You're Invited....

Come and join me as we celebrate and crop the day away for National Scrapbook Day!!! On May 19, 2012, we will be cropping for 12 hours straight...here's what you will get:
3-4 feet of cropping space
12 HOURS of uninterrupted cropping TIME
breakfast treats
Coffee, tea, water & ice tea throughout the day
a buffet lunch
a ticket towards our fabulous drawing
shopping with fun vendors
and....the opportunity to take a class with Tanisha Leary Long! More details about the class to follow shortly!
Tickets are $50
The event will be held in Trumbull, CT...easy access, safe parking and great lighting! Address will also be announced next week.

The theme of the crop is top secret....but I promise you after this crop, YOU won't be able to keep your mouth shut about Diva Scrapbookers of CT!!!!

For easy registration, you can call me @ (203) 997-8818 or email me for paypal/mailing.

Spring is in the Air!

I know..I know...it has been some time since I blogged. With the loss of my mother in January, finding inspiration has been tough. My scrapping sisters from all over have given me a tremendous amount of support and it is very much appreciated. I know so many people who have been there and know that I am not alone...and for this I am grateful.

So, tonight I will head back up to my scrappin' attic and look at some projects (that need finishing!) and some new inspiration in unwrapping some new beautiful products....

Spring is here and although we had beautiful weather last week, this week is a little chilly, but it is still Spring and a feeling of renewal is on the horizon.

More blogs and pictures of projects to come....Promise!

There's a Chill in the Air....

It is my absolute FAVORITE time of year...fall - love everything about this season...from the clothes, to the crisp smell in the air, to spending time with family & friends, comfort food, the rustle of the leaves and, of course, Halloween! I've always said that Halloween is like a national holiday at my house. We've been decorating our home, inside and out for the last couple of weeks and it looks amazing. One theme we have followed through during this year is trying NEW things and I've been stepping out of my creative box and trying new techniques, new lines and working with different mediums. I've always been a scrapbooker and not much of a stamper or cardmaker, so I decided to try my hand at it. Well, at both. And what favorite inspiration - making Halloween cards to send to our friends & family!

I started off in my safe little creative box and just did a complete copy of a card that was purchased from a Close to My Heart Kit - (Image 1) This was basically to get my feet wet, but I was still a little unsure of myself. My husband came in and reassured me that yes, I could create my own card designs and this is what I came up with (Images 2 through 5).

I purchased the stamp kit from CTMH but basically everything else used was from items that I already had in my scrapbook room..everything from metal brads, .a mixture of stamping techniques on the paper, to distressing edges, stickling, glossy glaze, glitter, a border kit, and layering of paper..I also distressed some of the paper edges in gray, rather than using black, and I have to say, I love the way they came out and hope that you do to!

Sometimes we get stuck in that creative rut, and you have to step out of your comfort zone to discover the new stuff that lies within and is just dying to come out! And, there is always something new to try - a new technique or a new product. Combine that with your imagination, some items that you already have laying around and let your creative juices flow....whatever your inspiration may be.  Enjoy this season and take in everything it has to offer - the smells, the colors, the crisp air...Happy Fall...

xoxo
Barbara

Hmmm...Scrapbook shopping addiction??? Me??? Never!!!

Oops I did it again...I went to a crop, opened up my wallet & shopped! Yes maam, I did....and what did I buy...well, it started with me forgetting my paper flowers that I just had to have for my layouts that I was working on (confirmation and communion of my nieces and nephews)...so I definitely NEEDED those....and then I went over to my new friend Helen Onulak's Close to My Heart table(http://www.hookedonstamping.com/) and what didn't I buy? Small flip flaps, large flip flaps, a Halloween kit that was such a BARGAIN, glossy glaze, etc., etc., etc....and if that wasn't enough I then went over to my girl Mary's  (http://www.paperpiecingbydesign.com/) Paper Piecings by Design) and browsed her oh so adorable booth and oh my, Mary now has full page size overlays with custom wording...and who doesn't need those..ahhh.....the life of a diva scrapbooker....now, where do I hide this stuff from hubby????

Dear Fall, I'm so happy to see you!

Wow! Fall has arrived! I honestly can say that I love it - and everything that goes with it - the burning logs in the fire, the crisp morning air, pumpkins and mums on my front porch, boots & sweaters and cozy warm meals. Everything about the season is an inspiration to me, from the colors, the smells, Halloween and rides in the country. Living in Connecticut is such a blessing to me because I experience all of the different seasons in so many different ways and each brings new inspiration to bring it on in a scrappy way.

I am going to dig out some fall pictures that I took last season (yes, I'm behind!) and put together some layouts for everyone to see...in the meantime..what are YOU working on? What's your inspiration this season?

Welcome to Pink Slipper Designs!

Welcome to Pink Slipper Designs! My name is Barbara Balcastro and I love, love, love scrapbooking and papercrafts! I plan scrapbooking all day/overnight events in Connecticut, so if you are in the tri-state area and love to scrap, welcome!

I will be posting pictures of my page layouts, chipboard albums and hand crafted die cuts. I love anything sparkly and blingy, so you'll be seeing a lot of that!