NEVER wishy-washy for Japanese washi (TAPE)

Imagine my great sadness as I perused Japanese crafting sites and saw all the pretty patterned washi tape I could not have because it was from far far away and would require insane amounts of lucre to import.
Ah the agony.
The despair of unrequited material love!
Well NO MORE!

BOO YAAAH! Green, turquoise and RED glorious RED grid tape!

Gauche Alchemy has got washi to satisfy even the most VORACIOUS tape appetite!
Some photos:

Look familiar? That's right! And it's TEN DOLLARS!!!!!
Numbers washi tape

Pink Combo Pack- look at that stripped one!! LOVE!

Red Combo Pack- my favorite!!!!

Yellow Combo Pack- this one wins the pleases everyone award- there is the
warning stripe for the Momma's of boys, the cute red dots for those who love candy
 and the NEON ONE for crazy folks like moi.

Now HAVE AT 'EM Crafty peeps!
Do not wait! A little birdy tells me they are selling so fast they are setting company records.
Don't miss out!
I have a post coming up on the Gauche blog showing THIS in full:

 That's Gauche Alchemy washi and punchinella!!!

GRATUITOUS CUTE BABY POST!!!

Uses for washi- making this pattern on your latest project...
Laughing 2 year old not included.

CHELLS OUT!

I am a Gauche Grrrl!

GAUCHE- adjective. lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkward; crude; tactless.

Oh MY GOSH!!! That's ME!!!  Someone to say exactly the wrong thing at the right time? ME ME MEEEE! Blurting embarrassing medical details in the exact moment the crowded room goes quiet? OH I can do THAT!
Involuntary cries of "WHO? HIM/HER?" when your were telling me some juicy gossip near the target? Long boring stories that have everyone's eyes rolling? Angry rants about politics when things were supposed to be "light" at the family dinner table? Inappropriate Halloween costumes for work? All me. yay.


You can walk away shaking your head and muttering "FOOL!" but I have to live with me so I am SO HAPPY that I found Gauche Alchemy. I am now a writer for their blog and can use all my awkward quirks for entertainment purposes. My latest page for their newsletter (run along now and sign up!)

You are
Materials: Gauche Alchemy mixed puchinella kit, coffee filter, silver slide holder and stud brads from Gauche Alchemy Wedding Night White kit, Pink Paislee Office Lingo Cublicle paper,  Maya Road Calendar tranny and star pins, MMBI "You" and circles die cuts, Smash tape.

I got my kit the day before we were to leave Salt Lake City and managed to bang together this page in about 45 minutes. I was thrilled I got a spark of mojo but mostly it's the great funky stuff I find in their kits- swing by and check them out- they are DEFINITELY not the usual cup of cutesy paper tea (which is FANTASTIC!!!).

I'm so tired from my red eye flight with a fussy baby I will now fall asleep but I want to post something as I feel completely out of the loop. Our last minute unplanned visit to Salt Lake City was AMAZING! I never saw so many fantastic scrapbook stores together in one place! My favorite so far was Archivers over in Orem but I also scored MAJOR at Tuesday Morning with entire collection kits from Girl's Paperie going for 20 bucks! FABULOUS! I'm back now and plan to post like crazy so keep coming back! Thanks for your support!!!

Open Road!

MuChos SmOoChEs!
Michelle

When in doubt- REDO!

It is quite declasse to redo your scrapbook pages in certain circles. I never understood why- it's your work and you are improving with every page so why not?
I redo my pages ALL THE TIME! I find that I get better design perspective on a piece over time- perhaps that second patterned paper doesn't need to be there or maybe that photo can get printed at a larger size.
Here's an example: BEFORE Page (like it)

Camping Fun!
Materials: October Afternoon grid paper (circles are punched out and flipped over from the other side),
Cosmo Cricket Boyfriend alphas, American Crafts Meadow Thickers, DCWV Hittin' The Books stack- deer card, Fiskars cloud and medium circle squeeze punches, Jillibean Soup corrugated frame,  Maya Road leaf pins, ColorBok  tree and animal elements, Hoot pin from scrappy friend Amy (Thanks Amy!!) 

