Shopping at the Scrapbook Expo

I had so much fun checking out all the cool vendors at the scrapbook expo. click Here

So I wanted to share with you all what fantastic finds I brought home. Today was my day to just mosey  around the convention checking out all the vendors and products. Tomorrow me and my sister will be given the VIP treatment and are going to be scrapping all day.

any whoo Let’s take a look at what I found.

Vendor #1: Eyelet Outlet – where I found some awesome brads – each pack was $2.50-$3.00

12 Retro Button Brads

12 Bottle Cap Brads

12 Gear Brads

12 Pirate Brads

12 Moose Brads

12 Farm Animal Brads

Vendor #2: Doodlebug Design Inc.
the bundle I bought

They gave out FREE catalog’s. I have already flipped through it and it has some amazing organization products and ideas for your craft room.

crushed velvet flock.. in the colors of lily white and bubblegum – $1.00 each

Boutique brads – limeade assortment – $2.00

pink flocked brads – $1.00

Craft Knife – black n white daisies – $3.00

Craft Mat … reversible self-healing double-sided – pink w/pink flower print on back – $3.00

Mini Brad Keepers – 12 bottles for $2.00

Vendor #3: Basic Grey
They have a great sale going on. a Mix n Match deal 1 for $2.00 or 3 for $5.00 so I purchase 6 different items for $10.00 each cost $1.66

Rub-Ons – 5 pages worth

brads in 6 assorted colors

which i have already placed in some of my new mini brad containers – I giddy about this one.

decorative paper clips


decorative brads – each larger brad came with a matching little one.

Vendor #4: Part Time Sally
They were selling echo park paper co. products
The stickers I bought were 5 for $1.00

21 sticker Little Boy Set

23 sticker little girl set

22 sticker Paris & Love set

Vendor #5: My Scrapbook Zone
all of there 2 page layouts were $6.99

Monster on Parade 2 page layout

“toaddly’ in love 2 page layout

Vendor #6: Out on A Limb
Their 2 pay layouts cost $6.00-$7.00

Lil’ Stinker – $7.00

Vendor #7: Want 2 Scrap
Bling Bling Everywhere and all for a buck

Marquis Rhinestones – Silver

black, light pink and orange flowers with swirls

Finesse Swirls Pearls – White, Orange & LeCreme
lines of white crystal

Spellbinders Nestabling in clear and black

Swirls : Pearl, light pink, bright pink, black and yellow

Set of dots: black, light pink, red, purple, bright pink, dark blue, yellow, light green, light blue, dark green, green pearl

Ribbons, Ribbons Everywhere – Part 2

if you want to check out part one click here
Here is the process of turning my ribbon wall holder design and making it look good.

Photo of when in was just finished being made and still ugly.

So I grabbed me a tube of Basics (Liquitex Acrylic color) it was the only pink paint i had on hand. you can use cheap tole paint. the shade of the pink paint is: medium magenta. anyway so i grabbed my paint, a small paint palette (you can use wax paper instead) and a paintbrush.

…. and started painting the wood frame

… til all the wood that you would see from the front was covered in magenta. a look back on this project i would have painted the whole frame before nailing to the wall.

now i grabbed some black paper and double sided tape and started filling in the background

working from left, right then the middle til it was completely filled in. and looking fabulous.

the next couple of photos will show me applying a patterned paper on the cardboard with double sided tape again, making holes for the dowels to poke through on one side and slide down on the other.




This is the completed product with all the dowels and ribbons put back up. What a great project and for under $10

Making Laundry Soap, Take One!!!

I have decided to finally try my hands at making my own laundry soap. Which there will be pictures of the steps and results .

Supplies Needed:

1 bar of soap (of any kind you want)

1 cup of Borax (you can find this in the laundry soap aisle)

1 cup of washing soda (also in laundry soap aisle)

a big pot (that holds more than 2 gallons)

a grater

a funnel

a long wooden spoon

2 empty gallon jugs/containers

I took a little trip to the store(s).  Big Lots, Desert Industries and then Walmart.

I started at Big lots hoping to find the pot and grater for  a low, low price. But I didn’t find any of my supplies so far at Big Lot. One store down two to go. Next off to DI (desert industries – thrift store). I found a grater for $1.00 (pats myself on back), but no used large pot. dang it all. so my last store was Walmart. This is where I found an 8 quart stockpot $6.44, a wooden spoon $.88, funnel $.87, Zest (3 pack) $1.98. Washing soda $2.98 and Borax $2.12.

A Grand total of $17.22 after tax.

After this initial purchase (since I now will already own the pot, spoon, funnel and grater). My estimated cost is $6.00 for 576 loads (depending on soap used and amount used per load, 1 box of Borax and washing soda)

The savings is incredible.

Now we get to the process of making the laundry soap.

1st shot- I took the bar of soap and using my trusty grater, shredded the whole bar.

Then I placed it in my nice new shiny soap pot.

Once you put the soap flakes in the pot. You add 1 gallon of water and cook until the soap dissolves.

Now that your soap is dissolved. You add 1 cup Borax and 1 cup washing soda. You will notice a nice bubbly froth. Turn the Heat up and stir occasionally until it bubbles. That’s your que to now take it off the burner. Once off the burner add another gallon of water and then you can use a funnel and a cup to pour into your containers. It will take up to 24 hours to thicken.

I placed a 1/2 on my washer to measure out soap for loads. It has been working fantastic and so much cheaper.