Inkessentials Foam Storage

As I'm sure everyone reading this is, I am a HUGE fan of Tim Holtz and his wonderful Distress Inks.  In an ideal world, I would own one blending tool for every colour family and have one of those cool vintagey stamp holders too.  That's the ideal.  In the real world, I just won't justify spending approximately $75.00 on it.  Maybe one day.  Not today.

I saw this idea whilst You-Tubing and thout it was brilliant and definitely much more cost effective than 8 or 9 blending tools.  The only downfall is that my distress inks no longer snuggle together, one on top of the other but really that doesn't matter because I tend to keep them bunched in an elastic since I don't trust the lid to stay on. 

Here you go.  My new storage method  a-la-iPhone photos:

 Materials Used - Distress Inks, Ink Blending Foam, Velcro (rough side)

 Place velcro (rough side) on under side in ink pad

 adhere foam to velcro

 and *VOILA* 

You now have an ink foam piece for each and every Distress Ink colour you have  ... and all for pennies to do, moments of your time and just a bit of unsteady-ness in the stacking once completed --- which is easily remedied in various manners, elastic included.

Have a happy, creative day.



{ In Love }

Wondering who won the trimmer poll?  Check it out here.

I had a good, albeit is super long day (thanks to a wake up time at 4:45am for no apparent reason), at Auntie Em's yesterday.  There definitely wasn't a shortage of laughs, that is for sure.  Of course, no time at Auntie Em's would be complete without some after hours chat.  Serious talk about life and the events in it.  Tears shed, more laughs shared and bonds deepend.  I also learned yesterday that someone had spent two years of her life in discussion with her husband about doing something so incredible for me.  An ultimate sacrifice.  I was floored and touched beyond words and from the bottom of my heart I can not thank her enough for even just for the considerations they made.  It just goes to show you that, when you least expect it, you can be knocked off your feet with just simply the knowledge of an act of kindness ... even if it didnt transpire.  The sentiment and appreciation is just as much there as if it did. 

On a scrappy note ... I did manage to get a whole layout completed.  Yup!  One whole layout.  Just short of my goal of two layouts and two cards.  Uh huh.  Why do I try?  haha.  As it was pointed out to me by Michelle, "you scrap those photos alot."   Why yes, I do.  :o)  It's called lack of anything else to scrap and no recent photos.  She did bring up a good point though and my goal over the next few weeks is to go through all my photos, find new ones that I have never scrapped before and put copies of them together in a folder.  In the meantime, I will leave you with more wedding pictures (taken with my iphone so poor quality) .... again! 

PS Michelle .... you will be happy to know that the next month will see me on a trip to visit family in Hamilton but will also include a reunion with my very, very best friends from my short years in Hamilton.  The first friends I ever remember having and have memories of.  After moving to Ottawa 30 years ago and losing contact a few years after that, we have much to look forward to and I am quite certain it will include a photo or two.  *wink*

Happy Creating

And the Winner is ...

So it's not Sunday .... but better late than never, I say.  Honestly, I really havent been on the computer all week and anything that I have done via computer has been limited to what my iPhone allows.  What a crazy busy March Break.  I havent stopped since last Thursday and won't stop until  I go back to work.  Something every single day ... and long days too.  Not just a couple of hours on this day or that day.  I miss my house.  I miss my studio.  (formerly known as "the scrapbook room."  Studio sounds more 'artsy,' n'est pas?)  On the plus side however, I have managed to hit the gym every day but one since last Thursday.  Absolute bliss.  I'd live there if they let me.  (hmmm... maybe thats because they have maintenance staff so it would be like having my own cleaning service.  maybe....).  To see what I've accomplished, check out my journey to a healthier me ... and yes, this was definitely a week of accomplishment in Mellisa terms.

Now ... the moment you have - or haven't - been waiting for.  ** drum roll please **

CONGRATULATIONS

You are the winner of my Trimmer Prize Pack.

Please take a moment to e-mail me so I can snail mail your goodies out. 

To everyone else, thank you for your comments.  I am still undecided but am leaning towards the Fiskars Rotary cutter.  Reason being - I want to get more into card making and think having those edge blades may come in handy.  At the end of the day, what I really need to do is sit down with three or four trimmers and play.  Until then, old faithful will be by my side, providing loving if not slightly crooked cuts.

Today marks the last day of March Break.  Back to the grind on Monday.  I actually think I am looking forward to it just to put an end to this non-stop week.  Today I will be cropping at Auntie Ems with get togethers with friends on both Saturday and Sunday.  Until then, here is to a speedy and dry March with a quick entry into April and the fast arrival of Easter weekend .... just so I can have time off where I dont have to do anything.  Oh wait ... i already have a Friday sleep over date with my sister.  May long weekend... ?  *wink*

Happy crafting.



Trimmer Poll

For years I have used the Fiskars Triple Track.  Since day one actually.  I haven't fallen out of like with my trimmer yet but sometimes I wonder if it is time for a change.  Antonio tickled my papers for a while alas ... Antonio turned out to be a dud.  What was Making Memories thinking?   I've also never been one for a rotary trimmer.  In all honestly, I have no clue why that is or what has ever stopped me from buying (or even using) one.  At Auntie Em's last night I was surrounded by a Fiskars one.  A couple of the scrappy gals couldn't believe I hadn't made the switch to rotary ... but they have me thinking about it.

So, what trimmer do you have?  What trimmers have you tried?  What trimmers have you avoided?  I would love to hear about the trimmer(s) you tried and hated, the trimmers that just aren't  too shabby and what trimmer you just cant live without and why.

For taking the time to offer your advice by commenting, I will offer up a small prize pack of mixed goodies. All those who comment will have their name entered into a random draw. The winner will be annouced next Sunday.  Can't wait to read your trimmer reviews.

I started off with this ...

before switching to my beloved Antonio who let me down tremendoulsy...

so off I went back to old faithful....

and now ... what's next?



AE PageMaps Reveal: A Day to Remember

This months Auntie Em's Page Maps s calendar ketch challenge featured some very yummy papers, delicious embellishments .... and my beautiful sister.  I seem to be leaning towards to 'less is more' side of scrapbooking but am really hoping to kick it up a notch over the next month.  I really want to develop a versatile style takes me from the simplistically minimal Barb to the creatively cluttered Stéphanie.  Both ladies have their own destinctive style and create such great work.  I would love to be able to scale from one end of the spectrum to the other with ease.  I guess it's just another way of rediscovering myself even further.

In taking photos of this layout, I learned a very valuable lesson.  Stop travelling without a camera.  Sure.  The iPhone is a great 'quick-fix' but, at the end of the day, I have to live with the blurry results.  Fortunately, it's still visable for you to understand what is going on.  In the meantime, check out the Auntie Em's blog to see what specials Emma will have for the month of March and, if you haven't done so already, don't forget to *like* us on Facebook.  Finally, don't forget to check out my partner in crime's blog to see how Lorena & I created layouts using the same sketch and paper line.