The Boy Who Called Me Da Da

As I'm sure happens all too often, my son's first word was Da Da. Except that not only did he call his father Da Da, but he called me Da Da as well! It took at least a month of reminding him that I was, in fact, Ma Ma before he caught on. This was definitely a story to become a scrapbook layout.

So today, I present to you "The Boy Who Called Me Da Da".

I'm happy to report that I have never been confused with Da Da (or Daddy, as he now says) since last summer. I relish being called Ma Ma and Mommy. Its the best name in the world! :)

Faux Punch Label Tutorial

On Sunday I shared my Monogram Embroidery Hoop wall art which included a homemade punch label. Today I'm going to give you a quick tutorial on how to make these punch labels yourself!

Here is what we are going to make:

For this project you will need:

cardstock (I usually grab some from my scraps)

embossing stylus

pencil

mousepad

scissors

and, of course, the punch label font on your computer!

First off, download the font you need. I used the Impact Label font available on dafont.com. The Impact Label font is great because the designer of this font has made it available in white on black AND black on white so you have a bit of variety. (For complete instructions about installing fonts on your computer please see the bottom of this post.)

Type up what you want to say using your punch label font in Word or your favorite drawing program, size it to fit your project, and print it on cardstock.

You can see from the various angles of the above photos that the font gives a fairly good illusion of being 3D already, but if you look at it closely you can see that it is flat. Embossing the image will give it that extra texture.

Hold your printed sheet of cardstock up to a window so that the printed side is facing away from you. You will be able to see the letters through the paper. Trace them with a pencil.

For the next step you will need an embossing stylus. You can find them at your local hobby store for just a couple of dollars. Its difficult to tell, but each end of the stylus has a different size tip. You want to use the smallest tip (the bottom left image in the above photo).

Put your cardstock printed-side-down on the back of a mousepad and begin embossing your letters by tracing over your pencil marks with the stylus. You will probably want to go over each letter 5 or 6 times depending on how much pressure you are applying. Once you get a feel for what you are doing it will start to go faster. *What you don't want to do is trace the letter so many times that you tear the cardstock.*

{Need a mousepad? I know where you can get some super cute ones with a scrapbook theme!! *wink, wink* I have some in my shoppe. Click here!}

When you are finished embossing, cut your labels into strips. You can see from the above images that the embossing has given the labels that extra texture we were looking for.

Easy, right? :)

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To download a font to your computer:

1. Go to the website with the Impact Label font here.

2. On that webpage there is a button to the right that says Download. Click it.

3. A window will pop up asking if you want to Open or Save the file. Save it.

(Note: I save fonts to my desktop so I can find them quickly.)

4. The file you just saved is zipped. You probably already have a program on your computer that will unzip the file. With your mouse, right click on the zipped file and hover your mouse over the unzip program (probably called WinZip). Another menu should appear that will include a command to Extract Here. Click on Extract Here. The files contained in the zipped file will appear on your desktop.

(Note: If for some reason you do not have an unzip program on your computer, worry not! There are several available for free download on the internet. Even WinZip has a free trial version. Here are a few you can try: WinZip, PeaZip, ZipIt)

5. You should now have 4 new files on your desktop. Two of these are .tff files which are the font files. You need to put these files into your fonts folder. To find your fonts folder double click on the icon on your desktop that says My Computer. From there follow this path: My Computer -> :C drive -> Windows folder. In the Windows folder is an alphabetized list of more folders. One of those is your fonts folder. Drag and drop the two .tff files on your desktop into the fonts folder.

6. For the fonts to work properly you will most likely need to restart your computer.

7. Once your computer reboots, find and use the fonts in Word or your drawing program. If they are there and you can use them, you can go back to your desktop and delete the extra files that were extracted from the zipped file. You can also delete the zip file.

(Note: One of the extra files that was left on your desktop was a text file which is a message from the author of the fonts. It basically says that you are free to use his fonts however you see fit. He does provide a link to make a donation to him for providing the font which you can do if you want to. Its always a good idea to read these text files to see if the author has any stipulations to your using his/her font. Most all are free for personal use which is all many of you will want them for.)

T-Shirt Tuesday - Scrapbook Stash

We're featuring another design from our fun new Scrapbooking Gone RETRO section of The Scrap Shoppe on today's T-Shirt Tuesday.

Between you and your friends who has the biggest scrapbook stash? Does it matter who's scrapbook stash is larger? Of course it does!

