A Tearful Experience

This past weekend, I had the joy of spending my 16th weekend retreat with a group of wonderful sistah-friends.  It's our 2x annual, sistah retreat.

At each retreat I treat them to page kits, a challenge, prizes and/or sistahly talks.  There is always something.  This year was no different...except for one thing.  This year they treated me!  In the past, I have made them search the house for stickers to win a prize.  This time, there were clues for me.

The clues were written on cute little cards.  One clue led to another and eventually to the gift. Although a few clues tripped me up, especially the last, " Awwww SOOT, you're getting HAWT!"  First, I thought soot was an error and should have been shoot.  Then I could not think for the life of me what soot was, I just kept thinking dirt.  Someone had to say, "soot forms in the chimney."  Uuuuhhh...duh...I KNOW THAT!  LOL!  Well, this made it clear to me that I probably should not apply to be on Family Feud or Wheel of Fortune because being put on the spot freezes my brain!  LOL!  lbvs. Since this was the last clue, I found my gift in the fireplace.

Next, I opened the box and the tears just flowed.  I couldn't speak. I could only cry. So thoughtful, so heart felt, so wonderful.  You see this year, SOC turned 10 years old.  It's a wonderful thing.  Each year I try to do something special for the members of SOC to celebrate.  My husband and I typically go out for dinner or have a dessert to celebrate and then time moves on.  It's always a happy time for me because I just feel so thrilled to have started and grown such a wonderful community.  I get excited at celebrating and doing challenges and giving prizes to the members.  To see it grow is amazing and to have so many wonderful crafters who have a place to share and create, where they feel comfortable, loved and a sense of community/family/friendship makes my heart full.

To have someone, step back think about, plan to honor/recognize me and my efforts for SOC in such a significant way is simply overwhelming.  Even typing this makes my emotions start to flow.  I am so very grateful to have thoughtful people in my life and to have such a special bond with these ladies.  I will never truly be able to express just how much this has meant to me.  I can only say, "Thank you. I love you.  You were right on time.  I needed this and you were there!"

Tiare.

Turnt Up for 10! A FREE Bag Giveaway!!!

Yes, indeed we are still celebrating 10 SUPER years!

Today, I scream, I yell,  I shout..."THANK YOU!" To all the wonderful sponsors we have had over the years.  To the wonderful members and companies who have donated prizes or purchased sponsorship.  They have supplied us and continue to supply us with great gifts for our goody bags, giveaways and contests/challenges!  Thank you.  Your generosity means so much to the SOC Community.

In keeping with the spirit of giving and sharing, today we are giving away this wonderful bag, donated by member Cyndi Pride, Owner and Founder of the Royal Scrap Club.  Find her on Facebook here.  The bag measures 20 x 18 x 8, suitable for carrying crafting supplies and will include a little surprise inside.

To win just share the info. and invite your friends to the SOC Turnt Up for 10 Blog Hop!  Share on Facebook, Pin It, Tweet it, post the picture on Instagram and/or post on your blog and be sure to leave a comment letting us know where you shared. You don't have to share on them all, just share.   Use #scrapsofcolor10 so we can find you!

Just right click and save to grab the button!

Sharing is caring.


Have an amazing day,
Tiare.

Happy 10th Anniversary Scraps of Color!!!!!!!!!! ENTER TO WIN!

Woot Woot!  Today is the day!  Today we celebrate 10 years of sistahood!  And all week long we are going to be Turnt up for 10!  Yeh, baby!

I cannot even express my excitement and gratitude for this day and the AMAZING SOC Family!  However, what I can do is have a bit of fun!  Woohoo!

It's the SOC 10th Anniversary!  So let's celebrate the number 10.  This day represents relationships, creativity, fun, laughter, crying, dancing, joking, sharing, caring, growing, ....LIFE!  It represents so many wonderful things, people, places and qualities. So why don't we celebrate all that is good and wonderful.

Leave a comment below telling us 10 wonderful things about the last 10 days of your life.  Every comment that includes those 10 wonderful things will be entered to win a $10 gift card to Michaels. 

BONUS:  By listing your 10 things you are sure to experience feelings of joy and gratitude.  Therefore, brightening your day and the day of others.  YES!  Win! 10!

Happy Anniversary SOC and to all the incredible ladies and gentlemen who have helped to build this AWESOME community!

