American Crafts Studio Blog

Thickers Layout and Card by Corrie Jones

Congrats to the winner of a bunch of Thickers, Linda E:

Here to finish up Thickers Week is Corrie Jones with a layout and card:

PARTY by Corrie Jones

Supplies: Coronado Paper (35728) - Shoreline, Encinitas Paper (35735) - Shoreline, Melbourne Paper (35718) - Shoreline, Biscayne Paper (35720) - Shoreline, Simple Romance Paper (35645) - Neapolitan, Heart Song Paper (35631) - Neapolitan, 6x6 Paper Pad (35696) - Sketchbook, Medium Jewel Brads (85287) - Elements, Boardwalk Cascade (53363) - Thickers, Boardwalk Fireberry (53365) - Thickers, Boardwalk Honeycomb (53364) - Thickers, Pantry Rouge (53308) - Thickers, Pantry Robin's Egg (53309) - Thickers

THE PERFECT PLACE FOR MORNING ART. by Corrie Jones

Supplies: Cotton Candy (71046) - Cardstock, Silver Lining Paper (35635) - Neapolitan, Simple Romance Paper (35645) - Neapolitan, Printed Variety Tags (78069) - Bits, Border, Accent & Phrase Stickers (42235) - Remarks, Pigment (42241) - Remarks, Fabric Brads (85578) - Elements, Palette (42240) - Remarks, Decorative Tags (77289) - Bits, Draft (59161) - Clear Stamps, Memo Burlap (53350) - Thickers, Boardwalk Taffy (53362) - Thickers, Fantastic Limeade (53109) - Thickers, Muse Whitewash (53344) - Thickers, Scene Taffy Glitter (53342) - Thickers, Pantry Robin's Egg (53309) - Thickers

Come back tomorrow morning for a fun final farewell to the 2011-2012 Design Team blog hop!

Thickers Cards by Melissa Mann

Here are not one, not two, but THREE cards focusing on Thickers made by Melissa Mann:

YOU ARE MY TYPE by Melissa Mann

Supplies: White (71081) - Cardstock, Natural (53345) - Thickers, Kraft (71464) - Cardstock, Super Swell (42193) - Remarks Books, Wonder (53265) - Thickers, Foam Tabs (61710) - This to That

BON VOYAGE by Melissa Mann

Supplies: Fireberry (71558) - Cardstock, Myrtle Paper (35725) - Shoreline, 6x6 Paper Pad (35743) - Shoreline, Neptune Paper (35729) - Shoreline, Flamingo (42249) - Remarks Books, Pantry Rouge (53308) - Thickers, Surfboard (85584) - Delights

WARM WISHES by Melissa Mann

Supplies: Smoke (71080) - Cardstock, Hazy Horizon Paper (35639) - Neapolitan, Warm Memories Paper (35633) - Neapolitan, Accent & Phrase Stickers (42235) - Remarks, Premium Ribbon (58805) - Ribbon, Pinwheel (78071) - Embellishments, Splendid White (53296) - Thickers, Serendipity Ballerina (53292) - Thickers

Make sure you've entered the amazing Thickers giveaway in Monday's post!

Thickers Layout and Card by Michelle Clement

These layouts and cards showcasing Thickers were made by Michelle Clement:

PEDAL BIKE by Michelle Clement

Supplies: Catalina Paper (35730) - Shoreline, Pebble Beach Paper (35741) - Shoreline, Biscayne Paper (35720) - Shoreline, 6x6 Paper Pad (35742) - Shoreline, Santa Monica Paper (35723) - Shoreline, Shoreline (42247) - Remarks Dimensional Stickers, Chap Plastic Buttons (85569) - Elements, Memo Cork (PC53-349) - Thickers, Memo Burlap (PC53-350) - Thickers, Muse Whitewash (53344) - Thickers

SAND BEACH SUN FFFUN by Michelle Clement

Thickers come in a ton of coordinating colors, so mixing and matching colors and fonts can always look cohesive on a card or page. For flawless combinations, make sure they have a common thread between them - like a similar color scheme to that of your page - then even if you use a million fonts, they'll still work well together!

