Thursday, October 29, 2009

Do You Love Thickers?

Hi, everyone! Welcome back to Life on the {Scrap}beach!

Are any of you Thickers addicts? If you've been watching my videos, then you know that I certainly am! Well, for those of us who can't get enough of American Crafts "Thickers", Two Peas In A Bucket has an amazing promotion going on: buy 10 packs of Thickers in the 2Peas Store before the end of the month and be entered to win 140 packs of Thickers!

Here's a picture of the prize Thickers ~ amazing!


I don't even know where I would put that many Thickers, but I can't wait to try to find a spot for them! Oh, I hope they pick me!

To sweeten the deal, 2Peas has put all of the American Crafts "Thickers" at 25% through the end of the month!


And don't forget that at Two Peas In A Bucket shipping is always free in the US on orders over $50.00 with the free shipping code from the newsletter. If you're not getting the newsletters, click this link to see the most recent newsletter ~ the code is at the end: October Newsletter

As you can see from the newsletter, Halloween goodies are also on sale at 2Peas through the end of the month. Have fun shopping everyone & good luck to all you Thickers fans out there on winning the big prize!

~Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

And Now for Something Completely Different

Hi, everyone! Welcome back to Life on the {Scrap}Beach!

Let's talk about something a little more cheerful now. Due to popular demand, I have added a third pricing option for the Christmas Countdown kits: there is now an option to purchase just the DVD and instruction manual. As of now, I am totally caught up on the orders I have received to date & am ready to take new orders. If you're interested in reserving a kit at the pre-order price, email me before November 1st. The way it looks now, I won't be making too many extra kits to have available after the first.

This Christmas, I am offering a virtual DVD class based on my popular "25 Days Until Christmas" mini album from last year. If you select the "All the Trimmings!" option {see pricing below}, the kit will contain all the product you need to make the album, a full-color instruction manual with detailed step-by-step instructions, and a DVD tutorial where I will create an identical album for you in a classroom-like environment. Putting the video on DVD instead of YouTube allows me to offer a slower pace with fewer cuts and more detailed shots. The DVD classroom format will also enable you to scrap at your own pace by pausing, rewinding, skipping ahead & playing it back at your leisure. You won't have to worry about an Internet connection or waiting for videos to load.

I am currently offering THREE pricing levels. These prices are good through November 1st. After that, kits may not be available or may only be available at elevated prices due to minimum order requirements.

Pre-Order Prices: through November 1st
1. Instruction Manual + DVD only: $15.00 USD + shipping due on order {will ship in a USPS Priority flate rate envelope}
2. Instruction Manual, DVD, Chipboard, Rings & Paper only: $30.00 USD, $20.00 USD due on pre-order and the remaining $10.00 USD + Shipping due when kits are ready to ship.
3. Instruction Manual, DVD, Chipboard, Paper & All the Trimmings!: $65.00 USD, $40.00 USD due on pre-order and the remaining $25.00 USD + Shipping due when kits are complete & ready to ship


Shipping will be via USPS Priority mail & calculated by package weight & recipient's location; should be between $8.00-$10.00 most locations CONUS for the full kit and $6.00-$8.00 for the partial kits. Kits will be shipped as soon as they are available and once balances are paid in full on a first-come, first-serve basis, with all kits being shipped via USPS Priority Mail by Monday, November 23, 2009 at the latest.

I will be using PayPal to send invoices and receive payments. To pre-order one of these kits for yourself, email me at thescrapbeach@gmail.com with the subject line "CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN PRE-ORDER" and include the type of kit you'd like, your full name, your shipping address and the email address where you'd like the PayPal invoice sent.

This was is a huge 6"x9" 18 page {36 pages, front and back} custom chipboard gate-folded mini album in a "Christmas Countdown" format. There will be one page for each day of December for you to chronicle your family's activities leading up to and including Christmas Day. I dearly love the mini album I made in this format last year. In fact, I am offering this as a class because a friend of mine who has seen the album in person convinced me to offer a virtual class based around this concept for Christmas 2009.

