Two Peas March Gardeners' Digest

 Welcome to the Gardeners' Digest!  The Gardeners' Digest is a monthly update from the Garden Girls, the design team at Two Peas In a Bucket.  You can hop from one blog to the next (beginning with the new Two Peas blog) to see inspiring projects, sneak peeks, and fresh product picks.

This is a tiny peek at my Finally Friday video tutorial for this week.  I'll be making a fun project that doubles as a gift.  Make sure to check out the video at Two Peas tomorrow to see more.

I saw this amazing mini album by PaperVine pinned on the Two Peas Pinterest page this week.  (It's made from Echo Park's new This & That collection.)  There is just so much to love here - the vintage camera... the trendy color combo... chevrons.  Yeah.  Very cool!  I think I might give this one a try!

1. Cosmo Cricket's 2Wenty-Thr3E (otherwise known as 23) 6x6 pad - I used this collection in this week's Finally Friday video & am head over heals in love with it!  The colors are so fresh, but retro at the same time & the patterns are unlike any other.


2 & 3.  The new Smash items are the perfect thing for Project Life.  The Calendar Tape & Section Smash Tape are some of the coolest washi tapes I've ever seen.  I'm getting their new Wedding Smash Album as a gift for my sister who's getting married this May.  I can't wait to fill it with bits & pieces of her wedding plans.


4. Heidi Swapp's Colorful Instaframes - I saw these at CHA & they are brilliant!  The set comes with several "Polaroid" folder frames that you place around your photos.  There are sheets of rub-ons included that you use to add text to the bottom as well as decorative stickers.  The rub-ons & stickers mimic social media terminology & graphics.  Totally fun!


5. The Silhouette Cameo - Need I say more?  ;)  This was just restocked & is seriously one of my favorite products of all time.  I use it for EVERYTHING.  Definitely worth the investment.

I have a fun collection of paper, stamps & embellishments that I'll be sending to one of you!  If you'd like to be eligible to win, please leave a comment on this blog post (& remember to include contact information in case you should win!)  I'll chose a winner on Wednesday, March 28th.

My blog is the last stop, so be sure to visit the new Two Peas blog if you haven't done so already to begin the Gardeners' Digest Hop.  Thanks so much for visiting!

CHA Squeals & Trends

As some of you know, I recently returned from CHA (the Craft & Hobby Association) trade show. I've described CHA to some of my non-crafty friends as the "Fashion Week" of the paper crafting world.  It's a place where manufacturers get to debut their fresh & fabulous releases for the upcoming season.  Store owners come prepared to place orders & others (like myself) attend as media... and then get to share our findings with the rest of the world.  I have an album full of photos from the show HERE if you're interested in taking a peek.


I have a post on Paper Crafts Magazine's Moxie Fab World blog today filled with some of my favorite product finds and trends.  But... there is SO much more to share than what can fit in a single blog post, so I'm sharing a little more here on my personal blog as well.


I love innovative products... and there were a few companies that just screamed brilliance!  One of my favorite finds came from a new company called Clever Handmade.  Heidi Grace Kress has been a fixture in the scrapbooking industry for years, working under labels such as Fiskars & Colorbok.  Heidi debuted her new company at this show, where she has sole ownership & creative freedom.

One of my favorite products from Clever Handmade are these rub-on transfer embroidery patterns.  They can be applied just like any other rub-on, but are intended to be used as a pattern to add hand stitching.  The transfers are a light gray/silver color & once you add stitching, the lines are completely covered up.


I love the look of hand embroidery, and these patterns made it so easy!

The transfers come in SO many fun doodled designs!  You can even embroider part of the design & leave the rest of the transfer in it's original state for a really cool design.


I applied one of Heidi's cupcake transfers to a shipping tag to create this project below:

The sentiment on this card came from Technique Tuesday's Fabulous set by Ali Edwards.  (I am the February guest designer for TT this month, so check back for more projects to come!) And... check out this patterned paper by GCD Studios that just so happens to perfectly coordinate!  It's from their new Country Charm collection.

