product reviews | Distressed Scrapper

2QT layout for Sketches in Thyme’s challenge and My Mind’s Eye Stella and Rose Review

28 Feb 2011 3 Comments

by dlwidder in product reviews, Scrapbook Layouts Tags: 12×12, brad, diecut, layout, MME, My Mind’s Eye, patterned paper, ribbon, single page, single photo, sticker, trim

During CHA week, I was fortune enough to be one of the lucky winners of the new Stella and Rose line by My Mind’s Eye on their blog! You can see the post on their blog with the announcement here. I was soooo excited when I found out that I had won the entire Hattie and Gertie papers and accessories. This was especially thrilling for me since Hattie is PERFECT for boy layouts. If you don’t already know, I have 4 boys and 1 girl, but 95% of my scrapping supplies are geared towards girls!

Well, what I received instead were Hazel and Mabel which would have been perfectly fine since I love those color schemes too. However, I was concerned that the mix-up could potentially cause a problem, so I contacted Amber to let her know. I asked her if she needed me to send the package back to her, to the actual recipient or if I should keep these instead of the sets I’d won? What now? She emailed me back IMMEDIATELY and told me to expect Hattie and Gertie in the mail shortly…and here’s the incredible part…She then said that I could keep the ones I’d been sent by mistake! Can you believe it?!! By now I was giddy with excitement. 😀

When my package arrived, I was surprised that the box was larger than the first shipment had been…she sent me the ENTIRE Stella and Rose line including the 6×6 paper pads!!!! {Here’s where I do the happy dance}

Now, I might seem biased here when I assert my opinions about MME’s new line for this review, but I can honestly say that I ABSOLUTELY AM! Not because I received some free goodies, but because I adore My Mind’s Eye products. MME is the reason I got hooked on papercrafting. You can read why on here.

In case you aren’t already familiar with My Mind’s Eye they make fabulously patterned scrapbooking papers that are a wonderfully heavyweight cardstock in gorgeous color schemes with coordinating embellishments like brads, diecuts, stickers, tags, frames, buttons, charms/trinkets, stamps and transparencies. I’ve always been impressed with the quality of their products and how well thought-out their lines tend to be. Many come in collection kits which make scrapping so easy since everything is already coordinated for you in the kit.

Other lines (like “Lost and Found” and “Stella and Rose”) are broken down into separately named color ranges, each of which is further broken down into specific themes. Stella and Rose has 4 ranges called Hazel, Mabel, Hattie and Gertie. Each of these ranges then has 5 themes. So far, I’ve created 2 layouts using the Hazel range. The first layout can be found here, using the “special” papers, frame and tag. Here’s the layout I created using the “memories” papers and title for the Sketches in Thyme Open challenge #4. You can enter any layout you have created that is based on a sketch (up to 3 entries):

TFL!

Materials:

My Mind’s Eye Stella Rose Hazel “memories” diecut
MME Hazel “memories” 12×12 paper
Bazzill cardstock
MME Hazel “memories” title
MME Hazel “special” title
MME Hazel “fancy” sticker
MME Hazel “lovely” brad
MME Confetti “party” ribbon
Ranger Distress inks

Adhesives:

Glue Arts Glue Glider Pro PermaTac
Helmar 450 Quick Dry
Helmar Scrapdots

Based on the following sketch posted on Sketches4all by Fia for a challenge:

If you have a project or layout you created based on a sketch and would like to enter it into the open challenge on Sketches in Thyme, CLICK HERE.

Blessed layout and Webster’s Page Spring Market Review

03 Feb 2011 1 Comment

by dlwidder in product reviews, Scrapbook Layouts Tags: 12×12, buttons, children, hand sewn, hand stitching, handmade flower, layout, multi-photo, siblings, single page, Webster’s Pages

I had a blast creating my first layout w/the new Spring Market line from Webster’s Pages! The colors in this range are just fabulous and images are deliciously vintage. The papers are all a nice weight, smooth cardstock that is easy to work with. Not so thick/heavy that they’re hard to work with and not so thin you’re afraid you’ll tear it just handling the pages. They’re perfect! If you’re familiar with WP papers, you will not be disappointed, they’re the same quality Webster’s is famous for. Good news for the environmental scrapper…WP has gone green! All their 12×12 papers are FSC certified, which means they’re harvesting from environmentally protected forests. I believe the change was made last season, but I’m not positive about that. I’m just glad they’ve taken these measures. 😀