Thank you for 10 great years!
Tiare and Robert Woods

PS. Stayed tuned and "turnt up," there's more!

Make it Meaningful 2: 1st Childhood Memory

Happy February.  Let's CREATE!

I am hostessing a yearlong challenge on SOC called Make it Meaningful.  This challenge is to create an album that tells your story...a meaningful story.  On the 1st and the 15 of each month a prompt will be issued.  The prompt from the 15th of January was your 1st Childhood Memory.

For this challenge I am using an alterable Prima album.  It has different types of pages in it and I decided to simply use the pages and alter.  It also, has precut/presized places for pictures and I am just going with the flow.  This is one of those spots.  My album will be sort of a mixed media/art journal affair.

Here is what I did to achieve this look

Start with a piece of Kraft Cardstock

I primed the paper with some Gesso.

Next, I painted using Hazelnut acrylic paint.

I then added a little bit of Art Anthology Dimensional Gel Paint. I used a thin brush to add
small bits of this paint.

To add a deeper brown I used, Chocolate Acrylic Paint. However, to keep it from being too dark I added water to dilute it a bit.

Here's how my background looks. So pretty.

Next, I stamped my title, a globe and a border using 3 different colors of
Tim Holtz Distress Inks.

Lastly, I added twine, a dog die cut( I cut with my Cricut) and my story. Tada! Love how this turned out. IT will go in to a two pocket, hence the cut.

Next challenge: February 1 - 15: Make it Meaningful #3: What is your first memory of your parents?

To play along, create your page and share it in our gallery!  We have a gallery in the forum and we have a great way to share your creations in our NEW Blog Gallery here on the SOC Blog.

Happy February!  Create daily!

Classygirl. 

Make it Meaningful 2014

Let's make one of our most meaningful albums ever. This year, it's about you...meaningful, beautiful, wonderful YOU! This challenge will focus more on the journaling and the story, not just the photos. It will have you remembering feelings and days gone by. You'll reflect and learn. You may laugh, you may cry but one thing is for sure you WILL have an AMAZING, MEANINGFUL keepsake at year's end.
Here is how it will work. Every 1st and the 15th of each month, I will pose a question in the SOC Community here. You think about it and create your page and share it in our gallery!  We have a gallery in the forum and we have a great way to share your creations in our NEW Blog Gallery, as well.

Jan 1 - 15 Question 1:  When and where were you born? Journal about it, create your page. Give some details if you have any.  Share your creation. 

Here is my page for this challenge.

Supplies used: Plaid template, distress inks, zig writer, twine. 

My completed page, added to my album.
Supplies used: Plaid template, distress inks, zig writer, twine. 

Looking forward to seeing your creation!

Happy Crafting,

Classygirl. 

Happy 2014 Scraps of Color!

May the new year be filled with health, happiness, creativity and inspired living!

You will surely be inspired this year at SOC!  We've got a lot going on!

• Word of the Year!  You chose the word and let it inspire your life throughout the year.

• Bloggers' Challenge:  All year long we'll challenge bloggers to stay up-to-date, share and create.

• Monthly SOC Challenge - Look for a new challenge and a prize to be posted each month in the SOC Challenge Forum.

• 52 Week Money Challenge - We'll be saving together and encouraging each other all year long. Starts Monday!

• And I'll be challenge SOC Members to Make it Meaningful in 2014!  Every other week, in the forum, I will post a question.  This question will prompt you to create a meaningful page. By the end of the year you will have an album with 24 very meaningful pages...an amazing keepsake!   The first question is when and where were you born?  Check back tomorrow to see my completed page!

And this year we are introducing a few great new features!!!

We now have a gallery on the blog!  Woohoo! This will allow you to share your creations inspired by our Creative Team, swaps and/or challenges so we can visit you and leave a little love.  We also want to feature your work on our networks:

Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest

That's right share and connect with Scraps of Color in your favorite spot!!!  How cool is that!

Here's to an AWESOME, crafty 2014!

The Gift of Giving!

I've always wanted to adopt a family for the holidays and this year, I finally made it a reality. I decided to adopt the family on behalf of SOC and invite members to join.  Although, I started at a late date, I did have 3 generous souls to make a donation.  I matched their donation(plus a little more).  Because of their generosity we were able to provide toys, clothing and household items to a small family who will be moving into their first apartment.

