What's Up With All the Washi?

Did you know that this week was the official Washi Tape Awareness Week?  Okay, maybe I just made that up, but why not?  Shouldn't we all be aware of the awesome things we can do with washi tape?  This week while watching all the new products companies were giving while at CHA, I noticed that everyone seems to be adding more washi tape products to the lines.  Just like rhinestone, decorative brads, twine, and chipboard embellishments have become part of many of our favorite lines, now more and more companies will be releasing coordinating washi tape with their lines.   

 

Check out this bike covered in washi tape that My Mind's Eye had at CHA this past week! So cool...

So what's up with all the washi?  Washi tape is like a masking tape made from paper, only prettier, and comes in many different patterns.  There are many different kinds of washi products at Scrappin' Happily Ever After, including great patterns from Tim Holtz, Smash, Queen and Company, and both tape and sheets of washi from We R Memory Keepers.  Ivy says she has also ordered some new washi, including the new collections from My Minds Eye.  Here is one collection below, but they are going to have many different color families. You don't have to pick which pattern you want, because all of them come in one pack! 

 

I have liked the idea of washi tape since I first saw it.  I started buying it, but did not really know what to do with it.  I would put pieces here and there to embellish a page, but I thought, "I know I can do more!"   So off I went to S.H.E.A. to get some washi tape and some of the very awesome 12X12 sheets of washi paper that Ivy carries.  The washi paper is made from the same material, only it is huge.  It is like a giant sticker sheet that you can cut, tear, or even use in your favorite die cutting machine! 

So I challenged myself to use washi tape a bit differently than I had in the past, and think of some new ways that we could try to use this very versatile product.

First, I thought of the great way that Dedra showed us how to use washi tape to make a hinge in our mini albums.  Take two pieces of paper and put a piece of washi on the outside as a partial binding, then open up your two sheets, and make a "+" sign with the washi on the inside.  Presto...an instant hinge!

Then I thought, washi is so great at embellishing a page with all the little colorful strips, what if I tried to make a background out of washi?  So I took a plain piece of white cardstock and started layering on pieces of washi in many different patterns and colors.  I was a little worried at first, but the more I added, the better it started to look.  This will make a great background for a photo.  I envision finishing off this page by spritzing on some Mister Huey mist in grays and yellow to add some texture to the white space, then adding a photo, creating some nice big chunky letters for a title, and layering on some finishing touch kind of embellishments. 

Do you have stuff in your crafting supplies that you don't really like?  Perhaps you got a kit of product, or you have some items left over that you don't know how to use.  I had these big chipboard tags and shapes that were not really my style.  They came in a big kit that I got as a gift, but I knew I would never use them.   

Ugly embellishments + washi tape = something you can actually use! 

You can also use washi on smaller pieces of paper, then run it through your die cutting machine to cut out shapes.  You can then use the shapes or use the negative space in your projects!

I was able to use some chalk ink on the Tim Holtz newspaper looking washi tag above, which gave it a nice look.  Then I thought...can I stamp on it?  I tried some Adirondack ink, but that would not set because of the texture.  A quick call to Ivy and she said...use the Archival or Staz On ink.  Voila!  I got some great stamped images on the washi paper! 

  Even More Ideas....

- Write on it!  You can write on it with a pen, so you can use strips or pieces as backgrounds for journaling or fun photo captions.  Outside of crafting you can use it like you would post it flgas and make your calendar very pretty with all the washi tape options. 

- Use it to wrap gifts with plain kraft paper, and instead of ribbon use the washi tape as your color.  Put a piece as a "seal" for cards you send in the mail.

- Decorate with it.  Find some old books and cover them in washi tape to make a cute stack of colorful books on a shelf.  You can make some super cute office supplies by covering pencils and binder clips with washi tape.  Use it as your labels on file folders, or as a way to create squares on a white board or chalk board.   

The possibilities are endless.  If you need more ideas, go to Pinterest and type in "washi."  It is amazing what people come up with!  So in observance of the official Washi Tape Awareness Week, get on over to S.H.E.A., get yourself some washi tape and paper, and go out there and get crazy with the washi!  What would you do with some washi tape right now? 

Anyone want to washi their car? - Joanna

January Events

Have you all seen the Scrappin' Happily Ever After January calendar yet?  There is some great stuff on there, and you won't want to miss out!  

New Year's 12 Hour Crop - Saturday, January 19^th : The monthly crop is always fun, whether there is something to celebrate or not.  This month is the first official crop for 2013.  It is a great time to do a year in review project from 2012, or work on any scrappin, cards, home decor, or other projects you want to work on.  There are always lots of laughs and it is so fun to see and learn from each others' projects!  If you did not get to as many crops as you wanted to last year, make that one of your resolutions for this year and join us this weekend!  Call Ivy today to reserve your spot.

