I’ve been so busy, I don’t think I ever posted this, but my friend ABBY (a supa-talented scrapper) sent me some sweet PRESSIES a while back. Not only is she an amazing scrapbook talent but the girl can sew, too!
In addition to the gorgeous, ribbon-trimmed tote she sent me, she also made some ribbon and crepe paper ruffles for me to use on layouts. Well, today was the perfect day to use one! A scrapbook message board I belong to has a challenge posted to use “journaling spot clusters” a la STEPHANIE HOWELL and since mine ended up being a girly-girl layout, I was able to use one of Abby’s ribbon ruffles.
Anyway, here is one of STEPHANIE’S LAYOUTS to show what is meant by journaling cluster … in other words, break out all those journaling stickers and die cuts and use them to tell your story, girlfriend!
Wow, okay! It’s going to be pretty embarrassing to put my layout right after Stephanie’s, who is one of my favorite scrappers and is so talented. What am I, a glutton for punishment?? Huh. I guess so. ‘Cuz this is where I post the layout that I did for the journaling spot cluster challenge – HA!
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Here’s a close-up of the journaling …
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A close-up of the ribbon ruffle … made by Abby :) Because I’m not allowed near a sewing machine.
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The layout is very bling-y and glittery in person, although my photo doesn’t show it that well. Here you can see the Stickles I added to the title, and some glitter brads.
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Almost all of the supplies are from the My Minds Eye “Home” line – the paper, die cuts, chipboard journaling spots, and the title. The font stamp is American Crafts “Ginger,” and the paper “XOXO” ribbon at the bottom is by Brenda Walton for K&Company. I also used “Icicle” Stickles, brown Cats Eye chalk ink, and Sugar Coated brads by Doodlebug. Oh, and border punches by Fiskars and Martha Stewart.
It felt so good to scrapbook again. I have to admit it’s been quite a while … since the last crop I went to over a month ago, ack! I hope you’ve been better about scrapping than I have. Well, now that my desk is cleared off, maybe I’ll get back into scrapping mode.
Below are the FIVE winners from THIS contest to win a free copy of CUT, PASTE, KILL by Marshall Karp …
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Nicole
June 23, 2010 5:15 am
I love the Laura Childs scrapbook mysteries, and I just picked up “cut Crop and Die” from the library. I love a good mystery book but throw in scrapbooking and I’m hooked!! Thanks for the chance.
lenainwonderland
June 21, 2010 9:53 am
I love mysteries and I love easy summer reads…add my favorite hobby to it and it may just be a perfect book =)
Jenny-Lynn Gilbert
June 21, 2010 12:35 pm
I love scrapbooking AND mysteries and I finally have some time to read grown up books now that school is out!
Thanks for the opportunity!
Jenny-Lynn
Reel Girl
June 21, 2010 9:16 am
I am an avid reader and am currently compiling my summer reading list! I would love to win a copy of this book — I would even pay it forward and pass on the book to my other scrapping/reading friends when I am finished!
This sounds like a perfect summer beach read!
Shelly
Vicki Morris
June 22, 2010 12:55 pm
I love to read and that book sounds like a must have for me. I have always enjoyed the Scrapbooking Mysteries by Laura Childs and this one sounds really good. I’d definately pass it along after I was done reading it. Have lots of friends who like to read alot too.
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CONGRATULATIONS! I will be contacting the winners via e-mail and sending their books out soon. Thank you to everyone who entered. It was such a pleasure to hear so many of you enjoy reading, scrapbooking, and scrapbooking novels as much as I do :)
Hey, mah favorite scrapbook peeps, I have some exciting news … I have FIVE copies of a new scrapbooking mystery novel to give away!!! It’s a hardcover version of “Cut, Paste, Kill” by Marshall Karp (retails for $26.99).
Here’s a description of the book from the publisher:
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In CUT, PASTE, KILL, Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs are two hip LAPD detectives who discover socialite Eleanor Bellingham-Crump dead on the floor of a hotel bathroom. Next to Eleanor’s lifeless body, the killer has left an intricate scrapbook documenting a motive of vengeance in lurid detail. As more bodies are found, each one connected to a scrapbook left at the scene, Lomax and Biggs must decode the meaning behind the scrapbooks before the avenger has time to cut and paste the story for another kill.
CUT, PASTE, KILL is laugh-out-loud funny, with perfect dialogue and zinging last lines. Joseph Finder, bestselling thriller writer, describes Marshall Karp as the “Woody Allen of the murder mystery—smart, fast-paced, clever, and really, really funny.”
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For some early reviews (three 5-star customer reviews as of when I posted this!), you can check out AMAZON.COM. By the by, you can purchase the book from Amazon if you don’t win a copy … hint, hint. Right now, the hardcover is selling for $17.15 new and a Kindle edition for $12.99.
