CD #2 Samples, 3 Winners, Sew Special Ideas & Christmas Fun Tomorrow!

Hi Everyone, 

If you recieved our monthly newsletter rhis morning you saw my plan was to do a Christmas post first and tell you I would announce 3 winners at 6 pm. I hope you haven’t been here checking – I’m always a little behind but the Christmas Fun is coming tomorrow! I had to come back here and add a bunch of links to the sewing projects. Here are the 3 winners and some sample peeks from CD 2.  Then I have some fabulous Sewing theme projects to show you!

I got caught up today in making test samples from all the cool Templates we will have on CD #2, so I just asked my husband Scott to quickly pick 3 names from all the entries and here is his winner’s  list:

Congratulations Ladies!  I wish everyone could win but – there are more giveaways coming!

Carmen L cal8007

Carole Miller

Arty Marti

This CD will be for personal use only but the designs can be licenced. In fact I hope a paper company will want to license papers from our first CD # 1 and this CD and print them!

Our graphic designer, Cindy van Koll did an amazing job again on all the pages!  There will be a fantastic array of themes and creative possibilities for printing on a variety of mediums! You will be able to create albums, cards, pillows, wall art, and so much more with ideas on the CD and Blog.   Here are a few of the templates.

This one makes a cute basket but today I had Cindy added a funky handle to it. There will also be a plain white template you can print on the pattern papers.

There will be boy & girl Dolly Dingle dolls you can print on fabric and stuff to make them into pillow dolls 10” tall, cute jumbo cards, or shrink smaller.

A box template that folds into a house.
There is also a great background page with this house on it

Family tree pages.  Most of the pages are 12 x 12" (like CD #1)
but can be sized to print on regular 8 x 11" paper

Several pretty floral papers.  I had to reduce these samples as we've had problems with 'internet image theft'.  Be assured every file on the CD will be 300 dpi resolution.

This stitched rose paper is one of my favorites! DT Leader Vicki Chrisman stitched
and aged the paper and Cindy added the script and roses

Some fun B&W Illustrations and frames

Here is one of the sewing papers

Okay, now I have some fabulous sewing theme projects to share with you! 

Look at this very pretty card Beate Johns from Spitcoast designed using our

Sew Special Stamp Set and Beate did a great step by step video tutorial on how she created it as a 'Tunnel Card" as you can see on the inside photo posted below

 

Here is the link to watch Beate's video

She is a fantastic step by step teacher!

I've wanted to do an sewing blog post since seeing this fabulous idea that Sarah from Vintage Figments created in 2 mini domino albums she designed and she used Cream Shrinky Dink Plastic to stamp on.  She is so sweet she gave me this cute album and everyone who has seen it has been amazed at how detailed the stamped images stayed after they shrunk down! ** If you know any, I've been looking for a good supplier of 'cream sheets of Shrinky Dink Plastic! She said she just used her heat gun to shrink all the stamped images tiny and my head keeps seeing buttons, flowers, birdies....sigh.

She used a combo from our Sew Special Stamp set and Material Girl Stamps, with images from our Sew Nice Creative Scraps on the inside.  Also, check out the adorable Recipe Domino Album Sarah designed using our Little Chef Stamps and What's Cooking Stickers and her Recipe Binder Book  she made using our CD #1, Creating With Vintage Patterns after helping DT Member Vicki teach the class in TX at the Great American Scrapbook Show last June.  

I also  wanted to show you this beautiful keepsake box that
Lana Edwards decorated with our Sew Nice Creative Scraps.

There use to be a clock inside it but Lana couldn't get it to work so she turned it into a little memento box for sewing ephemera. See the details HERE on Lana's Blog and the box friend Darlene Pavlick also created. Tomorrow have a another Christmas project by Darlene!



I will be back tomorrow with a Christmas Post! 

Also, if you are in the area, please come see us at the Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Show , Nov 11 & 12 in Bellevue, WA.  PS - We will have CD # 2!

