Monday, February 27, 2012

See Princess Tea Party at Craftberrybush, I’m a Proud Mom, Blog Winner & More!!

Hi Everyone,

I'm all gushy today! I have the prettiest post to share with party samples that Lucy from Craftyberrybush shared on her Blog for her niece's birthday party. I also want to gush about my oldest daughter Katie who is jet setting across Canada interviewing possible bachelorette ladies for the new Bachelor Canada Show! We also have a winner for our Blog Giveaway for our new stamp sets with congratulations to Kathi # 46! and scroll down to see more great ideas!

I showed some links previously to Lucy's Blog The Craftberry Bush as I'm so inspired by her creative ideas and tutorials! I didn't realize she is also Canadian when I first discovered her blog. I think in 'Blogland' the world becomes smaller and I don't even notice borders. She is still over 4000 miles away but the internet allows us to all connect, share and inspire each other globally and that is a wonderful thing.

Our Vintage CD's work great for so many home decor and altered projects so I sent Lucy copies of the CD's and a few other goodies and she is has been playing and is also going to do a giveaway next month.

I love the way she printed papers from the CD's to create 'wallpaper' and party decor for her 6 year old niece's princess tea party. The colors look so sunny & inviting, perfect for girls of any ages. You can see a bunch more photos HERE on Lucy's Blog .

Okay, why am I a proud mom? I'm so happy and proud of my family but I've been missing our oldest daughter Katie as she is traveling with an exciting new show. Here is one of my fave recent photos of all of us together, our 3 daughters, 2 boyfriends and the dogs and Katie (in pink with her pug George) has been working at Force Four Productions for a couple of years as a writer and production assistant and she is currently traveling across Canada with the crew doing auditions for their new show Bachelor Canada!

Katie's last show Million Dollar Neighbourhood is a reality TV series on the Oprah network about the community of Aldergrove BC and the families who are trying to take control of their finances and the power of the community to help each other. They have weekly goals and 3 months until the $10,000.00 bonus is awarded.

We had our annual Oscar Party here last night and each bet $5.00, printed ballots, voted and Scott won. Katie's boyfriend Ryan & their dog George came - except we all missed Kate but are super excited for her. Her crew did auditions for possible Bachelorette's in Montreal today and are heading to Nova Scotia before flying home.

I have a couple of more great projects to show you. I like this idea Jan Hennings had to stamp on a dollar store muslin towel and then used to stitch a little bag. Jan used stamps from our Material Girl Small Clear Art Set.

Also look at the 2 layouts Julie Campbell stitched using papers from our CD # 2, Creating with Vintage Illustrations. Pure shabby goodness and you can see her other layout and the details HERE on Julie's Blog.

I really want to thank you for all the wonderful comments and fabulous feedback on the last post! You have no idea how much it means to know you like what we are doing! I wish everyone could win that why we include a nice gift with every order.

I will be back soon with new eye candy and more 2012 show details this week.

Mar 9 & 10 we will be at the Creative Stitches Show at Pearkes in Victoria BC

Mar 23 - 24 we will be at the Creative Show at the Tradex in Abbostford, BC

May 10 - 12 Pattythe digitalscrapbookteacher.com will have our CD's at Mega Meet Show in Novi, MI

May 31 - Jun 2 see us the Great American Scrapbook Show in Arlington TX

Wishing you joy & creativity

Sandy Redburn

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

Friday, February 24, 2012

My Canvas Photo Art, Linky Party Fun, Mini Albums, Vacation Photos, Blog Giveaway & More!

Hi Everyone,

I can't believe it's started snowing today so it made it hard to take great photos but I wanted to show you how my photo canvas art project turned out and how easy and inexpensive it was. Click it on to see it larger.

I also want to tell you about linky parties and I entered my first project (my printed canvas photo) at the Shabby Nest that Wendy is hosting plus I have the vacation photos I promised below and I found more of our cute accordion albums and marked them down to $3.95! And - a reminder about our Blog Giveaway, upcoming Shows, transfer & canvas links & more!

