Scraps of Color E:spire

Where's your purse?

2012-03-08T18:25:00.000-05:00

Let me share my purse with you. Thought I would find a project in my stash to work on. I went back....I mean wayyyy back to Classygirl's Page kits. I LOVE the PinkMartini flirtini paper pack & rub ons. The Maya Road Vintage Purse chipboard mini album has been on my 'craft to do list' for a while so I made it happen by adding this vibrant paper pack. My passion is making mini albums. I think they are a great conversation piece for any coffee table.It's packed and made ready for photos.

Supplies:
PinkMartini flirtini paper pack
PinkMartini flirtini rub ons
Maya Road vintage chipboard album
Prima flowers & large brads
Recollection flowers
Martha Stewart edge punch
Fiskars paper crimper
Lace by Hancock fabrics
Ribbon from my stash

Check out the side view. I told you it was packed!

3D pop dots can be used in many ways
(i.e. I used a pop dot on the paperclip to add the flowers as a topper
and it was also used on the matted paper to insert a tag behind it.

One technique that I always put in my mini album is a mini book for additional photos. The binder clip is used to keep the mini book in place. I altered it with paper paper and tied a ribbon. When you make mini albums do you usually add photos or do you make mini albums to showcase the pretty paper and embellishments? Happy Papercrafting!!! -- Princess

4 Day TN Crop and Shop Weekend!

2012-03-06T00:54:00.001-05:00

Don't miss this fabulous event, you will leave telling everyone how much fun you had and that they should have attended . This is a joint retreat with BFF Scrapbooking Retreats

Event Name: 4 Day! TN Crop and Shop @ The Scrapbook Clearance Center!

Dates: May 3-6th, 2012

Location: Spirit of the Smokies Pigeon Forge, TN

Time: 3pm Thursday, May 3rd until 4pm on Sunday, May 6th, 2012 (Over 52 hours of cropping)

Price: $120.00 ($40.00 non-refundable deposit required) Final payments are due April 1st, 2012.

Registration fee includes: Reserved Cropping Seat (6ft table) Unlimited Snacks, Drinks and Chocolates Additional Activities:-Make-n-Takes, wonderful vendors, spacious cropping table, great door prizes, fun games and more ,free Internet in cropping room (great for digi-croppers) & classes will be offered

Lodging per night: Thursday 29.95 plus tax, Friday $54.95 plus tax, Saturday 54.95 plus tax (rooms are double occupancy; great for roommates) lodging is not included in registration fee:

You may contact the Spirit of the Smokies at 865-453-0370 to make your reservations. Ask for BFF Scrapbooking Retreats Discount

Hotel Amenities
Indoor Swimming Pool Jacuzzi
Full Size Outdoor (Seasonal) Swimming Pool
Convenient Location
Large Game Room
Ample Motor coach Parking/Complimentary Parking
Greeted Arrivals & Departures
Interior Corridor
CRADLED BETWEEN One Of Pigeon Forge's PREMIER Theater's: TENNESSEE SHINDIG AND One Of Pigeon Forge's PREMIER Restaurants: WOOD GRILL BUFFET !!!

Guest Rooms Complete with:
Coffee Maker
Hair Dryer
Non-Smoking
Private Balconies
Free Wi-Fi
Iron / Ironing / Ironing Board
Mini-Fridge / Microwave
Sundries Shop
Flastscreen Television
Queen / King Beds

For more information contact: Meka Matthews 336-965-6407

E-mail information: mekascreations@gmail.com

It’s National Craft Month!!!

2012-03-05T04:00:00.000-05:00

Are you ready for a fun filled month of creating? I am. I have my creative “To Do” list, unfinished projects bagged, and my room organized and ready. Oh what fun I have in store for myself. It’s always nice to have a plan, but if you don’t it's never too late.

I started my month off by creating this “Inspire” card. I made it for myself to serve as inspiration throughout the month. We all need a little inspiration. I used several types of products and patterns, as well as a little old product blended with new- A little bit of this and little bit of that…:) I think that it’s important to reach far back into the stash at times and also within arm’s reach. You will be amazed how well products can coordinate when looking at past and current products. You can find similarities across product lines in variations of color and themes that really work well together and you can also find inspiration too while you are in search of just the right addition to your creation pile.

Inspire Card by Karen Jiles. Supplies-Patterned Paper: K and Company; Cardstock: Bazzill; Journaling Spots: Making Memories ;Decorative Clips: K and Company; Ribbon: Stampin’ Up!; Embossing Folder: Sizzix; Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink.

I think that I am beginning my month off just right. I am using a little bit of this and a little bit of that as a good start to National Craft Month. So are you ready for National Craft Month?

Karen

WELCOME to our Newest Creative Team Members!

2012-03-04T17:12:00.001-05:00

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

Princess Jones

Sharette Smith

Faye Rains

Congrats, ladies and WELCOME!!

They will add even more creativity, variety and inspiration to the Scraps of Color E:spire Blog!!! Stay tuned as they share their first creative posts with you this month!

We are thrilled to have them join us!

To learn more about our creative team members be sure to check out our blog, linked at left!

Happy March!!!

Classygirl!

Lucky Us!

2012-02-29T04:00:00.004-05:00

Happy Leap Day! I totally forgot this was a Leap Year until I started typing out this post. That made me curious and I went to the web to remind myself why we have Leap Years. Here’s what I found: Although most years of the modern calendar have 365 days, a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours. Every four years, during which an extra 24 hours have accumulated, one extra day is added to keep the count coordinated with the sun's apparent position. How cool is that?!

The layout I want to share with you though is in celebration of the next holiday in March – St. Patrick’s Day. I know all dog owners say it, but I really do believe we have the best dog and we’re so lucky to have found her. Of course, she leads a pretty pampered life as well! I pulled out some photos of our favorite dog, Baxter, in her shamrock bandana. Because I chose to use a busy patterned paper as my background, I thought my photos would show better if I matted them. I actually did a double mat on the photo on the bottom. I like how it turned out. That's my tip: don't forget about photo matting. It's an oldie, but a goodie!

Lucky Dog {Lucky Us} by Moanica Caston. Patterned Paper and Chipboard Embellishments: Cosmo Cricket; Cardstock: Bazzil; 3-D Shamrocks: Recollections; Bling flourish: Recollections; Fabric tape: Basic Grey; Alphas; American Crafts Thickers.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Moanica

Jazzy Scrapping Events, All Day Crop - Michigan!

2012-02-25T00:10:00.000-05:00

Join the scrapping ladies of Michigan for a fun

ALL DAY CROP

Saturday, March 3, 2012

10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Lunch and Dinner Snacks & beverages

Hourly Drawings and Prizes Galore

The University of Michigan-Dearborn

Fairlane Center

19000 Hubbard Drive

Room 120

Dearborn, Michigan 48126-2638

$45.00

Contact: jazzy_events1@yahoo.com

Creating a great card for Valentine's Day

2012-02-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

I'm always looking for ways to create a card and this Valentine's Day was no different. I searched the YT channels and watched so many videos of cards until I found the one I wanted to attempt. It is a "push/pull" card. Now most of you know I am a digital scrapbooker by passion however, I have found a new passion. Hands on creations such as 3D and altered objects. It was quite a challenged and I had to talk myself into doing it because I certainly didn't think I could.

This card was created for my son to give to his wife this year. He decided after going to Walmart and looking at the many Valentine's Day Cards, a homemade card would better suit his purpose.

I also made a few cards for friends to give to their loved ones this year... here are a few of them.------>

Give the push/pull card a try.

Thank you for stopping by.. your comments are welcomed and encouraged. Be sure to look back over the posts for this month for a digital freebie and more inspiration.

Wishing you a wonderful day...

Qadirah

Be Mine

2012-02-17T00:01:00.084-05:00

Hello Everyone, Barb here. I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day...filled with laughter, love and lots of pictures! To help you get in the mood to scrap those photos, I am sharing a Valentine's Day layout today. I am terribly behind on my scrapping, the photos I used are from our Valentine celebration in 2009! Oh, where does the time go?? Anyway..back to the layout. This is a digital layout, using the Yours Truly digital kit from Shabby Princess. I like to create double page spreads, so that is what I did on my computer. Have a look...

Be Mine by Barbara Walker. Supplies- Digital kit: Yours Truly-Shabby Princess

Creating a double page spread is very easy. When I open my photo editing software, I simply create a canvas that is 12 x 24. That gives me the space I need to drop in two 12 x 12 pieces of paper. Once that is completed, I design and scrap each page as I normally would. Creating a layout this way makes it easier to view on the computer or television, when I want to share my layouts with family and friends. When I am ready to print, I 'cut' the pages apart, using the appropriate tool in my photo editing software.

I challenge you to scrap your photos, digitally or traditionally...whatever your preference. The main thing is to get your photos off of your camera and your hard drive and get them into a format where they can be shared and enjoyed!

Be sure to check out page 10 of the Dec/Jan issue of Espire Magazine...there are some digital freebies in there for you! For even more inspiration, click on the digital links in our mast head. And if you scroll down a few posts and you will see a lovely digital Valentine freebie that you can download and use right away.

I really hope I've inspired you today. Now go create something beautiful!

Bingo Cards & MS Word

2012-02-15T01:00:00.003-05:00

We've all seen the cute little Bingo cards used on layouts, handmade cards and altered items. Like journaling notes and tags they are great additions to your projects. I wanted to use a Bingo card on my layout but didn't have one that was just right for my page so I decided to make my own.

