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 the CEO! Creative Eternal Optimist! Blog 
Tuesday, November 15 2011

A bonus this month with the Designer Crafts Connection hopping twice! Today's hop features the Flip-Pal™ Mobile Scanner! I am fortunate to have had the company send one to me to use. Before it arrived I did some research and read reviews, all very positive. The website features great videos and instructions. As soon as I opened the box I knew this was going to become a necessity in my studio! Already loaded with a memory card and batteries, I simply flipped on the switch and was ready to scan immediately (within a few seconds to be totally accurate.)

Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner presents the "Scan & Share" Blog Hop Challenge

 Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner has partnered with the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop to offer the "Scan & Share" Blog Hop Challenge!

 

This challenge is two fold?first for participating "Scan & Share" Blog Hop designers to create personalized gifts and projects in a wide array of different crafting categories while using the Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner and second, having blog hop followers join in and share their creative ideas.

 
To submit your "Scan & Share" ideas, click here. The blog hop follower and participating "Scan & Share" Blog Hop designer who creates the most creative and productive ideas using a Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner will each win a Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner (Please visit their facebook page and "like" them too!)

Now on to my project, since I am primarily a sewing designer and love to sew I wanted to use the Flip-Pal™ Mobile Scanner in an apron for my daughter the pastry chef. I have a cookbook of my Mom's like a lot of us do, the one where she handwrote in recipes, pasted in ones from friends. The pages are worn, many covered with spots of dried batter and the book now has to be handled carefully. With the Flip-Pal™ Mobile Scanner I could gently open the book and hold it over the page scanning in whatever recipes I wanted. The Friendship Muffin recipe is one I remember her having a container of this mysterious batter which was portioned off to friends and supplied us what seemed like forever with muffins! Here are some of the recipes included in this retro cute apron along with an image from the Vintage Workshop Kitchen 11 collection.

The details I added to this apron I made using the Flip-Pal™ Mobile Scanner to personalize and make it special could be applied to a purchased apron. Printed out on Avery Printable Cotton it can simply be ironed on, no sewing required! Just think of all the special thoughtful gifts to be made! Hop along with the DCC button to the right to be inspired with more projects and ideas just in time for the holidays!

I also wanted to create a fun detail with adding wooden spoon appliques. I took out my favorite wooden spoon, picked up the Flip-Pal™ Mobile Scanner, took off the cover and placed it over the wooden spoon. It required two scans, it is a big spoon. :) The scanner has a Stitch feature which "stitches" scans together, just make sure to have adequate overlap. Below is my scanning of the spoon, "stitching" them together, sizing and printing out on Avery Printable Cotton. 

I printed out the recipes onto one piece of printable cotton after scanning them.

I cut them apart, ironed onto the fabric border and stitched in place and yes there is the Friendship Muffin recipe!

(When using the scanner please be aware of copyright issues, scanning for your personal use differs from scanning work that is not yours to be combined and sold in items.)
Here is to creating with inspiration, integrity & great products!
                                                                                          
Disclaimer
This website and blog belonging to Debra Quartermain Design are written and edited
by myself, Debra Quartermain. I give my honest personal opinion and review of all the
products that are submitted to me. I reserve the right not to review or use products
unless I feel I can give a fair assessment.

I am not paid to review products. However, I do receive products free of charge to
try out. I will and do accept and keep free products and other forms of compensation
from companies.

Importantly this blog and website abides by word of mouth marketing standards. I
believe in honesty in both opinion and responsibility to my readers and the companies
 I deal with. I will only support and endorse products and services I believe in and based
 on my personal and professional experiences. I cannot verify anyone else's experience
with a product and any claims or further information should be obtained from the manufacturer.

Posted by: Debra Quartermain AT 12:03 am   |  Permalink   |  5 Comments  |  Email
Monday, November 14 2011

Happy Monday! It also happens to be my birthday, I have had quite a few but am happy to be having another one, celebrating with my daughter at lunch and later out for a special evening!

