Kick-Off Time

Paul's Totally Random Super Bowl Party - Guest Book

I have a friend who throws a Super Bowl Party every year, and it typically falls on or around his birthday. This year, I decided to make him a guest book to have as a keepsake year-to-year, so all his friends can commemorate the big day and big game!

Supplies for this project included the Zutter Pre-Punched Page Protectors (these ones are the 8X8 movable style), some masculine paper (Rebel by Glitz Designs), and scrap matte board that was getting thrown out from work. Now here's the thing....I was a bit rushed making this, just the evening before the party.  And, yes, I messed up on the punching.  It's every Zutter Zister's nightmare....not paying attention to holding the material flat while punching, and this is what you get.  ARGH!

oh no!

But never fear! There is a fix.  Trim strips of coordinating patterned paper and cover both sides of the sheet with the offending punches.  Re-punch after the adhesive has dried.  And, now they are fabulously trimmed paged, and everyone thinks you did this on purpose!

muhahahahaha - all fixed!

From there, everything went much smoother.  All the pages were bound - I like the Antique Brass Owire contrasting with the black and other colors.  Patterned paper was inserted into the Zutter Pre-Punched Page Protectors (and then inserted where I wanted them), and simple embellishments added.  Just enough to enhance the pages, but leave plenty of room for everyone to sign their birthday-Super Bowl wishes.

all the fixings ready to go!

 Some cardboard letters were Smooch Spritzed (by Clearsnap) and added to the cover.

He liked the gift and the game and party was SUPER fun this year!

Last Minute Love Note Mini

Here’s a little quick project you can whip together pronto and tuck into someone’s lunch bag or backpack on Valentine’s morning.

Grab a Zutter Cover-All in any size (this one is 3X4), and spray it with some color of choice – I like Clearsnap Smooch Spritz (it dries super fast and produces an awesome rich color).

Trim some cardstock for the inner pages and add some stickers and photos, along with all the lovey-dovey things you want to say to your intended.   Bind with Zutter Owire (for the small Cover-All, 1/2" diameter or smaller works).

Keep the embellishments simple – some ribbon, a pretty flower.  Can you say “awwww…..”

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Lift My Sole - Support Independent Businesses!

Remember when the economy really hit the skids and so many good, small companies and stores had to shutter their doors?  Well, that made me sad.  Then the “little guys” really shouted out and entire movements were born to support independent businesses and to make sure they were not lost in this mess of an economy.   I make my attempts to support the small businesses -- the independently owned craft stores, the artisans and innovators that make their living off their entrepreneurship.  They are really the good guys.

So when I encounter a business that does what they do so well, I go back for more and more.  And I let everyone know.  One such company is LiftYour Sole – a jewelry company out of Atlanta that makes inspiring stuff for runners and athletes.  I started buying from them about a year ago when I started treating myself to “running rewards” and have gone back for more.  What I always liked about them is their personal service and the obvious love of what they do.  Squeals of delight can be heard whenever I receive one of my orders – nicely wrapped in a ribbon-tied tulle pouch.  It’s great every single time.

 

So when the Lift Your Sole team was present at a recent running expo in So Cal, naturally I was excited to get the chance to meet the awesome-sauce ladies behind the great products.  I got to meet Kelsey, their traveling diva, manning a very busy booth at the Disneyland Hotel.  I wanted to buy one of everything….but held myself back.  C’mon, not yet…someday I will! 

 

As a token of my appreciation for all they do, I embarked on some Zutter craftiness and made them a fan/guest book.  I used a Zutter Cover-All (4X6 sized forPre-Punched Page Protectors), and loads of blank cardstock.  I added prints of some of their fabulous inspirational images and quotes that they post on FB into the page protectors (which they can replace with product pictures if they like!), and the blanks pages are for their fans to “sign in” and write love notes.  The Cover-All was plain white, but was misted with Smooch Spritz in shades of Lift Your Sole colors.  The cover was crafted from denim, cardboard and a reprint of their logo.  

 I can’t imagine the hard work and stress of the independent businesses out there – especially the smaller ones.  But I sure do appreciate them…and I LOVE my Lift Your Sole charms, rings, bracelets, necklaces and other stuff!  Rock on Jill and Kelsey and all the LYS team!

I bought a 13.1 sterling silver ring, and a polka dot key chain from Lift Your Sole!

Masterpiece Turkey

I know its odd to call a race a masterpiece, but I did feel like it was....last Thanksgiving.

 Prima paper, miscellaneous letters and other other embellies from the random stash.   The small caption at the top of the photo says "I was followed by a running reindeer!"

