sassafras

and the winner is.....

And the winner is......(insert dark, suspenseful music here).....

Sherrise!  Congratulations Sherrise!!!!  We will send you a wonderous package of sassa-licious delights in the very near future!

Sherrise commented: Just this weekend I did a major garage clean out, and donated LOTS of stuff to our local freecycle! Feels so good to get things organized!! And the fresh lilacs from my lilac bush on the table help bring the outdoors in!

Mmmmmmm, lilacs.  We had so much fun reading all of the inspiring ideas for sprucing up your surroundings.  I hope all of you take a few minutes to browse the comments everybody left us....they are sure to get you excited about bringing some springtime cheer into your humble abode!  Our winner today was picked from 258 comments via random.org.

That's all for now....be sure and check back next week!  We have lots of fun stuff planned!

I will leave you with this cute as can be layout sent to us by Melissa from the Yummy's design team.  I don't know about you, but I think that the combo of the happy place collection and that ADORABLE photograph gives this layout a 10 out of 10 on the sweetness scale!  :) 

hurry quick! only two hours left to get in on the sass blog giveaway!

click here for details and to leave a comment for the drawing! And yep, we still have product available (but not much!) for the super special sale...visit the link above for details.  Only $15 for ALL THREE summer 2009 paper pads, and only $15 for a scrumptious me likey treat pack!

thursday tutorial with kay rogers

you know that nasty little virus that hovers around you, just waiting to attack at the most inopportune moment imaginable? you know the one. it goes by many names. Dry Spell, Rough Spot, Brain Freeze. it's when you finally get some time to work on something crafty....you're so excited....and so you sit down, you look at your supplies, you look at your photos...and you might as well be looking into a black hole because you are drawing a total blank. a complete and sudden lack of creativity. it's so maddening!  well never fear my dearies because the next time you're in a pickle like that, you will be able to look back on today's blog post and remember the words of the wise and talented miss kay rogers, who brings you today's tutorial:

"Sometimes I struggle with the creative process. I’m not sure if it’s lack of time, lack of mojo, or a little of both. Here is my recipe for pushing through a creativity roadblock.

I like to create a layout with blocking. Simply put, I create a large square or rectangle with papers and photos. I always start with 4x6 photos, and crop out the stuff I don’t need. I then decide on the placement of the photos."

---

 

"To pick coordinating papers, my method is to lay the pictures directly on the patterned papers. If they look good ON the paper, they will look good NEXT TO the pictures as well. Once I decide on the papers, I cut them to fit in the spaces next to the photos."

---

 

"Then I try to create a break between the photos. I like the border stickers or paper borders for this task."

 

---

 

 

"Finally I add the title and the journaling. I almost always set it off the patterned papers to keep it from looking too uniform or square."

Final project:

 

---

 

 

"What I’ve found is creating breeds more creating. In other words, once I start, I come up with more ideas and find the enjoyment. I hope my cure for a lack of creativity can help jumpstart yours!"

 

thank you kay! great advice for helping someone snap out of the dreaded craft freeze...and what beautifully inspiring projects. we always love your whimsically decadent style around these parts! here are a few more fantastic projects by kay rogers.....

  

till next time!

p.s. have you heard about the super special sale we announced here? well there are still some goodies left so hurry and contact us to get yours, and make sure you leave a comment on the 4/26 blog post for your chance to WIN!

super special sale goodies still available!

we still have goodies left!  what's that?  you haven't heard about the super special public sassafras sale?  well here's the breakdown (if you want to enter Friday's drawing click on the link to leave a comment!)

three paper pads...Sweet Marmalade, Monstrosity, and Amplify...108 sheets of 12x12 single sided paper...3 each of all 36 designs...for $15.00?! normal retail for these would be $60....that's 75% off!  

