meet the ladies there – and you can join in the fun if you’re local. Info is here. We are bagging up buttons and sequins and preparing kits this week.

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Edna Mode – one of my favorite characters (Disney Incredibles) stars on this, my ultimate top. Now that the temps are cooling off I can finally start wearing it! I got it from the shop Disney parks app (a VERY DANGEROUS APP! LOL) – and it makes me smile every time.

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WeRMemoryKeepers came out with typewriters and I never could find the pink one at my Michael’s (they were an exclusive)… ah but now they are hitting ALL store shelves in new colors like the mint you see here. Even better than pink in my mind, and I’ve ordered one from my local scrapbook shop and it should be here soon!

This is my list for right now this week – what is delighting you? See any good crafty videos or read any great books lately? Let me know! I’m all for sharing the fun and happy stuff…