Want a chance to win 2 tickets to the last Creative Escape Weekend from Bazzill Basics?? All you have to do is answer one question correctly ~ easy enough...

In one of the blog posts at www.creativeescapeaz.com you will read the sentence, "Everyone who has tried out the classes have given ______ reviews." Fill in the blank with the missing word ~ it's that easy!!

Send an email to Melissa@bazzillbasics.com with the word ENTER TO WIN in the subject line and include the missing word. Everyone with the correct answer will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win two FREE registrations to Creative Escape (travel and hotel are not included and prize has no cash value). Winner will be selected on June 20, 2011.

We have a winner!!

Lesa wrote, "Seriously??? I could win this paper??? That would be so cool cuz where I live, It won't be around here in a dog's age!! Thanks for the chance!!! Love me some Bazzill!!!"

Seriously Lesa, you are the winner!! Congratulations!! Please email Tamara at thanes@allamericancrafts.com with your mailing details to get your prize!!

Keep checking back for more great ideas and chances to win from Scrapbooking & Beyond and Paper Creations magazines!!

Hello! I’m Lisa Brennan from Bazzill Basics Paper, here to share information about our new line of premium cardstock (drum roll please!)

….


Bazzill is adding a line of colorful, textured paper for artists who like tearing, embossing, distressing, inking, or sanding to create a unique, one-of-a-kind look.



Each sheet of 12x12, premium cardstock has a delicious sounding name, but offers the convenience of crafting with two yummy colors all scooped into one paper. Some of the mouth-watering flavors include:

Strawberry Cheesecake
Tutti Fruitti
Orange Sorbet
Irish Mint
Mountain Blackberry
Tin Roof
S’mores
Rocky Road
Cookies and Cream and more!



Each sheet can be used as is - or the second flavor (shown along the strip with the bar code) can be revealed creating a decadent color combination. Try ripping or sanding and watch for the fabulous results.





We’ve even added a choice of “sprinkles” on top. There are three simple, embossed textures to choose from, so pick your favorite: Dots, Flowers, or Cathedral Window.





Do you want to sample any of our 32 flavors? Be sure to leave your comments by Monday May 9th, for a chance to win three sheets of every color in the Two Scoops line!!! Good Luck!!


And one more thing….
Help Stephen say THANK YOU to U.S. troops overseas
Donations are being accepted from anyone who would like to create handmade thank you cards on Stephen’s behalf. For every five cards sent to Bazzill, the maker will be entered into a drawing to win two FREE tickets to the last Creative Escape 2011...the ultimate scrapbook indulgence (travel and accommodations, not included).
Cards must be received by July 1, 2011. Go to www.creativeescapeaz.com to download and fill out the entry form and mail it along with the cards to: Stephen’s Thank You Card Project/Bazzill Basics Paper, 7001 W. Erie St., Ste. 2, Chandler, AZ 85226

We have a winner!!

Congratulations goes out Carolyn Bosley who will receive a basket of goodies from Ranger!! Please email me with your details so that you can get started with your shrinky charms!! Thanks from Tamara and the rest of our staff!! thanes@allamericancrafts.com

Hi, Everyone. I’m Patti Behan, Ranger’s Marketing Coordinator. I’m excited to share my favorite Ranger product of the moment with you….our New Inkssentials Shrink Plastic.
You can do so many fun things with it! One of the things I love most of all is its thickness when it shrinks, it’s really durable for jewelry making. You can make charms and custom embellishments. What’s really cool is that you can even die cut letters for titles on scrapbook pages and sentiments on cards. Here is a charming project where I did just that.

Here are some additional tips when using our Shrink Plastic:
• The pieces will shrink about 45% from original size and to 1/16” thick
• You can shrink them with a Heat Tool on an Inkssentials Non-Stick Craft Sheet or bake on a non-stick surface in a regular oven or toaster oven at 300-350 degrees for several minutes
• Stamp on it with Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink or Adirondack Pigment Ink
• Color with Adirondack Pigment Pens or Alcohol ink
• Paint sanded and shrunken pieces with Claudine Hellmuth Studio Acrylic Paints or Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabbers

Need some more ideas? Check out these other Shrink Plastic projects on Ranger’s Website to jumpstart your creativity. Be sure to leave your comments by March 21st for a chance to win a prize package of Ranger goodies!! Contest winner we will announced March 22nd, so watch this space!


http://www.rangerink.com/projects/cards/projects_cards_shrinkPlasticButterfly.htm
http://www.rangerink.com/projects/jewelry/projects_jewelry_keychainWin2011MITI.htm