Tomorrow the Designer Crafts Connection hops again with projects featuring the exciting Flip-Pal TM Mobile Scanner! My design is just about complete so check back tomorrow to see how I used the scanner. It is going to be used lots in my studio from now on, the rave reviews are right on! I was fortunate enough to receive one from the company to use in creating my project.

This week I am teaching a papercrafting class and a workshop for kids plus working on several projects. The kids want to make lions as they are big Lion King fans so I am designing a couple of fuzzy felines! Happy creating! Debra

Posted by: Debra Quartermain! AT 01:52 am   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
Thursday, November 10 2011

In the latest issue of Crafts 'n Things I designed a cute Santa for Dow using my favorite technique of needle felting wool to STYROFOAM Brand Foam. He is coming up from the chimney made of Make it Fun TM Project Bricks. They are really fun to work with to make realistic walls. The small rectangular bricks cut easily and can be painted.


(photo courtesy of Crafts n' Things)

The bricks are stacked alternating the joints just as in a real wall although these 'bricks' are much easier to cut! Full instructions to mkae this cute Santa are in the issue. Happy creating!

Posted by: Debra Quartermain AT 12:35 am   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
Monday, November 07 2011
November is a busy month for the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop! We hop the first Monday of every month but this month we have TWO hop dates, today with ideas for Fall/Thanksgiving Decorating and on the 15th with a very cool Flip Pal Mobile Scanner Hop! Also we have even more exciting give aways with the Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop involving many of our DCC members. Details below.
 
Here in Canada we have already celebrated Thanksgiving but I wanted to share some easy decorating ideas for this special holiday. Many of us are both short on time and space when it comes to decorating for a holiday or event. For my mantle this year I used a lovely illustrated book opened to pages with elf and fairies carrying pumpkins and gourds. Choose a child's storybook, artwork or vintage cards, add some silk leaves and pumpkins or gourds. I have a special figure which reminds me of my daughter Kate dressing up for Halloween. I add silk leaves here and there surrounding candle sticks, books for a simple touch of fall festivity. I sprinkle them down the center of the table.



Visit our NEW: Designer Craft Connections Facebook Page for details on our November 7th and 15th great give aways!
Be part of the in crowd. LIKE our NEW Designer Craft Connections Page on Facebook so you will learn about our challenges, giveaways, and announcements. Make sure to share our Designer Craft Connections Page with your Facebook friends so they can join in the fun.  
 
Happy creating! Debra
 
 
Posted by: Debra Quartermain AT 12:10 am   |  Permalink   |  3 Comments  |  Email
Friday, November 04 2011

I am very pleased to be exhibiting at the 37th Annual Christmas Art & Craft Fair, Capital Exhibit Center, Fredericton, NB. It is right around the corner from where I live so I get to walk back and forth from the show whiich I enjoy, home in five minutes!

I am introducing a new line of pillows I have been working on Pillow Talk. 'Express yourself in every room!' Here is what my couch looked like this week, kind of an explosion of pillows. If you are in the area it is a beautiful show to attend.

My chair I recovered gets the gift of my very first pillow I designed, I changed the construction details after this first one. It is now almost 2:30 am! Show all day I am off to bed! Keep creating! Debra

Posted by: Debra Quartermain AT 12:14 am   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
Wednesday, November 02 2011

I have been designing holiday and home decor items. I love to sew! In the class I taught this week we made holiday ornaments, a whimsical elf in a stocking. I am also preparing for a big event this weekend and so this explains my brief posting at 4am! Are you into holiday creating yet? Follow the JOY, Debra

Posted by: Debra Quartermain AT 01:29 am   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
Monday, October 31 2011

Happy Boo Day! To decorated spaces and haunted places, to dressing up and make believe, cute wee witches and little ghosts may you have a fun fillled delicious  treat of a day! Debra

Posted by: Debra Quartermain, CEO! AT 12:42 am   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
Friday, October 28 2011

It is Fowl Friday! A little late but we are here Fran & Freda! Freda had a late night, not saying but caught her surfing "Hatch.com" again! Could be trouble ahead as she also has a bottle of red wine hidden away in her corner of the nest!