I love using my computer to create and this was an easy way to add an element without running out and purchasing anything from the store.

Friends & Books by Tena Ellison. Supplies - Patterned Paper: Echo Park Paper Co.; Distress Ink: Ranger- Tim Holtz; Pearl Ampersand: Basic Grey; Tiny Type Sticker Letters: Cosmo Cricket; Date Stamp: K & Company; Flower Punch: EK Success; Bingo Cards: Tena E.

Here's how I made my own Bingo cards:

First I opened a new page in MS Word
I clicked on Table from the menu bar then clicked Insert Table
After choosing the number of columns and the number of rows I wanted I clicked OK.
Next I adjusted the table columns width and the column row height to the size I wanted. I used 1/2 inch for the column width and 1/3 for the column height for my cards.
Next I highlighted the entire first row in the table then left clicked the highlighted area and then clicked Merge cells. This gave me the header space for the top of my Bingo card.
After adding the numbers in the rows, making sure to leave my "free" space, I customized my cards by adding colors to the grid-lines using the Border and Shading feature in Format. My card is now ready for printing.

I saved the table as a template so the next time all I have to do is change my header and my colors as needed. I now have an endless source that I can customize to fit any project and it was quick & easy.

Happy scrapping and remember your computer and office software are great tools for creating too!

Love Is Kind

2012-02-13T06:00:00.002-05:00

As we prepare for Valentine's Day tomorrow, and we celebrate romantic love. Let us also remember, thank and honor our other loves; our friends that share kind words when we need that extra support, our aunts and mothers that encourage us through our growing pains, and our grandmothers and great-grandmothers that always let us know that we are loved!

In honor of those people in my life I created a downloadable card and digital stamp entitled "Love Is Kind." They can be printed and used as a thank you card or as a journaling tag on a scrapbook page. (Just click the images to download the graphic.)

Happy Valentine's Day! Enjoy!

Straight from the Heart…

2012-02-04T04:00:00.003-05:00

Happy Valentine’s Day!

February 14^th is just around the corner. While most non cardmakers will be crowding the card aisles, we will be home putting finishing touches on our handmade cards. I love that I have that option, flexibility, and desire. It takes all of those characteristics to create on any level, but to create for Valentine’s day is so much more special. While you are expressing your love, you are also creating straight from the heart. I had that “Straight from the Heart” feel in mind as I created this card to share with you.

I Love You Card by Karen Jiles. Supplies- Patterned Paper & Ribbon: Bo Bunny; Cardstock: CTMH; Journaling Spots: Making Memories; Heart Stickers: Recollections; 3-D sticker: K and Company; Heart Pins: Little Yellow Bicycle; Vintage Ink: Tim Holtz.

As Moanica shared on Sunday about her love for embellishments, I admit I have that addiction too. My card if full of them. They really add so much to handmade creations.

Tip: Add journaling spots to your cards. Journaling spots serve more purposes than just journaling. I added them to the inside of my card to give the card a border effect. Two were added to effectively balance the card. This is a fun and instant way to add flare to your cards. Note that the journaling spots that I used were packaged as a spiral bound book and are shown below. They come in several collections and are awesome to create with.

Enjoy your Valentine’s Day!
Karen

Love Your Embellies!

2012-01-29T04:00:00.013-05:00

Hello Blog Friends! A few posts back, I “confessed” about my love of paper. The only thing that rivals it is my love of embellishments! (Do you see a pattern here?) I especially love chipboard stickers and those themed 12x12 sticker/die-cut sheets. Valentine’s Day is a popular one for the manufacturers to make dedicated lines for. Papers, chipboard and even punches are plentiful. I used a variety of these for this layout of me and my hubby.

This little corner features a heart-shaped border punch that I know I can use over and over. Mother’s Day, birthday, baby shower, anniversary, etc. So, I thought that was a pretty decent investment.

You & Me by Moanica Caston. Patterned Paper and Embellishments: My Mind’s Eye and Basic Grey; Cardstock: Paper Studio; Felt heart and felt heart: Prima; Bling brad: My Mind’s Eye; Alphas; American Crafts Thickers (you & me) and Basic Grey (always).

Enjoy mixing and matching all the fun embellishments out there!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Moanica

Crop Occasions Weekend Scrapbook Retreat!

2012-01-26T10:57:00.002-05:00

Don't miss this fabulous event, you won't be disappointed!

CROP OCCASIONS IS AN OFFICIAL SOC SPONSOR!!!

Event Name: Crop Occasions Scrapbook Weekend Retreat
Dates: February 17-19, 2012
Location: The Crowne Plaza Hotel - McLean, VA
Time: 3pm Friday, February 17 until 4pm on Sunday, February 19, 2012 (49 hours of cropping)
Price: $167.00 ($35.00 deposits are accepted) Final payments are due February 10, 2012.
Registration fee includes: Reserved Cropping Seat (6ft table), 4 meals & beverage breaks

Additional Information:

-Make-n-Takes, wonderful vendors, massage therapist, spacious cropping table, great door prizes & classes will be offered
Lodging per night: $85.00 plus tax (rooms are double occupancy; great for roommates) lodging is not included in registration fee. You may contact the Crowne Plaza at 703-893-2100 to make your reservations.
Free Internet in Cropping room (great for digi-croppers)
Complimentary parking

Registration website: www.cropoccasions.com (all event details and photos)

E-mail information: info-cropoccasions@comcast.net

Celebrate and Remember.. Martin Luther King, Jr is an american hero.

2012-01-23T12:22:00.000-05:00

As a young minister, his stirring sermons had you jumping to your feet testifying. As an activist, he was steadfast in his convictions that all men and women should be treated equally. He fought that fight with courage and conviction. Here in Louisiana, they held a parade in Alexandria celebrating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King. I was moved by so many testimonials from people who felt as though Dr.King made it possible for them to be where they are in their life.

I remember watching the celebration of the new Martin Luther King memorial in Washington, DC. It was amazing. The statue is amazing. It stands 30 feet and is impressive. There is also a 450 foot inscription wall that holds about 14 quotes from Dr. Kings speeches.

A little history... Dr. Martin Luther King's memorial is the first major memoral along the National Mall to be dedicated to an African-American and a non-president. The inscription on the statue says.. "Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope".. The opposite side of the stone of hope, the inscription is incorrectly written but says.. "I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness".. This is being corrected as Dr. King did not say those words in that context..

Interestingly, there is a portion of a speech that Dr. King delivered on March 25, 1965 (my 15th birthday) in Montgomery, Alabama that says.. We must come to see that the end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience. I remember that speech.

Can you think of anything in your life or your families that was made possible by Dr. King, Jr?

Thanks for stopping by...

New Year! New You!

2012-01-17T00:01:00.083-05:00

Hello Everyone, Barb here. Happy New Year! I know that many of us make resolutions at the start of a new year. And many of us resolve to take better care of ourselves, by making healthy food choices, dieting and exercising. Research suggests that those who write down every morsel that enters their mouths during the course of a day, tend to not only loose more weight, they also keep it off! Sounds like a good plan to me and having a pretty little journal to keep track of all those bites is essential in my book! Here are a few of the Food Journals I created for my friends and me...

supplies~

stamp set: Organize It!(GinaK Designs)

card stock: True Black(Papertrey Ink) Ivory Layering Weight(GinaK Designs)

patterned paper: Picadilly Collection(Basic Grey) Modern Homemaker(October Afternoon) Recipe Time(American Traditions Designs) I Heart You(Pebbles)

other: black gingham ribbon(GinaK Designs) Classic Oval Nestabilities(Spellbinders) spiral Notebooks(Staples)

These little gems are the perfect size for tossing into your handbag, briefcase or back pack. And they were super simple to make. I picked up the notebooks from an office supply store, they sell them in packs of 5 or so and only cost a few dollars, so I was able to make several. I had some food themed patterned paper in my stash and thought it would be perfect for covering the fronts of the notebooks. The insides are lined paper, so there is lots of room for tracking what you chew! Aren't they cute? You want one? To be entered into a random drawing to win a Food Journal of your own, just leave a comment on this post, sharing one of your New Year's Resolutions by Friday, January 20th. The winner will be chosen on Saturday morning, January 21 and the results will be posted on my blog...THE BUZZ. These nifty notebooks aren't just for food journals. You can use them for a multitude of things...you can make a prayer journal, a praise journal, sketch book, inspiration journal, I have one that I write my craft shopping list in. When I plan to go out and about, I drop it into my purse in case I find a sale!

This is the beginning of a whole year of possibilities! We are hindered only by ourselves...branch out, learn something new, do something you've never done, try a new crafting style, learn another language and try to make every day matter! Thank you for visiting with me today, and I wish you ALL GOOD THINGS for 2012!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED.

Remember! Celebrate! Act!

2012-01-15T01:00:00.002-05:00

A Day On, Not A Day Off! This was the theme of this year's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. address given by Guess Speaker retired Army Col. Roy G. Plummer on Fort Benning last week. This was a great theme and a great event honoring Dr. King that was attended by not only soldiers but also by civilians from the surrounding area of Ft. Benning, Ga, Columbus, Ga and Phenix City, AL.

Photos courtesy of the Internet

In his address he "encouraged the audience to take time and find a need in the community, visiting organizations, rest homes, the homeless and wherever there is a need for help."

