How to make Personalized iPhone covers

I talk a lot about great digital printing services. I've recently learned of a new one through my dear Idaho-returned-back-to-California friend Tammy. (hi Tammy!)

When I committed to doing Project Life, I knew I needed a digital program or a printing service that allowed me to print 3x4 prints and collages. Tammy told me about Persnickety Prints. tonight I was working on uploading photos and collages to their site. i'm about to send in my first photo order, and i'm super excited to see their quality. Anyhow, when I logged on, I saw this: Pernickety Print's I-Phone covers on sale for only $19.95, through Monday only. How STINKIN' CUTE are these?!?!? I think I'm going to order one. Now to choose which photo....

What in the world did I cook before Pinterest?

Are you on Pinterest? Or should I say : "Are you on Pinterest 500 hours every day like I am?" Yeah...its a time waster. But a darn productive one, I say. Some days I get on there, and the next thing I know it's been an hour..or two hours.. And can I just say "What the heck did I cook before Pinterest?!" The amount of recipes on there is amazing. I"ve been on it for nearly a year, and I am A.D.D.I.C.T.E.D And the things...oh, the things that are there: Coca-Cola Cake, crockpot ideas, dips...ahhhh. Cleaning tips, fabulous clothes, ways to decorate your home, beautiful places in the world to visit...you name it, its there on Pinterest.

Last week there was a ton of press about Pinterest on the news and in magazines; so much so, that my husband said "what the heck is this Pinterest?" The way I explained it to him was this: its like a giant bulletin board. And you take a sticky note that you've written to yourself that is the web address you don't want to forget of the awesome tips for kids' games, or a recipe you've torn out of a magazine, or an inspirational photo of the ocean for a trip you'd like to take. It's this huge canvas, and you 'pin' anything you want on to it so that you remember it there for later. So rather than going to your bookmarks folder on your computer, where you've book marked a bazillion different websites and you can't remember why, you can just go to Pinterest and see EVERYTHING. All in one place that YOU put there: recipes, tips, clothes, quotes, books you want to read, etc. Make sense?

Check out my boards here, or if you're not on Pinterest yet, you can open a free account and then search for me.

The photo above is for little frozen dollops of yogurt that make yogurt bites. Now why didn't I think of that?!

21 questions to ask your kids

This one has been around awhile, but I was recently reminded of it and decided to ask my six year old. The answers are quite funny. Try it with your kids and record their answers. Because really...don't kids say the darndest things?!

1. What is something Mommy always says to you? "Brush your teeth."

2. What makes Mommy happy? Doing what she says. (then he goes "did I get it right?")

3. What makes Mommy sad? Not obeying.

4. How does Mommy make you laugh? Saying funny things.

5. What was Mommy like as a child?

I don't know that.

6. How old is Mommy? 36. (I wish).

7. How tall is Mommy? 16 inches. (so glad I'm not).

8. What is Mommy’s favorite thing to do? Go shopping. (Busted!)

9. What does Mommy do when you’re not around?

I don't know..how can I know when I don't see it? (Yes, he is my literal one.)

10. If Mommy becomes famous,what will it be for?

Scrapbooking (huh?!)

11. What is Mommy really good at? Craft shows. (Awwwww....)

12. What is Mommy not very good at? Catching fish.

13. What does Mommy do for her job?

Scrapbooking. (huh?!)

14. What is Mommy’s favorite food? Noodles with ketchup. (it was when I was a kid, and I recently introduced him to it. He's a HUGE fan. My tastes have refined a little bit.)

15. What makes you proud of Mommy? Being famous. (I'd better get famous so he can be proud.)

16. If Mommy were a cartoon character,who would she be? Winnie the Pooh and Spiderman. (So, I'm both soft and cuddly and bad-ass…)

17. What do you and Mommy do together? Go shopping. (Oh yeah...cuz he LOVES the grocery store with me?!)

18. How are you and Mommy the same?

We are on the computer a lot. (Pretty true. I'll have to work on that.)

19. How are you and Mommy different?

She's not a good fisherman. (guess I should work on that, too.)

20. How do you know Mommy loves you? Because she says it at night all the time.

21. Where is Mommy’s favorite place to go?

Caribou. (mmmm...he knows me well.)

A little heart day love.

I'm not a huge fan of Valentine's Day. It doesn't make me all happy and giddy. But seeing some of the fantastic things on Pinterest wore off on me. I got a late start, and Saturday I joined in the holiday cheer by putting up a few decorations. We decided to make heart Perler bead magnets for each of the kindergardeners in Zack's class--heck, its only 21 -- and we'll even personalize a few (seebelow). Gifts for teachers (left).

