September Sneak Peek #6

My Mind's Eye Sweetest Thing "Tangerine" FOTM Kit Layout by Melanie Call

September Sneak Peek #5

WRMK Hall Pass DOUBLESHOT Kit Layout by Theresa Sovacool

September Sneak Peek #4

Jillibean Soup Grandma's Lima Bean Soup FOTM Kit Layout by Brenda Carpenter

September Sneak Peek #3

Jillibean Soup Country Pumpkin Chowder DOUBLESHOT Kit Layout by Beth Hallgren

September Sneak Peek #2

Echo Park Paper Everyday Eclectic FOTM Kit Layout by Melanie Call

September Sneak Peek #1

BasicGrey Clippings FOTM Kit Layout by Jenny Moore

Jenny's Top 20 Must-Have Summertime Photos!

Hello everyone!

Here it is already August (what?!!!), and that usually means back-to-school time for most of us. Personally, I'd rather it be summertime ALL the time, but all good things must come to an end, I suppose.

As we approach the new "season", I got to thinking about how quickly summertime passes by and how I want to capture as much of it as I can. What better way to capture summertime than through photos, right?

So, I came up with a "Top 20 Must-Have Summertime Photos" list! Look through the list and see if you are still in need of capturing some of these moments before summer is over. There's still a little bit of time to click away and capture these memories!:

(click on photo to view larger)

Oh, and just for fun....You can use Google Docs to download a PDF file I created for you in case you want to download it and print it out! Just click RIGHT HERE.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, and remember to document it in fun summertime photos!

Don't Forget the Front and the Inside!

When I'm creating cards...I often just focus on the front...after all that is what you see first :). I forget to add little touches to the inside or back of the card. These little touches add so much more to your card...kinda like sprinkles on cupcakes.

I used the pattern paper from Prima this month to add my extra touch to the inside of one card and for the back of another.

Here is the front anniversary card I made for my honey.

For the inside of my card, I used the Prima pattern paper that already had "With You" printed on it. I then stamped "Forever" below it. I love the extra touch it made to the card!

 

My next card is for my sister's birthday. This time I added the pattern paper to the front and back of the card. I love that cute bird and the "So Lucky" words.

Do you often add that extra touch to the inside or back of your cards? Go ahead...give it a try!

Melanie

August Page Starter!!!

For the August Page Starter, I decided to work outside my box a little.  To try something a little different.  So I created an asymmetrical grid layout.  This one will be perfect for using up some scraps.  

Ready to Roll

Here's what you'll need to get started.  First, you need a sheet of cardstock. You'll need three 3.5" x 3.5" squares cut from three different patterned papers. You will also need a .75" x 12" strip and a .25" x 12" strip, both from different patterns.

Now you're ready to start adhering the paper to the page.  Here is how I placed mine.

1. Adhere the first block 1" from the right edge and 2" from the top edge of the cardstock.
2. Adhere the second block 1/8th of an inch to the left of the first block and the third block 1/8" below the first block.
3. Adhere the two 12" strips flush with the left edge of the cardstock.

Finally, you will add your photos and embellishments.  This part is completely up to you.  There is no set limit to the number of photos or no set placement for them.  Also, you can use whatever embellishments you like, wherever you want to place them on the layout.  

And since I was at a crop in the middle of the pouring rain when I worked on these layouts, I didn't take any pictures of the Page Starters before the photos and embellishments.  So, I'm going to go ahead and share my second take with you today.  For this one, I kept everything pretty much the same except for the orientation of the photo and the placement of the journal strips.

Posers

I'd love to see what you do with the August Page Starter.  Link up your completed layout to the bottom of this post by Friday, August 31st for your chance at a $10 Gift Certificate to the TSR Store.  

Happy Scrappin!

Theresa's Stick Pins Winner

Soooo . . . anyone wanna know who won Theresa's amazing stick pins?  Well, lucky for you, I've selected a random winner.   

Congratulations Kathy W!  Please email Aphra at [email protected] with your full name and mailing address so that we can get your prize in the mail.

Have a great weekend!  See you soon with the August Page Starter!

Card Class: Sketch!!!

For this month's card class, I have a sketch that's just perfect for using up some of your scraps. And I have a variety of samples from our talented design team.  

Summer by Aphra

Have Fun by Brenda

So Lucky by Jenny

Happy Anniversary by Melanie

It's A Party by Theresa

Alright ladies, I hope you're feeling inspired to grab some scraps and create a card. And don't forget about our Be A Blessing card challenge that's going on in the forum. Happy scrapping!

Make Your Own Stick Pins & Flags (and a giveaway!)

Need just one more thing on your page but you don't know what?  Down to a few scraps and not much else?  Have some *other* crafty stuff hanging around?  Then maybe I can help!

Here are the flags and stick pins I made and used with the MME Indie Chic Citron collection this month:

Flags and stick pins turn out to be pretty easy to make with a few supplies that you may already have on hand.  And if you don't - no worries.  For less than $10 and a quick stop at a local hobby shop, you can have enough stuff to keep you (and maybe a lucky scrappy buddy) in flags and pins for a while.  In fact, I'll bet if you know a beader, you can trade a stack of handmade cards for everything you need.  Throw in some chocolate too, and she might let you walk away with some crystals! 