There are other special events going on in my area like the MLK Unity Parade of Excellence on Saturday, on Monday there's the MLK Unity Awards Breakfast and I'm sure there are other events in our community and local churches as well.

We all need to try to attend at least one event in our area, we all need to remember the love and hope that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had for his country and all people. It's also a great photo and teaching opportunity for our children. So don't just think of January 16th as A Day off but instead as A Day On.

How will you spend this MLK holiday?

Scrapbook Layout Planner

2012-01-13T06:00:00.003-05:00

Happy 2012 Everyone!

I hope you are ready for a new and exciting year full of creativity. As for myself, there are many projects that I would like to complete this year and the only way possible to get them done is to have some sort of a plan. So, I created a "Scrapbook Page Planner." It has prompts for layout size, color, supply list items, journaling, and sketching. The idea is to print out a few of these sheets and complete them when I have free moments during the day. That way when sitting down to scrapbook or while putting page kits together, I will already have an idea of what I would like to accomplish.

Attached is a copy of the planner sheet, please feel free to download (click the image) and print out as many copies as you need to get organized. Hope it helps!

New Year, New Skills

2012-01-06T01:21:00.000-05:00

Hope everyone's New Year is off to a creative and exciting start. The start of the New Year brings so many opportunities for change and growth. Many of us make goals or resolutions to to get healthy, save money, or to end bad habits. All of these types of resolutions are awesome, but don't forget about your crafty goals, too!

Well, I have several crafty goals for 2012 and one of them is to try new things and learn new techniques so that I continue to grow my skills and learn new ones. While flipping through the current issue of Scraps of Color E:spire I was reminded to take the opportunity to work on my goal of implementing digital elements into my crafting and also that I really want to take some Copic marker classes ( I have never used them). When I flipped to page 11 and saw the cool digital stamps that Robert Jackson shared with us, I knew I had to try them out! So I made a quick and easy birthday card for my son who will be 10 on Sunday! Since, I'm not so great at coloring images I printed the image out on kraft and just added a few pops of color. I really like how the image looks on the kraft and will be using this technique many more times. Oh, on a side note...have you seen some of the cool kraft based sheets of patterned paper lately? I think it's a great trend! What do you think?

So what are your crafty goals for 2012? What are some new techniques or products that you would like to try this year? If you have not already done so, please go and download your free copy of Scraps of Color E:spire today and find something that inspires you to meet your 2012 crafty goals! Cheers to a happy and crafty year!

Happy New Year!!!

2012-01-04T04:00:00.001-05:00

I am hoping that the New Year found you all Happy, Healthy, and Blessed! 2011 was a good year and 2012 will be even better.

We recently released the December/January Issue of Scraps of Color. It is full of wonderful Holiday ideas. The products that we spotlighted were so awesome, that I decided to use them for this blog post as well. My calendar below was created with 2 Heartfelt Creations stamps sets; A Cheery Kind of Day & Life is Good and a coordinating Cardinal die from the Cardinal Family die set. I created this calendar as a great start to the New Year.

2012 Coaster Calendar by Karen Jiles. Supplies- Stamps and Die: Heartfelt Creations; Cardstock and Metal Hinges: CTMH; Ink: Copic, Memento; Stickles: Ranger.

Handmade Calendars make wonderful pre and post Holiday gifts and are great additions to any craft room.

Tip: 3D- opportunities are always present when creating with Heartfelt stamps and coordinating dies. Continue the 3-D throughout your design by stapling your calendar together and popping it on your coaster base with 3-D tape. This allows you or the recipient to easily change the calendars out from year to year without damaging the base.

Wishing you all a Fabulous Year!!!

Karen

Beginnings and Endings

2011-12-29T04:00:00.012-05:00

I love that I get to post on the blog right after the latest issue of Scraps of Color E:spire Magazine comes out! If you have not already, do yourself a favor and take a look at the fabulousness in the December/January issue. With each issue, I learn something new and I am just in awe of the talent!

Since we are days away from the beginning of a new year, I’ve been thinking of all the wonderful things in store for 2012. My husband and I are planning to do some traveling and my nephew is graduating from high school. He’s the oldest grandchild, so he’s the first one of my nieces and nephews to graduate. I will try to behave appropriately at the commencement, but I make no promises! I’m so proud of him and wanted to start working on layouts I’ll add to a book I will make for him.

This first one I’m sharing is using a classic school portrait, but incorporating some interesting elements to try to jazz it up. The title is playful and uses several different fonts. I like how it turned out:

The Places You’ll Go by Moanica Caston. Patterned Paper and Embellishments: American Crafts; Cardstock: Bazzill; Metal Brad: Bo Bunny; Alphas; American Crafts Thickers

2012 promises to be a wonderful year. Take a moment to think about some of the events/moments you want to capture and get it done!

Happy Crafting!

Moanica

It's Here! Dec/Jan 2012 Issue of SOC Scrapbook Magazine!

2011-12-24T00:01:00.001-05:00

Myself along with the entire SOC Magazine Creative Team are happy to share with you the December/January 2012 Issue of the Scraps of Color Scrapbook Magazine! Another great issue filled with great crafting ideas for all of your holiday memories!

Please download your FREE copy here today!

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

Have a very Merry Christmas and a

Happy, Healthy Prosperous

New Year!

Sleigh bells...

2011-12-23T05:42:00.000-05:00

Do you hear them? Click to hear them...

We are at 48 hours and counting before Santa and his troupe of reindeer will be speeding across the sky's delivering toys and goodies to families everywhere.. Here at the White House, we are ready as well for the "jolly" ole guy to leave presents under the tree.

Here is a layout I created with some candid shots of the kids after we put up the Christmas tree.

I used Photovisi, an online digital product to produce this layout. It's free and easy so check them out for you collages.


Supplies: Craft card stock base card. Paper: The Paper Studio-everyday Kraft. Vintage Christmas them printed on photo paper.

I would like to extend a warm and heart felt "Merry

Christmas"....

Fun and Festive Pocket Card

2011-12-17T03:07:00.001-05:00

Hey Everybody, Barb here! Christmas really is just around the corner and if you’re planning to give gift cards, then this post is for you. I give gift cards all the time, but I don’t like using the standard envelopes that come with the gift card. I like to make my own. While browsing on the Internet, I came across a really cute way to present a gift card. And that is what I want to share with all of you. I’m also giving you a little sneak peek at one of the fun patterned papers from our generous sponsor Signify Pink. Isn’t it cute? I have another gift card holder featured in the upcoming issue of E:Spire magazine...watch for it!

Click to enlarge.

supplies-

patterned paper: Merry & Bright (Glimpses, Signify Pink)

card stock: Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink) Fresh Asparagus (GinaK Designs)

stamps: Friendship Jar, Friendship Jar Holiday Fillers, Signature Christmas (Papertrey Ink)

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Olive (Close to my Heart) Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink)

other: Apple Red Glitteritz glitter, Essentials Glue Pad, Copic markers, Sakura Stardust glitter pen, gold cord

And on the inside there is a pocket to hold the gift card.

These were fun and easy to make. Just a simple card base that can be used in many ways; for birthdays, weddings, graduation, you make the base and then decorate to suit your needs. I wanted to show you how to create your own. Soooo...

Gather these basic supplies and watch the video!

· one 8 ½ x 11 sheet of card stock

· scoring board- Martha Stewart, Scor-Pal or ScorBuddy

· bone folder

· adhesive

There are a lot of tutorials and videos on the Internet that give step by step instructions for everything from creating hand-crafted gift card holders, to learning how to digital scrapbook. Use your favorite search engine and explore! If you find something interesting, make it and then post your link in the comment area…we would love to see your artwork.

I know this is a busy time of year, but even with all the hustle and bustle, don't lose sight of what is really important...spending time with your family and friends. And if by chance, you can sneak in a little crafting time...

Create something beautiful!

Merry Christmas!

Quick and Easy Holiday Ornaments

2011-12-15T01:00:00.004-05:00

With the holidays fast approaching most of us have already completed our holiday decorations but there's still time for a few quick and easy projects. I made these cute ornaments using patterned paper from one of our Dec/Jan sponsors Nikki Sivils. Below is a list of what you'll need to make these:

Patterned Paper, Flower Punch

Styrofoam balls - I used 3" white balls

Glitter Glaze or Stickles

Flat head straight pins

Ribbon, pearls or crystal bling to cover the pin heads

Optional - Glimmer Mist to cover the Styrofoam balls

Start by punching out flowers from the patterned paper; next attach them to the ball using the straight pins. Once the ball is completely covered used the crystals or pearls to cover the pin heads. Next add your ribbon and bow for hanging and you're done...it's that easy! This is a great project for kids and a great way to use some left over holiday patterned paper.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Tip #1 - Put the Glitter Glaze or Stickles on the patterned paper before punching out your flowers, that way you don't have to do them individually.

Tip #2 - Use a heat tool to set the Glimmer Mist if using on the Styrofoam balls.

Scrappin' the Box

2011-12-13T06:00:00.007-05:00

Christmas is quickly approaching and hopefully we will be done with all of our shopping and/or gift making in time for the holiday. But, have you ever finished your shopping at the last minute to sit down to wrap gifts only to discover that you are out of wrapping paper? No worries, it's easy to wrap beautiful gifts using your scrapbook paper. It's a chance to give a gift with unique one-of-a-kind gift wrapping, especially if you make your own bows, or stamp your gift tags.