Inkssentials Shrink Plastic Thank You Card
Created by: Patti Behan

Materials List:
Ranger:
• Inkssentials™ Surfaces Shrink Plastic
• Archival Ink™ Pad -Jet Black
• Tim Holtz® Adirondack® Alcohol Ink-Red Pepper and Cranberry
• Inkssentials™ Alcohol Ink Blending Tool and Felt
• Inkssentials™ Non-Stick Craft Sheet™
• Inkssentials™ Heat it Craft Tool™
• Inkssentials™ Pop It Shapes-Circles
• Inkssentials™ Wonder Tape
• Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi-Medium-Matte
Tim Holtz® idea-ology®:
• Lace Chain
• Sanding Grip
Core’dinations Distress Cardstock-Fired Brick, Black Soot and Antique Linen
Jenni Bowlin Red/Black Line Extension III - Petite Red Floral paper
Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 Stamps by Stampers Anonymous Art Colors Life stamp set
Prima Clementine Bella flower
Provocraft
• Cricut Expression Machine
• Gypsy
• Mini Monograms Cartridge
Sizzix®
• Tim Holtz® Alterations™ Stylized Label Bigz Die
• Heart Die
Hole punch

Instructions:

1. Cut an 8-1/2” x 5-1/2” rectangle from Fired Brick cardstock. Fold in half to create a 4-1/4” x 5-1/2” card.
2. Cut a 4” x 5-1/4” rectangle from Black Soot cardstock and glue to the center of card.
3. Cut a 3-3/4” x 5” rectangle from Petite Red Floral paper and glue to center of black cardstock.
4. Diecut Stylized Labed from Antique Linen Paper. Sand diecut and ink edges with Jet Black Archival Ink by swiping the pad along the edge. Glue to the center of the card.
5. Cut a 2-1/2” diameter circle from Black Soot cardstock using Mini Monograms cartridge and Expression machine. Attach the circle to the center of the label using Pop It Shapes.
6. Cut “THANK YOU” out of shrink plastic using Mini Monograms cartridge (Note: Use Gypsy to size letters so they are 5/8” in height and put the multi-cut setting on 3.)
7. Working on the Non-Stick Craft Sheet, use Heat It Craft Tool to shrink plastic.
8. Color shrunken letters with Red Pepper and Cranberry Alcohol Ink. Let dry. Glue letters onto label with Multi-Medium.
9. Cut 1-1/2” heart out of Shrink Plastic Using Sizzix Heart Die and Big Shot Machine. Punch a hole in the top center of the heart. Stamp flowers onto heart using Jet Black Archival ink. Shrink with Heat it tool. Color opposite side of heart with Red Pepper and Cranberry Alcohol Ink.
10. Cut a small piece of chain and attach to Prima flower and heart charm with jump rings.
11. Attach flower to card with Wonder Tape.

Retro Birthday Greetings

Designed by Deborah March




Whether 1950 or 2011, a woman's work is never done! Only the appliances have changed it seems. The collection of retro cards featured here puts a humorous, yet contemporary spin on a real blast from the past. So dig out those rickrack aprons and "bobby pins" and bake yourself a batch of cards to give to anyone who loves to cook or can remember the way mom's kitchen looked. We've come a long way, baby!







Materials (for all)
Cardstock in aqua, coral, gold, light blue, and white
Crafty Secrets
• Pastel Paper Pad in blue print
• Creative Scraps Domestic Goddess vintage images
• Stamp in Butterfly

Ink pad in black
Ellison Sizzix
• Die Cut Machine
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder in Buttons,
Flourish Farm, and Medallion
Spellbinders Nestabilities in Scalloped Rectangles
1/8"-wide Satin ribbon in blue and yellow
3/4"-wide lace in white
Flat-backed pearls in large (2) and small (2)
Small eyelets in white, four
7/8"-dia. clay flowers in pink, two
7/8"-dia. paper flowers in blue, two
1/4"-dia. buttons in white, two
Eyelet setter tool
Krylon
• Gold Leafing Pen in 18Kt.
• Matte Finish Spray

Duncan
• Aleene's Crystal Clear Tacky Spray
• Aleene's Original Tacky Glue
• Aleene's Paper Glaze
• Tulip Glam it Up! Iron On Crystals in blue (4),
clear (4), and yellow (5)
• Tulip Fashion Glitter Bond
• Tulip Fashion Glitter in Blue, Clear, and Gold
Foam dots
Double-sided adhesive
Computer, printer, scissors, ruler, pencil


Inspiration
Refer to project photos for inspiration to recreate your own retro cards. Use coral or white cardstock for card bases. Choose vintage image of choice and print out onto white cardstock. Then, accent edges with Gold Leafing Pen or Glitter Bond and glitter in color of choice. Use foam dots to adhere matted image onto coral or aqua cardstock with a 1/8" straight or scalloped border. Computer print sentiments onto white cardstock and cut into strips as shown. Dry emboss blue, coral, and white cardstock as shown or as desired. Arrange cut cardstock rectangles, vintage image, and embellishments onto card front as shown or as desired, referring to project photo of finished cards.

