Posts from ‘Design Team’

Mar
05

While we were coming up with the Design Team, we tried to get a variety of styles and talents. Marie’s is our artist and ‘pen professional’, Sarah is our modern, classic and clean girl. Debbie does the altered and unexpected. Then there is April. April Stanfield is very detailed and technical. Her work is always top-knotch and always inspiring sometimes it’s her journaling that will make your cry just reading it, or she’ll have some crazy technique that will be simple enough and work perfectly, leaving you scratching your head thinking “why didn’t I think of that”. April uses details and embellishment unexpectedly and her mad photography/photoshop skills are something I will always be jealous of. She’s taught every class you can imagine over the last 5 years and she still loves it! April lives in a houseful of boys in Washington State. Welcome to the Tombow Team Girl!

Mar
04

Today’s daily does of inspiration is from Marie. She created these great vellum containers for CHA this year

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Mar
03

I’ve known Sarah Little for six years now and I am continually amazed at her talent. Sarah Little’s style is simple yet really fun. She uses color so creatively and she incorporates great pictures and journaling. She is always coming up with way fun mini projects. Sarah has been in the industry in some for for over 7 years. She has taught at multiple stores and multiple conventions, she’s been with Tombow as a CHA demonstrator for 4+ years, she’s been published and she’s never stopped creating. If you’ve never been in one of her classes you are missing out, she’s full of information and she makes learning it so much fun! Sarah’s most used adhesive is the MONO Adhesive DOTS, seriously this girl is addicted to that stuff!  Obviously, you can see why I’m excited she’s on this year’s Design Team. So, welcome to the team, Sarah!

Mar
02

Whew! A few web problems here, sorry I’m late in posting this one! Let’s just cross our fingers that these cute pictures load properly. This tot project was brought on solely by one little girls need to send her cousin a card. That combined with some new product sitting on my desk that she was just itching to see. (It was sparkly, can you blame her?) It’s all good though, I know just how she feels, don’t you? The product was Sparkle Flock…. if you haven’t tried this stuff run out and get some. It’s so much fun to play with! We just dipped Star brads into MONO AQUA Liquid Glue and then directly into the flock jar and …..oh the fuzzy happiness!  Then it was onto a special card for a special cousin. Of course I had to make my own version while she made her’s on mine. Inspired by her patterned paper, I used a few different stars and the MONO AQUA Liquid Glue (for the thicker lines) and MONO Glue Pen making some buttery embossing goodness. Oh the effect  is so perfect. This is definitely one I wish you could see in real life. The texture, the color and even the dimension… and it was so fun to just sit down and create with my kids. After all this is what it’s all about, right? Creating special moments with your kids, instilling in them confidence and creativity at the same time. Multi-Tasking in the best way! Happy Tuesday!!

Mar
01

The 4 women I get to work with on the Design Team this year all have amazing talent and so much to offer. Everyone has their own style and niche’ and I can’t wait to share with you everything that they can do.  Some ladies you’ve seen before or might have heard of and others you will be energized by their styles and techniques.  Please join me in welcoming Sarah Little, Debbie Fisher, Marie Browning and April Stanfield to the Tombow Design Team!! Throughout the week I’ll post individual bios and projects from each and trust me, you will be inspired!

Today’s inspiration comes from Debbie Fisher-

I LOVE altering things and coasters are one of my favorite to play with. I have had this project in my mind for a long time and decided that this is what I wanted to start my DT out with. I used MONO Aqua liquid glue and permanent mono-adhesive. This project shows a few of my favorite things: family, button, vintage rick rack, brads, alphabet (cut 3 times with cardstock and once with patterned paper layered to give the look of chipboard-which is my favorite technique), ribbon, dew drops, coasters, using my Cricut, crocheted flowers (I made), pretty papers and jump rings.

Feb
19

All last month may office/studio was consumed with Dollhouse construction. I was surprised I pulled out my Tombow basket so much on that type of project. Since I happen to have a HUGE selection of beautiful papers we opted to hand pick each room’s wallpaper from my scrapbook stash. After a little intricate cutting and Mono AQUA Liquid Glue ta-dum! we had our ‘wallpaper’. Thankfully my daughter loves it!

Feb
17

I live far away from family and it’s something that has been hard on me and my family. So, I’m always thinking of ways to make the distance seem less, even if it’s for a few minutes. This card was super easy to make and so much fun! I love the file folder and accordion surprise inside! I used Mono PowerBond to adhere the journaling inside, Mono Aqua liquid glue for the ribbons and Mono Metal Liquid Glue to secure the ‘love’ dog tag on the inside. (the paper clip just holds up the journaling until the recipient is ready to open it up) If you have someone you love, be sure to tell them! Happy Wednesday!

Feb
11

Sarah made these AWESOME little love notes using our MONO Adhesive DOTS. Everything is held together by that adorable cherish  clip and Sarah can write her Family Valentine’s thoughts and notes to her cute little family (and still have them write her some back!) I love cute, quick projects that turn into treasures!

Feb
10

I have tried being a digital scrapbooker, I have! Promise! Cross my heart. My brain (and my budget) tells me that it would be so much easier. Easier to reproduce, Easier to save, Easier to clean up! Less messy, Less expensive, Less space in my house, More portable, maybe even More professional. The list of pro’s for digital scrapbooking huge. I love the look of so many inspired designers going digi lately. I do! So…. I’ve tried learning it, I’ve tried printing it and I’ve tried, really tried to enjoy it.

And I’ve failed.

I can’t do it! The layouts are okay but to me there is always something missing. Yes, I am left feeling accomplished that I got something done and even happier it only took me 15 mins. per layout but I’m also left feeling empty. My heart is not in it. The creative void just isn’t filled for me. It’s like a PICTURE of a beautiful quilt that you can’t cuddle up underneath you or feel it’s softness.  When I create 100% digitally I don’t feel like I’ve touched anything. I know it’s important that the memories are preserved (and ultimately that’s wonderful) but, I don’t feel like the creative outlet side of me gets to come out in quite the same way.

A few weeks ago I got an email from Creating Keepsakes. Telling me that CK has a promotion with Shutterfly through the end of February! A free 8×8 scrapbook! All your digi pages printed and bound. My brain told me to do it. My heart told me I’d hate it. Since I’d only be out the $3.50 in shipping I ordered one to at least try it out. I spent less than an hour and made a 2009 year in review album. Not only did I love it but I found a way to satisfy my head and my heart! Once it came back, I wanted to infuse a little more of my personality into it. So I pulled out a few flat embellishments, my favorite adhesives, a dual brush pen for journaling and got busy! I love the finished look and think I’ve learned that I love hybrid layouts! I’ll definitely be doing more of these in the future. What are you waiting for- go order yourself one and show us your own ‘add-ons’!

Feb
09

Opening Ceremonies is 3 days away and we’re already starting to see the symptoms of Olympic Fever at our house. It starts out with chills, increased heart rate and can sometimes be a butterfly in your stomach or a knot in your throat. There is a sleep depravity commonly associated with Olympic Fever, esp. if you happen to be in a different time zone then where the games are being held. This terrible fever is usually exposing it’s raw symptoms during the crucial part of a race or event. So, we’ve checked into the recommended treatment and found the perfect medicine! Olympic Cupcakes!!

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