Summer is Here!

I think for most of the country we have already had our first real taste of summer. We have been spoiled with warm temps and blue skies and I am already in the mood to get out side and enjoy! I love the sights and smells of summer. We just showcased Simple Stories new summer line "Summer Fresh" and I love it. It's fun and fresh and so easy to use. The 12x12 sheet of 4x6 cards would make super cute card fronts if you are a card maker or just in the mood to send someone a quick note. I also like the collection kit because you get a little bit of everything. Summer time is busy but it's important to capture and document the moments as they happen. I jot a couple of notes down on my calendar each day so I don't forget the everyday moments. Remember you can purchase this line and many more at www.allscrapbooksteals.com

Summer is Just Around the Corner

I know that we just talked about spring, but summer is just a few weeks away! Time for picnics, fun in the sun, vacations, and so much more!

 I look forward to summer every year. I love the smell of fresh cut grass, the sun beaming in at 6 am coaxing me to get out of bed and start my day, packing a picnic and taking the kids to the lake just up the street, building sandcastles, barbeques in the evening, watching the kids run around until the last minute of daylight has disappeared, then laying in the grass and looking up at the stars. (Click here to see more including simple photography tricks for lighting!)

Summer is also a time to have fun creating. I love taking pictures. Photography is one of my passions. Summer can be a wonderful canvas for capturing the perfect picture. Paying attention to lighting is key. Morning and evenings are the ideal times to take pictures. The light is typically softer and warmer. Try to get outside and play with your camera.

 If you are outside when the sun is the brightest than you can try using your flash (I know that sounds really weird but if the sun is casting harsh shadows on a face than using your flash will help to brighten the "dark shadows".) You can also trying to find shade and take the picture there. Simple changes can make or break a picture. 

Of course once you take the picture you must get it to your computer and then the real challenge.....getting the picture printed! Whether you print it from home or send it off, take time to print it and tell the story right then. Take just a few minutes to write it down on a 3x5 index card, be sure to include what happened or why you took the picture, who was in the picture, and the date. So often we think we will remember and just set it aside but more often than not it's forgotten or put away until a later date and then we have lost the moment, the story behind the picture or pictures.

I wanted to showcase the new line from Fancy Pants-"Wave Searcher". I really like the "surfer" look. It's perfect for everyday summer or vacation pictures. I also found a super cute card idea which I have posted below. Of course you can pick up all the elements and paper at our store www.allscrapbooksteals.com. This one is hot and will most likely sell out very quickly!

Spring is Here!

I am sitting in my kitchen looking outside and loving view. The flowers are out, the grass is green, the sky is blue.....It's Spring! I am so happy that spring has arrived. I am a warm weather girl, so winter, although beautiful at times, is not my favorite. I need the sun and I need it to be warm. I feel more motivated to get things done when it's sunny....like posting to our blog! Click to see more.....

I just finished adding Hello Spring by Little Yellow Bicycle and I love it! They have so many cute embellishments I think I will must have them all. Even though I am a mom of four boys, this line would still work for all of our Easter and spring pictures. I have to say that my favorite embellishment in this line is the 10 Things Flower Pot Pocket and Flowers. I think this would be a fun thing to have my boys help come up with 10 things that make us happy and post it in our kitchen. Each flower has a long stem on it that you can write a little statement or phrase and then put it in the flower pot. I hope these ideas below will get you in the mood to create and enjoy all that springtime has to offer!

Remember you can purchase this collection and so much more at www.allscrapbooksteals.com

Spring is in full bloom!

First I have to apologize for not posting to our blog in, dare I say, six weeks! Yikes. Well I am determined to do better on this front. I want to share all of the fun ideas and products that are available to use. Our company is committed to showing you ideas and projects that will allow you to create, celebrate, and share with family and friends. Scrapbooking is so much more than paper and pictures! It's a way to tell your story. It's more than creating a 12x12 page. Cards, mini albums. gifts, school projects, etc all fall under the scrapbooking umbrella because you are sharing a part of you by creating something that can be preserved and shared throughout the years.

