Boxer Scrapbooks Weblog

Blast from the past...

It was a beautiful weekend here in the Portland area.  About 70 degrees, clear blue skies, and well, perfect!  We had so much to cram into this weekend, as I only had one weekend between shows this month, but we were able to do it.  Yard work at our house got done, two parties to attend, cupcakes to bake for one of the parties, more yard work up at mom's, and lots and lots of laundry and housework.

The shiny bright-spot on the weekend was a birthday party for Asher!  Meet Asher and his mommy, Chris.

Chris and I met in the 5th grade, and went to school together and lived about 2 blocks from one another until high school graduation.  Long, long time ago.  Oddly enough, George met Chris when she was in High School, at a pizza parlor where they both worked.  On a total fluke, about two months ago I sent Chris some funny joke email, with other people listed on it.  My cousin Jena was one of them.  She knew a Dan with the same last name, who married a Jena, and wrote me back and asked me how I knew them, and if he had worked at this pizza parlor.  UUUHHH yeah--we're related! 

Long story short, we'd never made the connection that she knew George, as we've mainly been corresponding via email for the past couple of years.  I asked her if she'd remembered our Christmas Card Photo, where George was CLEARLY pictured.  She ended up digging it out, and laughed hysterically that it was in fact the same George.  I went home that night, and asked George if he remembered her, and it was one of those "ah-Ha" moments. 

Lucky for us, Mr. Asher here turned 1 year old.  Isn't he just adorable!?!  Chris and her husband Corey (who was also in our graduating class) were throwing a Luau Birthday party, and we were invited!  So this past Saturday, we donned our best Hawaiian gear, and went off to celebrate.

George was so excited that he even went shopping with me for the gift for Asher.  George hates shopping, so this was clearly something he was excited about.  We found the perfect outfit at Target (I love their kids clothes), and off in search of a bag.  They've recently re-merchandised the area for gift wrap in our Target, and well, it sucks now.  They have tons of newborn baby, tons of wedding stuff, and then birthday bags and wrap for older kids and adults.  Nothing cute for little kids.  So, I ended up getting just a plain blue bag, and was going to call it good.

Got home, and said, I've got time while I bake those cupcakes!  Why don't I make the bag a little better, and create a matching card, and forget the one we bought!  So--here is my quick bag fix, and quick card idea...

For the Bag, I used: Boxer Red Gingham Paper, Boxer Dino Cardstock Stickers (main sticker and the two border stickers) and two colors of cardstock from my stash.

For the card, I used: Card Blank from DCWV, dark blue cardstock from stash, Boxer Green Multi Dot Paper, Boxer Dino Cardstock Stickers (three round dino's), Boxer Metal Rimmed Tags (new product in many sizes coming soon), Boxer Celebrations Limited Edition Stamp Set (Happy Birthday) and Judikins Diamond Glaze (on top of the three round dino stickers--can't see it real well in the photos).  I also put foam tape behind the tags to give them a little dimension off the card.

I can honestly admit that this is the first non-class project I've whipped out in about a year.  It really made me happy to make it, and I knew that Chris would appreciate it.  I'm seriously thinking about stocking up on those bags from Target, because they do have some fun color combinations, and they won't break the bank.  I could so see myself making a ton of bags with matching cards from my crazy stash!  I just might do that....mmmm....can you hear the wheels turning?

Again, Happy Birthday Asher!  You've got a great mom & dad!

~~Angie

New layouts posted

We've posted some of our Favorite layouts over at our Design Team Blog today.    Check it out by clicking here.

Enjoy!  --Angie

Busy...as usual

Another busy day in the Land O' Boxer.  I was able to add a Designers Challenge to the Design Team Blog today, and have another set up to post next Tuesday.  Hope to have a few of these coming up soon, as I have a bunch of projects from the design team that just need to be edited and added to the blog.

Also rounding up lots of misc. product in the warehouse for the clearance section of the booth in Bellevue, WA (Nov 2&3).  It's like Spring cleaning in the fall. 

If you're planning on attending the show, be sure to sign up for our Local Oregon/Washington newsletter (make sure to check the box on the second page of signing up for Local Oregon/Washington Scrappers, or you won't get that newsletter).  I'm planning on sending some pre-show coupons that you can print out and bring with you to the show for extra savings at our booth! 

I'm so jazzed that all our classes are sold out before the event, so we know we'll have very few class kits left to bring home (we always make a few extra).

Back to work while I watch tv for a bit before bed.  Just re-pricing some things for the show (much lower than they originally were!).

Have a super night!

Angie

New Designers Challenge is posted

If you haven't checked out our Design Team's Blog, you should!  This is where we're now posting our Designers Challenge Projects, plus we're letting you meet the designers, including viewing their scrap spaces.  You can check it out here.

Cards from June's challenge have just been posted, and we'll be posting the 8x8 and 12 x 12 challenge pages later this week!

Enjoy...

Angie

Let's hear it for the Red, White & Blue!

This time of year, when the weather is supposed to be getting nicer, one thing sticks in my mind--Bar-B-Que's with friends!  The 4th of July is probably the most fun of these, with all the pomp and circumstance.  Something about that day, the colors, the fireworks that is just so much fun!

I was working on June's newsletter this month, and decided I needed to throw together a few projects using some of my favorite Red, White & Blues in the Boxer line.

If I do say so myself, we've got great papers, embellishments and my favorite--ribbons, to help celebrate Independence Day.