I also had the pleasure of working with their marvelous trims. The Spring Market trim pack comes with 6 different fibers in a variety of textures. From ribbon to fabric to knit, this trim pack has something for everyone! Webster’s Pages even debuted their self-adhesive chipboard buttons with this line. There are larger patterned buttons and smaller solid colored ones in the same pack. Conveniently included in the package, you’ll find six 12″ lengths of matching twine. The chipboard pieces are easy to work with and the adhesive has staying power for sure…word of caution here…make sure you place the button correctly because once you’ve placed it, you’ll either ruin the piece or your project if you attempt to remove it. Though I also have the princess petals and fabric flowers for this line, I will reserve my critique of those products once I’ve used them on a project. TFL!

Materials: Webster’s Pages Spring Market papers, trim, and chipboard buttons, WP Storytellers alphas in Holiday, DMC embroidery floss, Helmar 450, permanent adhesive runner and zapdots, This to That foam dots.

Sketch: Stuck on U Sketches

If you would like to participate in the current or future sketch challenges on Stuck on U’s site, CLICK HERE.

Review – Martha Stewart Scoring Board

16 Jan 2011 4 Comments

by dlwidder in Cards and Projects, product reviews Tags: cardstock, embellishments, gift bag, paper, paper crafting, patterned paper, Projects, tools

I’ve wanted a scoring board (aka scoreboard) for a while now and after quite a bit of comparison shopping, I finally decided to get the Martha Stewart version. Though most products of this kind are very similar, the main features that set this one apart for me were the measuring increments offered, included an envelope guide and scoring tool, and compartments to house the guide and tool for storage. Unlike other versions, this one offers scoring guides every 1/8″ across the entire width of the board. The envelope guide is also very handy since it allows you to effortlessly place your paper at the perfect angle and has the proper measurements and score line placements printed right on the device. There is also an insert in the compartment that gives you the measurements for card sizes and boxes!

Using this convenient and easy to use tool, I created 3 gift bags. I referred to the tutorial offered on Scrap Whispers to enter their challenge, but made a few modifications.

This first bag is made using the instructions, but I folded in the top on each side by 7/8″ to reinforce the paper since I planned on adding ribbon handles. For this one, I used MME Bella Bella paper from their paperstack (not cardstock) and SEI ribbon.

For the second bag, I followed the instructions, but added a few additional score marks to allow the bag to close smoothly. I also punched 2 holes on each side so I could run the ribbon through both sides and tie a bow for the closure. This gift bag was created using cardstock from the DCWV Nana’s Nursery Baby Girl Stack and bit of Webster’s Pages trim that I took apart.

The additional score lines: When the instructions say to turn the paper and add a score line all the way down at 5″ and 7″ I added a short 1″ score mark at 6″ on both ends. Then scored 1″ from the edge of the paper and the end of that mark to where the lines intersect on each side of it and repeated for the other end. I then creased inward on these marks. It’s hard to describe, but I think you can see it well enough in this pic:

The third gift bag was made the same way as the second. For this one, I used Webster’s Pages Wrapping Paper from the Waiting for Santa line, fussy cut elements out of Reindeer Cottage from the same line and tied it with a strip of vintage inspired netting.

To view the tutorial I used or to enter the challenge, CLICK HERE

Review – My Mind’s Eye Lost and Found Collection

16 Jan 2011 Comments Off on Review – My Mind’s Eye Lost and Found Collection

by dlwidder in product reviews, Scrapbook Layouts Tags: 12×12, cardstock, die cut, glitter, layout, MME, multi-photo, My Mind’s Eye, paper, ribbon, scrapbook, scrapbooking, single page, trim

From their Wild Asparagus range to Tres Jolie to Lost and Found, one thing I’ve always loved about My Mind’s Eye is the heavy weight and texture of their cardstock. For this layout I used the Moments papers from the Union Square range. A great feature to this line is that they’ve already included glittered elements on the papers that really make the gorgeous details pop! I didn’t have any lettering that were the color I wanted, so I used white alphas by Pink Paislee, inked them w/distress ink and embossed them which created a really cool marbled affect.

MME also offers many items that coordinate with their products. There are trims, tags, buttons, brads, dimensional stickers, stamp sets and chipboard mini-albums that go with each range in this line. You can see more of their fantastic designs HERE.