Christmas Card & Easy Wreath Tutorial

Bev is back with some more fabulous tutorials!  

First up we have a card that you can make all from scraps!

You can use any shape you like. My samples show a star and a tree shape but also could be an ornament, a circle or any shape. 

Using scraps cut many colours of strips... glue them on a background. Trace the shape on top.  Cut the shape cutting off all the pencil markings.

The tree card I didn't even make a pattern. Just cut the strip different length to form a tree shape and add a trunk. I didn't even use a base for this one.. put it directly on the background piece and added more layers.

Easy Wreath Tutorial

You can change this one up to make it seasonally appropriate for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or even Easter.

It's not Christmas, but humor us and play with your Letter Stickers

This will be the last non holiday post for awhile, but we thought you'd enjoy a break after a long holiday weekend! Today we're going to show you some layouts that use letter stickers in unique ways!

Claude used up black letter stickers to create this football shape. She even used letters from two different brands!

Kim used some old letter stickers and a masking technique to create the flower embellishment on this layout.

Shalvi is a new designer for us and here's her first layout to share with you! She found a half used package of stickers and thought she'd find a way to use them up. This layout documents a skype conversation between her daughter and her granny. Using the letter stickers in a random order as a border around the picture helped to tie into that theme as well as grounding the picture to the background.

Advent Calendar & Christmas Countdown Ideas

Since today is the first day of Advent and Wednesday kicks off December, we thought it was the perfect time to share some ideas with you.

Monica Bradford created this cute countdown.  It was inspired by a post over at eighteen25...where they did a whole week worth of features on Advent Calendars and Countdowns.  You can check that out here and then just keep clicking on older posts for more ideas.  They did such a fabulous job and were happy to share it with us!

Pia created this with a QK pop up window die.  She included family pictures in it for her little niece who lives far away from her. She used her white signo pen a lot and brought in red with some non traditional colors.

Kerri created this festive countdown in traditional colors.

And here's a fun little story from our Corinna about altering this calendar...

I bought this unfinished advent calendar at Michaels a few years ago, got it home and realized there were TWO doors with #5. I don't know what happened....perhaps the elves drank too much spiked egg nog when assembling this one?

No big deal. I covered all the doors with squares of American Crafts Christmas papers. (love these!) Then I used pushpins for the doorknobs. I pulled off all the tiny little wooden knobs it came with. Then just stuck the pushpins into the doors. I kind of like these better, they're easier to grasp to open the door. I used Making Memories rubons I’ve had forever for the numbers. I believe that font is called “Rummage.” I actually used my Le Plume markers to color in the snowman. Was going to do paint, but that was my brain being a bit more ambitious than I could handle, so I went with the markers.

And here's what he looked like when I was all finished:

If you are looking for even more ideas and instructions, head over to our "Idea Central" tab where there is lots to be found.

We are still looking for projects of all sorts for Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukah.  Send layouts to practicalscrapperslayouts@gmail.com or cards to practicalscrapperscards@gmail.com  We would love to feature you!!!

Using those sketches

Ann Jobes created this layout based on Pia's sketch

Mieko created this layout based on Pia's sketch

Sasya created this layout based on her sketch and it was too fabulous for me to pass it up!

Wendy created this layout based on Ann Katrin's sketch

If you'd still like to work with the sketches you can find them by clicking here.  Would you like to see us add a card sketch into the mix...we'd love to hear your comments!

Printing Digis on Different Papers & A Giveaway

Many of us print our digis out on white cardstock and color them.  But today I thought we'd share a few examples with you of what it looks like to print them on something besides white.  Our designer Brenda worked on this project for me and here's what she came up with:

 Printed on Bazill dotted swiss Kraft cardstock

 Printed on a denim blue striped pattern paper.

Printed on a polka dot patterned paper

Brenda printed this one on both Kraft cardstock and white to achieve the coloring she wanted.

Here's a couple more projects from Dragonslair Designs

Corinna created this layout with a perfect matching digi!

Penny created this one using both "Fireplace Warmth" and "Bear in Scarf."  What a fabulous combination!

Leave us a comment telling us what you like to print your digis on and you will be eligible to win 4 free digis from Dragonslair Designs.  Deadline for entry is December 6th. 

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I am Thankful for...

As we prepare for Thanksgiving here in the United States, we thought we'd share a couple "Thankful" projects from our readers.  

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Victoria

Christy Strickler

Bev

Layouts Featuring Embossing Folders

Whether you want to add texture and style to your project or even add some dimension; you embossing folders will get the job done for you. We've features those embossed cards, and even shared some unique ideas and ways to use your Cuttlebug. Now, it's time to showcase some of our favorite layouts that use embossing folders on them.

Pia

On these two layouts, Pia uses the same embossing folder, but create a different effect on each. In the first, she embossed a transparency and painted on the backside of the transparency with acrylic pain. In the second one, she embossed some color core cardstock then ligthly sanded the number to make them more visible.

Sweet Peach Crop Shop Feature & Giveaway

Just as we are regularly featuring manufacturers, we will also be doing the same with some of the clubs out there.  The first up is Sweet Peach Crop Shop.  Each month Sweet Peach Crop Shop brings you a "Sweet Featured Kit" with an optional coordinated embellishment add on kit.  These kits are a great blend of current trends and classic traditions found in scrapbooking.  The also offer a "juicy themed kit" that is perfect for helping you featured a special event or person.  

Here is what both of the November kits look like:

I was able to work with the November "Sweet Featured Kit" and here's the layouts I created:

This one took about 2O minutes...it came together so quickly thanks to the embellishments all being coordinated for me!

