Scrapbook Sketches

Even though I scrap every day (when I can!) sometimes I hit "Scrapper's Block" and need something to help jumpstart a layout. I will browse magazines (Scrapbooks Etc. is my favorite) or will look at my completed pages for inspiration.



Here is one of my sketches I created for a single page layout...





Simple and clean, there is still room for embellishments. I usually make one of the upper mats into a pocket (perfect to tuck in journaling tags or extra pictures). Look for more sketches to come! Some will be for single pages, double, 8.5x11, and 8x8 sized pages...Depending on what mood my muse is in!

BTDL designers will also be sharing some paper piecing patterns... Keep us bookmarked, and be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter for sneak peeks!

BTDL Top of the Line Design Contest

We at BTDL are excited to announce another contest for our wonderful customers. We always wonder what happens to the piecings and embellishments you buy from us on our website and thought this would be just the way to get a peek! So click on the logo to be taken to our site for all the details on the contest. We look forward to seeing your submission.

Wishblade, Cricut, Silhouette, KNK--Lets talk cutters

Cricut, Cricut expression, wishblade, silhouette, KNK, craft robo.... cutters, cutters everywhere!!! Lets talk cutters!

As a new owner of the Cricut Expression I am thrilled with it in general, but I think ever cutter has a down side. In my opinion with the Cricut Expression it is the mats. My gosh, they dont last long at all do they? I wonder if Xyron Wishblade mats are any better, or any of the other cutters? Opinions please.... I would say the Cricut is pretty easy to use, they have a quick start guide and if all you want to do is cut from their cartridges you can pretty much get going right away. I recently purchase the Sure Cuts A Lot program to use with my Cricut. This program allows you to cut any true type font in your computer, when the cricut is connected to your computer with a USB cable. It also lets you cut any SVG file. There are tons of patterns available on net in SVG format, many are free!

Tell me what kind of cutter you have and what your likes and dislikes are? I would also love to hear tips on increasing the life of your mats and blades for that matter. Tips to using SCAL, or Inkscape if you create your own SVG files. Please also post any questions, I will do my best to answer, or get the answers to them.

Pink Zutter Bind It All and BTDL

Well, it is true the Zutter Bind It Alls have turned pink. As everyone eagerly awaits the shipment of the new pink bind it alls this week, I thought it would be fun to look at some projects from some of the members of BTDL.

Anita made this wonderful travel log with her bind it all. Here is a picture of just a few of the pages.

Tina used her Bind It All to make this beautiful Easter album that goes along with a tin. Here are a few examples from her album.

Check our boutique for more great projects from BTDL at http://www.btdldesigns.com/

We would love to see what you have made with your bind it all. Email us pictures at
BTDLDesignTeam@gmail.com and we will post them here on our blog.

Zutter Pink Bind It Alls are available for sale at www.michellesscrap.com

BTDL® and New Designer Stickles

New Stickles!! Here at BTDL® we love our stickles, so we thought we would share. Isn't that what they teach you to do in first grade? But shhh... it is a secret. New Stickles are being released this month from Ranger. There will be eighteen new beautiful colors. Stickles are one of our favorite scrapbook embellishments. Melissa is particularly fond of them, rarely does she do a layout without them. Check BTDL Boutique for examples of beautiful layouts made with stickles.

TIM HOLTZ DESIGNER SERIES DISTRESS COLORS: A unique combination of variegated glitter sizes and a matte look to complement the nostalgic palette of Distress products. SUZE WEINBERG DESIGNER SERIES Glitz Colors:Intense Sparkle and Color for Extra Glittery Effects Colors: Glitz Champagne Grape Mermaid Ruby Slippers Sequins Tiara Colors:Distress Antique Linen Broken China Faded Jeans Fired Brick Frayed Burlap Milled Lavender Peeled Paint Scattered Straw Spiced Marmalade Vintage Photo Walnut Stain Worn Lipstick

Available for sale at www.michellesscrap.com

What's not to love?

With Summer CHA 2008 came some fabulous new product, and as we all know, new product equals new fun! From great new tools to darling new paper, there is something out there for just about any scrapbooker. All I know is, I need another room to store all my new favorite pretties!

Some of our favorites so far are...






Graphic 45 has several new lines of papers. This is just one of the fabulous papers from the Past Playtimes line... Paper dolls, whimsical checkerboards, tea parties, toy soldiers and choo-choo trains ... very unique! The papers are double sided, and both sides are so beautiful, the only problem will be deciding which side to use! Of course, this paper would be perfect for an acrylic album...

Pretty baby paper in versatile colors, along with darling graphics, make "Baby Powder" from imaginesce a must have. Coordinated embellies will make a baby album almost as cute as your little bundle of joy!

Halloween is right around the corner, and Cosmo Cricket's "Haunted line" is absolutely to die for! So many awesome papers in this line, all of which are double sided. Traditional orange and black, funky purple and green, and funky and whimsical graphics that are perfectly distressed... Love the coordinated journaling cards and the stickers that can be used alone or with the blackboard.

My Mind's Eye never fails to please. This seasonal line, "Be Merry", will be a must have this holiday season. Bright and crisp, this playful paper will be perfect for pictures of kids in the snow, wrapping gifts, and trimming the tree. Very cute! They also have a LAUNDRY line the ladies at BTDL are dying to try :)

Rolled Hotdogs

This recipe comes from our very own Mellisa or as you might know her thescrapbookexchange. It is a family favorite that everyone enjoys!


