Friday, August 28, 2009

...Another Woman's Treasure

So yesterday I showed you some things that Charlien brought by the shop for projects. Here's what I did with them.



I wrapped the tea tin in American Crafts ribbon and tied knots with tuffs to keep them in place. No glue anywhere. I thought it might make a cute candy dish or something. At first, I thought about covering it in paper but that seemed like the obvious thing to do!



I covered the board book with the new "Stomp" Paper from My Mind's Eye. Isn't it cute? I figured it could make a cute mini album, or maybe your young author can fill it with an imaginative tale. Anyhow, with the filing set, ink on the edges and tulle to cover up the uncovered parts, it look original!



Last but not least I turned the wooden toy house into a spooky haunted house with the new collection "The Spider's Web" from My Mind's Eye. The roof feature glazed cardstock from Bazzill. I used the house to trace the pieces and my favorite, Zip Dry glue. Then I covered up any blank spaces with a sharpie. Distress Ink finished up the piece.


Have something you want to turn into a treasure? Send me a before and after photo and description and your project may just be on the blog next.



Thursday, August 27, 2009

One Woman's Junk...

...can be another's treasure. Last night Charlien brought by some things she was going to get rid of & asked if I could use them for a project. I told her I'd see what I could do with the tea tin, board book and wooden toy house.
Tomorrow, you'll see the results. Stay tuned!
Sonja

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Sonja's Shop Hop Safari Trek

I finally had a chance to shop hop myself on Monday! Waa - hoo. And since mom was in town, she came with! We scaled back our rather ambitious plans to cover orange county and part of the san gabriel valley and stayed in the OC, since I was try to rendezvous with a couple vendors to pick up orders as well. Here's a glimpse of our journey 160 mile, 7 store journey!

The first stop was at Scrapbooking Heaven in Westminster where I scored on some hard to find Jolee's and got a nifty notepad for my purse. I love the mini shells in the make 'n' take kit! Funny story...as we were leaving I tried to get into a different white Camry! I kept putting my key in the lock & turning but nothing happened. Then mom calls out my name, I look up and she's standing one car over...at my car. Blond moment!!

*****

Then we headed over a couple streets to The Scrapbook Garden in Huntington Beach, which is actually not to far from where I used to live. I found some cool rhinestone embellies as well as those spinners from Cosmo Cricket....never tried those before. Also, I picked up some Spica pens that I've heard some great things about. I'll give 'em a try and let you know. Mom found some awesome papers and I even got her to pose for the camera! And don't you love their "Wild Thing" Make 'n' Take. I also found the best sign there that I MUST have for the shop. I immediately uploaded it to my facebook page.


While at The Scrapbook Garden, we also ran into lead Fiskateer Cheryl (she was at my shop on Saturday) and scored some cool Fiskar's giveaways. Check our Cheryl's blog and her shop hop schedule and you just might spot her out there, too!
*****
Then it was off to Oh, Scrap! in Costa Mesa. Don't you just love the name? When I lived in Costa Mesa, there was another scrapbook store in the same shopping complex...isn't that funny. Anyhow, mom found a ton of paper she loved and I picked up some of the Robin's Nest Dew Drops that I've heard so much about and some gorgeous flowers. Very vintage.

*****


After lunch we meandered through Irvine trying to pick up the 241 toll road to get to Timeless Treasures. I rarely consult maps, preferring to rely on my keen sense of direction...ha ha ha! This led to passing under and over the toll road numerous times until we actually got to Rancho Santa Margarita. Oh well! But Timeless Treasures is well worth the drive and you won't be disappointed! I picked up some Core'dinations cardstock to play with and my mom found lots of soccer and travel stuff.


*****

Then it was off to The Red Bee in Tustin and this time I successfully picked up the toll road so we were there in no time at all. Besides having a great scrapbooking selection, they are a full service craft store with goodies for beading, knitting and home decor. Among other things, I scored some neat pumpkins for my Halloween display, distress stickles which I've never tried before and my fave pink pen. Mom got some yarn and some great papers.

