What does it take to become a “Diva”? Is it your clothes, your hair, or your cuteness? Well, being a “Diva” myself, I think it all comes down to one thing… ATTITUDE! It is all about the attitude. Being a “Diva” does not have to be a negative thing. It’s a positive thing! It’s time to throw out all those preconceived notions that you have to be thin, beautiful, have amazing hair, and be mean and nasty to everyone, because those things do make a true “Diva”. A true “Diva” is someone who is confident in her own skin, someone who knows what she wants and works hard to achieve her goals. It’s someone whose smile is always followed by a giggle, and if you look closely, you’ll see a little glimmer of mischief in her eyes.

 It’s time to teach our younger generation what it takes to be a true “Diva”. We need to start training them young to feel good about themselves and to always treat others with respect. Those are not easy things to do, and to do them right, you need a little “Diva” attitude!

 After I took these pictures of Marilyn, I noticed that little glimmer of that mischief in her eyes and I thought to myself, “This is a Diva in training!” So, on that day, these scrapbook pages were created and I believe in my heart a future “Diva” was created too!

 Thank you for joining me. Until next time…

 Scrap & Stamp Happy,

 Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

 Tip of the Day

Use a 3” to 4” three-ring binder with clear plastic pockets to store clear stamp sets. Simply place stamps onto a sheet of card stock and slip inside the pockets.

Diva in Training Scrapbook Pages

Materials

•  Floral Print paper by Sandylion
• Flowers and Hearts paper by Sandylion
• Princess Phrases paper by Creative Imaginations
• Pink Pattern letters by Creative Imaginations
• White, Lavender, Dark Pink and Pink card stock
• Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter System by Provo Craft
• Decorative scissors- Deckle and Heartbeat by Fiskars
• Zip Dry Paper Glue by Beacon Adhesives
• Chipboard pieces by Creative Imaginations
• Pink and lavender flower brads
• Pink and lavender mini brads
• Assorted fibers
• Ancient Page inkpads- Melon, Lavender, Lemon Peel, Pink Pizzazz, Flamingo and Lime by Clearsnap
• Silent Setterby Provo Craft
• Paintbrush
• Rubber Stamps by All Night Media/Plaid

 Instructions for Watercolor Technique

Press inkpad onto an old cd. Dip paintbrush in water and lift ink from cd. Apply ink to stamped images.

Instructions for Left Side

1.  Using glue, cover chipboard pieces with floral pattern paper. Ink edges with Lavender and Pink Pizzazz inkpads.
2.  On white card stock, cut two 1 ½” squares. Stamp images with Coal Black inkpad. Watercolor images using a paintbrush and inkpads. Layer images on pink card stock. Trim edges with deckle scissors.
3.  Stamp images on pink frame with Coal Black inkpad. Watercolor images. Attach four pink brads. Cut out words and flower from pattern paper. Layer with lavender and pink card stock.
4.  Add fibers and flower brads to chipboard pieces. Adhere stamped images to tag chipboard. Layer “Pretty as a Princess” to small tag and pink square. Attach four lavender brads.
5.  Ink edges of paper flower. Attach with flower brad. Adhere lettering and chipboard pieces to page, using picture for placement if needed.

 Instructions for Right Side

1. Using Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter machine, cut out name letters, square and oval frames. Cover chipboards pieces using glue with floral pattern paper. Ink edges.
2. Cut six 1 ½” square from white card stock. Stamp images with Coal Black inkpad. Watercolor images. Layer images onto pink card stock.
3. Attach four pink brads to lavender frame. Adhere stamped images around frame. Attach fibers and flower brad to tag chipboard. Adhere stamped images to tag. Adhere pink oval to oval chipboard. Attach two flower brads.
4. Cut pink card stock 12”W x 3 ¼”H. Cut with heartbeat decorative scissors. Add ink around edges. Adhere letters to pink stock.
5. Adhere all elements to page, using picture for placement if needed.

