Uniformed Scrapbooks of America

Hello everyone!!!!

I've been away for a long time... I am going to attempt to get back in the swing of things.  I've been eyeballing my new desk with all my scrapbooking goodies that I have not had time to do... Hopefully soon!!!

I, of course, have not kicked the habit to look up scrapbooking items.

I ran into Uniformed Scrapbooks of America.  They are wonderful!!! The album cover is the uniform for the branch your loved one is in. The collar and pocket are available so you can add any pins or medals along with a name tag.

All branches are available along with public service (Police and Fire).  If you would like to see the site click HERE.  Along with the albums you have the option of purchasing a paper pack as well that coordinates with the scrapbook you're purchasing. 

Marine Desert Uniform

Marine Woodland Uniform

Amy Uniform

Air Force Uniform

U S Coast Guard Uniform

Police

Fire

I love the idea of being able to dress your album with the pins and badge or medals. I had never seen an album like this and thought you all would love to see it... Here is a quick video so you can see for yourself!!!!

Until Next time!!!!!
~Valeria

New Addition!!!!

Hello everyone....
I've been gone for a while, I know... I had my beautiful baby boy..

The doctor advised me he was bor 5 weeks early.. weighing 5 pounds and 11 ounces... So, then came the colic along with a cold and just now .. after 8 weeks ... is he now developing a routine of sleeping at night... WOO!!!

I hope to start up again soon... I have sooooooo many pictures to make layouts for...

I finally bought my baby steps cartridge along with Nates ABC's... so I am overjoyed to get started and sharing...

Until Next Time

~Valeria

Arrival!!!!!

Ok everyone!!! I have news.

The baby made his entrance this morning at 3:30am. He was born three weeks early and weighs 5 pounds 11 oz... I delivered naturally by default... (the epidural was late). I'll be a bit busy for a bit but I'll get back with u all as soon as I can!!!!!

Have fun without me!!!
Until next time,
~Valeria

Baby Announcements

Hello everyone!!!!

Finally, the baby annoucements are finished. I did approximately 30 and they are all different... I don't want to bore you with the details -- but the theme was law enforcement due to having family members as police officers (hit the other baby announcement link and you could get the whole story there)  ..

So, here is the finished product ---
This is what the front of all the baby announcement read --- "Wanted"



Once you open the inside, on the left a picutre of the baby will be attatched (with a fancy paper clip).  We are planning on sending two pictures.  One with him dressed in  a white and black striped onesie (as a suspect) and we'll also insert a well dressed picture of him.

Here is the badge side... 

In case you can't see it, it says: (I mod podged it with the glossy coat as if it were a badge so it makes it hard to read as a picture)
"Subject is wanted due to recently escaping from Utero Incarceration where he was currently serving a 9 month sentence. He is a healthy baby who sleeps and eats well. CAUTION: Subject should be handled with care. He is irresisitibly cute. Subject is known to demand hugs and kisses on contact" .

Here is another announcement -- same material just used different paper!!!

To see other examples listed and the way I made these announcements click here.  I hope you all enjoyed them.  It was a lot of fun making them -- just didnt realize it would be time consuming =)

Until Next Time
~Valeria

Jewelry Box

Hello Everyone!!!
I know it's been a while since I've posted anything but its getting a bit crazy.. I am 20 days away from D Day and I've been running around getting all the last minute things together for the hospital stay and the baby!!!! I finished the baby announcements!!( yay)

I will show those to y'all on the next post because I wanted to show you what I've been up to this past week...

I went to Hobby Lobby (big surprise) and I found a box.  Well, it was an ungly wooden box with 4 drawers so I can put minor scrapbooking items and I decided to paint it but I wanted a crackle effect... So I did!!!!! I learned from you tube (SMILE) and I decided I would try it on my box ---- it was actually a hard decision bc I was afraid if I messed up, there went the money I spent. 

I had never painted anything with a crackled finish but here is the link in case you'd like to see what I did to my box.. (I used Elmers glue!!!!)

Ok, so when that was done (and it came out GREAT!!!) my daughter Aaralyn wanted a jewelry box for her bday (its coming up in May)... So I went back to Hobby Lobby and bought a box.  At this point, I decided I can take pictures and show y'all what I did. ...

Here is the box I purchased --- and I made the base coat a hot pink (to match her room) ----- I painted the inside and the outside ....

I was unable to take a picture of the second step bc I had to work fast... but, once the paint is dry spread elmers glue on it and immediately after add your top coat of paint...... once my top coat was on there I grabbed my heat gun and began crackling the paint.... so the black cracked showing the hot pink!!!! --- Just a note, I removed the hinges and latch to the box to make the painting process easier.