While a class sample will not be available for this project kit for you to view before you commit to pre-ordering, a detailed supply list is included below so you can see exactly what product is included & know that you will be getting more than your money's worth. As far as the album's construction, it will be of the same design as my "25 Days Until Christmas" album from 2008 ~ a 6"x9" 18 page custom chipboard gate-folded mini album. This will be the album that I use for my personal 2009 Christmas album, so you can be sure that it will have the same attention to detail and level of creativity that I put into all my projects!

Like last year's album, this album will be chock full of beautiful techniques, unique and exciting pages, interactive page elements and custom embellishments. The biggest difference between the two albums will be that the 2008 album used the Making Memories "Fa La La" collection and the 2009 album will primarily use the Making Memories "Mistletoe" collection, with inclusions from 7Gypsies, Jenni Bowlin, Little Yellow Bicycle, Prima and Tim Holtz. If you are reading this post, then you are probably already familiar with my work and my YouTube videos, so you know what to expect from my creations. This one will be no exception, and it will be exclusive to the class DVDs ~ it will never appear in videos on my YouTube channel! Only class members will have access to this exclusive album through the instructional DVD.

Christmas Countdown Album Supply List:

Pricing Level 1: includes full-color, step-by-step instruction manual + DVD class

Pricing Level 2: includes manual, DVD, chipboard & papers ~ complete list below
Cardstock: 8 12"x12" Sheets
American Crafts in White x 2 sheets ($0.60 value)
American Crafts in Black x 2 sheets ($0.75 value)
American Crafts in Spinach x 2 sheets ($0.98 value)
American Crafts in Pomegranate x 2 sheets ($0.98 value)
Double-sided Patterned Paper: 18 12"x12" sheets
Advent x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Icon Dot x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Pattern Stripe x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Argyle x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Big Green Dot x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Cardinal x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Happy Holidays x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Mistletoe x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Trees x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Speciality Paper:3 12"x12" sheets, 4 4"x4" die cut sheets
Die-Cut Glitter Mini Dot Red x 1 sheet ($0.99 value)
Glitter Music Note x 1 sheet ($0.99 value)
Poinsettia Flocked x 1 sheet ($0.99 value)
Jenni Bowlin 4"x4" Mini Classic Die Cut Label Papers x 4 sheets ($1.87 value)
Other Kit Contents:
5 sheets of 12"x12" raw chipboard and a cutting guide. ($1.75 value)
2" Book Rings to bind the album x 4 rings
Full-Color Step-by-Step Instruction Manual
Instructional DVD

Pricing Level 3: includes everything in Pricing Level 2 + what's below
Alphabets:
Making Memories "Wedding Shimmer Alpha" x 1 pack ($3.99 value)
Jenni Bowlin Tiny Circle Alpha is Vintage Red x 1 pack ($1.75 value)
Embellishments:
7Gypsies Charm Dangles in "Ruby" x 2 charms ($1.99 value)
Assorted Tim Holtz Fragments in "Charms" x 3 charms ($0.65 value)
Little Yellow Bicycle "25 Days of Christmas" Cardstock Tags x 1 pack ($4.99 value)
Little Yellow Bicycle "25 Days of Christmas" Glittered Chipboard Shapes x 10 shapes ($2.50 value)
Making Memories "Mistletoe" Chipboard Buttons x 1 pack ($1.99 value)
Making Memories "Mistletoe" Metal Keys x 1 key ($1.33 value)
Making Memories Circle Journaling Stickers x 1 pack ($2.99 value)
Making Memories Dimensional Stickers x 1 pack ($4.99 value)
Prima Paper Flowers x 8 flowers ($0.75 value)
Prima Pearls & Crystals x 20 pearls & 10 crystals ($0.75 value)
Ribbons & Trims {assorted} ($5.00 value)
Other Kit Contents:
Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Cat's Eye in "Black Bird" x 1 ink pad ($1.99 value)
Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Cat's Eye in "Lipstick Red" x 1 ink pad ($1.99 value)
Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Cat's Eye in "Lime Pastel" x 1 ink pad ($1.99 value)
Judikins Diamond Glaze x 1 2 oz. bottle ($4.79 value)
Ranger Stickles in "Crystal Ice" x 1 bottle ($2.50 value)
Various Custom Embellishments created by me just for you and this class kit, including tickets, tags and interactive acetate embellishments!