I added a bit of Liquid Applique to the center of my cupcake & heat-set it to make it look like frosting.

Another one of my squeals is the new Heidi Swapp collection.  I could do an entire post on how innovative her products are!   I highlighted one of my favorite products on the Moxie Fab World blog today, but literally her entire booth was packed with amazing things!

This package just makes my heart go all pitter-patter!  Basically, you add a photo to a Polaroid-like folder and seal it shut.  Then you can add rub-on words or other "social-media" stickers to the bottom of the Polaroid.  They come in the colors above and neutral shades as well.  I wish I had a picture of the finished project.  They are just so much fun!

Heidi Swapp also has an innovative new way to scrapbook using a file-folder system.  She debuted LOTS of resist products, perfect for inking/misting... and had some really fun products in trendy neon shades.

I've been seeing lots of cute bows/bow-ties popping up here & there & I think it could be the start of a new trendy shape.

 Bow Ties by Heidi Swapp

Bow Paper Clips by Studio Calico

Anther HUGE trend this show was washi tape.  It seemed like almost every manufacturer released their own design.  Here's a peek at a few:

 HUGE assortment of awesome washi from Love My Tapes!

 Fun new designs from October Afternoon

AMAZING new designs from the Smash Collection!

 Neon washi from Heidi Swapp

 A great assortment from Bazzill Basics

 Vintage designs from 7 Gypsies

As you can see... I could go on & on!  I have so many more trends to share with you, but I'll have to save them for another day.  I hope you've enjoyed a little inside scoop on this season's new designs.  Make sure to check out the Moxie Fab World blog all week for more squeals and trend spotting from the other Go-to Gals!

Two Peas Gardeners' Digest

Welcome to the Gardeners' Digest!  The Gardeners' Digest is a monthly update from the Garden Girls, the design team at Two Peas In a Bucket.  You can hop from one blog to the next (beginning with Two Peas' Garden Girl blog) to see inspiring projects, sneak peeks, and fresh product picks.  You might even find a give-away or two, so make sure to read each post carefully.  ;)

Here's a project I've made recently using some of my favorite products:

    Pin It

I am completely obsessed with the new Chap collection by American Crafts.  It's full of great patterns that can be used for masculine projects, but is so universal that it could be used for almost anything.

I've jumped on the Project Life bandwagon & am using the Chap line right now in lieu of purchasing specific PL products.  I'm going with a very carefree, whimsical approach & plan on changing up my supplies on a constant basis.

Speaking of Project Life, have you seen the new 2012: Captured series by fellow Garden Girl Lisa Truesdell at Two Peas?  If you've ever thought about doing PL, or even if you'd like to learn more, you would LOVE Lisa's free class.  I love her style of doing PL & I can't wait for this week's lesson!

Even before I was a Garden Girl, Two Peas has always been my one-stop shop for paper crafting supplies.  I love that they carry the latest & greatest... and I love the free shipping options.  :)  ***This month's free shipping code for orders $50+ is: NY2012

Each of the Garden Girls are sharing their top 5 product picks for this month.  Here are some that make my heart go all pitter patter:

1. American Crafts Chap Just Write Journaling Cards - I'm using these right now instead of the Project Life cards.  They fit the page protectors PERFECTLY!  The colors and designs are perfect for my very testosterone driven household.  The pack includes 24 frames & journaling cards (3" x 4", 4" x 6", + smaller banner/title cards.)

2.  Fiskars Jenni Bowlin Blue Ribbon punch - This has to be THE cutest tool I've seen in a long time. Of course, you can make blue ribbons with it, but it's perfect for banners too!  I'll show you more in my Finally Friday Video this week!

3. Smash Date Stamp - this stamp is perfect for Project Life!  I love adding a quick date to my pages!

4. Crate Paper's Paper Heart collection - my favorite Valentine's day collection!  The designs can be used all year long & are GORGEOUS!

5.  Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher - I use this tool on a daily basis!  It's perfect for securing washi tape, ribbon, & can be used alone as a design element.  Trust me on this one.  You need this tool.  :)

From here, make your way to Kimber McGray's blog!  xoxo