November Book Worms Meet Pages Peeps Reading Group

November Book Club Selection
Wednesday November 20 6:00 pm

Here is a summary of the book chosen for November:
Imaginary friend Budo narrates this heartwarming story of love, loyalty, and the power of the imagination—the perfect read for anyone who has ever had a friend . . . real or otherwise

Budo is lucky as imaginary friends go. He's been alive for more than five years, which is positively ancient in the world of imaginary friends. But Budo feels his age, and thinks constantly of the day when eight-year-old Max Delaney will stop believing in him. When that happens, Budo will disappear.

Max is different from other children. Some people say that he has Asperger’s Syndrome, but most just say he’s “on the spectrum.” None of this matters to Budo, who loves Max and is charged with protecting him from the class bully, from awkward situations in the cafeteria, and even in the bathroom stalls. But he can’t protect Max from Mrs. Patterson, the woman who works with Max in the Learning Center and who believes that she alone is qualified to care for this young boy.

When Mrs. Patterson does the unthinkable and kidnaps Max, it is up to Budo and a team of imaginary friends to save him—and Budo must ultimately decide which is more important: Max’s happiness or Budo's very existence.   Narrated by Budo, a character with a unique ability to have a foot in many worlds—imaginary, real, child, and adult— Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend touches on the truths of life, love, and friendship as it races to a heartwarming . . . and heartbreaking conclusion.

We had fun last night discussing books, working on projects, eating pizza and relaxing.  Hope you will plan to join us in November!  ($10)

Exclusive FREE Make-n-Take from Taylored Expressions at Holiday Cheer!

 

Exclusive FREE Make-n-Take card designed for Pages From the Heart by Taylor Van Bruggen  of Taylored Expressions!  Spend a few minutes at Holiday Cheer making this beautiful holiday card and then browse through Taylor’s new catalog.  Place your order through Pages and save on shipping!  For each $20 order, you’ll get one raffle ticket to WIN the original card signed by Taylor!  Holiday Cheer: November 16 and 17.

 

Holiday Cheer Sneak Peek #1

Look what Kathy has created for a Holiday Cheer Make-n-Take!  These cute gift bags are made with new dies from Taylored Expressions-available to order at Pages.  Holiday Cheer is all day Saturday November 16 and Sunday November 17.

2013 Holiday Cheer

2013 Holiday Cheer
Saturday November 16 & Sunday November 17

We’re planning some fabulous surprises for this year’s Holiday Cheer event at Pages From the Heart!  Two days filled with holiday Make-n-Takes, demonstrations, refreshments, raffle prizes, and new products from your favorite paper companies like Authentique, DoodleBug, Graphic 45 and WRMK!   Watch for sneak peeks on Facebook and here at the Pages From the Heart blog.

September Book Club Selection

We had a great book club meeting in August.  Lively discussion, delicious pizza and first looks at the newly unpacked Graphic45 Mother Goose and Twelve Days of Christmas collections! 

Here is the book selection for September.  We will meet  on Wednesday September 25 at 6pm.  Bring your own project to work on and plan to have a great evening!  ($10).

Miss Peggy, Dr. Maggie, and Miss Li’l Bit, friends and confidantes for nearly a lifetime, find it funny and bewildering that they have become icons in Charles Valley, Georgia. Little does the rest of the town know that beneath the irreproachable façades of its three doyennes lies an explosive decades-old secret that is about to be revealed.

Thirty-odd years ago the three Miss Margarets did something extraordinary, clandestine, and very illegal. Although they are haunted by the night that changed their lives, they believe that their crime was simply a matter of righting an egregious wrong. But when a stranger’s arrival in town and a tragic death open the floodgate of memory, their loyalty, friendship, and honor are tested in ways they could never have imagined—particularly when they have to contend with Laurel Selene, a young woman who has spent her life nursing an alcoholic mother and a huge grudge. Now Laurel is on the verge of discovering what happened the night the three Miss Margarets swore their oath of secrecy. Once she knows, will she reveal the truth about the three women she was raised to despise? Or will she face her own troubled history and put the dark legacy they all share behind them?

August 28 Book Club Selection

 

Award-winning, New York Times best selling author Ann Patchett returns with a provocative and assured novel of morality and miracles, science and sacrifice set in the Amazon rainforest. Infusing the narrative with the same ingenuity and emotional urgency that pervaded her acclaimed previous novels Bel Canto, Taft, Run, The Magician’s Assistant, and The Patron Saint of Liars, Patchett delivers an enthrallingly innovative tale of aspiration, exploration, and attachment in State of Wonder—a gripping adventure story and a profound look at the difficult choices we make in the name of discovery and love.