Thank you for your interest and for all your support! Please do not hesitate to leave a comment here with a question or e-mail me at thescrapbeach@gmail.com. I will get back to you as soon as I can.

~Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Thank You

Hi, everyone! Welcome back to Life on the {Scrap}Beach!

I wanted to thank you for all the kind words, prayers and warm thoughts you have sent to me and to my family. It has been a rough week, but knowing there were so many warm-hearted people around the world with their thoughts on us was very comforting.

My twenty year-old cousin Rachel was hit by a drunk driver while riding her bike across her college campus. The accident was a hit and run, although the police have the driver in custody now. Her parents and her ten brothers and sisters as well as the entire rest of the family were devastated by this shocking tragedy. It has been very, very hard for us all to process.

Again, thank you very, very much for everything! We all appreciate it so very much.

Sincerely,

Kathryn

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

I've Got Some Good News & I've Got Some Bad News

Hi, everyone! Like the title says, this post is a mixed bag.

GOOD NEWS: It's official ~ there is definitely going to be a Christmas Countdown Virtual Class! Thank you to everyone who has expressed interest so far ~ I am so glad you're all so excited about this!

BAD NEWS: I just had a family member killed in a car accident, and I will not be making any new videos or blogging for a while due to family commitments. I will be checking my email as often as possible over the next few days and will respond to inquiries/send invoices as soon as possible. Making this class a reality is a high priority for me, so I will being doing my best and just ask that you have patience if I do not respond as quickly to emails as you may be used to.

Here's what I am offering: a virtual DVD class based on my popular "25 Days Until Christmas" mini album from last year. If you select the "All the Trimmings!" option {see pricing below}, the kit will contain all the product you need to make the album, a full-color instruction manual with detailed step-by-step instructions, and a DVD tutorial where I will create an identical album for you in a classroom-like environment. Putting the video on DVD instead of YouTube allows me to offer a slower pace with fewer cuts and more detailed shots. The DVD classroom format will also enable you to scrap at your own pace by pausing, rewinding, skipping ahead & playing it back at your leisure. You won't have to worry about an Internet connection or waiting for videos to load.

I am currently offering two pricing levels. These prices are good through November 1st. After that, kits may not be available or may only be available at elevated prices due to minimum order requirements.

Pre-Order Prices: through November 1st
1. Instruction Manual, DVD, Chipboard, Rings & Paper only: $30.00 USD, $20.00 USD due on pre-order and the remaining $10.00 USD + Shipping due when kits are ready to ship.
2. Instruction Manual, DVD, Chipboard, Paper & All the Trimmings!: $65.00 USD, $40.00 USD due on pre-order and the remaining $25.00 USD + Shipping due when kits are complete & ready to ship


Shipping will be via USPS Priority mail & calculated by package weight & recipient's location; should be between $8.00-$10.00 most locations CONUS for the full kit and $6.00-$8.00 for the partial kits. Kits will be shipped as soon as they are available and once balances are paid in full on a first-come, first-serve basis, with all kits being shipped via USPS Priority Mail by Monday, November 23, 2009 at the latest.

I will be using PayPal to send invoices and receive payments. To pre-order one of these kits for yourself, email me at thescrapbeach@gmail.com with the subject line "CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN PRE-ORDER" and include the type of kit you'd like, your full name, your shipping address and the email address where you'd like the PayPal invoice sent.

This was is a huge 6"x9" 18 page {36 pages, front and back} custom chipboard gate-folded mini album in a "Christmas Countdown" format. There will be one page for each day of December for you to chronicle your family's activities leading up to and including Christmas Day. I dearly love the mini album I made in this format last year. In fact, I am offering this as a class because a friend of mine who has seen the album in person convinced me to offer a virtual class based around this concept for Christmas 2009.

While a class sample will not be available for this project kit for you to view before you commit to pre-ordering, a detailed supply list is included below so you can see exactly what product is included & know that you will be getting more than your money's worth. As far as the album's construction, it will be of the same design as my "25 Days Until Christmas" album from 2008 ~ a 6"x9" 18 page custom chipboard gate-folded mini album. This will be the album that I use for my personal 2009 Christmas album, so you can be sure that it will have the same attention to detail and level of creativity that I put into all my projects!