We just got back from a week on a friends catamaran floating around Isla Mujeres Mexico (yep, I know - lucky us!) Last year when I found this funky painted building I took a photo of Scott and got him to take one of me sitting on a scooter in front. We went back this year it was too bad half the paint has peeled off the tree and there were cars parked in front but I did get a cute photo when this cat stopped to check out the painted cat!

NOTE _ I will be back and finish my post this afternoon but my husband and I are taking our youngest daughter Chelsea out for lunch (spicy Pho Noodle Soup -yum) to celebrate her big 25 birthday! Okay, I'm back and it was so good! Asian Noodle Island on Fraser Hwy in Surrey, BC if you ever come by this way.

Here is a cropped section from the canvas I showed above so you can see how I stamped onto the canvas after I printed it on my new Canon large format printer I recently bought. I just ran the canvas 8 x 11 sheet through the printer and was amazed at how much detail you can see. I sprayed it this morning with Krylon Matt Spray and you can see how vibrant the image became. Now I want to do a 12" x 12"!

After I printed my photo on the canvas sheet I used our Flourish Stamp set and red ink to stamp the flourish designs to match the building's red door, #13 and Esperanza lettering. Then I got Scott to use his staple gun to attach it to a canvas frame I bought at the Dollar Store. Oops, don't look at my dirty stamps as I never clean them.

I just found some random canvas sheets here in my stash so looked to find a good source and I'm happy to say that Canvas Corp has an amazing array of canvas goodies and they are have pillows, yardage for big projects (I saw a headboard) and they are coming out with purses, pendant packets and more!

If you wanted to decorate a pre-made fabric piece you could use fabric transfer sheets like I used here to make this cute valentine onesie for a friend's grandaughter. I ordered a package of SuperSoft Inkjet Transfer Paper from Dharma Trading and also bought some dyes from them as I plan to try dying 2 antique chairs we inherited from Scott’s grandmother. The green and brown dyes may work over the dated pale gray and peach velvet chairs but if not I will use a printable 40% off coupon you can print at retailmenot.com at JoAnn’sStore to buy some home décor fabric.

Look at this beautiful canvas project below that arrived in the mail today DT Leader Vicki Chrisman made using CD # 2 and also you have to SEE this NEW canvas she just created using a sheet from Canvas Corp she Gimmer Misted and added a birdie from our Fairy Scraps.

Here is a sample made with our old Accordion Albums as we recently found a bunch more of the Natural Albums and marked them down to $3.95. I made this album back in 2005 after a family trip. I used our Seaside Stickers and the netting was off fruit and I glued down a paper umbrella from a drink. If you click on the Album link you can see 2 other projects.

Okay, time for vacation photos, I'm just worried you are all going to get sad & jealous. (did I mention it snowed here today). I'm in love with Isla Mujeres, (Island of Women) a small island across from Cancun - but more laid back and natural. This is the marina we docked at the nights we didn't stay out on the ocean.

The pool at the marina we laid around a few times when we weren't on the boat

Look who we ran into by the pool lazing on the hot cement. There were 4 of them and harmless but he was about 2' long!

Here we are on the catamaran with Captain Dave directing our way and friends Mike & Lucy who went last year and talked us into it. It didn't take much talking.

I could not stop looking at the ocean all week it, the water was so beautiful and clear but I learned you have to hang on to ride the waves.

Mike caught a little fish but it put it back

A day we dropped anchor and went to the beach

When you walk down the beach towards the Avalon resort there was a fun bar with swings

I took a bunch of photos in town as it's so colorful and quaint

There was a big festival during our stay and I was so upset I forgot my camera but you can see some of the carnival costumes HERE residents of every age wore. Loved this bar down on the parade strip by the ferry terminal.

The cemetery in town is all above ground and has so many beautiful statues and colorful decor honoring their loved ones.

We did BB Q's on the boat and went into town for dinner a few nights. We loved Penny's restaurant CoMoNo and ate there twice and had fun at her rooftop bar upstairs afterwards. Great grilled fish and salads!

When we walked along the seawall we came across an area hit by a hurricane in 2005 and this hotel that just had a spearart.be project done. It was amazing!

Lastly, back on the boat at sunset. It was an amazing vacation but it was a little sad to see that their tourism is hurting so much. We saw places to rent from $60.00 a night, the food was great everywhere and we felt safe - not to mention it was like paradise!

