It's Here! Aug/Sep 2011 Issue of SOC Scrapbook Magazine and a chance to WIN!!

Myself and the entire SOC Magazine Creative Team are proud to share with you the August/September 2011 Issue of the Scraps of Color Scrapbook Magazine!   In this issue you'll be inspired to create quick layouts using our sketches, be challenged to add stitching to your creations, learn how you can create your own stamps and so much more!  May you find inspiration on every page!

Please download your FREE copy here today!

EnJOY!  And don't forget to tell us what you think!  Leave us a little love!

And be sure to spread the word for your chance to WIN!  Post on your blogs!  Share on Facebook! Tell all of your scrappy pals to stop by to download their FREE copy too!

Once you share it on Facebook and/or your blog come back here and share the link to your post and you'll be entered to win this great 12 x 12 Fairyopolis Paper pack from Crafter's Companion!  With over 30 sheets of cool patterned papers, this paper pack is sure to provide you with plenty of crafting inspiration!  But hurry, this giveaway closes on September 12, 2011 at 11:59pm. 

Please note: We will have several giveaways thru September 2011.  All prizes will be mailed at the end of September.  Winners are chosen by random number generator.  Due to shipping costs giveaways open to US/Canada residents only.   Be sure to check the blog to see if you are a winner.  Announcements will be made via the blog only.  Unclaimed prizes will be forfeited.

Happy Scrappin'

CLASSYgirl

So much paper, so little time!

I am a sucker for patterned paper. Some people can look at a collection and pick out 3 or 4 sheets of paper and a few embellishments that they’d like to use. Me? When I see a new collection that strikes my fancy, I am done for! I must have it ALL!

With this post, I’d like to share something I’ve been doing to make sure I get to use all of this wonderful paper – cut it up! This layout features several 2-inch squares that highlight the variety of the collection, but doesn’t get too overwhelming with patterns. I even managed to include a border strip from the sticker sheet that came with this collection.

Lucky by Moanica Caston. Patterned Paper and border sticker: Fancy Pants; Cardstock: Bazzill; Pom Pom ribbon: Prima Marketing; Buttons: unknown; Alphas: American Crafts Thickers

I added some old school (now new school!) buttons and some pom poms just for fun. I love the finished layout for its simplicity and the wonderful colors I was able to incorporate without it seeming fussy. Now, let me go see what new collections I “must” have!

American Heroes

Summer for me would not be complete without my softball games. I love the competition and the camaraderie of team sports. Every August I look forward to competing in the Military World Softball Tournament. This special weekend is an opportunity for our military men and women to come together to relax and compete in the sport they love. This year we were treated to a special event that reminded us all what this tournament is really about. The Wounded Warriors are a team of veterans who lost limbs while serving our country. Some have lost arms or one or both legs. They play with so much passion and courage that you forget they wear prosthetics.


Today I wanted to share with you a couple of the pictures I took at one of their games. Let's take a minute to remember the unfortunate effects of war on our young people and honor all of the brave men and women in our military.

American Heroes by Camille. Supplies: Digital Paper: Little Dreamer Designs (So Charming).

We want to hear from YOU!

Your feedback matters and we want to hear from YOU!

Tell us what you think about the SOC Magazine.  Tell us what you like and what you don't like.  Tell us what you would like to see in future issues.

Your feedback encourages and supports the creative team.  It helps us to change and grow. So be sure your voice is heard!  Send us a note here TODAY and share your thoughts.

Did you download the June/July 2011 issue?  Did you like it?  Why?  Why not?  Tell us here, now!

Thanks and stay tuned for our next issue coming September 1, 2011!  It'll be FABULOUS!

CLASSYgirl!

What kind of Paper Crafter are you?

We want to know!  Answer today's poll question.  See right side bar.

We want to learn more about YOU!  Be sure to be counted in our numbers  Look for new poll questions regularly.

Have a SCRAPPY day!

Classygirl!

It's All About the Ribbon

Happy Hellos Everyone:

Today's card is less about the card and more about the ribbon. A  while back, I was fortunate enough to be hopping from blog-to-blog when I stumbled upon Claire and the beautiful card she created. In turn, I replicated her ribbon technique.

