Vacation is Almost Over!

Well it was nice having a week to myself after acing another class with a 998 out 1,000 possible academic points (98.8%) Woo Hoo! That does not mean I was goofing around though...I have been busy making new items to offer, and now have a new crafting partner; my fiance. We will be listing these items soon. There are 2 styles and two sizes that come in many colors! Here is a sneak peek:

The Great Big Makeover Final Results

I am truly amazed at what Master stylist Pete Meaole was able to do without making me uncomfortable in any way. I always thought looking better required a lengthy uncomfortable sit, but the time flew, he gave me an upper back massage while I waited for my color to take, we listened to music, and he did not use a ton of makeup and in the heat I did not feel like I was going to melt, nor did my hair frizz! In fact I slept on my curls, smoothed them out with a comb the next day and still had them for dinner and a movie!

Source: Uploaded by user via Penny on Pinterest

Here I am the following evening 24 hours later, ready to go. The curls were still in my hair the next morning, but I had to wash my hair.

The Newest Additions

I have a new addiction to making vintage hair accessories, which will be posted for sale on this blog as soon as my class final is complete, and I build one mobile application for a client. By Tuesday they will each have a "Buy Now" button. This is a sneak preview!! Take a peek and see which one you'll want to buy for yourself or as a special gift for that special someone....watch for them!

A Little Bartering Goes A Long Way!

I have been studying for school, and crafting in between. I do not go out much, and sort of let myself go. I decided after looking in the mirror tonight (to smooth out my pony tail) that it's time to call my Web design client and let him know...I NEED HELP!! He is a Master Stylist and he is very talented!

Well he dropped by to take a look and go over some Web design updates for his Web site that I built; in order to add his newly aced skills! He decided after years of medical training and practice that he found his true forte...beauty! His Web site is Inspirations by Pete go check his work out for yourself. He plans to work in the medical spa industry! I know he will go far!

While he was over, he found the perfect gift to give his instructors upon accreditation and exit of his cosmetology institution. Guess what he chose? Handmade memory books, by Scraptacular Memories! Yay!

Here are the before shots...wait until you see the after! I am a marketing engineer and IT specialist My Internet Marketing Blog will explain it all. So please visit and subscribe....this is an awesome idea to get this man noticed...so stay tuned to see what he can do! (and  how well this marketing technique works!)

 OK Bravery at its finest...Here are the before shots!

It is 105 degrees out and I had a lot of homework...definitely a makeover "before" shot!

OMG What have we got here?!!! Roots, grays, and the white haired old gal needs a cut and dye job...lets see what Pete can do!

Oh The all too familiar pony tail bump! time to get a real hair style!!! Stay TUNED!!!

Key Chain Set

What a great way to get rid of some scraps and doo dads! Instead of just putting a photo in these photo projects, I scrapped them.

Here is another cute project:

Just cut some scalloped circles out of old dictionary pages, layer, attach with pretty brad, crinkle and fluff up each layer. Wa La!

Bom Bom Bom!

I just love this mesh bling by the foot that I purchased from the Zibbet store Beady Bom Bom Creations .The store is filled with wonderful little goodies for crafting, the prices are awesomely affordable, and the service and inspiration that Elizabeth provides is phenomenal as shown here on her blog and You Tube channel .

I recently acquired a bagful of brand new photo projects at a thrift store in the form of key chains and compact mirrors. I had a blast with the key chains as one may have already seen in a previous post, but wanted something simple and elegant for the compacts. I immediately thought of the pink mesh bling that I acquired in hot pink. It looks so cute, I'm glad I have a bunch more because her shop is running out quick! So get it while its hot!

Instead of a tiny photo in the front, I used some scrap grey and white polka dotted paper, and a scrap piece of paper doily. I found a tiny sticker of a bee. I like bees  (I am often referred to as a busy little bee) even though I am allergic. This bee is safe, cute and tiny. Of course I had to put a tiny little flower in there with the bee behind the acrylic cover which makes it all look a little bigger. On the inside when opened is a picture of my fiancee. Amazing E-6000 (in tiny toothpick sized dabs) was used to hold down the mesh because of the opening and closing, it has to be functional as well as adorable.