You'll have to excuse the faceless folk in these pages- the photos were taken from my cousin's facebook page and she used one of those little throw away cameras so the photos themselves have very little facial detail...
AFTER Page: (LOOOOVES IT!)

Camping Fun- 12 by 12
Materials: October Afternoon grid paper, Fiskars circle and cloud punches, American Crafts Meadow Thickers, Pink Paislee Soiree stamps (Banners and itty bitty stars) Hambly Studio blue woodgrain Washi tape, Uniball gel pen- black, Studio Calico Mister Huey in Sunshine, Maya Road wood button

I had to improvise since I'm a non driving city girl so I've never bought camping theme papers but YOU don't have to. Paper Issues has a drop dead gorgeous camping theme October Afternoon kit ready and waiting for you to make a mini book or a million scrap pages:

See? FUN! Go on and check out Paper Issues on Etsy!

Soiree stamps also available at Paper Issues shop!
They are SOOOOO WORTH IT!

Reasons you should feel free to REDO THOSE old pages you no longer like:

1. Your craft skills have improved! 

2. New scrappy goodies you bought (or MADE- WORK those SKILLZ gurrl!) match perfectly.

3. You reprinted the photos at a different size you like better.

4. "Someone" swiped your page (YAAAY!) and you want one for yourself

5. You feel like it!!! Why not!??? Just keep that old page so you can see how awesome you are right now.

Hope this was a fun read and got you to reopen those old scrap books. YOU are the master of your work- just don't go Bananas a la George Lucas on Star Wars- he should have left that first movie alone!!!

Gratuitous cutie patootie shot- are YOU ready for Father's Day?

MuChOs SmOoChEs!

Michelle

Oh happy day!!!

I am sick as a dog and a pathetic mess. I have NEVER been the type of woman who can put her big girl pants on when she's got the flu. This time I called Momma T so she could pick up Lola and take her away for a couple of hours while I slept.

Why? The damage:

• 2 chewed on "Portrait" collection flowers 
• 2 Maya Road resin flowers I will now have to search for in her pamper (UCK!) Not to use- to make sure she passes them

That is my life right now. So for every Mom who can roll her sleeves up, cook, clean and keep the multiple children from wrecking house while she's sick- you are my hero- you ROCK! When I grow up I wanna be just like you.

I got a nice little piece of news yesterday in the middle of my snotty drama- my Earth Day project has been featured over at 2 Peas. Here's the link: http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/gallery/member/464560-hernandm1/1729627-a-greener-world/

This was based on a beautiful Studio Calico sketch so I can't call it original but I'm glad it's getting some attention because it's a message I care very deeply about- doing little things to help reduce your carbon footprint.

I also want to show you an EXPERIMENT. This page will make no sense because it mixes really grungy dark techniques with bright and sunny photos but I'm planning a card project that needs practice so I whipped this up:

MATERIALS: Colorbok grid paper, Hambly Studio clear border stickers, Cosmo Cricket
Paul Bunyan alphas with  Glossy Accents
Flowers- Martha Stewart Clear Camelia stamps, StazOn in Blazing Red and Cherry Pink,
ColorBox chalk ink in Yellow Citrus, American Crafts Zing! in black and clear, Maya Road leaf pins

Weird right? Please give me your honest feedback- I am NOT the chick who asks if she looks fat in these jeans and expects a no. I want to know if I look like a hippo in heat if that's what's real. :)

Zing TIPS:
1. Double stamping to get the black zing border then the clear zing on the inside is not a good idea- overheating (or double heating) Zing! makes it turn white so be careful.
2. Heating the Zing! powder from UNDER the paper is better- got that from the AC post on youtube and went DUH! Of course!!!
3. ColorBox chalk ink takes a little time to dry up so it's perfect for embossing- I would have never know if I hadn't made a mistake while stamping.
But ya'll know this already! You are all embossing divas making this world spin while I just live in it. :)

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Paper Issues Blog Hop WELCOME!