Like last year's album, this album will be chock full of beautiful techniques, unique and exciting pages, interactive page elements and custom embellishments. The biggest difference between the two albums will be that the 2008 album used the Making Memories "Fa La La" collection and the 2009 album will primarily use the Making Memories "Mistletoe" collection, with inclusions from 7Gypsies, Jenni Bowlin, Little Yellow Bicycle, Prima and Tim Holtz. If you are reading this post, then you are probably already familiar with my work and my YouTube videos, so you know what to expect from my creations. This one will be no exception, and it will be exclusive to the class DVDs ~ it will never appear in videos on my YouTube channel! Only class members will have access to this exclusive album through the instructional DVD.

Christmas Countdown Album Supply List:

Pricing Level 1: includes manual, DVD, chipboard & papers ~ complete list below
Cardstock: 8 12"x12" Sheets
American Crafts in White x 2 sheets ($0.60 value)
American Crafts in Black x 2 sheets ($0.75 value)
American Crafts in Spinach x 2 sheets ($0.98 value)
American Crafts in Pomegranate x 2 sheets ($0.98 value)
Double-sided Patterned Paper: 18 12"x12" sheets
Advent x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Icon Dot x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Pattern Stripe x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Argyle x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Big Green Dot x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Cardinal x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Happy Holidays x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Mistletoe x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Trees x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Speciality Paper:3 12"x12" sheets, 4 4"x4" die cut sheets
Die-Cut Glitter Mini Dot Red x 1 sheet ($0.99 value)
Glitter Music Note x 1 sheet ($0.99 value)
Poinsettia Flocked x 1 sheet ($0.99 value)
Jenni Bowlin 4"x4" Mini Classic Die Cut Label Papers x 4 sheets ($1.87 value)
Other Kit Contents:
5 sheets of 12"x12" raw chipboard and a cutting guide. ($1.75 value)
2" Book Rings to bind the album x 4 rings
Full-Color Step-by-Step Instruction Manual
Instructional DVD

Pricing Level 2: includes everything in Pricing Level 1 + what's below
Alphabets:
Making Memories "Wedding Shimmer Alpha" x 1 pack ($3.99 value)
Jenni Bowlin Tiny Circle Alpha is Vintage Red x 1 pack ($1.75 value)
Embellishments:
7Gypsies Charm Dangles in "Ruby" x 2 charms ($1.99 value)
Assorted Tim Holtz Fragments in "Charms" x 3 charms ($0.65 value)
Little Yellow Bicycle "25 Days of Christmas" Cardstock Tags x 1 pack ($4.99 value)
Little Yellow Bicycle "25 Days of Christmas" Glittered Chipboard Shapes x 10 shapes ($2.50 value)
Making Memories "Mistletoe" Chipboard Buttons x 1 pack ($1.99 value)
Making Memories "Mistletoe" Metal Keys x 1 key ($1.33 value)
Making Memories Circle Journaling
Stickers
x 1 pack ($2.99 value)
Making Memories Dimensional Stickers x 1 pack ($4.99 value)
Prima Paper Flowers x 8 flowers ($0.75 value)
Ribbons & Trims {assorted} ($5.00 value)
Other Kit Contents:
Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Cat's Eye in "Black Bird" x 1 ink pad ($1.99 value)
Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Cat's Eye in "Lipstick Red" x 1 ink pad ($1.99 value)
Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Cat's Eye in "Lime Pastel" x 1 ink pad ($1.99 value)
Judikins Diamond Glaze x 1 2 oz. bottle ($4.79 value)
Ranger Stickles in "Crystal Ice" x 1 bottle ($2.50 value)
Various Custom Embellishments created by me just for you and this class kit {includes tickets, tags and interactive acetate embellishments!}

Thank you for your interest and for all your support! Please do not hesitate to leave a comment here with a question or e-mail me at thescrapbeach@gmail.com. I will get back to you as soon as I can.

~Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

DVD Virtual Class Kit Idea

Hi, everyone! Welcome back to Life on the {Scrap}beach!

I wanted to take a moment to tell about an idea I have for a Christmas Countdown Mini-Album Virtual Class Kit. This is the same kit idea that was discussed in the last Thursday Scrap Chat on my ustream channel ~ thank you to everyone who has expressed interest so far!

Out of all my projects on my YouTube channel, one of the most popular by far is my "25 Days Until Christmas" mini album. This was a huge 6"x9" 18 page {36 pages, front and back} custom chipboard gate-folded mini album that I made to chronicle all our activities leading up to Christmas 2008. I dearly love this mini album, and so do a lot of other people. In fact, a friend of mine loves it so much, that she begged me to offer a virtual class based around this concept for Christmas 2009, so I am writing this post to see if there is enough interest to make such a virtual class possible.

So, here is what I will be offering if I have enough interested scrappers to go forward with the class kits: a virtual DVD class + all the goodies you need to complete a 6"x9" Christmas Countdown mini album very similar to mine from last year.

The kit will contain all the product you need to make the album as well as a full-color instruction booklet with detailed step-by-step instructions. It will also contain a DVD tutorial where I will create an identical album for you in a classroom-like environment. Putting the video on DVD {instead of YouTube} allows me to offer a slower pace with fewer cuts and more detailed shots. The DVD classroom format will also enable you to scrap at your own pace by pausing and playing it back at your leisure. No more having to worry about a convenient internet connection or waiting for videos to load. In addition to the large amount of manufacturers' product included {an over $65.00 value, see supply list below}, the kit will also include various custom embellishments created by me that will be unique to these kits, such as tickets, tags and interactive acetate embellishments.

While a class sample will not be available for this project kit for you to view before you commit to pre-ordering, a detailed supply list is included below so you can see exactly what product is included & know that you will definitely be getting your money's worth in product alone.

As far as the album's construction, it will be of the same design as my album from 2008 ~ a 6"x9" 18 page custom chipboard gate-folded mini album {not that there's anything truly "mini" about this album ~ it's huge!}. Like last year's album, this album will be chock full of beautiful techniques, unique and exciting pages, interactive page elements and custom embellishments. The biggest difference between the two albums will be that the 2008 album used the Making Memories "Fa La La" collection and the 2009 album will primarily use the Making Memories "Mistletoe" collection, with inclusions from 7Gypsies, Jenni Bowlin, Little Yellow Bicycle, Prima and Tim Holtz. If you are reading this post, then you are probably already familiar with my work and my YouTube videos, so you know what to expect from my creations. This one will be no exception, and it will be exclusive to the class DVD ~ it will never appear in videos on my YouTube channel! Only class members will have access to this exclusive album through the instructional DVD. This will also be the album that I use for my personal 2009 Christmas album, so you can be sure that it will have the same attention to detail and level of creativity that I put into all my projects!

The pre-order price for the Christmas Countdown Virtual Class will be $65.00 + priority shipping. Packages will ship from Miami, FL and shipping cost will probably be between $8.00-$10.00 CONUS depending on final package weight and your location. If there is enough interest expressed, I will be taking pre-orders through November 1, 2009. Of the total price, $40.00 will be due when you pre-order to reserve your class kit. The remaining $25.00 + shipping will be due when the kits are completed and ready for shipping. Kits will be shipped once balances are paid in full on a first-come, first-serve basis, and I hope to have all kits shipped via USPS Priority Mail by Monday, November 23, 2009 at the latest. There will most likely only be 24 of these kits available unless there is more interest than I expect.

If this is something that you definitely want to do, please email me at thescrapbeach@gmail.com with the subject line "CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN KIT" as soon as possible. If enough interested people email me, I will start taking pre-orders this week & will make the offer first to any people who express interest at this time before opening it up to everyone else.

Christmas Countdown Album Supply List:
Album:
This is a custom-designed chipboard album. The kit will include 5 sheets of 12"x12" raw chipboard and a cutting guide. ($1.75 value)

Paper:
This album will feature patterned papers from the Making Memories "Mistletoe" Collection and cardstock from American Crafts.