This one did not photograph well...the foggy day here in Illinois was not cooperating!  Total bummer because I really love how the layout turned out!  This one took longer but that's because I punched out and glued down all those little flowers...I knew that going in and it was totally worth it!  I had seen this technique on Melinda Spark's blog and wanted to attempt it.

 I've been itching to get my hands on some of this American Crafts rose ribbon, I was so excited it was in the kit...this whole layout was built around it!

  This kit featured a lot of paper from another one of our sponsors "Glitz Design" and this layout is all from them except the letter stickers.  The polka dots are one of their cute rub ons.  This layout was based on the sketch that they included in their kit.  It was created by Liz Chidester from The Scrappiest.

 What I really enjoyed about working with this kit is that I could do both bright, loud layouts and soft, calm ones like this.  On this layout I even used part of the packaging, a brown bag to mat the picture of Coop.  It matched his blankie too well to pass it up!

I was able to create five layouts in less than three hours and have plenty of letter stickers and patterned paper left over to do more.  I enjoyed having all the supplies ready to go and let me focus on being creative with them.  One of my favorite things about working with kits is you often get at least one thing that you wouldn't normally work with...for me that was the big black Theresa Collins flower from the "Harvest Honey" layout.  To my surprise when I added it to that layout I was thrilled with how it looked and I'm glad I got the chance to try it out!

Now it's your chance to get your hands on one of these great kits.  Tell us if you have ever used a kit before and for a second entry go to Sweet Peach Crop Shop and tell us which of their previous kits you like best.  Deadline for entry is December 5th.

Origami Christmas Tree Video Tutorial

Check out this gorgeous Origami Christmas Tree!  Bev is here today to share with us how to make it.


After watching the video.. use the chart below with appropriate sizes to make your card or layout.

Here's a sample layout with the tree: 

Hope you have as much fun making it as I did . We would love it if you'd share your creation with us just leave us a comment with a link to your blog.

This past weekend, Sunday the 14th, our message board had its very first one hour layout challenge. We even made arrangements for all of our overseas members to join in the fun. The ladies all had a great time with the sketch and enjoyed inspiration from each other. It is so amazing how you can start with one sketch and everyone end up with a completely different take on it!
Some of you may be asking, "how does a one-hour layout contest work"? Everyone was given a sketch. They had two early hints( about the size photos they could use), one hour to work, and fifteen minutes to upload their project. You then post your project in the thread with the sketch for all to see and wait to check out everyone's  work. At the end, we put everyone's name who participated in a random drawing for a RAK.
Here's the sketch:

* This fabulous sketch was created by Erin--Thanks Erin!!

Cosmo Cricket Package Winner!!! Dragonslair Prize Winner!!!

My Serendipity said...

OMG! CC is my favorite paper line! I hoard them sometimes..lol. I absolutely love everything about their line..the quality of paper is the best and cuts so awesome in my expression.
~Beth

You are the winner of our randomly generated prize from Cosmo Cricket!  Send me an email at practicalscrappers@gmail.com to claim your prize!

MommaSaid said...

I've never colored or used a digi, but I'm partial to the softness of the paper-piecing and flocked bear. Of course, I've been wanting to play with some flocking lately, anyhow but it still has the cuddly feel that a teddy bear makes me think of.

Thank you for sharing these techniques!

You are the winner of our randomly generated prize from Dragonslair Designs!  Send me an email at practicalscrappers@gmail.com to claim your prize!

Thanks to all for playing along!  Stay tuned for more fun giveaways!

Blog Hopping Today...Kit Style...

Do you have a favorite local scrapbook store? Are you like me, you have one but it hours away? Well, today I am sharing some great ways to get the latest, greatest, and hottest supplies available to YOU, the Practical Scrapper!

First up is the scrumptious monthly kit club
Lucky Girl Craft Kits---Family Traditions....

This is my hands down favorite kit club I've ever seen! You really would not believe just how much stash comes each month. Jessica only chooses the most incredible new "yumminess" available to the scrapbooking world. Please check out the blog here!!!!!

Next on the list is Paper Posies...

Paper Posies specializes in putting together unique Paper Posies Monthly Kits using patterned papers, cardstock, ribbon, mini-albums, stamps, and other fun embellishments from the manufacturers we all love. You can visit their blog here!!!!!

How about a kit club with a mini....The Crazy Daisy Kit Co.

At the Crazy Daisy, you are offered a mini album each month to get you started... Check out the blog here!!!! Now doesn't this just make you want to order right now? Look at the divine fall colors and sweet embellishments.

For those of you who love going digital, please take note.....

The Shabby Princess---Plentiful Kit

This is a fabulous blog that is dedicated to giving you a FREE digi kit to try out digital scrapbooking. You can visit the blog here!!!!! Look how incredible this is! I just may have to try my hand at this digital stuff!!!

Dixie Pieces offers both digital and paper kits as well.    They specialize in providing you with papers an embellishments to make your cards and layouts look fantastic!    Check out their site here.

Last up is Sweet Peach Crop Shop.  You are going to see a lot more from them on Saturday when we do our first ever kit club feature!  To get a preview you can check them out here.

I hope you have enjoyed this little kit club hop. These are all fabulous places to get monthly supplies. If you haven't subscribed to a club yet, now would be the perfect time to do so. Santa is always looking for the "just right gift", let him know that a kit club is on your wish list! Thanks for joining us today at Practical Scrappers, practically scrapping in ever way!