I'm learning about these Linky Parties (where people share creative projects) and I will be sharing more links and details to blogs like Lucy from Craftberry Bush who has amazing ideas and tutorials. She is going to be showing a cool project next week she created with one of our CD's that I'm excited to see and will post a link!

Don't forget to leave a comment here to be entered to WIN 2 Large Clear Art Stamp Sets, a package of Fancy Chipboard Frames and Mixed Bottle Caps. I will announce a winner this Monday.

Wishing you joy & creativity

Sandy Redburn

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Blog Giveaway for New Stamps Sets, Mini Frames & 2" Bottle Caps!

Hi Everyone,

I'm back from our vacation and I will post some photos asap but I have some great new products and samples to show you today and a great Blog Giveaway for our 2 New Large Stamps Sets, and Ornate Mini Chipboard Frames and new Jumbo 2" Bottle Caps! Just leave a comment and I will announce a random winner on Monday, Feb 27/12. Scroll below to see the new products and samples!

First I want to congratulate Gini Williams for having her pretty card make the front cover of Cardmaker Magazine! Gini used our Bonjour Merci Stamp set to create her Merci card shown below.

Okay, the Giveaway winner can pick our 2 New Stamp Sets - Sing For Joy and American Beauty - or ANY other 2 large sets. They are so new I don't even have samples to show off yet but will soon! We are due to get a proof of the new Paper Dolls stamp set tomorrow and if it stamps perfect we should have them in 2 weeks.

I love the way the American Beauty set turned out and I want to try and do a patriotic Canadian set as well, it's just really heard to find cool vintage Canadian images

Since we sold out of the embossed Tattered Angels Frames we've had many requests for a similar item and I found these Mini Frames by Maya Road and they are a great deal with 24 outer and 24 inner frame pieces for $3.99. Each package includes 8 styles with 3 of each ranging from from over 3” x 2.25” to the smallest at 2.75 x 1.75.

Look at all the fun samples Vicki whipped up if you scroll to the next 3 photos below. These were made using our Birds & Blossoms Scraps and Birds & Botanical Booklet

I love the colors and shabby feel Vicki created with this altered photo holder she decorated with our Love Mail Scraps and used one of the Mini Frames for her photo.

On this frame Vicki simply used brown ink to stamp text on a chipboard frame, tag, crepe paper ruffle and inked around the edges. The frame makes a great 'seat' for her Altered Fairy boy.

DT Member Michele Kovack just made this sweet card using an image from our Little Blessings Scraps and glued glitter to a Tattered Angels Frame (we are sold out of now). The new frames are not quite as cool but I bet they would also look lovely covered in glitter and Michele explains how she changes the color with a little paint & Diamond Glaze.

We've had people hound us at shows to find large bottle caps when they see the magnet set Vicki made using our Domestic Goddess Scraps (also see the other cute samples DT Ladies Julie & Pam have created in the Shopatron store).

These are the ones we just got in and they may not be as deep but they see a bit more flared and work great with 2" and 1" punches.

Here are a few new ones using the new 2" Maya Road Bottle Cap shown above.

Vicki has been a busy lady with her new Accucut Die out and I adore this album she did using a bunch of our papers on CD #1, Creating With Vintage Patterns. You can see a great layout as well HERE on her blog called Grandma's Kitchen.

I can't get over how real the paper faux metal frame and cameo look that DT Member Julie Campbell printed from CD # 2 Creating With Vintage Illustrations to use on her layout below.

I missed this pretty post that Tammy Roberts did when I was away using our $5.00 Digital Valentine Kit and Love You Mother Stamp Set. You can see another adorable card on Tammy's Blog.

Lastly, look at the cute outfit my youngest daughter bought for our dog Otis. He actually doesn't even seem to mind wearing them.

I will be back on Friday with vacation photos and some great links I think you will enjoy!

Don't forget to leave a comment here to be entered to WIN 2 Large Clear Art Stamp Sets, a package of Fancy Chipboard Frames and Mixed Bottle Caps.

Wishing you joy & creativity

Sandy Redburn

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