Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
A Plug for our Sponsors
I thought it was time for another plug for our fantastic sponsors. The doodling on this was done with a template from the Crafter's Workshop. The cherries are brads from the Eyelet Outlet. We had fun checking out more of their items last week at the Scrapbook Expo! And yes, I love my daughter dearly, but she's two...thus the sweet & sour :).
Meet Nadya
Nadya is living in HawaiiWhy did you start scrapping?
I started scrapbooking when our oldest daughter was 2 months old. That was 8 years ago. The time has gone by so fast. I started scrapbooking because I wanted my daugther and future kids to have something to remember their childhood. Something more than just pictures. That's why I love the journaling part about scrapbooking. I get to tell the stories of my kids to my kids.
Three unique things about me:
*This is a hard one. LOL :) Not sure if this is unique in any way but I'm a horrible speller. Part of it is due to English being my second language. But I'm learning and I've been told that I'm getting better. So there might be hope for me after all.
*I'm a 3rd child out of 7 kids in our family. :)
*I have the letter Z in my name twice. Most people don't even get one! One is in my full first name (not telling what it is!), and one is in my last name.
*I'm a 3rd child out of 7 kids in our family. :)
*I have the letter Z in my name twice. Most people don't even get one! One is in my full first name (not telling what it is!), and one is in my last name.
Meet Jamie L
I began scrapbooking shortly after my first child was born with a little pressure from my sister-in-law! I began creating cards a little over a year ago which helps use up the scraps from my pages.
Three unique things about me:
*I love to laugh
*I am addicted to stamps and paper!
*I spend as much time organizing my products as I do using them :D
Meet Meg B
Meg is from UtahWhy did you start scrapping?
I technically started scrap booking 14 years ago for myself, but I really got into it when my son Mason was born 3 years ago. Since then it has become more than a hobby for me, it is an addiction!
Three unique things about me:
*When I'm not scrap booking or card making, I do photography on the side
*I am the middle child. I have 5 brothers. 2 older and 3 younger
*My dream in life is to have a career in scrap booking
Meet Kim G
Why did you start scrapping?
I started scrapbooking soon after my oldest son was born, however, I’ve just recently really become addicted to it and cardmaking.
Three unique things about me:
*We are a military family, therefore, we’ve lived many different places and I want to help my children be able to remember all the places they’ve seen and lived in their childhood. We are currently basking in beautiful Hawaii. I have two boys (11 and 13) and a daughter who just turned one. Yes, you read that correctly – there is quite an age gap.
*We spent six years living in Germany and had the opportunity to travel all over Europe.
*I grew up in Kentucky and absolutely love horses (comes with the territory I guess)
I started scrapbooking soon after my oldest son was born, however, I’ve just recently really become addicted to it and cardmaking.
Three unique things about me:
*We are a military family, therefore, we’ve lived many different places and I want to help my children be able to remember all the places they’ve seen and lived in their childhood. We are currently basking in beautiful Hawaii. I have two boys (11 and 13) and a daughter who just turned one. Yes, you read that correctly – there is quite an age gap.
*We spent six years living in Germany and had the opportunity to travel all over Europe.
*I grew up in Kentucky and absolutely love horses (comes with the territory I guess)
Meet Samantha S
Why did you start scrapping?
I started scrapbooking as a creative outlet. I was still in high school so I wasn't really all that concerned with preserving memories, I just really liked being creative with all the pretty papers and accessories. I have realized how important memories are and I love scrapbooking because it combines so many great things that I love -my family, photography, pretty paper, stamps, colors!
3 unique things about me:
* I have 5 dogs! LOL, yes, FIVE dogs, all in the house. 3 are huskies, one is a border collie mix and one is a rat terrier mix. I am very passionate about helping animals in need so we ended up with our beautiful babies.
*I am a full time college senior aside from my love of scrapbooking.
*I call my scraproom The Scrappy Dappy
Angela's Pick for the Vellum Challenge
Like Christine said - lots of good ideas. Keep sending them to us. It's a "challenge" for us to pick one, but we love seeing all of the different uses you come up with. I picked Kristina because I was crackingup (this is a hot flashes card! :) and because I thought her vellum - stamped and cut out as the sun - was creative and fun. Thanks for playing, everyone!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Christine's Pick for the Vellum Challenge Winner
Joann
There were a lot of great ideas posted this week. I was especially drawn to Joann's work here because of the unique way she created her circle. I also really love the vellum flowers.
Congrats Joann!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Focus: Vellum
Ah, vellum. So useful for titles and journaling. But sometimes we limit ourselves with these uses, and overlook vellum when we are searching for something creative for our pages.
We love what Kim has done with vellum this week! Patterned or colored vellum can be intimidating, but Kim recognizes the possibilities and takes it to her cricut. So does Jenny! What a powerful affect it has on these beautiful pages. Likewise, Laurel’s striking layout thinks outside the box. She uses a simple tool – a punch – and trusty vellum, to build these hydrangeas that celebrate her grandmother. What inspirational ideas! Many of our designers made use of similar techniques. These pages are fantastic and, even better, something most of us can take to our scrapping table.