Source Information

•  All Night Media/Plaid                       (678) 291-8100                       www.plaidonline.com
•  Beacon Adhesives                              (914) 699-3400                       www.beaconcreates.com
•  Clearsnap, Inc.                                    (360) 293-6634                       www.clearsnap.com
•  Creative Imaginations                     (800) 942-6487                       www.creativeimaginations.com
•  Fiskars Brand, Inc.                            (608) 259-1649                       www.fiskarsbrands.com
•  Provo Craft                                          (801) 794-9081                       www.provocraft.com              
• Sandylion Sticker Designs              (905) 475-0523                        www.sandylion.com         

Welcome back to my series on “What’s Hot at the CHA Summer Show”. This is part 4 and the last in the series. If you’re just joining me, make sure you check out the rest of this series. I have brought to you some great companies and products that you really don’t want to miss! Trade shows are an important part of the craft industry and it never ceases to amaze me seeing all the wonderful companies that go all out decorating their show booths with the best products their companies have to offer. For designers like me, it’s like putting a kid in a candy store. So, without further ado… here are two more “candy stores” for you to indulge in. Have fun!

 Quick Quotes

 Quick Quotes Instant Journaling is a scrapbook company that carries a variety of scrapbooking products. Their product line includes albums, canvases, chipboard shapes, embellishments, Powder Puff chalk inkpads, idea books, etc. The company is known for their ready to use poems and quotes that can be added to any card, scrapbook page, and home décor project. No more staring at your projects, wondering what words you can use to express exactly what you’re feeling. With their “Itty Bitty Box Quotes” you get 50 vellum poems and quotes that will touch your heart and make you smile.

 The company also has a monthly kit club that has everything you need to create beautiful scrapbook pages in a short amount of time. Best of all, it’s delivered right to your door. No need to get into your car when it’s hot outside to run to the store! And if you check out their website at www.shopquickquotes.com, you can also get information about their “Private Reserve” scrapbook weekends where they plan whole weekends of scrapbook classes and fun! What can be more fun than a weekend of scrapbooking? You can also call them at 1-877-663-7250 for more information.

 PSA Essentials

PSA Essentials is not a new rubber stamp company at the CHA trade shows, but it was a new company for me. Here’s some information about this great rubber stamp company.

PSA Essentials has combined the originality of a personalized stamp with the flexibility of an art stamp. Each stamp has the Peel & Stick technology that lets you change your designs out easily without having to purchase another stamp body. You simply peel off your stamp design from the stamp body and replace it by sticking on a new stamp design. You can design your own cards, stationery, gift tags, luggage tags, etc. The list is endless.

PSA Essentials not only has their own line of stamp designs, but they also carry a few licensed images like Hello Kitty and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Their paper product line has items like luggage tags, note cards and calling cards, all waiting for you to personalize with your very own rubber stamp image, to create something for yourself or to purchase a personalized rubber stamp for a friend and make a set just for them. With this product, there is fun to be had by all! For more information on this great company and their products, check out their website at www.psaessentials.com or call them at 1-843-815-5779, Monday through Friday 9:30am to 5:30pm Eastern Standard Time.

Thanks for joining me. Until next time…

 Scrap & Stamp Happy,

Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

A few weeks ago I wrote an article titled “The Importance of Taking Pictures”. In the article, I talked briefly about the loss of my beloved Cocker Spaniel, Tawnee Renee. Anyone who has ever owned pets has experienced the death of a pet, and the pain it can cause for your entire family. To put it simply, it’s just heartbreaking. I experienced that pain and heartbreak recently over Tawnee. Read on…

Part 3

Welcome back to part three of my series on What’s Hot at the CHA Summer Show. In this series, I want to share with you some other companies and products that I saw when I recently attended the CHA show in Rosemont Illinois. If this is the first time you’re joining me, be sure to check out my other two articles. You don’t want to miss a thing. These companies and products that I am bringing to you are fabulous! I believe they are products that all scrapbookers and rubber stamp artists alike should have in their tool kits and supplies. Let’s start off with one of my favorites.

