Five Favorites - Crafting Edition

This week, my Five Favorites post (which is a day late -- I was running around yesterday like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get our last dossier document -- which, it turns out, will have to wait until Thursday, when the correct doctor will be on hand to sign it) will be about my favorite scrapbooking/crafting products.

Yes, it is another quick and easy cop out like the make-up one was.  Forgive me -- we're in that part of the process that is running speed, not waiting speed.  Hopefully next week we will be back to waiting and I will have oodles of free time again, although I'm not sure that's entirely a good thing.  Ahh, the adoption process rollercoaster. 

Number One:
The Cricut Explore



I love this thing so much.  I've always loved Cricut machines -- I must confess that this is my third machine from them, and they have all been upgrades (my first Cricut still works and is my travel Cricut, and my second one still works but lives in my garage, completely replaced by the Explore).

The main difference between this and all the other Cricuts is that it cuts SVG files instead of only being able to cut the files on Cricut cartridges.  Of course, it still cuts the proprietary files, so I can still use all my cartridges -- but I can also buy (and sometimes download for free) cut files from places like Two Peas in a Bucket, Miss Kate's Cuttables, SVG Cuts, etc -- and even make cut files myself from just about any image.  It can also cut any of the fonts on my computer.  :)

The Cricut Explore also cuts cleaner than the older models and has a great pen holder so you can write using the Cricut as well.

Number Two:
Teresa Collins eBosser by Craftwell



I will warn that this item is discountiued -- it will be replaced by the Cut and Boss in June.  However, the concept is the same -- 8.5 x 12 inch embossing, all hands free.  Dies and folders will be interchangeable between the two, but the Cut and Boss will have an updated look.  Personally, though, I prefer the less boxy look of the eBosser, especially since it sits next to my antique typewriter.

While it can also be used to die cut things, I tend to prefer the Cricut for that, as it's more cost effective and digital die cut stuff can be resized whereas physical dies can't.  What I love the eBosser for is the very large opening and large embossing folders -- my old Cuttlebug could only emboss up to 5x7.  I've kept the old folders, though, and I can still use them with my eBosser.  I also love the Teresa Collins designs on the folders, since she is my favorite scrapbooking designer.

The electronic element is great for crafters with arthritis or other physical issues (no more hand crank!) and it's also great for anyone who has a lot of embossing to do (such as making a large amount of invites or party favors).  For me, it wasn't a factor in the purchase, because the hand crank was never an issue -- but it is something to consider.  The plus is that you don't need to use a crank, but the minus is that you need to plug it in.  For me, the large format was the main selling point, and electronic vs. manual didn't matter at that point.

Number Three:
Glitter Girl Videos and Shimelle's Classes



I know it's not really a product, but the Glitter Girl series from Two Peas in a Bucket has been super helpful to me -- teaching everything from how to apply basic design principles in scrapbooking to the differences between the most popular brands/types of mist. 

Shimelle, the fantastic teacher behind the Glitter Girl videos, also does paid workshops, both at www.twopeasinabucket.com and at her own site, www.shimelle.com.  I've taken her Learn Something New Everyday class for the past two Septembers, and I have also taken two years of her Journal Your Christmas class.  If you pay for one year, you get to stay in the class for free at no addition cost, which is really cool.  Also, both of these classes can be adapted for non-scrapbookers, since they are heavily journaling based.  She also teaches more craft based classes, and those are great as well.  :)

Number Four:
Making Memories Trimmer

This trimmer isn't being made anymore, because Making Memories went out of business. I dread thinking of what I'll do when this trimmer finally bites the dust.  It cuts straight, doesn't weigh a ton, measures accurately, and I've only replaced the blade once, despite having bought it back in 2009 to do our Save the Date cards.

Number Five:
Persnickety Prints

I've tried Shutterfly and Snapfish, but the print quality is nothing like Persnickety Prints -- Persnickety even does super thick Instagram prints, which I love to death.  Which reminds me -- I need to order some of those for my Journal Your Christmas book, which is still sitting photoless.

Visit http://moxiewife.com/2014/05/five-favorites-vol-58/.html for more Five Favorites links.

Scrapbooking the Trips: Part One -- Beginning to Build a Kit

Or, alternately...

Something to Do While We Wait.

Some of you may already be completely scrapbook addicted, while others might be exploring the idea of memory keeping for the first time.  Either way, I would like to share some products that I think would work well for scrapbooking the three required trips to Kazakhstan.  Some have a general travel theme, others have maps that clearly show that part of the world.  Other things are more generally family themed.  Because we don't yet know our children's exact ages and genders, I haven't purchased much (okay, just about anything) that is obviously "kid" or "baby" or "boy" or "girl."  I plan to add that stuff later, after we have a referral.  So, expect to see a lot more pink and/or blue in my final scrapbook than there is here.

Please note -- I'm not a digital scrapbooker, nor have I ever done the photobooks from printing services like Shutterfly and the like.  I like Persnickety Prints for photo printing, though, in case anyone was wondering.  Hopefully someone else in the adoption community somewhere out there has talked about digitally scrapbooking adoption trips.  I'm very paper and glue and glitter and pretty things.

I generally start choosing supplies by starting with the papers, but this time I started by thinking of the format I wanted my book to take.  I want to be able to use my computer for a daily journal, written with the intention of sharing it with others later.  I'm not big on long stretches of handwriting -- blame it on being forced to be right handed or on just plain laziness.  So my general plan is to journal on the computer and eventually print it out on 8.5x11 cardstock.  Now...where to put the pictures?  I usually like scrapbooking with a 12x12 format.  So my idea is to use a 3 ring album with both sizes of page protectors, interspersed with each other.  So pictures on one side, journaling on the other.  I will post pictures when I buy the album and the page protectors, which will happen a bit closer to our trip.

Other formats that would work would be dedicating half the page to journaling, or keeping the journaling and photos separate.  Or, even, bringing the paper you want to journal on to Kazakhstan with you if you like to have your own handwriting in your scrapbooks.  (I'm usually big on leaving your handwriting behind for your kids and all, but I also know that I'd rather compose long bits of text  on the computer -- I'm sure there will be handwritten captions and little "love notes" within this album.  Plus there's all the handwriting in every other book I do.)

Or you could abandon the page-a-day idea and just scrapbook what you feel like including in whatever order you feel like including it.  They're your memories, and it's your scrapbook.

After I decided on this format, I went through my "stash" of scrapbooking supplies and put the travel themed papers, including some I bought with these trips in mind, in an Iris 12x12 box from Michaels.  I also ordered a few things from Two Peas in a Bucket and threw them in the kit.  I have a feeling that it may end up becoming two or even more Iris boxes by the time I actually make the album.  But this is just a start.

I also know that there are certain reusable things -- like stamps and Cricut cartridges -- that I will wind up using on this album but that I also plan to use in the mean time.  Those things aren't going in my kit -- in my case, the kit is just for those things that I am "setting aside" so that I don't use them on other projects.

Is there anything anyone wants to know about scrapbooking, memory keeping, or anything else?  Please share in the comments.  :)