July 3, 2010

Warm Summer Greetings...

Hello,

I know it’s been a while since I posted last. I discovered how difficult it is to be creative when under an enormous amount of stress. I tried to analyze where the stress all came from. Could it be the two job changes in the past year? Or was it having my baby graduate from high school and move away to college? Maybe I was merely experiencing the much dreaded mid life crisis everyone speaks about. I do know having to deal with my Dad and siblings in regards to my mother’s estate is what pushed me over the edge. Taking on the responsibilities of my mother’s estate as co-executor and trustee wasn’t exactly an easy task. In an effort to deal with life’s stresses I took a leave of absence from my scrapbooking. I resigned from being a part of Helmar’s design team, something I loved dearly. A side note, thank you to Tracy at Helmar Adhesives for her love and support. She even sent me a going away gift full of Helmar adhesives. I’ll put them to good use soon! This time I spent away from scrapbooking was spend doing something positive. I devoted my time and energy to gardening!

Will I return to scrapbooking? Of course, I find crafting as a form of therapy. I found gardening to provide a different kind of healing. Spending time outdoors I discovered all kinds of wildlife. Deer graze and sleep in my back yard. Mice live in my compost bin. A snake lives under my deck. Humming birds feed on the flowers. Toads live in my garden and I hear the owls hoot in the trees as I walk around in the garden. I have overcome some of my fear of bees, I no longer panic when I hear them buzz by my head. I love spending time outdoors listening to the trees rustle when the wind blows. I love the feel of the sun on my skin; it reminds me of my youth growing up in Texas. It is so relaxing to watch the sun set. If I stay outside long enough, the deck lights come on. I experience the ambiance of country life to the fullest.

With all that said, I would like to share some photos of the fruits of my labor.












March 28, 2010

Helmar USA Design Team Call 2010

Hey scrapbooking friends, check this out....Helmar USA Design Team Call 2010.



Helmar USA Design Team Call 2010

Helmar USA, Inc, distributes Helmar Adhesives & Art Mediums in the United States. Have you had dreams at night that adhesives would land on your doorstep? Do you want to be a part of one of the most creative teams and work with products from the most amazing manufacturers? Well, that dream can come true…….Helmar USA, Inc. wants YOU to become a member of our USA Design Team!

We are looking for enthusiastic, dedicated scrappers and paper crafters to serve a six-month term beginning June 1, 2010 (Continuation of the term will be determined by both parties at the end of six months.)

As a Design Team member, you will receive:
*Advance releases of products!
Adhesives!
*Endorsement fees for published layouts and projects!
*Payment for projects used for trade shows!
The latest & greatest products from our Preferred Vendors!

Design Team members are required to:
· Dedication to a minimum of (2) blog posts per month. More are LOVELY!
· Dedication to your personal blogs which means keeping them fresh and mentioning Helmar products (we will do our best to promote you personally as well which is a win-win for everyone). Keeping them fresh and new is important.
· Involvement with social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Facebook at minimum is required. This is the future for the industry and plays an even bigger part now than publications.
· Dedication to our preferred vendors. They treat us great! We work very hard to secure those relationships.
· Optional...Teaching experience. We are expanding our marketing efforts and the best way to do this is by demonstration and teaching.
· Another great plus is video tutorials.....and step-by-step projects or kits featuring Helmar products.
· Members are asked to submit their monthly Helmar projects for possible publication in crafting magazines and idea books.
· Members will also complete special projects as requested by Helmar to be used for trade shows, catalogs, promotional items, and various other venues.

Interested applicants should send the following in a single email:
1. Name, address, daytime & evening phone numbers, and email address (US and Canadian applicants only, please)
2. Short biography
3. Links to any on-line galleries and/or blog
4. List of other design teams in which you are currently or were previously a member
5. A brief paragraph stating why you would like to be a member of our Design Team
6. Three example projects using Helmar adhesives and art mediums (layouts or paper crafting projects) no larger than 150k each – Make sure to list any special adhesive techniques used and list the Helmar products.
7. Anything else you want us to know about you…..what sets you apart from the rest? We want to see your enthusiasm!

Please submit the above information to info@helmarusa.com by April 15th. No late entries will be accepted. The new Design Team members will be announced on our website on April 28th.

For additional information on our products, visit our design team blog at: www.helmarusa.typepad.com. Feel free to EMAIL any questions to info@helmarusa.com

Tracy Weinzapfel
President, Helmar USA, Inc.

March 22, 2010

Congrats Tami B. Blog Hop Winner



Thanks everyone for checking out our first Helmar Blog Hop! I appreciate all of your wonderful comments about my projects and Adhesive Runner. Please come to visit again.

The Random.org chose #41

41. Tami B. said...
Wonderful projects and everybody needs a glue runner.
March 20, 2010 5:21 PM

Congratulations Tami B! Please e-mail Helmar (tracyw@helmarusa. com) with your information so she can mail your prize! Thanks again everyone!