I think this portion of a review posted to Amazon sums it up perfectly:
The bottom line is that this is perfect summer reading — ideal for a lazy Sunday afternoon or a holiday beach read. If you want a great “entertain me!” murder mystery, I don’t think you can do better than Cut, Paste, Kill. Highly recommended… at least for people who like to giggle.
This book was just released June 8, 2010 so you’ll be the first on your block to own it, LOL! I’ve been reading my copy and absolutely enjoying it. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, full of one-liners and fun relationships between the main characters. Yeah, it’s a murder mystery, but a lighthearted one :)
I’ve read scrapbooking mystery novels in the past (those byLAURA CHILDS andJOANNA CAMPBELL SLAN) and this one is a bit different. Instead of it reading as a mystery written by a scrapbooker, it’s more like a “regular” mystery novel that has scrapbooking as a plot device. It’s told through the eyes of two LAPD detectives, not through the lens of a scrapbooker. So, even if you’re not big into scrapbooking but just like reading mystery novels, you’ll enjoy this.
To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment on this post telling me why you want the book. I’m paying for the postage out of my own pocket, so PLEASE only enter if you’ll really read the book or know someone who will. If you have any friends who would be interested, please have them come enter!
Deadline is Friday, June 25, 2010* at midnight PST. Open to US residents only. One entry per person. FIVE winners will be chosen via Random.org.
* Deadline changed as of 6/22/10
Good luck and happy reading!
FTC Disclosure.ST MARTINS PRESS provided me with 6 free books. I received no monetary compensation. They are providing the books to the winners of this giveaway.
Word on the street is that Costco had new Cricut cartridges on sale 3 for $98 through Sunday. I cannot confirm nor deny since I just heard this today and won’t be able to get there.
Did anyone see this or take advantage of it? Do tell!
Either PROVO CRAFT has no idea what they’re doing, or they know EXACTLY what they’re doing. You be the judge.
As they tend to do with new products, Provo Craft got the hype going with their new “product,” the Cricut Circle, some time back.
I didn’t even bother trying to guess what in the hell it was, but you can bet the CRICUT MESSAGE BOARD was a-chirping with anticipation. I heard some DISCUSSION about it on the scrapbook message boards but, honestly, I think they’ve alienated so many customers with the CRICUT CAKE ISSUE, the SCAL/Design Studio issue, and others … that less people bother to get excited than before.
Another recent PC faux pas may have been the release of the CRICUT GYPSY, which is an awesome gadget (I talk about wanting one HERE) but the retail price … $300 … was a bit steep for most everyone I spoke to about it. With the economy what it is, I’m not sure it was the right time to release such a high ticket item. It will be interesting to see what the long-term success of the Gypsy is.
Anyway, you know and I know that everyone (okay, MOST everyone) is broke right now. We’re pickin’ quarters out of the couch cushions and rubbing them together with our 40% coupons from Michaels and Hobby Lobby to get some new scrap goodies once in a while. Now, into that climate, I introduce to you … the much-anticipated (erm… or not ….) CRICUT CIRCLE!!!!
This is the information that went out in an e-mail to prospective customers yesterday:
================== What Exactly is the Cricut Circle?
The CRICUT CIRCLE by Provo Craft is a select community of Cricut® enthusiasts. Cricut owners are the most creative, passionate, social, and fun-loving people on the planet. The Cricut Circle is our way to celebrate your enthusiasm (and ours!) for Cricut! The shape of the circle signifies inclusion, unity, kinship (think King Arthur and the round table). The goal of The Cricut Circle from Provo Craft is designed to bring this community of amazing people together to learn, share, and grow The Circle love!
What does life look like inside the Cricut Circle?
Four exclusive cartridges a year, one each quarter, (starting with French Manor) ONLY available to The Cricut Circle members.
Special buying privileges like rebates, monthly coupons, and opportunities to buy other exclusive products for your Cricut, from friends and partners of Provo Craft.
Extra reward points and special cricut.com discounts.
A members-only bracelet with an exclusive Cricut Circle charm (get ready to be the envy of your friends).
A special Cricut Circle Community will come together through an exclusive Cricut Circle forum on cricut.com.
Inspiration and education from exclusive Cricut Circle webinars, swarms, meet-ups, and events.
A fun Cricut Circle blog and a monthly project-inspired online magazine to fill your mind with ideas galore.
Charter members will have access to information and opportunities to become a part of the decision making process of future Cricut products by participating on research panels.
