Craft With May

I’m finding paper cupcakes to be nearly as delicious as the real thing, only with zero calories. Ok so they’re NOWHERE near as delicious, but they’re still fun. I’m becoming the BubbaGump of paper cupcakes. Just substitute ideas for these beauties instead of shrimp! Errr… you’ll see what I mean…

You could try to…

• use small scallop edge on the topper
• add buttons
• make confetti out of tiny paper punches for sprinkles
• use glitter
• flower topper
• smooch ink  for dots or accents (ditto for any pens or paints)
• patterned paper for fun bases or tops
• stitching to accent
• polka dot (tiny) paper makes good sprinkled topping
• use deco edge scissors/punches
• accent with butterflies, hearts, or other tiny toppers
• Use brads to top them
• Use tiny brads on big cupcake as sprinkles

I’m telling you – I could go ALL day.

Why would you want to make a paper cupcake?

• birthday card or layout
• you’re sweet project (card or layout)
• seasonal wall decor or as frame accent
• party invite
• baking layout
• cupcake layout

or just because cupcakes RULE and you love them!

If you’re thinking it sounds hard, I promise it is NOT. You just need something that is 1/2 circle, and for the base a trapezoid both cut from paper, felt, or fabric and combined in any way you’d like.

(Don’t be too impressed I said trapezoid – I had to look up the name of the whatchamacallit shape)

I used my small circle cookie cutter (they’re amazing I tell you!) and then hand drew my base shape. If you’d like to have a template that you can print off, cut out, and use for your own feel free to click on & save the image I just posted above. I made mine about 2″ high, you could size that up or down to suit your needs. It’s easy – and if you make any I’d love to see them.

Happy Crafting!

PS – stay tuned for the April Scarlet Lime reveal when you can see my full layout!

Dearest readers,

If nothing else, I keep it honest around here. I’m a big fan of keeping it real – it’s so much more fun and less time consuming than pretending something else, don’t you think? Today I’ve got a fun (well I think it’s fun) little back story to share about an idea book that I’ve been published in.

I am terrible at submitting my layouts to magazines and such. Mostly because I’m lazy and it’s a chore. There, I admit it. It takes effort to make layouts that are eligible, not post them on my blog here, make up supply lists, and e-mail in timely fashion to appropriate publications. I’m ok with not being hugely published, and I totally get that getting ‘rejected’ by magazines doesn’t = my pages stink. I just didn’t send them something they can use. NO BIG DEAL. Plus honestly I’m happy to share more of my work on-line through my blog, classes, etc.

It was at the end of 2009 that I realized that my laziness had extended nearly an entire calendar year. Looking back it was probably my most hectic year ever – so it didn’t surprise me but I was determined to submit something to someone before the year was up. I saw a call for a book out of the UK on twitter, and whipped up something to send.

You can imagine my surprise when the layout (that I’d already forgotten about) got requested! Today the big idea book goes on sale in the UK, and you can find more info here. I’m excited to see what the book is like, and I hope this venture is successful too. I have one layout in this volume, and in the next one (I think) I have 2 pages as well. I got a kick out of sending my creations off to the UK.

Is it wrong to be jealous that my scrapbook pages took a vacation  to the UK, a place I wish to travel so very much?!

My layout has a lot of yummy goodies (paper and stickers shown from Webster’s Pages) and is all about miss R’s new ears at Disneyland. I’m excited to see the whole book and get those precious curls back into the D-land album.

Happy Wednesday!

More fun & give aways to come. First – Andrea Friebus: you won the give-away from Friday! E-mail me mflaum @ comcast . net to claim your prize!

Now onto something I hope you’ll think about joining me in… I’ll be sharing so much more about this once registration is open, but I can’t keep it secret any more. I am 3/4 done with creating my newest Big Picture class – it will start on June 24, and it’s going to be the most fun class of the summer! (Well, I think it will be!)

I wanted to make something that was guilt-free. That you wouldn’t feel behind in, that you could just enjoy. I wanted to make something that would be pure scrapbook FUN. Of course the behind the scenes of all this fun has been more work than you can possibly imagine – but that’s what is so fantastic. I’ve done all this work, lined up some amazing prizes and bonus materials, and you students get to ENJOY IT ALL.

