i have had a bunch of requests for thoughts/tips so here is the short version - cash is a good idea BUT most of the vendors i saw took debit/credit cards. i DID NOT go to crops so i can't help there. i DID go to classes - you need more than your basic supplies for a lot of them. MUST TAKES - SEI velvet paper class - we will be talking about this stuff extensively later in the week. cara miller board books - i took board books 101 - she is AWESOME, lots of great tips and a unique approach.
must stop booth - spellbinders - the 2 ladies there are fabulous. want2scrap - LOTS of SUPER acrylic and chipboard albums with adorable examples. i think i bought 7 - have i lost my mind........ and the most surprising find to me - SEI's kit club - i have NEVER been interested in a kit club until i saw theirs.
and the best for last - to me the find of the year - ScrapWraps - scrapbook albums that answer my prayers regarding every single thing i hate about traditionals albums. in fact i love them so much i made a deal right there to begin carrying them on my website!! ready to see?
The front and back covers are cloth, ever so slightly padded and hand sewn (VERY WELL i might add). an enormous amount of fabric choices i can't begin to cover here so we will start with mine. a gorgeous random butterfly and flower pattern.
The spine is black cloth with these loop and tie closures - surprisingly strong. The back and front covers are not attached so this allows for quite a bit of expansion.
SO first pet peeve of mine - who hates fighting with the blasted post screws? they roll away, screw in crooked, are never tall enough, i get the pages on to one and they slide off the other two. well here we have VELCRO! yep velcro. this is a pic of the front cover open and peeled off of the first page.
Now what is the next thing i love about velcro? ever had to change your page orders or insert a forgotten page in the middle of an album? *raising my hand* well it's super easy now!!!
Next up is the page protector itself - side load (yes it makes it easier), a little protector flap over the opening AND true 12 x 12 size so none of my pages buckle.
what? is the velcro strong you ask? well i can hold the book up by one page.....
i love this - now my almost 2 year old can look at the pics all she wants and i don't have to worry about torn out pages (i mean that's what they're for right? to look through...)
and now the best for last. i loved them all the way through the demo but then she showed me something that instantly had me grabbing my check card. this is a photo of my current album. anyone who has followed my blog knows of my love for bead pops. well they aren't the only bulky embellishment i adore. so my album is retarded.
well i transferred everything into the new one. here is a pic of the album with all of the 12 pages loaded that come with the album. the spine buckles are undone and the back cover is peeled off.
Here i added more refill pages, just plopped them on.
and here is the new album with all those same pages in it. IT IS FLAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! i was stunned! i can now embellish with ANYTHING i want!!!!!!!!!!
Look at that! fat as all get out but FLAT!
Now you know i also love my bling so i decorated the cover with some stickles - it's fabric so i know it will hold well.
the albums are $39.00 and come with 12 pages. 12 refill pages are 21.00. the company sets the prices i don't so that is the best you will get anywhere. i have a couple in stock and will be working on getting more in. do you have a theme you know you want? let me know and i will ask about it to get it in the shop!