I did that to the sides of the box as well --- and I let that dry overnight!!!!! 

The next day I went ahead and used mod podge (matte) so that it would all stay together and not risk it flaking off... Of course I will add bling and flowers to it  when I am finished!!! I also plan to line the inside of the box with a cute material or felt... I will show you the finished product at a later date!!!

On another note, I hung their chip board names up on the wall and here they are!!!!!! I apologize for picture quality ... I took the pics with my handy dandy phone...

Ok, well I hope you all have a great day... Again,  this month and the next may be a bit crazy for me... but hang in there and I'll get with it soon!!!

Until Next Time
~Valeria

Baby Announcement Idea!!

Hello Everyone!!!

So,  as many of you know I have been working on Baby Announcements... I am over half way done!!! For those of you who haven't heard, I have family in law enforcement so I was going to make a 'wanted case file' folder about the SUSPECT (baby)...Basically, It will be a case file folder with the words WANTED in the front.. on the inside of the folder it will give the baby's name, DOB, height, weight and a brief narrative as to why he's wanted by the authorities.  It will also include his accomplices to his crime (myself and the hubby) and a picture will be enclosed (his first picture)...

 So let me show you what they look like --- (the inside isn't complete yet because the baby hasnt been born -- so I am left without minor details )

I'll attempt to explain what I did... I cut a piece of cardstock that measures 6"x8"

I scored it at 3.5" -- so now I have a side thats bigger than the other...

On the bigger side --- I cut half an inch down along the top of the file folder but left an inch and a half for the tab... I used my corner punch to round the corners --

NOTE: I had to take the guards off of the corner punch to be able to round the corner on the inside of the tab.

After the corners were rounded, I wanted a decorative front.  The front of the folder measures 6 x 3.5 -- Therefore, I cut my paper 1/4 of an inch shorter than the front flap of the folder.  I also cut the back of the inside of the foler 1/4 of an inch smaller to give it a framed look. 



The Front of the Folder



The Inside Back of the Folder



After I decorated the front and the back of inside the folder -- I wanted to make a WANTED tag.. I used my cricut - the twinkle toes cartridge and cut the design at 3" for the outside layer then pressed the shift key and cut the smaller layer ...

I layered one on top of the other and distressed my wanted tags using my Tim Holtz distress inks... either the black soot or the vintage photo--- Once they were distressed I adhered them to my file folder using brads..



Now, once the brads are adhered then you're left with the front of the file folder completed -- I distressed the front as well because it looked awkward that the WATNED tag was distressed and the folder was not... The end result then looks like ---------------------------------------------

 

I hope you all like them... I have made about 20 and since I have so much paper -- I don't think any two look alike.. All have something thats different...

Well, thats all for now. Hopefully I did not make this too confusing!!

Until Next Time

~Valeria



Great American Scrapbooking Convention (GASC)

Hello everyone!!!! I have exciting news!!! The gasc is coming to .............................

Arlington TX

June 2-4, 2011

Greetings, fellow scrappers!

Are you ready to learn the newest techniques from the pros, supercharge your creative batteries and get inspired by the collective enthusiasm of thousands of other crafters?
We’ve designed The Great American Scrapbook Convention just for you—the dedicated scrapbooker! Take a little time for yourself—immerse yourself in the hobby you love for one day or sign up for a 72-hour scrapbooking extravaganza! You're sure to return home inspired and bursting with creativity!

Shopping and More: Get all the latest products and kits from your favorite manufacturers! Our Vendor Fair is bursting with the most creative new stuff on the market—and get up close demonstrations while you’re at it! Don’t forget to enter to win fabulous door prizes—there will be winners drawn all day, every day!

Workshops: Learn from the experts in the field, including designers, authors, the crafty ladies from Big Picture Classes and, of course, the famed Memory Makers Masters! You'll never find this many scrapbooking pros in one place—so plan early to try something new! Experiment with new scrapbooking tools and techniques, or just have fun creating.

Cropping:  The ultimate night out-- and a productive one, at that!  Practice your new scrapbooking techniques and schedule some much-needed time to complete your albums in the company of friends, old and new. You may even win some fantastic door prizes!

Click Here to go to their webpage and get more info and to get REGISTERED!!! Guess who already signed up???? Yes, I did!!! and I signed up for TWO classes to take ---- I am so EXCITED so I've been busy doing last minute shopping!!!! (you never know .. I may need more supplies)

I have never been to a convention before .. If anyone has pointers, let me know!!!! please...

