It's Here! June/July 2011 Issue of Scraps of Color Scrapbook Magazine!

We, the SOC Creative Team is proud to bring you the June/July 2011 Issue of the Scraps of Color Scrapbook Magazine!   In this issue you'll learn a simple technique for adding a painted touch to your layouts, fun ways with a stylus and cool card ideas for Dad!  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!  Post on your blogs!  Share on Facebook! Tell all of your scrappy pals to stop by to download their FREE copy too!

Once you've read this issue be sure to come back and take our poll at right!  Hurry, the poll closes on June 10, 2011!

Happy Scrappin'

Classygirl!

Memorial Day 2011

Today is the day that we pay tribute to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It is a time of reflection and a time to honor our fallen military members.

I wanted to know a little more about this day of remembrance, so I found this history from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs: http://www1.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp

I also found a reference on Wikipedia which indicates it was started by freed slaves in Charleston, South Carolina. While I didn’t verify this, I like the thought of it! So, while we are celebrating the unofficial start of summer, let us also take a moment to remember.

Moanica

Scrapbook Projects as Gifts

Another reason to love this great hobby of ours is that we get to create one-of-a-kind gifts for our family and friends. I created a Mother's Day layout for the April/May issue of E:spire that I framed and turned into a great Mother's Day gift for my Mom. 

I then decided to create a matching card for my Mom. The Mother's Day digi sticker I created for the April/May issue is used as the sentiment inside the card.

My mom loved the gift. She told me that she cried reminiscing about that picture of me as a baby. 

If you haven't tried creating and framing a layout as a gift or even to decorate your own space, you should give it a try.

Camille

Glad You're In My Corner

Happy Hellos Everyone:

Have you ever experienced a moment when you just wanted to keep things simple? I can attest, there are times when I want to put a little bit of everything on my card including the cherry on top and then there are times when I just want to keep things simple. I love a CAS card and that's what I have to share with you. Often this type of card says so much before you attempt open the card to read the sentiment. Today's card is perfect for when you want to convey the gratitude of thanks. More specific, I thought this was a terrific card for graduation. For me it wasn't so much about the graduate; however, more about that special person or persons that ensured the student would one day be referred to as "graduate." Parents, relatives, and friends are the first to hit the mall for the perfect gift or the bank for that matter. I believe we need to train our graduates that they too should have a little something to give on their special day--something as little as a greeting card can often, have a tremendous impact. My CAS card simply  conveys the sentiment, 'Glad You're In My Corner.' I'm sure it would bring a smile to the face of any recipient.

As mentioned earlier, I love a CAS card. If you share my sentiments, what is it that you love about creating CAS cards and how often do you make them?  Thanks for leaving a comment.

Peace & Blessings to

  You & yours,

  Lorie

HAND ME THAT BAG!!

Hello Ladies,

I would like to wish you all a Happy Belated Mamma's Day!! I hope your day was filled with LOVE&APPRECIATION!! My day was amazing, I enjoyed being pampered for a DAY!!

Today I want to share with you a cute little project. I was recently asked to teach a scrapbooking class,at my daughters school. The class would be held once a month. This was kinda tricky because the student's grade levels varied. SO I had to be very creative in coming up with project everyone would enjoy!! Each class went very well,until the last class!! I was STUCK on what could I do??? I wanted to end class with a super fun project! I was cooking dinner one night and came across a TON of paper bags!! Aha moment was in the making,a paper bag scrapbook would be cute!! So I prepared 28 paper bag books for each student! They were SO excited to create their very own books!!




Decorated Cover




Inside pages



Flower close-up

 What do you have in your pantry?? Take a look today and create something FUN!!! Don't forget to share with US here at SOC!!

Chalese
xoxo

Mother's Day @ Lucille's

Hey everybody, my name is Barb and I am a new member on the SOC Creative Team. I am thrilled to be in the company of such talented women, where I am able to share my love of paper crafting. I look forward to learning new things, meeting new people and viewing all of your creations, as well. Just a bit about me… I have been a crafter for many years; sewing, crocheting, cross stitching, scrap booking and paper crafting. My passion right now is creating handcrafted greeting cards. I am also into digital scrap booking. Traditional scrapping is great too, but I enjoy being able to pack up my laptop and create beautiful pages anywhere I go. If I had to describe my "style", I would say that I’m eclectic… I’m all over the place!  It really depends on my mood, the supplies I have to work with and the project I have in mind. I love vintage, I like a little bit of whimsy and clean and simple appeals to me too. I believe very strongly in glitter and bling and I try to add some sparkle to every piece of artwork I create! You will get to know more about me as time passes and I invite you to stop my blog to say ‘hey’ and to take a peek at what else is going on with me.

