~Simple Stories, Unity & Miss Arts Info!~

Have I mentioned how much I adore Simple Stories and Unity Stamps...Especially when you put them together...So fun! I first got hooked on Unity with their beautiful collaboration with Webster's Pages (my first love!)...Then I realized that Unity acutally collaborates with many of the hottest scrappy manufacturers to create stamps that coordinate perfectly with all the awesome paper that I love!

Now I am afraid that I must have every Unity stamp I can get my hands on! 

That is the only trouble with discovering awesome new scrappy product...I need to seriously consider renting a storage unit for all the yummies that I am contemplating adding to my scrappy stash...Someone please stop me!!!

Anywho! Time to stop rambling and show ya some pics! 

Here is a card created with Simple Stories Baby Steps paper and my newly-adopted, Unity Stamps!

Oh how I love that family stamp, the doily stamp, the always & forever stamp...

AND...I love that paper! The soft baby colors are so adorable!

Close up of the vintage crinkled ribbon and a teensy Maya Road vintage pin...

I just had to show off the stamps again! lol

And, before I go....I have been wanting to share this with you for SO long!!!!

My class will be debuting on September 10th, at Miss Art's Paper Crafting School!!!!

I am soooooooooo excited!

It will be getting added to this list right away! 

If you cannot wait to see it on the site, check out this awesome video!!! 

And just to give you a little tease (I know - I am terrible!) I'll leave you with a couple of sneak peeks!

Happy weekend!!!

*Ivana*

~Fun {Tache} Tic~ TCM & Webster's Pages

Before I begin -Thank you to everyone for the sweet comments! Sarah - you asked if I used a die for my last card...It just so happens to be one of the *awesome* new dies at our LSS for the Accucut machine. Give me a shout if you want more info. I'll hapilly die cut a few for ya and send them your way! :)

Onto the fun stuff now!

Thanks for joining me today for the second preview of this month's Craft's Meow stamp releases! We have two beautiful stamp sets coming out this month, and today we are featuring Fun {Tache} Tic! 

Personally, I have battled my father's mustache for years. Wishing, praying, hoping...That one day I would see him without the mustache...I have known my dad for 26 years, and have never seen bare skin above his upper lip...

Despite my constant battle with his lip fur, I must admit, even I am coming around to mustaches...And they really seem to be all the rage right now! Just don't tell my dad - OR my father in law for that matter - as it appears that he has also caught wind of this info and decided to grow his 'stache back...I must say - everywhere I look these days - I see mustaches!

Even so, I can't say that this was the easiest stamp for me to design with, and I have to apologize that I didn't quite do it justice - given that it is a very manly stamp and all...Buuuuut I think I am slowly falling in love with the way I used the funky 'staches to create something that is not neccesarily made for a man - well at least I hope not - Any man I know would probably run in the other direction if I presented him this little package teehehe

I thought the set was still very vesatile given the cute sentiments - Nina you really are a genious! 

So, if you're a 'girly' crafter like yours truly, go ahead! And add those lil mustaches to anything you create! You don't have to feel like you're bursting out of your girlicious comfort zone! I swear! (hand on my chest)

I have a feeling that by the time we are through this post, you just might want to add a 'stache or two to your crafty stash!

What do ya think? Waaaaaay too feminine for a man, right? But in a quirky, cute, kind of way, I think it works for a crafty, girly gift!

I just HAD to add in my newest Webster's goodies to this lil treat baggie...Since they arrived at my doorstep last week, they've just been begging to be used! So I added in a lovely combination of papers form the Western Romance collection...

And I couldn't help adding in the beautiful vintage sparkler and GORGEOUS cameo pin! If your LSS doesn't happen to carry Webster's products, and you just happen to feel like your scrappy life wouldn't be complete if you didn't add these to your collection...Don't fret - you can find both of these wonderful treasures at the Webster's Pages website here :) 

I also added in a beautiful trim just below the purple 'staches :) which is also by Webster's. It happens to be my absolute new fave! In the last couple of days, I've misted it, painted it, and glittered it, and the trim just gets more beautiful with every new way I discover to use it! I'll be showing ya my creations real soon! So check back to see all the ways I've been having fun with this dee-licious trim!

