Scrapbooking Grandma Crafts

I have a Trendy Alternative for the Scrap'n Easel and other magnetic project work surfaces.
I do love that the Scrap'n Easel has angled work surface. I love having the option to hold my project pieces in place when designing. I love the fact that it is a 12x24 work surface. I love the fact that it folds up to a nice portfolio. I like the fact that it has a grided work surface.
I would just love to be able to have the Scrap'n Easel but it is just too expensive.

I got to thinking how can I have all of that and be able to afford it.

So I came up with a Trendy Alternative to this.  With some creative thinking and shopping around looking for ideas. This is what I came up with. I love it just as much for a fraction of the cost.
It's a 17"x23" work surface. It is a Magnetic Dry-Erase Board. Sometimes also called a White Board.
It's by Quartet and I picked it up at my local Wal-mart for under $10. I also found some magnets at Wal-mart that work perfectly with this magnetic board.
I had a book stand so I didn't need to purchase that.  It works fantastic! It's very sturdy with the bookstand behind it. The board and magnets cost Under $20.
You would just need to find an easel that would work with it. Maybe you or a handy hubby could build you one. I was lucky enough to have my bookstand available. I like the fact that the white board will hold one 12 x 12 layout.
This leaves and extra space at the side of the magnetic board to hold your cuts or make some notes as you go along.
Here are some photo's of how it looks.

I bought this wreath at walmart. I decide to add my favorite bear cut to it to decorate it. It was a really super easy project to make.

I wrote a book!! It is in PDF format!!! In all of my organizing I wanted to organize my projects I put out on my blogs over the years. After I made this book I decided I wanted to share it with all of my viewers.
You all have been so wonderful to come here visit and all those wonderful comments you share.
I really appreciate all of my followers and viewers.

Here is my book cover!! I designed, wrote and illustrated everything in this book. I hope you all enjoy it.
Click on the download link below the picture for your FREE COPY of my Book!!! It's 108 pages of pure crafting fun!! I hope to do 2 more books. One of my Cards and one of my layouts. Hopefully I will get those out this year. Leave a comment or email me and let me know how you like it!

I got a couple of digital downloads for Cricut Craftroom. I got 3D Valentine Boxes and Valentine Sweets.
I have been wanting to make mailboxes for so long. Every where I looked the tin mailboxes were sold out.
So I went ahead and tried the 3D Valentine Boxes from Cricut.com. The bear on Valentine Sweets is just so adorable. I really like the mailbox too.


Valentine Sweets - For the Bear: Cut at 4"

I have my Cartridges and handbooks organized. It has taken me a full week to do this whole operation. LOL. I modified the way I was storing the handbooks because I have lack of space to keep them in.
This is my solution for now. Until I change my mind again. LOL

On the Circle MB there are threads on getting organized. It's been a lot of fun working together with others organizing our craft rooms. Each week we are focusing on a section of our craft rooms and organizing them together. I'm not following that schedule exactly. We can mix it up however we want.
I started organizing before these threads popped up. This is my challenge to get my room organized.

My challenge to myself is to make my room look nice and at the same time having it functional.

This is my schedule so far.

Week 1  - I washed my craft room from top to bottom. Walls, Ceiling, Carpet and Furniture have all been cleaned. I made table skirts and shadowboxes to beautify the room.


Week 2 & 3 - I'm organizing my cartridges and handbooks. I bought extra bead boxes to store my cartridges in and I am in the process of making file folders for my handbooks and overlays.
I do plan on using my tablet to look at the digital handbooks for projects. But, I still need my overlays for my Cricut Expression Machines and Cricut Create Machine.

I'll keep updating this post and be posting pictures soon.

Imagine - Design - Create - Inspire Project . I am entering it in the Circle Magazine Contest.







I cut my letters using Tie The Knot and Blackletter cartridges.I designed my cuts in Cricut Craftroom and cut with my Cricut Mini. I cut my butterflies with the Sophie Cartridge. I modge podged my pattern paper to the back of the frame. I arranged my design and embellished with pearls and floral accents.
 
 

I made 2 craft table skirts today and it is very easy to do. I first picked up some Kitchen curtains, hooks and curtain rods. They were 36" long so I had to hem them up to fit my tables 30" high.  I'm not really a sewer but I can do some basics. This was just a straight stitch across. I folded the fabric from the top 2 times where the rod pockets are since I couldn't hem the from the bottom. I sewed at the edge of the fabric keeping the rod pockets in tack so I could still use them. I drilled holes in my table and screwed in the hooks. I attached the rods and slide on the curtains.  Easy, Easy! I was surprised it really didn't take all that long.

I am making a list of my craft goals for 2012. I hope this keeps me on track of what I hope to accomplish this coming year. Do you make crafting goals for yourself each year? 

Craft Goals For 2012


1. Keeping my blogs up. (I did good on this goal for 2011. Between both blogs I have 200+ blog postings)
2. Use what I have. I am going to design my projects with the supplies I already own.
3. Organize My Craft area. My main focus is organizing my cartridges again.
I downloaded the pdf handbooks from cricut.com to store on my computer. I am going to move the books into strorage. This will free up a good amount of space.
4. Catch up on my Granddaughter's Scrapbooks.
5. Spend more time Crafting.
6. Clean my scrap room in between projects. (This is a real challenge for me)
7. Self Imposed spending ban except for adhesive and paper as needed.
8. Update my Craft Inventory sheets.

I hope everyone has a blessed New Year! Happy New Year!

If you want to craft along with me when I'm doing my  projects using alterations dies. I made up these  charts with alternative cuts. They are images from the cartridge images that can be substituted for the  alterations dies by Sizzix.
Here's the charts I made up.


Happy Hauntings - Spider
Black Letter Font - Boo - I welded the webs to the Boo
October 31 - Webs
Black Letter Font - 31
Mother's Day Bouquet - Leaf
Art Philosphy - Acron
Pumpkin Carvings - Pumpkins
Chic & Scary - Cat
Home Décor - Branch
October 31 - Crow
October 31 - Candle
Black Letter Font - Noel - I welded Noel onto a scroll I found on home decor cartridge
Home Décor - 2 scrolls flipped and welded together
Speaking of Winter - Snowflakes
Tis The Season - Ornaments
George & Basic Shapes - Ovals welded on Ornament
Christmas (Christmas Noel) - Lamp Post
Disney Classics - Tree - set of 3 - I hid the other 2 trees
Cindy Loo - 25
Tis The Season - Doe
Home Décor - 3 Branches
Winter Woodland - Holly
Art Philosophy - Flower For the Pinecone