My favorite candy dish from Inspired Generations:

How adorable is the spoon?!?

A swag for the mantle (made last year):

Decor inspired by Crafts Direct:

And I did make these little yummies:

However, mine did not look as cute as these. Why, you ask? I drove to four stores to find the Hugs. FOUR. Really? A mad rush on Hugs here in town? By the fourth store, I sure as heck wasn't going to give up, because now I was really hungry for these, and kept thinking of the picture opportunity of making them with the kids. All out of stores to try, I finally rationalized that the caramel Hugs would work just as well as the plain ones, and they were the only ones available. I'm here to tell you the caramel ones are NOT the same. Caramel melts through the holes in the pretzels and sticks to the pan. Then these little cuties don't look so cute anymore. So mine were a big sticky blob in the container. Of course my chocoholic kids ate them anyhow. So it all worked out in the end.

And a couple things I am in love with right now:

I just finished Mad Men Season 1, and am ready to get into season 2. I'm a little late to the Mad Men party, but I am ADDICTED. Do you watch it? I'm loving all the little funnies of the 1950s: women smoking/drinking while pregnant, kids not in car seats, and the prim and proper obedience of the wives with dinner on the table every night, dressed in heels, lipstick fresh, hair set. All while smokin' a cigarette.

And in the same genre, I'm also reading this:

so I feel like I"m in a real time warp. It was a coincidence, but pretty funny that it is all taking place the same time.

I'm reading it on my Kindle, which I fell even MORE in love with when I suddenly finished Mad Men season 1 DVDs at midnight, and needed to see season2 right. NOW. So I downloaded the first episode on my Kindle, while still in bed, for only $1.99. How amazing is that?!?

Happy Valentine's Day all!

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Are you in an organizing funnel cloud?

What is it about that last week of December that cause the organizational tectonic plates to shift into high gear and throw up the funnel cloud? I go from room to room and am on a purging fest -- bins that go to the Goodwill, bins that go to the trash, bins that I wonder if this will be the year that I get to a certain project. And usually about now is when I look at the clutter I've accumulated and vow that NEXT year will be different. I know my hoarding sweet spot: scrapbook supplies. And every year I swear I'm going to stop beating myself up about not scrapbooking as much as I feel I should, and just simplify and enjoy the process. Do something like printed books or Project Life.

There are a billion deals and steals out there on photo books and photo printing. Here are just a few that have come my way:

Enter promo code at checkout: S1KB-EU8F-EBTS-YXK955

* Offer valid for one–time redemption per member and valid for one free 20–page 8×8 photo book with hard photo cover. Any additional pages will incur a per–page fee. Offer not valid for licensed premium photo books or leather, padded or soft cover photo books. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply. Offer ends January 11, 2012 (11:59 P.M. PST). For more details, please click here. And check this out for a free 8x10 photo canvas or $55 any other sized canvas. I saying I'm going to do one of these, but can't decide which photo! Since we're talking about photos and scrapbooking: who does Project Life? What are your thoughts..do you love it...has it sat in a box? I keep thinking I want to do it, but that would force me to stop the hoarding of supplies. (would that help or hinder the problem?!) Here's a great video on the founder of Project Life, Becky Higgins, explaining her mission. I am always saying how passionate I am about retrospection. But I can never put it into words as eloquent as Becky does here. So I'll let her say it. If you're not familiar with Project Life, the main premise is to scrapbook the every day moments...your routines, your family's little events that make up our lives. Not just big things like milestones and birthdays. And it's not about big elaborate scrapbook pages. It is ONE album, ONE set of cards. Simple, right? Yet I still refuse to go the simple route and hoard a bazillion supplies.) I've got a MAJOR cleaning up last year's stash of fabric sale going on at the Etsy website. Lots of 10x20s for $25-$29 each, or a choose your own grab bag sale: for just $58 you get to Pick Three! I'm listing them all weekend, so check back if you don't see three you like. I've got more than 30 to pick from!

Paper Miniskirt giveaway on the Ali Edwards website Friday December 2nd

Hello from the One of A Kind Show in fabulous Chicago! Paper Miniskirt is among 600 fabulous artists and thousands of wonderful shoppers for four days of fun! Are you in the area? Email me for a free pass :)

I've got a giveaway going on today at the Ali Edwards blog. If you're a scrapbooker, you're sure to have heard of Ali Edwards. Even if you don't scrapbook, she's as fanatical about retrospection as I am, and is super motivating for documenting your everyday memories. Check her out! Leave a comment on her blog for a chance to win one of FOUR Paper Miniskirt prizes!

