I Got Crafty, Cute Valentine Projects, My 12 x 12" Printer, Vicki’s New Accucut Die & 5 Giveaways!!

Hi Everyone,  

I have some adorable projects to share including a little Baby Onesie I just finished, a peek at Vicki's New Recipe Accucut Die, a report on my new Cannon large format printer, great samples and some cool things you can use Dropbox for, a free program we have been using to store large files like our $5.00 Valentine Download Kit. The New Valentine Kit is a hit but we had a little glitz getting the link to download for a few people and Dropbox saved the day!  Anyone who orders the Kit can get it using a yousendit.com link or Dropbox . *Plus * See my Giveaways at the bottom! Check our Facebook page for Daily Winners!

Why do I love Dropbox so much?  It’s free and I can store and back up large files, organize photos, music, videos, digital images & projects in themes, but you can also link it to all your computers, ipad, most cell phones, etc.  You can make a shopping list or add your travel documents and then see them while out later on your phone and even add items to your list. It’s also secure and has a memory so you can retrieve files if you accidentally delete them.  You can also share individual folders such as a photo album with relatives and it won’t take up space on their computer because the files are actually stored securely on Dropbox. 

I bought the pink onesie at Dollar Tree and used our Valentine Kit to create an iron on transfer by opening up the page of Red Card Backs with Paint (a free program on many computers) or you can get the newer free version of Paint.net HERE. I clicked on the little eraser tool and removed the To and From and then used the Text tool to spell JANE for our friends grand daughter. I almost forgot to flip or mirror the image before printing it on heat transfer paper. I cut out the heart and ironed it on and viola - a cute gift.

Here is a cute card Jan Hennings created using the same image and other pieces from the kit. You can see another sweet card and jar on Jan's Blog. 

I got my Cannon IX6520 Printer hooked up that I wrote about here and I love it. It took longer than planned as I had to add a router hub so Cindy and I can share it.   

The Pros: It will print up to 13" x 19".  Nice sleek design.  The colors printed good and my other Canon compatible inexpensive ink from the Ink Farm will work in this printer. Vicki also switched to this ink and said she hardly noticed a difference.

The Cons: I wish it had a scanner & copier but geeez - it was under $200, so I just saved my other printer for copying. The price keeps changing and now it's just over $200. I wish the manual was printed rather than online but I can print it. You also need to be careful what size it's set on as it reverted back from my Photoshop Elements size. Test on scrap paper before printing on the good stuff.

I need to play with the settings to make it print a 12 x 12" borderless page but I thought this turned out great, especially as it's just a digital page Viola emailed me from Singapore and I printed it on the back side of an old piece of thick scrapbook paper. She used paper and images from CD # 2, Creating With Vintage Illustrations. Also, check out the beautiful love card Viola made!

I couldn't find any sheets of plain vellum here but I printed Jane's Heart (at top) on transfer paper and this photo of me on a piece of canvas and the colors were great. Note: I used our SL Flourish Clear Art Set to stamp some red flourishes across the top and the 2 red designs to the right of the door. I had Scott take this photo of me in Mexico and I took one of him as I fell in love with this funky building and the cat, tree and doors! I'm going to staple them on 2 wood canvas frames I bought at a Dollarama Store here in Canada.

I'm excited for DT Leader Vicki Chrisman who designed couple of new Die Designs that AccuCut just released and one cuts everything for a great Recipe Album, or you can use the designs to create other kitchey cards and crafts.  See the other Recipe Book on Vicki's Blog.

This card uses her new spoon with papers from our CD #1 and image from our Farm Fresh Scraps.

 

I also have a very pretty card that DT member Pam Hooten created here using our new Vintage Valentine $5.00 Download Kit.Look how she stitched the polka-dot hearts.

Lastly, I want to share these photos of our dog Otis that my youngest daughter Chelsea sent me. Otis has been living at her place for the last few weeks and I miss them both since she moved away. He is 12 yrs old, blind and diabetic but he looks like a puppy here and seems so cozy I bet he never wants to come home!

