January is National Hobby Month!

A hobby is defined as an activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation, primarily for pleasure.

Most of us choose to start the New Year off with resolutions of better health, religious and financial goals. These are all great ways to start anew; we need a healthy body and spirit to go with a healthy mind, especially a creative  mind.

I created the layout below about one of my favorite hobbies, gardening. I love seeing the results of the plants, fruits and vegetables I've planted just as much as seeing a finished scrapbook page or altered art project.

Flowers feed the soul by Tena Ellison. Supplies - Cardstock: Bazzill Basic; Patterned Paper:

My Mind's Eye, Echo Park; Alphas: American Craft Thickers, Making Memories tiny 

sticker letters; Brads & Banners: My Mind's Eye, Echo Park.

So even if you already have several hobbies or if you're looking to start a new one, what better time to start than with the New Year?

What are some of your favorite hobbies? Remember a hobby should be fun, something that relaxes you and most of all bring you joy!

Celebrating National Craft Month!

Did you know that over 56% of US household craft each year? Crafting has many benefits, it has been shown to reduce stress, bring family members and friends closer together while learning new skills and it's fun!

I wanted to share a layout I made that also shows another of my favorite craft project, making decorative pillows. I'm not quite ready for the fashion world when it comes to sewing but I do love making pillows. So when my daughter's friend asked if I would make pillows for her daughter's baby room I was more than happy to.

Pillows for Jordan by Tena Ellison. Supplies - Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Crate Paper, My Little Shoebox; Alphas: Basic Grey; Pearl Flourish: Prima; Distress Ink: Ranger-Tim Holtz; Cuttlebug & Embossing Folder, Handmade flower.

For those of you who don't make crafts but always wanted to what better time to get started than during National Craft Month. You can check out easy projects from your local craft stores or check out how to videos and tutorials by searching online. There's lots of ways to get started so stop putting off learning something new, you'll be happy you did.

Share your favorite craft projects or if you plan to learn a new one...happy crafting!

Where's your purse?

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

It’s National Craft Month!!!

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

I'm Bringing Staples Back!

Yeah, I know. They haven’t gone anywhere, but I think we need to bring them back to the forefront. If not during National Craft Month, then when? LOL! So, I’m reaching down into my stash and pulling out my stapler and colored staples – remember them? What I love about them is that they are simple, simple, simple and add just a hint of color to a project. They don’t command center stage or demand to be the focal point. They’re kind of like the secret ingredient in a fabulous recipe. You know it’s there, but you can’t quite put your finger on it! So, here’s my layout using staples. I’ve used them in two places. See if you can spot them:

I used them on the strip in the middle of the page. And on the little half-circle embellishment at the top of the page. To make this, I simply cut three 1-inch circles out of patterned paper, applied adhesive and layered them across the top of the page. Leave half of the circle hanging off the edge. Then, flip the page over, insert into your trimmer and trim off the excess part of the circles. Use the edge of the paper as your guide in the trimmer. Easy, peasy! Now, go dig out your staples and help me “bring staples back”!! Happy National Craft Month! Moanica

What A Weekend!

Happy Hellos!!!

What a weekend! What a great weekend! This weekend was a weekend of new beginnings. Friday commenced our wonderful blog hop and Sunday was the beginning of a new season---Spring. I'm sure a lot of wonderful first took place in between. Although the weekend has come to an end, National Craft Month continues and we're one day closer to the second edition of E:spire Magazine.

As I began to think about the type of card I wanted to share with you, I was led back to a floral design. Only this floral card differs from the card many of you saw during the blog hop. I pulled out one of my favorite stamps, Flowers & Swirls from Hero Arts and began to create. It's a perfect cluster of flowers to celebrate the season, Mother's Day or a birthday.

With a SU die, cut a piece of craft paper, stamp the image on both the craft die cut paper and white paper; color both images with desired markers (I used Copic markers.); distress the edge of the die cut paper with Tim Holtz's distressing ink; spritz with desire glimmer mist; apply to hold punches to the bottom center of the craft paper and insert ribbon; cut selected flowers from the white card stock; apply dimensionals and place on top of the craft image stamp; add a little bling and gel ink; using dimensionals place the craft die cut onto the burlap and adhere to the colored cardstock; and you're done.