~and~ 

a whole pack of Me Likey treats...a sweet sugar rush that will keep your entire summer ripe with fresh projects!  $50 retail value for just $15.00! it's a crazy good deal! the Me Likey treat pack includes a succulent assortment of twelve double-sided 12x12 papers with die cut borders (two each of all six yummy me likey designs), 12x12 sheet of me likey journal tag stickers, 12x12 sheet of me likey monogram stickers, and six, yes SIX, packs of hand-picked coordinating embellishments including felties, chipboard stickers, brads, stamps, AND in-a-stitch blossoms. 

these goodies are sure to be snagged up quickly, so order before supplies are gone! in order to keep your shipping cost to the lowest possible for your location, we will be calculating shipping with each order. springtime is a time for saving $$$, after all! 

to order, and for your total cost with shipping, email boxsale@sassafraslass.com with the following info (or call 801-269-1331):

**items you would like:

Paper Pad 3-pack $15 each

Me Likey Treat Pack $15 each

BOTH for $30

**quantity you would like

**your name and shipping address

**preferred payment method: via paypal invoice or by credit card?

every craft diva should own a little black dress...

 

after all, isn't that the must-have staple of a stylie closet...i mean...craft room? we think so! that's why today we've decided to highlight little black dress. we love this kit club's signature vintage style and overall fabulousness....which pairs soooo beautifully with the sassafras sweets included in this month's Vintage Sunshine kit, don't you think?

 

being the fashionistas they are, the ladies of little black dress are frequently parading their beautiful wares on their ideas page.  it showcases oodles of inspiring projects, with great instructions on each one for you to create your own version.  

while you're visiting the little black dress site, browsing the eye candy and getting your hands on the vintage sunshine kit, don't forget to check out their about us page.  i just finished reading it myself, and i must say that these ladies (and their taste in shoes) are quite delightful!

i just love the way little black dress throws so many unique little treats into their kits...

 

just look at this delicate cluster of flowers with their precious vintage centerpieces....swoon!

thank you little black dress for creating outside the box, and inspiring others to do the same! we are thrilled to be in the mix with the april kit.  who among our friends has a little black dress project they'd like to show off?  put it on the runway (that is, leave a commen below), because we wanna see!! 

~~~~~~

 

....and if you haven't yet,

make sure you check out this blog post for your chance to get in on the goodies and the prize!  (drawing will be held this friday, 4/30 at noon mst!)

 

a new super special offer for YOU and a chance to WIN...

here at sassafras headquarters the sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and springtime has finally sprung! spring is a time for the colors and fragrances of the world to come to life, and not just outside.  i'm inspired to bring some of that vibrancy into my living room with a gorgeous antique jade wood stain that i found over the weekend. maybe i could take a pic and post it for you all when it's done.  it's just the prettiest color, you would love it. i am keeping my fingers crossed that it comes out the same on my coffee table as it looks on the swatch!

and how about this for an easy way to bring some fresh springtime cheer into your craft space...or that of someone special in your life:

three paper pads...Sweet Marmalade, Monstrosity, and Amplify...108 sheets of 12x12 single sided paper...3 each of all 36 designs...for $15.00?! normal retail for these would be $60....that's 75% off!   

 

 

we hope that awesome deal makes your heart sing. but we know that many of you crave the fruity sweet joy that only Me Likey can bring. if that's the case, of course we can round you up a delectable hand-picked treat that you will surely likey!

actually, it's a whole pack of Me Likey treats...a sweet sugar rush that will keep your entire summer ripe with fresh projects!  $50 retail value for just $15.00! it's a crazy good deal! the Me Likey treat pack includes a succulent assortment of twelve double-sided 12x12 papers with die cut borders (two each of all six yummy me likey designs), 12x12 sheet of me likey journal tag stickers, 12x12 sheet of me likey monogram stickers, and six, yes SIX, packs of hand-picked coordinating embellishments including felties, chipboard stickers, brads, stamps, AND in-a-stitch blossoms. 

 

 

these goodies are sure to be snagged up quickly, so order before supplies are gone! in order to keep your shipping cost to the lowest possible for your location, we will be calculating shipping with each order. springtime is a time for saving $$$, after all! 

to order, and for your total cost with shipping, email boxsale@sassafraslass.com with the following info (or call 801-269-1331):

**items you would like:

Paper Pad 3-pack $15 each

Me Likey Treat Pack $15 each

BOTH for $30

**quantity you would like

**your name and shipping address

**preferred payment method: via paypal invoice or by credit card?   