Officially, the Cricut Circle Charter Membership launches June 2010, and YOU have been chosen to become a charter member of The Circle. We are extending this offer to the top 3% of our Cricut fans on Cricut Rewards and those who have registered their Provo Craft products.
The invitation to become a Charter Member of The Circle expires June 30, 2010 and is non-transferable.
To solidify a premier Charter Member number and receive 800 Cricut Reward Points, take advantage of invitations to galas, swarms and events, JOIN NOW!
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And what does all this Cricut craziness cost, you ask? A mere $275 a year or $80 per quarter, folks! You can afford that, right??? Your dresser drawers are lined with money just waitin’ to be spent, huh?!?!?!
{Interestingly, the price for the fantabulous deal wasn’t mentioned in the e-mail. You gotta go elsewhere to find it.}
So what I love most about the Peas is that they tell it like it is … and it don’t appear to be pretty at this point. HERE is a thread with some early reaction, and HERE is another (this thread is called “Who else got the ridiculous invite to the Cricut Circle?”). THIS ONE is called, “Who is excited about the Cricut Circle!!!!!” and as of press time, it had 2 responses, both of which weren’t “excited!”
The major problem appears to be the high price, first and foremost. Also, paying that high price and not knowing ahead of time which-all cartridges you’ll get. And the idea of cartridge exclusivity turns a lot of people off anyway.
I don’t have a dog in this fight because, while I have a Baby Bug, I’m not a rabid Cricut fan nor do I harbor the hatred for Provo Craft that many do these days. I’m just sharing what I’m hearing and letting you be the judge.
My conclusion is that Provo Craft is either extremely out of touch with what their customers and consumers in general want … or they know something we don’t know and they’re still making lots of bank off of products and “exclusive memberships” like the Cricut Circle. Either way, they seem to keep coming up with new products and they are always “in the press.” You gotta’ give ’em that …
Here are some pics from recent trips to Michaels …
This is the new “Traveler” line by Me and My Big Ideas (MAMBI). I love the color combo of ocean-y blues and greens, peaches/yellows/oranges, and black/white. It has a vintage feel but modern at the same time, which made me think of my friend ABBY and the Seattle album she’s working on … Wonder if she’ll like this line?
I think I’ve shown you the Recollections and Prima on the left side of this photo, but the gorgeous butterflies and pretty flower packs on the right are new ….
All kinda’ bling bling … Please ignore any SALE signs, as these sales are no longer going.
This was a whole endcap of new Making Memories embellishments called “Design Shop” which reminded me so much of Jolee’s, I had to wonder if they’re owned and/or made by the same company.
Some cute things here … these were 2 of my favorites. It’s hard to tell, but many of them are 3-D
Here are some recent purchases of mine from Michaels. Aren’t the Recollections trims cute? The red hearts are felt, then the 2 ribbons, and the turquoise dingle balls … so fun! The Super Mom stuff from MAMBI is chipboard and really pretty shades of pink and green. That color combo always makes me happy :) The school stickers by MAMBI on the right are epoxy, and I love the circle shape where you can cluster 3 together, or use 1 on a card for your favorite teacher. I bought them to use on yearbook pages and teacher “thank you” cards.
The Making Memories “Passport” metal clips on the bottom are from Target. I just thought they were purdy.
That’s it for Mike’s.
Now you’re asking, “What in the heck do throw pillows have to do with scrapbooking?” Well, I found these at Costco for a great price and they’re for the couch in my scrapbook room. It doesn’t show up great in the photo, but the color is really pretty … it’s like a lighter or muted robin’s egg blue. It’ll go nicely with all the other blues and greens, pale yellow, and white in my space. Another great thing is that they are durable – made from a thick, linen-textured fabric that will hold up well to my kids piling on them and many years of me lying back on them to read my scrapbook magazines and idea books. So glad I found these …
These are all from Making Memories, the little flower jars and a metal tin of flowers. The jars are plastic and I’ll reuse them when I’m done for storage on my stamp shelf. I love that you get a length of green and white ribbon, too. The tin is deceiving so be careful if you buy them. I haven’t opened the tin yet, but I noticed in the store when I was deciding whether to buy them that – no – the tin is not FILLED with flowers. There is one layer of them pressed against the little window, then it’s all padding underneath. So be aware that you’re not getting very many flowers in this package. To me, it was worth it because I’m going to re-use the tin and because of the discounted price.
As you can see here, the jars and the tin cost $1.99 each.
My best find was this set of paper ribbons by K&Co.!! You get 4 packages in a variety of colors and styles for only $3.99. I believe these retail for $3.99 PER PACK, so to get 4 packs for that price is amazing. They are so pretty in person, especially the one on the far right with the distressed colors. But they’re all very nice.
So those are my latest shopping adventures! Did you see anything you like?