Now that you know what I have done, that leads me to my question for you. There are stamp companies I simply L.O.V.E. I love Hero Arts, Waltzing Mouse, Impression Obsession, PaperTrey, The Artful Stamper, Verve Stamps, and Flourishes just to name a few.  When it comes to stamping what's the stamp company you wouldn't want to live without?

Peace & Blessings,

Lorie

A Few Good Collection!!

Hello SOC Fans!

Have you been inspired to Scrap? Well, with it being National Craft Month I sure hope SO! I am so excited to  share a few of my favorite NEW collections!! Okay,I NO we really don't need ANY more supplies... Right?? Hey I buy for inspiration, that's what I tell myself!! :)

A few of my favorite new lines are!! Drumroll Please..........
Little Yellow Bicycle
Twig Collection: What I love..Great for male pages,Fun Spring page &Embellies are amazing

My Minds Eye:
Stella Rose Collection: What I love.. Everything! Seriously amazing collection

Echo Park:
For the Record Collection:  what I love..Very vintage feel love it!!

I have played with some of the new collection! I am soo looking forward to creating with Stella Rose!

I will share my lasted creation using Little Yellow Bicycle : Twig Collection

xoxo
Chalese

So Lucky to be National Craft Month!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! Not only do we get to celebrate this month with green, shamrocks, and gold...it's also National Craft Month! What better reason to "get your craft on!" Well, I wish to bring you a bit o'both! You may have seen these all over the internet...cupcake toppers! They are cute and make for great accents to not only cupcakes, but also as little tags and notes And they are super easy to make!!!
So first gather your materials:

• punches-various sizes
• paper-in whatever shade catches your fancy-I'm using purple and green
• stamp ink and soft sponge-for inking the edges-gives it and extra "umph!
• glue-for the layers
• computer-if you are going to print your design instead of using stickers or traditional embellishments.I used the awesome digital buttons created by one of our very own SOC artists, Aysha!!!-you can find the post for them here!
• ribbon-for an extra touch if using as a tag
• toothpicks-if using as a topper
• love-just your love of making things!

Assemble:

-print or make your design

-punch out your paper

-arrange first how the layers will appear-I like to make sure the back is also decorated

-now edge your papers in the ink color of choice with your sponge-this really sets off the piece!

-glue one side, then adhere toothpick if making a topper


-glue next set then glue on top of first set

-if making a tag-punch hole on top and add ribbon.

-be sure to give them away and delight in the look on their faces! It also helps to have the cupcake!


-Remember that you can make these for any occasion and they make a fun lasting impression. And trust me, everyone will marvel in what you created!!


Don't forget to check out SOC's premiere issue-it's free to subscribe! It is packed with creative greatness that will light your creative sparks!  And also check out our sponsors this month:

Apron Strings Kit Club http://www.apronstringsdesigns.com/

The Treasure Box Club http://www.thetreasureboxclub.com/Home.html

Create n Crop http://www.createncropevents.com/

May luck be with you! Happy St. Patty's Day!!! And Happy National Crafting Month!!!


ONE MORE REMINDER!-------Join us for our Blog Hop HERE that starts tomorrow!!!!!!! Lot's of lucky treats in store!!!!

Quick and Easy with Die Cuts

December is usually the most exciting and event filled month of the year, for ordinary folk that is. And then, some brilliant person came along and decided that MARCH should be National Craft Month and whoo hoo it's been "on" ever since. We have 31 "official" days to celebrate both our craft and each other. If you wanted to, you could find an event, contest or blog hop every day this month to participate in.Which means, designing, assembling, modifying and critiquing at warp speed. What it doesn't mean is that we can ignore the regular "stuff" we still have to make for birthdays, celebrations and thinking of you. So, I thought I'd make a quick and easy card to share. With the help of four different dies I was able to whip this little presentation together in less the 20 minutes.




