My dear friend, Sarah Bargo, and I have been planning (nonstop!) for a huge day-long scrap retreat we are having this September...and we are so excited!

We're hand-making most of our decorations, attendee correspondence & "fun stuff" and we're having the best time!

I recently created the little business cards we are mailing with our confirmation letters...and I LOVE them...





To start, I created a document in Word and sized our cards at 3x3 each. I put a number of them on one page and added our names and email addresses to the card "template."

I printed the cards, cut them down to size and ran each one through my Evolution...first with the wreath plate (from the Journaling Set), then with the monogram plate (from the Scholastic Set). The ink dried on the paper pretty much instantly...so the cards were all done in about 45 minutes from start to finish.


The debossing of the letterpress is so beautiful...and it adds such a rich, elegant feel to the card...


They were really easy to create and I think they have just the right amount of handmade style...of perfect imperfections...And I LOVE them!

Have you jumped on the letterpress bandwagon? If you're worried about it being messy and time-consuming, don't be. Stamp ink gives you a comparable result and is much faster. And once you get your first sample run, you can work as quickly as you can change your paper...

We R Memory Keepers & Lifestyle Crafts have a HUGE assortment of letterpress plates and inks...check them out here.

AND, when you use the code MIDWESTERN at checkout, you will 20% off your entire purchase! What?!?! Awesome!

If you are at all familiar with how Studio Calico works, then you know that the 27th of each month is a BIG day. And by big I mean BIG!

The 27th of each month is the day that SC completely reveals it's newest kits...it's also the day you can purchase all of the newest kits AND add-ons AND extras. In other words...it's the best day of the month.

This past Sunday was no exception as Studio Calico revealed some of it's best kits ever.

I'm so excited to show you the layouts I created with the August kits...they are truly some of my favorites ever.

Here goes...

I can't even begin to tell you how stinking excited I am about this class!


My workspace can best be described as "a disaster." 
And that's on a good day.
Oh, I straighten up in between projects...but that's usually because I can't find my scissors. And I spend hours reorganizing (mostly moving things from one pile to another)...but I've never really found a system that works for me...
But I am holding out hope that, with this class, I can finally get my workspace act together.
Here's what Studio Calico has to say about "Workspace" - 

Crafting time is precious. Stop wasting it looking for the supplies you need and feeling overwhelmed in your space. This class offers a deep dive into highly effective ways to make your workspace work for you. Marcy Penner and her team will walk you through steps to take your work area from tiring to inspiring. With two lessons a week, Marcy will take you step by step through each area of your space. Follow along each week and transform your space this month.

Workspace is enrolling now through July 31st at 11:59pm EST. The first lesson will be posted on Monday, August 4th, and there will be a new lesson posted each Monday and Thursday in August.

Sounds like just what I need.

I am soooo ready to do this.

Wanna join me?

Enrollment is now through July 31 and the first lesson will post on Monday, August 4.

Click HERE to enroll...and I'll see you in class!

It's sneak time again...here are my sneaks for the Studio Calico August "SANDLOT" scrapbook kits & add-ons!

And away we go!




There you have 'em!

I love these colors so stinking much!

Just over a week until reveal! Are you ready?

If you're already a Studio Calico subscriber,  you get early access to all the newest kits and add-ons! Reveal for you is at noon Eastern Time on the 27th of each month (with a live chat at 11:00 am Eastern!)...if you're not (yet!) a subscriber, don't fret! You will be able to shop for all the new stuff at midnight Eastern on the 27th (the midnight between the 27th & 28th)...yay!

AND! Check this out! While supplies last (or until July 26), become a subscriber and you can get your first kit free! Just follow the instructions below and make sure to add your chosen kit's promo code at checkout!

Are you a journaler? Or do you shy away from adding details to your layouts?

One of my favorite parts about scrapbooking is recording the little details...the story behind the photos. Not just the date & place (although sometimes that's really all a photo needs), but the story...the reasons...the why that photo was taken.

If you could use a little inspiration in the journaling department, have I got a class for you...


Yep. Grammar-FREE Journaling.

No long stories...just journaling in new and unique ways. Get those stories down without spending hours searching for the right words!

The amazing and incredibly talented Angie Lucas will be teaching this class for the second time starting July 24...

Here's a little more info...straight from the BPC website...

Grammar-Free JournalingTell fun new stories with 12 unique journaling strategies—no paragraphs required! These unconventional (and yet entirely useful) writing strategies will have you telling awesome stories in completely new ways. Would you like to be free? To be Grammar Free? Here's how: Who's teaching this class? Hi, I'm Angie Lucas, word nerd extraordinaire, and I'll be yourGrammar-Free Journaling instructor. Is "grammar-free journaling" a thing, or did Angie Lucas make it up? Okay, okay, I made it up. The idea is to tell truly compelling stories in creative new formats using the fewest words possible—and to stress less about paragraph flow, sentence structure, transitions, and the rules of writing. What does Angie Lucas have against grammar? Absolutely nothing! I'm willing to bet that I love grammar even more than you do. But just in case you don't like it, I'll show you 12 useful strategies for skipping the grammar altogether. What if I like to write 15 paragraphs for every layout? Lengthy, soul-searching journaling is wonderful for certain stories. But there are many other stories that are better told using a list, a quiz, a chart, a single sentence, or even a little strategy I like to call "painless poetry." You'll like it! What if I'm not a very good writer? A: You're better than you think you are. B: You don't have to be a great writer for this class; that's the beauty of going grammar free! C: You should always have at least three items in a list. (There's a little taste of the invaluable writing tips in store for you in this workshop!) Will I walk away from this workshop with at least 12 completed layouts and dozens more stories that I can't wait to sit down and scrapbook? Yes. Will there be pop quizzes? There will be quizzes. But students are expected to provide their own soft drinks.

• Six informative videos from Angie
• A Grammar-Free Journaling Handbook you'll refer to throughout the class and perhaps for the rest of your life
• 12 individual strategies, each illustrated by two or more scrapbook layouts, with clear ideas to try at home
• 34 example layouts, most designed by Angie, with guest designers Wendy Smedley, Elizabeth Dillow, Maddie Dillow, Gracie Dillow, and Bridget Dillow
• A free 90-page copy of List It! Everyday Life printable prompted lists—a value of $9.99
• Bonus downloadable (and printable) quizzes and lists
• Email access to Angie during the four-week class period
• Message board to share your thoughts with your classmates
• Gallery for sharing your work
• Handy dandy blog buttons so you can spread the grammar-free love
• One live chat with Angie
• New for 2014: Four fabulous contributors will share a new take on each of the 12 challenges. Introducing Natalie Elphinstone, Maggie Massey, Jennifer Gallacher, and Donna Jannuzzi!

Today I'm bringing back some printables I created for the 2012 Independence Day celebration...yay!

Use these toppers and banners to decorate your food, drinks, dessert, anything!
Just print on cardstock, cut & go!

Enjoy!






For more printable inspiration, check out my original blog post here...