Dy-NO-Mite Scrapbooking

First off - Thank you so much for being so patient with us

as we worked out our pesky Internet Explorer issue.

For those who contacted us about the issue

Double THANK YOU!

we are still working on the sidebars

but everything should be back in place soon

I've recently been on this kick of

reminiscing about the totally sweet ol' 80s

and how fabulously AWESOME they were.

okay so I was only 5 when it was all said and over

and a new decade rolled into town

but hey it counts right?

From the Cartoons, music, and shoulder pads

it was a to the max tubular time

well at least in the eyes of a child

even now you can't help but love the look?!

yes for those of you with your heads in the sand

the 80's are totally back - like for sure!

Even those beloved characters like

Strawberry Shortcake, and My Little Ponies

have made a bright comeback

I think it is too funny that of all the lunchbox charters

I could have chosen from as a little girl

I chose Alf

and as to prove that my hubby and are a perfect match

his first lunch box was also that cat eating lovable alien - ALF

and yes we still record Alf - he is our morning background noise

as the news always puts me in a fowl mood

All Digi Backgrounds are from Karli

as she is the most Retro lov'n gal I know!

and the frames are from the Kitschiest graphic designer

in Cyber space - Danielle Thompson from Kitschy Digitals

have a Retro Sweet Weekend~

Chelsea Ann

What an icky blog right? I know! We are in midst of fixing Gnome-n-Birdy

- after it came to our attention that it wasn't loading properly

for our Internet Exporer friends.

Please bare with us as we work towards fixing the issue.

Thanks! Chelsea Ann and Karli

Quirky Bean Bags?

What do you call these silly things?

Do you remember them?

I vaguely recall them from my childhood

They were filled with beans?

Well if I could sew

I think I would start making these guys

and filling them with rice

i've had a knot in my neck and shoulders all week

and a warm froggy or turtle would do just the trick I think

Winner of the Valentine's Day Giveaway is

Linda of Lambsworld

now I'm off to sweet talk my hubby into a neck massage

or perhaps a long bubble bath will be less work ~ lol

oh how I miss the good ol' days of dating

Now when I ask for something

I get the roll of the eyes or called a nag

good grief

~ how did this happen? LOL

A Very Kitschy Sweet Valentines to You

I've got a bit of a holiday decorating bug

when I was a little girl my mom had this pencil tree

that she would decorate for all the holidays

from January to the end of December

the tree was always a happy reminder

of the holidays and seasons we most loved

I love Valentines mostly for its kitschy sweet

in your face ridiculous over the top cliche ways of saying

"I LOVE YOU"

as my husbands clearly explained to me this morning

"why do I need to write anything in your card when Hallmark says it all?!"

In the 6 years I have been with my husband

I have only ever received 3 cards

and I'm a BIG sucker for cards!

In fact ALL I am expecting this year is a card

LOL I hope he doesn't screw up!

What is it about cards that makes us feel so good?

I love having an excuse to spend a good 20 minutes or so in the card isle

and don't tell me you haven't ever secretly purchased one for yourself!

or is that just me? (BLUSHING)

This post is meant to inspire you to look

at your card collection in a whole new light

especially those of use that love collecting vintage cards

but never know quite how to display and get the most enjoyment out of them

because honestly how many of us

just have them stored in boxes and drawers?

This first project is really fun and supper easy.

A great project for showers, parties, and holiday Decor

~ would be really cute in a nursery too!

To make your own garland using vintage cards you will need

Vintage Cards - Card Stock Copies preferably

Yarn, pom poms, large needle, scissors, extra card stock and tape

Simply cut out your cards, and laying right side down

tape a strip of card stock onto the back

(tape only the ends leaving the middle clear

to insert your needle and yarn)

Once you have all you cards ready simple string

your cards and pom poms

and finish by tying loops at either end

then evenly space your cards and pom poms

and your done! easy peasy!

For my Valentines Garland I used this really sweet vintage Valentines digital kit

from Daine of Saturday Finds

plus my own digital kit Rainbow Rosettes

If you're wanting to make something extra special with vintage cards

but don't have quite have what you need for your theme

Etsy and other online venues are a great source

Above are just a few of Diane's projects

using cards from her own personal collection

and because Daine is just as sweet as the artwork she creates

she is giving away a copy of her Vintage Valentines Digit Kit

plus some secret something extra special to one of our commenters!

Winner will be announced Thursday

Oh I just love working on my baby scrapbook

it will be a really sweet gift for my mommy dearest someday

One of the things I want to do is scan in the baby cards

from my own original baby book - what an extra special touch

and as I am a 80's baby there are some extra cute retro fun and colorful characters :)

If you're not a digital scrapbooker you can also use vintage cards

but you will most likely want to make copies on acid free paper and such

to ensure that your memories will last for years and years to come

This Vintage Ballerina Card is a perfect example

of how you can really use any themed card to fit your page

- This card had a lot of unwanted verbiage

but with the help of Photoshop magic

the words simply disappeared.

A simple and cute idea for paper scrapbookers

is to cover those areas with glitter or flocking

but I bet you were already thinking of that, right?

Digital Sources:

Love you Mommy

Herringbone Background: Erica Hernandez

Frame: Thrift Store Chic Picture Frames from Kitschy Digitals

Paper Hearts: Sweet Marie from yours truly (ittybittybirdy)

Vintage Cards: Saturday Finds Vintage Valentines Cards CD

Ballerina

Background: Gingham Trio from the Gnome Hut

Paper Hearts, Lace, and Frame: Sweet Marie from ittybittybirdy

Vintage Card and Trim Detail: Saturday Finds Vintage Valentines Cards CD

and those rad Valentines circles are from Karli's fab

Valentines Freebie!

Sweet!

Happy V-day to you!

P.S. Don't forget to comment

for your chance to win the very kitschy

Vintage Valentines CD from Saturday Finds!

seeing Rainbows

Chelsea Ann is seeing rainbows and sharing that colorful LOVE with us!

*new* digi paper kit. . . bright, cheery and JUST right to get you in the mood for spring!
go and get it HERE.

happy weekend and look out for our V-Day Post. . . it will be full of love, projects and *giveaways!*

K.R.F. V-Day Finds

So I was thinking it might get old saying

"Hey look at these Kitschy, Retro, Fun..."

so I'm trying out the acronyms K.R.F.

hmmmmmm, Yeah I think that maybe

this isn't such a good idea afterall

but given you all know what I'm referring to this time-

here you go ~ K.R.F. V-day flickr finds to sink your teeth into ~ ENJOY!

1. how sweet!, 2. New at the Emporium!, 3. Today's doodle,

4. Sweet Hearts Garland, 5. translation. . . freebie,

6. Turtle, 7. felt & ric rac gingerbread hearts, 8. Prom dress

You know ~ if you haven't made it to the super market yet

and you don't want to explain to your little princess

that all they had left were Power Ranger Valentine's Day cards

or you just want to show off how

{"I'm the most original gal in this town"}

unique and awesome you are

or because Danielle's free kit is so amazing and you just know

your friends will cry when you say I love you

with a sharp looking panda and shy little fox Valentine

Well if you said

"hey that's me!" to any of the following

click here to jump over to Danielle's blog The Thompson Family Life

for your free download!