Gift Box: To create a gift similar to this use a few sheets of matching scrapbook paper and cover the outside of a box. Next, craft a simple bow from strips of a coordinating sheet of paper, and add gift tags. For a little more interest, add a contrasting satin ribbon around the box.

Party Popper Box: Cut an empty paper towel roll down to a size that will fit your gift. Place your gift inside the roll, then wrap it in brightly colored tissue paper. Tie the ends with floss or string and cut the edges with decorative scissors. Next use your scrapbooking paper to wrap around the roll and finish with a ribbon. For a more festive feel I used a Martha Stewart edge punch on the ends.

I hope you are able to use some of these ideas. May you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

PS: The digi-paper and tags will be available for FREE in the next issue of the SOC eSpire magazine!

Easy Holiday Fun Frame and WINNER!!!

2011-12-06T00:00:00.009-05:00

Are you running around with the Holiday hustle and bustle or are you an early bird who prepared way ahead of time for the season? Well, either way, I have a quick project for you today that you can prepare months ahead of time or within a few minutes if you need a quick little holiday treat to give or to add to your own space. You've probably noticed by now that I love to recycle and upcycle! So for this project I used a little frame that cost me less than 33 cents from Target Dollar isle to create a dry erase board to post silly little holiday sayings for my boys.

One of our amazing sponsors for the upcoming issue of Scraps of Color E:spire is Signify Pink - Glimpses! I had never used their products prior to this issue and let's just say I'm a fan now! I love the coordinating fun, bright colors of their Merry and Bright collection! It was really easy and fun to create with this line! And for my project all I had to do was cut one of the 4x6 journaling tags from the 12x12 double sided tags/journaling frames page and stick it into my little frame! Bam! An instant holiday fun dry erase board. The cute little stickers are from the Merry and Bright collection too. And, if you happen to pick up this collection another thing that you can do is personalize your frame with names or initials- it's a great way to use up your sticker sheet! These little frames make great teacher gifts too and of course you can add even more embellisment to suit your taste! If I had about 25 more I would use this as a holiday project for my son's class and maybe hang a few candy canes or other treats from the frame and a mini dry erase marker! Hmmm....I think I need to make an impromptu trip to Target! :)

Anyway, I hope I have helped you with a quick little project that you can make for gift giving, crafting with your kiddos, or something fun for your craft space! What are your go-to quick holiday projects? I would love to hear about them or better yet see them- so if you've created some holiday crafts be sure to link them up in the comments so we can be inspired by you!

Now it's WINNER time for last month's Thanksgiving project Studio Calico giveaway. We only had a couple of ladies actually link up their fall projects, and I appreicate both of them for playing along but unfortunately I only have 1 prize pack. So my 9yoa son and I did a very scientific drawing for the winner...I just wrote the names down on a piece of paper and he picked randomly...So Congrats....

AJ please email at ngj9600 at yahoo dot com by next Friday, December 16 so that I can get your Studio Calico goodies mailed out to you ASAP! Again, thank you ladies for taking the time to read and comment on the posts! Have a beautiful and safe holiday season!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

2011-12-04T04:00:00.001-05:00

We have been busy preparing for the December/January Issue of Scraps of Color. It is full of wonderful ideas that you will definitely want to take advantage of for Christmas. As a sneak peek, I am sharing a card that I made using some Heartfelt Creations stamp sets and coordinating dies. We are featuring Heartfelt Creations stamps and coordinating dies in the December/ January issue. I enjoy their products so much, because they make creating very easy and fast. During the Holidays, easy and fast is exactly what we need when it’s time to mass produce cards and send out to family and friends.

Wishing You Holiday Card by Karen Jiles. Supplies- Stamps and Dies: Heartfelt Creations; Cardstock: Coredinations; Ink: Copic, Memento; Stickles: Ranger; Ribbon: Essentials.

I used a distressed layer on this card to give it a more unique look. The stickles on the flowers adds that extra sparkle that makes this card even more special. I added a duplicate cardinal and angled him to the side to give the appearance of the cardinals sharing a branch. This also added a 3-dimensional look.

Have you finished your cards for the holidays? What quick and easy tips do you use to complete your holiday cards?

Enjoy the Holidays,
Karen

December Daily Project

2011-11-29T04:00:00.016-05:00

For the past few years, I’ve admired December Daily projects that scrappers post online. They are a fun way to reflect on the joys of the season and spend a few moments documenting the things that matter or are unique about the season. They take all forms, but usually are mini-albums. Just search the web for “December Daily” and you will pull up tons of ideas. I decided that this is the year I am going to dive right in!

So, with this post, I want to share my process as well as the list of daily journaling prompts that I plan to use. These are just suggestions for things I want to capture. You should use whatever strikes your fancy. The key is making the foundation pages in advance and limiting yourself to whatever supplies you pull out at that time, keeping it all together. That keeps you from spending time and effort trying to match up things later or (worse yet!) having to run out and buy something. Then, make your foundation pages – the pages that you’ll place any photos and journaling you have throughout the season.

Here’s my list of prompts. My album will be December 1^st-25^th. These can be a combination of photos and/or journaling:

1.Real or artificial tree?	9. Favorite holiday movie	17. Travel or stay home?
2. Decorations inside	10. Favorite ornament	18. Cards received
3. Favorite childhood toy	11. Holiday beverage	19. To do list
4. Christmas cookies	12. Favorite holiday song	20. Cake or pie?
5. Decorations outside	13. Holiday photo or letter	21. Best Gift Received
6. Shopping/Gifts 2011	14. Snow or no?	22. Religious traditions
7. Best gift given	15. Taking time to relax	23. Gratitude
8. Did/does Santa visit your house?	16. Flannel PJs	24. The Night Before
		25. December 25^th

First, I looked in my closet of supplies and pulled out some papers I thought might go well together. As you can tell, I mixed some more formal papers with some more fun ones. I grabbed 3 colors of cardstock, two sets of letter stickers and some embellishments – some came with the papers, others I just found in my stash. Because I wanted to use craft paper as my base, I cut up 25 9x9 pages. I found a 9x9, red album in the back of my closet that has to be at least 10 years old! I also punched 25 scalloped-edge circles to put on each page for the date. I plan to use number stickers or handwrite those.

December Daily Project by Moanica Caston. Patterned Paper and Cardstock Embellishments: Basic Grey & Echo Park; Cardstock: Bazzill; Alphas: American Crafts Thickers and Pink Paislee; Embellishments: Various

Here are some sample foundation pages. I purposely didn’t cover the entire 9x9 page with patterned paper, since I didn’t have enough paper to do that. But that’s another popular technique and is really pretty. This is simple and, more importantly, something I feel I can keep up with. That’s it!

So, who’s with me? Leave a comment if you're going to do a project. Go search through your stash; make a few foundation pages and get ready to capture the fun and magic of the season!

Happy Crafting!

Moanica

Be Thankful

2011-11-26T00:01:00.001-05:00

Hope you all had a very nice Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for so many things, especially my family. We had a wonderful time cooking and hanging out together at home, so I was able to find time to create.

In every issue of the e:Spire magazines we include a couple of digi stickers that I create especially for you. Digi stickers are not just for digital scrapbookers. They can be used by paper crafters as elements on layouts or cards. They can also be used in home decor as I did here with the Thanksgiving sticker I created for the October/November issue.

Supplies: RIBBA Frame - IKEA; Digi Sticker: Be Thankful by Camille (www.scrapsofcolor.com)

For this project I simply printed the sticker on cardstock to fit the frame opening.

If you haven't downloaded your FREE issue please do so. Make sure to also grab the free digi stickers found on page 12.

Happy Holidays and remember to be thankful for all of your blessings.

Camille

Thanksgiving, it's 24 hours away. Are you ready?

2011-11-23T06:16:00.009-05:00

thanks·giv·ing

noun /ˌTHaNGksˈgiviNG/ The expression of gratitude. I'm grateful for my life, my spirit, my family and my friends.

If you are like me, today is a very busy day. The shopping has been done, the invitations are sent and the turkey is all dressed up for the oven. I'm running on pure adrenaline. Just a month ago, I was preparing to send out invitations to my family and friends to join us for thanksgiving dinner, football and decorating the Christmas tree.

Living on base here at Fort Polk, LA, I am reminded daily that our service folks are here during many of the holidays. Family and friends are hundreds of miles away. Last year, we opened our home to my son's platoon. This year, we have just opened our home. Any service person can come by and have dinner. We are proud to do it and we are grateful to them for their service.

The invitation was digital and that allowed us to have an accurate count of how many people would be joining us.

Are you ready for thanksgiving day? Turkey, Ham, Brisket, collards, turnips, string beans, corn, coleslaw, potatoe salad, sweet potatoe souffle with marshmallows, cornbread and rolls are on the menu here at the White House. Pumpkin and sweet potatoe pie, apple pie and a cake are for desert. Various drinks and grandmom's adult hot chocolate to top it all off. What's on your menu?

Supplies: Shabby Princess - SF all in one kit.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks Giving

2011-11-17T00:01:00.049-05:00

Hello everyone, Barb here. Can you believe we are standing on the threshold of Thanksgiving? I love this time of year. I love everything about it! The cool crisp weather, the scent of wood smoke fires in the evening, the beautiful Autumn sunsets, the distinctly Fall colors of pumpkin orange, faded green, rusty brown and butter yellow.

During this season of gratitude, why not send an ‘I am thankful for you’ card to the special people in your life. Not only would it be surprise, but it would also brighten someone’s day. I am a firm believer in telling people how they have influenced my life, or how much I appreciate them. And what better way to spread a little love around than with a hand-crafted greeting card?