March 20, 2010

Helmar Blog Hop....1st stop

Welcome to your first stop on the Helmar Blog Hop. As a designer for Helmar, I’ve had an opportunity to use some fabulous products. When asked to choose my favorite, I couldn’t possibly do that. Each one of Helmars’ products has its own creative purpose in my crafting. I love to make mini-albums and create layouts for scrapbooks; I chose to feature an adhesive that I reach for most often, Helmar Quick-fix Adhesive Runner.





This is a double sided, acid free, archival and photo safe adhesive. It is perfect for craft, school projects, office, scrapbooking and card making. It is quick and easy to use, providing an even layer of adhesive onto the application surface. Ideal for quickly adhering many light weight items such as cardstock, photos and ribbon. Helmar Quick-fix Adhesive Runner can easily be refilled, just open the dispenser and drop in a new cartridge. Helmar Quick-fix Adhesive Runner allows me to add photos to layouts and projects such as the one featured on this clipboard. This personalized clipboard can hang on you wall as a message board. To make the most of my paper scraps, I was able to create a few cards as well. Enjoy!







Supplies Used:
Helmar Quick-fix Adhesive Runner
Helmar 450 Quick Dry
Helmar Acid Free Glue
Helmar Clear Square ZAPDOTS
My Stamp Box Abundant Blossoms & You Name It Clear Stamps
Fancy Pants Designs Paper & Buttons
Clearsnap Ancient Page Black Dye Inkpad & ColorBox
Heidi Swapp Chipboard Alphabet
Prima Flowers
Making Memories Manila Cards & Envelopes
Various Ribbons, Tulle & Fibers
Clipboard

For a chance to win Helmar’s Quick-fix Adhesive Runner and Refills, post a comment on this blog post. For more chances to win and to continue on this creative journey, hop over to the talented Carla Schauer to see what she has created.

Thank you for visiting,

Tish Treadaway, Helmar USA Design Team Member

March 2, 2010

Zutter's New Hang-It-Alls



In celebration of Zutter's New Hang-it-alls, check out the Zutter Blog for an opportunity to win some. Post a comment on the "Hangin with the New Hang-it-alls" blog post. They will be drawing 10 names on March 10th.....so hurry and check out Zutter's Blog. Good Luck!

Tish Treadaway, OZZ Design Team Member

March 1, 2010

Zutter's Mini-Luggage is too cute to resist...



Zutter’s Mini-Luggage is too cute to resist. This little luggage measure 4 ½ X 3 X 1 ¾ inches packs a big design opportunity. This is a unique way to store a mini-album and tiny ephemera. It’s perfect for many occasions; this white patent looking luggage is embellished with black pattern papers by Melody Ross, bold yellow Prima Flowers and butterfly cut-out designs from Melody’s papers. The possibilities are endless.



Supplies Used:
Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots
Zutter Mini-Luggage
Zutter ½ Antique Brass O’wire
Melody Ross Designer Collections artsy Urban Papers
Prima Flowers
Offray Ribbon



I covered outside of the luggage, top and bottom with Melody Ross Designer Collections artsy Urban Papers. I applied all of the papers using Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive. I added some butterfly cut out from Melody’s pattern papers and applied to the outside using Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots. On the inside of the luggage, I embellished with another butterfly cut out using Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive. For the album, I cut up pattern paper from Melody Ross Design Collections artsy Urban Papers. The album is bound together using the Zutter Bind-it-all ½ antique brass o’wire. The set is complete and ready to fill with your photos and special memories.

Tish Treadaway, OZZ Zutter Design Team Member

February 27, 2010

Nikki Sivils U R My Favorite



Nikki Sivils Scrapbook U R My Favorite “You, You, You” paper is fabulous. Creating a layout is quick and easy using this pattern paper as the foundation for your layout. I love the monochromatic theme, scalloped edges, flourish designs and the little crowns in each corner. I followed the design in each scallop as my guide for placing a decorative brad, just use a paper piercer for punching the holes.




The edges of the photo were dry brushed with acrylic paint to coordinate with the papers. To add dimension to the embellishments, I used Helmar ZAPDOTS. Check out the close up photos of placement of Helmar ZAPDOTS.




Elle’s Studio has a huge selection of tags; here I used Saltwater Taffy Journaling Tag as a frame for my number two. I altered the tag by sanding down the edges and embellishing with a flower.



Supplies Used:
Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Helmar Black ZAPDOTS
Helmar Quick-Fix Adhesive Runner
Elle’s Studio Saltwater Taffy Journaling Tags
Nikki Sivils U R My Favorite “You You You” Paper
Bo-bunny Press Chipboard “2”
EK Success Simply Classic Inspirables & Nostalgiques Stickers
Prima Flowers
Making Memories Brads
Flower Buttons

Tish Treadaway, Helmar USA Design Team Member