New Year's Day Crop!

January 1st is a day to leave the men and kids at home watching ball games so you can join us for a girl's day out! The store will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. We have planned some "out-of-this-world" projects for you to create with a Cosmo Cricket kit from their "Cogsmo" line. The kit is only $10 but has a retail value of $30! Don't miss out on great sales, good company, and lots of fun! Hurry in or call today to reserve your spot!

Come Crop With Us!!

Join us on New Year's Day for a girl's day out from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We have lots fun things planned just for you. In our scrapbooking department, you will receive a fabulous kit stuffed full of Cosmo Cricket products for only $10 (retail value $30)! With that kit you can choose to make three pre-designed projects. Here's a sneak peek of a mini book made from canvas and paper:

Hurry and reserve your spot today before they are all gone!!!

2nd Saturday--Button, Button, Who's got the Button?

Scrapbooking doesn't have to just be about paper, scissors, and glue. There are also embellishments! Why embellishments you ask? Well, they add style, personality, and texture and can take a simple layout to a whole new level.

Buttons are familiar objects in our lives, so why not add them to a scrapbook page? Flat buttons work the best, but if you find a button with a shank that you want to use, simply cut the shank off with a pair of wire cutters or a shank remover. To attach buttons, you can sew them directly to your page. But you can also thread floss, thin strips of paper, or ribbon through the button holes and tie a knot on the front. Then attach to the page with Glue Dots. This way you have a hand-sewn look without the work.

Here are a few ideas for using buttons creatively on a scrapbook page:

Use tiny buttons as accents, such as the dot on the letter "i" in the title or on the star on the Christmas tree.

Use shaped buttons to accent a border or a collage of elements.

Themed buttons can add a lot of character to a page or reinforce an idea such as the lady bugs shown above.

Incorporate buttons into your design by accenting other embellishments with them. Use them as flower centers, bug eyes, or wheels on a car.

On the layout above, a shaped button was placed inside a bottle cap then sprinkled with Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE). Melt the UTEE with a heat gun so the button stays permanently in place.

Use buttons in place of brads or eyelets. Here they were sewn onto the page to attach the title.

Create a grouping of flowers using buttons as the blossoms.

Buttons were used in a literal sense here to reinforce the sewing theme of this page.

Create large photo corners with groups of buttons.

Clear buttons are a real treat! Stamp a tiny pattern on them with Staz-on ink or place a circle of patterned paper behind them. The design shows through for a subtle accent.

Create the illusion of a sun by attaching yellow and orange buttons to a semi-circle cut from paper.

Drop a few buttons onto a layout and attach them where they fall.

Create a unique border with a row of buttons.

And finally, if you love the look of buttons but don't like the bulk, here is the perfect solution! Punch different shapes from a variety of patterned papers or cardstock. Use a "button hole" punch in the center of each shape. You will have the illusion of a button without the bulk.

Crop til you drop!

Here's another sneak peek at one of the projects you can choose to create at our New Year's Day crop. The store will open at 10:00 a.m. so you can sleep in a little before playing all day. :) Bring snacks...bring friends...and bring your scrapbooking supplies. Call or stop by to reserve your spot today!!

p.s. Click here to see some inspiration that is out of this world using the Cogsmo line from Cosmo Cricket.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the Night Before Christmas

December Kit of the Month

Once again Maureen Wilson has dazzled us with this cozy house album just in time for Christmas! It's like an album and a Christmas decoration all in one! The die cutting is all done for you...all you need is your own photos and about 30 minutes to assemble it. You can pick up a kit in the scrapbooking department in Rexburg for only $3.99! (Yes, you read that correctly!) Hurry in today before they are all gone!

MAKING IT HANDMADE

These super fun and snuggly CRITTER BLANKETS are the perfect gift for any child or baby. There are many different CRITTERS to choose from and matching pre-cut MINKEE fabric.

New Years Day Crop!

It's not too soon to start planning for our annual New Years Day crop! We will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. that day so you can come celebrate with us! We have put a fabulous kit together for you from Cosmo Cricket using the adorable Cogsmo line. It is stuffed full of paper, rub-ons, die cut sheets, and more for only $10! Here is a sneak peak of one of the projects you can complete:

We will have this and other ideas for you to put together using your Cogsmo kit. But you can also bring your own projects to work on. It will be a day of fun, good company, and great sales! Sign up today to reserve your spot!

QuicKutz Revolution

If you have ever had your eye on the QuicKutz tabletop die cutting machine, now is the time to buy! This sleek tool creates cutting edge designs in a snap! Just place a die on the magnetic platform and spin through the Revolution. Revolution dies are durable, lightweight, and thinner than a credit card. The Revolution tool is also durable and compact with a footprint of only 5" x 7". This machine is compatible with all other QuicKutz dies including Cookie Cutters. Click here for a video demonstration.

Pick yours up today at Porter's for only $49.99! All dies are 25% off. Check out our great selection in the scrapbooking department.





