Getting Organized: Avery Elle Stamp Pockets

Hello, Memory Bound friends!
I don't know about you, but the start of a new year always makes me want to get organized. (February still counts as the start of a new year, right?) So I've been tackling a number of areas in my household, including my craft area, trying to rid out the items I no longer need and devise storage solutions that will work for me now and into the future.

One of my favorite recent projects was re-organizing my acrylic and cling stamps. Like many other crafters, I decided to move my stamps into the Avery Elle Stamp Pockets. We first blogged about this product last year. It has taken me awhile to get to this project, but it was well worth the wait!

Here's a look at the BEFORE and AFTER of my stamp situation!

Previously I had some of my acrylic stamps stored in CD cases. Over time, this didn't work out so well. Many of today's stamp sets are much too large for CD cases. I also found that some stamps stick like CEMENT to the plastic! :( Suffice it to say this system was definitely not working for me, so I also had stamps stored in various other places. Long story short...my stamps were scattered all about, making it hard to remember (and even harder to find!) what I had. As a result, I wasn't using my stamps as often as I wanted.

 I first learned about stamp pockets on Jennifer McGuire's blog and the beauty of her system brought a tear to my eye! :) See her video HERE.

Here's what Jennifer's system looks like. Wow, how clean and beautiful!

 So I jumped into this project head first! I removed my stamps from the CD cases. Some stuck so much that THEY ACTUALLY BROKE THE PLASTIC trying to remove them. Not good! I also had stamps stored in other bins and boxes and set aside a few sets I no longer need to sell in the next Memory Bound Garage Sale (planned for April...watch for details).

I needed to replace the plastic on a few sets, so I purchased 12x12 sheets of transparency at Memory Bound and cut them down to fit the stamp pockets. It's easy to slide the sheet in and out of the pocket.

 I made labels for the pockets using Word. (You could do this with a label maker, too, of course.) I cut them out and adhered them to the top of each pocket. Labeling stuff makes me very happy! :)

 

Here's what the stamp pockets look like when filled. Be still my heart! :)

Following Jennifer McGuire's recommendation, I slipped a piece of white cardstock into each pocket for extra stability. It also helps the whole system look a bit neater.  

Jennifer uses Fridge Binz to store her stamps, but I wanted something a bit more decorative to match my craft space. Luckily I found a basket at Target that was just the perfect size for the pockets and just the right depth for the cube where I plan to store them. It was big enough to accommodate my larger stamp sets at the back. I made a label for the front using my Big Shot.

This new system makes me super happy! If you are looking for a new way to organize your stamps, I would highly recommend the Avery Elle Stamp Pockets. Stop in or give us a call at (515) 965-1102!

 Happy organizing!

 Janet

Magnetic Platform Tip from Tammy Tutterow

Hello, crafty friends!
Tammy Tutterow recently shared the above photo on her Facebook page. Turns out the Sizzix Magnetic Platform makes a great pin catcher when sewing! (Be sure to follow Tammy on Facebook HERE and check out her blog HERE for all kinds of amazing and inspiring tutorials!)

Our Pat saw the tip and put the magnetic platform to the test when quilting this week. She agrees...it works great for corralling pins!

Just one more reason for Big Shot users to purchase the magnetic platform! :) Thanks for the great tip, Tammy!

Janet

Tuesday Tip: Perfect Placement!

Hello crafty friends!

I'm a huge fan of Liquid Pearls and Stickles, but I sometimes struggle when it comes to where to place them on my cards or other projects. Should I put three dots in the top corner or several dots randomly in the bottom corner? Or one dot at the bottom and two at the top? I often can't decide...and sometimes I don't like where I put them! (And trust me, don't even TRY to remove Liquid Pearls or Stickles once they're in place. They are not going anywhere! LOL)

You've probably heard the old saying, "Necessity is the mother of invention." With that in mind, I made a little tool for myself which has completely eliminated my placement issues! I found a little scrap of acrylic from a previous project and just squirted a few dots of Liquid Pearls onto it. After allowing it to dry, it was ready to use.

Now I can just hold that acrylic piece over the top of my project and decide exactly where I want my Liquid Pearls or Stickles to be placed. No more guesswork! No more regrets! :)

You can see here (after the fact) how I held my acrylic over the top of my card to decide where to add my Liquid Pearls. The acrylic allows you to "try out" several different spots before committing!

I liked the placement, so I went ahead and added them! NO FEAR! :)

If you don't have acrylic on hand, you could use any type of firm plastic packaging. Or pick up a sheet next time you're at Memory Bound. You'll soon be adding your Liquid Pearls and Stickles with confidence! :)

Happy crafting!

Janet

Thursday Tip: Don't Be a-FRAYED!

 Hello, crafty friends!
Have you noticed that burlap is everywhere these days? You'll find it on all kinds of home decor pieces, banners, cards, gifts, and much more. It adds a natural, informal texture to your projects.

But if you've ever worked with burlap, you know that by its nature, it FRAYS. Sometimes the fraying is a good thing. In fact, sometimes you WANT the burlap to fray along the edges to create a fringe.