~~~~

oh yes....and didn't i mention up there that you could WIN something here??? we have a fabulous satchel of sassafras goodness for one lucky winner. all you have to do to qualify is leave us a comment below, telling us about something you've done to spruce up your indoor surroundings. have you repainted, created something, re-arranged your furniture, put out a homemade flower arrangement, bought a new bedspread? SEWN a new bedspread?! tell us about it! The random winner will be chosen this Friday, April 30th at noon mountain standard time.

make sure you comment regardless of whether you have purchased some goodies or not....the prize will be different than the sale product!  :)

tick tock....time for a fabulous tutorial

the fabulously talented and hardworking miss Lilibee has put together an INCREDIBLE free tutorial over at LilibeeStudio that you don't want to miss!!!  and we are super excited that she decided to feature our apple jack collection in this 5th One Week Project.  want to learn how to make your own crazy colorful custom book of memories like this one?:

lilibee has done a fabulous job with her tutorials....with easy-to-follow instructions in english and french. we have had the pleasure of seeing lili's creations up close and personal, and let me tell you they are a sight to behold! what could be a better gift or addition to your memory chest than a handmade piece of artistry like this...

lilibee's tutorial is available in five easy steps.  try it out, you will be hooked!  not to mention, you're admirers will be super impressed....

step one * step two * step three * step four * step five
 
 

crafty thoughts by peg manrique...(sassafras dt super)

none of us at sassafras are psychologists, technically. nonetheless we strongly believe that keeping your crafty thoughts all bottled up inside can put serious kinks in your artistic prowess! so we've decided to do our part by being a friendly ear for anyone with inspiration and ideas to share.

