These are a few of my favorite things

Today I thought I would share my favorite blogs. I have many more than I will share today but I jump for joy when I see these sites have a new post.

The Scrap Beach Community

This is an online community www.thescrapbeach.ning.com. Not so much a blog but a place to share photos, videos, chats and more! I love the people on this site. They make me happy and are a caring special group. Check it out if you haven't already.

Life's a Scrap Beach

This blog, as you might have guessed, is the blog of the founder of the community above, Kathryn! thescrapbeach.blogspot.com is a great blog. This site is where I got into mini albums. Kathryn literally taught me how to scrapbook. She has a great style and way of explaining things that just makes you think you can do what she does. I love her as a person and as a source of inspiration! Thank you for everything Kathryn!

Kristina Werner

I love this blog. www.kwernerdesign.com/blog Kristina makes mainly cards (though she has just started doing layout videos
every other week! YAY!) She does a video every Monday called Make a Card Monday (MACM) and also a video on Friday (Finally Friday). She has a great style, amazing ideas and uses patterns in a unique ans spectacular way! She is super inspiring. She makes Mondays happy! If you haven't seen her yet - run and check out her videos!


My Favorite Youtube Gals

I love the youtube e videos from livelovescrap (Bona @ keeponscrapping.blogspot.com), mybutterflykisses12 (Arlene @ butterflykisseswithlove.blogspot.com), Jadedstudios (Jade @ www.jadedstudios.blogspot.com) and so many more.

Thank you all for the inspiration! I love you all!

These are a few of my Favorite Things!

So it is Tuesday and time for another installment of favorite things! I thought this time I would focus more on my favorite things in my scraproom.

I love the color and the butterflies on my wall. Those two things put me in a great state of mind. Calm, happy and ready to create! I love the little basket from Michaels that holds my bling and a few mini roses. I keep it on my desk and it just looks pretty to me.

I love my Cuttlebug - of course I would love a Vagabond or Big Shot - but my Cuttlebug gets the job done and is one tough little machine! I am LOVING the Tim Holtz dies! Especially the Tattered Floral. I love the jean flower I made for the beach mini.

Of course, like everyone else, I love the white prima flowers. I love to alter them with inks, glimmermist, smooch and more! So versatile and easy to match each project.

I am obsessed with my Martha Stewart butterfly punches. I have (2) - punches that create a total of 3 sizes of butterflies all the same style so i can mix them together. I use them often to add that final touch.

I also love anything Tim Holtz - I am just plain crazy over his stuff! Distress inks, rock candy, masks, dies, stamps, tools, I love that you can go vintage, distressed, grungy or even clean in regards to style. I am a fan through and through and just wish I would win the lottery so I could buy his entire line of products. I get what I can, slowly. I have a great Tim inspired project to show you on Thursday so be sure to check back for that!

Most of all I love getting comments, So leave one will ya??? LOL! Have a great day and I will be back tomorrow with a haul.

Always,
Amy

These are a few of my Favorite Things

I bet you are all singing the tune from Sound of music now! LOL! So, during my Blogiversary month, each Tuesday I will be sharing some of my favorite things. I am going to start out with my favorite basic tools. I wouldn't say these are must haves but I certainly can't live without them now that I have them. I am sure you have all heard these raved about but I thought I would add my two cents.

First - My ATG gun. I know you've all heard about these wonderful tools. If you don't have one - get one! They now come in PINK for a CRAZY low price at www.customcrops.com! That would have saved me from altering mine (twice!). I love it now - a textured dark gray with cool silver rubons and bling! I use this tool on every project. Love it!

Second is my ranger craft sheet. Mine has certainly taken a beating but still works like a charm. I use it when I stamp, ink, glue, etc. I basically use it for everything except cutting. It is invaluable to get great blending technique and keep your mats from getting all bumpy with glue and glitter.

Third is the Tim Holtz ink blending tool (with foam or felt I love both for different uses!) With the foam it creates beautiful blending effects and soft edges. With the felt, you can play with alcohol inks - a new pass time of mine! Love them!

Fourth fav is my Tonic guillotine trimmer. I LOVE this thing! It always cuts a straight line...ALWAYS! I know that is what all trimmers claim to do and should do from a function standpoint but I have three trimmers in my closet that don't. I cannot tell you how frustrated I would get when I would cut a card, fold it and it was off a little - oh man I would get so mad! Finally I had had enough! I broke down and bought this trimmer and it was, hands down, the best scrap purchase I have made yet! I love it and it cuts chipboard! Highly recommend it and could go on forever!

Fifth basic that I cannot live without is a computer. I use this tool more than any other for scrapbooking. The inspiration from fellow scrap buddies on youtube and blogs is a MUST for learning and growing into this craft. When I first started I was clueless about what tools to buy, what techniques looked too scary (embossing) and how to approach a layout. I wasted money before I found the tools that worked best for me. I have learned so many techniques online. I have had so many different teachers over these 2 years and my scrapping has evolved so much. I learned you can scrap about your trip to the dentist and make it a really cool addition to a scrapbook. I go to the internet for ideas, for support, for friendship, for help when I am stuck, for tips on where to shop, to find out what's new and so much more. The computer is also where I do a lot of my journaling. I love handwritten journaling but sometimes you need to type it out first to edit and prevent those scratched out words. It is also nice to just type and print sometimes.

So there are my top five basic tools I need when I scrapbook. I know there is nothing earth shattering here and most, if not all, of you share my love of these things. I just wanted to honor the basics that help me do what I do. What is you favorite tool?

Thanks for listening! Please leave a comment and tune in tomorrow for more Blogiversary fun!

P.S. - How do you like the new background for the blog??