Okay…let’s get to the crafty parts…Now that Mother’s Day has passed, it is time to get busy scrapping your photos and preserving your memories, right?  Oh yes, I know we have the best intentions to get to our photos right away, but sometimes life happens, time passes and we find ourselves playing ‘catch-up’. That’s okay! The main thing is to scrap your photos. Here is how I organize my pictures on my computer, so I can scrap them, with ease, at a later date. It’s a very simple system. I create a series of folders on my laptop.  I have folders that are dated for each year. Inside each year are twelve folders, one for each month. When I download the pictures from my camera, I create a folder for each event; New Year’s Eve Party, Anniversary Dinner or Zoo Trip, etc. Then, I place the event folder into the appropriate month folder. This helps me keep my dates straight. Next, I create a Word document, giving it the same event name as the picture folder.  This is where I type out the details of the event; the who, what, where, when and why. I also record any other bits of information that will come in handy for journaling later on. It may be a funny story or joke someone shared.  It may be about the music that was playing or the food that was served. The Word document gets saved in the same folder as the pictures they describe. Then, when I’m ready to scrap, I can either access the file from my laptop for digital layouts , or print it out and take it with me to a crop. Keeping my files organized in this way, allows me to create scrapbook pages filled with memories, no matter when I get to the photos. This is what works for me. I would love to know how you organize your photos…share your ideas with us!

Here is a Mother’s Day layout with photos from 2007.  I didn’t have to rely on my memory for the journaling because everything was right in my files! Click on the images to enlarge them.

I usually create double page spreads when I scrap book. So, I thought I would share how this layout looks when it's all together.

Lunch at Lucille’s by Barbara Walker. Supplies- Paired template(altered) and alphas-Misty Cato Designs; Digital Kit:Heart Warming -Weeds&Wildflowers ; colored  gems-Playing With Wire-Weeds&Wildflowers ; 'Remember This' wordart-Shabby Princess

Scrap booking should be fun and relaxing.  Don’t stress out about not getting to your pictures right away.  Adopt an organizing system, so your pictures are ready when you are, then scrap at your leisure!

Now go create something beautiful! 

Scrapbooking with Microsoft Word...

I'm not a digital scrapper but I love the look of digital pages, especially when mixing and matching fonts. In our current April/May issue of Scraps of Color, the Digi Den section, Camille did a great job with the Mother's Day digital sticker quote. I love the overlapping fonts and colors and wanted to use it on my layout, but not just by printing it out and pasting it on the page. I wanted it to have a more hybrid feel.

So since I'm not proficient in digital scrapbooking or all that proficient in using my PS Elements I used the software that I am proficient in...MS Word. Here's how I used the software and the digital sticker created by Camille:

1. I picked my photo and sized it.

2. Then I open a blank document in MS Word and inserted my photo.

3. After downloading and saving the digital sticker quote, I inserted and re-sized it in the same document with my photo.

4. Next I went to Format Picture, Layout and then clicked on the In Front Of Text box.

Now the digital sticker is on top of my photo, after positioning it in just the right spot my photo was ready for normal printing and to be placed on my layout.

Blessed by Tena Ellison. Supplies Patterned Paper: Webster's Pages; Cardstock: Bazzill; Digital Sticker: Camille Phillips; Die Cut Flower & Letters: Cricut; Cartridges: Tear Drop & Home Decor; Punch: Martha Stewart.

I know this may not be the "norm" for some scrappers but it works for me (for now) and it's just another way for me to be creative. So check out all the wonderful digital freebies in the magazine and don't be afraid to use them just because you're not a digital scrapper.

