Sara's Blog

The sun is shining—and for the first time in five months I am outside without a hat! (Okay, I’m still wearing a wool coat, scarf and boots but did I mention no hat?) The canals are filled with people boating and sidewalk cafes even have tables set outside. Amsterdam is especially beautiful when the sun is shining!

So this morning I took a break from my massive to-do list and visited the neighborhood art store. (Vlieger on the Amstel.) I found the cutest clear plastic balls—they’re actually Christmas ornaments, but the guy at the store tells me he stocks them all year round because they’re so fun to make as gift packages. I agree…Easter is coming early this year (March 23) so I have a little time to get an Easter package off to the States. The shops are filled with Easter candy and decorations, so I picked up some chocolate eggs to put in the ornaments. A few silk flowers, some vintage ribbon, metallic outline stickers and stamped tags and I’ve got cute little Easter gifts—in literally just a few minutes. I love quick and easy projects!

What time zone am I in now? I left Amsterdam the end of January for the CHA show in Anaheim, then over the pond to the Stitches trade show in Birmingham, UK and just got home on Tuesday night. I feel like I could sleep for a week! I taught workshops and made presentations at both shows—all the planning, preparation and practice paid off and fortunately everything went smoothly.

After living out of a suitcase all that time, it’s great to be home—even though the contents of our kitchen consist of a wizened banana and a mysterious furry lump in the fridge. I’m not sure what Keith has been living on these past few weeks, but I have a feeling the pizzeria has done brisk business.

The downside to my trips? (Besides the furry lump in the fridge.) I’ve missed three Dutch classes and my Dutch skills are regressing! Yesterday I decided to practice on the tram and thought I’d compliment a woman on her very cool handbag so I gave her a big smile and said, “I like your purse”. I couldn’t figure out why she glared at me and moved away, but later realized I had actually said, “I want your purse”. I’m lucky she didn’t call for the politie!

Being away from my crafty bits and pieces always inspires me to make stuff, so today I went to the book market in town—every Friday at the Spui there’s an open-air book market, where I love to poke around for old maps and books. Today was a bumper day, as I found some lovely vintage fashion postcards from the 1900’s for just one Euro each. I have grand plans this weekend for some quality crafting time….I can just see these tucked into a portfolio or on a card with some lace and silk flowers—can’t wait to play!

What a whirlwind week! We had a great time at the CHA Winter show in Anaheim, where I tried to take advantage of the sunshine as often as possible! Classes, workshops, presentations and meetings made the schedule hectic but fun. And if you're curious about the show, we did film a short video that will be up on the webisodes schedule soon!

Gotta go...Friday night i'm going to Birmingham, England for another trade show!

My friend LeNae made the cutest little gift card pocket—I just had to share it with you! It’s the perfect size for a special note or gift card. I love the cool pink and black color combination, and how LeNae created that fun dot-stamped effect.

Instructions:

1. Stamp circles on the top flap, using a black StazOn ink pad. If you’re stamping on the glossy side of the Surface, use a heat gun to speed up the drying time.

Tip: Because the circles stamp is a border, you’ll be stamping randomly across the Surface to cover it completely. Don’t worry if some circles overlap—the pattern will still look fine!

2. Inside, stamp the circles across the top flap, about 3/4" above the fold. Stamp randomly on the pocket flap. Attach the Brad Buddy™ purse to the pocket flap, then glue the sides to form the pocket.
3. Glue a 3 1/4" flower as shown with the Brad Buddy™ shown on top.
4. Cover the bottom front panel with pink textured paper. I use a regular glue stick and apply it to the Surface, then place my paper on top and smooth it down. Trim around the outside edges.
5. Outside shutters: Cut two 2"x4 1/4" pieces of pink diamonds paper. Ink the edges and glue to the outside shutters. For the inside shutters: Cut two 1 7/8"x4 1/8" pieces of pink diamonds paper, ink the edges and glue. Attach a “Love to Shop” Brad Buddy™ to a white square and mat on black. Glue to the left side of the panel only.
6. Inside the Pocket: Mat a 4" square of pink diamonds paper onto black. Stamp “just for you” in the center, then glue to the center panel. Stamp “surprise!” onto the tag cut-out, then insert a bow brad at the top. Glue the tag to hide the shoe brad prongs.
7. Outside: To close, wrap black grosgrain ribbon across the top and tie in a bow.

Thanks, LeNae, for sharing this idea! More ideas are in the Sara’s Surfaces™ Idea Book—out now!

LeNae used the Sara’s Surfaces™ Peek-a-Boo Pocket, Cardmaker’s Citrus Creative Pack, Cardmaker’s Classic Ribbons, Chocolate Flowers, Shoes/Purse Brad Buddies™, Delicate Patterns stamps, Expressions stamps, clear acrylic block and Classic Bow brads.

    

This month is going to be crazy!

First, I’m headed back to the States for Webisode and DVD filming for the Personal Shopper Scrapbooking kits, then to Anaheim for the big CHA trade show. This is where we’ll debut our new products, including Sara’s Surfaces™—so wish us luck! I’ve got classes and presentations and tons of meetings on my itinerary. It’s busy but super fun and I love seeing everyone at the show.

Then I’m home on February 14, with just enough time (one day) to wash my clothes, give Keith a kiss and get back on a plane to Birmingham, England for the CHS trade show, for more presentations and classes. (I’ll be sure to post a few photos from the shows so you too can be part of the craziness.)

I’ll be lucky to remember my own name, let alone my new vocabulary words from Dutch class—which started the end of January!

PS. HOTP has a new monthly column on Memory Makers’ website! Check it out at http://www.memorymakersmagazine.com/articles.aspx. Just click on Hot Off The Press Web Exclusives.