I hope this entry is informative. It took a long time to type! Anyway, here's a video for you tonight, and then we'll get to some answers to some of your questions, and end with the winner for yesterday's giveaway.



Mentioned in the video:
Basic Grey Precision Filing Set (buy here)

---------------------

Answers to your Questions:

Christine: How is your cake decorating class coming?
My class was great! It was only four weeks so it's been over for a while now, but I can't wait to bake some cakes this holiday season.

April: I actually am on a DT for your cousin Mandy and she got me hooked on your blog!
Okay, so that wasn't really a question, but I want to respond. I LOVE Mandy! She's adorable. Seriously, ya'll need to go check out her albums. My aunt (her mom) visited us from Arizona a couple months ago and brought one of the albums with her. She was working on an album for our grandparents. Totally cute. Check it out!

Lisa M: What markers do you use for your projects?
The only markers I use on a regular basis are from Stampin' Up!, specifically Stampin' Write Markers.

Sarah: Currently, I subscribe to Paper Crafts magazine. By chance, do you happen to have any recommendations on other magazines that I shouldn't miss?
I subscribe to Memory Makers, Scrapbooks Etc., and Creating Keepsakes. All three are great scrapbooking magazines, but I also like to browse through Cards and Paper Trends (both by Northridge Media).

Rhonda: What type of transparancy sheets do you use?
I use regular run of the mill transparency sheets. I got them at Office Depot and they're the Office Depot brand.

Susie: Any differences between the SU! textured and Bazzill's?
I don't notice a huge difference besides the fact that Stampin' Up! textured card stock is guaranteed to match all the inks and ribbons.

Sandi: Why do you use StazOn vs. [Stampin' Up!'s] Basic Black?
I use StazOn only in certain cases: I'll be watercoloring, using a blender pen, or I need to a good whiff of almond extract. ;) Seriously though, I'll use whatever is nearest. If I happen to have StazOn closer than my Basic Black, I'll use StazOn. I haven't tried coloring in stamped images with markers, but I imagine StazOn would work a bit better than Basic Black. Anyone have more experience with this? Leave a comment and let me know.

Maryjo: I do love the smell of Stazon also. Are we crazy?
No, not crazy at all. I love the smell of almond extract. It makes me think of baking cookies. Yum. :)

Mercedes: Are you waiting anxiously for Battlestar Galactica Razor?
Ya know, I know practically nothing about it! Can you believe that? My brother and dad just recently mentioned it and I was all, "What?" I'm not a regular Sci-Fi Channel watcher, so I didn't know about it.

Lisa: For some reason my [origami] box lids are always too big. You can never see the bottom part of the box.
The top and bottom of the box are pretty much the same size. :) When I put them together, I just don't push the top all the way down. That way, the pattern on the bottom can be seen.

Pattie T.: Are the edges indeed sewn (see card here)? I'd like to see how this is done. I can't imagine a machine not bending the paper.
No, I used faux stitching on that particular card. Faux stitching is when you use a paper piercer (or needle or some other pointy object) and pierce holes in the card stock. Then connect the dots with a while gel pen. BUT! I have sewn on card stock with a sewing machine (see an example here). It take a bit of getting used to, but it can be done and it won't bend the paper.

Two questions from Sharon: (1) Is there a reason you work on a cutting pad? (2) I also noticed you stamp the background the same way I do, basically "eyeballing" the placement. But I was surprised you took the time & effort to use your stamp placement thingie...you don't eyeball that too?
I usually work on Stampin' Up! grid paper, which is on top of the cutting mat. I use the black cutting mat for videos only since it's sometimes hard to see white cardstock on the grid paper. As for using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, I use it quite a bit when I need a stamped image in a particular spot (letters, images on a super small piece of card stock, etc). But for backgrounds and images that will be punched or cut out, I'll "eye-ball" it.

Danielle: Do you really use your stampa-ma-jig a lot? Do you buy extra sheets for it or just clean it off somehow?
Yes, I use it quite a bit. I like the imaging sheets that come with the Stamp-a-ma-jig (and clean them off with a spray of of stamp cleaner), but I also like to use vellum card stock. With the vellum, you can stamp every letter in an alpha stamp set, and then keep the sheets in the box with the stamps. Then they're always there and ready to go!

Renee: How did you set up your camera [for video]? Did you use one of those posable tripods?
You'd laugh if you saw it! It's really pathetic actually. I have an architect's lamp on my desk (with positional arm), so I tied my camera to the top with some ribbon! It looks atrocious, but you guys would never know. :)

Lisa M: Ok I have to ask.... where do you get all of these awesome stamps?
Lots of the my stamps are Stampin' Up!, but I do have some from other various companies. I'm an avid online shopper--I mostly buy from twopeasinabucket.com, amillionlittlethings.com, and scrapbook.com.

Marie: I'm actually curious if you could show me the inside of the card where the YoYo yellow is adhered (on this card). I'd like to see how you "finish" it, and if you do it the way I do, which is to just adhere it there and leave that strip of color visible.
I don't have a picture for you, but that's exactly how I finished it. I just left the strip showing.

---------------

Winner of Giveaway #6: Mary, who commented at 10:04 this morning. Mary, I'll email you shortly.

Giveaway #7: It's the last giveaway! It's been so fun to read all your comments all week long. Love them! Anyway, the seventh winner will receive American Crafts ribbon. See which ribbon here.

Leave a comment on this entry and I'll draw a name tomorrow night. :)