To create this wonderful technique, cut 2-8" strips of grogaine ribbon and 2-5" strips of grogaine ribbon. Tie a knot in the center of each piece of ribbon. Thread each ribbon through the close-end slit from corner-to-corner; trim excess; and secure remaining ribbon with adhesive. Continue creating your card as desired.

Note: When using this technique it is best to use a heavy weight paper.

Now, tell me, what's your favorite ribbon technique?


Peace & Blessings
To You & Yours

Lorie

Make a Splash!

Hey everybody, Barb here.  I can’t believe that we are already looking at Summer’s end. I know everyone is getting busy again with Back to School activities and adjusting to new schedules and routines…but before all the summer toys, swim suits and flip flops are packed away, I wanted to share one more summer- themed layout with all of you. I created a QUICK and EASY layout to showcase some fun pool-time photos.

click to enlarge

Make a Splash! by Barbara Walker.  Supplies – Digital Kit: Sandbox-Shabby Princess; Alphas: Barefoot-Shabby Princess; Word Art-Digital Scrapbook Place

I chose not to use patterned paper on this layout, because I really wanted to focus on the photos. So I used color to convey my theme. I used shades of pale orange and yellow for the heat of the summer sun. And I used different shades of blue to give the layout a cool feeling and to really put the viewer in the mood for some water fun! The water splash embellishments tie everything together and pull the viewer right into the action! Also, narrowing down my paper choices allowed me to create this layout very quickly. And since we are all so busy, quick layouts can help us get several layouts completed in a short amount of time. I know you’ve got some pictures sitting in a box or stored in your computer…why not take a moment to create a QUICK and EASY layout using colors to convey your theme. Then leave a comment for us, with a link to your project, we would love to see it!

Remember, scrap booking is about sharing memories thru photos and journaling. Years from now it's not going to matter what digital kit you used or if you used patterned paper or not, so don't let your creativity become hindered by those things. Pull out those photos and get them scrapped so you can share them with your family and friends.

Go on now...go create something beautiful!

Get YOUR SOC Tshirt Today!!!

Summer is coming to a close and school has already begun here in Georgia.  Well, it's time to celebrate. We are celebrating "back to school" with fun savings! Woohoo!

We've just added an Atlanta 2011 Tshirt to the mix for all the wonderful Atlanta paper crafters!  Yay!  Get your Atlanta tshirt, apron or bag today!

The more you spend, the more you save!

Coupon Code: What$5
Discount: $5 of any order!

Coupon Code: Save$10When
Discount: $10 off subtotal of $50+

Coupon Code: Whosaved$35
Discount: $35 off subtotal of $100+

Offer good thru Sunday, August 21, 2011.

Disclaimer: Please enter coupon code What$5 or Save$10When or Whosaved$35 before completing checkout. Discount is applied to the base price and does not include shipping, taxes, or additional charges. Email us if you have questions. This offer may not be combined with other offers. Orders under this promotion may be delayed beyond normal. Coupons valid from 8/15/2011 to 8/21/2011 11:59 pm Mountain Time.

Click here to shop now!


EnJOY!


Classygirl!

Getting the most from your patterned paper

Summer simple pleasures by Tena Ellison. Supplies - Patterned Paper: Simple Stories; Twine: Pink Paislee; Ink: Colorbox.

I know for most of us using the right embellishment is an important part of creating a layout. But if you're looking for a way to get the most from your patterned paper while creating a layout with the perfect matching embellishments...try using only your patterned paper. Instead of trying to match different embellishments to your papers, let the paper do the work for you.

I know we all have these great embellishments that we've spent lots of money on but sometimes keeping it simple can be a good thing and a way to change things up, best of all you know your embellishment will match your papers perfectly because they are made with your patterned paper.

For my layout above I used patterned papers from Simple Stories 100 days of summer collection. It's a wonderful line that has great designs, phrases, journaling blocks and a distressed look already on the papers. I simply cut out the banner letters, trees and flowers to match the background sheet. I also used the cut banner letters and part of the journaling block phrase as my title...all from my patterned paper.