New Thrift Store Project

Today my neighbor Shirley asked me if I wanted to bop on over to the new thrift store in town. Since I have already been there and know they have great stuff I went along with just 20 bucks! First I carried around a 2 dollar celestial heart shaped box, then a recipe box another 2 bucks (I need one of those) then I found the bag of blank photo keys chains for 5 bucks and a Cricut Cartridge for 5 bucks. Down went the boxes and I grabbed those blank keys chains so fast! Turns out there are blank compact mirror projects as well...so cute! I am definitely going to bling them out!!! My last grab was a 6 dollar grab bag full of craft junk. Mostly all still in (vintage packaging material). I used it all! Binding seam, flat lace, the package, the pins, sequins, etc! Soooooo CUTE!

I found 2 dozen each of these blank photo projects, photo key chains and compact mirrors! All for just $4.98! Wow that's only  12 1/2 cents per piece.

This bag of vintage trim, beads, sequins, buttons, felt squares, glitter glue and a host of other doo dads was only 6 bucks and I even used the vintage packaging! (note to self: look for more old packaging material next time!)

     

Freedom!

Happy Independence Day to All!

Although due to some political issues many people are worried about how our forefathers would re-act to the way our country is dealing with change. The fact is times have changed, and our forefathers would most likely encourage us to grow with change, and change as we grow.  Enough about politics...have a safe and fun holiday to all!

Grand Opening!

     OK, I have memory books, earrings, and my first matching jewelry set posted with "Buy Now" buttons. Please browse and leave a comment. Remember all proceeds will go to my college fund. Thank you.

     I will post as many as I can each day before I do homework. I have tons of designs which are all incredibly unique! Remember, artists do not get paid by the hour. Each one of my memory books took a week of careful collection and construction of beautiful papers, hand made flowers, and embellishments of all kinds. Many of my embellishments are hand made or altered. I hope you enjoy my art work.

Scraptacular Memories: Hand Crafted Jewelry

Scraptacular Memories: Hand Crafted Jewelry: This feature will be coming soon. I just wanted to give a sneak peak! Here is the first pair, I have oodles of earrings and bracelets for sale...

Hand Crafted Items For Sale

Attention everyone! I have begun posting my hand crafted min-books on my blog to sell. All items will be shipped promptly with care and the price for all is a flat $35.00 which includes tax and shipping! Each book has it's own link across the top of this blog, so that the entire book can be viewed up close. I made this book and gave it away, and was told "wow this is gorgeous, you should sell these", so I am giving it a try. The first three that are packaged and ready to go are posted, I will add more as they are gift wrapped and ready, and some books I have need some "finishing touches" as I pay great attention to detail. It all started with this one! Of course this one is no longer available, but I can always take special orders, just contact me  pennystar67@yahoo.com

Mums The Word...

Here is the flower that I made with a five petal flower in 3 layered sizes and colored with Copic markers on water color paper.

Vintage Charm

Before I move on to my lovely bliss book, and the pink mum I created for it, let me share my vintage book with you all!

 This is the front cover. It has an itty bitty booklet tucked in right on the front cover and is easily removed. All of the flowers are handmade, the leaf charm is also hand crafted, and the lace on the cover was a nice vintage find at a "charitable" thrift store which means the lace purchase went towards helping a family in need. That makes it more special!

Scraptacular Memories

Here is my new advertisement for this blog...Please watch and  share!Scraptacular Memories After I complete my college studies this week...I have some more goodies to share...I made mums, and I will show you how!

My Friday Night Ritual

     We have a new ritual in my house. We have been frequenting a local Mexican eatery for the last four years, called "Old Mexico". Let me tell you, the family owned and operated restaurant is the gem of Independence, MO; located on 23rd street. Wow, the food is so good, and we have been going every Friday lately! Afterwards, we head over to a local cargo liquidation store to see what shopping gems we can find. I always look for inexpensive scrapbooking supplies of course! Then I make stuff and bring it into the restaurant the following week to show everyone. The young lady (Rosa) whom we have always preferred to wait on us because of her witty sarcasm (that we totally get), liked my mini books; so I decided to make one for Rosa.

     She loved it! When I brought it in, her mom saw it, and she happens to be a fellow cropper...yay! She wanted to steal it from Rosa:)  We instantly hit it off; talking about scrappy stuff...heck my margarita sits right there and has to wait for me to finish my scrappy talk with Sylvia, (Rosa's mom).

     The last time we ate there we went to the cargo liquidators, called Cargo Largo ( www.cargolargo.com ) and I got my weekly deals!