 

We had a great time last week discussing Gone Girl and hope you will plan to join us on August 28 at 6:00pm for our next meeting.  Bring your project to work on while we eat and discuss the book! $10.

 

June Book Club Selection - Nowhere but Home

Maybe you've been meaning to join the Pages Peeps and Bookworms Book Club - now would be a great time to do so. We think we've picked a fun book for June.

Bestselling author Liza Palmer - and local Pasadena resident - carries readers to North Star, Texas, in the amusing and poignant Nowhere But Home.

After Queenie Wake is dismissed from her restaurant job, she returns to North Star to cook meals for death row inmates. Hopeful that the bad memories of her late mother and promiscuous sister (now the mother of the captain of the high school football team) have been forgotten by the locals, Queenie discovers that some people can’t be forgotten—heartbreaker Everett Coburn—her old high-school sweetheart. When secrets from the past emerge, will Queenie be able to stick by her family or will she leave home again?

Liz Palmer’s Nowhere But Home is a funny and touching story of food, football, and fooling around.

Wednesday June 26 from 6pm - 8pm. Bring a project you're working on and enjoy an evening with lively discussion and a delicious light dinner. $10

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Doodlebug Take Note Projects

Hello Pages Peeps! This is Michelle here today. If you went to the National Scrapbook Day crop this past weekend, it was such a fun time to scrap and catch up with other peeps. If you missed it, the next crop will on May 25th from10AM - 7PM for Peeps Day. I hope to see some of you there!

The Collection
I recently worked with Doodlebug's Take Note collection, which is full of bright rainbow colors and office themed images. It is a very versatile collection which can be used for any type of photos. It is perfect for school photos or any happy occasion.

The Projects
I made three projects with Take Note - a clothespin wreath, a matchbook with refrigerator magnets and a layout.

Project#1: Clothespin Wreath
I saw some wreaths on Pinterest and wanted to make my own. The rainbow colors in the collection inspired me to make a rainbow wreath.

I bought a wire wreath form from a craft store and clothespins from Walmart. I spray painted them white.

I cut strips of paper to the size of the clothespins. 

I adhered them to the top of the clothespins with Mod Podge. I clipped the pins onto the wreath form in a ROYGBIV pattern. 

I decorated the middle with a banner that reads, "My Favorite Guest" as I will be hanging this on my guest bedroom door.

This isn't a difficult project, but it is time consuming, but the end result is worth it. 

Project#2: Refrigerator Magnet Matchbook
I had some clothespins leftover after my wreath and thought they would make cute refrigerator magnets. I added a Pencil Doodle-Pop (cardstock sticker) to the top of the clothespin and a piece of adhesive magnetic tape to the back of the clothespin. This will stick to the refrigerator and can hold papers and children's artwork.

I also thought it would look cute in a matchbook. I used a matchbook cut file from Silhouette to get the shape on white cardstock. I then decorated the cover. This would make a great gift or party favor and is much faster to make than the wreath. 

Project#3 Single Paged Layout: Me & You
When I saw this collection, the colors reminded me a heart sculpture that I saw in New Orleans. I added a digital stamp of an angel which I colored in with Copics. To incorporate it into the layout, I added some punched hearts so it would look like the angel was scattering hearts onto the photo. For more information on this layout, please see this post on my blog.

This was such a bright and fun collection to work with and was so easy to use on any project. Stop by Pages to see these projects in person, or to purchase this collection. There are so many new collections in stock at Pages right now. 

Thanks so much for stoppin' by!

New Doodlebug

Just putting Doodlebug's Fruit Stand papers and embellishments on the shelves! Doodlebug always brightens my day!!

Book Worms Meet Pages Peeps - May 1

The next meeting of the BookWorms Meet Pages Peeps book club will be Wednesday May 1 at 6pm.  The book for discussion is "Unbroken" described below.  Bring a project to work on and enjoy a fun evening!  $10 includes dinner.  The next meeting will be Wednesday May 29 and we will be picking the book selection at the May 1 meeting....so bring your suggestions!


Unbroken: A WWII Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption
Laura Hillenbrand

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.

The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he’d been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile. But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

In her long-awaited new book, Laura Hillenbrand writes with the same rich and vivid narrative voice she displayed in Seabiscuit. Telling an unforgettable story of a man’s journey into extremity, Unbroken is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.

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We R Memory's Simply Spring Collection

Hi Pages Peeps, this is Michelle back again this week with another set of projects to share with you.

The Collection

I worked with We R Memory Keeper's Simply Spring collection which features spring and Easter themed designs in subtle, pastel colors. This line is simply gorgeous, making is easy to create your own lovely projects. 