It's rare when all the elements align on race day.  But I was well rested, coming off some great longer races and ready to tackle  my first 10k.   I did 1:04 or about 10:32 per mile.  This is fast for me...with no walking breaks.  The picture says it all - so happy with about 2 miles to go.  There were also lots of Tri La Vie runners, my coach Martha, and friends Cathy, Mark and Tina slapping high fives at every turnaround.  Woot!

This was the second year of my running on Thanksgiving, and it IS a great feeling to get a big race in before enjoying all the eating of the rest of the day.  Eating....the joy of running indeed.

Recycle. Reuse. RePurpose.

Office scrap paper

This is what I had at work the other day.  These sheets of paper contain data that I turn into reports.  Once I am done with them, they go into the recycle bin.  I get this much about every four weeks.  During a couple of slow days during the holidays, I chopped a bunch of them into quarters to use as scrap paper at my desk.....but then I thought I would take it a couple steps farther with my Bind-it-All! 

Trimmed into quarters

 First I raided my stash of random Zutter Owire.  I have loads of bits and pieces and different colors that I save for projects such as this!  I also pulled out scrap cardboard that sits in a pile alongside my craft table.  Since the scrap pieces of paper measure 5.5" X 4.25", I used my Zutter Kutter to trim the cardboard to 6" X 4.75".  Along with the bits and pieces of patterned paper and letter stickers I save, plus a bucket of random embellishments, I made a bunch of scrap paper note pads for my office mates.

Scrap cardboard and Owire!

Zutter Kutter does the cardboard trimming!

Scrap paper, stickers and embellishment made up the rest!

Admittedly, these are NOT fancy - they are not meant to be.  They are made with the backsides of old emails and reports with random office information.  The cardboard may be tattered or bent a bit, and the stickers or paper  mis-matched.  I know my office mates with still love 'em and use 'em!  Just remember that with your Bind-it-All you don't have to start with fancy supplies.  Look around at what you have and make something special with it.  Recycling and Reusing is highly recommended!

Happy New Year!

Smash Running

Scrapbooking and running are more alike than you think.  It takes awhile at both before you think you've "got it."  When you don't do it you feel "out of sorts."  They both make you happy, tired, frustrated, and exhilerated.  Sometimes all at the same time. 

You also gather ideas and inspiration from lots of different places.  Well, just like I save copies of layout and projects that I want to scraplift, I now tear out pages and notes from my running magazines, and artlessly smash them into a decorated composition notebook.  There is absolutely nothing crafty about it other than the glue stick and markers.  But, I love looking at the tidbits of info that never ceases to motivate me.With the Olympic marathon qualifying race this weekend, I expect to be highly inspired this weekend.  It won't make my Saturday 14 miler any easier, but it will be my own "qualifier" nonetheless.

Next race coming up: Tinkerbell Half Marathon at Disneyland, January 29!

Run LA

A few months behind schedule, but here is my layout and race report for the Los Angeles Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon.  It was 2+ months ago, but the memory of a great, FUN run is still vivid in my mind.  The race was held just a day before Halloween, so I would have to say the pure entertainment of the people watching made the miles fly by!  So many people ran in costume, though for myself, I don't think I could do it.  I get uncomfortable enough with my own sweat that I can't imagine having a flopping hat, or glitter-something or tutu-anything in my way.  I have enough trouble keeping my race number pinned on my front!  So kudos to those who do run in costume, and who do so with a smile!

Prima paper and chipboard letters (from a collection a couple years back).

This was my first Rock 'n Roll race, and it was a great experience.  It was amazingly well organized.  I drove up to downtown LA on my own and parked just a couple blocks from the start line.  The bag check area was a series of UPS trucks, very well labeled, and very well staffed.  There were a zillion porta-toilets.  Barely a line for anything!  I wandered around, and ended up in a staging area where there were water bottles, bagels and bananas being distributed. Yum!  I delayed heading for the corrals (because I dislike being herded for too long), but I could hear the announcer, and when the national anthem started, I headed to corral 9.  The corrals were well staffed and organized, so there didn't seem to be much corral-hopping.  Once the first wave launched, each of the next waves started like clock work about a minute apart.  It was great.  The weather was warm, but not too much so. There were bands and cheerleaders every mile...I particularly liked the enthusiastic crowds and water stations near USC and the Coliseum.  I also saw my friends Rob and Annie who were in an earlier wave as they made one of the turnarounds and we spotted each other!  Fun!  The most challenging part of the run was nearing Mile 10 and heading up the 6th Street bridge.  That portion faced directly into the sun on a pretty good uphill.  But once you made that turn around it was down hill with a nice view of the Hollywood sign!

All in all, a great run, a decently flat but still challenging course that I would definitely repeat in 2012 (in fact, I already registered!) Rock On!