Now here is a close up of the sentiment and the two lovely little mustaches I layered and girl-ified! I'm sort of coming around to the idea that there are no boundaries when it comes to design...If you think I'm crazy, let me know! lol 

Lastly, here is a pic of the back of this little baggie. I'm going to fill it up with items from my scrappy stash to gift to a wonderfully sweet scrappy friend of mine. 

Hope you'll join us for our reveal blog hop tomorrow, Oct 1! You can win one of these yummy stamps by hopping with us! See u there!

*Ivana*

~H'owl'oween~ The Craft's Meow Preview and a Scrap That! Farewell...

Hi everyone! I just finished reading all of your beautiful comments from my Scrap That post! Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my blog during our hop! I hope you had a wonderful time looking through the DT designs and getting to participate in some of the fab prize give-aways!

Sadly, this was my last Scrap That! blog hop and I cannot believe that the time has come for me to be hanging up the gloves...It has truly been a wonderful year of design fun and great memories! (Thank you to Lori and the wonderful DT - I could never thank you enough and I will miss you! Y'all know, you better stay in touch!)

Oh how I wish that there were more hours in a day of my busy life so that I could stay on this wonderful team!

Ongoing renovations, wedding planning, DT work and a new managerial position at our LSS leaves me with very little time on the side, and I am so saddened that I cannot continue! I hope you will still come visit me and I hope to be back to ST every once in a while to wave a BIG hello :)

Now, let's move onto what I have been working on the last couple of days!

It's time for The Craft's Meow previews!

Today is day one, and we are feautring the most adorable Haloween stamp set I think I've ever seen!!! Desgined by Jenny Suchin - a stamp genious!!!
Check it out!

Adorable, right?

I combined the beautiful stamps with a few of my faves...Like vintage hand-dyed ribbon, a lovely Webster's pin, and beautiful Webster's Pages papers...

I am SO in love with that little fence stamp :) I could see myself using it for soo many other occasions - I just love when a stamp doubles up on duty!

And can we please talk about that spider? Isn't he adorable?!  I think I would name him Francisco if he was my pet :)

Tomorrow, I'll be showcasing more previews and I'll be back on Oct 1st with our release blog hop! Be sure to visit me - Prizes are awaiting!

Luv!

*Ivana*

~*Scrap That! Exclusive Pion Design “Birdsong” Kit*~

It's finally that time! Sooooo excited to show you this month's Scrap That! kit - It is a very special edition with some of the most beautiful products I have ever seen! So read on, check out the gorgeous designs from the hugely talented DT and be sure to enter in for a chance to win one of the amazing prizes up for grabs!

If you have just arrived here from Gabrielle’s blog you are in the right place!  If not, head back to the Scrap That! blog for the blog hop order and links.  Just in case there is a break along the way, here is a handy list of the blog hop order :)

Scrap That!
Darien Anderson
Dusty Attic  
Gabrielle
Ivana (you are here!)
Karen
Lisa
Pion Design
Robin 
Shona
Tina
Vicky 

And now for my creations using the Scrap That! Exclusive Pion Design “Birdsong” Kit!!!

First up...A little creation using THE most gorgeous papers I think I have ever seen from Pion Designs! These papers are just my type of thing....Beautiful vintage designs, soft colors, and lovely little details...Pion paper is definitely on my list of 'faves'...

~Heartfelt Wishes~

For this tag, I combined the papers with some of the beautiful flowers included in the kit....

Of course I added in a teensy bit of goodies from my stash - like the ribbon and the clothes pin (which I stamped onto)

Then I added the lace, bling swirl and the teensy butterfly - which are all included in the beautiful kit!