Wishing you joy & creativity
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
250 H. Street, #436
Blaine,WA 98230

Altered Spoon Album Tutorial, Heart Album, Layouts and Vintage Card Samples - Oh My!

Hi Everyone,
Ooops, I’m a day late with this post due to ‘unforseen obstacles’ but I have some great samples to share!   Check out this fantastic Altered Wood Spoon Mini Halloween Album Tutorial  that DT Member Michele Kovack designed.  She also did a Christmas Spoon Mini Album HERE last month using a Spellbinders oval die, which come in many sizes. On my next post I will add a printable project sheet that Cindy our graphic designer is making.


We just got these heart albums back in stock and DT Leader Vicki Chrisman designed this gorgeous album using papers from the CD , our Love Mail Scraps and Flourishes Stamps



The albums come unassembled in an ivory chipboard and include 4 mini frames . You can see all of the other pages HERE on Vicki’s Blog


Look at this fabulous card fellow internet pal Marlene Bender was so sweet to sent to Vicki’s mom for her 90th birthday!  Vicki sent me photos so I could see how pretty it was and I had to share and show you. All of the images & sentiment she used are from our Girlfriends Creative Scraps. Click her link to see other great projects.


Marlene used our Glamour Girls Clear Art Stamp set to stamp the corners and lady on the inside adding to the nostalgia. I got the lady on the swing in a portfolio I bought by an artist who drew ads for a furniture store in the late 1920’s. The original is over 18” tall and so pretty we are adding her to paper on our CD #2.


I thought this was such a cute idea they way DT Member Gini Cagle added a pennant banner to her layout with the matching twine. The image is from our Homemade Booklet and spoon is from the Kitchen Classics Stamp Set. Details HERE on Gini’s Blog.


When I first saw this cute Halloween layout DT Victoria DT Member Victoria Warren Mears did HERE of her son I didn’t notice she used our Pattern CD to create the entire page.  The faux ‘white studs’ look so 3D and she cut the leaves and pennants from different papers, enlarged the page pattern across the top and used one of the journal pages.

DT Member Michele Kovack also made this fun rooster card and I love the way she added the small treat bag (stamped with our chicken wire) behind the rooster from our Farm Chicks Stamp Set and how the bag holds a tag (but could also hold a custom coupon, movie tickets, birthday money, etc.), eliminating the need to wrap a gift!

DT Member Debbie Marcinkiewicz sent me these next 3 fantastic cards using a combo of our images, stamps and CD papers. I loved each so much I couldn’t pick a favorite!  Just click Debbie’s name above to see a bunch more fun cards she made for our last Retro Challenge.  Image below is from our Homemade Booklet, label frame from Vintage Label Stamps.

I love how Deb mixed 2 stamp sets with postmarks off Artsy Banners and ‘sweet BIRTHAY wishes’ is from the Born to Fly Stamp Set. The adorable image is from our Little Blessings Scraps. 

She also used our Artsy Banner Stamps for the banner and a combo of Happy Birthday stamps off our various various stamp sets. Ticket is off our Love Scraps and our CD paper was used on form, but I’m not sure where the form is from?  Geez, I’ve seen this shape many times – can anyone tell me where/who?

DT Member Gini Cagle explains HERE on her blog how she used Sakura Crystal Lacquer with an image from our Mini Scraps to create a 3D image.


DT Member Viola Mahr HERE created this very pretty card tucking the pansy image from our Garden Scraps behind her ‘fence’, with details on her blog when you click on her name.

In Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving the 2nd Monday in October and it always feels too early to me. I don’t want Fall to start, I still want Summer to hang around!  No choice – we had Thanksgiving this past weekend here, but it was a wonderful sunny day and there were several goofy but helpful participants! From left: my sis Wendy, my dad Russ, daughters Chelsea & Katie, hubby Scott and B-in-law Ron.

All 3 of our daughters adore Martha Stewart and her recipes and this year our youngest, Chelsea 24, asked if she could use Martha’s Brine Recipe and cook the turkey.  Brine…weird?  It was the most delicious turkey I ever eaten! Hmmm… I have to ask her; did she use the whole bottle of wine?  Too bad, DD #2, Holly was away. I love big family dinners! We added all 3 leaves and christened our ‘new but old’ oak table but I need better matchy chairs.