I've got some close-ups of each projects, list of what you'll need to create them, and short instructions.

USA Letters:

Letters and Base (Purchased at Craft Store)

1 Sheet Boxer Large Red Dot Paper

1 Sheet Boxer Blue Stripes Paper

1 Boxer Sheet Red Gingham Paper

Boxer Celebrate Ribbon

Boxer Grosgrain Ribbon in Bright Blue, Red and White

Stars & Stripes Charm Mix

Nickel Mini Brads

Instructions: Place each letter face-down on the back side of the paper you want to cover it with.  Trace the letters onto the back of the paper, cut them out, and adhere to the letters with permanent adhesive.  Tie ribbons on letters as accents (as seen on the U and A).  For the hanging charm (as seen on the S), place the mini brad through the loop of the charm, loop the ribbon around the letter, and secure the brad through the ribbon.  Trim the ribbon ends (which are hidden behind the charm).

USA Box:

1 Boxer White Gable Box

1 Sheet Boxer Blue Dot Paper

1 Sheet Boxer Small Red Dot Paper

1 Sheet Cardstock in White and Deep Ocean Blue (ColorMates)

Dog Lovers and Horse Lovers Alphabet Stickers

Also Used: Sewing Machine

Instructions: Cut two 4"x12" strips of Blue Dot paper.  Cut one of the strips down to 10" long.  Leaving the box flat, adhere the 12" strip to the bottom of the box.  You will have a 1" overlap on each end--wrap these around the ends of the box, and adhere.  Flip the box over, and attach the 4" x 10" strip of Blue Dot paper.  The entire bottom of your box should now be covered.

I cut two strips each of the Small Red Dot Paper to two different sizes.  One size is 1.5" x 3.5", and the second is 1.5" x 5.5".  I then adhered these to the blue cardstock cut to 2" x 4" and 2" x 6".  Using a zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine, I stitched around the edges of the red dots.  After completing that, I mounted the blue cardstock to white cardstock cut to 2.25" x 4" and 2.25" x 6".  These pieces then were mounted on the gable box.  Using excess white cardstock, and the Boxer Alphabet Stickers, I did some different words and USA and placed those on the box. (For the USA Rounds on the ends, I used a circle punch).

4th of July Card:

This is a very simple card, and to be quite honest, I made it with scraps from my other two projects.  Here is what I needed:

1--8.5" x 5.5" White Cardstock (Folded in half is the card base)

1--4" x 5.25" piece of Boxer Blue Stripes paper

1--5.25" x 0.5" strip of Boxer Large Red Dot paper

1--Sheet Boxer Mega Fish Lovers Alphabet Stickers

1--Sheet Boxer Fish Lovers Alphabet Stickers (for the 'th' in the 4th)

Instructions:  Mount piece of Blue Stripes to the card base using adhesive.  Layout out your stickers for placement.  I actually cut the letters out of the sheet to make this a little easier, and adhere as desired.  Attach the strip of Red Dot paper as you like.  I actually trimmed this down, so that there was only one row of dots, and it would visually pull the focus to the middle of the card.  Very simple.  You could even do a vellum overlay on this card, and it would look good.

So there it is, my creative juices flowed that evening thank goodness.  Hope you enjoy the ideas!

--Angie

Where is my mojo???

So, my big idea for a weekend full of scrapbooking didn't turn out as productive as I had hoped. 

The photos I'm working with of the Vegas trip are not the best quality.  I'm having a very hard time working with these grainy photos.  I had decided before the trip that I was going to have fun, not to be the typical scrapbooker with the DigiRebel around my neck.  It's pretty hard to play slots that way!  LOL!  So, we went with disposable cameras (eww) with 800 speed film (double eww).  I think they may have gotten scaned by security on the way home in our carry-ons, which may have made them worse.  Then I made the decision that I couldn't work on any other photos until I got thru the block.  Whatever--not the best decision.

But....that didn't mean I couldn't play with cards!  I have recently stole one of the many "scrap bins" from here at the office.  This is where we throw all the "little pieces that aren't too little" of pattern paper, cardstock, semi used stickers, etc that are left over from cutting for Make & Takes and Class stuff.  I had a ton of our Black Dot paper in there, and about 4 sheets of alpha stickers.  I decided to make some cards.

Not the best scan, but you get the idea.  This was also my first shot at sewing on paper, and I found out that my 35+yo Viking Sewing Machine is awesome for this.  Any mistakes or crooked edges are totally my fault, but I made 20 cards in 2 hours.  I needed to feel like I got something done, and I totally did!  They're simple, to the point, and done.  YEAH ME!

George and I did see The DaVinci Code on Saturday.  Good Movie, very interesting, but my butt hurt after 2 hours.  I told mom this was a Netflix rental. **Note: We're not big movie goers--much prefer watching films in our own home.  We're not real big on the whole Big Screen thing.  If you are--go see this movie.  Visually--it's beautiful, and you'll miss a lot on the small screen.**

I'm bound and determined to get those vegas photos done...will keep working on it.

OHHH--softball.  Sorry--have to add that Oregon State BEAT Cal!  This was a huge Upset, so go BEAVERS!  Michigan (def. Natl. Champs) were beat by Tennessee in three great games.  Texas beat U of Washington to go on as well.  Click here for more info on the tourney as it starts on THURSDAY!  :o)

--Angie