All Three of  these projects were created using Echo Park Dots and Stripes Collection(Soda Fountain and Home front). I wanted to show you that you really can use paper and embellishments in a different way. I love the lamp project! I think it's one of my favorites. The cool thing about Echo Park is that they have free digital downloads on each project, so you can get a step by step instruction guide. Just go to www.echoparkpaper.com, click inspiration, and projects. It's that simple. You can find all of supplies to make these and other creations in our store.(accept for the lamp, but if you have an old lamp that needs new life you can paint it any color you choose and use a simple flat lampshade for the project) Remember everything on our site is All on Sale, All the time!

www.allscrapbooksteals.com

So Cute and So Simple

Ok so I love this new company! Simple Stories makes scrapbooking easy and fun. Happy Day is a new line that is so fun and so versatile. I love the colors and patterns. There are also fun elements that are super easy to use! Be sure to check out the entire line on our website www.allscrapbooksteals.com

Smile......we have the new Dear Lizzy Neapolitan Collection!

Here is a video to feature some of the very fun products from the Dear Lizzy Neapolitan Line. Love it! 

Bringing Back Tasty Tuesdays

We wanted to bring back Tasty Tuesdays to share another love of ours....cooking. This first idea is from Sinda, who works in our warehouse. She loves to bake. We made these cake pops and they turned out to be super easy and yummy! 

Cake Pops:

1 box of cake mix: Yellow, White, or Chocolate

1 tub of vanilla frosting (you can use homemade or chocolate frosting if you prefer)

2 8x8 cake pans (round pans will work too)

Parchment Paper

Cookie or Baking sheet

Lollipop Sticks - 4" or  6" will work (We will be selling these and other party supplies later this month!)

Melting chocolate (I used Tollhouse milk chocolate chips and added a tsp of canola oil which helps the chocolate melt and not seize)

Sprinkles and other assorted editable deocorations

Bake the cakes according to the box and let cool

get a large bowl to crumble the cake into once it's cool

1. After you crumble the cake, add the frosting and mix by hand (a spatula or spoon will work) You want the frosting and cake to become one mixture so you can form the cake balls
2. Form 2" cake balls
3. Lay the "cake balls" on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or wax paper
4. After you have formed all the cake balls place them in the freezer for 1 hour or until chilled not frozen.
5. Pull them out of the freezer and melt the chocolate (I did it in the microwave. Just put the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and start melting it in 20-30 second cycles. Stir after each cycle. You don't want to melt the chocolate to fast because it will seize up)
6. Poke 1 lollipop stick in the bottom of each cake ball.
7. Dip each cake ball in the chocolate.
8.  Immediately sprinkle the cake decorations onto the chocolate covered cake balls.(Hint: if you roll it in the decorations the chocolate gets all over and the decorations get covered in chocolate)
9. Lay it on the parchment paper again and let the chocolate harden. You can also let the chocolate drip of the cake ball and then stand it up. (secret stand....Styrofoam or the planters foam that allows flowers to stand upright. You can cover it with paper or spray paint it if you want to use it as your cake display.)
10. Serve cake pops and enjoy!

Brand New Echo Park

How fun is this new collection from Echo Park..... Brand new from CHA and we have it! I really like that both collections are so versicle. This is the first of many new lines! We are introducing 3-4 new lines a week for the entire month of February so come back often and have fun shopping!

I have to Kiss and Tell.......

Just in time for Valentines......Basic Grey's new collection "Kissing Booth" is now available to purchase! I put together a small collage of ideas that you can do with this new collection. I am in love and I hope this will inspire you to get creative and have fun.

I should also mention that we have some very exciting news.........We will be carrying 7 NEW Companies starting this month! Not only are we adding new companies, but more fabulous products from the companies we already carry. You will want to come back often so you don't miss out on our amazing deals and screaming steals!

V-Day Bouquet

Here is another super easy V-day gift or decor. I had a small square vase and I filled it with the confection hearts, added Tootie Pops and Sweetheart suckers to the top to make a bouquet. I used Doodlebug Sweet Cakes paper and Pebbles With Love Dimensional sticker for the wrap around the vase. I am using mine as a decoration but it would make a great gift for a friend, sister, teacher, or co-worker! This took me about 15 minutes from start to finish to complete.
tip: I used double-sided tape to get the paper to stick to the vase.