Click to enlarge

Card Supplies:

stamp sets: Holiday Best(Stampin’ Up!)

card stock: Vintage Cream(Papertrey Ink) Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango(Stampin' Up!)

patterned paper: Traditions Floral Paisley(The Paper Studio)

ink: Antique Linen Distress Ink(Ranger)

accessories: Paisley embossing folder(Provo Craft), Filigree embossing powder(Papertrey Ink), Deckled Edge Rectangles(Spellbinders), ribbon(Memory Mare),Tiny Twinkles(Taylored Expressions)

Creating “thankful for you” cards has become a tradition with me, something I work on all year. That way, I always have cards on hand when I need them. I know we all have our favorite holiday traditions…I am always curious about what everyone is doing. What is your most favorite Thanksgiving tradition? Share with us!

My wish for each of you is that you have a warm, wonderful and memorable Thanksgiving. Enjoy your friends and family and of course the delicious food. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures, because we want to see your scrapbook pages later.

And make sure you carve out a little craft time to create something beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving!

So Thankful for YOU!

2011-11-15T01:00:00.002-05:00

With Thanksgiving only a week away, I would like to take this time to say how thankful I am for being a member of the SOC design team and also how thankful we all are to have such wonderful readers and followers of the magazine and blog. It's hard to believe how quickly a year can go by when you're creating and sharing what you love doing.

Thankful card by Tena Ellison. Supplies - Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny;

Cardstock: Basic Grey Designer cardstock; Alphas: American Craft Thickers;

Leaf Punch: Marvy; Border Punch: EK Success; Ribbon: Hobby Lobby.

I have so much in my life to be thankful for...my family who's always been my biggest support fans, great friends and good health. I would also like to thank Tiare for giving me this chance to do something new and exciting with my scrapbooking skills again.

So if you haven't had a chance to check out the newest issue of the magazine yet, just click and download your copy today. It's free and always filled with lots of inspiration from sketches, digital designs, cards, altered art projects and more.

Have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving everyone!

Thanksgiving Place Card

2011-11-13T09:19:00.009-05:00

Time is flying by! Can you believe Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away?!! For some people it can be a stressful time of the year, as they prepare to host lots of family and friends. For me, it is a time to re-unite with family. When I was younger it seemed that the whole family lived in one place (no more than 15 minutes apart). Now we all live in different states. So, the thought of Thanksgiving is anything but stressful it is exciting, filled with food, friends, family and fun!

Of course since I am not hosting Thanksgiving, there is no need to defrost any turkeys, shred any cheese for baked macaroni & cheese, clean and cut collard greens, peel and bake candied yams, or roll out any dough for pie. I have the luxury of just showing up! So, to help out all of those people who are hosting Thanksgiving dinner I offer my contribution to your table. I have attached a place card that you may print and cut out for the holiday.

Tips: Double click the image to download. Use heavy cardstock and fold the card in half to allow it to stand on its own. Also, if you print a large copy of the image you can use it as a place mat...at the kiddie table perhaps.

Gratitude Game and Giveaway

2011-11-06T02:34:00.000-05:00

Happy Autumn, Ladies and Gentlemen! Autumn is one of my two favorite seasons! One of the main reasons why I love it is because of Thanksgiving! Of course, I'm grateful for my blessings and life experiences all year long, but the start of Autumn brings those things to the forefront for me. Last year I kept a gratitude journal for the entire month of November, and I'm making one this year too! I tried to "strongly encourage" my sons to keep one too, but that only lasted about a week! So, this year I tweaked my approach to getting them involved in recording their gratitude. Like most kiddos, my boys love games, especially when there is a prize involved! I decided to make a container to be placed in the family room (so it's always visible) that they can deposit a strip of paper with a gratitude statement each day.

Supplies: Patterned Paper, Stickers, Chipboard: Crate Paper;

Ribbon,Stamp: Maya Road; Ink:Jenni Bowlin; Embossing Powder: Tim Holtz

I recycled a chip container to be the deposit box. I used Mod Podge to secure the book paper and patterned paper to the container and then decorated it! I cut a hole in the lid of the container so that the slips of paper can be easily slipped in. Easy Peasy! The container is sitting on a table with a pad of paper and pen so that we can stop by anytime and drop a gratitude note it in the box! So, if your kiddos are motivated by competition or rewards like mine this is how I set up the "Gratitude Game" that we will play for the month of November (maybe longer):

1. Each person should deposit a gratitude statement into the box each day. I had to give my boys a limit for each day because my youngest son is a clever one and quickly thought that he would write a bunch in one day and fill up the drop box! So, I told them there was a max deposit of 3 per day and if they felt the need to document more then they should use a journal, too! Ha! Have to stay one step ahead of these kiddos!
2. At the end of the week we draw a random winner to win a little prize like a small toy, renting a movie, getting to have a later bedtime for a night, or getting to nix of a chore for a day. My boys are motivated by "winning" so I stress the point that the more entries they place in the container the more likely they are to win for the week! I love to hear the various things that we are all thankful for, so in addition to drawing a weekly winner, we read the sentiments aloud. It's a fun family activity that can generate great conversation at the dinner table. I'm keep the strips of paper and may make a mini album or tuck them in an envelope on a layout. I plan to make this a yearly tradition, and it will be fun to see how we change from year to year. I'm also thinking that we will take our Gratitude Game with us on Thanksgiving day! We will set it up at the door and have the guests write a statement and then at dinner of afterwards we can read everyone's gratitude statements and maybe do some random prize drawings there too!

Now... on to the GIVEAWAY!!!!!

A Grab bag of Studio Calico goodies!!!

I would love to see what Thanksgiving projects you have created recently. And, if you have not made any I would suggest making one of these little gratitude canisters because it's really easy and fun.. I didn't think of this until just this moment, but you could have each person in your family decorate a canister instead of having just one! If you need a starting point check out page 12 of the current issue of Scraps of Color E:spire because Camille created a super cute digi that you can use an an element for your project! And, there are Thanksgiving layouts on page 28 to use as inspiration for creating a project, too.

To enter the giveaway leave a comment with a link to your new or recently created Thanksgiving or autumn project (altered art, card, layout, or anything else you create) and you are in the drawing to win these goodies! Easy as pie!

And if you would like an additional entry blog and/or facebook (an additional entry for each one) about the giveaway and leave another comment with the link to your post!

I will draw a winner on December 6 on my next SOC E:spire blog post, so you have plenty of time to get crafty! Again, thank you for reading and supporting Scraps of Color E:spire! I am so grateful for each of you!

***I can only ship within the USA.***

HAPPY FALL!!!

2011-11-04T04:00:00.004-04:00

Hi there,

Happy Fall!!! Can you believe that Fall is here already?? I love this time of year. The tree leaves are turning into beautiful fall colors and the weather is so cooperative. In North Carolina, we have such a variety of beautiful trees, plants, and shrubs that we get an opportunity to enjoy the most wonderful colors this time of year. I like to take full advantage of the photo opportunities during this window of time. Fall scenes can be breathtaking and Scenic photos can become instant cards that are perfect for all occasions.

I took the following photos while on Lake Norman. As I enjoyed the lake, I could see all of the card opportunities as I took in all of this beauty.

The best part of these photos is the variation in color of the trees, but I also like that if I choose- I can print in sepia or black and white to get a completely different effect and I can also expand my set of All Occasion cards. Late October – December is usually a very busy time for us, so creating quick lovely cards is always a plus in my book and photo cards enable me to add to my collection instantly. The themes can be endless: Thinking of you, Missing you, Birthday Wishes, Hello-the list can go on and on. See my instant photo cards are below…

In Sepia...

So, are you taking full advantage of your Fall photo opportunities? I hope so. You could be building your card collection as well.

Hugs, Karen

Happy November Scraps of Color!!!

2011-11-01T11:50:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning simply feeling GRATEFUL. Could it be because it's November and time to start planning for Thanksgiving? Or maybe it's because the sun is shining, the fall colors are in full bloom and I am at home enJOYing a pajama day! One thing is for sure, this is indeed a great time of year. It all starts in October, when I gather with my girls for a weekend of laughter and creativity and the fun continues with Halloween and then on into November for Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas and we begin the new year with a bang out party at my house! It's just such a fun time of year for me and a great time that I cherish with my SOC Sistah friends.

Since moving to Georgia 8 years ago I have made so many friends and many are now like my family away from home. Having them makes getting through the holidays a bit easier and more JOYful. We are growing closer and enJOYing more time together each year. Speaking of which this past weekend, I had the pleasure of hanging out with some of my SOC Sistahs, their hubbies and kids at the Southern Belle Farm. What a GREAT day. We played like big kids, enJOYing the rides, maze, some tasty eats, the pumpkin patch, pig races and bike race.

I am forever grateful for the love, laughter and especially friendship they bring to my life. I cherish each moment and I am so thankful, at this time when missing family back home in Chicago becomes prevalent in my thoughts. They are always here...just when I need them. Thank YOU! And as you can see...they provide great picture taking opportunities! Which means they also enrich my scrappin' life! Yay!

This is just a great time of year to remember, to share, to laugh, to cherish, to create and to hold dear those who have touched your life! Don't forget to say, "Thank You," and break out those cameras for all of the fall fun this season brings! And if you need a bit of inspiration be sure to check out the October/November 2011 Issue of the SOC Magazine, it's chock full of great, fall ideas!