  I almost forgot - I'm going to give away a Valentine Kit each day this week! Just post fun ideas here or on our Facebook page on what you have done to make Valentines more fun at your house, at work, for those people you care about.  I've added red food coloring to make pink mashed potatoes and cut all sorts of food into heart shapes. Otis was pink one year. I'm making cute packaging with our kit for little gifts to give to my daughters & friends.  I also need to surprise my honey. Did you see my List of 32 Creative Ways to Say I Love You?

Wishing you joy & creativity

Sandy Redburn

Crafty Secrets

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Valentine Printables, Ideas, Samples & Vintage Valentine $5.00 E-Kit!

Hi Everyone, 

I have details on our New Vintage Valentine $5.00 Download Kit , (which took forever to create) our 2012 Free Printable Valentine Gift for you - plus links to 4 past years of Valentine Printables (at the end). Also some great samples, and if you missed it, a link to my List of 32 Creative Places to Say I LOVE YOU!  .

You can order our NEW $5.00 Vintage Valentine Downloadable Kit now (free S&H) and we will start emailing them Friday afternoon. This kit grew as I had so many fun images I wanted to include!  You get all of the pages shown below and the only item missing is the envelope template. Plus the download will include inspiring samples (see some farther below)!

Click each image to see them larger. High res files at 300 ppi (pixels per inch) means you can print small to jumbo sized images! That's the best part of digital - it's so versatile. You can print on any medium and change the size.

Here are the 5 paper designs in the kit. I wish Valentines was farther away so we could make a Valentine Clear Art Stamp set. Please leave a comment if you want clear Valentines stamps like the page below? There are 2 Digi Stamps in the Kit and we couldn't fit all on a large stamp set -so which do you like best?

                                
                                         Look at these gift pretty tags & card backs

Then there is a Valentine Postcard front & back,  a coupon, a digi stamp and the 2 hearts can decorate napkin holders, party crackers and a host of projects.
 

 Here are 2 cute cards or invitations and I adore these little animals but the artwork was badly colored and so fine I don't know if Cindy can turn them into stamps but I know ladies who love our Bug's Life and Bunny Stamps (like Sophie, Elizabeth, Marcy and others) have all asked for more animals stamps. 

We had to include a cupcake wrapper and some little hearts to dress them up. I've seen cupcake wrappers printed on paper, with hole punched edges and turned into tiny lamp shades for mini party lights. We made it big enough so you can use decorative scissors to trim the edge if you don't want to bother cutting the scallops out.

Here is a second party invitation set up to print 2 on 8.5" x 11" paper.

Finally, this cute little cupcake girl who can be a card, invitation or a centerpiece for a table.

DT Leader Vicki Chrisman started creating some samples but I am so sad to say after just losing her dear mother last week, her much beloved dog Aly passed away yesterday.  That dog was like Vicki's shadow and followed her every move.  Vicki wants to take her mind off her sorrow and has been busy creating more samples that we will add to the Valentine Kit.


Look at the cute banner she made with images from 1 of the image sheets and 2 papers.

Here are 2 tags, perfect for tying on gifts and Vicki added one to a jar of chocolates. There are all kinds of containers to fit every budget and you can quickly re-purpose recycled containers by adding some paper, ribbon and a cute tag. Raid your supply stash for embellishments from buttons, broken jewelry, lace, glitter, little flowers found at craft, dollar and thrift stores. Fill with edible treats or package pamper items like mini travel soap & lotion.

Vicki also used used some of the tags to create this little memory album by gluing a piece of ribbon across the back. of 4 tags printed on cardstock.

How adorable is the layout she whipped up with her son Jared & girlfriend Kate. There will be more samples posted on the blog and our Facebook page and we would love to see photos of what you create if you order the kit you can post any projects on our Facebook page.

Okay - now for our Free Printable Valentine Gift just left click the image below until it gets as big as possible and  right click it to save to a picture file. It's huge enough to use on a scrapbook page.  Please remember our Vintage Printables Gifts are for personal use only. Someone was trying to sell them.

 This image will also work great to transform a plain box into a special Valentine keepsake or gift  box.  Print the image above on paper or cardstock, cut out the heart and trace the shape on 2 pieces of chipboard or heavy cardstock.  Paint or cover the bottom and sides of the box with complimentary paper and glue the the image to the top heart shape and attach to the box as shown.