 Flower Soft

 I first came across Flower Soft at the CHA Winter show in Anaheim, California in January of this year. I was so excited and intrigued by the product after seeing it at the show, I immediately came home and ordered it. Unfortunately, time and prior commitments  got the best of me and I was unable to even open the box to play for the first few months that I had it. But now, I’m more determined than ever. I found the company booth again at the CHA Summer show and, just like the first time, I fell in love. This product is a fantastic way to add texture and dimension to any scrapbook page and card. You can use it just like glitter. Place their glue on your project, sprinkle Flower Soft on, and gently tap off excess Flower Soft and return it to the bottle.

The company also has a wonderful line of rubber stamp images that work perfectly with the product and also a paper line of images that you can use to create beautiful 3-D picture windows. This company’s complete line of products is a must-have for your tool boxes. For more information, please visit their website at www.flower-soft.com or call them at 1-877-989-0205. Please stay tuned for projects created by me with this great product!

Graphic 45

When I walked by this booth at the CHA show, I literally stopped dead in my tracks and stood in the middle of the walkway with my mouth hanging wide open! I had never seen a more beautiful booth in all my years of attending the CHA shows. The way their paper products were displayed and the gorgeous projects made with those products were simply breathtaking. I just wanted to go into the booth and buy everything in sight. My head was exploding with all of the cool ideas I was imagining with these papers.

This is what their website has to say about their company and I think it sums up what the company is all about. “Graphic 45 is an award-winning scrapbook and paper crafting company. We offer vintage inspired crafting products that capture the flamboyant style of days gone by-with vibrant color, irresistible texture and imaginative design to create products with decades-old appeal that’s both fresh and familiar. Let our products inspire  your next scrapbook layout, card, album or home décor project.”

So, the next time you’re in the market for some unique, vintage inspired papers for your projects, check out Graphic 45. You won’t be disappointed. They can be reached at their website at www.g45papers.com or by phone at 1-866-573-4806.

Thank you for joining me. Until next time…

 Scrap & Stamp Happy,

 Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

 Tip of the Day

If you like the idea of journaling in your own handwriting, but also love using your word processing software, have a computer font made of your own handwriting. Check out the Fontifier website at www.fontifier.com. You can have fonts created for everyone in your family.

As a rubber stamper and scrapbooker, I am always looking for the perfect words to add to my cards and pages. For me, there is nothing worse than getting my card or scrapbook page finished and then sitting at my desk staring at my design because I have no idea what words I want to use to convey just the right feelings.

I know that it seems kind of silly that a person like me has trouble sometimes finding just the right words; I do write a twice weekly blog after all. But wording can be just like inspiration, and even creative people need a little help once in awhile. So where do you go for help with the perfect words? Well, for me, I look to a few different places.

Rubber Stamps- Once rubber stamping became a huge hit in the creative industry about 15 to 20 years ago, you could find a stamp for just about everything, except words or phrases. I am so happy to say that has changed. Now, you can find a word or phrase stamp on all different topics. Check them out the next time you’re at your local rubber stamp or scrapbook store.

The Internet- The Internet is a great resource for finding words, phrases, and quotes to use on your cards and scrapbook pages. All you need to do is type “Perfect words for cards and scrapbook pages” into your search engine and in seconds you will have access to thousands of websites on this topic.

Books- Books are another great way to gather this information. Check out your local Barnes & Noble, your local library, or Amazon.com. You’ll be amazed at what you can find.

A Note from Me

I want to remind you to be sure you have permission from whichever resource you choose to use. You do not want to get into trouble over copyright infringement. A lot of this information is free to use and it should say so. But it never hurts to take that extra step, just to be sure.

Thanks for joining me. Until next time…

 Scrap & Stamp Happy

Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

 Tip of the Day

Save those little taste sampler spoons from the ice cream shop to use to evenly sprinkle embossing powders and glitters on your stamped images.

Part 2

 Welcome back! Thank you for joining me for part two of my series on What’s Hot at the CHA Summer Show in Rosemont, Illinois.