 ~So Happy for You~

Next up - another tag feautring the same papers, only with a combination of the beautiful mauve Prima flowers...I wanted to show just how versatile these papers are..Because they are largely neutral in color, they can be paired with almost any color combination and still look just beautiful! 

I contemplated misting the papers to add a bit more color, but they are just so beautiful as they are that I didn't want to take away from all the little details!

Close up of the Prima rose....

And a lovely cluster of flowers in colors that make my heart melt! :)

 ~Young Love~

 

I thought this collection was just so soft and romantic...Perfect for this pic of my sweet brother and
his girlfriend!
As you can see, the papers are so beautifuly designed that you really don't need to add a whole lot of detail...

All I added was a few flowers....

Some beautiful butterflies I cut from one of the papers....

More flowers...And a few die-cut doilies...And the page came together so quickly!

~I am Woman~

I followed a simple design for this page too as I wanted the gorgeous design of the papers to stand out :)

 

I added some flowers...And a few punched edges

A beautiful peice of Dusty Attic chipboard (which is included in the kit)...And that was that!
I have to say, that is one of my most favourite things about working with kits :) Everything is hand-picked to match perfectly which means that half the work is already done for ya!
If you're short on time, it's the perfect thing to help you get those pictures scrapped!

Now, before you hop along to Karen’s blog you will want my SECRET WORD, which is...

**BEST** 

**Remember, that there are FOUR prizes to win, and FOUR ways for you to enter.

1) First of all, you will need to visit all TWELVE blogs :) **This is important** Each blog will have a special word.  As you hop be sure and write down the special word from each blog. Once you have all the special words they will make a sentence.  You will need to email the SECRET SENTENCE to friends@scrapthat.ca.  All correct sentences received will be entered in a draw to win the Dusty Attic Prize Pack.  (Please note:  Dusty Attic does not have a blog but just follow the link leave a comment on the forum thread in their community.)

2) Everyone who emails us with the correct secret sentence will be sent a short marketing survey.  Once you have completed the survey you will be entered to win a Scrap That! Exclusive Pion Design “Birdsong” Kit.

3) If you want to enter to win the Grand Prize of a Pion Design Prize Pack, then head over to our COMMUNITY for details on our monthly challenge.  The challenge will run from August 26th to September 14th so you have LOTS of time to post your creations.  You can enter as many times as you like.  You do not need to be a subscriber to participate.  The more entries, the more chances you have to win!

4) Finally, if you post our blinkie on your blog you will be entered to win a Scrap That! Gift Certificate - super easy right?  Just post a link to your blog in the comments the Scrap That! Blog so we can come visit :). 

We hope you all had good fun hopping with us today, thank you so much for playingalong!
Watch the Scrap That! newsletter on September 22nd to see if you are one of the lucky winners!
Hugs!

*Ivana*

~Love Every Inch of You~

A quick post for today :) 

I created this card for the store last night, using the new Simple Stories Baby Steps collection. And I just wanted to show you the finished project.

I am completely and totally in love with this line from Simple Stories! And the papers couldn't be easier to use with all the little cut-outs and gorgeous designs...

Although a baby line, it is really versatile and since I love all things pastel, I bought way more of this line than I could ever possibly have a need for, but hey - It's adorable and super fun to use - Two perfectly good reasons to add it to my stash :)

I also added in some of my hand-dyed vintage ribbon, a lovely Tim Holtz pin, Webster's Pages sparkler, and the GORGEOUS Maya Road rose trim  - Isn't it just the cutest?!

And you can barely see this in the pic above - But I also stamped a few roses onto some white cotton fabric, which I then cut with pinking shears to add a bit of texture to this project...

Lastly, here is a close up of the lil doily and all the lovely paper cut-outs!

Ain't this collection just sweet!?

Be back with more yumminess soon!

*Ivana*

~Scrap That! Sneak and Miss Arts Free Class!~

Hey everyone! Hope this week has been great for ya...I have a few tidbits I want to share with you that I think you might be excited about! 