it turned out that our lovely dt super Peg Manrique was bursting at the seams with crafty thoughts.  and we are so happy she was. check out these great tips and breathtaking projects peg shared!:

~~~~

"I've always been inspired & drawn to fonts and typography.  But lately I've taken it a step further and started using dingbat fonts on my projects.  Like any font website, the possiblities are endless.  I have so many of these sites saved and reference them alot!  Mostly when I'm stuck for inspiration or just need a fresh "something" on a project.  The dingbat fonts are cool because they can be enlarged or shrunk down, depending on what you're using them for."

 
we love the fresh look and gorgeous color palette peg created for this card using nerdy bird sweet treats and discover paper from apple jack!

 

"On these projects, I enlarged the font to a 350pt (the trees) and 500pt (the circly graphic) so they could become the main focus of the projects.  I find it so much easier to start with a cool dingbat, print it out on clean, white paper and then embellish with all the fun sass stuff to finish it off.  On my projects I made two cards and a layout, but really you could go crazy, using the dingbats on just about anything."

 
this layout is so striking...can't you just picture it being displayed on a wall or mantle? and yet so simple to create....a dingbat, a couple of brads, glitter alphas, and a flag banner sticker and there you have it. 

"Here's the ones I used for these projects: 

botarosa, found here: http://www.fontfreak.com/ding-b.htm

cropcircles, found here: http://www.fontfreak.com/ding-c.htm

wm trees, found here: http://www.dafont.com/wmtrees1.font?nb_ppp=50

so if you're ever stuck for ideas, pick out a cool dingbat, print it on a blank piece of cardstock and be inspired :)

Peg"

 
um.....can you say brilliance?!  brilliant colors, brilliant design, and definitely a card worth treasuring always.  cherry delicious blushing paper with a dash of spring sprig

thank you peg for being such an inspiration!  i am already giddy to start checking out those dingbats and bringing some fresh ideas to life. 

is anyone else inspired to share some crafty thoughts or projects of their own?  we'd love to see!

hello mandie............. (sassafras pal spotlight)

i've got lemons, limes, and georgia on my mind today. all of which remind me of two things: delicious summer bliss and the delightfully sassy craftiness of sassafras pal  Mandie Pierce:

we discovered her whilst on-line gallery surfing (one of our favorite pastimes here at sassafras, as you might know), and haven't been able to keep her projects off our mind since! so much so that we couldn't help but ask miss mandie to let us get into her head just a little bit. so without further ado, we are delighted to share with you some inspirational words of wisdom straight from the mouth of a real life paper crafting goddess...

 

so mandie, tell us a bit about yourself. work? family? where do you live? what kind of hobbies do you have outside of paper crafting?  "I am a 31 year old stay at home mama of 3, and an Air Force wife. My husband and I met while working as cashiers at a Kroger in Atlanta, Georgia almost 14 years ago. We are currently stationed in Sacramento but have lived from Anchorage, AK to San Antonio, TX and a little in between!  I enjoy reading fiction of all sorts.  I do not, however, like non-fiction.  It makes me feel like I'm in a history class. I need to be entertained, moved. I do like historically based fiction, though.    I always wanted to be  a writer. I always wrote short stories growing up, but it's something I've gotten away from. One of these days, I would like to get back into writing. Also, coffee. I think I am addicted.  Is that a hobby?"

sure, let's call it a hobby. except for our resident expecting mommy, the whole sass team is right there with you on that one! so, what are some things that inspire the artist in you?  "I think I take in inspiration all the time, and log it away in my brain.  Often it is scrapbook product itself that inspires me, or a particular photo or two.  I am always drawn in by color combinations":

"This first one is my bedding.  I know it's dorky, but I just love the colors in our bedroom. I find the blues so calming when paired with the white and the espresso finish of our bed.

  It's just so lovely."

I recently added the yellows.  I think it gives a happy feel to the calm.

Another inspirational photo I chose is this cupcake set from Meri Meri:

I love making cupcakes.  These circus ones are just so cute and give me tons of ideas for my boys' birthday parties this summer!  So fun, and the colors are so happy.  They just put me in a good mood.  Wouldn't they go so nicely paired with 'Discover' paper from the Apple Jack line? 

The color combo on this Kaleidoscope bedding from Land of Nod is just calling my name.  Hello, Happiness!" 

 

a woman of impeccable taste, you are! who or what drew you to paper crafting, and how would you describe your unique style? "I have always been a collector of things...ticket stubs, cards, photos, etcetera.  I have always loved office supplies and paper.  I like to go to Office Depot or Staples - just for the smell. (sassafras confession: that's weird...but we hear you sister! nothing makes our noses happier than hot-off-the-press paper.  except maybe freshly brewed coffee...) I was always the kid who got excited about school supplies.  I discovered paper crafting in 1999...I don't remember exactly how I discovered it, but I definitely took to it right away. I went through all of the obligatory phases...the Sticker Sneeze phase, the 'cut-your-photos-in-silly-shapes' phase, the Paperkin phase, the eyelet phase.  I don't really think of myself as having a certain style.  I like a little bit of everything, so I do a little bit of all kinds of things! 