 This year, the show was buzzing with some great new products on the market. But, I also wanted to share with you some products that, although they aren’t new, are new to me. The first company I want to share fits nicely into that category. The products came out last year but for me, I feel like if something is great the first time, then it’s worth repeating. 

Crafter’s Companion

Crafter’s Companion has two products that I loved. The first product is called the Ultimate Crafter’s Companion and it is an all in one, compact carry case that allows you to score, measure, trim, emboss and embellish; you can create boxes, shaped card, blanks, envelopes and much, much more. No wonder it was the winner of CHA’s most innovative scrapbooking and paper arts product award for 2009! Next up, is their product called Rock-A-Blocks. Rock-A-Blocks are for all you rubber stampers out there who are tired of the uneven, patchy impressions or impressions with smudge marks around them that you sometimes get with rubber stamps. The new Rock-A-Blocks stamp mounting system is the answer to those problems. Its innovative, patented technology allows you to achieve perfect results with every impression. The blocks are designed to work using a combination of the rocking action and depth gauge (the ‘runners’ on each side) to give even pressure to the stamp. No more “lines” around your rubber stamped images! Check out their website for more information at www.crafterscompanion.com  or call 1-800-399-5035.

 Dinotalk Talking Frames & Talking Paper

I think that this next product is about as cool as sliced bread! Dinotalk debuted their Naked Collection Talking Envelope line in 2009 and at this year’s CHA show they brought us the Talking Frame. The product line also carries Talking Paper and Talking Ornaments along with their singing and musical products. Dinotalk’s Naked Collection takes scrapbooking and crafting to a whole new level with the ability to add a personal recording to an envelope, picture frame, ornaments, cards and scrapbook pages. It allows you to design and deliver your message with originality for playback time and time again. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I wish I was able to hear the sound of my loved ones’ voices while I was reading a message from them in a card. And what could be better than being a new grandparent and hearing your brand new grandbaby cooing for the first time when you’re miles and miles apart? This, to me, is a must have item for all scrapbookers and cardmakers alike. My head feels like it might explode with all of the design ideas I have floating around in there about this product. I just love it! For more information, please visit Dinotalk’s website at www.dinotalk.com or call them at 1-770-663-8865.

Thank you for joining me. Until next time…

 Scrap & Stamp Happy,

 Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

A few weeks ago, we lost my husband’s best friend of 45 years to cancer. He was only 54 years old. And, on top of the loss and sadness of losing Mike, we also had to deal with the death of our beloved Cocker Spaniel, Tawnee. She was with our family for 13 years and she passed away the morning of Mike’s viewing and rosary.

With the death of our dog, even though it was unexpected, we had many years to share all of those wonderful times together. Believe me when I tell you that we have hundreds of photos of our beautiful baby that we will cherish forever. But with our friend Mike, it was a different story. We knew his death was coming and, although we had many years of friendship, we wanted to capture every single moment we had left with him.

I can still remember the day my husband got off the phone and said to me, “Mike has cancer.” I felt like someone had knocked the wind out of me. But worse than that, was seeing the pain and fear in my husband’s eyes. It made me want to sit down and cry. I couldn’t believe it. Mike. Our Mike was diagnosed with cancer? That was just not possible. Out of all of our friends, Mike would have been the one I would have least expected this to happen to.

Speaking as a person who has lived all of my adult life with a chronic disease and pain, I have for the most part, tried to keep a positive attitude about life. My illness was not going to get me down and I felt the same way about Mike’s cancer. This disease was not going to beat him! And so, life went on. Mike started his treatments and he did start to get better.  At one point he was cancer free and he even hit his five year mark! We were all so happy for him and his family. We just knew he was in the clear.