Spring Bonus

For many of us living in cold climates, it's been a long and very bitter winter. But the snow is melting, and spring is just around the corner. So, we decided to feature a special springtime collection of cards to herald the early arrival of blue skies and warmer weather. Bravo is the first of 8 that we will present to you here!

Enjoy!



Bravo
Designed by Michele Boyer

The graceful curve of this ballerina’s dress was stamped several times, then colored and layered for maximum effect, adding both dimension and sweet appeal.

Materials
Prism Cardstock in Crabapple Light
My Favorite Things
• Cardstock in White
• Jolinne Collection Stamp Set – Sweet Spring
Memory Box Gossamer Collection Patterned paper in dark pink pint, dark pink with white polka dot, green print, and light pink print
Tsukineko Memento Ink pad in Tuxedo Black
Copic Markers Sketch Markers
Ribbon in 3/8"-wide satin pink and 5/8"-wide white
Mini paper clip
Creative Memories Circle Cutting System
Foam dots
Double-sided adhesive
Scissors, ruler, pencil, sewing machine,
white sewing thread

Instructions
1.Cut one 5-1/2" x 11" rectangle from Crabapple Light cardstock, one 5-1/2" square from dark pink print patterned paper, one 5-1/4" square from green print patterned paper, and one 3-1/4" square from light pink print patterned paper. Use Circle Cutting System to cut one 43/4"-dia. circle from dark pink with white polka dot patterned paper. Turn Crabapple Light rectangle horizontally, score a vertical line down the center, and fold in half.
2.Adhere dark pink with white polka dot circle onto upper left side of green print square. Machine straight-stitch around inside perimeter of dark pink circle. Adhere light pink print square onto bottom right side of green print square as shown, then machine zigzag-stitch around outside perimeter of light pink square.

3.Use Tuxedo Black ink pad to stamp girl, girl’s accent pieces (including dress, shoes, dress band, and flower in hair), bunny, bunny pieces (including dress and dress band) and sentiment (“Bravo!” used here) onto White cardstock. Use Sketch Markers to color images as shown or as desired. Fussy-cut girl, girl’s accent pieces, bunny, and bunny pieces and cut sentiment into one 7/8" x 1" rectangle. Layer and adhere girl accent pieces onto girl and bunny accent pieces onto bunny. Use foam dots to adhere girl image onto left side and bunny onto bottom right side of light pink square, referring to project phto for placement. Use foam dots to adhere additional layers of girl’s dress onto girl as shown. Secure mini paper clip onto White sentiment block and adhere onto upper right side of light pink square.

4.Measure 1/2" in from left side and vertically wrap one 6" length of white ribbon around green print square. Repeat with 6" length of pink ribbon on top of white ribbon as shown. Cut one 7" length from pink ribbon and tie ends into a bow, trimming ends evenly. Measure 1-1/2" down from top edge and adhere onto ribbon as shown. Use foam dots to adhere assembled green print square onto dark pink square. With fold at top, center and adhere assembled dark pink square onto card front.

5.Use Tuxedo Black ink pad to stamp the words “Take a Bow” inside card.

Handmade Valentines

As I continue to gather my notes and organize my photos from CHA, I thought I'd share with you the handmade valentines my son and I are going to create for his Kindergarden class. I found this vintage valentine online.
















I thought it would be super cute to fill a sandwich bag with popcorn and use that vintage image to create a bag topper adding "love from Wyatt" or something like that to personalize it. It would look kind of like this - just on a smaller scale.















I'd love to hear some of your handmade valentine ideas.

Home At Last

What was suppose to be a 4 day trip, ended up being 6 days - mostly due to the weather making it impossible to fly home. BUT having an additional day on the trade show floor and another day touring a little bit of California presented me with many more items to share with you. Once I get my notes organized, I'll be posting information about all the goodies I found at CHA and I can't WAIT to tell you about them. So stay tuned . . .