 You can even intentionally fray the edges of burlap, then tie the fibers to create cute table runners that won't completely unravel before dinnertime! :)

But at other times, fraying is not such a good thing. If you want to die cut burlap into shapes, the fraying will make you crazy! Take a look at my pitiful die cut flower, which was fraying at such a rate that it soon became a weirdly warped circle!

Turns out that, with a little advance planning, fraying is easily managed with a handy product called Multi Medium Matte. It has the look and consistency of a thick white glue but dries perfectly clear. It has a multitude of uses -- and it prevents burlap from fraying!

Put a small amount of Multi Medium Matte into a bowl and add just a tiny bit of water to thin it. 

 Place your burlap on a splat mat. (I was working in my kitchen so grabbed a piece of waxed paper.) Paint one side of the burlap with the Multi Medium Matte. That's all there is to it! (Remember to clean your brush immediately.)

 

You could probably leave your burlap flat to dry, but I thought that hanging it would be a better option so air could flow through it. I hung it up overnight and it was ready the next morning for crafting! If overnight is not an option, I would allow at least 3 hours drying time.

 

 See how cleanly it cuts? No fraying at all!

I ran a small piece through my Big Shot and behold! It actually looks like a flower!!

The Multi-Medium Matte makes the burlap somewhat stiff, allowing you to easily ink it.

In addition to the Multi Medium Matte, we carry burlap in small pieces, rolled up and ready for crafting, so be sure to pick some up next time you're at Memory Bound. I hope you'll give this simple little trick a try!

Happy crafting!
Janet

Tuesday Trick: Mitered Corners

 Hello, crafty friends!

Since October is the month for Trick or Treat, we've been sharing a TRICK each Tuesday! Today's trick is a fun tutorial from our friends at Little B, showing how to make mitered corners with Washi Tape! Mitered corners  are simply corners joined by a 45 degree angle.

Long used in carpentry and sewing, mitered corners also add a touch of professionalism to your paper crafting projects. They're perfect for frames, as you can see in the Little B example below! Click on the photos below to enlarge the text. (Don't be scared by the lengthy instructions...they're very easy to follow!)

I tested the instructions and got perfect results on the first try! 

If you've got Washi Tape and a craft knife, try it yourself. You'll soon be making mitered corners like a pro!

Thanks for the trick, Little B!

Janet

Favorite Products: Clear Glaze Pens

Hello, crafty friends!

In today's post, I'd like to share another one of my favorite crafting products: Clear Glaze Pens! I credit my good friend and fellow instructor Katie for getting me hooked on these wonderful pens. I recently got her hooked on Wink of Stella Pens, so now we're even! :) I often include the Clear Glaze Pen on supply lists for classes, so I regularly hear how much our customers love this pen!

What's a Glaze Pen? 

 Here's some information from the Sakura company website:

The Glaze pens are the first pen of its kind to dry in 3-Dimensional form (3-D). The ink dries in a raised form that you can feel, and colors can be mixed to produce new hues. Glaze pens can be used on glass, plastic, vellum, glossy papers and a variety of other surfaces. It gives the embossed look without all the embossing tools!

Glaze Pens come in a variety of different colors, but my favorite is the CLEAR Glaze Pen. When you trace over words or an image, it gives the look of embossing and the color of the text or image still shows through! Even better, Glaze Pens dry very quickly so you can keep moving on your project!

You can see the effect in the picture below in which I traced around the edges of the holly leaves and berries but not the bow or the candy cane. This simple little detail really makes the holly stand out!

 
You can also transform ordinary paper into something special with the Clear Glaze Pen. Here I colored a few of the white polka dots on this paper, and now it looks like more expensive embossed paper, perfect for a Halloween card!

And here's how this flourish looks BEFORE:

...and AFTER the Clear Glaze Pen:

Next time you're at Memory Bound, look for the Clear Glaze Pens in the pen section near the front of the store. I'm confident that you'll quickly become addicted, too! :)

Janet

Tuesday Trick: Embossing Powder Storage

Every Tuesday during the month of October, we thought it would be fun to share a trick or treat! Today we're sharing a trick for storing your embossing powder, inspired by one of our favorite crafters! The same idea would work for glitter, too. :)

Hello, Memory Bound friends!

I love organizing! For me, having my supplies organized is the key to using them. So when I saw Jennifer McGuire's idea for storing her embossing powder, I knew I wanted to try it. She stores her powder in larger containers with an ice cream spoon clipped inside the lid. **Be still, my heart!!**

 

I don't know about you, but I don't use my embossing powder as often as I should because it can be messy pouring it back into the small jars. I know there are trays available (or you can use a paper plate), but I love Jennifer's idea of transferring your powder to a larger storage container. This allows you to easily pour it back into the container directly from your project.

So I've been on the hunt for containers of the "right" size for my space, and when I found these Rubbermaid Lunchbox containers at our grocery store, I snapped them up! Jennifer uses similar-sized containers (plus some bigger sandwich boxes for favorite colors) but these were less expensive and matched my colors. :)

I love how Jennifer uses small ice cream sampling spoons, attached to the inside of each lid with Command clips. The spoon idea is ingenious, as it allows you to apply embossing powder more precisely than just dumping it out of the container as I have done in the past!