Cardstock: 8 12"x12" Sheets
American Crafts in White x 2 sheets ($0.60 value)
American Crafts in Black x 2 sheets ($0.75 value)
American Crafts in Spinach x 2 sheets ($0.98 value)
American Crafts in Pomegranate x 2 sheets ($0.98 value)

Double-sided Patterned Paper: 18 12"x12" sheets
Advent x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Icon Dot x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Pattern Stripe x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Argyle x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Big Green Dot x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Cardinal x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Happy Holidays x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Mistletoe x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)
Trees x 2 sheets ($1.40 value)

Speciality Paper:3 12"x12" sheets, 4 4"x4" die cut sheets
Die-Cut Glitter Mini Dot Red x 1 sheet ($0.99 value)
Glitter Music Note x 1 sheet ($0.99 value)
Poinsetta Flocked x 1 sheet ($0.99 value)
Jenni Bowlin 4"x4" Mini Classic Die Cut Label Papers x 4 sheets ($1.87 value)

Alphabets:
Making Memories "Wedding Shimmer Alpha" x 1 pack ($3.99 value)
Jenni Bowlin Tiny Circle Alpha in Vintage Red x 1 pack ($1.75 value)

Embellishments:
7Gypsies Charm Dangles in "Ruby" x 2 charms ($1.99 value)
Assorted Tim Holtz Fragments in "Charms" x 3 charms ($0.65 value)
Little Yellow Bicycle "25 Days of Christmas" Cardstock Tags x 1 pack ($4.99 value)
Little Yellow Bicycle "25 Days of Christmas" Glittered Chipboard Shapes x 10 shapes ($2.50 value)
Making Memories "Mistletoe" Chipboard Buttons x 1 pack ($1.99 value)
Making Memories "Mistletoe" Metal Keys x 1 key ($1.33 value)
Making Memories Circle Journaling Stickers x 1 pack ($2.99 value)
Making Memories Dimensional Stickers x 1 pack ($4.99 value)
Prima Pearls & Crystal Bling x 30 pieces (20 pearls & 10 crystals, $0.75 value)
Prima Flowers x 8 flowers ($0.50 value)
Ribbons & Trims {assorted} ($5.00 value)

Other Kit Contents:
2" Book Rings to bind the album x 4 rings
Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Cat's Eye in "Black Bird" x 1 ink pad ($1.99 value)
Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Cat's Eye in "Lipstick Red" x 1 ink pad ($1.99 value)
Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Cat's Eye in "Lime Pastel" x 1 ink pad ($1.99 value)
Judikins Diamond Glaze x 1 2oz. bottle ($4.79 value)
Ranger Stickles in "Crystal Ice" x 1 bottle ($2.50 value)
Full-Color Step-by-Step Instruction Manual
Instructional DVD
Various Custom Embellishments created by me just for you and this class kit {includes tickets, tags and interactive acetate embellishments!}

So that's what you would be getting in the kit if we end up going ahead with this idea! If you definitely want to order one of these kits for your Christmas album, please email me right away at thescrapbeach@gmail.com so I can determine if there is enough interest to get the ball rolling on this.

Thank you for your interest and for all your support!

~Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.

Friday, October 16, 2009

TGIF + New Video!

Hi, everyone! Welcome back to Life on the {Scrap}beach! I hope you have lots of fun stuff planned for this weekend!

I just uploaded Part Two of my "29 Years of Love" layout over on my YouTube Channel. I hope you enjoy the video!



This is a 12"x24" 2-Page Layout I did about my teddy bear. His name is "Teddy" or "Mr. Teddy" if you're feeling formal {I know you are blown away by the creative genius with which I selected those names}. The paper comes from the K&Company "Cut 'N Paste" collection and it uses lots of chipboard, ink, glitter and Aleene's Paper Glaze.

Thanks again everyone for watching my videos and visiting my blog ~ have a great weekend!

~Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

YouTube Milestone: 100,000 Views of my Videos

Hi, everyone! Welcome back to Life on the {Scrap}beach!

Just six months ago, I had barely started this blog and was celebrating reaching a milestone with my YouTube Channel: 100 Subscribers. Today I have a new milestone to celebrate, and it is once again thanks to all of you!