I leave you with one of our happiest guests, sweet Arissa, my niece who loved the fruit punch her Grandma made!


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

My Trip & Tips to French Flea Markets, Antiques, Brocante Sales & Blog Winner!

oh my goodness - I just found this post in my drafts folder from last year. I think I posted it and went back to edit a photo and left it in 'Drafts'. 

 Hi Everyone, 


I promised to post some photos and tips on  French Flea Markets and Brocante bric-a-brac sales and many of the 175 comments on my last blog post mentioned my trip to France and interest in flea markets so I thought I better get to it and got a little carried away!  I will post some new cool samples tomorrow and Denisa in our office picked winner #31 for our Blog Giveaway, Artful Whimsies who said: The stamp set is so nice and your trip looks fabulous!! Lucky you!

I LOVE the anticipation of what you might discover at flea markets, auctions and second hand stores, the thrill of finding wonderful treasures, especially old vintage images like this stuff I scored while in our vacation in France.  I also fell in love with France, the people, history, beauty, food, art, it was all more incredible than I dreamed it could be!

• 

I took these photos of a few of the treasures I bought. I have enough now to do an entire French theme CD – so tell me if this something you would like to see? We have almost finished our CD #2 Creating With Vintage Illustrations and it's turning out amazing!


One of my favorite purchases was the heavy 12” x 17” book above from 1901 filled with hundreds of pages of old embroidery, crochet and sewing patterns, alphabets and etchings of beautiful Parisian women. I also bought a bunch of ladies magazines, newspapers from the 1800’s and assorted French ephemera.

In the city, the Metro is the easiest and fastest way to get around but it was so fun walking we put on miles.  Here I am at one of the old style subway stations. Paris is divided into 20 districts you can see HERE with the 6 Tourism offices which are super helpful, have maps and current event info.


Before I list the flea markets I wanted to tell you about the used booksellers we found while walking along the banks of the Seine River to see the cool bridges.  After visiting the booksellers I took this photo on my fav bridge – Pont Alexandre.

Called bouquinistes, they have been selling here since the 16th century and today sell old books as well as magazines, prints, drawings and postcards.


Many also sell trashy souveniers and photocopies of old prints so be careful not to over pay for a copy.  Open from about 11 am to sundown with several stall between the Pont Alexandre and Pont Neuf bridges on both sides.


French 'Vintage' Definitions    
Marché aux Puces = Flea Market                                 
Brocante ou bric-à-brac à vendre = old vintage up to 1960 – 70’s sale
Salon des Antiquaires = Antique Fair or Show
le vide-greniers = empty attic (geez, just imagine what is stored in some of those old French attics!)

We took the Metro to the largest & oldest Clignancourt Saint Ouen Market which is home to about 1500 dealers on the weekends who have permanent stalls for stores.                 It was crazy BIG and I could have stayed for a week and filled a van full!


I wish I would have taken better photos at the flea markets of some of the really cool stuff but honestly – I was so darn excited I kept forgetting to get out my camera.






Here are a Few Tips                                            
None of the flea markets we visited charged admission which was nice but many vendors don’t take credit cards, so bring cash and not all big bills.

Arrive as early as you can – before all the good bargains get snatched up. If you are with others agree on a meeting spot & time if you get split up.

Don’t forget to barter! Just ask politely if they will take less. I found this worked great when buying multiple items. Also, try using any French you know, even a Bonjour helps.

Wear comfortable shoes, bring a back pack, camera and throw in a couple of good strong shopping bags, water and snacks so you don’t get pooped out like this guy I came across.