Hiya!
I put on my big girl pants for this. No more DT rejection self pity! It's time to get happy and have FUN!
This is my first mini book. I have decided- I LOVE mini books! I felt no pressure, the format is so small it limits my "Is it finished NOW?" dithering. I took the same amount of time making this that I usually take making a page, 4 days.

I also got to whip out every single trick pony I own for this- stitching- check!, color blocking- check!, ribbon- check!... texture, paper piecing, 3 D effects- it's all there! Now that I think about it- I could have done some dry embossing and some glitter effects but a girl can only do so much in 4 days.
ENOUGH blathering! Here are some PIX!

Cover- LOVE that Pink Paislee herringbone tape!

Redid this page and LOVE this version- it's a take on Crate Paper's weather collection die cut paper with the cloud border. All clouds have a silver lining in my book!

How much do I love K & Co's "Que Sera Sera" line and Maya Road's pleated ribbon? As much as I love my Mexican tin art collection.

I love living in Williamsburg Bk because the amount of guerilla poster art and graffiti here is BANANAS. Don't stand still too long- you'll get a poster on yer chest.

I LUVS me some sea salt and vinegar chips with half raw steak and beer.  October Afternoon paper and an Obscure line die cut from Basic Grey.

Why do I love grid prints so much? Because I don't have to measure or pencil in cut lines- I just follow the grid!
Magic Mesh- mana from heaven for scrappers if you ask me.

Now that I have Miss Lola I don't ride as much but there's nothing like a 6 hour long bike ride through NYC's river side bike paths- simply GLORIOUS! LOVELY Hambly Studio paper!

Lola likes to steal apples- here's she's heisting a neighbor's lunch- no joke! I love that munchkin. Sassy paper and K&CO alphas.

When I finished this page I did a little dance- it's PERFECT! These are all scraps from other projects- the red ribbon was wrapped around an ETSY order and I kept it because that color is so lusciously RED- it's like a punch in the kisser.

I bought the Anna Griffin paper pad for  this pattern only- it's bamboo and it's FABULOUS! Studio Calico wood veneer heart, Hambly alpha sticks on post it note paper and mini scrabble tile- I LOVE those too!

FUUUUN! Getting on a plane scares the bejesus outta me but once I land it's MILLER TIME- ok maybe not- it's museum and botanical garden time! The cloud punches were unintended but PERFECT- I love it when a project comes together!

I love NY- more than ever.

Most favorite of all- my family.

Close up- pop out cloud, stringy sun and cut up grass- fave details! New fave brand MLS.

I have a give away as well! Here's what you can win if you follow or leave a comment (doing 1 of each gets you 2 entries):

Week 1 (March 19th to the 26th) mini book prize pack
Webster's Pages 6x6 papers, Petaloo flowers, SEI die cuts, Dusty Attic Decorative Gate,  K & Co Que Sera Sera mini papers, Basic Grey small details, white ruffle ribbon and 3 home made die cut shape packs.

Week Two (March 27th to April 2nd) mini altered project pack
Webster's page's Die cut 6x6 papers, Little Yellow Bicycle doilies, Dusty Attic flourishes, Prima and Petaloo flowers,  Korean sticky lace (CANNOT find this in the USA) K & Co handmade specialty papers, Ruby Rocket felt oval frame

Ok onto the next fabulous gal fave scrap buddy extraordinaire: DAWN PERKINS of MOJO MAYHEM fame!!!!
If you just moseyed on by and don't know what I'm talking about please take a gander at the blog hop intro page on PAPER ISSUES and make sure to follow, link up a project or friend us on Facebook to enter in the drawing for the FANTASTIC Crate Paper prize kit.

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
M.