This weekend I crossed the 100,000 mark for video views. That means that my YouTube videos {all of them together} have been watched over 100,000 times! That is so exciting to me! I want to do something to celebrate and to thank you all for sticking with me and my channel. Not sure how to celebrate yet ~ any ideas? Well, you think about that and let me know by leaving a comment on this post. In the meantime, I have a new video up today for you:



This is a 12"x24" 2-Page Layout I did about my teddy bear {names Teddy ~ am I a creative genius or what!?} and it uses lots of chipboard, ink, glitter and Aleene's Paper Glaze. I also used papers from the K&Company "Cut 'N Paste" collection.

Thanks again everyone for watching my videos and visiting my blog!

~Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Dimensional Paper Glazes

Hi, everyone! Welcome back to Life on the {Scrap}beach!

If you watch my videos, then you probably know that I am a HUGE fan of the dimensional accent/adhesive/glaze Ranger "Glossy Accents". I love the shine that it adds to an element and how thick & dimensional it is. What I didn't know until recently is that there are several similar alternatives to this product. Since Glossy Accents is a bit pricey at around $6.00 or $7.00 a bottle {I buy it with a coupon at Michael's usually}, I decided to check out some of the alternatives to see how they stacked up to what I had been using.


I tracked down a bottle of Judikins "Diamond Glaze" {less than $5.00 a bottle} and a bottle of Aleene's "Paper Glaze" {right around $5.00 a bottle} to test in my scrap projects as alternatives to Ranger "Glossy Accents".




{Side note: I have also heard good things about, but have not personally tried, Close To My Heart's "Liquid Glass", which is $6.95/bottle, and Krylon "Triple Thick Crystal Clear Glaze" which is actually a spray and weighs-in right around $5.00 for the smaller can.}

There were five things which I had in the back of my mind while I was using these products: price, ease of use, thickness, clarity and drying time. So, let's see how they stacked up to each other.

1. Judikins "Diamond Glaze": At $4.79/bottle, this is the cheapest of the three dimensional glazes/adhesives that I have in my scrap room. It is also the thinnest of the three, and does not stay put as well as the other two. For that reason, it is a little more difficult to use than Glossy Accents, but it is not as difficult to use as the Paper Glaze {more on that below}. It is the clearest of the three, in my opinion, although all three are pretty darn clear. It also has the shortest drying time at around four to six hours depending on the project, which is important here in humid Miami. It can be hard to find in stores, although it is readily available online.

2. Aleene's "Paper Glaze": At $5.29/bottle, this is only marginally costlier than "Diamond Glaze" and still significantly cheaper than "Glossy Accents". It is also readily available in stores like Michael's. Despite that, I liked it the least of the three. The nozzle on the bottle was not good & it created bubbles that were hard to pop. It also came out so thick it was hard to apply to detailed areas & had the longest drying time of the three at well over 24 hours {closer to 48 hours in my case, although I assume it had something to do with how thick it is}. Paper Glaze is the least clear of the three, in my opinion, althouh it is practically crystal clear ~ not a big drawback & not what ruled this one out for me.

3. Ranger "Glossy Accents": At $6.99/bottle it is far and away the most expensive of the three. Aside from the fact that the bottle is prone to clogging, it is also the easiest to use and apply. It is thick enough that it stays where you put it and doesn't run, but not so thick that it can't be used for fine details. Its drying time is at least twice as long as the Diamond Glaze, but it is thicker & only needs one coat {whereas I found some Diamond Glaze projects required two applications, although this was not the norm}. It is very clear ~ almost as clear as the Diamond Glaze & the difference in clarity is pretty much negligible between the two.

Of the three, I prefer Diamond Glaze overall. It is by far both the cheapest and the quickest to dry. It is also the clearest of the three {might have something to with being thinner ~ just a guess} and has the mildest scent. Another thing I like about Diamond Glaze is that if it leaks off where I want it, I can quickly wipe it up with a baby wipe and it comes off completely like it was never there {unlike Glossy Accents which I can never fully get off if I get it outside the lines}. You'll probably be seeing all three bottles in future videos, as I'll be using all three until they run out, at which point I will most likely make the switch to just having Diamond Glaze on hand.