Porte de Vanves Flea Market: ave. Georges Lafenestre & ave. Marc Sangnier (Metro: Porte Vanves, Line 13)   This market may not be as huge as Saint Ouen Clignancourt Market but every Sat & Sun there are over 350 vendors who sell everything vintage you can imagine. Sellers start arriving at 7 am and open till about 1 pm but the vendors on avenue Georges Lafenestre & Marc Sangnier stay open later. I’m sad we didn’t make it to this market as many people say it’s their favorite in Paris.

 Marché d’Aligre  Market: take Metro: Ledru-Rollin to d’Aligre Square.   This fun open-air market has fresh produce and a flea market with vendors selling antiques, collectibles and bric-a-brac across from the covered Market Marché Beauvau Market, which has been open since 1777!   Hours: Tues. - Sun., 8 to 1 pm


We went here on a weekday and I didn’t really find much but I did want to buy this lovely dustpan and brush set if I had more space in my suitcase.


When we returned to Paris we stayed in Montmartre & came across this big Sunday sidewalk bric-a-brac sale running down the main street on both sides of the boulevard for blocks. It was a beautiful sunny day and so much fun. That’s my honey Scott in the hat & glasses.


If you don’t make it to the flea markets you can check out the antique stores like the 80 located in le Village Suisse near the Eiffel Tower.


There are weekly and monthly flea markets, antique and bric-a-brac stores all over France.
The city of Lyon is home to over 650 antique dealers and Villeurbanne (on the outskirts) has the Canal Flea Market Thurs & Sat 8 to 1 pm and the Sunday market starts at 6 am with over 400 vendors! Bring a flashlight.

We loved Lyon but I didn’t make it to the Canal Market – sigh. We did tour their incredible city hall (yup, that’s just 1 of many amazing rooms below) built in 1650 and I got to go to the Typography Print Museum.
 

During our last week we drove across southern France to San Sebastian, Spain for 3 days and ate way too many tappas. On the way we stayed in Narbonne, visited the fantastic medieval wall town of Carcassonne (watch the video).  I found this wonderful little store when we stayed overnight in Toulouse. The old man who owns it had stacks of books and paper items miles high so it was heaven for me!


Okay, where to stay in France??  Other than the villa, we used www.TripAdvisor.com and www.HostelWorld.com   Set a hotel budget per night and read the reviews (which can be super helpful). You can book ‘private rooms’ through hostel sites – so n0, we didn’t sleep in any dorms! We found the best deal on a car at Sixt, a Ford Focus Deisel Wagon $330 Euros for 2 weeks, unlimited miles. Yes, we had toll booths but the train would have cost much more and we wouldn't have the freedom to visit so many enchanting little villages.

We came back to Paris for 3 nights and stayed at Hotel Ermitage in the Montmartre district for $110 Euros with breakfast and loved it!  Even a chandelier and antique furniture!

Later I found this great site HERE homeaway.com that rents everything from villas and castles to studio apts, mostly by the week and I did the link to show the 35,863 available in France for $1000 USD or less per week and 1,106 are in Paris. If you want a castle you may have to up the ante.

If you visit the French Riveria, the Cours Saleya outdoor Market in Nice has over 200 flea market vendors on Mondays until about 1 pm.

This site lists many of the Flea Markets throughout France , Belgium & Switzerland

Here is a great site listing all the Antiquités Brocante Shows & Fairs in France

Lastly, remember that in French the word “souvenir” means memories and with such an old country it seems fitting to bring home a souvenir that hold some past history.

If you can’t make it to Paris, be patient as I plan to do a post on the Best Vintage Flea Markets & Shows in the USA.

In Sept 2009 I was lucky to go to the Brimfield Market, outside of Boston with over 6000 sellers! You can read my post & see the photos HERE.  Too bad Canada doesn’t have vintage flea markets but  over 75% of us Canadian’s live close to the USA border  so we can drive to some.

I loved these dolls by Tin Lizzie! She doesn’t have a website but I found a contact for her HERE.  Each one is a piece of funky one of a kind art.



See you tomorrow with some great new samples from our talented Design Team!   PS - You can sign up for this blog at the top of the post and get it by email.

Wishing you joy & creativity
Sandy Redburn     
Owner
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