Balzer Designs

June at My Kits & Pieces

I thought I'd share some of the things that I made with this month's "High Tea" kit at My Kits & Pieces.  As I mentioned in my previous post, this is the month that my stamps debuted with K&P and I had a ton of fun working them into these projects...







I think the mini book (and you can click on the image for a closer look) really shows off the versatility of the stamps.  You can see how I've used them in non-traditional ways for a very cool effect.

I'm off to Milwaukee for the Bead&Button Show.  I'll try to post from the hotel and I have a few posts saved up for a rainy day, so be sure to check in while I'm gone.  And don't forget, you have until Monday night to post a comment on the post below and win some of these fabulous stamps!

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm So Excited! And I Just Can't Hide It! You Can Win Some Stamps Too!

Okay, remember how I mentioned a few months ago that I was going to be designing some stamps for My Kits & Pieces?  Well, they're here!  They're here!!!!

I made up some quick cards using the four stamp sets that are available this month:

The Date Stamp Set:




I made it to mix and match.  I love the sketchy look of these, perfect for adding your own handwriting to.  The Date Stamp Set can be purchased as part of the True Friends Scrapbook Kit ($18):


This kit contains:

• Two sheets each of 12x12 Bazzill Cardstock:  Festive and Slate Blue
• One sheet each 12x12 Patterned Paper by Scenic Route Providence Collection:  Mathewson Street, Franklin Street, Richmond Street, Cottage Street, Greene Street and Scrap Strip
• One 12x12 sheet of KI Lace Cardstock
• 1/4 pkg Prima Green Satin Flowers
• 1 pkg American Crafts Green Jewelry Box Thickers
• 1 Balzer Stamp - Date Circles

The Flower Stamp Set:




The Flower Stamp Set can be purchased as a kit expansion ($7 and includes an ink pad).  You can also win one on this blog (see below).  The stamp set comes with two petal designs and three center designs.  They are strictly mix and match and have a great handmade feel, which I LOVE!

The Love Stamp:




I'm kind of in love (no pun intended) with this stamp. It's so versatile and the script font gives it a lot of presence.  The love stamp can be purchased as part the High Tea Scrapbook Kit ($18):


This kit contains:

• One sheet each of 12x12 Paper 7 Gypsies Nottinghill Collection:  Carlton, Harrow, Kensington, Westbourne, Westway, Victoria
• Two sheets each of Bazzill 12x12 cardstock: Whirlpool and Simon
• 1 sheet Basic Grey Boxer Alphabet Stickers
• 1 pkg Heid Swapp Brown Felt Butterflies
• 1 Midnight Blue Cat's Eye Ink Pad
• 1/4 pkg Prima Chartres Lace Flowers
• 1/3 pkg K and Company Wild Saffron Paper Ribbon
• 1 Balzer Designs Love Stamp

The Woodgrain Stamp:




The woodgrain stamp can be purchased as a kit expansion ($12 and includes both an ink pad and paper ribbon from K&Co.).  You can also win one on this blog (see below).  I designed the stamp so that it lines up when you stamp it end to end.  That means you can get a continuous wood grain across a 12x12 page!  How cool is that?!  It's also a HUGE stamp, measuring 5"x3.5" so you can cover an entire tag with one stamp!

I hope to have some layouts to show you tomorrow or at least by the weekend.  I'm so pleased with the quality of the stamps.  They're a very thick acrylic and they come packaged between two pieces of acetate, one of which is thick and hard and the other is thinner and more flexible.

And now, here's the part you've been waiting for.  YOU can win the flower stamp set AND the woodgrain stamp, just by leaving me a comment.  Let me know your favorite way to use stamps and be sure to leave your e-mail.  I'll be drawing TWO winners on Monday, June 2!  So, don't miss out!  Leave a comment today!

Miss Crow: Five Pages for May

I wanted to share my first pages for "A Murder of Crows CT."  First up, Miss Crow's kit, Spectacular:



Next up, her kit Me Hearties:



And finally, a layout using some of her "Hatchlings":


Thanks for stopping by!

May for Tara Sroka Designs

This is a drive by posting because I'm super busy, but I wanted to share the layouts I made for Tara Sroka Designs this month:

I think the last one is my favorite!

Thanks for stopping by!

Amanda Dykan CT: May Layouts

So, this month I was working with two of Amanda Dykan's kits:

Here are the layouts I came up with...

A few other things of note:

Just Let Me Scrapbook is offering FREE SHIPPING with $40 0rder!  Now through Monday, May 19, all U.S. orders over $40 receive FREE USPS Priority Mailing.  International orders will receive $7 off actual shipping cost with a $40 order.  Just use Coupon Code: FREEAT40 at check-out to have your U.S. order sent to you FREE of charge!  Be sure to tell them that Julie sent you!

I recently attending a wedding for an already married couple that was more about jumping through some religious hoops than anything else.  They had had a secular marriage several years ago, but found themselves needing to have a religious one.  Both of them described the evening as an ordeal.  Nevertheless, I made them an album to commemorate the event.  Last night, they told me that the album revolutionized how they felt about the wedding.  It made them smile when they looked at the album.  It gave them fond memories.  Can you imagine that?  A scrapbook changed the entire nature of that event for them.  How lovely!  If ever there were a demonstration of the power of scrapbooking, I think this is it.

I just received an e-mail from Somerset Memories, requesting two layouts!  Yay!  They're among my favorites, so I'm off to get them ready for the USPS!

Finally, I rarely blend my real life with my craft life, but I thought you all might enjoy a little video interview I did about my theatre company.  Here's the link.

Thanks for stopping by!