This tip has come in handy many a times.

Try it!

Happy Scrapping!

Here’s a discount on S.C.A.L.

Be sure to look at the right side column under COOL and HELPFUL LINKS right here on my website and click on the SCAL link, you’ll be directed to SCAL’s website:

Coupon: 8665847

Discount is not valid for version 2 upgrades.

Discount is for 10% off

Expires on 1/2/2010 11:59PM PST

Aaaahhh!!!!! I sure am!

I finally found an adhesive that works practically on everything and now I have to start the search again!!!

How frustrating!

I know some of my scrapbooking pals are upset about the end of Kokuyo adhesives as well, so I thought I’d post about this dilemma and see what adhesives you are using.

For years I’ve used Hermafix, mainly the double-sided squares in the dispenser, and they work really well, except when it comes to using Bazzill cardstock and then that’s where Kokuyo came in and worked like a wonder!!! Sniff, sniff…

So, please comment. Let me know what’s your favorite adhesive(s). I’ll post a summary or a list from 1 to 10 and hopefully this will help us all to keep scrapbooking fun not frustrating.

Sure Cuts A Lot has a sale until tomorrow, July 6.

The discount is 10% off your SCAL purchase.

Use the following coupon code: 4757558

Take advantage click here now!!!!

Haven’t heard about SCAL, click here to learn more!

SCAL reads SVG files. For those familiar with PhotoShop and Illustrator it is very easy to save a file in SVG format. For those who don’t have access to these programs I’d like to offer my services!

First I’d like for you to know that all my paper piecing patterns are available in various formats including SVG. You can find patterns at The Shop.

Second, if you have patterns you’d like to use with your Cricut and don’t know how or don’t have time to make them into SVG files you can send them to me via email and I’ll convert them for you. Go to The Shop or click here on SVG FILE CONVERSION and check out the options available.

Please email me BEFORE choosing an option and include your patterns so I can better tell you what can be done.

Send your files to: orders@cocscrapbooking.com or cristy@cocscrapbooking.com

Up until YESTERDAY I liked my Craft Robo. Today, I love it!

See, I thought that by being a Mac user I was limited to a very narrow area of cutting because registration marks had to be printed on whatever I wanted to cut. Narrow, because the marks had to be about 2 inches in from the edges of the paper/cardstock so the digital eye of the cutter could recognize the marks. Then, I always have had to try positioning the paper/cardstock in slightly different ways until the cutter finally recognizes the marks. And then, if I used a dark colored paper/cardstock or one with a busy pattern, the cutter cannot see the marks at all. I did realize that by oulining the marks with my trusty white Galaxy Marker it helped the cutter see the marks…..but come on…… a bit frustrating to get something cut.

BUT……..the revelation!

I stumbled upon a Wishblade video and noticed that what was being cut didn’t require registration marks. I thought that would be nice if I could bypass the whole centering all the pieces close together of whatever I wanted to cut so that the registration marks are placed just right for the cutter. I thought I would just have to try it.

Well…….it’s wonderful!

I tried it out (yesterday) on my giraffe paper piecing pattern which I had tried before using the “registration marks” method and had gotten it to cut but after much frustration. But now, using any colored paper/cardstock with or without busy patterns, any size from like 2 inches to almost 8.5 x 11 inches, the Craft Robo cuts it like butt-ah!!! I was so excited, I started cutting all my paper piecing patterns just to make sure and yep, it’s great!!

So……what I learned.

The “registration marks” method although I have to fidget with it, is really great when I want to silhoutte a photo or when I design something with specific colors that I’ll print on white or light colored paper/cardstock first and then run it through my Craft Robo.

For everything else, just create and send to cut! Awesome!

What is it?

It’s a binding machine. But not just an ordinary binding machine, this one will punch and bind allowing you to create your own books, journals, calendars, craft projects and most importantly scrapbooks of any size!

Don’t let it’s compact size fool you. It can punch through regular paper, cardstock, chipboard, corkboard, acetate, acrylic, fabric, and incredibly through CDs!!!!

The possiblities are endless!!! I don’t think I’ll be buying any more mini-albums, I’ll make them myself!! This is soooooo exciting!!! I’m a gadget girl, but, my gadgets have to save me money either immediately or in the long run and this is one cool, money saving gadget!

Know what else is wonderful about the Bind-It-All? There are no replacement blades to buy!!!! The blades are self-sharpening!!! Woohoo!!! About all you’d need to purchase as an “extra” are the spiral wires for binding, but, you don’t even need to purchase those unless you want to. Instead you can use ribbon, yarn, shoe strings, leather, paper clips, etc. to bind your albums or craft projects!!!! That deserves another WOOHOO!!!

I highly recommend the Bind-It-All. Think of the possibilities.

Bind-It-All

Happy Scrapping!

This tool is also great when you have to cut duplicates of things like letters or flowers or other embellishment for a project you want to look uniform. It’s easy on your hands, less tiring than using scissors.

Here’s what it looks like:

The cheapest I’ve seen it at is $3.59 on Create for Less.

How exciting!!! Although I would have preferred to get it a few months sooner to create really cute baby shower invitations for my sister, the timing was almost perfect, I’m using it now for labels and signs I have to create for a Youth Camp that’s coming up during Spring Break.

Let me tell you a little secret, the Craft Robo is exactly the same as Xyron’s Wishblade diecutter!!!! Again, I stumbled upon this info while searching for help setting up the Craft Robo whose instructions, in my opinion, are not at all helpful. See, the tips and tricks you’ll find for the Wishblade are PERFECT for the Craft Robo Once I was able to apply what I learned, I fell even more in love with my Craft Robo!

It really is a great machine!

I run the Craft Robo on my MAC. I use Illustrator to create everything and anything, print it out on my inkjet printer, line it up on the Craft Robo and from the software click “CUT” and off it goes! It’s a thing of beauty. The possibilities are endless!

One last thing, the Craft Robo is CHEAPER than the Wishblade!!!!!!!!!!! Woohoo!!!! What a relief! I found out after I purchased the Craft Robo….hee hee hee.

You can also find all these products on EBAY. 100% Free to sign-up and start browsing NOW!

At first I thought I’d print the pages and then mount them in an album just like the photographer would have done, BUT, as I researched in the internet I found that buying the outer shell of the album and the adhesive pages to later mount the prints on, would cost a whopping $500+!!!!!! Ridiculous!!!!! So I checked out KodakGallery.com, Shutterfly.com, and some others and saw I could get the album done for WAY less. I’ve used several of these sites throughout the years and they are all pretty good. I went with Kodak because I could make the album in a larger size, 14 x 12.

I was able to include most if not all the pictures taken by the photographer!! Which traditionally you’d be able to pick a handful and end up with a 10 to 20 page album at a very high price. My sisters album ended up being 82 pages and really beautiful, if I do say so myself. The best part is that I was able to print another album in a smaller size for my parents and later for my brother-in-law’s family with just a click of the mouse!

So, if you’re looking for a way to save some $$$$$ on your wedding or a family member’s wedding, creating the wedding album yourself is the way to go! A lot more of those special moments will be scrapbooked at a more affordable price.

Here’s a sample of a couple of pages:

Kodak Gallery

Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 (Mac)

PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 5 and PREMIERE ELEMENTS 3 BUNDLE WIN MINIBOX (29180248)