Happy November!

Get Out Front

2011-10-29T04:00:00.011-04:00

Have you seen the October/November issue of Scraps of Color E:spire Magazine? Simply fabulous! Camille did a layout entitled “Nature Lover” that inspired my post this month. Her gorgeous mix of people and nature photos reminded me to make sure I get from behind the camera and into some photos. I looked through my stack of printed pictures and was happy to find one of just me! I’d forgotten all about it, as I was so excited to photograph the sights and sounds of Chicago. So, here’s my layout with that photo.

I even made my own embellished butterfly with a Martha Stewart punch and some added bling.

Photo Op by Moanica Caston. Patterned Paper and Cardstock Embellishments: Echo Park; Cardstock: Bazzill; Yellow flower accent: Prima: Alphas; American Crafts Thickers and Pink Paislee

So my tip for you this month is to remember to get out in front of the camera while you’re capturing all of the fun and beauty of life!

Happy Crafting!

Moanica

Cool Digi Project: Photo Strips

2011-10-26T00:01:00.130-04:00

Happy Wednesday to all of my creative spirits.

Do you remember photo booths? You know the ones that would take about 4 pictures and print them immediately on a strip. I remember how much fun I had making funny faces with my family and friends anytime we would step into one of those. Today I am excited to share a really cool project that I created using Photoshop Elements.

I created the one on the left with four different funny pictures taken on my computer. The one on the right was created with four pictures taken while at the beach.

They each measure a little less than 1 1/2 inches wide by about 6 inches tall. The perfect size to pin up on bulletin boards, hang in school lockers, or include on a layout.

They also make great keepsakes to share with family and friends.

Just another way to use your favorite photo editing software.

I created this png file for you to try this on your own. Click to download. If you don't have Photoshop or a similar program you can use this with your word processing software. Just crop your picture to fit behind the frame openings, print and cut.

Enjoy.

Camille

P.S.
Leave me a comment because I would love to hear what you think about this project.

What does " Fight Like a Girl" mean to me.

2011-10-23T06:00:00.076-04:00

Hi Friends,

It has been a phenomenal month of October for me. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, we had a fabulous BCA Blog Hop and it is a celebration month for me as well. Let me share a little about why this is so dear to my heart.

I found a lump under my left arm in 1986 when my baby son was 2 years old. It wasn't a big lump and I was still in my mid 30's so I wasn't too concerned. I let it go thinking it was part of my normal cycle. That was in September. In October, I went for my yearly check up and told the doctor that I had felt a lump under my left arm pit the month before. After the examination as I was waiting for my next appointment, the nurse gave me an appointment to have a mammogram done that same day. It was a grueling couple of days for me awaiting the results. When I went back in for the results, I was panic stricken. The doctor came in and said it was "breast cancer" and a lumpectomy was in order. I had a 2 year old.. what would I do? The doctor had scheduled an appointment for me with an oncologist, who was waiting to talk to me. He explained the surgery, the complications, the risks and the benefits and of course, I opted to do anything I could. The surgery was successful, the treatment was successful and so far, all is well.

I remember when I was little, fighting with my brother's, they always said I "fight like a girl". I fought like a girl and won against breast cancer; now I'm fighting like a girl for others who are affected by this disease.

Here's a great tip: Remember to do your SBE (self breast exams) monthly and schedule your mammogram.

Kit: DHD_KTeague_ValleyofLove

Let's all fight like a girl... for those who need us not only during the month of October but every month.

As the American Cancer Society video says... Happy Birthday to you.... My wish as well is for many, many more.

Qadirah...

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

2011-10-18T16:38:00.008-04:00

Myself along with the entire SOC Magazine Creative Team are happy to share with you the October/September 2011 Issue of the Scraps of Color Scrapbook Magazine! Another great issue filled with sketches to help you create beautiful layouts quickly and easily, be challenged to use your cardstock, learn how to paint a pumpkin and be inspired to create "creepy" cards and more!

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 FANTASTIC Scrappy Glue from the Rubber Cafe. It's one of my new favorites!!! I use it for altered projects, small pieces and to add extra adhesive to my Thickers! So far, it hasn't clogged! Yay! But hurry, this giveaway closes on October 31, 2011 at 11:59pm.

Please note: We will have several giveaways thru October 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'

Feeling Un-Inspired?

2011-10-17T00:00:00.005-04:00

Hello everyone, Barb here. I want to take a moment to thank all of the participants of the SOC Breast Cancer Awareness Blog Hop! I hope everyone had a chance to visit all of the blogs, as there were some awesome projects being shared. I just love seeing all the pink things! A special thank you goes out to Cheryl for coordinating such a wonderful event. And also a big thank you to Tiare, for providing the platform for all things SOC!!

Okay, on to my blog post. Do you ever have days when you feel, well, un-inspired? You have gorgeous paper in your stash, lots of stamp sets, wonderful embellishments, luscious ribbon…everything you need to create a beautiful project. Everything except motivation and inspiration, basically, you’ve lost your ‘MOJO’. Yeah, that happens to all of us…don’t fret…I have a solution! If you think about it, inspiration is all around us. We can be inspired by colors, sounds, scents and photographs, the possibilities are endless. We just have to be open and receptive. One of my favorite go-to inspiration tools are card making or scrapbook themed magazines. I love browsing thru the pages and seeing all the wonderful submissions. I rarely copy the designs exactly as they are printed, but I do take bits and snippets from various projects and use them to create my own. Another tool I use frequently is the simple photograph. Pictures are great sources of inspiration and the Internet has millions of free images to browse thru. If you want to create a beach themed layout, search for beach pictures. If you would like to create a card using a rose stamp you have in your stash, and you want a fresh take on the color of roses, search for rose images. If you need to create a snow themed project, search for Winter pics…I think you get the idea. And don’t forget about all of the wonderful creative blogs out there. Visit them and make an Idea folder on your computer and start ‘collecting’ projects that you love.

The inspiration for my card today comes from this photo on my Pinterest board.

(photo credit via Pinterest)

It also features a design I saw in a recent issue of Card Maker magazine. The card opens on the side, after lifting the flap.You see by browsing thru my pin boards, I came across the candy corn picture. And it reminded me of a stamp set. It also brought to mind, this candy themed patterned paper. Then, while thumbing thru a magazine, a unique card design caught my eye and I decided to give it a try. I was armed with inspiration and I was ready to get busy! Creating this card was not only fun, but easy.

Click to enlarge.

Card Supplies:

stamp sets: Friendship Jar, Friendship Jar Fillers(Papertrey Ink)

patterned papers: Matilda(Cosmo Cricket)

card stock: Ivory Layering(GinaK. Designs), Dusty Durango(Stampin' Up!)

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Soft Suede(Stampin' Up!), Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress Inks(Ranger)

accessories: Copic markers, Clear Star Glitter pen, Rustic Twine(PTI), Oval, Oval Scallop Nestabilities, Friendship dies(PTI)

The next time you are feeling un-inspired, open up the recent issue of Scraps of Color magazine. You can download a copy for FREE. Just click on the link in the right side bar. You will find lots of seasonal inspiration there, everything from sketches to create awesome layouts, to card samples to step by step tutorials. The issues are jam packed with color photos, informative articles and freebies. The Creative Team always has wonderful projects showcased, as well. Now it’s your turn. What do you turn to when you're feeling un-inspired? Leave us a comment, we love hearing from you!

Has my blog post inspired you? GREAT!

Go create something beautiful.

It's here!

2011-10-15T01:00:00.004-04:00

Our new October/November issue of Scraps of Color Magazine is here. So make sure to go and download your free copy! It's full of inspirational pages, tips, products, articles and creative creations.

Backyard posing by Tena Ellison. Supplies - Cardstock: Bazzill; Ink: ColorBox;

Stamp: Stampabilities; Cartridges: Heritage, Storybook, Home Decor;

Flower Punch: EK Success; Pearls: Recollections.

Check our Technique section which focuses on creating with cardstock only. I know we all love our patterned paper but its fun to mix things up a little and try something different. In my layout above I only used cardstock, ink and my Cricut to make this page. I love how easy it was to match the colors with my photos.

So whether you're a traditional paper scrapper, a digital page designer or a card maker, there's great inspiration in the Technique section for all. I hope you enjoy reading through the new issue of SOC Magazine and if you're really inspired to create, please share with us. You can post your creations in the SOC gallery.

Enjoy and happy scrapping!

Top 5 Scary Movies!

2011-10-13T06:00:00.008-04:00

Greetings Creative People!

By the time you read these words, I'll be gone. I am currently enjoying myself on a cruise ship somewhere in the Caribbean, woohoo!!! Don't worry, I'll be sure to toast it up for you!

Well, my all-time favorite season is here and one of my favorite holidays is quickly approaching...Halloween! To get you into a spooky mood, I wanted to share this quick digital layout that I created using the free digi-kit available in the upcoming October/November issue of the SOC magazine. Be sure to download your free copy this coming week! I listed out some of my favorite horror movies. Do you enjoy scary movies? What are some of your favorites?

Tip: To make my photograph match the layout I tinted my photo with a touch of purple from my background paper. Use the eyedropper tool to grab the exact color you need. Then add a photo filter over the image using the color you've selected.