 I'm not sure if Lisa Zappa  re-vamped an old chocolate box or made one for this sample she made a few years ago but I love her fun colors and crepe paper.  The word Love is from our Cherish stamp set is part of one of the digital stamps in the Valentine Kit 'To Show my Love', from an 1800's Valentine and if I ever got a tattoo it would be this LOVE lettering.

Here are the other links from past years with a Valentine-Love theme.

Valentine Poem & Angel Link

Cute Puppy

Victorian Roses Card

Valentine Postcard

Also look at this cute card Michele Kovack created using a month from our free printable 2012 Calendar download.  The image is from our Calendar Scraps which are on Clearance Sale for $1.50 as only 7 months work this year but there are several fabulous seasonal images

Here is a pretty little card by DT Member Viola Mahr using an image (jar) from our Homeade Booklet and the small cutlery from Kitchen Classics Stamps. Paper is from CD # 1.

I still have to hook up my new printer and give the results, hopefully this weekend.


Have a wonderful weekend!
Sandy Redburn

Crafty Secrets

Check Our Store Locator
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This Blog: http://heartwarmingvintage.blogspot.com
Our Website: http://www.craftysecrets.com
Toll Free Phone or Fax 1-888 597-8898
Local Phone 604 597-8817

Crafty Secrets Head Office
15430 78 A Ave.,
Surrey, BC V3S 8R4

USA Warehouse
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Blaine,WA 98230

Vintage Valentine Ideas, Giveaway Winner, Best 12 x 12” Printer under $198.00

Hi Everyone,  

Aaarrgghh… DELAY due to computer grief but I'm back with some fun Valentine ideas and samples to share and the low down on best 12 x 12 printers if you scroll down.  My fav was $198.00 but when I clicked this link today it was only $189.79 – amazing!   

Also, congratulations to random.org winner # 162 Corrine Ann who won our $30.00 gift certificate!  There were 162 comments with so many fantastic suggestions – so THANK YOU TO EVERYONE for all your great ideas - I've already started working on 3 new sets - Children, Garden & Music!

I get so excited and want to show everything but there is so much I have to split it into 2 posts as it was making Blogger freeze and not work at all!  I also got an idea yesterday (after so many of you asked for Vintage Valentines) to do a Digital Valentine Download for $5.00 bucks and it put me behind. It took ages to round up all the images & ideas for Cindy and I found stuff I forgot I had. It takes 100's of changes so this is just a little preview. I will post more details next week and this Digital Package will be available next Wed, Jan 25 with sheets of paper, valentines, tags, some digi stamps and a cute template! 

I will discuss the large format color printers before I start showing all the valentine ideas. So many of you have asked about printing the 12 x 12" papers and illustrations from our two CD's, #1 Creating With Vintage Patterns and CD#2 Illustrations .    I wanted to find the best deal for price and quality. Amazon is my fav place to read reviews and and I only looked at printers under $500.00.  

Canon won for the highest reviews and low price and Epson came in 2nd place.  What I learned is people buy based on reviews but newer (and often superior models) don't have as many reviews so the highest rated is a 2009 model and one of the newest printers that Canon introduced last year only has 30 reviews but everyone is as happy or more so, plus it's better technology and is less $$!

Read all the details, look at features, warranties and if on a budget consider a refurbished model from a reputable seller.

I believe the ix6520 Canon Inkjet Printer is the winner hands down for low price, 4.5* reviews, excellent quality & easy to use features. It lists for $229.00 but Amazon.com had it for under $200.00 and the link gives the current  lowest price (which fluctuates) as low as $189.79.  I bought this printer 2 days ago after talking to the Canon office. It only uses 5 ink tanks with smaller droplets giving superior  coverage. Some of the older models use 8 ink tanks. Plus it's one of the newest models at this price point to print up to 13" x 19" and can print on different mediums. I promise to test mine out on cardstock, canvas, vellum and transfer sheets and post results for this printer

The other 2 printers that got great reviews are listed below.  My TIP: Decide which printer you like the best and check Ebay to see if any reputable sellers have a better price.  I found mine with free S&H and bought a 3 yr warranty for $32.00 but need to drive across the border to pick it up.  Geez - I guess I'm a traitor as I never even checked amazon.ca as we are only 30 minutes from the USA and drive down so often.