Until Next Time
~Valeria

E- Book

Hello everyone,

I want to tell you all about an e-book that came out... It is a brand new E-Book by Kaye Grieve, who has gathered a scrapbooking information for us and packed it all into 192 pages!! The book is called Save On Scrapbooking Now and is ready for instant download. For now, since the book just came out you pay 14.99!!!

These are some of the things the book offers::
See what else is included with this wonderful offer!!

	Save On Scrapbooking Now	$49.99	$24.99
	Free Bonus #1: Free Bonus Chapter on Photography	$20.00	Free
	Free Bonus #2: Free Bonus Chapter on Quotes	$20.00	Free
	Free Bonus #3: Free Bonus Chapter on Fonts	$20.00	Free
	Free Bonus #4: Unlimited access to me through email	$100.00	Free

Now, I'm not gonna lie, I just purchased the book about an hour before writing this blog!!! The first couple of chapters are basic -- in case you're more of a novice than I am -- reading material..

There are plenty of links to some outstanding sites which I have skimmed and love... For 15.00 --- I consider this a great purchase.  I'll tell you why--- (in case you're interested) but she lays out for you websites to gather free templates for envelopes, at least 20 boxes (treat holders, circle gift bag, sliding gift box, triangle box, etc), flowers, leaves, pumpkins, school themes, shapes, tags, trees and birds. 

She also provides you with about 10 pages of techniques to learn and provides links to those as well ... (This is the best part for me since I am trying to expand my scrapbooking expertise (LOL) 

I wont go into much more but I did want to get the word out because the book is suppose to increase in price.. I dont know how long its going to stay at 14.99... and well I LOVE SALES!!!! So If you have a question for me about the book -- feel free to email me at EBryan25@gmail.com and i'll try to answer any question you may have!!!!

On Another Note

I havent written in a while and I would love to tell you why!!!! Well since most of you know, I am pretty much a novice! I finally got my scrapbooking desk!! I bought a desk from Office Depot!!!!

And the hubby put it together and now I can say my scrapbooking stuff has a home besides my bedroom floor!!!! I went to Hobby Lobby (big shocker I know) but I couldn't find baskets and such to organize my drawers.. so hopefully next week i'll have better luck!!!

The I-rock

Hello everyone!! I wanted to talk about the Imaginisce I-Rock Tool. I kept seeing it everywhere but I didn't know exactly how it worked.. In my mind, I figured well you can buy the loose gems and use a glue and Ta-Da you'd get the same result.  But after viewing the video, they make it really simple to use.. The video is made by a lady named Erin Bassett.  This is an inexpensive tool that does not have to be plugged in (uses 3 AA batteries I believe) ...So guess what i'll be doing TOMORROW??? =) 

For those of you who've been following along with the blog or dropping in to read whats what in my world.. I finally purchased my SEW EASY...=D ... So I should receive it in a few days... other than that, I've been keeping myself busy with cleaning house and buying last minute baby supplies... 45 days to go and I am praying less than that!! Thanks y'all .. I know this is short but I wanted to share how to use the I-rock since I was a bit on the skeptical side about it. 

BTW, Hobby Lobby is having a huge 50-90 percent off in home decor.. just thought I would pass that note as well..

Until Next Time

More Chip Decor!!!!

Hello Everyone!!!

I know I have written a posting before about Chip Board Decor... I did my youngest daughters in zebra stripes consisting of black and pink.. but this posting will be for my older daughter -- Briana. Briana loves purple and flowers.. This is pretty much the same project but done with different colors to give you a different view.  I havent hung either one of these up yet because Brianas actually is missing ribbon... but I'll show them once more hung up on a wall after I complete Brianas name.. So far this is all I have...

Sorry for the picture quality -- photos were taken with my phone before rushing out the door ...

Ok I apologize because the R and the I would not attach... I will add the ribbon to hang them on to the wall and show you all the final outcome as soon as I get to it this weekend!!!!

In case you all didn't see the prior posting, I will put the directions on how I did this.. Again, my version is pretty simple... I am sure there are expert chip board decorators out there =) 

1. Paint the chipboard with a solid coat of acrylic paint. (I painted the letters white)
2. Chose two coordinating scrapbook papers, and cut and trace your letters from each paper so you have 2 of each letter. (I chose three for this project)
3. Now tear the cutouts into sections and use an ink pad to apply to the torn edges.
4. Adhere the prepared paper and fix them to the chipboard letters.
5. Finally ink the edges for depth.... and decorate to your liking!!
*** By the way, I dont know if you all have heard of this online store or not... but  CLICK HERE and it will take you to blue moon scrapbooking which sells so many nice items!!! I was there for what seemed hours!!!

Ok everyone.. thanks for tuning in .. I appreciate it!!
Until next time
~Valeria

CLICK HERE