October is a Busy Month

2011-10-11T08:18:00.000-04:00

We have quite a few areas to cover on the blog this month. Karen focused on the bright combination of black and orange representing a fall focus and Kay Tee is reminding us that it's never too soon to begin December holiday projects. There's one more observance that needs to be mentioned and that is how important it is to:

THINK PINK

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. This is the time of year that has been set-aside to honor those in our lives that have succumbed to this disease, applaud those that have met the challenge and been able to rise above it and those of us that appreciate the battle and are willing and able to stand beside our sisters and brothers as they fight the good fight. Together we will continue to support research and together we will have one final celebration, when our medical society announces that they have found a cure.

We're doing our part at SOC. In case you didn't get the news...there is an impressive blog hop in process. 14 of your fellow brothers and sisters are sharing "pink" projects. Be sure to visit each blog and leave your comments to be eligible to win a fantastic prize offered by our Scraps of Color founder.

Here is the list to get you started:

Check here for a list of participants! So come on by, and help us turn the blogosphere pink!!

For those who do not know what a blog hop it. Begin at the first blog and you will find links to all who are participating in the hop. Visit each participating blog for ideas, inspiration and possible prizes. Be sure to leave comments or follow any of the posted requirements to be entered to win prizes. You "hop" from one blog to the next. With this hop we are honoring Breast Cancer Awareness. Please visit and support the cause.

From Scraps to Holiday Stocking Stuffers

2011-10-09T01:00:00.029-04:00

While most are focused on planning their Thanksgiving dinners, crafters are usually focusing on crafting for Christmas. With funds being limited for everyone these days - quick handmade gifts can fill friends and families stockings...for very little money. Mini composition books are the perfect gift to give for every age and gender on your list.

These books are easily found at Target, Walmart - even the dollar store.
Not only can you make these books in under an hour, it's a great way to get rid of all those scraps you've been saving.

These little books are perfect gifts for your neighbors, co-workers, the students in your life ... anyone who still loves to jot down their notes ... it's the perfect gift - so don't waste time - get started! The holidays will be upon us before you know it.

A Scary Fairy and a Giveaway

2011-10-06T02:48:00.001-04:00

In the last SOC issue I had the pleasure of working with the Fairyopolis stamps, which are super cute! On pages 16-18 you can check out what Barbara, Karen, and I created with them. I also showed you a little bit more about them last month on the blog, too. Well, I don't know about you, but I like to make my supplies last, so I started thinking how I could dress up these cute little fairies into scary ones for the Halloween season! I love products that are versatile and can be used for more than one purpose.

Just by stamping on a neutral patterned paper, embossing, and adding ink and mist I transformed this once cute fairy into a grungy one that fits right into my Halloween themed tag! I know I say this all the time, but every time I look back through the issues of SOC I am able to find a new inspiration or jumping off point! I challenge you to take a look back at the last issue and see something that you may have missed the first time or two! And to challenge you even more, I would love for you to create something based upon that inspiration and come back and share it with us here! And for doing these things you could actually win some scrap candy from me!
I have a little treat that I'm giving away on my blog. Please come over and check it out because there are several ways to gain entries! So hop on over to my place at www.myeyesandheart.blogspot.com and I have a treat not a trick for you!

Have a great week!

2011-10-05T00:43:00.003-04:00

ScrappinAbby!!!!

Woohoo! You are the winner of this sweet Teresa Collins Stamp Storage Album. 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 October 25, 2011 to receive your prize.

Please note: All prizes will be mailed at the end of October. Winners are chosen via random number generator.

Stay tuned for our next great giveaway, coming soon!!!

Welcoming October...

2011-10-04T04:00:00.005-04:00

Hi there,

In preparing for the upcoming issue, one of our themes was Halloween. We had so much fun with this theme that I thought that I would create some more goodies to share with you. I created a Halloween card and a treat container. Both were created with some fun papers from Die Cuts With a View. I absolutely love filling little handmade Halloween containers for my girls to give to their teachers, so this little set will be duplicated for sure..:)

Halloween Treat Container & Card Set by Karen Jiles. Supplies- Patterned Paper: Die Cuts With a View; Cardstock and Stamp: Close To My Heart; Ribbon: Martha Stewart and Paper Studio; Ink: Vintage Photo Distress Ink; Punch: Martha Stewart.

Halloween is just around the corner. So, what kind of Halloween goodies will you create this year?

Karen

It's World Card Making Day!!!

2011-10-01T07:57:00.000-04:00

Yay! And what better way to celebrate the day than with one of my SOC Sistahs at an ALL DAY CROP! Yeh, baby! Lisa Renee and I will be crafting together all day at the BUMC Fall Crop. On my list of things to do...make cards, of course.

How are you celebrating the day? I hope you'll be making cards. Here is one to start your day.

I created this fun card using BoBunny papers and rub ons, Bazzill Cardstock and May Arts Ribbon. I really like how it turned out. It's a little different than what I typically do.

Anyway, I hope you have some fun planned for the day and if you need a bit more card making inspiration, be sure to check out the current issue of Scraps of Color Magazine here.

Oh...and don't forget we've got a giveaway going on right now! But you've got to play to win!

Have a CRAFTFUL day!

Changes

2011-09-29T04:00:00.006-04:00

Well, Fall is in full swing and I can’t help thinking about all of the changing that takes place – seasons, weather, clothes – even the drink flavors at Starbuck’s! So, I pulled out some photos from a recent change in my life. I’ve recently gone from two households (because of a job assignment) back to one. No more living in two different time zones! This seemed like a perfect time to make a layout with the photos.

The photos aren’t the best, but I’m so glad I remembered to grab my camera before the moving men cleared the place out. For 4 ½ years I called this my "home away from home" and tried to make it as cozy as I could. This layout will always remind me that I persevered and made it work!

Don’t forget to capture and document the changes in your world!

Win This Sweet Teresa Collins Stamp Storage Album!!!

2011-09-27T10:38:00.002-04:00

It's time for another FABULOUS SOC Giveaway!!! Woot! Woot! This week we are giving away this pretty stamp storage album from Teresa Collins. This one is for all of you savvy stampin' sistahs who need a bit of extra storage!

This handy storage album comes with 10 storage sleeves for easy storage of your clear and rubber stamps.

Great! How do I win? It's easy just:

Make sure you have signed up for the Scraps of Color Scrapbook Magazine email updates (TOP right side bar).
Next be sure to visit the Teresa Collins web site and check out her cool stamp maker! You can create your own stamps! Wow!
Lastly, come back here and leave a comment telling us why you "need" this storage album by Sunday, October 2, 2011, 11:59pm est!

While here be sure to check out pages 9-10 of the August/September Issue to learn more about Teresa Collins Stampmaker and be sure to visit their web site for more project ideas and giveaways!!!

Please note: All prizes will be mailed at the end of the month 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 you are a winner. Announcements will be made via the blog only. Unclaimed prizes will be forfeited.

EnJOY!

The LAST Hoorah!!

2011-09-23T03:04:00.002-04:00

The long, hot summer has come to an end. The weather is changing, the pool is closed, the kids are back in school and the holidays are quickly approaching. My son drained the kiddie pool and put away the backyard toys. Just when we thought it was safe, we had one more very hot day. By noon, the temperature was 94 degrees. Braelyn, my 3-year-old grand-daughter, came bounding down the stairs insisting that she needed her bathing suit. I remember putting that away. After some protesting, she took off her dress, shoes and socks and ran outside to find that the pool was empty and daddy was cleaning up. I wish that I could have captured the pleading she did to convince him that she was so hot she needed her pool. Well that being said, here is what dad did to cool her off.

The photos were taken with the shutter speed enabled so I was able to catch the "action shots" in this layout. I used a very cute element sticker by Camille to accent the pictures. You can download the "Summer Fun" sticker on page 15 of our current E:Spire issue HERE. Also, check out the front cover, it features my Slip N Slide layout as well as page 36 for other water fun layouts.

Be inspired and then Create!
Qadirah

Geek Is Chic

2011-09-20T10:58:00.000-04:00

Happy Hellos Everyone:

For the past five or six years, I have sent my son off to school accompanied with a back-to-school note card wishing him the best school year ever. This year was no different. Last year, I discovered my son has come to really appreciate my little first day of school note cards. Boy did that make me feel good. I usually place the note card some where in his back-pack or notebook where I am sure he will discover it before the end of the school day.

This year was no different. If any thing, this year's card was most important. Kevin entered the eight grade this year. Every thing is changing and the most important thing I wanted him to remember is being a 'Geek' is truely chic. I wanted him to remember that geek is not a dirty word, but a compliment to his academic discipline.

Now, that you know what it is I have done for that special student in my life, what is it that you do for the special student in your life?

Peace & Blessings to
You & Yours

Lorie

Back to School

2011-09-17T00:01:00.047-04:00

Hey everybody, Barb here. With school back in session, many of us with school-age children, may be able to carve out a block of time to get some serious scrapping done and that is super exciting to me! I always take a first day of school picture of my girls. I like how fresh and hopeful they look, I like the excitement on their faces and the anxious gleam in their eyes. Putting together a ‘first day’ page can be really fun and easy. I let my girls choose the photo they want showcased, that way I know they’ll appreciate it later, and then I choose my supplies. I try to keep my pages age-appropriate, as well. Since this daughter is in high school now, I used subtle hints of school…lined paper in the title area and small embellishments around the journaling.