Looking back, I think it was that second phone call that set everything into motion. Mike’s cancer was back. And, even with him and his doctors doing everything possible to get him back into remission, this time it wasn’t going away. So, with the news of his cancer returning, tucked neatly away in each of our minds, we began planning for what turned out to be the last year of his life. We tried very hard to cram in 45 years of friendship for Mike and my husband, Rich (about 33 years for the rest of us) into that year. We planned a weekend trip to a cabin in Big Bear City. We spent the holidays together with all of our families. For a Friday or Saturday night, we would plan a “Rock Band” night. Mike was a great drummer! We tried to make every single moment that we spent with him special and fun. Mike was always about having fun! Whatever he wanted, we were going to make it happen. And throughout it all, we never forgot to bring our cameras. Not only did we want Mike to leave this earth knowing how much he means to each of us and how much he is loved, but we wanted to remember how much fun we had creating and capturing each and every one of those moments. But in the years to come, we also wanted to look back at those pictures and remember our friend Mike. We want to remember what a funny, caring, loving man he was, how much we all loved him, and how much will miss him until we see him again.

For one who knows pain well, I know that he is free now and for that I am grateful. I am grateful for having him in my life. I’m also grateful for the laughter and joy he brought to my husband every day through their friendship over the last 45 years.

 Rest in peace Mike. We’ll see you soon.

 

Part 1

Picture Keeper & Sizzix Eclips Machine

  I just recently returned from the Craft and Hobby Association’s summer show in Rosemont, Illinois. For those of you out there who do not know what the CHA show is, let me share with you what the CHA website has to say about the organization. “In early 2004, the two most successful organizations serving the craft and hobby industry, the Hobby Industry Association (HIA) and the Association of Craft and Creative Industries (ACCI), joined together to form the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA). Together as CHA, the new Association forms a single, more dynamic and powerful force to drive the craft industry into the future.” With that being said, let me share with you some additional information. CHA has two trade shows each year, usually in January and July. These shows have the largest gathering of editors, manufacturers, publishers, designers and retailers in the world, and the winter show is so big it takes days to walk it and see everything. To put it simply, it’s huge! Read on…

I recently looked up the word scrapbook in the dictionary. The word means a blank book, or album for pasting into photos, pictures, cuttings, or other materials. But, as all scrapbookers know, the art of scrapbooking is not always about pasting a photo in an album. Scrapbooking can be done on many different surfaces besides albums. You can scrapbook on photo frames, canvas, the walls of your home, on wood, candles, glass and altered books. The list is endless, and in some upcoming articles I will be sharing some of the great ways to scrapbook outside of the album. So be sure to stay tuned for those articles.

 For the project I am sharing with you today, I’m going to show you how to do a simple altered book. What is an altered book, you ask? Well, it’s really quite simple. An altered book is when you alter or change a book in any way. You can do that by removing pages of the book, cutting out little areas, painting or adding patterned papers, adding photos and embellishments, etc. An altered book can be something as simple as opening the book to the center and gluing the pages together on each side to create a solid surface to add your photos (see picture) to something more complicated like cutting out areas of the book. But since this is the first time I’m going to discuss this topic, I thought we would start with something simple.

 The altered book project that I will be showing you was inspired by my parents’ wedding day. When my dad passed away almost 9 years ago, I had a very difficult time dealing with his death. He had been sick for awhile, but I was in huge denial about it. I just knew he would get better. My mom called me one day and asked if my dad could come stay with me for a week while she got away with her friends. I said yes of course, and we set about making the arrangements for his visit with me. He was here for a few days and we had had such a wonderful time watching TV, talking and just being together. I’m the baby of the family and the only girl, so I’m a big daddy’s girl. On the fourth day of his visit I was awakened in the morning by the sound of my husband’s voice to the 911 operator, yelling we had someone in our house who was not breathing. I flew out of my bed, down my stairs to find my dad. And yes, my husband was correct, he wasn’t breathing. Since my husband and I are both trained in CPR, we immediately began the task of trying to save my dad’s life. After some time had passed, I look at my husband and said, “Stop. He’s already gone.” At that moment, I felt my heart shatter into 1,000 pieces.

 I realize that this kind of thing happens all the time, and I know that my experience is not unique. But I also realize that because death happens every day, many times unexpectedly, it is so important to pull out those pictures of your loved ones and make a scrapbook about them. Since my dad’s death, I have created many wonderful projects about him. It has helped me through the healing process.

