all work and no play

we have been scrubbing, priming, painting and building away! we are all sore and a bit weary, but the new shop is coming along! i am so sorry i do not have more to share right now...but there truly has been ALL work and NO play! soon i will post lovely photos and make the formal announcement of where the move is to. also, don't forget...if you sign up for our spring retreat, we will be taking an exclusive tour of the new location!

{for denee}

thought this would be the easiest way to show you the piece! {and let everyone be jealous...cause you get first pick!} you just let me know what you think...so shabby! here is a closer view of the details of it. love love love it! don't get too upset ladies...denee is on the hunt for that "perfect piece"...if this is not the right fit, you can purchase it at live.love.scrap on April 17 & 18 at our vintage trunk show sale.

{ideas}

Realizing today that I have been very busy on other things...I decided to get back to the point a little! IDEAS. So here we go... a bunch of photos for a healthy dose of inspiration. Take an old book and cut your own titles from the pages. It makes the best funky letters, and they will be one of a kind! trace around the edge with a fine sharpie and even doodle a bit on the inner edge. instant amazing-ness.
don't forget to sew. a page really look "done" with a little stitching. also...practice your handwriting and JOURNAL! Find an inspiring shape {mine was a chipboard piece from Crate Paper...trace that shape over and over onto kraft paper, and cut them out. next: layer until you have the desired effect.}

use the small journaling letters from making memories to create a story on your page. they look great sanded or given dimension with glossy accents.

mix it up...if you usually scrap in 12x12: try an 81/2 x 11. It is a fun way to get another look to your designs

ooops. sideways shot. anyway...i love this layout for its simplicity. Many lines have a great piece of "lined journal" pages. just add your photo and a few embellishments , small sentiment and some trims...and its perfect. I framed this one for our office

not finished yet...but this funky picture of my Nana and I was taken in North Dakota. I caught her off guard and told her to look up! She was in the middle of eating a peanut and some of the shell is still on her tongue. As weird as this is...its not a perfect picture, but it is LIFE. It is part of the moment. Remember that, scrap a few of the funky ones...just so you can remember. Also, take notice of the "quilting" effect on the side. Very simple. Perfect for scraps.

So many paper lines have a built in edge that you can use, or a design that can easily be cut into a "paper trim". I love these ones by Sassafras Lass. Layer, sew and go! Easy layout about a funny picture. A.J had been chasing Peanut the dog around since he was able to crawl. She knows the danger of a small kid and how they love to pull...so she darts and runs away! But this split second in time, they came face to face...and we snapped a shot. It was like they forgot their roles for a split second {chaser and runner} and they paused...and then they were off again!

Punches are back baby! pull out those punches and dust them off. I love the scallop circle one... scallops are so it right now! Just punch and cut in half for a sweet little spin on a Christmas Tree.

take a looksy

Sharing a few things around my house today...and a few things from in my headI love this collection on my bar top. An old light fixture serves as a candle holder... love turquoise and birds right now {as you can tell} and a plant that is thriving despite me.

dress up an old lamp before you decide to pitch it. What a great way to save some $ and express your personal style.

And yes...your eyes are not failing you. My tree is still up and I love it! and I think that I should share: its OK for you to leave your tree up all year round, and recently I decided that I am probably going to do just that.

{oh bebe} cards

This is a good argument for keeping your scraps! I pulled together these sweet cards from a pile of scraps hanging out in my "scrap box". I just love the eclectic look this combination of colors gives. Also all the texture from the different trims, punches, staples and of course German foil storks. Also...I wanted to show you how I use the petite posies. I love them!

Check out the mini staples...if you haven't heard of these...you will adore them as we all do. The Italian Stapler comes in 5 lovely colors and fastens beautiful antique gold staples. Call the shop today to get onto our waiting list. They arrive {hopefully} the end of March!

Ooooh. See how sweet the Foil Storks are on this baby card! So chic and lovely, perfect for the special expecting mother. These would be great as shower invites, baby announcements or even just for a single card. Cards available also {already completed} at my etsy shop.

www. etsy.com then check out polkadotowl

{petite posies}

They are back! These sweet vintage style posies are back in the boutique. Our favorite girls from McMaster and Storm met us for a lunch and chat! And hand delivered these favorites to us. There are 10 delicious colors to choose from...for $12 each. Jam packed...so you wont run out anytime soon, BUT you will want to collect all the lovely colors. Perfect addition for any cards or layout, a must have.