Well Debra is a busy gal these days getting ready for all kinds of events. We now have downsized as the girls left the nest last year. (Happy Birthday to Amanda!) Soooo a five room apartment as nice and spacious as it may be is not the same as a two story house with an oversize garage! Storage is an issue, we know, our nest is crammed into a corner under a chair! Debra is now storing things everywhere kind of like a large um tall demented squirrel!

Laundry is done once a week so the rest of the week it becomes another possiblity for a storage area. This is how our washer looks six days of the week, can we say "stuffed"! We are hosting our own version of "Storage Wars". Follow the Fowl, Fran & Freda!

Posted by: Debra Quartermain, CEO! AT 12:11 pm   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
Wednesday, October 26 2011

It is the season for spooktacular creations! STYROFOAM brand foam lends itself to all kinds of delightfully scary projects, quick and easy to make. This group of whimsical characters by Plaid Crafts are ideal for decking the ghoulish halls! A ball and a cone shape, so many combinations!


(photo courtesy of Plaid Crafts)

A new magazine has just been released. I haven't seen it yet but the snippets I have seen are gorgeous projects combining sewing and crafting, two of my top favorites! Look for inspiration in Stitch Craft Create. The creative life is an inspired one! Be inspired today and follow the JOY of Creativity! Debra

Posted by: Debra Quartermain, CEO! AT 09:43 am   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
Monday, October 24 2011
It was a whirlwind weekend filled with creativity. Creativity is defined as
the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination: (Dictionary.com)
 
 From the Roller Derby Fashion Parade at my daughter's game, my other daughter's delightful and delicious cupcakes and the kids crafty camp afternoon creativity was overflowing. Fishnets to tutus and every combination of animal print possible the Roller Derby gals and many fans were rocking some wild style! I "tricked out" a Capitol City Roller's T with glitter, gems and a new off the shoulder neckline and a "Derby Mom" logo on the back.
 
My kitchen hosted a full day of yummy and fragrant aromas as "The Enchanted Cupcake by Kate" baked up delicious speciality cupcakes, Chocolate Bliss, Vanilla Dream and Lemon Locks. The delicate frosting looked like roses as Kate piped a mix of two colors together.
 
 
Sunday afternoon was more t shirt and costume fun with my kid's crafty camp. They are delightful and there was paint and glitter everywhere. I showed them how to stamp, stencil and screen print with fabric paints. The screen printing was their favorite. Using a piece of sheer curtain fabric under plastic or adhesive stencils securely taped down worked really well. A line of paint was added across top of stencil and pulled across stencil with a credit card. This was their favorite technique. Their enthusiasm and confidence in their design approach is wonderful. I am always re-inspired after a day with the kids.
 
Now a new week begins and more crafty goodness is coming up. Fresh Vintage Blog Hop with more new dies by Eileen Hull for Sizzix on Tuesday and Thursday. Thursday I have another creative class, sewing up some whimsical holiday ornaments. I have the best students, class is always fun and full of wonderful designs. The more my students create the more ideas flow for something else. Last week they created some pretty holiday cards, the tree themed ones very festive with a whimsical touch!
 
 
 What I have learned is creativity is like a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it becomes. Slumps, blocks happen but just diving in with something simple like a few markers and a journal, just playing for awhile will be very beneficial to mind, body and spirit. How do you handle a creative slump, just leave a comment with some of your ideas for kick starting creativity. Debra, Inspiring the JOY of Creativity!
Posted by: Debra Quartermain, CEO! AT 12:40 am   |  Permalink   |  1 Comment  |  Email

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Debra Quartermain Design

 Magical Mimi to Grandlittles, I love to create, decorate & celebrate. Sharing  joy and inspiration from our 200 year old home, Quartermain House B&B on the east coast of Canada.

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