Rolled Hot Dogs aka... Heart Attack on a Platter:)

INGREDIENTS:
All Beef Hot Dogs
Dill Pickles (Sliced lengthwise same length as hot dog)
Velvetta Cheese - (sliced into long strips same length as hot dog)
Bacon Srips
Dijon Mustard
Tooth Picks

Ok, slice the hotdog lengthwise but not all the way through. Layer some Dijon Mustard in the slice, then layer the cheese and then the pickle. Take one piece of Bacon and secure one end with a toothpick to the hotdog, and wrap the entire dog with the bacon, securing the other end with another tooth pick. They look like this when they are assembled.



Place on a broilder pan, and broil until bacon is crisp. You will need to turn the dogs so all sides of the bacon are cooked completely. Please note that you will lose some cheese.

Here is what they look like cooked:



I DARE YOU TO TRY THIS. You think you won't like it... but you will. I have made these for many many skeptics and all end up asking me for the recipe. These are delicious and a great finger food! For a fun variation try using mini hotdogs for finger foods at parties. I gaurantee everyone will want this recipe!

If loving ribbon is wrong....

...than I don't want to be right.

It's true. I am a ribbon lover. I always labeled myself a paper kind of gal, but after a recent order of ribbon came in the mail, I am smitten! Polkadotted, stitched, embroidered, florals, twill, ricrac... So many yards of ribbon, so little time.

The ladies at BTDL were recently asked which scrapbook goodie they couldn't live without. Jan (hocki1415), our designer of the month, shares my fondness for ribbon. Polkadots are one of our favorites, and Jan can't resist pink and black! Andrea (andreatdesigns)loves buttons, and I love how she incorporates them in her altered art and to-die-for handmade cards. Jules (juliespieces)is a flower girl - simply mention the word "Prima" and watch her swoon :) Her sweet bear family pages are often blooming, and so colorful you are tempted to smell the roses!

Tonya (rainedakota) loves her ribbons and flowers too, but when asked what her obsession is? Charms. Enameled, pewter, clay, silver... she can't get enough of these delicate dangling pretties. One look at one of her signature Designer Purse Albums™ with their fabulous hang tags, and you will be charmed, I'm sure :)

Anita (scrapinams) is our resident Prima Queen. Her collection of these lovely flowers makes me envious, and the way she uses these pretties on her altered tins is flower fabulous!The princess of Primas would have to be Sheryl (scrappy4477). Her love of these blooms is rivaled only by her fondness for letters - chipboard and Doodlebug! Sheryl has an eye for fonts too, as evidenced not only by her layouts, but her fabulous digi work! Check her blog for her latest freebies!

Tina (tycaalak) loves chalk and ink - look closely at her darling paper piecings and you will be wowed by all the subtle shading and highlights. Tina just released her first CD with patterns of some of her best loved paper piecings, and it is incredible! As for Melissa (thescrapbookexchange), her accent of choice is Stickles. A little sparkle here, a little sparkle there... I think she has every color available.

Michelle (antq.freak)is all about the Bazzill. Her collection is incredible; every color you could ask for, and every shade of pink imaginable :) Her latest layout is just tooo pretty! Another Bazzill fan is Sandra(cornerhobby). How she is able to turn these pieces of cardstock into her intricate, multi-layered piecings is beyond me.... she must have magic fingers, although she says she just uses her favorite tool, her Cutterbee scissors :)

Paper is Julie's (bdule) true love. She says she wants to marry pretty paper. Of course, how many weddings can she have? There are so many pretty papers out there. And too, I think the primas would get jealous - she loves them too!

Sandy (sandyvint)loves her sewing machine, and stitches on just about every project she makes. Her little stitched shingles on her "house" explosion boxes are perfect! Of course, all of the ladies at BTDL want to raid Sandy's car - she has a habit of filling her trunk with goodies and forgetting about them. Stickles, paper, flowers, buttons, ribbon - even a sewing machine - odds are good you can find it in Sandy's car!

What is YOUR can't-scrap-without-it item? Post your comment here, and from the responses we get, I will randomly draw ONE of the posters for a PRIZE. He or she will receive FREE SHIPPING on their next order at the BTDL Boutique. Contest ends July 31, so be sure to vote in the poll, and LEAVE A COMMENT telling us YOUR favorite product!

More than burnt toast!

The girls of BTDL decided to offer up some of our yummy recipes for everyone to enjoy. Each week we will add 1 or 2 new recipes to share with our loyal readers! This weeks recipe is from Anita (scrapinams) and it is over the top YUMMY! Enjoy your meal :)

You can find the collection of recipes in the side bar, under the title "More than burnt toast"

Chicken Pomodoro

Each week one of the Designers at BTDL will be featuring a recipe.

This one is from Anita (scrapinams) enjoy!!

"Chicken Pomodoro"

**1lb chicken breast, pounded thin

**1lb roma tomatoes, cut in a medium dice

**1 large onion, minced

**6 good sized cloves of garlic (not a bulb ladies, cloves) pealed and minced

** olive oil

**1lb of spaghetti noodles, cooked and drained

1. season the chicken and grill or cook on stove until juice runs clear when pierced. Cover with foil and set aside to rest

2. heat about a 1/4 cup olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat

3. add the onions and the garlic to the pan and cook for 5-8 minutes until onions are translucent and garlic is lightly browned. if the garlic turns brown, your heat is too high. Don't panic, just turn it down :)

4. add the tomatoes to the pan, and saute for 3-4 minutes until tomatoes release their juice. You do not want to cook the tomatoes down to mush - this is a fresh dish.

5. slice chicken thinly and add to pan with another 1/4 olive oil. Toss to heat thru

6. Place spaghetti in a large serving bowl that has been pre-heated with hot water. Add the chicken mixture and toss to combine.

7. serve with freshly grated asiago and romano cheeses.

YUMMY!!!!!