A Little Organization for National Craft Month

Have you ever noticed that when you purchase a new item(s) and bring them home everything has to be re-arranged to make room? Organization seems to be an on-going event in the craft room. As my collection of die cuts grow I’ve had to revamp my organization to accommodate my investment. Recently I found a package of magnet sheets packaged in a set of 6, 4x12 sheets, with adhesive backing. I was able to cut each sheet into 4 - one inch strips.

Using an inexpensive package of plain black cardstock I was able to place two strips per sheet which can hold up to four nested dies cut sets per page. I then printed a plain mailing label with pertinent information to accompany each collection of dies. The label includes the name of the die, the measurement increments and the other dies that the set best coordinates with. I then inserted the dies into a three holed, plastic, page protector. I really storing my die cuts this way because it’s easy to remove and replace the sheet that I need from the three-holed binder I’ve placed the dies in. This process has really stream lined my organization process. I can also keep designs, projects and instructions right behind the cluster of shapes so everything is in one place. No more in one spot for the die and in another for instructions or samples.

It’s also easy to carry this binder system to crops. Remember to place a small streak of finger nail polish or other identifying mark on the back of your dies so it won’t become co-mingled into someone else’s stash. It also helps to take a moment and draw a line at the middle point of your die to help center your cuts on your projects whenever necessary.

Additionally, I created a database of all the dies currently in the market. I highlighted the ones I already have in my collection. I can’t tell you how many times I stood in the aisle pondering which set I needed to purchase and which ones I already had. I keep the sheet in the small wallet I keep my coupons in. No more double purchases for this crafter.

One day I’m going to make a sample of each of my punches and tape them to a 81/2” x 11” sheet so I can refer to the sheet to know what I have. Then I can remember if I have a 1” inch plain circle and a 1” inch scalloped circle.

Each of us contributed to the $2.8 billion dollars generated by the industry in 2010. Is it any wonder there is an entire month devoted to the celebration of our craft? With that type of investment take care of your supplies and streamline the creative process with a fine-tuned, working organization for your materials.

Neatnix offers another opportunity to organize tools and keep them handy. If you haven’t already, be sure to visit page 7 of our fabulous magazine for an opportunity to win one if these nifty tool bags. Good luck!

Waste Not, Craft A Lot

Don't you hate when you find a cool surface ... and it's damaged? Do you throw it away ... or like me, do you see the potential?

This cool birch box was slightly damaged in transit, and instead of throwing it away, I decided to work with it to create something quick, easy and cute!


Add a splash of color by taking watered down acrylic paint, and paint the outsides and inside of the box.


Cut to size a piece of patterned paper, and cover outside of box.



Cut to size a coordinating piece of cardstock, and cover inside of box.



Now it's time to embellish!!

TIP: For inexpensive lace, it's a good idea to check the clearance bins at your local fabric stores. They sell the ribbon at wonderfully discounted prices - many time much cheaper than the scrapbook stores.

To adhere ribbon and Prima flowers, I used Glossy Accents.



Let dry, and now my damaged box is a pretty wonderful accent.


Supplies: Studio Calico Shortbread paper, Studio Calico Kit Emma's Shoppe Collection Dresses paper, Prima flowers,Glossy Accents, Americana acrylics

National Scrapbooking Day...Share some Scrap!

Well, our special day is right around the corner! No, I'm not referring to Mother's Day, I'm talking about National Scrapbook Day (NSD)! Woohoo! I don't know about you, but I LOVE scrapbooking!!! I want to celebrate NSD by giving my best scrap friends a little something because I appreciate them and this wonderful hobby!

I went back and started looking at the amazing SOC April/May 2011 issue for inspiration! And I found it! One of this month's sponsors is Studio Calico http://www.studiocalico.com/and I have been a fan of this kit club for years! As I looked around my scrap space at my Studio Calico kits and other products I realized I wanted to share my 'scrap 'with my friends for NSD because like most scrappers I have more than enough to share!

I decided to gather a modge podge of items like chipboard pieces, rub-ons, buttons, and bling to make little mini embellishment bags for my friends. After re-reading Tena's article on fabric I decided to also make some handmade flowers. Oh, and the SOC inspiration didn't stop there because I learned some things about stamping from Lorie's stamping article too, so had to incorporate stamping on my project, as well. If you have not read every line of the SOC April/May issue, please go back and read it because it is jammed packed with inspiration!

