Keeping Calm & Carrying On

Trinkets & Pretty Things

Welcome to another edition of "What makes me tick Tuesdays" where I give you a glimpse into what keeps me sane and brings me happiness.

With a career & business that has a very demanding (& revolving) task list it's important that I am able to keep myselftruckin' along. And while it's not realistic to think that I never fall into ruts, it is important to have several (and I mean several) different styles and resources for inspiration. 

Today's Tuesday "tick" is:

Jewelry & Pretty Trinkets

I find myself "collecting" pretty  pearls, charms, chains and more! I'm a texture girl. I love the combination of cloth and material aginst bright and shiny diamonds and silver charms!

Most of all I love finding jewelry pieces that are unique and not always easy for others to go and get. I look at Craft Fairs, independent boutiques, Etsy shops and find discoveries that I like to think are part of my traveling experiences and adventures. I keep them all organized on this darling miniature Dress form from Pottery Barn Teen. (Although on my wish-list is the full size dress form to put my belts and scarves onto).

I've also recently discovered these cermaic (heavy) Easter-egg holders that are supposed to display your beautifully dyed Easter eggs....but I'd rather create compartments for my stud earrings out of them! I have this one in blue and then another of course, in pink ;)

I keep all my charms/dangles/and just plain pretty necklace elements out like this on a pretty plate that I bought a long time ago.....at a rummage sale I think....I honestly can't remember where. It's crackled teal paint and curvy edges are so pretty, don't you think?! 

I guess this could have also been an organization post too! So consider yourself lucky---2 for the price of one post today: "Tick" and organization! Woot woot!

What kinds of things do you collect?

New Feature!

Welcome to the first edition of Friday Favorites, where I can't wait to pretend I'm Oprah & share with you some of my favorite things including people, places, foods and so much more! I'm sorry to say that I won't be able to give it all away like Oprah (but if you Buy some More Bella maybe someday I'll be able to afford toe! he hee! Just a joke-no pressure. ha) 

Have you heard of or been to Francesca's Collections?

Seriously though, these sweet little boutiques offer darling clothes, accessories, shoes, super fun little gifts and super awesome deals too!

(Photo Credit: from Francesca's homepage)

I've been shopping at Francesca's for a couple years now, since they are popping up in our local malls (Bayshore, Mayfair and Brookfield Square too). Here's the thing: you know when you find a store that has clothes that fit you really well that you have to buy the same shirt in 5 different colors? Well, that's me at Francesca's but with 

DRESSES!

I {HEART} Francesca's dresses. It's kind of sick. Seriously. I don't even have to try them on anymore because I know their style and fit and that it works for me. Plus, 90% of the time I'm way more comfortable in a dress than regular clothes. Check out my dress rack at home:

The dress quality is great. The prices are even better (usually less than $40 each) and get this....several times a year Francesca's offers either 30% off your entire purchase or BOGO on dresses. Life doesn't get much better!

Some might call me sick, but I say their my favorites!

From funky and fancy to vintage and casual. You can find it all at Francesca's. They have gift cards too and a super fun blog that keeps you up to date on the turnover in the store and the latest trends! 

Do you love dresses like me? What are some of your favorite places to buy them?

Album Storage Solutions: Part 2 + giveaway!

Just in case you think I am crazy after seeing part one of my everyday album storage (yesterday's post), today I'll keep it short and simple. My home scrapbooking room was recently published in Creating Keepsakes' special issue, Creative Spaces:

One of the reasons (Megan Hoeppner stated) why she liked my space was the display solutions for mini albums. Again, not my original idea. I must give credit to the infamous Ali Edwards for tipping me off -back in 2007- to this "pretty" way of displaying my mini albums.  

Back in 2007 Ali shared that she displays seasonal mini albums in her living room inside a narrow basket, and then switches them out for the appropriate season (ie. Christmas mini albums are put in the basket during December, etc.)

Gosh, why didn't I think of that?

  So I was on the hunt for the perfect basket(s) for months and months -even telling my girlfriends about the idea so they could keep an eye out for me too- and finally found some nesting ones at Homegoods. I'm still constantly on the look-out for more as I create new mini albums for workshops, gifts, trips, etc.

As you see I'm overflowing around here. This basket sits on the window-sill in my scrapbooking room here at home. There's no rhyme or reason to it right now, and there's about 3.5 baskets full throughout my room. This is the largest and my favorite.

How do you store your mini albums?

Do you think when they get really "old & dated" you'll give them away to people (those family or friends that are featured inside the minis' pages?)

Is it possible to have too many mini albums?