First up, I am soooo happy to finally share the sneak for this month's Scrap That! kit!
It is such a special kit, and I can't wait for the reveal blog hop, coming up this Friday, August 26th! 

Join us for spectacular artwork and several fabulous prizes starting at 10 am MST!!!

 

Next up - I want to share a super special offer going on now at Miss Art's Papercrafting School! If you've always wanted to try one of the many fab classes at Miss Arts - this is your chance! Beginning on Friday,  August 26th, you will have 3 days to check out one of the most popular classes for free, no subscription needed! Read all the details here, and don't forget to take advantage of this unbelievable offer!

Be back soon with more projects! Mwah! (That's the sound of a kiss - just in case you're wondering :)

*Ivana*

~Good to be Back~

Boy o boy do I have a lot of catching up to do! So much to tell you about, so many wonderful things to share...And most importantly, to show you our AMAZING new LSS! The lead up to Thursday was pretty hectic...So many things to do, a million last-minute efforts to pull it all together...Friends and staff gathered to help out any way they could, and after many sleepless nights, and crazy-busy days, the store is just the way we would have envisioned it! Bright, spacious, with stunning new scrappy product releases, gorgeous artwork and a million smiling faces! 

I couldn't be more proud of Lori - the store owner - for pulling it all together and for sharing this incredible experience with all of us...From the bottom of my heart, I am so thankful and feel so blessed...I cannot wait to see where this journey takes us!!! 

If you want to check it out, watch this video of our opening! Although not the grand opening, it was just as emotional and spectacular!!! 

Next point on my list - to give some much needed tlc to my sweet lil blog...I am sorry I have neglected you for this long...But as all things go in life, sometimes one just loses grip of the routine...Other things take priority...And you just do the best you can.

So I had made an executive decision last week to put 'creative' work off to the side...Despite all the deadlines, and all the lovely new product I was dying to use...It was just the kind of decision I needed...Now I am feeling more refreshed and full of creative thoughts...So much so, that I whipped up this lil card last night...Created with some lovely items I picked up from the shop :)

It's my favourite time of the year (aside from Christmas) when all the new CHA releases finally reach my fingers and my creativity is at an all-time high...Inspired by beautiful new and old products, this card is a reflection of  all the items near and dear to my heart...Melissa Frances vintage resin keyholes, beautiful German glass glitter, Maya Road chipboard shapes, painted and distressed, and beautiful trims....

I started the card with a lovely text print paper from Bo Bunny's Et Cetera collection, and added a lovely Prima paper from the Pixie Glen collection...Adorned with a Prima rose and a vintage button from my stash - gifted to me by my sweet mom-in-law :)

To top off the card, I added a fabric strip - under the Melissa Frances vintage polka dot tag...And embelished the Maya Road chipboard with paint and glitter.

Finishing the card with beautiful vintage Maya Road trim and a mini rosette by Prima.

I believe that you can never go wrong when creating with things you love. If you're ever low on inspiration...Do what I do...Give yourself a break, find the time to gather little items that are special to you, and you will be amazed how quickly your creativity will find you :)

Until next time...

*Ivana*

~I am still here...~

Although barely. We have been so busy getting the store ready these last few days, that creating has been sort of pushed to the side at the moment. I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your visits and how sorry I am that I do not have anything new to show you...So instead I will show you a pic I just love of a gorgeous pillow that has me feeling SO inspired right now...

(photo courtesy of shabbyscraps)

If you want to check out my collection of photos at Pinterest, just click on the pic above and you can see all the yummy things that inspire me daily! 

Hope to be back soon with projects!

*Ivana*

~Webster's HUGE Groupon Deal~

 If you're a Webster's fan, then you don't want to miss this!!!! Groupon is offering an amazing discount on Webster's Pages products...And the offer is only good for the rest of today! If you have not recieved your Groupon email offer, click here for all the info!

For more additional info, and if you are a customer outside of the US, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia, click here!

Happy Shopping!