Donation to our adopted family!

Acknowledgement for our donation. 

Because some of the families may be in protected situations, we were unable to meet the family. However, the gift of giving is what matters most and our hearts are full!

I hope that this will become an SOC tradition and that we will have more people involved each year, so that some day we can provide a truly AMAZING Christmas to a family in need.

Merry Christmas SOC!  May the spirit of giving, love and happiness abide in your heart this holiday season and throughout the new year!

Tiare. 

Blessings all Around

Gratitude does not begin and end with November or at least it should not.  It should be something we practice all year long, 365.  During this season, we are often reminded to be grateful for our blessings. We focus on friends, family, food, gift giving and time together.  However, we have that and so much more to be grateful for.

I spent the month of November creating a Gratitude Junk Journal.  This journal has been such a blessing and I will continue to create pages in it.  This journal brought me laughs, tears, smiles, moments of solitude and gratitude.  You get to view and think of things a bit differently when you actually spend some time thinking about and writing about what you are grateful for.  It's an AMAZING experience.

One thing I journaled about was being grateful for a SOLD OUT AFFAIR.  Yes, I am talking about the SOC 2014 Retreat.  I wrote: "SOC 2014 sold out! Wow! 4 months before the event. Watching my dreams unfold in so many ways is amazing.  Blood, sweat, tears! Results! Wonderful!  

The truth is there is so much more to this simple page.  Less than a year ago, after signing my name on the dotted line for the 1st retreat, promising that I would pay $$$$ whether full or not...coming up on the date and not sold out, not even meeting the minimum...I was stressed to say the least. That payment was due whether we showed up or not.  It's a place I don't want to reside or revisit.  This year...sold out before the date, with an eager waiting list, feels so much better.  I am so grateful, relieved, excited and happy!  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!  

So much to be grateful for this season.  While you are planning, gift wrapping and sharing time with family do not forget about those who are struggling right now, lost a loved one or are lonely.  Call a friend, spend some time with someone who needs it, share a meal or make a card to give!

Happy Holidays to you and yours.  

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Classygirl.

Create Your Sunshine

Supplies used: Bazzill Basics Cardstock, Bo Bunny
Patterned Paper and Frame. 

Happy September SOC!

I am feeling sunny and happy although September marks the close of summer.   The days are getting shorter or shall I say, the daylight is getting shorter.  However, there's still plenty of sunshine inside, especially when you fill your days with creativity.

I try to make time to craft several days a week, if not each day.  It sure helps to brighten the gloomiest of days.  Today, I share a "happy"  card I created using leftovers from the layout I shared with you on August 1st.  For me every layout, should have a card.

If you know me, then you know when I create a layout, I create a card.  It's the best way for me to use up leftovers, get good use of my papers and not feel the need to hold onto the scraps. To keep it simple, I typically use a sketch I created as inspiration for the layout and for the card.  Cute, unique, quick and PRETTY...everytime.

Ideas to note:  I cut the flowers from the patterned paper and popped them up for a fun, dimensional look. Ink the edges to make flowers stand out more.

Happy September Everyone!
Classygirl. 

May is National Photograph Month!

Did you know that May is National Photograph Month?  What exciting news for paper crafters everywhere...just another reason to take and share photos!

While we celebrate those special ladies in our lives let's also remember to simply take in the beauty of every day life.  Flowers, nature, family, friends, a found object or a great meal.  Whatever, it may be take a photo and share what you've found.

I'd love to see your beautiful photos from the month. Feel free to share a link to your blog below with your favorite May photos so we can stop by and take a look!

Have a great day!

Join Me LIVE Online for Some Scrapbooking Fun!

Hello Beautiful,

National Scrapbook Day is quickly approaching and I thought it would be fun to scrapbook live with my crafty peeps in celebration!

So won't you join me for a wonderful scrappy event?

On Friday, May 3, I'll post a sketch and list of basic supplies on the iclassygirl.com blog.  You grab the sketch and some scrappy supplies, log on to Spreecast HERE and scrapbook along with me or just watch!

I'll be live-streaming, Friday, May 3, from 8-9:30pm est.  We'll make a layout and a card or two.  You'll get to watch my creative process and have fun chatting LIVE.

Won't you join me?  You will need to create a Spreecast account here to join the fun!

Sign up NOW and RSVP to let me know you're coming!


Hope to see you there.