9.22.2015

the brand new Heidi Swapp Instax Flip Album...some tips & tricks

Well it's no surprise...Heidi Swapp has done it again!

Heidi's latest collection involves a partnership with the Fujifilm Instax brand...and it features a whole boat-load of products with that familiar, absolutely amazing Heidi Swapp look. Today I'm sharing a few tips & tricks with the new Instax Flip Album...coming soon to Michaels stores.

OK...so this is what comes in the Flip Album kit...the album itself, a sheet of gold-foiled stickers (including month/day/year & sentiment stickers) & 6 camera-shaped paper clips...

...and these are a few things I'm going to use to give you a few ideas on how to decorate your little flip albums...

*Instax Share SP-1 Printer (availabe at Michaels)

*Washi Tape (mine is from the Heidi Swapp sticker collection at Michaels

*ruler

*X-Acto knife

*White colored pencil

*Instax photos

*small journaling notes (mine are from the Heidi Swapp sticker collection at Michaels)

*cell phone (print photos from your gallery...)

*self-healing craft mat (not shown)

*various Project Life® cards (both 3x4 & 4x6 - not shown)

When you open your flip album you'll notice a little decorative card...

You'll also notice that this card is NOT your standard Instax size...no worries! This card is the size of the Wide format Instax photos...and that's OK! It's actually awesome...because it gives us tons of options for creating unique little photo spreads.

OK...so here's one way to display your standard-size Instax photo. Place your photo in the center of your page. With your white colored pencil, simply trace around your photo...

...then, with your X-Acto (craft) knife & ruler (make sure you're cutting on a self-healing mat!), simply cut new slits into your album page. I find it helpful to position my ruler at the same angle as the original slits...

...then slip your photo corners into the newly-cut slits and you're done!

Or you can dress your photo up a bit with some washi tape and a date card!

The pre-cut slits are the PERFECT size to hold 2 standard-size vertical photos!

Add a little washi tape and date stickers to add visual interest...

Try adding a 3x4 Project Life® card (mine is from the Heidi Swapp Prismatic Edition Core Kit - available at Michaels) next to your standard-size vertical photo. I kept mine from falling out of the album by attaching both pieces together with some washi tape...but you can also adhere them to the page if you'd rather.

This idea is probably my favorite. I cut a 3x4 Project Life® card down and attached my Instax photo right on top.with one of the camera paperclips. Then I slipped the edges into the pre-cut slits and added a few more embellishments. I think this looks so darn cute!

And who says you need to use a photo to decorate the front of your flip album? I simply cut down a 4x6 Project Life® card, stuck it into the photo slits and added the word "PHOTOS" the outside.

I love that I can add photos to this album and then change them up whenever/however I wish! The kids have already been taking turns switching the photos around...putting their own photos in the first pages...those little monkeys...

I hope I've given you a few fun ideas on how to dress up this darling Flip Album! Heidi and I and the rest of the team would love to see how you are using the pieces in this FAB new collection...tag #hsInstax on social media so we can all see!

9.21.2015

TRUE SCRAP 7 - are you ready to take your scrapbooking to the next level?

How are you feeling about your scrapbooking these days?

Does it excite you?

Are you looking for new ways to tell your story?

Are ready to up your creative mojo?

Then I have something you’re gonna LOVE!

I’m so excited to announce that I will be teaching at True Scrap 7!

Here's a little synopsis of my class...

Maggie Massey – Organize, Document, Display: A Celebration Album

Isn’t it ironic that the busiest times of year are also the times we wish we had a chance to scrapbook MORE? The holidays in particular are crazy-busy, crazy-making time. How in the heck are you expected to scrapbook and document as well? The key to staying sane is organization, and in “Organize, Document, Display: A Celebration Album” popular scrapbook designer and Heidi Swapp design team member Maggie Massey will walk you step-by-step through creating a fun – and useful! – holiday organizer/album. At the end of class you will have a place to keep things like addresses, card and gift lists, receipts and recipes as well as photos, memorabilia and memories. And this album is easily adaptable to any event or holiday…weddings, birthdays, family reunions, and more. Get ready to get organized!

(I love reading about myself in the 3rd person)...(smile).

If you’re not familiar with True Scrap events, True Scrap is an online all-day scrapbook event filled with inspiring instructors, innovative techniques, scrapbooker camaraderie, and just plain ol’ fun!

