CHA Unibind PhotoBook Creator Give Away!
- posted by: Angela
- posted in: Uncategorized
- on: July 28, 2010
Today at CHA, I spent time with my friends in the Unibind booth doing a fun “make & take” I thought would be fun to share with you. I have gathered a collection of new Colorbök paper and embellishments, used some of the latest Fiskars’ border punches to create decorative edges on the pages and I got to professionally bind them all together in a little photo book. Quick work with the Fiskars drill and anyone participating in this make & take with me can add some ribbon and, in just a few minutes they’ll have a little wristlet book to carry around and take notes in while they’re at CHA. Here are some photos I took as I worked on my sample at home (this was a late night project so please excuse the crazy lighting):
I think a fun way to celebrate the first day of the CHA in Spirit online crop is to give away a whole kit to a lucky Fiskateer, don’t you? Please leave a comment telling me what you’d use the PhotoBook Creator for (and you can get some great ideas on their website here: www.myphotobookcreator.com/) and I will send you a Photobook Creator by Unibind, lots of gorgeous paper and embellishments from our friends at Colorbök, a Fiskars drill and at least one of the new Fiskars border punches. Now THAT’s a prize worthy of CHA, don’t you think? You have until the end of day on Friday to comment to be entered into the random drawing. And you never, know, if you have a REALLY creative idea for the Photobook Creator, Unibind might just be moved to offer TWO prizes….
Happy CHA in Spirit Day!
- posted by: the leads
- posted in: Uncategorized
- on: July 28, 2010
We would like to send Fisk-a-hugs to all our Fiskateer friends who can’t be with us in Chicago this week. We hope that you will jump right in with Stephanie and her Fiskateer helpers as they bring CHA right here to our online community. We are looking forward to seeing how you fill up the gallery with all the challenges that will be presented today and Saturday so grab a snack, pop on your favorite tunes and get your papercrafting groove on. While you’re doing that, we will do our best to represent the Fiskateer community in the most professional (and orange) way we know how. In fact, right about now, we’re probably somewhere in Chicago doing something like this:
Happy CHA in Spirit Day, Fiskateers!
Tunes for the CHA in Spirit Online Crop
- posted by: Angela
- posted in: Uncategorized
- on: July 27, 2010
As I sit here in Chicago surrounded by Legend Wendy Jo, Leads Rebecca & Tami- Legend Stephenie is playing us music from her iPhone and I have to say, I’ve never been a music aficionado. My car radio is always tuned to my local NPR new station. When I do find a song or an artist I like, I listen to it over and over (and over). I think the repetition soothes me and, if I know a song very well, I don’t have to stop what I’m doing and listen to the words and story as much as I do with new songs. This has meant that Pandora.com has been a fantastic find for me. I can type in one song or artist and listen to very similar music, for free, for hours while I craft without getting too distracted. One artist I found through Pandora has popped up in my life in so many coincidental ways that years ago I dedicated a whole Pandora channel to her and I’ve listened to it fairly regularly ever since.
If I were home joining in on the CHA in Spirit Crop right now with you, you can bet I’d be listening to Pandora.com. The cool thing is, I just realized I can share the channel with friends so if you’d like to get a taste of what I listen to, check out my Missy Higgins channel here: http://www.pandora.com/?sc=sh71952960125809025 However, maybe it’s time I branched out a little bit- what do YOU listen to when you craft? Are you a Pandora.com listener? Share a link to your station or your favorite artist/album/song in the comment section here and help me expand my musical tastes a little bit. Maybe crafters have musical tastes in common too?
We must be insane part 2
- posted by: Tami
- posted in: Uncategorized, Crafts
- on: July 27, 2010
Rebecca did such an amazing job using the fabrics to make her adorable skirts. I took the cheater way out and amended a thrift shop find for my skirt. I also enlisted my mom for the job. She’s an amazing seamstress and can make absolutely anything you can imagine in her sewing room. Magic happens in there and it’s where I first learned to love the orange handled scissors. She’s been sewing so much for me lately that she asked me to buy orange thread for her because she’s almost out. I’m lucky to have such a kind and talented mom. Thanks Mom.
An Incredible Elegant Venue - Les Sirenes
- posted by: Cheryl
- posted in: Uncategorized, Crafts, My Life, Scrap Life, Projects
- on: July 26, 2010
Before heading off to CHA I wanted to share with you an incredible crafting event I attended about a week ago. This is one of several elegant and beautiful events put on by a friend, Kim Caldwell from Artistic Bliss. Kim and I met through the industry and knew of each other in the Stampington and Company circle. I have always admired her incredibly detailed events which began in her beautiful home and grew from there. She chooses the most unique and lovely places to host her events and puts such care and detail into each event.
I was so blessed to have had the chance to do a make and take at her Les Sirenes event in Manhattan Beach a week ago last Friday. I enjoyed seeing fiskateer friends, friends new and old. It was such an awe inspiring adventure under the sea with mermaids and sparkle. Her events include classes from talented gifted artists, swaps that include things such as beautiful purses, wall hangings, boxes and more. The event includes a vendor night where unique pieces of art are found, classes, a special trip to local flea markets and inspiring places, goodies galore, a crafting and pampering experience you will long not forget.