AND....I've got a great special in honor of the One of a Kind Show.... purchase a 10x20 magnet board at www.paperminiskirt.com, and receive a set of 4 Christmas magnets FREE with your order! Offer expires December 6, 2011. Purchase for the holidays today, and you're guaranteed to have them under the tree by December 24th!

If I had given Kim Kardashian a wedding present

I feel as if Kim Kardashian and I could have been friends. I say 'could have', because she no longer has ties to St. Cloud (where I live), which she did with Kris Humphries (he is part owner in the Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant in St. Cloud.) Kris brought Kim here twice. A few months ago I had this urge to go to Five Guys. A really strong desire to go pack up the boys and head there for dinner eat their delicious (Idaho!!!) fries. The next day, it was all over the news that Kim had been there around 4 pm and stayed for about 15 minutes. So, we're probably connected on some cosmic level.

If I had sent her a wedding present, I probably would have given her this frame:

Damask looks like her thing, and pink and black are pretty hip right now.

But now I think I'll send her this one:

Bright, bold and a little more fun for hanging the divorce decree.

One of my favorite bloggers for deals and all things crafty is a gal named Jessica who's blog is The Mom Creative. She is a fantastic resource for photo projects, photo deals and ideas galore.

Who are some of your favorite bloggers? I'd love to hear!

November is my birthday month, so look for specials coming up at www.paperminiskirt.com!

And according to etiquette experts, she should have sent it back to me.

Have you printed your summer photos?

As much as I relish photos, I hate uploading them. Hate it. I've wavered between Shutterfly,Winkflash, Clark Color, Walgreens and Walmart. Currently, I'm on a Walmart kick. They are the cheapest and their collages are the easiest to make. BUT, I still can't figure out how to make them into black and whites. (Anyone know?)

Once I've uploaded all my photos, I sit and dwell over them, and want to make so many edits and crops within the editing software that I get overwhelmed. So I have to do it in phases. Upload...add them to all to my cart...choose the sizes...make collages. Some of you may be asking "Collages?" Yes! I LOVE collages! When I have a bunch of pictures from one event and just can't choose which ones to print into 4x6's, I tend to make a collage out of them. Its so easy to do, and costs the same price -- nine cents!! (Walmart price).

If you're ready to start working on your holiday photo cards, there are some great deals out there right now:

• 50% orders over $25 at Clark Color (code 11Ckicked)
• 60% canvas and six cent prints at Winkflash.com

I'm terribly sad that summer has ended. I had a great summer season, and loved meeting all of you and seeing your excitement and hearing where you planned to use your magnetic photo board. Remember...I always love to see photos of your magnet boards on the Paper Miniskirt Facebook page!

Peace, Love and Paper Miniskirts,

Kristi

Get a 16x20 magnet board for just $25!

Today is a great day to stock up or start your holiday shopping!

Here is a link to the clip from the segment on Twin Cities Live today! The following three magnet boards are offered at 50% through Tuesday October 11th only! Get a 16x20 magnet board in one of the three styles, and an extra set of magnets for only $25. Shippping is just $5 for each board, and if you order three or more, shipping is only $10.

Here are the photos of the three featured magnet boards:

Brown and Creme

Black Twig

Christmas FaLALA

Don't forget to become a fan of Paper Miniskirt on Facebook!

I wasn't really sad about kindergarten until I got the note from the bus company that read: "Pick up time: 7:49 a.m. Bus #2." Then it hit me. I just let my baby, my first born, get on a BUS with some STRANGER to be driven who knows where?!? I know the driver isn't a stranger. And of course, he/she will drive them straight to school. But it is the IDEA of letting my son go, on his OWN, off on his merry way to school. Without me. No more all day every day at home. I had a panic attack, envisioned standing at the front window, watching him hop on, turning around and waving....those long skinny-assed legs climbing the stairs, him waving out the window sitting on those big green high-backed seats. Suddently the future and the next 12 years flashed before my eyes, him getting on the bus year after year; getting bigger and more independent each year. Each September. Off he goes. Not. Ready. For this. He doesn't even know his PHONE NUMBER for pete's sake. And he still thinks the whole entire state, every single town, is called Minnesota. What if he ends up in Sauk Rapids and can't explain that he lives in ST. CLOUD?!? the only thing getting me through this is knowing that I will get to scrapbook some fantastic pictures. And planning what he will wear the first day. Of course, to coordinate with the paper that I've already bought.

Scrapbook Challenges New Year's Blog Hop

I created the layout on the left following this sketch

at Scrapbook Challenges, a great website that hosts challenges, sketches, forums and a gallery.