I’ll be joining Lisa Bearnson (what?!?!?! I KNOW!), Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Kathy Cano-Murillo, Noell Hyman and more for this LIVE event on October 24th. Get full class descriptions for all 8 classes HERE.

And, that’s not all…

Everything is recorded so you can go back and watch again and again...whenever you want!

Plus, you get an electronic goody bag jam-packed with discounts and freebies! (yes...you read that right).

AND you get the opportunity to win incredible prizes!

What's even better is the low, low Early Bird price available RIGHT NOW.

The regular price for this event is $199, but the Early Bird price is ONLY $99!

BUT it expires September 30th, so register for your discount HERE.

See you there October 24th!

9.17.2015

Picturesque + Minc™ Mini...

By now you've seen (or at least seen online) the brand new Heidi Swapp Project Life® collection at Michaels Stores, right? Well today I'm going to share a PL spread I created in no time at all* using some pieces from the new collection as well as my new favorite tool - the Minc™ Mini.

*truly...like, no time at all...maybe 1 hour start to finish...maybe.

When I set out to create a PL spread (or any layout for that matter), I start by choosing my photo(s). Next I gather the paper/cards I want to use (for this spread I used cards from the brand new Heidi Swapp Project Life® Picturesque Edition). After that I will lay my photos/cards out on top of the pockets and I'll just move them around until I like the way they look. And finally I'll add my embellishments.

I LOVE adding little clusters of embellishments in (and on top of!) my pockets. When the pieces I want to use are too large to fit inside, I just adhere them to the outside - like I did with this banner...easy peasy! A few puffy stars help to add dimension to the spread...

Here I added just a few little Minc™ chipboard pieces and a transparent sticker from Heidi's new Project Life® collection.

The new Project Life® Frames are all 4x4 ... I just cut mine down to 3x4 and added it to a pocket to add some color...

The little pops of silver throughout the spread really stand out...

Here's a little close-up on what I did with that "AWESOME" tag. I wanted to include both of these photos in my spread, but didn't want to use to pockets to do it. So I simply stapled the label to the back photo and tucked both photos in the pocket...

I can't say it enough...I just love the ease and simplicity that comes along with creating Project Life®/pocket-scrap pages. They are seriously so quick and FUN! And it's the perfect way to get a lot of photos into one page...so awesome...

SUPPLIES: Project Life® Puffy Stickers, Project Life® Jumbo Stickers, Project Life® Core Kit Picturesque Edition, Project Life® Insta Kit, Project Life® Gold Phrase Stickers, Project Life® Frames, Minc™ Mini 6" Foil Applicator, Minc Reactive Foil 6" Silver, Minc Ephemera, Minc Chipboard Shapes, Minc Spectacular Tags, American Crafts Sticky Thumb Adhesive, American Crafts Precision Pen .01 Black

9.04.2015

Planning...with the brand new Heidi Swapp sticker set!

Hey everyone! So happy you popped in today!

I'm soooo excited that we've reached September!

It's definitely one of my favorite months. The kids are back in school, the weather is getting cooler, the holidays are just around the corner - what's not to love?

And with all that's happening (and is about to happen!) my planner is getting more and more packed! Today I'm sharing how I'm using the new Heidi Swapp sticker set (available at select Michaels stores) in my Memory Planner...

This collection is absolutely PERFECT for using in your planner...those acetate words are amazing - and are so awesome for calling attention to specific days or events...

With a huge selection of tags and little notepads (!!!), you will never have to worry about where to make your to-do lists, keep your reminders or jot down notes. And the paperclips and bulldog clips are a MUST for any plannergirl...

Here I used a large Dipped Tag to create a small shopping/to-do list for the week. When it's time to head to the store I simply have to (remember to...yikes) take the tag with me. I also added a few label stickers to my days...just to dress them up a bit. And a few randomly-placed Word Jumbles add some color...

One of my very favorite things about this Memory Planner are the little pockets on the inside front cover. They are just perfect for keeping extra tags and enamel shape stickers!

I think one of the things I love best about this new sticker collection is the incredible variety of products. The huge number of choices available is just awesome...and will definitely have you covered no matter what decorating mood you may find yourself in.

Thanks so much for taking a peek inside my planner...see you soon!