JULY PAPER PUMPKIN CARDS

I had great fun with the products in the July Paper Pumpkin subscription kit. I chose to play a little and to see how I could use the products for more adventurous cards. Here are the designs I came up with. 

PAPER PUMPKIN DEAL ENDS VERY SOON!

August 31st is very, very close. These projects are great fun and so easy to make. A little imagination and you can change the designs to suit what you want. I do that all the time. Above are photos of three of my own Paper Pumpkin sets. As you can see I changed each card so it is different from the others. There is no reason why, just because it comes in a kit (but a pretty one at that), that you can't put your own spin on your creations. Paper Pumpkin is a 30-minute creativity escape . . . with everything you need to create a sweet project . . . A surprise delivered to your door every month. Join Paper Pumpkin for only $12.50 a month for the first two months*! Use the promo code PUMPKINDEAL Sign up at www.mypaperpumpkin.com. Don’t forget to choose me as your demonstrator! Valid until August 31st. *Plus tax, where applicable. Shipping included. After your first two months, keep the creativity coming every month for only $24.95—shipping included! Contact me : Pauline Barratt at dreamcreationscrafts@shaw.ca

HOW DO WE COME UP WITH IDEAS?

Do you ever wonder about creativity? Yours? That of others? Are you like so many people who say things like "I can't draw", "I can't design cards", I can't come up with scrapbook layouts", "I'm not a creative person"? I think that most of us have doubts about our abilities sometimes. But I also believe that we are very capable of being creative, artistic individuals. Now how the heck did I get to thinking about this process? Well, the other day I was working at making a card for a home party (Stampin Up) that I was to do. The ideas were not flowing so I started searching the internet and magazines for ideas. Voila! I found a lovely idea in my latest Stampin Success magazine (the magazine received by Stampin Up demonstrators). Being delighted that I had found something I could CASE (copy and share everything) I set to work building my sample card. Well, as I worked I soon realised that this card-making journey was no longer following the map. My mind was taking the path of Pam Godderis when she asked "What if . . . " In fact my mind had left the map and was taking a journey all its own. That got me to remembering how some of my friends go about creating their projects. One friend begins with an idea and knows which stamp she is going to use to express that idea. Her cards are elegant and simple - they are quite lovely in fact. Another friend has an even simpler way of creating and her cards are the very epitome of attractive simplicity. Someone else I know creates by following her own pre-drawn designs. And I know ladies who have other methods of creating their art - and believe me card making and scrapbooking is definitely an art form. And how do I create? I'm not really sure but I do know that the process I go through is not like that of any of my friends. What I do may start with a flash of an idea or I may find an existing idea that sends me on a creative journey, just as this card did. Just as an unknown author once said "Snowmen fall from Heaven unassembled", my projects fall from my imagination without order or pattern. And then I begin to explore. What colours? What paper? Is texture important? Can I include some shapes? What about layers? Should there be a greeting and if so what should that greeting be? Are embellishments such as brads, ribbon, clips, buttons, glitter etc needed? And, as I play, the materials in front of me begin to transform. Sometimes that transformation is less than what my mind's image is pleased with, so I take apart, build, re-build, and re-design until the project has evolved and feels complete. This is what happened with the card for the home party (Stampin Up) that I was designing for. Now who is right and who is flawed in their creative search? I believe that no-one is flawed and we are all correct in how we create. We are correct because our creations are an expression of ourselves and the 'self' that is in all of us is what makes us unique individuals. As you look at the cards below you may puzzle how my pansy card could ever have evolved from the lovely, more simple, card from Stampin Success. But it did. And that is individual creativity.

FUN WITH FESTIVE FLURRY FRAMELITS

This card was the one that I demonstrated at last week's Stampin Up Party. It was easy and fun to make and I just love the way that the soft tones of the designer papers enhance the beautiful snowflake. This card was created using all Stampin Up products. The design incorporates shapes and layering. The products used were Festive Flurry framelits (SUHM; silver ribbon (SUHM); Soft Sky marker (SUC); Winter Frost designer paper pad (SUHM); silver Glimmer Paper (SUC); So Saffron cardstock (SUC); silver Foil sheet (SUHM); Whisper Whire cardstock (SUC); Vintage Faceted button (SUC). The products used can all be found in either the annual Stampin Up catalogue (SUC)or the Stampin Up Holiday mini catalogue (SUHM). Both can be found on my website at www.dreamcreationscrafts.stampinup.net.Click the "shop now" button and you will find a menu for all the products with pictures and descriptions. If you want to order an item you can do it right from my website (Canadians only), or you can contact me at dreamcreationscrafts@shaw.ca.