Lots of us use vellum to add a little texture or layers to our pages. This layout puts blue vellum behind a lifted butterfly on a card, and it is the perfect touch. Putting vellum behind a picture or set of pictures adds just a bit of interest, without being overbearing. Marjorie talks about this on her blog. Those of us that put vellum behind or on top of our photo brought a softness to our page that sends a strong message about the feel of the layout. It’s why vellum is such an appropriate choice for Kerri’s page.
Kerri and Laurel went even further, using the vellum for envelopes! Vellum is a product that we need to remember when we are looking for all kinds of solutions. Of course it’s handy for journaling or titles or captions. Don’t forget you can get professional looking results when you run it through the printer. I like to use it when I find the perfect quote or saying for a card or page – I don’t have to go looking through vellum quotes at the store when I can make my own and they are even more personal. Using bold type or a fun scripty font in a large font size, like Brae's Pirate title, can result in just the thing you are looking for.
Sometimes we want to be creative. Sometimes we just want to make a page that says what we need it to say. Vellum is useful for both. Enjoy your supplies!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
This Week's Challenge: Vellum
I have tons of vellum in my stash and only occasionally find a way to use it. I have no trouble using the little vellum quotes and titles, it's the whole sheets of vellum that I struggle with. This challenge was the first that really made me struggle. I hope you can find a way this week to use up some of your vellum in a new and interesting way! Post your submission by 8:00 ET on Friday-Angela & I will be picking winners again to feature on our website for the weekend.
Tomorrow we will announce the new design team members that will be working specifically with the item of the week as well as their cricut/cuttlebug machines. Starting next week we will be launching a daily schedule of postings.
Tomorrow we will announce the new design team members that will be working specifically with the item of the week as well as their cricut/cuttlebug machines. Starting next week we will be launching a daily schedule of postings.
Monday: Challenge announced with design team layouts
Tuesday: Design team cards
Wednesday: Design team Cricut/Cuttlebug projects
Thursday: Angela's tips for challenge item
Friday: Winner's announced
Tuesday: Design team cards
Wednesday: Design team Cricut/Cuttlebug projects
Thursday: Angela's tips for challenge item
Friday: Winner's announced
Post your Vellum Projects Here
To be chosen as a winner and featured on Practical Scrappers you must submit your project by Friday at 8:00 ET.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Christine's Pick for the Scraps Challenge Winer
Awesome job Erin
Wow this was a tough call-there were some incredible links to look at this week! Each week from here on out Angela & I will each pick a winner. We hope to have a blinkie up soon that winners can post on their own blogs! We will also be putting the winning projects into a slideshow to be posted in our sidebar. In the next few days both Angela & I will be sending our oldest kiddos to kindergarten-so bear with us if we are a little slow to respond to e-mails...we're soaking up family time!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Clever Scraps
Paper is one thing that many of us share as a weakness. It’s hard to walk past the paper row without at least a glance. And then when I get home, I find myself “saving” that new sheet for the perfect layout. The great thing about scraps is that they allow me to use that favorite pattern or color again. It’s inspiring when I find those little pieces leftover and discover a way to use it on one more layout.
Most of us have probably used scrap paper to create an embellishment or maybe to jot down a caption for the pictures on our layout. This week’s challenge was to use scrap paper creatively.
We especially love what Katherine did with her card and the scraps she used to create a heart. (Click on her name to find a tutorial on her blog about how to do this.) Using many scraps to create one shape, adds dimension and interest to an element on your page that otherwise might be ho-hum.
One thing that I love, is when I grab a couple of random scraps that didn’t come together in a kit or a set, and find that they can work together to form a new look. It’s in these accidental collections that I find colors that I hadn’t thought to put together and patterns that are fun and refreshing. Here's a link to one such accident.
With a couple of punches or a die-cut machine, I can use larger, colorful scraps on a simple background and create a look like this one from Shannon Tidwell at Two Peas in a Bucket. This is the kind of idea that makes me want to run to my scrap table and try something new!
It’s a real test, if you’re up for it, because it’s easy to use our materials in the same ways over and over again. Maybe the real challenge is to use scraps differently than you usually do. Some of us may be pros at one technique, but rarely tackle another.
Not only do we want to encourage you to use what you have – the hundreds of scraps of paper you might have in a drawer or a box – but we want you to use them in new ways. Grab a handful, see what happens, and then share!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
We're looking to expand
We are looking to expand our weekly projects to include the Cuttlebug and Cricut. We need two more designers for each tool. So if you are awesome with either we'd like to see your work. Send us an e-mail at practicalscrappers@gmail.com telling us which product you prefer to work with along with three samples of your work and a link to your blog. Each week you will use our assigned item and incorporate it into a project with the Cricut or Cuttlebug. Deadline to apply is this Sunday, August 23rd!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Followers
We are so grateful to all of our "followers." If you have a blog and we are not already following it (Angela or I) can you send us an e-mail so we can do so. We have so many talented readers-we want to make sure we're taking in all that talent. And like Angela said in an earlier post-it's way more fun than cleaning the kitchen!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Week Three Challenge: Scraps
One of my favorite scrapbooking techniques is to try to make as much as I can from just paper. I may not always have the right embellishment for a project on hand, but I always have paper. Because of that I love this weeks challenge!!! This week's challenge is to use up scraps. Your project should be entirely made of scraps with the exception being your base. Just like last week we will be choosing a winner from those posted to Mr. Linky to feature on the site.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