 Well, after a bit of searching I knew ice cream spoons were not for me. I found spoons in packs of 100, but I definitely don't have that much embossing powder...or that much ice cream! :) These little cocktail spoons came in a pack of 24 and seemed perfect.

Jennifer's Command clip idea is also awesome. But the handles on my spoons are not as flat as hers, so I was hesitant to buy Command clips not knowing if they would work. After experimenting with a couple of different ideas, I ended up using Sticky Back Velcro.

 I attached it to the inside of the lid and added a small strip to the back of the spoon. Perfect, and much cheaper than Command clips!

 Happiness!

Then it was time to gather up my embossing powders and finish this project!

I created labels on the computer for the top of each lid. (A label maker would make quick work of this step.)

My sticky embossing powder has special instructions on the container, so I typed them and taped them inside the lid.

Finally I poured all the embossing powders into the new containers. Woo hoo! 

I'm anxious to put my new system to work for my holiday crafting projects! 
What will you organize today?
Janet

Share Your Stories Through Scrapbooking!

 Happy Weekend, 

Memory Bound friends!

Those of us who are scrapbookers know that it's a very fun hobby. It's relaxing and rewarding to scrapbook your photos and share the stories that go with them. And who can resist all the incredible papers and embellishments on the market? But new research suggests sharing your stories can even increase your family's happiness! That's one more great reason to participate in this amazing hobby!

If you're a scrapbooker, you already know the importance of journaling -- telling the stories that go with your photos. But this new research indicates that sharing your story can have long-lasting benefits within your family, especially for children.

    
I recently ran across an article detailing the factors which lead to happier families. Sure enough, "Share the Family History" is listed as one of the seven secrets to creating a happy family! Here's an excerpt from the article:

Children who know the stories of those who came before them have higher self-esteem and a sense of control over their lives. Marshall and Robyn (the researchers) asked questions of four dozen families and also taped several of their dinner table conversations. They then compared the children’s results to a battery of psychological tests and reached some overwhelming conclusions. The more children knew about their family’s history, the stronger their sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem, and the more successfully they believed their families functioned. 

“The most healthful narrative,” Marshall continued, “…is called the oscillating family narrative. ‘Dear, let me tell you, we’ve had ups and downs in our family. We built a family business. Your grandfather was a pillar of the community. Your mother was on the board of the hospital. But we also had setbacks. You had an uncle who was once arrested. We had a house burn down. Your father lost a job. But no matter what happened, we always stuck together as a family.’ ”

Marshall says that children who have the most balance and self-confidence in their lives do so because of what he and Robyn call a strong “inter-generational self.” They know they belong to something bigger than themselves. 

Whether or not you have children, it's important to include your stories in your scrapbooks. These stories make your photos come alive, and you'll appreciate them more and more in the years to come! 

 These are pages from a tractor album I made for my dad. I interviewed him to find out the stories behind the tractors he restored. Now that he is gone, I treasure this album more than ever -- because it includes his stories.

  Here are two pages from Katie's heritage albums. She included detailed journaling written by her mom which tells the stories behind the photos. The stories make the photos come alive!

If you would like to start scrapbooking and sharing YOUR family's stories, join us for one of our upcoming Beginners' Scrapbooking classes. We'll get you started on this amazing and rewarding hobby! Click HERE for dates and more information, then call us to register at (515) 965-1102.

 Janet

Inventory & Insure Your Craft Supplies

Hello, Memory Bound friends!

We love spring, but this time of year often brings the threat of severe weather. Just this past weekend, tornadoes hit parts of Iowa and caused considerable damage to homes. Memory Bound staff member Diana knows all too well the dangers of this time of year, having tragically lost her home many years ago to a tornado. 

With this sad event always in the back of her mind, Diana recently read a blog post that spurred her into action. Like many of us, Diana has a lot of craft supplies. But she had never taken the time to create a detailed inventory for insurance purposes. In fact, she wasn't sure if her insurance would begin to cover the value of her craft room supplies in the event of a disaster.

Being a true scrapbooker, Diana didn't just make a LIST...she created a scrapbook inventory! She started with a 12x12 album and filled it with pocket pages. Then she took detailed photos of all of her tools and supplies, opening drawers and cupboards to fully document everything.

After the photos were printed, she slipped them into pockets, leaving one space free on each page for her inventory list.

Diana plans to take her completed album to her insurance agent to determine if her current level of coverage is sufficient to cover the cost of replacing her supplies.

Special Note: In addition to creating an inventory of your craft supplies, it's also very important to have a plan in place to save (or replace) your photos and albums in the event of a disaster. Be sure to back up your photos online or to a CD or external hard drive. At Memory Bound, we can also scan complete albums and save them to a CD for just 75 cents per page, plus $5.99 for the CD.  

Thanks to Diana for this important reminder and for sharing her project with us! We all hope we never have occasion to need such an inventory, but it's a very smart idea to have one just in case. Pocket pages make the documentation process easy. Great idea, Diana! 

Janet