Totally unrelated to this review ~ but related to these glazes & still VERY cool ~ is an idea I got from Weezie during the last Thursday scrap chat. She said she has been tinting her Glossy Accents with alcohol inks, and I tried it with Diamond Glaze. I poured about a Kennedy half dollar sized pool of Diamond Glaze on a piece of tin foil and added one drop of alcohol ink in Lettuce. The alcohol ink instantly spread out through the Diamond Glaze {it was cool to watch} and I was able to apply it to some chipboard accents I was making for a murky swamp effect:


Neat, right? Thanks for the idea, Weezie!

I hope you found this review helpful. I love Glossy Accents, but it is expensive and I think I am going to make a permanent switch to Diamond Glaze. Also, here's a sneak peek at what's coming up on Life on the {Scrap}beach!


Thanks for stopping by & have a great week everybody!

~Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.

Friday, October 9, 2009

So, You Missed Thursday's Scrap Chat ...

... but you still want to see me make some chipboard buttons? Well, I have good news for you ~ I posted a very quick video tutorial of them today over on my YouTube Channel:



These chipboard buttons are very quick and easy to make & can be customized to work with any layout or project you have planned. It's also a great way to use up scraps of paper and chipboard.

~Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Chipboard Buttons Live Tutorial + New Video

Hi, everyone! Welcome back to Life on the {Scrap}beach!

I wanted to let those of you who are interested in seeing more of the chipboard buttons know that I will be creating some during the Thursday Scrap Chats over on my UStream channel. There will be two live cropping sessions this Thursday: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. These times are all Miami, FL USA. So if you're interested in seeing them coming together, check out one of those scrap chats!

I also uploaded a new video over on my YouTube Channel of an altered composition book. I was having some problems with my camera during recording, so there are some parts missing in the decorating phase, but you will see how to cover the composition book.



Thanks for watching & have a great day!

~Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Making Chipboard Buttons

Hi, everyone! Welcome back to Life on the {Scrap}beach!

I've noticed that lately a few manufacturer's have come out with lines of chipboard buttons. I have to admit that I really like the look of these chipboard buttons, but have so far been unwilling to spend my money on them. My scrap budget is fairly limited, so before I buy an embellishment I like to see if I can figure out a way to make something similar from my stash.

The other day I decided to try to make myself some chipboard buttons from supplies on hand, and this is how they turned out:


Made with raw chipboard and patterned papers from Basic Grey, My Mind's Eye and Creative Impressions.


Made with scalloped coaster tiles from Technique Tuesday and patterned paper from Basic Grey.

When you make them yourself instead of buying them, you can also get even more creative and take these embellishments up another notch. Consider adding Glossy Accents for an epoxy look, or glitter or Stickles for some sparkle. You could also stamp a favorite image instead of using patterned paper, the add heat embossing for an even more dimensional look. And, of course, nothing is ever really complete without a little bling!

Okay, so what exactly did I do to create these unique chipboard buttons? It was actually pretty easy. I just needed some paper, glue, a 1/8" hole punch and a strong pair of scissors. For the scalloped circle buttons, I also use a file from the Basic Grey Precision File Set to get the edges really smooth.

1. Gather some chipboard for your buttons and select templates for your circle sizes. I used a Fiskars circle template and actual buttons to trace my circles on the chipboard.



2. Trace and carefully cut out with a good pair of scissors a variety of chipboard circles. I used my Tonic teflon serrated scissors to cut mine. It does an excellent job of cutting even thick chipboard.





3. Mark position of your holes and punch holes using your 1/8" hole punch. I used actual buttons as a template for placing my holes. I used four holes on the larger circles and two holes on the smaller circles.



4. Cover the chipboard with patterned paper, and re-punch the holes. I used my ATG for this step & applied it to the paper. A liquid glue or Mod Podge would also work well here.



5. You can also use scalloped circles or squares instead of plain circles. The possibilities for dressing these up are truly endless!



I hope you found this tutorial useful & that you have fun creating your own unique chipboard buttons!

~Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.