Supplies: Encinitas Paper (35735) - Shoreline, Catalina Paper (35730) - Shoreline, Carpinteria Paper (35721) - Shoreline, Shoreline (42247) - Remarks Dimensional Stickers, Boardwalk Cascade (53363) - Thickers, Fern Parfait (53275) - Thickers, Crimson (PC53-140) - Thickers

What's for Dinner Frame Tutorial by Pamella Brown

Pamella Brown is going to show us in a step-by-step photo tutorial how to make this "What's for dinner?" frame - a great way to use Thickers:

WHAT'S FOR DINNER? FRAME by Pamella Brown

Supplies: Rose's Kitchen Paper (35540) - Garden Cafe, Cafe Iris Paper (35541) - Garden Cafe, Meringue (42211) - Remarks, Scene Taffy (53342) - Thickers

Step 1: Gather your supplies: photo frame, jute string, dry erase marker, Thickers, patterned paper, and whatever embellishments you desire.

Step 2: Trim your patterned paper to measure slightly larger than the opening in your frame (if you have a mat in your frame, if no mat, simply trim the paper to the size of your frame). Add a strip of patterned paper to the bottom and stitch across it, if you wish.

Step 3: Flip your mat over and tape the back of the patterned paper to the mat.

Step 4: Flip the mat over so the front side of the patterned paper is facing up. Add an embellishment sticker to the top and your Thickers spelling "dinner?" under that.

Step 5: Flip your mat back over and tape/secure one end of a piece of jute string to the back of the mat.

Step 6: Put the mat/patterned paper in the frame and close the frame, making sure the jute string is hanging out of the back of the frame. Hang the frame on the wall.

Step 7: Tie a dry erase marker to the end of the jute string and you are all set to start writing your menu!

Cute, fun, and functional! What a great project! Thanks for lookin'!

Thickers Week!

Perhaps American Crafts' best-known product, Thickers are, well, thick stickers! Perfect for creating a title or sentiment and they come in virtually any color, font, and texture, you're sure to find a pack of Thickers made just for you! This week we'll focus on Thickers, and then on Saturday we're going to have a special farewell blog hop with our 2011-2012 Design Team. So here we go with projects featuring Thickers by Jenny Chesnick and Paige Evans:

IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT by Jenny Chesnick

Supplies: Sea Breeze Paper (35643) - Neapolitan, Silver Lining Vellum Paper (35635) - Neapolitan, Twinkling Lights Paper (35629) - Neapolitan, 6x6 Paper Pad (35658) - Neapolitan, Accents & Phrases Stickers (42232) - Remarks Books, Chipboard Shapes (78070) - Bits, Serendipity Ballerina (53292) - Thickers, Rainboots (P42-967) - Thickers, Custard (F42-53224) - Thickers

HI BABY by Jenny Chesnick

Supplies: 6x6 Paper Pad (35658) - Neapolitan, Serendipity Ballerina (53292) - Thickers, Accents & Phrases Stickers (42232) - Remarks, White (71081) - Cardstock

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON by Paige Evans

Supplies: Roller Date Stamp (59160) - Stamps, Journal Grass (53339) - Thickers, Scene Cascade (53341) - Thickers, Eric Corn (53251) - Thickers, Josh Persimmon (53254) - Thickers, Chap Epoxy Brads (85568) - Elements, Chap Plastic Buttons (85569) - Elements, Chap Fabric Brads (85571) - Elements, Chap Printed Variety Tabs (77261) - Bits, Man of the House Printed Chipboard Frames (77262) - House, Wonder Pool (53265) - Thickers, Dot Glue Runner (61713) - This to That, Dimensional Tabs (61710) - This to That, Ash (71078) - Cardstock, Smoke (71080) - Cardstock, .03 Black (62311) - Precision Pen, Black (59500) - Pigment Ink, Sunrise Limeade (53179) - Thickers, Boardwalk Black (53360) - Thickers

Here's a chance to win a whole bunch of Thickers:

Simply leave a comment on this post by Friday August 31st 2012 letting us know what kinds of Thickers you'd like to see and we'll randomly select one lucky winner to receive a whole bunch of current Thickers!