Tell me your thoughts and you can win this stack of mini albums I have sitting around and haven't used! I know someone can put them to good use!

Kolo (4x6"), American Traditional Designs Accordian Album (4x6"), Punky Sprouts mixed media album (aprox. 6x6") Creative Memories strap-hinge 6x6" Triumph Album with heart on cover.

Creative Memories produced the Triumph Album for a purpose. A portion of all the proceeds from this album were dedicated to the Alzheimer's Association, inspiring hope for a cure for those afflicted with the disease. Preserve your memories in a Triumph Album and support Alzheimer's Association in finding a cure for the disease that takes away one of life's most precious gifts: memories. 

For once, I don't have too much planned this weekend....I'm hoping the weather is nice so I can enjoy the last days of summer around here in Southeastern Wisconsin.

 

Album Storage Solutions: Part 1

It's the age-old question in scrapbooking,

"What albums do you use?" 

I can't tell you how many people have asked me this, and how many people I ask this....followed by why? How much do they cost? and all the reasoning behind it.....don't you?

I mean, after all, isn't keeping our layouts and memories safe one of the most important steps of the process? If our layouts and albums aren't stored in a safe environment how long will they really last?

The quick answer:

I use Creative Memories albums.

Are you thinking, wow!? why? really, CM? That's usually the gut-reaction when I tell most people. (Nothing again CM, it's just that most people think of CM as the pioneer of scrapbooking) But honestly, I don't think I'll ever change my ways when it comes to my albums.

Remember....this is all my opinion. And first off, let me say I DO NOT SELL CREATIVE MEMORIES.

(Most of you know I own my own company, Bella Blvd---so I promise I'm not trying to "make a sale" or any kind of comission here)

I've been scrapbooking for more than 10 years now (scary, I know). And I have not, to this day, found a more durable, long-lasting high-quality album like CM's strap hinge structure.

They might be a bit pricier than their competitors, the post-bound or D-rings, but I think they're worth every. single.penny. And now the albums are available in true 12x12 size. The price is between $25-49 for the (12x12") Coversets (this is just the covers and binding systems-no inside pages) - the bottom, gray area in the above photo is the cover.

Another reason I LOVE these albums is because the pages are reinforced on both the right and left edges....why? Because the outer edges are where EVERYONE who turns the albums' pages touch, and the inner edges are in the seam, the most fragile part of the album, helping make each page sturdier. Pages are sold in sets of fifteen for $23 (That's $1.53 a page, only $0.76 a side!) 

Finally....one more thing about the inside pages. Do you see the ribbed plastic on the bottom of each layout in the photo above? Creative Memories Page Sleeves are also reinforced on the top and bottom sides, preventing them from ripping, and keeping the layout contents tight inside. 

The sleeves are SIDE-loading....meaning unlike many post-bound & D-Ring albums my layouts do not get dirty from dust or daily particles falling in from the top of the page sleep while sitting on a shelf or tabetop! Again, more expensive because you must buy the page sleeves separately. Sleeves are also sold in sets of 15 for $26.

So, after creating my layouts I adhere them individually to the white CM page bases, then slip the sleeves over the top, one by one.

So, what's the downside of these albums? Pretty much once you commit to the order of the pages...you're stuck with it--no shifting around or rearranging. Which doesn't bother me because I am OCD about scrapbooking chronologically. (That's a whole 'nother blog post!)

A *bonus feature* that I LOVE from Creative Memories allows me to deboss the spines of my albums. (see above). Debossing orders can be placed for gold or silver type, ONLY with original CREATIVE MEMORIES coversets (no other brands, and trust me I've tried to send in old Westrim albums and they know their albums.....they won't personalize them!) 

So this is my system: Each year has a designated color. (ie. 2009 is gray, 2008 is red, and so on.My tropical vacation albums are in lime green.) These day, most years have between 3-5 albums. CM releases new albums colors each year, so hopefully I'll never run out of colors to choose from! 

I just chose the Plumberry (above) for my 2010 albums. When I order them, I get 5. That way in case CM runs out or discontinues the color I'm not in trouble. When I've completed and assembled all my albums for the year, if I have an extra one my consultant always lets me return it for credit-which I know I'll use-NOT a problem!

(This is not an original idea.....my girlfriend Allyson got me started on this chronological and anal album-color-thing and now she doesn't even do it anymore-ha!)

Stop by the Bella Blog today to see my early "Friday Blog Post" direct from the studio---there might just be a giveaway hidden within the post! Check it out!
I'll be back here tomorrow sharing a much more brief post on how I store my mini albums!

See you then!