My scrapbook stash is bigger than your scrapbook stash!

Embroidery Hoop Monogram

Last Thursday I shared some embroidery hoop crafts I found on Etsy. I decided I definitely need to try this myself! Here is what I had to work with:

My hoop and a burlap remnant.

And here is what I created! 

I decided to feature my family's monogram. I love the idea of using any sort of mixed media I choose on this project. It was almost like scrapbooking on fabric!

Materials used:

paper

chipboard

ribbon

linen

buttons

lace

felt

tin

twine

The monogram is a piece of chipboard I bought at a scrapbook convention. I just inked it with black ink. The paper with our last name is made from a font on my computer. I embossed the paper to look like a label from a label maker.

I made a rolled fabric flower from some white linen and topped it with a button decorated with twine.

The scroll is a die cut I bought at a scrapbook convention. The green is scrap paper that I cut with a decorative edge punch then distressed the edges with black ink. The red is ribbon that I layered on top of the green paper.

Another linen rolled flower. This one is layered on top of a piece of scalloped paper and topped with a scrap piece of burlap and a button. The stem is a self-adhesive piece of felt from Prima.

I wrote "FAMILY" with a piece of chalk on a tin heart and attached it to the hoop with a vintage button and some twine.

I used some scrap burlap to make a ribbon which I used to hang the hoop from the wall. I trimmed the entire front edge of the hoop with lace. I attached everything to the burlap and hoop with my new favorite adhesive.

Here are a few more shots:

This is definitely a project anyone can take on, and I can see myself making more of these in the future!

Embroidery Hoop Crafts {& a GIVEAWAY Winner!}

I have a new obsession...

It involves embroidery hoops...

But it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with embroidering...

It all started with this:

 The hoop.dee.do bulletin board from littleprettystudio

Super fun and cute, right? A fantstic way to brighten up any space. Plus, the beauty of an embroidery hoop? If you get tired of the colors, just change the fabric! Also, adding more than one hoop in varying sizes makes this space even more interesting.

From the Little Pretty Studio Etsy store I cyberstalked the owner, Jennifer, to her blog where I found this amazing collage which totally won me over on the whole idea of crafting and decorating with embroidery hoops.

So I decided to stalk Etsy and find more embroidery hoop craft ideas. I was not disappointed! Here are just a few of my faves! {click on them to see a larger version}

1. Little City Hoop--Tiny Neighbors from LittlePinkHouse
{felt + stitching = too cute!}

2. Grey Hoopla from bomchelle
{buttons. its just buttons! simple and elegant!}

3. CUSTOM Notebook Embroidery Hoop Wall Art from rugglesstitch
{the store owner will custom stitch any message on these cute "notebook paper" hoops.}

4. Whale of a Love from TwigAndBird
{a little wool felt goes a long way!)

5. Joy Birds Set of 3 Hand Embroidery Framed 4 inch Hoops Pink Birds Spell Joy from lovahandmade
{the eyes of these birds are made from alphabet beads and spell out a message for you.}

6. Small Embroidery Hoop Wall Art with Vintage Buttons Heart from PisforPaper
{more buttons. love this!}

7. Authentic Love Applique Heart from modernprairiedesigns
{a great way to share a message of love}

8. Ruffled floral wall decor, pink, cream and midnight blue from monkeyandsquirrel
{what a statement this makes!}

9. Oh You Pretty Thing Hand Embroidered Framed Wall Plaque from Samskiart
{sassy wall art in an embroidery hoop. what could be better?}

10. Rose - mixed media textile art from winsomehollow
{so pretty with the crocheted flower}

11. Typewriter Key Wall Plaques from ImperfectlyBeautiful
{LOVE these "typewriter keys" - the store owner does custom orders, too!}

12. Teeny Hearties Wall Wear 3in from neawear
{just too cute with those stitched on fabric hearts}

13. Sophia Clock from bannerbabe
{love the idea of making a clock out of a hoop!}

14. Poppies, floral wall decor from monkeyandsquirrel
{great idea to use fabric flowers to dress up your wall art}

15. Heart Embroidered Hoop from AllThingsArtsy
{who knew something so simple could be so pretty?}

16. Flora Wall Wear - 34 from neawear
{adore this with the button flowers}

17. Embroidery Hoop Wall Art Lime Teal and Brown Set of 5 from DesignsByNancyT
{simple wall art from various sized embroidery hoops and similar fabric}

18. Embroidery hoop chalkboard - bow edition from blissinateacup
{a chalkboard! how ingenious is that?}


I think I'll try my hand at one of these and see how it goes. Should be fun! I'll share with you how it turns out on Sunday!