Leah Farquharson's Scrap Space

Our final peek into scrap rooms will be Leah Farquharson's space!

How is your scrap space organized? I organize most things by type of product, then manufacturer of the product. My inks and paints are kept on the wall shelves, papers in paper organizers on the shelf, punches in a basket, and embellishments in boxes. I also keep a special basket on the floor that I consider my "in queue" basket - I have regular assignments to complete and the current products that I need to use for those get separated by project and plopped into the basket. When they're done, the leftovers get broken down by type of product and manufacturer.

What products must you have within arm's reach? My sewing machine. Inks. Paints. Buttons. Watercolors. I also keep essential tools in a basket made to hold silverware and napkins at a picnic - it holds my ruler, paper piecer, adhesive runner, paint brushes, and acrylic blocks for stamps.

What do you love most about your scrap space? That it's me. I keep bits of things that inspire me on the walls - my favorite latest layout on a rack, a photo of my grandmother, random bits of favorite projects like quilt sample pieces, embroidery projects, a snapshot of my husband and our boys from our last trip to the beach, etc.

How often would we find you scrapping? I would say at least a couple of times a week.

What makes your scrap space unique? I think the biggest thing that makes my space unique is that it doubles as a workspace for my handmade business. My computer, wall schedule for the week, monthly calendar on my desk, reminder notes taped up everywhere with washi tape, sewing machine, and fabric everywhere are all reminders of that it's never completely clean.

Any other tips or things you want to tell us about your scrap space? Don't be afraid to let go of things you're not using. I used to have a thing about not wanting to let go of stuff. My space ended up cluttered and I couldn't work well in it! It's totally not worth hanging on to those papers or stamps that you may never use. Give them to a great cause instead - like a new scrapbooker, a local kid's art museum - anything to clear your space and get you creating. More isn't always better!

Thanks for the look into your creative space Leah!

Amy Heller's Scrap Space

This is Amy Heller's beautiful scrap space!

How is your scrap space organized? My scrap space is organized in two separate methods. First is by current collections for my Design Teams. I keep those collections in upright file boxes nestled within reach on my deep set window above my sewing machine. I try to keep everything separated by collection so they are easy to find and reach for on a daily basis. The second method I use is by color. For all of my non-design team product, I set all of my patterned paper out by color within reach behind me in my IKEA bookshelf. I also do this with all of my embellishments in separate compartmentalized open boxes that I lay inside baskets in my bookshelf.

What products must you have within arm's reach? My paper trimmer, adhesive, my two favorite punches, buttons, and my sewing machine.

What do you love most about your scrap space? I love that it's a reflection of me in nearly every way. It's a place that is all mine and while I'm there scrapping I can sing as loud as I want to my own music and no one can here me because it's in the basement! ;)

How often would we find you scrapping? 3-5 days a week I'm making something, but I'm in my space every day doing blog posts, or just trying to get it cleaned up for the next project!

What makes your scrap space unique? It's a very odd shape, with very limited wall space. And while it's in the basement, I still have two large windows that provide me with some natural light. I even get "visitors" from time to time - one summer I had a frog on the screen outside of one my windows for days. It became a great source of entertainment for my kids!

Any other tips or things you want to tell us about your scrap space? Don't get discouraged about constantly trying to find the best way to organize your space. As I mentioned, I'm constantly trying to figure new ways to more effectively store my goodies. Try out a little of all the new ideas you come across. Not everything will work for you, but some will, and when that does, keep it then move on to the next item. Right now, I'm trying out a new idea for organizing my paper die cuts by color. I'm hoping because it worked for me with my buttons and brads, that this will work for these odds and ends as well.

Thanks for the tour Amy!

Shimelle Laine's Scrap Space

We're looking into the small yet super functional scrap space of Shimelle Laine today:

How is your scrap space organized? I think first by product, then by manufacturer, so that's exactly how I sort my supplies. I keep all my papers together on a paper rack, then divided by manufacturer, and sometimes by collection. I keep all my stickers together, all my die-cuts, all my tape - and then if it needs further sorting I divide by manufacturer. My best advice for finding the best place to keep your supplies is to listen to the voice in your head as you create. Does it say 'something blue would look good here'? Or 'something polka dot' or 'something whimsical' or 'that chipboard piece from Dear Lizzy Neapolitan'? This will help you know if sorting by colour, pattern, mood, or collection.