Candi McFadden created some great layout ideas using various QuicKutz dies. Notice the layers on the butterflies and the intricate detail of the snowflakes? We also have alphabets to choose from.

Hurry in! This is one deal you won't want to miss!!

I Spy!

Can you spy

all the goodies hidden inside?

You can't open the lid,

so don't even try!

Instead you must shake--

up, down, and around,

until all your treasures

have been found!

Maureen Wilson created this innovative "I Spy" game for the holiday season. To make your own, fill a clear quarted-sized paint can with Poly Pellets from our fabric department. Add an assortment of decorative buttons (any theme you choose) and seal the lid shut with hot glue. Place a label around the can showing which items to look for inside. Decorate the lid with stickers and attach a tag to the handle with a little "I Spy" poem. This is great entertainment for young and old alike!

p.s. Check out our current ad for our sale on clear paint cans.

Create your own Clock!

During this time of year, we are all looking for great gift ideas for friends and family. Why not create them a one-of-a-kind clock? Here are two great ideas using our clock kits and some scrapbooking embellishments:


Cut patterned paper or cardstock to fit inside the base of the clock. Add photos and other embellishments. Then get creative when it comes to the numbers. Use flowers (as shown above), die cut numbers embellished with rhinestones (shown below), stickers, rub-ons, etc. The possibilities are endless!



One of the things that is great about these clocks is the ability to change them as often as you like. Consider creating a clock face for every month that could fit a season, a holiday, or a special family event. It's a great way to share photos of the grandkids as they grow up throughout the year.

So, make it a special Christmas this year with a handmade gift. Visit our scrapbooking department for more great ideas!

2nd Saturday Recap

We are always excited for 2nd Saturday each month. It's fun to get together, learn new techniques, and share ideas. Last month in scrapbooking we learned how to use vellum in different ways. Let's start with show and tell from some of our customers:

Natasha and Nitchele Meyers used a curvy ruler to create wavy borders on their layouts. They covered the patterned papers with vellum to diffuse the busyness. Notice the die cut scalloped circles underneath the large flowers? Those were cut from vellum and accented with some rhinestones. Great job, girls!

Tara Lehmann curled the bottom edge of a pre-printed vellum title and placed it underneath her focal picture. She then added doodling, which is all the accent this layout needs! Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone sometimes and try a technique you might not normally try.

*****

The theme for next month is how to use stickers in creative ways. Kathy shared some great ideas with the following layouts:

EK Success has a great selection of Disney-themed stickers. They might be just the thing you need to finish off that princess page!

You can create a whole layout with a Bazzill sticker sheet and some cardstock. They include title and accent pieces in a variety of themes. And the cool thing is they are textured just like their cardstock!


Besides scattering small word stickers throughout her layout, Kathy also accented her metal embellishment with a sticker in the center. It was the perfect fit!

Many companies create matching stickers and chipboard. The idea is to layer the stickers on top of the chipboard for added dimension. Cosmo Cricket is one of our favs!

Stickers that match a line of patterned paper takes all the guess work out of creating. For a little extra "wow" factor, add bling on top of stickers.

If you are old enough, you might remember the puffy stickers that were popular in the 70s and 80s. It might seem like deja vu, but they are back! American Crafts has them in bright retro colors to add dimension and shine to a layout.

*****

We hope these ideas can give you a jump start on next month's assignment. We can't wait to see what you create with stickers!

Christmas Cards, Layouts, and Home Decor

We fell in love with the nostalgic colors of the "Snowed In" collection from My Mind's Eye. The 12x12 cardstock patterned papers and coordinating accessory sheet make it so easy to create all kinds of projects, and the prices can't be beat! The accessory sheet is only $1 and all patterned paper is on sale right now for 30% off. Just look at all the ideas we have for you!

Maureen Wilson designed this wall hanging by removing the glass from a picture frame. She distressed the frame with paint, covered wooden letters with patterned paper, and added some ribbon and punch-out shapes. It's fast to make and you will have a beautiful decoration to enjoy for years to come!

With the holiday season approaching, it's time to think about getting those Christmas cards made. Here are some quick ideas you can make using one accessory sheet and five sheets of patterned paper. You will have tons of scraps left over for other projects as well. Add bits of ribbon and some buttons and you will have six beautiful cards in under an hour!

If scrapbooking layouts are more your thing, here is an idea from My Mind's Eye to showcase your holiday photos. Start with four sheets of patterned paper. Create dimension by placing pop dots underneath punch-out shapes. Add your photos and an assortment of buttons and voila... the perfect layout for your (almost) perfect holiday photos!

November Kit of the Month

Our Book of Blessings

November Kit of the Month

Start a new tradition with this Gratitude Circle Journal by Maureen Wilson. The idea of a "circle journal" is that it gets passed from person to person with everyone adding their own journaling. It's easy to assemble this album now and add your photos after the holiday. So take a portrait photo of each Thanksgiving guest and send this around the dinner table!

Each kit is only $4.99 and is easy to assemble. Pick yours up today in the scrapbooking department at the Rexburg store.