Canon Pixma Pro9000 Professional Large Format InkjetPrinter has 161 reviews with a 4.5 * rating on Amazon but the list price is $499.99, on sale as low as $328.00 from other amazon affiliates. I also saw new models for less than $300.00 on Ebay but stick with a seller with excellent feedback.  This model may print better (I have no idea) but the reviews & price of the ix6520 won me over.

Epson C11C655001 StylusPhoto 1400 Large Format Printer  has 152 reviews with 3.5* average, It lists for $399.00 , on sale $328.31 and prints up to 13" x 19" with 6 color ink - but so many people complained about quality issues with plugged nozzles.

Okay , now onto Valentine ideas and  samples!  Many of these samples I have were made by DT Leader Vicki Chrisman because she has been with us since the beginning when we came out with our very first vintage product - the Vintage Cuts in 2004.  Over the years she has become a dear friend so I'm very sad to say Vicki's mom had a stroke and passed away. Her funeral was today and you can leave condolences by the link above. Her mom, Evelyn got to celebrate her 90th this summer. She was the best and my heart aches for Vicki and her family.

Here is an old photo mat Vicki altered with a photo of her mom & dad using our Valentine Stickers. You can see a bunch of other sample when you click on the link.

Have you ever made a folded paper fortune teller?  This is one Vicki made years ago and decorated with our Valentine stickers. Add personal messages and this would be a fun project for kids as well. I love the scallop edges!

Look around second hand stores or maybe you saved an old chocolate box you can decorate but any container will do - it doesn't have to be heart shaped you can add hearts.  The box by Vicki has a tag using our Cotton Romance Scraps on sale for $3.99 (the edges fray so nice).

 Here is an idea of what you can fill your box with, cute cards all ready to give to a busy friend, or save your favorite valentines in a treasure box.   These cards were created with an combo of our Stickers, Cotton Scraps and Seasonal Booklet.

Here's an adorable card by Lisa Zappa with Romance Cotton Scraps & our Cherish Stamp Set

 Lisa also created this card with the Cherish set and you can see a bunch of samples here

Our website Gallery is messed up so I've added over 500 samples to our online Shopatron Store and you can see all the LOVE THEME SAMPLES HERE!  by our Design Team.  I encourage you to go back and look at any products you may have bought in the past if you are looking for ideas as so many samples that have been added!

These are Valentines I didn't add as they use a combination of stamps in Cherish, Cherubs and Love Mail Stamps. The way Vicki created contrast is simple and lovely

 Here are more with different papers (sorry don't have paper brand) but I LoVe the punched flower idea glued to the swirls.  No fancy coloring, just add a little bling.

 Here a card by DT Member Michele Kovack and Click HERE to see the adorable snow card she made with our Winter Wishes Set!  Michele used our Cherub set on this card

Recycled glass bottles and jars are great to dress and hold flowers or store stuff and our Mini Vintage Scraps are perfect for mini jars. They look great under a glass dome cabochons (we will add 1 to every order until Mon as an extra gift as we don't sell them). Just cut any image, photo or words to same size and use a clear dry glue to adhere to glass dome and glue it to a jar or bottle. You can always seal an image with Diamond Glaze and if you let it dry and repeat you can create a raised dome affect.  Vicki sent me the sweet Button Flowers

If you click on the photo you will notice my little ink jar looks stained and cloudy  but came across this amazing idea and recipe from Lucy at her Craftberry Bush Blog and you have to check out how she turned these mason jars to cool blue with some food coloring and glue!  I am so going to make some pink glass jars for Valentines!  Lucy has so amazing ideas like this wire Heart Wreath!

I will show more valentines projects next week as Blogger is not behaving!  I'm also going to report on great places to get 12 x 12 prints & scrapbooks printed next week.

Have a great weekend!

Sandy

Crafty Secrets

Check Our Store Locator
Visit Our Online Store
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This Blog: http://heartwarmingvintage.blogspot.com
Our Website: http://www.craftysecrets.com
Toll Free Phone or Fax 1-888 597-8898
Local Phone 604 597-8817

Crafty Secrets Head Office
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Surrey, BC V3S 8R4

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Blaine,WA 98230

What do You Like? Giveaway, Previews and Oldies but Goodies!