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 And now for the winner of the *Scrapbook Junkie* tote bag!! 

Congratulations, Scrappy Gifts!

I will be sending you an email shortly to get your mailing address.

Thank you, everyone, for participating! I so enjoyed reading your comments, and I can tell we are all kindred spirits. Its good to know there are people out there with the same problem love with this hobby that I have. :)

T-Shirt Tuesday - Touch My Scrapbook Stuff

We featured this design last week on our Facebook page on a tote bag we gave away. {Congrats again, Pamela!} This week we're featuring it on T-Shirt Tuesday!

In our new *Scrapbook Gone RETRO*, Touch My Stuff is probably my favorite design. We've taken this tough gal war era ad and gave her even more attitude. Scrapbook attitude! She even has scrapbook scissors with wings tattooed on her arm as well as "s c r a p" tattooed across her fingers!

If you're a tough scrapbook chick, this shirt is for you!

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Don't forget to enter our latest giveaway for a *Scrapbook Junkie* extra large canvas tote bag!

Click here for details!

Time for Another {GIVEAWAY}!

Giveaway closed!
See the winner here.

It's that time again!

Time for yet another giveaway
from The Scrap Shoppe!

Enter to win this tote!

To Enter

Leave a comment telling me what makes you a scrapbook junkie (don't forget to leave your email address as well so I can contact you if you win!).


Bonus Entries (giving you up to 6 different chances to win!)

1. Become a follower of The Scrap Shoppe Blog and leave a comment that you're a follower.

2. Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your post.

3. Become a Twitter follower and leave a comment that you're a follower.

4. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment leave a comment here that you tweeted. Click here to tweet now!

5. Become a Facebook Fan and leave a comment that you're a fan.

*** Leave separate comments for each of the above actions to increase your chances of winning.


Things to know

1. The giveaway will close on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at midnight EST (any entries after that will not be considered).

2. One number will be randomly chosen using the random number generator from random.org.

3. You MUST leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner (If there is no email address in your comment, I'll have to choose the next random number).

4. The winner will be announced on Thursday, February 18th.


Good luck!

101 Reasons I ♥ You

Happy Valentine's Day!

Even though its probably too late to make today's project in time to give your sweetheart for Valentine's Day {but if you can, you are good!}, it is too good not to share. Plus, you could really give this to your loved one any time of year, if you were so inclined.

"101 Reasons I ♥ You" is a project put together by a longtime friend and fellow scrapbooker, Vanessa. She had an "I can make that!" moment when she saw this project on the internet here. I think hers turned out super cute and looks better than the one online!

To make this project Vanessa used:
1 glass jar (Vanessa's came from Hobby Lobby --> try to get one when they are on sale or use the 40% off coupon they often have available)
1 silk rose with the petals removed
black, white, and red cardstock
alphabet rub ons
ribbon
various love-themed embellishments (including the Downloadable I Love You Page Kit from my Etsy store!)
101 reasons you love your significant other (101 possibilities here) printed with a romantic font on white paper.

Place the rose petals in the bottom of the jar. Cut the 101 reasons into strips, fold them, and place them in the jar on top of the rose petals. Decorate your jar and attached the "101 Reasons I ♥ You" tag to the front of your jar with ribbon.

Vanessa ended up spending about half of what the online version of this jar cost. Not bad! Leave her some love {comments!} to let her know how much you like her "101 Reasons I ♥ You" jar!

And thank you, Vanessa, for letting me share this fun and sweet project on the blog!

Vintage Valentine Cards & More!

Valentine's Day is now right around the corner! If you still need to find/make some valentines for your sweetheart or friends and you are of the vintage persuasion, I have just the website to help you out!

This is quite possibly my newest go-to website for vintage images.

Vintage Holiday Crafts

They have a huge assortment of vintage cards, clip art, and more. All for free download! Do be sure to read their terms of use so as not to take advantage of their kindness to provide these images.

Here are a few of the cute cards you will find there!

Adorable, yes? Just download, print, dress-up {being the crafty person that you are you know you're going to add some stickles or something to these!}, and hand out!

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Don't forget to head on over to our Facebook page and join in our giveaway! You could win this bag from our new *Scrapbooking Gone RETRO* section of the shoppe!