Nancy Wethington

My Prima book is complete . . .

Using a Kathy Orta (Paper Phenomenon) All Occasion mini album pattern and yes, it is phenomenal! This book has so many pockets, pull-outs, flips and inserts that it may turn out to be one of my all time favorite patterns. The Prima paper that decorated this book is an older pattern yet still gorgeous. 

Here are a few of the inside pages:

The die cuts on the cover and throughout the book are from Gina's Designs

many of which are available at For Keeps Sake.

 

The bird cage is from Gina's Designs.

Look how cute that slide-out journaling spot is

(from the All Occasion patterns).

Leave the top open and slide in a photo mat.

Spellbinders dies for photo mats.

The library pocket flips over.

The underneath page flips out.

Each page has at least 2 interactive parts. Love that!

More of Gina's Designs butterflies.

I used them back to back to create tabs.

And one little glittered up firefly.

So teeny and intricate.

More flips, pull outs and inserts.

 

The right side pocket holds an additional (thin) mini.

Here's the inside:

Flip, pull, push, slide:

Now for the clean-up.

It's the creep factor . . .

How does this happen? You start with a large work surface and when your back is turned, the materials you're working with start creeping in on the space.

I've been working on a mini book I put together some time ago. Just now getting around to decorating the pages.

Absolutely loving Wendy Vecchi's new Archival Ink colors. The Prima papers I'm using have a soft black color so Watering Can is perfect with them. (Combining Antique Linen Distress Ink on the papers and finishing up the edges with Watering Can Archival Ink.)

 

It's what's for dinner . . .

Several months ago the For Keeps Sake girls met at Timi's house for our first Pampered Chef get together. Mickey Sapa is our fearless Pampered Chef leader.  We made a delicious recipe for one pot Easy Pasta Carbonara. WOW! A creamy sauce covers each bow tie pasta with just a touch of spice. It's my go-to-I'm-in-a-hurry-and-everyone-is-hungry recipe.

I have made this so many times since, using low fat cream cheese and it taste just as good! Most of the time I grab a bag of cooked, shelled and deveined shrimp from Aldi's and throw that in at the last minute. It's what's for dinner!

Finished . . .

So much fun working on this beautiful book/box from Gina:

 

Yes, she creates this amazing binding that easily rolls open to reveal

a box ready for treasures or a mini-book.

Cut from hardboard, this book is made to last for generations.

The bird cage, butterflies, feather and fairy are all her designs as well.

Pure genius!

So much tiny detail in this 5"x7" book.

Look for her designs coming soon to your favorite scrapbook store

For Keeps Sake - St. Louis MO

PS: I've got classes planned with more of her designs.

Watch my blog for details.

OMG will I ever get this counting thing right . . .

Getting ready for Saturday's bookbinding workshop (July 27), cutting paper, attempting to write directions, divying up hardware and . . . 

YIKES.

I think I told the class takers to bring 2 pieces of decorative paper for the inside and outside covers when actually you will need

4 pieces of decorative paper!

 I am so sorry and hope this doesn't cause too much trouble.

It's quite a unique binding that I'm excited to share with you.

In addition to basics (cutter, scissors, adhesive) you will need:

• Craft knife
• Corner rounder
• Ruler (a Tim Holtz ruler works best for this - and is an amazing ruler for crafters)
• Simple edge punch (nothing too elaborate or deep please)
• 1/4" double sided adhesive
• Paper piercer (pokey tool)
• Strong wet adhesive such as Beacon 3-in-1
• Brayer (helps smooth out wet adhesive)
• Score board such as Martha Stewart
• Pencil
• Snack if you wish

See you at For Keeps Sake Saturday July 27.

10:30 am - 2-ish

Friday, July 26 . . .

It's the 4th Friday of the month and that means it's the A.R.T. group meet-up.  Hope you can join us for an evening of playing with art stuff. Bring whatever you'd like to work on and play. One of our fabulous brand new vendors will be joining us tonight.  She's stepping away from her work and playing along. Can't wait to see what she creates.

I'll be working on the inside of this:

Bring your art journals, paints, books, whatever you need to start or finish and let's have some fun. Let me know if you can make it.  I'll bring treats.

How cute are these . . .

For Keeps Sake will soon be carrying these adorable ATC cabinets in the store.  I'm wondering if our CYI group would like to work with these?  If so, let me know by leaving a comment in this post and I can ask For Keeps Sake to order extras.

There will be a couple of designs to choose from and as soon as I can, I will post those designs. Once put together, the door is able to swing open, revealing the treasures you place on the inside. Just too cute!

A reason to scrapbook . . .

Whether it's via a 12x12 page, a mini-book, a journal, a calendar or something else creative, there's a reason to scrapbook.  I ran across this article about how Hemingway's mother kept a scrapbook:

Hemingway's Early Life

And thought about all the journals Thomas Jefferson kept and how interesting it is to look back at his writings.  And Anne Frank.  And Amelia Earhart.  And Lewis & Clark.

Not to say anyone I know may or may not be as famous as these people, but it is so interesting to read the history of someone's life and the events that molded them. To read the account of how one was shaped with accompanying photos is an amazing adventure, definitely a biography of sorts - a part of his-story or her-story.

If you're one to take photos with your phone, please get them off the phones and onto paper.

Tell the story.

I thought cassette tapes were going to last forever.  

Just sayin'.

Very excited . . .

Adding another class with Graphic 45's Typography

Just ordered some brand new Tim Holtz product for a bookbinding class in November.  

Date, time etc TBA.  This is what we'll be working with:

LOVE this cover!

Stay tuned for all the details.

Tonight . . .

Tuesday, July 16: 6 pm - Savvy Stampers Club Class

If you're able to make it tonight,

please call For Keeps Sake (314) 487-8131

and put your name on the list.

Specifically designed for the Stamping Club Members, we get together once each month (3rd Tuesday of each month) for a free class for Stamp Club Members. 

Here's what you'll need to bring:

• BYO basics 
• Edge Distresser
• Crop-A-Dile
• Paper Piercer
• Inks: Fired Brick (or any red); Versafine Deep Lagoon or Memories Blue or Memories Teal Zeal; VersaMagic Wheat