{countdown} 58 days

Here it is...the first real hint of where we are moving to. It is a sweet little shop with loads of potential. We have lots of work to do before the grand opening. We cant wait! Can you guess where this may be? Let me know what you think...the reveal is coming soon. I just have to put my thinking cap on for a cutesy way to do it. P.S Only 58 days until the Grand Opening at the new location. So get yourself into the current location to savor the final days!

{sign up for our upcoming IN-STORE RETREATS. The last ones at that shop}

Tip alert! We are making lots of changes at the new space. We even chose the color palette yesterday, which was very exciting. It went from a vision in my head to reality. Now I just cant wait to get my hands on a brush! The Benjamin Moore shop was a blast...and we left with colors like: Pale Avocado, Marry Me & Linen White.

trinkets and baubles

as if my studio was not full enough...i was bit by the jewelry making bug. one day it just happened, i was gazing at a favorite bracelet of mine. then i happened over my jar of lovely pearls, beads and finds. i just started putting all these wonderful things together and voila = instant vintage appeal. we will have them available at the new shop...and on etsy.

check me out at http://www.polkadotowl.etsy.com/

above is turquoise and creme. below is marry me pink plus green.

{German Foil}

she opened the box and exclaimed with joy, "hooray they have arrived!" everyone was looking at her in a very peculiar way...but SHE knew how exciting this was. she knew how lovely these German Foil Pieces are, and what she could do with them.

she was especially thrilled with the crowns and the storks. especially the storks. she has many friends whom are expecting, and what lovely invites these will make!

she also knew that once people started to collect these sweet little items, they will find it difficult to complete any project without one of these little joys. luckily, live.love.scrap has them in store NOW! the collection includes crowns, storks, alphabets, bicycles, birds and more

{aww}

i woke this morning to a very sweet note from my guy...it was left on a vintage ruler i had on the kitchen table. {i was measuring vintage trims out} i have to admit, he typically leaves me a post-it somewhere in the house EVERY morning for me to discover. this one was so exceptionally cute i had to share it...

a quick glimpse at some vintage trims now available at the shop

another peek

eeeeeeekkkkk! I am so in love with this piece. it makes me feel like i am living in some New York loft or something. this is my latest addition to the family. a vintage "breakdown" wardrobe. you cant tell from this photo, but the vintage glass lamp hanging in the wardrobe is the sweetest color of peachy pink. ooooh. so lovely

and this little number...also a new addition. i found this couch with my dear mom on a vintage hunt. $60 later and some shabby blue paint, and it is now a treasured find. {i should say, it also took alot of prep time! lots of shampooing etc. has to be clean clean ya know}

{Vintage Trunk Show}

{picture from country living, cabinet not in OUR sale...but items like this!}

we are saying goodbye to some beloved pieces of vintage furniture and finds. We will be having a super fun trunk show event at the shop {probably} on the weekend of our store anniversary, April 17 & 18. don't miss out on your chance to grab some super fun pieces to add into your studio. more details to come! we will update you if the tentative date changes!

yummy recipe

Raspberry Buttercream Frosting
Prep: 10 min. If you love lots of frosting, double the recipe.
This recipe goes with Basic Layer Cake, Vanilla Cupcakes
Yield
Makes about 2 1/2 cups
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup fresh raspberries
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 (16-oz.) package powdered sugar
Preparation:
1. Beat first 4 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
2. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended and smooth after each addition.
Note: Be sure to wash and thoroughly dry raspberries before adding to frosting.
Southern Living, MARCH 2009

{update}

{picture from country living}
yep...we have the keys! the creative endeavor now begins. i will be working on the new space and cant wait for the huge reveal on May 9, 2009! I will be dropping a few hints of the new location every so often and i will reveal the actual LOCATION here on this blog and thru an email..."soonish".above is a little of what to expect....
vintage finds.