3 King's Day & St. Valentine's Day in 1 page

Ah love- the very thing you strive for then spend your time questioning once you have it. Stop that! Be happy and present in your love! Speak it to your love object! Celebrate it in true ROCCOCO fashion. I have resolved to do just that in 2011.
Here is another Valentine's Day piece:

NOT generic.
Materials: We R Memory Keepers Gridlock paper, Sassafras Lass My Type (scallop heart), Cosmo Cricket  Tiny Type brown/clear & Paul Bunyan alphas, EK Success Sticko Retro Puffy alphas, Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses alphas, MAya Road Man chip board, EK 2" scallop heart punch, Prima Barcode clear 48mm tape, Hambly Studio pattern rub-ons- brown

Dave is incredibly patient, tolerant and empathic. He's also a true analytical personality so how he's attracted to an Emo nutball like me is a mystery. I'll be yammering away about the latest thing I took as an insult and he'll just look at me like: "Dude...." I frustrate him in my ability to squirrel out implied disses. He ignores most pesky things (me) with Tibetan Monk-like complacency. And unlike cheesy 70's chick flicks- he's perfectly willing to say (and mean) I'm sorry.

Here I used white Mister Huey under Sunshine yellow and THAT happened- see? It' like the 3D glasses effect only it's 2D and invisible to the eye here. I also used a Maya Road man that turned out to be 8 inches long which surprised and delighted me (that's what she said)- sorry.

The heart is an improvisation- the rub on never attached to anything- not the paper, not the tranny I was intending for it- nothing. So I punched it out the sheet and sewed (SPL???) it on. Then I thought- wearing your heart on your sleeve hmmm... David reserves that for only 1 person. Miss Lola. I love the string- hate how crappy the rub-on looks.

New camera keeps Lola from looking down in anti-flash anticipation.
Polaroid- very few film cartridges left- WAAAH!

Lastly, Dave got me a 3 King's Day present! 3 King's Day is celebrated in Spanish speaking countries. On the eve of January 5th, kids put grass under their beds for the camels of the 3 Kings who visited Baby Jesus bringing Myrr, Gold and- sommin' else.  Next morning they get 3 presents, 1 from each king. My parents used to celebrate it along with Christmas when we lived in PR but that stopped abruptly when we moved to NY and they paid NYC rent.  I was SUPPOSED to go with Miss Thing to the Parade in front of El Museo Del Barrio but I forgot- AGAIN. That makes it 10 years in a row I forget to shoot that wonderfully artsy event- SO not cool.

Lola helps. Fuji shoots

Anyway I got a Fuji Instax camera!!!! (They were sold out during Christmas) I mourn MOURN the loss of Polaroid. It's a huge hole in the heart of American coolness- not to mention US jobs.

So awesomely awesome I SQUEALED
 when I opened the package!

But thankfully the Japanese have risen to the challenge and taken the coolness and IMPROVED upon it (figures!) Thus the Fuji Instamatic with credit card sized instant photos in a nicely rectangular shape. Now if they would just put out a square shaped format I would be SO insanely happy! But I guess I'll get an app to do that...

MuChOs SmOoChEs!

M.

New obsession- 2 sided stitched pages!!!

Ever noticed how when you do something by mistake it's like the best thing ever? That just happened to me about a week ago. I was busily sewing away and listening to "This American Life" when I turned my page over and was like- duuuude- I like this MORE!!!!!"

Goals 2011. Double sided layout. (front) stitching here is usually hidden in the back of a page.

Then I though- double sided pages! with stitching! BINGO BANGO that's new!!! Right? Weeeell, maybe not- there's got to be other people who though of it first and did it better. 

ANYways here's side 2:

Goal 1- Family Time (back of project)

WADDAYA think? I incorporated some current obsessions of mine- postage stamps, grid pattern papers, paper tape and circles.

Materials- variagated floss, Tim Holtz paper tape, Pink Paisley paper tape, 7 Gypsies paper tape, Martha Stewart Christmas tape, Red polka dot Thickers (so awesooooome!!!), K & Co Handmade packaging (not going to let up till it' gone), smiley face from We R Memory Keepers "Funfetti" collection. Clock rub on from Michael's dollar section, Deja Views "Kiss Grid" paper from Sweet Romance collection.

Here are some close ups but really these photos are COOLER than the actual layout which means I'll have to do like maybe 50 more of these....

   LoTsA BeSos!!!

   M.