 So for this project, I thought it would be nice to create something for my mom to help her to remember the happier times with my dad. I hope you have as much fun as I did when you’re creating this project about your loved one. I always say you should capture those memories when you can, because sometimes our memories are all we have.

Thank you for joining me. Until next time…

 Scrap & Stamp Happy,

 Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

 Tip of the Day

For an inexpensive way to protect your work table, hit the stores for after-holiday sales to purchase tablecloths.

 An Unforgettable Wedding

 Materials

•  Old book
• Pattern paper by K & Company
• Butter cream cardstock
• Mat board
• 3D Tags by K & Company
• Metal charms by Karen Foster Designs
• Soft Spoken Embellishments by Me & My Big Ideas
• Architexture Stone Frame by E.K. Success
• Expressions Word Charms by All My Memories
• Delta Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint- AC Flesh
• Jacquard Lumiere Paint- Metallic Bronze
• Fresco Chalk Finish inkpads- Medici Marble, Golden Parchment, Olive Grove, Florentine Rose
• Versacolor Pigment inkpad- Ash Rose by TSUNKINEKO
• Assorted fibers
• Gold string
• Beaded trim
• Beaded string
• Piece of gold netting
• Fabric bag filled with rice
• Small Glass bottle filled with dried flowers
• Perfect Paper Adhesive- Matte Finish by US Artquest
• Super Tape by Therm O Web
• Glue gun
• Computer font used- Amazone BT
• Rubber stamp- Sprig Engraving by Rubber Stampede

 INSTRUCTIONS

 Step 1. On cardstock, type lettering using computer font Amazone BT. NOTE: Leave enough room between the lettering to make your tags. Cut mat board and cardstock the size of a 1 ¾”H x 3 ¾”W tag. Adhere cardstock to mat board with Super Tape. 

 Step 2. Using the Direct to Paper technique, apply Fresco inks to tags. Stamp sprig on tags with Ash Rose inkpad. Adhere metal charms to three of the tags with gold string. Add fibers to all six tags.

 Step 3. Paint the cover with acrylic paint. Open the book to the center. Adhere pages together on each side with Perfect Paper Adhesive. When dry, paint page edges with Lumiere paint. Adhere pattern paper to the book’s front cover and the book’s center (which is now your focal point).

 Step 4. With an exacto knife, make three slits on each side of the book to separate the pages and gently slide tags into place. Glue tags to pages with Perfect Paper Adhesive.

 Step 5. Adhere the picture frames, word tags, charms, and other items to book with Super Tape(see picture for placement). Adhere beaded trim and metal charm corners with Super Tape.

 Source Information

 All My Memories                                (888) 553-1998           www.allmymemories.com

Delta Technical Coatings                 (562) 695-7969           www.deltacrafts.com

EK Success                                             (800) 524-1349           www.eksuccess.com

Jacquard Products                             (800) 442-0455           www.jacquardproducts.com

K & Company                                        (816) 389-4150           www.kandcompany.com

Karen Foster Design                          (801) 451-9779           www.karenfosterdesign.com

Me & My Big Ideas                             (949) 583-2065           www.meandmybigideas.com

Rubber Stampede                              (800) 423-4135           www.rubberstampede.com

Therm O Web                                      (800) 323-0799           www.thermoweb.com

TSUKINEKO                                        (425) 883-7733           www.tsukineko.com

US Artquest                                        (800) 200-7848           www.usaquest.com

How to Make Your Cards and Pages Pop!

 One of my favorite rubber stamping techniques is three-dimensional stamping. 3-D stamping is created by rubber stamping an image on your project then stamping the image multiple times onto a piece of scrap paper. Color the images with your colors source, i.e. pencils, markers. Cut out portions of your scrap paper image. Adhere to your project image with some foam tape or 3-D dots. Now, your image just “pops” right off of your card and scrapbook pages. If you’re using a floral image, as I have in this mini-card set, you can add an extra bit of shine and shimmer by adding a clear dimensional liquid called Matt Accents Dimensional Medium by Ranger. It will add a wet “glasslike” look to your projects.  Read on…