Ok, so getting on to the project...Studio Calico kits come in a nice paper bag sealed with a sticker, so I decided to recreate this on a smaller scale by using a regular lunch sack and cutting about 3.5 inches off of the top. I used a Fiskars boarder punch to add detail to the opening of the bag and edged around the entire bag lightly with Walnut Stain Ranger Distress Ink. I then stamped the bottom of the bag with a Studio Calico exclusive stamp (November 2009).

I decided to add a tag to the front of the bag. I used a white medium sized tag as the base and misted it with Mister Huey's Sunshine. And in the spirit of NSD, I did something amazing.....I released my tight grip on Studio Calico State Fair collection (gasp- because I am a scrap junkie hoarder) and used the rub-on clouds, the chipboard alphas, and even opened up the cute little stamp set too! I reached deep into my stash for October Afternoon's Mini Market Stickers (Ledger) to add the date in the corner), and topped it off with a little twine from The Twinery (Pink Sorbet).

And to finish it all off I punched a couple of butterflies using Crate Paper's Emma's Shoppe and added one to the front of the bag and the other to the back as a closure sticker! And now all I have left to do is continue going through my stash to find little treasures and make more fabric flowers to fill the bags! Can you believe the amount of inspiration that is at your fingertips with this issue of SOC? This quick little goody bag was inspired by the articles and even sponsors! I am looking forward to NSD and can't wait to share my scrap with my friends! How do you celebrate NSD! Do you celebrate with friends, crop at a LSS, participate in on-line crops, or do you grab a few minutes alone to scrapbook? Well, whatever you do, I hope that you have a happy, scrappy weekend!

2 New Creative Team Members!!!

Please join me in congratulating the following ladies who our joining us on the Scraps of Color Creative Team!

Barb Walker
Nitasha Griffin-Johunkin


Congrats, ladies!

They will add even more creativity, variety and inspiration to the Scraps of Color Magazine!!!  I cannot wait to share their creativity with you!  Yay!  If you haven't already done so, don't forget to sign up for your free subscription here!


Learn more about our creative team here!


Happy Scrappin' Classygirl!

Mother’s Day is coming…

Hi there, I hope that you all are excited about Mother’s Day. It is such a wonderful day to honor Moms. I decided to create a fun little card to share with you for the lovely occasion. There is nothing like a handmade card for Mother’s Day. This one is a very simple design with an emphasis on layering, use of multiple patterns, and texture. I love layers and strongly feel that they can bump your card up a notch.:)



Happy Mother’s Day Card by Karen Jiles. Supplies- Patterned Paper: Studio Calico Kit; Cardstock: Close To My Heart; Ribbon, Ink and Hemp: Stampin’ Up!; Stickers: Jolee’s; Scissors: Martha Stewart.

I decided to use some papers from the Studio Calico Kit that we featured on page 21 of the April/May issue of the SOC magazine. In my article, I indicated how much I enjoyed working with the kit. I am still enjoying how versatile the papers are. I layered 2 patterns from the kit onto a layer of Dusty Durango cardstock from Stampin’ Up! All patterned papers were edged with Dusty Durango ink to define the edges and detail the layers. I then chose and applied flowers by Jolee’s. I love the flowers, because they coordinated so well with the papers and tied everything together. I added some grass that I created with a pair of fringe scissors by Martha Stewart. The last steps were to add my sentiment, ribbons and hemp. I left the hemp draped off to the side to maintain that playful feel of the card.

Creating this Mother's Day card was loads of fun and I absolutely loved the colors. So tell me, what will you emphasize on your Mother’s Day card this year and what will be your color choices? Are you layering up too?

Karen

...and the winner is.....

TREVA!!!!

You are the winner of this great dvd from Above Rubies Studio!  Woohoo!  Congratulations!   Thanks for entering.  Be sure to check out their web site for more chances to win, more crafty ideas and more shopping for your creative inspiration!


Please email me your mailing address before May 31, 2011 to receive your prize.  Please note: all winners must be subscribers to the SOC Scrapbook Magazine at the time of entering to be eligible to win.  Prizes not claimed prior to this date are forfeit.  Winners are chosen via random number generator.


Stay tuned for our next great giveaway!!!


Classygirl!