     Look at all this stuff! The paper set by Trinity http://www.trinitypaperarts.com/sincerely.html was only 5 bucks! I just love this set and for five bucks BOOYAH!! Hang on to your hat when I tell you that those two Martha Stewart punches together ($8 + $9 ) didn't cost as much as one usually does! The 33 count package of  3 layer, felt flowers with bling (that you can barely see) were 50 cents! The opal paper pen $1, mini clothespins $1.50, Making Memories brads $2, acrylic cling stamps by Autumn Leaves, Stampology; "Love Is In The Air" set was $1.50...can you believe it! Don't hate me...visit Cargo Largo and see what you can find! My last (caught out of the corner of my eye) scrap candy from last week was the corsage pins in the front; they are GOR-GEOUS and at $6 even more beautiful http://www.miltonadler.com/jewel_picks_large.htm here is a close up of the felt flowers, Martha Stewart monarch butterfly punch,  and a corsage pin; playing well with scraps I had laying around!

I couldn't wait to get back to the restaurant tonight, and brought along my colorful explosion box I recently made to show off, a nice tag, and a few silver handmade roses; for my new crop buddy Sylvia. Well I got more than tacos tonight...I was awarded the extreme pleasure of the responsibility of babysitting this for a whole week!

Oh my goodness, we are going to have so much fun playing together; little pinky slice and I... LOL!!!

Of course even though I have plenty of paper and a new toy to hang with; we still went to Cargo Largo and looked around...I found some paper abuse going on there!

The South African scrapbook supply company called FabScraps found its way into Cargo Largo...there was only one kit and someone dumped it out on the shelf into a messy pile ***GASP***

I just had to rescue it! I took it up to customer service and asked them to re-price the kit...ready for this? 15 BUCKS!

In addition to a FABulous find...they had two packages of copic markers for 12.99...they are $44 retail...I'm happy as heck because they allow me to color like this:

The rest of my Friday night will entail cutting, cropping, and coloring now...it's going to be Scraptacular weekend!

My First Explosion!

OK, I have seen these around, but never tried to make one; until now. This is my very first "explosion box". It is 

blank, and needs decorating (the photos could have been better as well) but I couldn't wait to post it! I will post the finished box after I decorate it thoroughly as well!

Mini Book Inspired by The Sea

I just love making mini-books. After scrapbooking 12 x 12 layouts for over ten years, I found something else I enjoy doing just as much. There are several ways to make a mini book. One way is to buy a pre-cut chipboard book kit and build from there. Another technique I love is building a mini book from paper bags. Here is the latest creation I came up with using 3 brown paper lunch sacks and a blank 6 x 6 chipboard book cover.

All you have to do is cut 3 6 x 12 pieces of scrapbook paper for the non-flap side and adhere. Then cut 6 x 10 and 6 x 4 pieces for the flap side. Use double sided tape on the edges of bottom flap to make pocket, and use a circle punch to make thumb slides for photo mats inside the book's pockets. 6 x 6 size photo mats can be cut and decorated to fit pocket pages (inside lunch bag), and tags can be made for flap pockets. Just decorate pages, and add embellishments. Punch holes and tie with ribbon or use a binding machine to add rings, d-rings, or binding wires. I used layered journal tags here to act as pull tabs for the inserted photo mats that are made using coordinating papers, but reside within the book pockets.

It's gonna be a happy scrappy weekend!

You have got to love a good scrapbook haul. We have a store here called "Cargo Largo" they liquidate damaged packaging products and sell them dirt cheap. I don't care if my new Martha Stewart punch has a scuff on it for 9-10 bucks...I can get a lot more goodies for the price of 2 punches...I got all this!

The pretty maroon ruffle scarf was only 50 cents...we'll save that for winter!
In the middle of it all...checking out my haul, then she has to be right in the middle of it all...my happy scrappy cat...Gabby! Most cats come running when they hear a can opener...my cat comes running when she hears a Cricut, a printer or a jar of embellishments jingle...LOL!!! Happy Scrapping everyone...the weekend has just begun!

Paper Roses

Paper Roses are for sale on Yardseller at : http://yardsellr.com/for_sale#!/embellishment-kit-3986426 if you would like to give it a whirl and make your own...this is how I did it :
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Qw8ZZ6moMUe_-fyDwfWDVReHImUKz1YY-Ek_PX5ij3c/edit#slide=id.p