You'll need super glue, head pins 2" or longer, seed beads, some larger beads, spacers, and 1/2" strips of paper and/or banner stickers.  The flower print paper was just my reference for finding the right colors of larger beads out of my stash.  A word about beads:  Notice the bag of "bead soup"?  Those are just leftovers from other projects or things the kids had.  Most beaders I know have a bag of leftovers like this.  And would be glad to unload it... remember the chocolate!!!  Otherwise, you can pick up a cheap collection of beads at a craft store.  Cheap is perfect and grab bags are great!

I use fewer beads for flags.

Assembling the flags and stick pins are pretty straight-forward.  Put a few beads on the head pins.  If it looks good to you, then you've done it right!  Use the super glue to hold the bottom bead in place.  I like to put a little glue on the head pin between the last and second-to-last bead.  As I push the last bead in place, it runs into the glue and sticks into place.  For flags, just fold the paper or stickers around the pin, and trim the end.

Look familiar?  Yup, those ended up on a card!

Using head pins results in pins that won't poke you - or your page protectors.

And now about that giveaway... one randomly selected commenter will win the 6 stick pins shown directly above!  You have until the next post goes up to enter.  Good luck - and I hope you'll try making your own!

Theresa

Just One Thing: Splash Decorative Edge Cardstock

This month's Flavors of the Month kit includes a round decorative edge piece of cardstock from Little Yellow Bicycle's Splash collection.  Today, I thought I'd focus on the various ways that the design team incorporated this fun piece of paper into their layouts.  

Making a Splash by Brenda

Brenda chose to add the entire circle to her layout, even letting the top of it hang off the page a bit.  She stitched around its edge and added a variety of buttons to some of the scallops for extra dimension.

Splash Day by Jenny

Splash by Melanie

Jenny and Melanie chose to cut the circle in half.  What a great way to stretch your supplies!  The half circle looks great placed vertically, as in Jenny's layout, or horizontally, as in Melanie's layout, and provides a great place for the title.

Just Beachy by Aphra

I used the circle to bridge the gap between the left and right sides of my recipe card layout.  This one sheet of paper has a lot of visual impact on the design.

So, how are you planning to use the Little Yellow Bicycle Splash Decorative Edge Cardstock on your layout?  

August Sketch Challenge

Alright ladies, grab your kits and a few pictures.  It's time for this month's sketch challenge.  And you are in for a real treat because we have samples from all six of our designers.  And each unique take will give you an idea of how you can make the sketch work for you!  Here, take a look.

August Sketch

My Garden Girl by Brenda

Family Together Time by Jenny

Scrambler by Melanie

Loved by Aphra

Delightful by Beth

Don't Grow Up by Theresa

So . . . whether you want to use a cardstock or patterned paper background, have several embellishments or just a couple, have horizontal or vertical pictures, or just have one photo . . . you can make this sketch work.  Be sure to link up your layout by Friday, August 31st for your chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the TSR store.

Brand New "Be A Blessing" Card Kit

Brand New "Be A Blessing" Card Kit

Introducing our brand new "Be A Blessing" Card Kit, with our exclusive "Step-It-Up" Recipe Card Instructions!

With our "Be A Blessing" Card Class Kit, you'll receive all of the supplies that you'll need (including envelopes), along with step-by-step directions to create (10) gorgeous cards, using BasicGrey's new Paper Cottage line. Our talented Card Designer, Theresa Sovacool, has turned this kit into a class by creating (2) versions for each of the (5) different Card Sketches provided. You'll start with the "Quickie" version and then move on to the "Stepped Up" version for a bit more of a challenge. When you've completed all of the projects, you'll have (10) amazing cards, and since you'll have (2) versions of each card, you'll feel free to give away (5) of them immediately and still be able to keep one of each for your "Idea File" until you're ready to let them go.

OUR CHALLENGE TO YOU: Since sharing kindness with someone else is the best part of any day, we want to encourage you to use your paper-crafting supplies to share kindness with others. Card-making is an easy way to do this. Make a card, add a quick hand-written note of appreciation or gratitude, and send it to someone this month. Not only will this gesture be a blessing to someone else, but you'll find that it will be a blessing to you as well.

Throughout the months of August and September, we will be keeping track of "Blessings Sent" here on our TSR Message Board. Simply leave a comment that you mailed or shared a handmade card or paper-crafted item with someone else in the "BE A BLESSING" forum, and we'll add it to our running list. For every handmade card or paper-crafted gift that you give away, you'll be entered into a drawing for some "Blessings" from The ScrapRoom in October!

You can see larger photos and read all of the details about our "Be A Blessing" Card Kit in our ScrapRoom Store. This kit will be available for purchase immediately and will ship out with the August ScrapRoom kits.

Tammy
[email protected]

July Winners!!!

It's time to announce the July challenge winners.  Again this month, all of the entries were fabulous.  Thanks to everyone who participated with us!!!

For the Sketch Challenge, the winner is . . .

Father's Day by Clare N

I just love what Clare did with the raised circles in the upper right square.  So much impact with just cardstock.  I am filing that idea away for future use.

And for the Page Starter challenge, the winner is . . . 

Mine by Lynne B

I LOVE how Lynne combined elements from several different page kits to create a masculine layout.  And, of course, the large (and super sweet) title really caught my eye.

Congratulations ladies!  Please email Tammy at [email protected] with your real name, address, and the name of the contest you won. She will, in turn, get your prizes to you.

See you tomorrow with the August sketch!

August Kits!!!

Flavors of the Month

Doubleshot

Venti Add-On

Embellishment Add-On

Patterned Paper Add-On

Cardstock Add-On

Stamp Club