PANSY CARD

This card was created using all Stampin Up products. The design incorporates shapes, colours and layering. Here is the list of products used - Baja Breeze cardstock; Crisp Canteloupe In Colour cardstock; Pretty Print embossing folder; Apothecary Accents framelits; Labels Collection framelits; Venetian Romance designer paper; In Colour 2013-15 Designer Series Paper stack; Pansy punch; Baked Brown Sugar ink; Crisp Canteloupe ink; Pistachio Pudding ink; Natural Trim ribbon; Dahlia Assortment embellishments; Hung Up Cute Clips; Sassy Salutations stamp set. The products used can all be found in either the annual Stampin Up catalogue or the Stampin Up Holiday catalogue. Both can be found on my website at www.dreamcreationscrafts.stampinup.net.Click the "shop now" button and you will find a menu for all the products with pictures and descriptions. If you want to order an item you can do it right from my website (Canadians only), or you can contact me at dreamcreationscrafts@shaw.ca.

A PLEASANT EVENING

Last Thursday I spent a very pleasant evening with some lovely ladies in Langley, BC. This was my first Home Party in a while due to having taken a break because of health issues. However, I believe that I am back and so happy that I for that. For me there is no better way to enjoy my craft than to share it with other crafters. If you want to get together with friends for a Stampin Up workshop or class, just contact me at dreamcreationscrafts@shaw.ca. We can chat about what you would like and go from there. Below is the card that we made for the Make & Take at the party.

WANT THE MAGIC EVERY MONTH?

Paper Pumpkin is a 30-minute creativity escape . . . with everything you need to create a sweet project . . . A sweet surprise delivered to your door every month. Join Paper Pumpkin for only $12.50 a month for the first two months*! Use the promo code PUMPKINDEAL Sign up at www.mypaperpumpkin.com. Don’t forget to choose me as your demonstrator! Valid until August 31st. *Plus tax, where applicable. Shipping included. After your first two months, keep the creativity coming every month for only $24.95—shipping included! Contact me : Pauline Barratt at dreamcreationscrafts@shaw.ca

CASH FOR STASH

What better way to spend a cloudy Sunday than earning a little cash? I am in Langley, BC, at the Clipper Street Scrapbooking Store garage sale. If only Stampin Up would stop coming out with new and wonderful stamps and papercrafting accessories I would not feel the need to clear out the craft stash. This is my second craft garage sale this year and I have one more next weekend at Making Memories in Burnaby, BC.
Selling your stash at a crafts garage sale is definitely a love-hate experience. Love being with other crafters, love making some money,love getting rid of craft items that I have not enjoyed for a long time if ever, and love chatting with folks. But there is also the other side of the experience. I'm selling off all my stamps from my pre Stampin Up days. I have some amazing stamps from all sorts of companies, but they have to go. And selling my Stampin Up sets is almost painful at times. Each set brings back a memory of a period in SU's history and in my own crafting journey. As I lovingly place price tags on the sets and organize them in boxes I go through the pangs of 'letting go of old friends'. A couple of times I even found myself taking back one or two well loved sets.
And then there are the 'doubles'. Am I the only crafter who sees something wonderful, says "I must have that" and then, long after the 'return by' date, find that they already have the item and had forgotten.
And what about 'newer and better'? I started out with the old ScorePal, graduated to the Martha Stewart score board, then had to buy the newer, better ScorePal. AND THEN! Stampin Up came out with their own scoreboard. I had to have it of course. Then I had to have the SU Diagonal Plate as well. So of course I have been gradually selling off my old score boards and only have one more to go. My SU score board will stay with me though - definitely not letting that one go.
So here I am standing at the back of my car, protected by my awning, chatting happily and selling even more happily.
Life is good. Life with crafts is even better.