To participate, start at Pamela's Blog here. They are giving away some fabulous prizes, my favorite being the new Origins Collection from Basic Grey. I am in LOVE with this new collection by BG. It is greens, and yellows and tans....LOVELOVELOVE it. And, just when I made my 2010 resolution to stop making my family eat Mac 'N Cheese and eggs so much because I buy too much scrapbook supplies, they come out with a beauty like this one. Oh well, I just have to hope that I win it. I have seen it in real life, and it is GOR-JUSS.

To see what others have created, go here to the Hop On page...

I created the title (black letters) with my Silhouette. I am slowly but surely getting used to that thing. After several months of ignoring it, followed by a shaky start, I'm learning. Huge learning curve with that machine, I tell you. But, I still believe it was better for my style than the Cricut. The pattern paper is all Stampin Up. Love it! I found it hidden in my stash after I did some major purging and rearranging.

Finally some layouts.

The arrival of winter, snow and cold has brought with it some time for scrapbooking. Now that Sullivan is on somewhat of a more regular schedule, I have a few more minutes throughout the day. Oh, how that makes me happy! The following are the fruits of my labors:

"Fishing Men." I am working on summer photos. There will be lots of fishing layouts. Can't help it...it's all Zack did. This paper is from the Making Memories Boy collection - i just love it. You'll see it alot in the next few layouts. The inspiration for the layout came from a layout by Sarah Hodgkinson in an issue of Scrapbooks Etc.

My new plan to eliminate, or reduce some of the hoarding, is to complete several layouts in a row with a collection once I"ve started using it. Sounds like a good plan, right?

"Just Us 3." This is all supplies from Studio Calico's December kit. Photos were taken on Mother's Day this year.

"Fearless." Inspiration for this layout came from a gallery somewhere. I have ALL of this Fancy Pants boy collection. It is all just perfect - the colors, the journaling tags. The star stamps and the sun/journaling circle is from Unity Stamp Co's July kit.

I have so many photos of Zack sleeping, because I just LOVE his eyelashes. I can't get enough of them. Stamps on this one are from Unity Stamp Co's May kit.

This paper is more purple than it looks - an oddity for me to use that color. Flower stamp and journaling block are Unity. (can you tell what stamps are out on my table right now?!)

Two closeups that were taken at Valleyfair last summer. Zack's facial expressions were priceless.

And more fishing using that Making Memories kit. The brown letter are the felt stickers from Making Memories. This was the first layout I used them, as you can tell by the awkard shapes/placement. These little babies have a bit of a learning curve associated with them. They get pretty misshapen when you pull them off the paper, so you have to learn how to pull them off intact. Learned that little tid bit after this layout.

My Minds Eye manufacturer flower challenge

I bought a Silhouette this summer. One day I woke up and decided I was going to buy one of the oh-so-trendy die cutter machines...either the Cricut or the Silhouette.

So i proceeded to do tons of research. Like, an hours worth of searching some of my favorite blogs, reading opinions of people who I've never met, but still somehow place the trust of my nearly $200 worth of precious money. And because I have nearly 1700 fonts, I chose the Silhouette. May as well make good use of those fonts. Never mind that I only ever really use about 8 of them over and over. I've got 1700 and that is what counts. She who dies with the most fonts clogging up her computer wins, right?

I unwrapped the pretty, pretty machine, hooked it up to the old, slow computer that now sits on my scrappin' table so it could be solely dedicated to the Silhouette and the many layouts I was going to create with it. I tried to make one title, and the durn thing wouldn't cut. I let it sit for 6 months. But I couldn't sleep at night because I was not going to let that thing get the best of me.

Well, one day I stumbled upon the Silhouette Yahoo group, and that has since renewed my faith in the ol' machine. I found out that I was using too thick of cardstock, and would need to cut it all twice. That tip has made all the difference. And now I'm happy again! There is a bit of a learning curve, but I know I"ll grow to LOVE it quickly.

Anyhow, this is a layout I did for My Minds Eye's blog challenge 6 to use paper flowers. I punched the flowers from a Sizzix die that has 4 sizes, then interchanged them all. The title was the first one that I have successfully used from the Silhouette (hence why I prefaced this post with that little story).

Christmas cards.....

There are so many great products out there right now for Christmas crafts! I am in love with this set from Winter Swirls set by Papertreyink. All three of these cards use image from the set.

Christmas Calendar

Here's another one of those projects I have wanted to do for years. The muffin tin literally sat in a corner of my scraproom, waiting to be used, for a year. It turned out really cute -- I used Making Memories' line of products -- but when I posted a picture on Facebook, my grandma pointed out it was missing the #22. Whooops. Guess I was too eager to get to the 25th.