This was a fun, simple and easy layout to put together and best of all, no searching around for embellishments.

Super Summer Digi Fun!

I hope everyone has been having a fun and creative summer. Or atleast I hope everyone has been taking great summer fun photos, to scrap this fall. With all of the superhero movies that have been in the theatres this summer, I was inspired to create a comic style digital layout. Here is a photo that I took early in the summer of one my favorite little characters. The idea here was to create a layout without using any background papers, in other words the photo is the background. By adjusting the contrast of the photo, applying a series of filters and adding some comic book style text I was able to create this fun layout. I learned the technique by applying the steps in this tutorial, but I added a few extra elements like the sunburst in the background and grain texture.

Just for my SOC fam, I've attached a comic-style frame with the sunburst background just in case anyone else is in a "SUPER" mood.

Creating Your Own

With all of the many new products on the market it's difficult for the value conscience shopper to know which way to turn. If you don't mind a suggestion, the Stampmaker, by Teresa Collins, is a value jammed investment. Her little black machine allows you to not only create your own custom stamp designs it also features the ability to create jewelry pieces, stencils and embossing templates. One of the Stampmaker's best features is its ability to allow you to create stamps from your very own photographs.

Additionally, every month we can look forward to a free set of downloadable negatives. With just a click on your computer you'll receive several themed images to add to your personal collection of stamps and stencils.

I have looked high and low for an image of a silhouette that has "our" features. The Stampmaker allowed me to create the image that I wanted. I've named this stamp Mahogany. Mahogany has "our" hair, full lips and detail that clearly labels her a lady "of colour".

Look for complete information on this fantastic little machine and all of its abilities in the upcoming issue of E:spire.

Our Heritage is the Background Of Our Lives

A recurring issue I hear and read about with Crafters of Color? In regards to scrapping, paper crafting, mixed media and the like - are that there are not enough images and products out there to reflect who we are, as People of Color. The plethora of vintage papers, stamps, digi stamps, background papers, etc which flood the market - and less than 3% reflect African Americans and other ethnic backgrounds. Some would say that the companies can not be ALL things to ALL people - and you know what? .. they are right. WE can take care of that as crafters and artists. WE can control, to some degree, the images that we are looking for elsewhere - we need to use what we've already got!



Back in May, the design team members on Scraps of Color E:spire online magazine were asked if we'd be interested in creating some projects using products from a new company called Basically Bare. Well I don't know about anyone else - but I jumped on it.



I decided last year when I could not find satisfactory images of vintage African American Life on the latest scrapbook papers to use on my scrap layouts - that I would use pictures from my own life, my Grandparents, Great-Aunts and Uncles ... I would infuse their images and their stories to help me tell stories that *I* wanted to tell today through my art and scrapbooking.



While companies such as Graphic 45 are starting to introduce Louis Armstrong and other jazz notables in their fabulous Curtain Call line ... we must flip the script on the industry and take what is unique to **US** and push ahead. Use the images we already have as the focal points to our creations. Don't wait for companies to represent you. Like I did using the Basically Bare accessories, you can take the fabulous papers of Graphic 45 and other papers who are trying to reach Artists and Crafters of Color, and use their products to enhance what you already have.





It's not hard - it just takes thinking outside the box about using what you have a little differently to give you what you want.

Look for the next issue of SOC E:spire in September to help you get those ideas to showcase your talents, and more importantly, your own family. Utilize all those pictures of your ancestors. Take the images you have or that your family has, and scan them ... create your own background images ... and pay homage not only to your family through your creativity - but to yourselves, as artists and crafters.


Happy Crafting!

Take Note of Summer Fun

Hope everyone is having a fun-filled summer! Summer can be filled with so many little adventures right in our own backyards or big ones traveling across the country. Staycations and vacations both deserve to be documented, but sometimes when we are in the midst of having fun we can forget some of the fun little details that we want to capture in our scrapbooks. I'm notorious for writing notes down an scrap pieces of paper, but after seeing so many cool products on the market like the Smash books and the journaling notepad accessories I was inspired to keep my summer notes in one place! I love having my notes in one central location that is easy to carry in my purse, camera bag, or pocket. It makes things so much easier!