do you have any friends or family who share in your passion? "I do! I have found a wonderful online community and have made friends with a couple of the girls on there.  My cousin Danielle recently became a scrapbooker as well. She and I have had fun chatting via email about all of the fun products and the craziness that happens when you become a scrapper.  (I know you all know what I am talking about!)" 

what do your friends and family think about your paper crafting passion? "My family is supportive.  The kids love looking at their albums, and I find that so rewarding.  It reminds me of how important it is for them, and not just me.  My husband (though not a full-on 'scrubby') is very supportive.  He may not understand the mountain of supplies but he loves me in spite of it."

let's find out some more about you. favorite band right now? any t.v. series you're into? "I love all kinds of music.  But right now?  This instant? Train is ranking right up there along with some old school Beastie Boys, Jason Mraz, and the "Glee" soundtracks.  How's that for a combo?  As for T.V. series...too many! "Dexter", "The Tudors", and "The Shield" (when it was on) are a few of my favorites,  I recently added "The United States of Tara" to that list.  "Glee", "The Middle", "Modern Family", "Amazing Race", "The Office", and "Marriage Ref". (they make me feel oh-so-normal!) 

what's gone on recently that has taught you a life lesson? I can think of one thing right off the bat. It relates to this 'Calamity Jane' thing I've got going on... I think I should make that my legal name!  So my car only runs with the special key made by the dealership, and it came with just one.  They are expensive, so I had never bought another.  Recently the little plastic loop that held the key to my key ring broke.  One day when walking to my car with Collin (my 3 year old) and my friend Dena, Collin asked if he could hold my key.  Sure.  What's the worst that can happen, right?  If he drops it, I'll just pick it up, right? Unless he just happens to drop it in the STORM DRAIN.  The ONLY KEY to my car. What did I learn from this little incident? One: Dena is a fabulous friend who hung out with me even though she had stuff to do. Two: always have more that one car key - even if they cost $200 apiece. Three: the iPhone is invaluable. It will allow you to look up all kinds of phone numbers in an emergency. Four: if you drop something in the storm drain, call the water company. They can most likely come open the manhole and get it out. Be forewarned - they might laugh at you." 

(sassafras note: he may look innocent, but don't be fooled. there is a good chance that's collin the car key culprit in the picture above.)

do you have a paper crafting tip to share? "I know this isn't anything earth shattering, but just do what you like.  You don't have to scrap every event or every photo.  Get the emotions down.  The funny things.  The little things you will forget in 5, 10, years. I let go of scrapping what I felt I had to scrap, and started scrapping what made me happy.  When I did that, I started enjoying it a lot more.  I also started liking my projects a lot more.  Let the paper crafting hippie in you free and let it all loose!"

that is SUPER advice mandie, we couldn't agree more! one last question...what would you say to someone who is hesitant about getting into paper crafting to convince them that it is a must? 

"Just do it.  Do it to remember the fun things.  The hard things.  the little things your kids or spouse do.  The silly things that make you happy.  What I wouldn't give to have that kind of information from my great grandmother - or even my grandmother!  It doesn't have to be what's perfect.  There is no 'right' way or 'wrong' way.  Do it because you think it's fun, and you like the smell of paper.(Wait, sorry. That's me. But I know I'm not alone!)  Don't let the size of the hobby intimidate you with its vast array of products.  It can be such a wonderful, close knit community where you form bonds with women you've never met!

---------------------------------------

   

thank you mandie for being such a great sassafras pal, and for letting us get to know you! 

on that note, here are some more of mandie's projects to feast your eyes on before we bid you adieu...

 

we hope you enjoyed mandie's musings as much as we did!  why not show her some love in the comment section if you have a minute, or check out her super inspiring blog: lemons to limes.  and what exciting treats have YOU whipped up lately?  we would love to see!!  leave us a link...we are always on the lookout for a new sassafras pal to spotlight!
 

super duper cuteness day....

when you picked up this months copy of scrapbooks etc. magazine did you open to the table of contents.... see this gorgeous layout by our very own sassafras DT super vicki boutin  and gasp at the beauty before your eyes......... me too!

 

 with Easter just behind us there are lots of fabulous Easter themed projects being posted out and about. Kimberly Neddo, another one of our sweet DT super's, put a twist on the traditional basket full of goodies and created these fun filled and treat filled boxes. What a great project for any holiday, or those just because i love you and want to give you a treat days....

 

To make today a full sassafras DT projects day we have a Marla Kress adorable creation. Her little guy being the cutest creation of course........ and her page project featuring "apple jack" is pretty adorable as well.... 

 

thanks for joining in on a day of super duper sassafras design team wonder!