*****
Then it was off to Scrappin' in the Hills in Anaheim Hills where I was so tired I forgot to take a picture of there store front, but they're next to a cigar shop, too! Ha ha! I've been visiting this shop off and on since I moved to socal 11 years ago since it's just down the street from where my aunt & uncle live. With so much to choose from, I focused on picking out some things from a technique I've never tried before...embossing with Lasting Impressions. I got a die, the embosser, embossing paper and a few more goodies. Can't wait to try them.

*****
Our last stop was The Scrappin' Table in Placentia where I also forgot to take a picture of the storefront. Sorry! There were so many things I could have picked up, but I got the Copic markers to give them a try and some new stuff called Sparkly Fluff...you know how much I love my flocking! Mom picked out some papers and great mini - alpha stickers from My Little Shoebox. So much fun!



Then it was time for home...so with our goodies in the backseat and pick-up stix take out for dinner, we headed west on the Imperial Hwy until we picked up the 105 for home. Gotta love that loop. It was so much fun. I wish I could visit the other Shop Hop stores, but I'm looking forward to that next year!

Sonja

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Sample Sneak Peaks

I got to play yesterday and my creativity was reinspired! Yay! So here are some samples, not only of my work, but goodies that are coming in!


Tattered Angels

As always Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels is one of my all time faves. I know you won't believe me when I say I did the sample in 15 minutes, but I did....I promise! And you can, too! Tattered Angels is releasing some really cool products designed especially for 12x12 formats, perfect scrapbookers. I have all of the new stencils, stamps and colors coming in as well as a few other things!
Cosmo Cricket



This is a snap shot of one of the cards I made from the new line called "The Boyfriend". I don't have to have one of those to know that this line ROCKS! Not only is it geared for the men in your life but it's also a great twist on a school them. Notice the old school SAT paper? Anyhow, you'll love it and I have it on order!

Melissa Frances
This is an altered art mixed media goody that features lots of great vintage inspired products, all of which are on order. I loved learning how to use Mica flakes and can't wait for you to try it, too! Also coming in vintage tinsel, crepe paper, bottle brush trees and a fabulous paper collection called French Twist. It has Sonja's Scrapbook Spot written all over it!

Graphic 45
Close your eyes, think vintage Christmas and the images you see you'll find in the Graphic 45 collection. It's stunning. I couldn't resist ordering it. And, I have the pattern for this project, so you know we'll be making it at the shop. Also, I bought some of the papers from their Renaissance collection.



Also on it's way...new flowers and dazzlers from Petaloo, new felt borders from Queen & Co and the niftiest die cut chipboard embellishments you've ever seen.

Ok...off to meet with my American Crafts sales rep and see what they have!




Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Welcome Shop Hoppers to the Jungle of LA!

Welcome to the wilds of LA! I'm so glad you're on your way to the shop and can't wait to meet each of you! Here's a glimpse of our make n take, featuring screen prints from Hambly Studios and paper from Glitz Design.



The shop is located at the Promenade at Howard Hughes Center. Here's the view if you enter from the Sepulveda Blvd entrance.


(photo courtesy of Laura Funk from Glitz Design)

The shop is easy to access off the 405 free way as well. Take the Howard Hughes exit and make your first right. You can't miss the mall.

Once here, you'll need to find a place to park. Try to park as close as you can to the Valet station and take the escalators that lead to center court. This will save you as much walking as possible. Bathrooms are also located on Center Court and I do not have facilites at the shop. Also, have $2 ready to park, and you'll need to pay in advance if you visit the shop on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

There's lots of yummy placed to eat at the mall. Click here for the directory. I'll also have some refreshments for you, so my shop makes an excellent pit stop.

My shop hop hours are:
Tuesday - Thursday 11am - 7pm
Friday & Saturday 10am - 8pm
Sunday noon - 6pm
Monday Closed

If you're running late and you're not sure if you'll make it on time, call the shop and let me know. I'll do my best to stay open wait for you.
310-410-7272