I used this once dull, drab and rather depressing little promotional notepad that I received from a vendor and transformed it into a bright, fun, and convenient way to record summer stories. There are tons of cute journaling cards on the market, but with a little notepad like this you can have all your notes in one place and then just tear out the pages and add them to your scrapbook pages when you're ready. It's also a lot cheaper, too!

Here are a few tips for adding a little summer fun to your notepads:

• Use Mod Podge to seal the cover if your notebook will receive a lot of wear and tear. (I did not Mod Podge this one).
• Use stamps, stickers, or doodling to pre-decorate your pages. If you are stamping or misting on pages remember to place a piece of card stock behind your page before stamping/misting so that the ink won't bleed through to the next page. Use a heat gun to make sure your ink/mist dries before moving on to the next page
• If your notepad is spiral bound use a piece of twine to tie a pen to the spirals so you will always have a pen ready when you're ready to record a memory. (Be sure to test the pen to make sure the ink doesn't bleed through the pages). If your notepad doesn't have spirals. you can punch a hole in the cover with a Cropadile and then loop twine through the hole to tie your pen on. Use reinforcers around the hole to prevent tearing.
• If you are using a notepad that has perforated pages you can reinforce the perforations by adding a strip of scotch tape or decorative washi tape across the perforations so your pages won't accidentally fall out of the notepad.
• Dollar stores usually have these little notepads very cheap if you don't already have them lying around. Also, if you have a binding tool you could actually make your own from your scrap pieces of paper, white card stock, or even kraft paper or a mixture of different types of paper.
  
• Making summer notepads is also a fun activity to do with the kiddos especially if you are going on vacation and want the kids to record their memories too. It will be fun to look back and see what everyone records!

So, I hope you all will make some notepads to record your summer memories! Please, leave a link to your creations in the comments if you decide to make one, two, or quite a few! I would love to see how you all are recording your summer fun memories! And don't forget to read the Scraps of Color E-zine for more inspiration and tips on documenting summer fun activities!

Be Inspired with the next issue of the SOC Magazine!

Look for the next issue of the Scraps of Color Magazine to arrive on September 1, 2011!  You're gonna love this issue.  Inside you will:

• Learn how to paint in Paint 1, 2, 3
• Get creative with nested templates
• Stamp your way to great designs
• Get cool ideas for creating Back to School and Summer Fun layouts
• Stitch it up on your cards, layouts and more
• Be able to download fabulous digital stamps and a fun kit
• Make the perfect wedding card

You'll get ALL of this an so much more.  So stay tuned and mark your calendar for September 1, 2011!!!

Happy Craftin'
Classygirl

Summer Keepsake

Hi there,

The month of July flew by so quickly. Now we are into August and looking forward to our next issue of Scraps of Color E:spire! You have so much to look forward to in the upcoming issue. One of my favorites is the summer theme. I am sure we all have more photos than enough to play with and use on summer layouts. I definitely do. I decided to create a piece of wall art using a photo that I took of my girls this summer. My goal was to create an item that could serve as a keepsake while at the same time- preserve a memory of my girls relaxing on a window sill waiting for me to take them out on a nice summer day.

Adorable Sweet Friends Keepsake by Karen Jiles. Supplies- Patterned Paper and Borders: K and Company; Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Flowers: Recollections; Metal Embellishments: Making Memories; Dew Drops: The Robin’s Nest; Ribbon: Stampin’ Up!; Ink: Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

Tip 1: I created this by combining 2 frames; an 8 x 8 and 5 x 5. Adding multiple frames can provide a 3-dimensional look to your art.

Tip 2: If an accent frame is too small to use as a frame, cut it in half. It provides a different use, yet still accenting your work. I accented my keepsake by adding my cut pieces to 2 corners of the base frame.

What memories are you preserving this summer?

Hugs, Karen