Hi Everyone, 

I'm finally back with some preview drafts of Stamp Sets and CD # 3 Creating with Vintage Typography, plus a $30.00 giveaway for your opinion and feedback. I mentioned it briefly in my last post and was asked to post any specifics, so I will below and add the other previous entries to this draw and announce a winner this Friday, Jan 19/12. 

We will continue to create some NEW CLEAR ART STAMP SETS while we create our Digital Art Stamp line and find a company to licence our products. What do you think of this preview of our Sing for Joy Clear Art Stamp Set?   It includes 20 separate stamps with 2 branches of birds, extra flower blossom & leaf.  This is still a draft so time to make changes if you see anything. Click on to see larger

I also have a large collection of owls in a mix of adorable to artistic - am I too late? Have we missed the owl train or are they still popular?   Do you like owls and if so what style?

I've been collecting old patriotic images for awhile and when I bought the cute Uncle Sam Soup Kid below he inspired this fun patriotic set but now that it's done I think my favorite is the lady we added who can hold the flag or sparkler. This set, SL47 American Beauty will include 20 separate stamps.

 See how much better the same set looks above than the first draft below?  We tossed out Uncle Sam and the screaming chicken and the vintage lettering added above makes it way cooler. I just wish I could find Vintage Canadiana so we could do a set for Canada.

 I have a thing for little dressed animals but please tell me if you like these types of images?  I have every animal possible from frogs, elephants, dogs to mice.

Do you like really detailed designs best or simpler styles like Mr & Mrs Kitty below?

Or do you like simpler styles like Mr & Mrs Kitty below?  I have a bunch of cute animals in this style below - except I always get Cindy to fix the weird eyes and we change as many things as possible to make everything better, unique and ours.

Here are some images that were slated to go on a Forest Fairy set but I just got 2 adorable houses in a shoe and a teapot shape, plus an old antique book with pixies & elf's, so these will now be split into 2 sets.

 How about a Garden Fresh stamp set with vegetables, garden tools, and old shed or garden gate?   Also, how about a canning a preserving set with jam labels and fruit? What artwork do you like better, detailed etchings, or line art like these whimsical fruits with faces - or both?

What is you favorite theme and what would you like to see us create - Clear Stamps, Digital Stamps & projects on CD's,  printed Color Scraps ??

Here are a bunch of pages that will be on CD # 3, Creating With Vintage Typography. We still have a bunch more work to finish on this CD as there will be fonts you can install, weekly & monthly calendars, greeting card verses & graphics, forms & ephemera, alphabet flash cards, sheet music, theater and much more.

Here's some Barber Shop papers that are going on a Men's Theme CD. I love the way these papers turned out and now we just need t5o add a set of moustaches!

I decorated these bottles with our French Label Stickers years ago and recently found a CD with 100's of photos of older samples and a bunch of really great ones. I've added over 600 samples to our Shopatron Store and have more to add using Stickers and Vintage Cuts and old Alpha Booklets (see below)

Plus there were samples featured in our Get Creative and Get Round Booklet I will be adding.  This album below was from the dollar store and Vicki added alpha letters and the date no.s  from our Boys Alphabet Booklet on SALE now for $1.95

 

 Lastly, I want to share a link to DT Member Julie, Campbell and her inspiring life quest to learn more about her heritage and family.  Here stories are always so inspiring and you can read them HEREhttp://avintagechic.blogspot.com/2012/01/just-little-time.html 

 

 

 PS - CD 3 and New Clear Art Stamp Sets are not available yet but I will post updates

 

 

 Big Hugs Sandy

Crafty Secrets

Check Our Store Locator
Visit Our Online Store
Join Us on Facebook!

This Blog: http://heartwarmingvintage.blogspot.com
Our Website: http://www.craftysecrets.com
Toll Free Phone or Fax 1-888 597-8898
Local Phone 604 597-8817

Crafty Secrets Head Office
15430 78 A Ave.,
Surrey, BC V3S 8R4

USA Warehouse
250 H. Street, #436
Blaine,WA 98230