Project #1: A Banner Layout

This photo is actually from Thanksgiving but I thought the pastel background matched the pastel colors of this collection so I used a spring collection for a fall photo. If you like the colors, use the collection even if it isn't a corresponding theme. 

I used a PagesMaps sketch for the layout design with some variations. For more information about this layout, please see this post. This turned out to be quite a popular layout as it has won two online challenges that I entered. 

Project #2: Altered Easter Basket

With Easter coming up, I thought some people might want to make their own Easter baskets to give out. I started with a naked wood one that is from a craft store. I painted the wooden base with some white craft paint. 

Then I traced each side onto patterned paper, cut it out, and adhered it to the wood with Mod Podge. All four sides were covered using only one sheet of 12 x 12" paper. The basket is a reasonable size as it held the entire bag of large plastic eggs I had purchased. 

For a central decoration, I used a journaling die cut as the starting off point and layered it with some dimensional stickers, alphabet stickers and Stickles.

A child would love receiving a handmade basket, especially with all the goodies inside. 

Project #3: An Eggstraordinary Card

I wanted to make an Easter card featuring some Easter eggs, but instead of popping them up, I wanted them recessed into the card. 

I ended up popping up the front panel and embedding the Easter eggs behind the panel. 

I was going to cut out the Easter egg shapes with my Silhouette, but decided it might be faster just to do it the old fashioned way. I used the leftover egg shape from the sticker sheet as a tracing template and traced the eggs on my front panel. I then used an X-Acto knife to cut out the eggs. This made the egg windows from which the egg stickers could be seen. I used some Authentique alphabet stickers for my sentiment as they are the perfect size for cards.

I really loved working with this collection. To purchase the collection or see these projects in person, please hop on by Pages from the Heart! There are a lot of fun events and classes scheduled.

Bo Bunny Detour Collection

Hi Pages Peeps! It's Michelle here today with three projects to share with you.

The Collection
I worked with Bo Bunny's Detour collection which features travel themed designs in dark, masculine colors. More specifically, I wanted to utilize the little 6 x 6" paper pad on projects outside of a card.

Project #1: Sunburst Layout
I wanted to create a sunburst background, but the 6 x 6" size is too small to cover the entire width of a 12" cardstock. What I did was cut out a smaller piece of cardstock around 6 x 10," created the sunburst on the smaller cardstock and stitched it onto the larger background piece.

 Here is a mini tutorial on creating your own sunburst or sunrise background.

1. On a piece of scratch paper the size of your sunburst, draw out your rays. Number the sections for easier identification later. 
2. Cut along the rays to make some templates. 
3. Place your patterned paper over a piece of the ray and cut according to the template. 
4. Arrange your newly cut pieces and adhere. Stitch along the seams for a quilted look. 

This is a great way to use up all your loose scraps of papers. 

Project #2: You're a Rockstar
Even though this is a travel collection, I wanted to make something non-travel related. I wanted to use it on an easy gift item so I paired it with a can of Rockstar Energy Drink. The colors of the can matched perfectly with the colors of the Detour collection.

I used a cloth wrapped floral stem, which is found in the floral section of a craft store, as the starting off point. I attached a sign which reads, "I think you're a ..." which is completed by the name of the drink. To continue the rockstar theme, I made some star shaped flowers and attached it to the sign. The floral stem is a green color and didn't match, so to tone it down, I wrapped some black washi tape around the stem. 

I adhered the stem to a belly band that I wrapped around the drink. This would make a fun gift to give to a guy. 

Project #3: Mini-Album
For my last project, I made a travel mini-album. The cover is a piece of plain chipboard that I folded and added patterned papers and embellishments onto. I hole punched it and used two book rings to secure the inside pages.

The best part of the album is that the inside pages are made from the 6 x 6" sheets. Make a 2" fold along one edge, take two folded pieces and stitch on three sides. This will give you a pocket along the 2" fold to store tags, photos, memorabilia. 

The bonus is that there is an extra space between the pages (back to back). That is where I placed my journaling with little pull tabs. For more info., please see this post from Practical Scrapper's blog. 

Here is a view of all the pages inside. 

This is a great way to use up those 6 x 6" pads. If you don't have that, then just cut up a 12 x 12" paper and you'll have four pages to work with. I ended up placing all the memorabilia I brought back from my trip (brochures, photos, business cards, bookmarks, pins) inside the album. Otherwise, it would just be gathering dust in a forgotten drawer. 

All the projects are on display at Pages from the Heart, so you can see it in person when you come on by!