What products must you have within arm's reach? I keep my most used products in the three drawers of my desk: pens and basic tools in one, inks and stamping basics, and... Thickers! I keep them in colour order on their side so it's easy to flip through and find the set I want even though I have a pretty serious affliction when it comes to Thickers. Some girls like handbags or shoes... I'm rather fond of glittery, dimensional letter stickers!

What do you love most about your scrap space? Working in space that isn't tiny but isn't huge has made me choose just the supplies I love most and that has made me use my stash rather than collect it, and I love how that affects the style of my pages. I tend to keep supplies for about six months and after that I have to have a particular project in mind or they get set free. I donate a lot of my scraps and extras to the local children's hospital. Last year they even had a card making competition with all the papers and stickers!

How often would we find you scrapping? I scrapbook nearly every day - probably six out of seven. But it is a pretty big part of my job, so without getting pages made, I'd have some trouble paying the bills! I definitely love the crafting aspect of my job... though I'm excited that one day I might not have to share the space with the sofa!

What's unique about your space? I don't store anything in plastic. I'm really not a fan of plastic boxes and plastic files. If there were a way to make page protectors out of something other than plastic, I would swap in a heartbeat! Instead, I keep my supplies in vintage Pyrex bowls, paper boxes and files, and metal buckets. I love open storage like that so I can see all the options I have to embellish my next project.

Thanks for showing us around Shimelle!

Mandy Koeppen's Scrap Space

Today we're delving into Mandy Koeppen's scrap space!

How is your scrap space organized? I have design team stuff separated from everything else. Each team has its own shelf/shelves. I have patterned paper organized by manufacturer. Some embellishments are organized by manufacturer, others are thrown together by their type.

 

What products must you have within arm's reach? New kits, recent purchases, alpha stickers, and my tools.

What do you love most about your scrap space? Everything! Product is visible so I see it and use it, the colors, having a "me" place, and my vintage finds.

How often would we find you scrapping? Daily. I try to take a few minutes here and there so maybe 1-2 hours a day total, sometimes more, sometimes less.

What makes your scrap space unique? The mix of my husband's handiwork (he made my counter top work table, the framed chalkboard, the shelving we brainstormed together, and he painted it) and my vintage finds (great for storage, inspiration, and pretty to look at!).

Any other tips or things you want to tell us about your scrap space? Think outside the box when it comes to finding ways to organize your products. I went to vintage shops, thrift stores, and IKEA. I love the mix of old and new. Also a big thing is if you can see it, you will use it!

Thanks for the tour Mandy!

My Scrap Space Week!

This week we're going to take a peek into some of our Designer's scrap spaces! We're excited to show you how they organize and find out their solutions to storage. Leslie Ashe has the first space we'll explore:

How is your scrap space organized? Funny, that’s part of my tip! I have a home for everything. Be it baskets for doo dads, letter stickers, design team items, kits, stamps, etc... I also have tiny collanders for what not’s, a tool caddy for pens, and another one for tools. I also use tiny vintage tin cups for lots of items such as vintage items I find at antique stores.

What products must you have within arm’s reach? Adhesives are on each side of my desk drawers – as well as my scissors, my trimmer, and all of my pens.

What do you love most about your scrap space? It’s MINE. My getaway. A space JUST for me. I came from part of my bedroom. So to be able to have a room ALL to myself – it’s dreamy! My husband planned this room on paper, then we put it together. Did it all on a LOW budget!

How often would we find you scrapping? Probably every other day. Well ok, a lot.

What makes your space unique? As I’ve mentioned before – I think this space is so unique due to the fact it’s originally our formal dining room and there are no closets. We were able to create this space, using tons of storage without it being crowded. Another thing that I think makes it unique is the shelves that my husband designed and made for me. They are one of a kind and I LOVE them.

Thanks for letting us see where you create Leslie!