 

Card Salad: It is the new year after all and many of you may have put eat healthier on the list of goals for this year.  Even if you are starting to feel saladed out, no worries.  There are no veggies involved here - just crafting fun!  If you have not checked out Ivy's new Card Salad days she started last fall, you are in luck.  She is having two sessions of Card Salad in January.  It will be the same "salad," just offered on one weekend day (Sunday, January 20^th) and one weekday (Wednesday, January 23^rd) to accommodate more schedules.  There is more information on the calendar, but in a nutshell, she provides several cards which you can copy or use for inspiration.  The fun part is, YOU decide exactly what you want to create!  You can copy or use the cards to inspire cards, or perhaps one of the cards will inspire you to do a page using the same techniques. You purchase  your papers and embellishments, and Ivy provides all the tools (stamps, embossing folders, dies, etc. ) used to create each project.  See the calendar for additional details.   

Silhouette Classes:  I know Santa brought several people a new Silhouette Cameo or Portrait this year.  So far this month, Ivy has offered several one-on-one Sil classes as well as a beginner Sil class.  Keep your eye out for more one-on-one sessions and beginner classes. In the mean time, there are two more Silhouette classes this month.  Both classes will be on Saturday, January 26^th.  If you are nervous about using some of the nontraditional modes in your silhouette (sketch feature, what's that?), or not sure how to use some of the mediums that work well with your Silhouette (fabric paint and heat transfer, oh my), then these classes are for you!   Space is limited in both the Sil classes below.  Check them out and call Ivy to sign up for one or both!   Remember, if you are a Sil Cameo Club Member, you get a reduced rate for the classes.

Sketch Pens: This class will be focused on using the sketch feature and sketch pens with your Silhouette.  Learn how to use the Silhouette sketch pens, as well as other writing instruments, use pre-made sketch files, as well as turn any regular files/shapes into sketch files, have the sil pens do your journaling and writing for you...and more!

Fabric Paint and Heat Transfer: The second Silhouette class will get you familiar with some really fun mediums your Silhouette can help you use.  During the class you will use your Silhouette to design a fantastic apron project.  By the end of the class you will know how to best use both the fabric paint and heat transfer.  Think of the other projects you will then be able to create - tee shirts, home decor, personalize items, etc. etc. etc.!!!

Last but not least, there is a free Cameo/Cricut crop in the afternoon on Sunday, January 27^th.  This is a great time to bring out your favorite cutting machine, or stop by and see others work on projects with them.  

With all these wonderful options, I hope you each find something to sign up for this month.  Start your year off happy and crafting!

Happy New Year!

Wow!  It is January 2013.  How did that happen?  2012 was a full year in many ways, both at Scrappin' Happily Ever After, as well as with much of the S.H.E.A family.  There were weddings and babies, people moving closer, and people moving farther away.  There were injuries, surgeries, and most importantly recoveries.  There were guests and friends visiting from afar, and vacations.  We are now all a year older, and hopefully wiser.  We survived the supposed end of the world...a couple times, I think.  S.H.E.A. was moving, and then S.H.E.A. settled right into her home where she belongs.  Busy times, but amidst it all, there were many projects completed, laughs to be had, memories to be captured, and memories made.  

Now we start a new year.  I have officially procrastinated on making and starting my new year's resolutions.  They never seem to work out anyway, so I am taking a bit more time to mull them over. :-) That got me thinking about what we hope for in this upcoming year.  Not only for ourselves, but what would you all like to see happen here on the S.H.E.A. Blog?  What sort of content, items, projects, etc. would be most helpful and enjoyable to you here on the blog?  As always, I will try to keep you up to date on new items, but what else....sketches, tips, product tutorials, completed projects, scrapping stuff, cards, decor, craft items/techniques you would like to experiment with but are unsure how to go about it, you name it and I will consider it???  Just let me know by commenting below and we can get a little more interaction and activity here in the S.H.E.A blog. 

While we are brainstorming... What would you like to see at S.H.E.A this year?  Ivy always has wonderful projects and classes, but since the new year is a time for ideas...share your ideas.  What would you like to see at S.H.E.A this year...products...classes...? 

For now, I know Ivy is busy as always rotating in new stock.  She mentioned to me the other day that Bazzill has multiple new lines coming in, and there is new Bo Bunny, among other boxes that are arriving daily.  CHA is just around the corner, and it seems that companies are starting to do sneak peeks of new product lines and products.  If you see anything interesting, share here on the blog or on Facebook! 

Ivy is also working on getting more dates and items on the January calendar.  The Saturday Potluck Crop will be on January 19^th.  If you were busy during the holiday season, it would be great to see you again.  Give Ivy a call to reserve your spot at the crop, as space is limited.  Also going on the calendar for this month will be some Silhouette classes.  There are several new Silhouette Cameo Club members from this past Christmas!!!  Keep checking the calendar regularly as it should be updated soon.

I hope you are all having a great start to this new year! I am off to make some resolutions...  Leave some comments and share your ideas on what you would like to see here on the blog and at the store this year! 

- Joanna