Punches are my favorite tool, how about you?

I love punches - border punches, corner punches, shape punches - all of them. I have a project I'm working on now and wanted to punch a few different size circle. I know I can use my Slice, but there's just something about a punch - I can't resist. And with the Slice, everything is cut in half inch increments and I wanted a different variation.

I headed to JoAnn's first, hoping to find a round punch that was a little less than 2 inches, plus I had a 50% off coupon. They didn't have one but the punches were on sale so I looked around hoping to find a new border punch - but they didn't have anything I was crazy about. I knew Michael's would have one, but didn't have my coupon with me and wasn't sure if they were on sale or not so to Hobby Lobby I went. Most of my punches have come from Hobby Lobby - so I felt they would have just what I was looking for. I also noticed a few Martha Stewart border punches at Hobby Lobby and this was a surprise, didn't think they would ever carry her stuff.

Let me tell you about my punches for a moment. I have Marvy punches, Paper Studio punches, Fiskars, Martha Stewart, and EK Success punches. I'm an equal opportunity puncher!! My favorite punches tend to be the border punches from Fiskars and then EK Success. I haven't had a problem with any of my Fiskars border punches and I use them lots. In my recent clean up of my scrap stuff I finally located one I'd been missing (apron lace) and was super excited to see it!!

I love my Paper Studio punches, but they tend to be really hard to punch with. I have these two that I've used a lot - they are scalloped circles - one is 2 5/16ths and then 1 7/8ths. These two are perfect for layering together but they are super hard to punch. I've tried aluminum foil and wax paper and neither help. I have to punch them on the floor and step on them (not the best method) or go to my kitchen counter top and punch there.

I was hoping to find a circle that would fit somewhere in between those two scallops. I ended up with a 1 7/16th circle punch - doesn't fit in between but I liked that size. I immediately opened it when I got home Saturday and started gathering my paper for my project.

One of the features of these punches (as well as the Marvy punches) is there is a clear cover on the area where your punched shape falls out - so you can see what you are punching, but it stays contained, in the punch. The bad thing is if you are lining up your paper and want the pattern just right in the punch, you have to take the cover off and take out the previously punched shape. My two scalloped circle punches have the clear cover removed and I'm pretty sure they are lost forever. I can see where this would be a great feature if you are punching a shape multiple times since it contains them all right there - no worries about them falling out or getting stuck. But with those particular punches, I haven't found it was that helpful to me. The coolest part of this new punch is the cover is clear and there's a slot that your shape can fall out of - so you can see where you are punching and then slip the shape out without having to take off that cover. I love it!! Best new feature of a punch ever!!

I got a little crazy and punched more circles than I needed, but hey - that's okay - I'll find a way to use them I'm sure!! While I was out hunting down the perfect circle punch, I ran in Tuesday Morning and found some Martha Stewart punches there. I only got one and it's odd - sort of a flower or medallion - not sure what it's supposed to be but for $2.99, I'll try it out. I haven't taken it out of the bag yet, but will get to it this week, I'm sure!!

So, what are your favorite punches? Do you have any fun tips or tricks to share? I'll be back next week with a few tips to share - I love taking a punch and using it to make something other than the shape intended!! Always love a challenge!! I'll try to come back later today and show you the flowers I made with my circles!!

Thanks for reading and leave me a comment about your favorite punch or tip!!

I'm a little sketchy

Okay - that's totally not as cute of a title as I thought it would be. Bummer!

I still haven't gotten around to doing Virginia's sketch but it's on my list. Speaking of Virginia, she posted some info here on the Scrap Etc site about Memory Dock Planners and refills. There was a site she linked to that had great deals on Memory Dock stuff. Well, I've always wanted one but just never could spend the money on it when there was so much scrapbook paper out there waiting for me to buy it.

So, after her link, I ordered one and tons of refills super cheap! So now, I'm beginning to use it - making lists, notes about journaling and title ideas, and I'm using the little sketch template like crazy. I've never been much of a sketch scrapper - at least, I couldn't really come up with my own sketches - I just used other peoples sketches. Now, I love making my own sketches. I love that I can easily draw them out and with the template they actually look like what's in my head!!

Here's a peek at one page:



So, here's my sketch I picked for a Valentine layout of Cole . I have the layout ready, using the January Scripts Kit - just need to go pick up my pictures - so I'll post the layout in a bit!



In the meantime, I did this with the February kit using one of the other sketches I did above:



I changed my title placement and added journaling around the photo and paper on the bottom part of the layout. There's a Martha Steward punch I've been eying for quite some time:


But, I don't have it - YET - so I used my Fiskars border punch and added an extra hole punched with my Crop-a-dile - you can see it down the side of my layout. I colored all the little holes in with a black sharpie and left the big circles. I didn't exactly punch a straight line of holes, but it'll do until I get that yummy punch!!

So, wanna play along?? If you do any of these sketches, leave me a comment and let us see your layout!

Lisa

Happy Birthday Dare!

Today is my sweet Friend Dare's 29th Birthday!!!! Ok, so she is not 29, but she looks 23 : )

I used the Blackbird Scripts Kit and my two favorite flower punches to make her this little birthday card.

I made another card for a wedding party last weekend with this month's kit also. Our friends Richard and Kati are getting married in April. The bird house was perfect for a card about "setting up house".
Have a wonderful day!!!

A little Christmas yummy for you!

I have a little friend that had her 11th birthday yesterday, so I made her a batch of Chex Muddy Buddies and put it in a cleaned out formula canister.

I decorated the can with some of the November kit. I thought the Jenni Bowlin Studios paper was perfect for this!

You could also use an old hot chocolate can- or even a new one and leave the hot chocolate inside!Chex Muddy Buddies recipe:

9	cups Corn Chex®, Rice Chex®, Wheat Chex® or Chocolate Chex® cereal (or combination)
1	cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2	cup peanut butter
1/4	cup butter or margarine
1	teaspoon vanilla
11/2	cups powdered sugar

1.	Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.
2.	In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.
3.	Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Fun with the November Scripts Kit

I got the November Scripts Kit from Lucy a few days ago and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Virginia took some pics of us at Leeds park a couple of weeks ago and the colors in the November kit mesh really well with the pictures.

One of my favorite techniques (and a great way to use your scraps) is to punch a TON of random, simple shapes and arrange them in a pattern on my layout. Punches make this really easy. I got all the fun patterned papers and some Fiskars Circle Punches (1" and 1.5") and a Fiskars Daisy Punch and made a bunch of little circles. I arranged them in a circle and then used my sewing machine to sew them all down (in a circle - do you see a theme here?).

Next, I took a few fun brads from the kit, some lace flowers and a little bit of a wedding program and added a few extra touches.

Can't wait to see what everyone does with this month's kit!