We Will Always Have Paris

Cool Tools: Dots Templates & Flower Papers

I did a little happy clap the other day when I stumbled upon this at Scrapbooks Plus in Chantilly, VA:

They have the Dots All Around template by The Crafters Workshop in both 12" x 12" and 6" x 6". I, of course, had to have both. The mini dots template is only $3.99 and the larger one is only $6.69. I haven't had time to play with it yet, but the possibilities are endless!

Then today at Jo-Anns I found this:

The Colorbok "Garden Party" pack -- 40 sheets of flower die cut 12" x 12" paper and 24 pieces of raw chipboard flowers.  For $19.99!  Combine that with my 40% off coupon and it was a steal!

Hope I've enabled some of you!

Cool Finds

One of the tools that I can't live without is my "Perfect Positioner" by Westrim Crafts.  I had a handful of them (courtesy of my friend/student Marlies), but they have disappeared over the years.  In my recent "Murder On The Last Train To Paris" class my students oohed and aahed over the little tool.  I mentioned that I was running low on the little things and I had no idea where to find them because I didn't know what they were called.  One week later my friend Larcy (God bless you Larcy!) found them for me.  She and my friend/student Larcy ordered them for all three of us!!

If you've never used one of these, you don't know what you're missing.  It is basically a long pointy plastic stick with a tacky tip.  It is perfect for adhering rhinestones to paper (note:  this is not the tool I use on my bling T-shirts).  Just put your glue down where you want your crystal and then pick the crystal up with the tacky end of the stick.  You can use the pointy end to adjust and get it just where you want it.

I've since found them at a number of sources (now that I know what the little buggers are called!):

Art Beads has them for $2.25/pack.

Scrapbook Creations has them for $1.60/pack.

Widget Supply has them for $1.97/pack.

Why not buy your own stocking stuffers this year?  Thank you Marlynn and Larcy for re-stocking my stash.  I love these things!

CHA Sneek Peek: Queen & Company

Not that I've used ANY of the Q&C felt ribbon that I bought after CHA Winter, but those rotten Q&C bastards are tempting me again.  No wonder I'm so broke....

Felt Border - Bats Self adhesive border sold in 3 foot lengths.

Felt Border - Pumpkin  Self adhesive border sold in 3 foot lengths.

Felt Border - Leaves Self adhesive border sold in 3 foot lengths.

Felt Border - Flowers Self adhesive border sold in 3 foot lengths.

Felt Borders - Heart Self adhesive border sold in 3 foot lengths.

Felt Borders - Scroll Self adhesive border sold in 3 foot lengths.

Felt Ribbon - Stars Self adhesive ribbon sold in 3 foot lengths.

Felt Ribbon - Snow Self adhesive ribbon sold in 3 foot lengths.

Felt Ribbon - Floral Self adhesive ribbon sold in 3 foot lengths.

Felt Ribbon - Scroll Self adhesive ribbon sold in 3 foot lengths.

Felt Ribbon - Hearts Self adhesive ribbon sold in 3 foot lengths.

Felt Ribbon - Holly Self adhesive ribbon sold in 3 foot lengths.

French Femme Rubber Stamps Now Available!

For those of you who were dying to get your hands on the rubber stamps used in my "Madge Goes To Paris" class, you're in luck!!  If you're looking to buy the full unmounted sheet of sexy French Femme rubber stamps, you can get them right here.  Head on over to the Flea Market and buy yours today...

There's Babette having her coffee and cigarettes, Genevieve, Aimee, Elise and others.  The entire sheet (12 stamps!) is only $25.00!!  Click here to get yours!

Great Deal: Ribbons at Costco

Have you seen this??  Suni and I saw this at Costco in Frederick, MD a few weeks ago.  $26.99 for 40 spools of ribbon.  Each spool has 4 YARDS of ribbon, not feet.  That's 480 feet of ribbon!  Holy cow!  Lisa M. (of The Paperie Studio) just sent me this pic and it reminded me that I should let everyone know about this great deal. 

I found my box in the gift wrap section (with all of the Christmas decorations) at Costco.  Yummy!

COOL TOOL: Crop In Style Tray Chic

I'm in love!  I've tried organizing my Memories & Heidi Swapp paints in a multitude of containers over the past year.  I've tried boxes & bags of every sort.  I've tried clear acrylic drawers.  I've tried everything.  A little over a week ago, I picked up the Crop in Style Tray Chic at the Michaels in Reston, VA.  I had a coupon, so it was under $10 and I thought it would be worth a try.  Oh my!!!  Organization perfection found at last!!

This is what it looks like:

This is what it looks like filled:

Each of the trays pull out and can be stored in the Crop in Style Accessorizer Cubes (with inserts).  Ingenious!!!

I can fit 32 Memories paints, 4 Heidi Swapp paints & a handful of foam brushes in one bag!!  How handy for crops!!  I carried it all over the house this weekend & the paints didn't roll all over the place.  Go get your hands on this cool tool before I buy them all out!!

Photo Folders

A number of people have asked me where I found the cool photo folders I used in the "Sights" section of my "By The Sea" Journal.  A recent e-mail from my student Wendy finally spurred me to get off my duff and go look for the silly things.  I bought mine in bulk (500 of them) back in 1997 and I'm finally running out of the handy photo holders.  I found them this morning at Get Smart Products.  They carry the folders in a number of sizes and a couple of colors.  I might have to come up with something new to showcase the cool black folders!  Hmmm......

Save $$ on your Red Line Tape!

Run.  Don't walk.  Run yourself right over to the La De Da Designs website because they have big rolls of red-line tape on sale.  Big time on sale.

 

You can get 36 yards of 1" wide red line tape (also called Terrifically Tacky Tape in some circles) for $15.00!     15.00!!!  This is a huge find!

I use this tape in almost all of my book classes.  Hands down, it is my favorite craft adhesive.  So... go!  Why are you still here?

COOL TOOL: Fiskars Scissor Sharpener

This cool tool tip came to me from one of my students, Susan Martin (thanks Susan!).   Fiskars makes a great scissor sharpener that will get your scissors back in shape in no time!  This is perfect for your Kai scissors, your micro-touch scissors and all of your heavily used scissors.

After I saw Susan's on Saturday, I ran out to JoAnn's in Frederick, MD to pick up one for myself (they are found in the sewing scissors section of the store).  They are normally about $10.00 each, but mine was on sale for less than $6.00.  I brought it home & cleaned up my poorly treated Kai scissors and they're good as new.  Pick up yours today!

Jo-Ann's Organized Essentials

Suni, Lauri & I found this beauty at the Jo-Ann's Etc. in Frederick, MD a couple of weeks ago.  If you're looking for a great way to get organized for classes and/or crops, you might want to pick up one of these binders. 

I bought mine to take to monthly crops.  I have so many embellishments and no way to transport what I plan to use.  This zippered binder has two separate compartments.  One side has a large pocket about 2.75" deep.  I plan to use this for stamps & ink pads.  The other side has four large clear zippered pockets and four small zippered pockets.  The pockets are perfect for storing my watchmaker tins filled with eyelets, brads, clips & all of my other goodies.

Once this bad boy is zipped up, it can sit upright on my workspace.  I love it!  Go get yours today, but be sure to use a coupon.