Howdy all!

I just wanted to share some of the standard tools that I always have in my scrapbook desk with everyone that I just can’t live without.

Clear Ruler - I use my 12 inch clear ruler all the time! It comes in very handy when I need to know what size of journaling block I can add to my pages. I typically get mine from Staples for much less than a dollar.

Mechanical Pencils - I always have at least a couple of mechanical pencils in my desk. No need for sharpening with kind of pencil and you can get packs of them at the dollar store that will last you a long time!

Compass - What’s a compass you ask? It’s part of a typical mathematical tool set that you used to use in school that draws circles. I use this tool all the time, especially when I’m stamping and need a circular guideline.

Eraser - Believe it or not, I have a retractable eraser made by Staples. I don’t ever use the erasers on the ends of my pencils because they tend to leave dark marks on the paper. But that’s just my preference.

Sand paper - I love sanding my photos and sometimes I use it to distress my chipboard and paper edges. I always have some small squares of pretty course sand paper in my desk drawer.

Fine Tipped Scissors - I absolutely love hand cutting detailed items for my cards and pages. Having fine tipped scissors allows me to get into all those teeny, tiny spots to cut out fine details.

Exacto Knife - Since I love to cut out details, I also need an exacto knife to cut out any internal details along the way. I use a retractable Exacto brand knife for this and I use it almost every day. I also use it to poke holes to put my brads in too.

Baby Wipes - I use stamps on almost all of my pages. In order to clean them off, I keep a Ziploc bag full of cut baby wipe pieces for cleaning. I also use them if I accidently ink my desk top or have a paint spill on my work area. They are so handy!

I hope my list of tools might inspire you to add some of these things to your scrapbooking tool arsenal too!

Happy creating!

I am a font-a-holic!! I can admit it. I love fonts!! All types of fonts. I am contantly looking through the web for new, fresh and funky fonts. I thought I would share my addiction with you gals.

I love a good typewriter font and this one is fantastic!

This week I have chosen a cute one called: Underwood Champion

If you would like it on your computer you can download it for free here: Dafont

If you require instructions on loading your new font, they can be found in the Resources section of the blog: Resources

I would love to see any creations you make using this font. You can send it to: thynner5@yahoo.ca and put “font friday” in the subject line. You can also link you creations here as well. Anyone who does this will have a ballot for this months draw!

Enjoy your new font!

~Tara~

I absolutely love making cards and sending cards to all my scrappy friends… I mean who doesn’t love a pretty card from a friend?

Sometimes I like to make friends, especially those who don’t scrap, cards to use and send to their own friends.  In order to deliver this special set of cards, I like to make card caddies to send them along in.

Here’s how you make a simple card caddy using 2 pieces of 12×12 patterned papers…. check it out here.

This would make a great gift to send anyone who loves to send out cards… maybe even a simple present for your Mom?

Happy card creating!

Here is this week’s word:

HIP

1. familar with or informed about the latest ideas, styles, developments, etc.

2. considered aware of or attuned to what is expected, esp. with a casual or knowing air; cool

3. in agreement or willing to cooperate; going along

This is such a great, fun and funky word. It can be used in so many ways to show so many things! It is…. well…. HIP!

Here is a layout I did for Scrapdango. It features my darling Paige. I love this photo of her wearing her sunglasses. She really does look stylin’. So funky and so HIP!!

I would love for you to be inspired to create something using this week’s word. It can be in your title, your photo(s) or your subject. Don’t forget that if you complete any sketch puzzle challenge, Monday challenge, wordy Wednesday challenge or submit a tip for Tip Tuesday then you will automatically be entered to win this month’s Blog Prize!! So get scrapping and either send them to me at( thynner5@yahoo.ca ) or link them in the blog!

~Tara~

We have been so busy with NSD that we almost forgot to draw for this month’s Blog Prize. I used a randon generator and the winner for April is………………

Ann Houser!! 

Here was her creation for Ally’s pocket challenge. I just love the colors and the tag!

Please email me at thynner5@yahoo.ca and give me your mailing address. Congrats on being the winner for April.

Thanks to everyone who contibuted by completing challenges or submitting to the blog. I love recieving your work and your tips.

Check the blog out tomorow for a peek at May’s Blog Prize!! 

~Tara~

We have a few more NSD Blog Party prizes to announce …..

Congratulations to Jacqueline N. who has won a Core-dinations prize pack from Ally!!!

Congratulations to Cathy S. and Kerri B. who have each won a year long membership to weScrap.

Please send your mailing address to jen@creativecraftsandstickers.com.

Have a great day everyone!

~ Jen 

It is time to catch up form our awesome NSD Blog Crop!!

This week’s tip was submitted to me by Jo-ann:

Jo-ann was searching for an easy and inexpensive way to store her paper kits. She came up with this awesome idea:

“I was browsing around and came across this awesome idea for hanging paper!  Lucky me had 2 of these hangers on hand so I stuck my kits on them!”

“Now that garage sales are on anyone can probably find these hangers for almost nothing! Neat eh?”

Yep…. I sure think so Jo-ann! Thanks for sharing this with us. It is an awesome way to keep those paper kits up and away from my girls when I am inbetween projects!

Jo-ann has earned herself a ballot for this week’s Monthly Blog Prize Draw. If you have forgotten what awesome prize pack is up for grabs with all the activities over the weekend, here is a reminder: Sneak Peek

Remember that everytime you complete a challenge on the site, send in a tip, technique or tutorial, or use a font, you earn a ballot for the draw! Just send them to me at thynner5@yahoo.ca and put CCAS Blog in the subject line.

Tomorrow I will post the Wordy Wednesday challenge!

~Tara~

Thanks to everyone who participated in the first online blog party hosted by the Creative Crafts and Stickers team.

The turnout for the crop was amazing with lots of new friends joining in on the fun.

Thank you to Catherine Tachdjian from Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine for generously donating prizes for the event.

Krysten Layton and Lee-Anne have each won a Simply Cards Today card book.

Jennifer Phillips, Silvia Haynes, and Heather H have won a one year subscription to Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine.

And … the winner of the grand prize … a Clip It Up … is Adrienne.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the CCAS NSD Blog Party!  Ally, Tara and I had a wonderful time hosting the event and hope you will continue to visit the blog and will join us again for our next blog party. Over the next few days, I will be posting all of the challenge submissions to the Get Inspired section of the site.

If you have won a prize, please send your mailing address to me via email.

Have a wonderful day!

~ Jen (jen@creativecraftsandstickers.com)

Here are the rules for the challenges this weekend:

1.  Must be a new creation, starting today.
2.  No digital pages.  Hybrid and traditional creations welcome.
3.  You must post your work to the appropriate challenge comment section or email to jen@creativecraftsandstickers.com.  Please put CCAS Celebration and the challenge number in the subject line. If you email your challenge, be sure to post a comment letting us know your entry has been emailed. Links to blogs or photo storage areas are fine.
4.  Must be linked no later than 11:59pm EST on Monday evening.
5.  You must post your first name & last initial and some way of getting in contact with you (ie: email or blog address).
6.  No combining of challenges.
7.  You will earn ONE ballot per completed challenge entry.  You may do challenges more than once but each page must complete the challenge requirements.
8.  Double pages will only count as one entry.

If you don’t see you creations in either one of the CCAS Galleries, please send your image to  myself (allisonnicolecope@hotmail.com).

Good luck!

Gallery 1

Gallery 2

Looking great everyone!!!!