First Day of 9^th Grade by Barbara Walker. Supplies- template-Shabby Princess; Digital Kits:Hop Scotch, Hop Scotch School Additions, Barefoot-Shabby Princess

Many digital scrapping sites offer school-themed kits. Browse thru your favorite site and see what they have to offer. Or visit your local scrap book store and take a look at their school selections. I know some stores stock paper, card stock and embellishments that coordinate with the local schools', theme and colors..you could make an entire album of your students’ school times, what a keepsake that would be! No matter the type of scrapping you choose, just grab some photos, create a page or two and share them with us in SOC gallery. We love looking at your artwork!

Need of some inspiration? Download your FREE copy of E:spire, and take a look at the wonderful school-themed layouts on page 35.

Now go on...then go create something beautiful!

Scrapping school portraits

2011-09-15T01:00:00.002-04:00

Pre-K by Tena Ellison. Supplies - Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Fancy Pants; Cardstock: Kraft; School Embellishments: Reminisce; Punch: EK Success, Fiskars; Distress Ink: Tim Holtz.

4th Grade by Tena Ellison. Supplies - Patterned Paper: Sassafras Lass, Cosmo Cricket, Simple Stories; Foam Letters: American Craft; Felt Ribbon: My Mind's Eye; Punch: EK Success; Flower: Misc.

Okay, if you're like me with a child that's all grown up now but you still have all his/her old school photos...you know the ones that you have left over from being taken twice a year, every year and no matter how they turn out you end up buying them anyway LOL. Well I've got plenty left over after sending to family and friends.

I've been working on a 6 x 12 landscape album just for these photos and since I already have all the school photos I want to keep in frames or my own albums, this album will go to my daughter. I'm also adding an educational quote on each page and using any old school memorabilia from each year that I still have.

It's a great way to have all those school portraits together in one place and finally all scrapped.

I would love to hear how you're planning to scrap your kids, nieces or nephew school photos. You can always post and share your layouts in the SOC gallery. If you need some inspiration, check out the great back-to-school layouts in the Seasonal section of our current issue starting on page 35.

Remember with school already back in session "Picture Day" is coming very soon!

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

2011-09-14T06:01:00.011-04:00

An'Jenic!!!!

Woohoo! You are the winner of this great wonderful 12x12 Fairyopolis Paper Pack from Crafter's Companion. 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 September 25, 2011 to receive your prize.

Please note: All prizes will be mailed at the end of September. Winners are chosen via random number generator.

Stay tuned for our next great giveaway, coming soon!!!

Classygirl!

How About A Hybrid?

2011-09-13T06:00:00.002-04:00

Summer is nearly over *sigh*. Hopefully, everyone took full advantage of Labor Day weekend a couple of weeks ago to squeeze the last bit of summer fun out of 2011. For me, this summer flew by and I didn't really have a moment to do anything summery. So, I was delighted to hear that my Mom was throwing an improptu pool party and cookout on Labor Day weekend.

Here is a hybrid layout that I created using a photo from that weekend and the free digikit that I shared in the August/September issue of the magazine. It was very simple, I printed out two of the patterned papers, recolored the journaling tag, and used Make The Cut software and my cutting machine to create the Bathing Beauty embellishment.

What can you create with the kit? Be sure to download your copy of the magazine for this freebie and many other scrapbooking and cardmaking ideas.

There's still time to win...

2011-09-11T16:50:00.000-04:00

...this wonderful pack of 12x12 Fairyopolis Patterned Papers! All you need to do is share a link to the recent issue of the Scraps of Color Scrapbook Magazine on your blog or Facebook page. Get the details here! But hurry this giveaway ends tomorrow, September 12, 2011 11:59pm est.

Good Luck!

In Remembrance

2011-09-11T00:19:00.009-04:00

As I prepare this post I pause to reflect on the significance of this day in our history. Most anniversaries, especially after ten years are celebrations of bliss and harmony. Today, I leave you to your own thoughts and reflections and step away from our usual post of creativity and inspiration. What I will share is a poem I have referred to many times as I sat and pondered the world in which we find ourselves:

The American Hero

by Roger Robich

The American Hero always comes through
To capture our hearts with a spirit so true

Some proudly are soldiers who march in harm’s way
Insuring our freedom, courageous they stay

While others come forth as civilians so brave
Determined in purpose, so steadfast to save

We should always keep clear a place in our heart
For each has a value beyond precious art

Their duty to country will not be surpassed
Please honor their courage, for some it’s their last

We live in a world which can be hard to bear
Thank God for these people, how greatly they care

Do ponder new heroes and what they will face
And pray for their safety no matter their place

Our heritage brings out the best, we all know
Our great book of heroes is destined to grow

Seasonal Inspirations at SOC E:SPIRE

2011-09-09T01:00:00.007-04:00

Trying to find a reason for that season of crafting? Get a cup of coffee or tea, put your feet up, and enjoy the newest issue of SOC E:SPIRE.

My inspiration painting this background was the ocean. The sound of the ocean ... the look of the ocean ... it enhances everything it touches .. even our moods when we hear it.

Page 26 shows you how to create a fabulous background to add to your crafting projects. It's so simple - I'd love to see you try. And don't just limit yourselves to using your painted elements for traditional paper crafting - think outside the box!! ... think DIGITAL.

Digital seems to be all the rage ... but like traditional scrapbooking, template use can sometimes give the "same ol' same ol'" look and feel to various projects. Painting your elements, sanning them and incoporating them into your digital layouts is a way to make your work standout.

TIP: In this age of digital templates and limited use angel policies, you can always be assured that painting your own elements and backgrounds make you and your project stand out as being truly unique.

Get Published in our Oct/Nov 2011 Issue!

2011-09-08T21:19:00.000-04:00

Submit your work for your chance to be published in the October/September issue of Scraps of Color Magazine!

We want to see your layouts, cards and other paper crafting projects. Submit your work to our current page call and you may be published in the upcoming Oct/Nov 2011 issue of Scraps of Color!

You may submit one or more projects to each of the calls below. We are currently looking for:

Halloween - Ghosts, goblins, tricks and treats. Share your Halloween creations with us.
Thanksgiving - Be grateful! Share your layouts of gratitude, family gatherings and feasts.
SOC Inspired Creations - Have you been inspired by a sketch, layout, card or altered item presented in an issue of Scraps of Color. Share your creation!
Your Scrap Space: Big room, small space. We want to see your fun, creative scrap room or space. Where do you create? Share your photos or your creative space and you might be featured on our blog or in the magazine.
Crop Happenings: Having a charity crop? Let us know. We just might share it with our readers! Had a fun scrappy gathering? Met up with some scrappy pals? Share your photos and we might feature you in an upcoming issue.
Our Voices: We want to hear from you. Do you have questions or comments about Scraps of Color Scrapook Magazine. Are you excited about the current issue or upcoming issues, blog features etc? Have you been inspired by one of our Creative Team Members? Share your work and/words and you might be featured on our blog or in the magazine.

Submissions are due by September 20, 2011!

Be sure to follow our submission guidelines listed here:

Submissions must be never before published items whether in print or online.
Submissions must be a high quality photo, or scan(scan preferred). If photographed, please photograph with a light or white colored background.
Save as 200dpi,
By submitting your creations for possible publication you agree to the terms as provided here.
Include the call subject in your email subject
Email each submission separately to: classygirl at mac dot com
Submission must include: project title, your name and supplies list. Pay particular attention to the supply formatting.
Submissions that do not STRICTLY follow the guidelines will not be considered.
All submissions will be entered to win a prize pack from our sponsors. All published artists will also receive our highly coveted, "I've Been Published" SOC Button to display on your blogs, web sites and/or signature lines.

SAMPLE SUBMISSION.

Definitely Not Routine by Tena Ellison. Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Patterned Paper: Basic Grey; Rub ons: Fancy Pants; Pearl Flourish: Prima; Vellum: The Paper Studio; Font: JI-Cutins.

Fairyopolis Stamps are dreamy

2011-09-06T00:29:00.006-04:00

Have you read the latest issue of Scraps of Color? Well, I surely hope so, but if you have not just click the icon on the sidebar and it will take you right the e-zine! There was so much information and inspiration in this issue that it's hard for me to focus on just one thing for this post! So, I made a birthday card that incorporates a couple of the topics from the issue.

I had the pleasure of working with Crafter's Companion's Fairyopolis stamps for this issue. The images are super cute and produce very clean images. The stamps are so versatile and the design team used them in so many projects which are featured on pages 16-18. Please, go and take a look at all of the projects! I really enjoyed working with the stamps and thought they would be perfect for creating a birthday card for my little cousin who's going to be 5 next week. For this card I stamped the image with Versamark on kraft paper for an instant 'fairy of color' and embossed it with bright purple. In this issue there is also an article on stitching, so I added some hand stitching to bottom of the card and a little faux stitching around the sticker, too. Please go check out all of the fab projects on pages 22-25 that the ladies created with stitching.

The fairy that I used on this stamp is one of my favorites from the collection because her hand is uplifted and it is so easy to add 3-D elements for her to hold. For the banner that she is holding I just cut a scrap piece of paper, misted it with water, and rolled it into a little pole to hold the hand cut banner. Bending the banner and embossing the sentiment also add texture to a very simple yet sweet card.

Would you like a chance to create with the Crafter's Companion Fairyopolis stamps? Well, you are in luck because there is a giveaway in the current issue of SOC! Go check it out on page 6 for information on how to enter to win! Oh, and there is a giveaway for a Fairyoplis 12x12 paper pack, too! Wow! So, what would you like to create with these cute stamps?