We have a busy week coming up.  This Wednesday, March 13th, at 6:30pm, Richard from Fun Stampers Journey, will be teaching his Fabulous 4 Card Class.  His classes are filled with techniques that you can use on other projects and his stamps will be available for purchase, so you can re-create to your heart's content! All this for only $30.  WooHoo!

Then on Thursday, March 14th, at 6:30pm,  Debbie will be teaching her Spring Butterfly Banner Class.  Be-jeweled butterflies, textured layered flowers, lacy doilies and flourishes adorn this five panel banner hung from pink tulle.  Made out of the Soleil Collection from Basic Grey, this collection is both serene and invigorating with its colors of soft lavender, juicy peach, tangerine, blueberry juice and watermelon.  The class fee is $23...definitely cheaper than therapy, and so much more fun!!

Stop by Pages this Saturday between 10am and noon and make this mini-basket filled with shredded paper grass and tied up with a rolled flower and flourish tag.  Perfect for your Easter dinner table, a quick party favor, or a little thank-you gift for a co-worker.  Your choice of four assorted patterns from the Walnut Grove collection by Pebbles.  $5.

Saturday, March 2nd, Make N Take.

Stop by Pages between 10am and noon this Saturday!  You'll find lots of occasions to give this decorated candy tube..... birthday party or bridal shower favors, Easter baskets, or just "thinking of you".   You'll decorate a medium candy tube with a lace border band and then add a three layer flower accented with leaves, a button center, twine, pennant and  "you make me smile" sentiment.  Paper is from the Cotton Tail collection by We R Memory Keepers.  $3

We still have room tomorrow night, February 26th, in Debbie's Noteworthy Card Class.  You'll make five cards using Bo Bunny's Welcome Home collection.  Grosgrain ribbon, banners, doilies, paper bows and paper roses are combined with these exquisitely patterned papers in shades of Lime, Robin's Egg, Cream, Brown, and Picket Fence White.  You'll customize your cards by selecting what sentiments to add - birthday, thinking of you or thank you.  Class begins at 6:30pm.   $23

We still have openings for an awesome card class next Tuesday, February 26th at 6:30pm.

Bo Bunny "Noteworthy Card Class"

You'll make five cards using Bo Bunny's Welcome Home collection.  Grosgrain ribbon, banners, doilies, paper bows and paper roses are combined with these exquisitely patterned papers in shades of Lime, Robin's Egg, Cream, Brown, and Picket Fence White.  You'll customize your cards by selecting what sentiments to add - birthday, thinking of you or thank you.  $23

  

Don't forget tomorrow's Make N Take from 10am - 12pm.  With the Mardi Gras Crop going on at the same time Debbie will be working from one table, so you may have to wait a little, but that will give you a chance to shop and visit!  It's $5 and supplies are limited.

This Saturday's Make N Take - 10am - 12pm 

Jean Pocket Mini Album with Five Tags w/Debbie

Papers from the "Genuine" and "Original" collections by Authentique combine beautifully in this spiral bound mini album made from office supply coin envelopes and shipping tags.  Perfect to capture the memories from a special event or fill with an assortment of gift cards for a very welcome gift!  Please bring scissors and adhesive.  Space (and kits) will be limited on Saturday due to the Mardi Gras Crop, so please come early. ($5)

Stop by Pages on Saturday February 16 between 10am and noon and make this little card holder - perfect to sit on your desk or fill with a few of your own handcrafted cards and gift to a friend!  Four patterns to choose from - Basic Grey "Lemonade" (shown), Basic Grey "Lucille", Fancy Pants "It's the Little Things", and Bo Bunny "Weekend Market". $5.  

Happy Valentines Day, Peeps. Did you make a Valentine card for your special someone?

February 2 Make-n-Take

Stop by Pages between 10am and noon on Saturday February 2 and make this tiny 12 page mini journal. Perfect to slip into your purse and record books to read, movies to watch, ideas for scrapbook pages.....things too important for a post-it note! Your choice of Graphic 45 Bohemian Floral (as shown) or Basic Grey Serenade. $5.

Join us for the February 28 Pages' Peeps Book Club

We had a great book club meeting last night discussing "Fall of Giants" by Ken Follett, knitting, stamping, assembling a diaper cake, tying lots of yellow ribbon, enjoying pizza, and having a lively conversation about lots of topics.   All that was missing was YOU!

The next meeting is Thursday February 28 at 6pm to discuss "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls.  ($10)

Jan. 26th, Saturday Make N Take

Stop by Pages this Saturday between 10am and noon to learn how to make this adorable purse by folding a single sheet of cardstock - no cutting!  Then fill it with candy or a small gift and you'll have the perfect little gift for someone special.  Choose from several patterned paper options.  $5 includes folding pattern.