1. Select your card stock and cut to 4 1/2 inches X 12 inches.

2. Run through your die cut machine. For this design I used the Sizzix A2 w/flap die

3. Cut a 4x4 inch piece of coordinating card stock.

4. Run through a embossing die folder.

5. Cut two pieces of white card stock to 4 inches and create a border with any scalloped die.

6. Using a flower stamp with a matching die, stamp and then cut flower and leaves and attach.

7. Attach a four inch length of ribbon.

See, quick, simple and easy.

Enjoy National Craft Month!

THINK SPRING!

With the beginning of National Craft Month also comes springtime yearnings! Want to add a touch of springtime to your paper crafts? .. but make it unique?

Add a painted touch. I know, I know, you can't paint ... but guess what? You can!
It doesn't have to be perfect. Use a liner brush to add lines to your blank ATCs:



Use a round brush to add your blooms:




The wonderful thing about painting - its inexpensive, it is forgivable - if you make a mistake - just paint right over it and begin again.

Take your inspiration from some of the fabulous papers that youre using in your paper crafts ... or take a picture of blooms starting to emerge as the seasons change. Just start small and paint your inspiration.

ATCs are perfect, because they are little touches of artistic perfection which can be tucked into the front of a card as collectible art - or incorporated into a layout. So celebrate Spring and National Craft Month by taking a unique approach to your everyday paper crafting - and add a painted touch!

It's National Craft Month!!!

This is the perfect time to pull out any unfinished projects, cards, and layouts and complete them. I would love to say that I don’t have any, but I do….:) I kind of like that I do have those unfinished pieces. On days when the Mojo isn’t working, I pull out my unfinished projects and complete 1 or maybe 2. It can be so much fun.

Today, I decided to pull out an unfinished 6 x 6 card. Love those!!! When I purchased the paper, I absolutely loved it and was very inspired to create something beautiful. I got home and started to match cardstock and embellishments. Then every wonderful idea escaped me and my Mojo was lost. So, like so many projects before it, I abandoned my card and moved on to something else. Now remember, I already chose my embellies, cardstock, and paper- the best part about this little scenario is that my card is now in kit form. When I decide to revisit the card, I can just pick back up where I left off.
With this card, I lovingly distressed the edges-love that. If you recall, in our premiere issue- page 34, I distressed the edges to achieve a worn look on my “Live” layout. I wanted to achieve that here too. There is something about distressing edges and adding ink that transforms a piece.

Summertime Card by Karen Jiles.Supplies- Patterned Paper: Creative Imaginations; Cardstock: Stampin’ Up!; Ribbon: May Arts; Linen Thread: Stampin' Up!; Rub Ons: Heidi Swapp; Embossing Folder: Sizzix; Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink.

Tip 1: If you lose your Mojo, place all of your materials in a clear bag and put it to the side to revisit at another time. When you are ready to work on your project again, you won’t have to look far for your supplies to finish your masterpiece.

Tip 2: Save your scraps to create a charm for a future project or even for a crafty necklace like the one below.


I think that I am off to a good start with National Craft Month. So how will you celebrate National Craft Month? Please share.

Enjoy your Crafty month!!

Karen

Over 4000 subscribers, representing more than 20 countries!

Woohoo!  What a great way to start a new month!  Scraps of Color Magazine has over 4000 subscribers representing more than 20 countries.  I LOVE knowing that crafters all over the world are downloading our magazine, visiting our blog and finding inspiration amongst the pages.  What a wonderful feeling and I just had to share.

This month we will continue to celebrate the premiere issue, which you can download here for FREE!  Also, March is National Craft Month..so stay tuned for some fun projects, ideas and tips from our PHENOMENAL Creative Team.  Also, be sure to look out for news on the first ever SOC Creative Team Blog Hop...there'll be inspiration and plenty of prizes!!!

So, stay tuned March is going to be one CRAFTY month!  To get you started here are few cute crafty projects I created.  Give it a try!  The small chinese box I used patterned paper and the die cutting machine at my local Archivers and decorated it with stickers, ribbon and bling, quick and easy.

The journal, I picked up from the dollar bin at my local Michaels.  I removed the spiral binding, covered it with the patterned paper of my choice, put the binding back in place and then added bling, flowers, ribbon and a simple sentiment...memories.  So get out your supplies and get crafty!
Have a Scrap Happy Day,
Classygirl!