Here are some photos from the event. The first is of Kim (such a sweet and wonderful gal) and I. Kim even gave Gail and I a lovely gift . . . I’m officially a California Mermaid. The second photo is of Melissa Phillips (one of the teachers at the event and a sweetheart) and I. A photo of a dear fiskateer Teri and I being goofy and some gals I haven’t seen in about a year. Lastly some lovely photos of the decor and vendors to give you a taste of her event.
I wanted to thank Kim for allowing me and for allowing the Fiskateers to be a part of her wonderful underwater experience. If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of Kim’s events . . . you will be pampered, inspired and touched!
I’m Leaving on a Jet Plane (Again!)
- posted by: Angela
- posted in: Uncategorized
- on: July 26, 2010
Last minute post before I finish the last details of my packing and then tomorrow I’m off to the gorgeous city of Chicago to meet up with the other Leads (and Legend Stephenie and Wendy Jo). I have been packing up make & take kits for Unibind, Hambly Screenprints and for the Fiskateer SuperShow Class. And like Rebecca (see post below), I have also been working on my skirts using the fabric Rebecca had donated for us to use. Hers are GORGEOUS (and I should have talked her into making mine). She’ll probably kill me when she sees that instead of going through all the work of making skirts from scratch, I have added my fabric to pre-made skirts that I picked up at the thrift store. In the first photo, you’ll see I was contemplating using a favorite skirt of mine at first. Then in the second, I had panicked and made a mad dash to the local thrift shop. I think my end result is simple (kind of like how I scrapbook) but very cute… keep your eye out for photos from CHA so you can see the finished skirts (it’s too late to get a decent photo with good lighting now). We have lots of Fiskateers joining us in Chicago and I will be encouraging them to add photos to the gallery and I’m sure my skirts will show up in several of the photos I post when I get home, too.
Speaking of CHA, are you ready for the online “CHA in Spirit” day crop heading your way this Wednesday and Saturday? Stephanie and her Fiskateer friends have been following your suggestions on my “what would you like to see at the online crops” thread. The other Leads and I are providing lots of prizes and I will have a few special giveaways on the blog direct from CHA so keep on your toes this week and get everything ready to crop ’til you drop!
We Must Be Insane!
- posted by: Rebecca
- posted in: Uncategorized
- on: July 25, 2010
For some reason the four of us thought it would be cute if we all made skirts for CHA. I think we must have been temporarily insane!! I just finally got around to making mine this morning, yikes! We all got the same pieces of fabric, so I’m curious to see what everyone else’s will look like - I’m sure they’ll all be different.
Here’s a sneak peek at mine:
Do you think they’re Fiskateer-y enough??
More Pairing of Fiskars Tools and New Releases
- posted by: Cheryl
- posted in: Uncategorized, Crafts, My Life, Scrap Life, Tools, Techniques, Projects
- on: July 24, 2010
It’s been fun hearing what lines and tools you enjoy pairing up. I have so enjoyed using pairing up Fiskars tools and a new paper line by Donna Salazar!
We’re talking Christmas, ‘Weathered Winter’ and ‘Kiss the Cook’ lines that are so much fun. The distressed look is elegant and so arty! Kudos to Donna for such lovely releases! Love it! The designs could also be used for beach themed layouts, Fall or otherwise! I included a couple photos of one line that came out last show but just love it. I love how Fiskars tools are so totally versatile whether they go with a particular theme or not.
Tell me what punches or Fiskars tools you see in these layouts. You’ll notice I made some of my own embellishments like the suede and other flowers. I’d love to know if you’ve ever made your own and what you made! Let’s share. What about a way you’ve used a Fiskars tool in an ‘out of the box’ type of way?
I’ll chose a random winner and will giveaway a couple of my all time favorite punches . . . you’ll have to wait and see.
Jewelry Makeover
- posted by: Tami
- posted in: Crafts, Projects, Inspiration
- on: July 23, 2010
Sometimes you just can’t find what you want for jewelry or what you have doesn’t cut it anymore. When that happens, it’s time for a makeover. I picked up a not so pretty necklace at the thrift shop that had good bones to make into something to suit my purposes. It had chili peppers on it and the colors weren’t good for me. So, I brought it home, cut off all the peppers and ribbons was left with a somewhat dirty, but silver necklace. I took it to the sink for a good scrubbing and dried it off. I had a great new skeleton to make into something new. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but I have an affinity for old buttons. I scavenge for them everywhere I go, and sometimes people give them to me. This necklace was the perfect avenue to show them off. I took out a pile of vintage buttons and some hand dyed silk ribbon threaded through a big needle and got to work. It was a little hit and miss at first, but I got my groove on eventually. The needle made it easy to thread the ribbon through the buttons. I just wove the ribbon through the necklace and buttons at regular intervals and tied it off at the end. I could change all of this out with another color or design since it’s just woven and tied on. Here are the photos of the before, during, and after.
Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this. I’d love to hear about any of your jewelry makeover or button scavenging adventures.
Fiskateer Supershow Jewelry Class
- posted by: Cheryl
- posted in: Uncategorized
- on: July 22, 2010
I thought I’d share with you a little crafty peek at my project for the Fiskateer Supershow Jewelry Class. Each of us leads will be doing a different jewelry pendant. We have limited time so they aren’t very difficult but definitely fun and crafty. So I thought I’d share a sneak peek. Not the best photos but you get the jist.
Now I know we all can’t be at CHA and I surely don’t want you fine fiskateers on-line to miss out. I’m happy to share the ‘how to’ for this project with you after the class. What do you think?