I can’t begin to express how excited I am to share, I’ve been working in semi-secret for about seven weeks now!!!

(postcard overlay used above by Katie Pertiet. ‘camp’ font is Mom’s Typewriter)

Camp Scrap will be a 4 week long class that features a wealth of ideas and layouts – it’s going to be BIG fun. Think of it as no-pressure just for fun scrapping. Sketches, prizes galore, on-line socials, chats, I’m even going to have instructor skype hours where you can video chat with me 1-on-1. That’s something I’ve never before seen offered in an on-line class – I think it’s going to be SO FUN!

Oh, and it’s more than all that… it’s just pure scrap fun at it’s best and we’re gonna have a blast. I’ll provide a lot of layouts (22!), some sketches, journaling prompts, and other ideas to get you going- but there will be no one focus on technique or anything – so it’s a great chance to play with your stash + find new goodies you might want to try. Heck – I’m even going to throw in a ‘bonus’ make-up 5th week in case you’re wanting a bit more time in the active classroom. Though, being a BPS class that means you’ve got classroom access FOREVER.

Seriously? I’m THRILLED to be doing this and it’s a one of a kind experience. I’ll start posting more on/after April 29th when the registration should open for class.

This? It’s gonna be BIG fun and I hope you join me!!!

Do crafts cross-pollinate for you?

For me, I don’t draw lines where things can and can’t be used. If something is useful to me, it’s good and I like it. If I want it bad enough, I’ll figure out a way to make it work.

A bit random, I know but here’s a key example…

It was love at first sight for me, and I was thrilled to have the chance to review the brand new line of jewelry from Making Memories. You can see my article here: http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/2010/03/26/review-making-memories-vintage-groove-jewelry/

Hope you’re had a lovely weekend. I’m taking a few quick breaths before catching back up on e-mail, and diving into more articles and fun projects!

During my lifelong love of crafting I have tried most adhesives out there, and have had my heart broken more than once with formula changes or things being discontinued. I went a few years without a clear favorite until I discovered the perfect tape runner. 

Since that first day in Madison, WI at Fiskars HQ I used the Fiskars tape runner as my exclusive dry adhesive choice. Where I went, it followed. Of course I was working with Fiskars until last December and they supplied me with these beauties, but I wouldn’t have kept on using them if they weren’t the best – I *LOVE* those tape runners! Now that I’m a single (not working for any manufacturer) lady, I need to consider my options. Not only is Fiskars tape runner hard to find, but it’s expensive. Most stores sell it for $7-8, though I have seen it on-line as cheap as 6.50.

So first I tried American Crafts this to that adhesives. I really like the dot one, but didn’t like the solid one. That made a gooey mess. I am not gifted with that style of adhesive I guess. While I liked the dots, I missed the tape experience.

I was going to try another kind when I noticed that the scrapbook adhesives E-Z runner looks awfully similar to my Fiskars one. So I e-mailed a cool girl I know over there and asked about it. She confirmed it was similar and said she’d send me some to try…

Now here’s something that is 100% my speculation: I belive the same factory/company has to be producing these for both Fiskars and Scrapbook Adhesives. After all mfgs source where they get things and companies who produce stuff (like adhesive) will sell to more than one buyer. I make this guess because they are IDENTICAL down to every single line or piece of plastic inside not to mention the fact that they are both labeled “Made in Denmark”. If it’s the same product, as I believe it is there is a very clear winner when we consider price, value, and color: Scrapbook Adhesives.

You can see above that what you’re looking at is loads of teeny tiny strips of dry adhesive. This tape runner can curve, you can attach thin things, and I have been very happy with it (the Fiskars one) for years.

I am changing my adhesive ‘must’ to the Scrapbook Adhesives runner. Don’t get me wrong the Fiskars one is still there and fantastic as ever – but ladies this red one? It’s 5 feet longer and CHEAPER. Why would you pay more for less of the same thing?

You can find the red Scrapbook Adhesives tape runner everywhere. They even come as a discounted six-pack (5.81/each is cost) at stores like scrapbook.com. Heck- I am pretty sure I’ve seen this tape runner at my local craft store! So it’s widely available and at a good price, is my point.

It’s the new sheriff in my scrapbook town.