SOMTHING FROM NOTHING - OR ALMOST

I was recently participating in a fun class about creative card folds. I love the extra dimension that you get from a sidefold card or many of the variations of folds. Well it was the end of the class and I was finished a few minutes early. I had the usual piles of scraps in front of me and was about to clean up. Then I began to play. Here is what I came up with.

This little card was so much fun. I used a piece of 3" x 6" card stock folded down the centre to make a 3" x 3" card. Then I took one half of that card and diagonal folded it to the outside.
Then I took a 3" x 3" piece of cardstock and covered it with a scrap of designer paper. This was then attached to the middle portion of the folded triangle . I cut a small triangular piece of the designer paper and glued it to the 'downturn' of the triangle at the back of the card.
With more leftover designer paper I cut a couple of shapes around the flowers and attached them to the inside bottom where the card opens. I found a pretty medallion-like scrap leftover from the centre of a die cut piece from the class. I turned this over and stamped a greeting. Two small pieces of scrap ribbon were attached to the back of the medallion and then the medallion was attached with pop-up foam.
And then I had a cute little easel card made entirely from leftovers.
I think a lot of us just ignore our leftovers. From now on I am going to look at leftovers differently and play around to see what I can create.
I really quite like my little card.

TOO MANY 'TOYS'?

What do you do when you have too many crafting toys? There is no more storage and you just absolutely have to buy some new stamps, paper, tools etc?
Well there is always Craig's List, or EBay. Or you can have a back yard sale or join a rummage sale at a local community centre.
I have found Craig's List and EBay a bit disappointing. Yes I have sold via both, but not without some stress. Firstly, I prefer face to face interactions with people - OK, I'm old fashioned. And then for Craig's List there are the numerous emails back and forth to solidify a price, answer questions, and arrange the exchange of goods for money. On EBay there are always bulk sellers who price things so low that my little stash just can't compete. And I have to figure out postage and then mail the package. So I basically gave up on these two.
And what about yard sales and rummage sales? Well these can be great places to unload all kinds of stuff, but sadly not very lucrative for selling craft items. Most people are looking for a rock bottom deal and usually not looking for that expensive stamp set that you have loved so much.

What I have found to be the best place to sell my excess stash is at garage or parking lot sales offered by scrapbooking stores. Now to get your sales there is work involved. You want your items to be neat and tidy. If they no longer have their own package you might have to find one. Having everything organized into groups really helps. Eg. Stamps, papers, inks, punches, Christmas stuff, etc. And you will absolutely do better if every item has a price on it. Yes, I know that's a heck of a lot of work but it will pay off for you. Choose one of two ways to price. Either price at a level at which you are prepared to bargain a little, or price to sell and maintain that price. Don't undersell your products though. Today I had a successful sale at Clipper Street Scrapbooking in Langley and was quite busy. I sold a lot of product and only two people walked away when they found out my prices were not negotiable. And I ALWAYS have a "make an offer" box, and an "everything 25c" box. Kids just love these.
And now that I have had a nicely successful day selling some of my excess, I can go home and finish my wish list for my next Stampin Up order. It never ends does it? And I don't want it to :)

Happy Canada Day

I made this cute little card at Making Memories make&take on Saturday. Happy Canada Day everyone.

Honouring my Ancestors

Recently I was lucky enough to be able to travel to Cornwall, UK, to attend a Worldwide Curnow Homecoming. How wonderful it was to meet distant, previously unknown, relatives . My maternal,great grandmother was a Curnow and I was able to visit the village where she lived and the church in which she was Christened. The frame above depicts my maternal great grandparents on a collage of vintage ephemera. When I created the collage all I had,were the photos. Now I have experiences and memories that have made their lives real to me. 

Paper Pumpkin fun

Stampin Up's Paper Pumpkin kits are a great treat for yourself each month. They are delivered right to your door and each one is different. This kit from March featured the supplies to make four greeting cards. I had fun trying to make mine a little different from the sample photo in the kit. I did this by changing the basic designs and by using some of the 'leftover' bits to add some more visual interest. If you would like to know more about the kits go to my website at www.dreamcreationscrafts.stampinup.net .