*Ivana*

~No room for Scraps~

 In anticipation of my new Webster's goodies that are en-route, {SOOOOO excited BTW!} I thought I would clean up my current stash and pay tribute to some of my fave Webster's oldies...Not to mention that we recently recieved our new bed, dresser, and nightstands...So all the other furniture that once resided in our master, has found a temporary home in my scrap room... :(
Not so happy about that, since my room was already so limited on space...

I pondered to myself, what is a girl to do?

Hmmmm.

Lack of room + New DT goodies arriving shortly = Time for a clean up! 

So I rummaged through my {very} large DT box of goodies, found some yummy Webster's Papers from the Lullaby Lane,  Hollywood Vogue, Life's Portrait and Ladies and Gents collections, and put them to good use! 

Not only have I been able to use up all those little scraps kicking around, but I can't forget to mention the added bonus of saving a whole pile of time just working with the pretty lil pieces that didn't quite make the cut last time...

Best thing is, you would never know that they were all scraps! At least I hope you wouldn't!

Once I had all my scraps gathered, all it took was one look at the pile and I knew my color palette instantly :) With the palette in tow, the cards were a total cinch to make! 

So....

 No goofing around with cutting + A perfect pallette + All the little pieces I could ever need at my fingertips = Total bliss.

Wish all my crafting was this easy!

  ~Ever Thankful for this Life~

For this card, I combined this paper from Webster's Ladies and Gent Collection, and a few other toppings kicking around in my scrap pile...Like the lovely bow, flowers and random letters...

I traced the inner edges of the alphas with a black pen to bring in the black accents on the lovely papers..

I used this Heidi Grace heart  fastener (in blue), which I glittered up til it was all nice and sparkly...And I added in a few die-cut kraft doilies here and there....

For the sentiment, I simply stamped onto a transparency with some black Staz-On ink (cus who likes smudges?) And then I cut carefully around the sentiment...A glue dot to stick it down and viola!

Oh and just in case you're wondering...I made this card for myself! I know, silly, right? Well, I just so happen to feel extermely blessed to have the life I do...To do what I love and to be with whom I love...Some days I need a reminder of my blessings, and this is as good as anything! :)

 ~It's Been Forever~

Not much new here in terms of color, but I wanted to use different elements to show how adding a few tidbits to your scraps can really dress them up! 

And no, I did not just leave those gorgeous bloomers sitting in my scrap box....

I cheated....And added them to the scrap pile so I could use them on these cards! lol

I added a couple of different colors of vintage ribbon, and a pale blue rose...

Along with those gorgeous Webter's Pages Bloomers...With a few dashes of white paint, of course.

To the side, you can see a little Webster's Pages Whimsie Birdie that I accented with some white paint and some black ink..I like how this makes the birdie stand out more...

And just a few other details like liquid pearls, a glittered chipboard heart and a lovely little Webster's Pages Butterfly Push Pin.

~Just For You~

Next up, another card with the same soft tones...and a whole pile of scraps!
Believe it or not, all of those scraps were the right size! All I had to do was arrange them and layer them with some sweet toppings...

I used up more of the lovely vintage peach trim and a sweet white doily...Teensy little dollops of Webster's Pages Bloomers, and a blue Webster's Pages Sparkler...

Then, I used up the lovely transparent frame design from this Hambly transparecy (except mine is in white)...And painted a couple of the chipboard brackets with white paint along with some liquid pearls on top...

The lovely cameo lady is from this Webster's Paper. And the gorgeous button is a vintage find given to me by my sweet mum-in-law :)

~One of a Kind~

Lastly, here's the final card I created with my scraps...

More of the same elements, like the flowers, vintage trim and Webster's Pages paper...

Another cameo lady and some more chipboard pieces painted in white and pink...

And that's all for today kids!

Hope this inspires you to think twice before you chuck those lovely scraps! If not, then maybe it will inspire you to send them my way (wink, wink)

*Ivana*

p.s. Check out my pic and bio on the Miss. Arts Papercrafting School site! It's official!!!