Back To School

Ding, ding, ding! The bell has rung, classes have started,  the buses are out, football is in the air so you know what that means....back to school. Yesterday was the first time in 7 years I haven't had child home with me, they are finally in school and a bitter-sweet moment it was.  It's amazing how fast time flies and right before your eyes they are getting all grown up. While I don't have yesterday's pics printed or scrapped yet (but I'm sure you will be seeing them in the near future), our fabulous design team and readers have plenty of back to school projects to share...

Practical Scrapper Christine

   Practical Scrapper Christa

Christine Hyde

Challenge Me Tuesday: Custom Buttons

** Next week we're featuring doodling! If you've never tried it, now's the time! show us you're projects featuring doodles , and we just might feature them here! ( send us a link to your project - practicalscrapperslayouts@gmail(dot)com

  Buttons are perhaps the most commonly used scrapbooking embellishment. They come in an endless array of colours, patterns, shapes and sizes. Is it any wonder we are always searching for just the "right" one in our collections? I used to think you could never have enough buttons, but once you look at all the options for customization, that just might not be the case. New tools on the market such as the I-Top tool by Imaginisce, and the Shape Studio Tools by Epiphany Crafts allow for custom button creation, but there are countless other ways to make a button your own, try using:

• paints
• stamps
• ink
• embossing powder
• gems
• rub-ons
• pens
• glitter/flock
• brads ( through the holes)

And if your buttons are perfect just the way they are? Try using them in a new way to liven up your page:

• Try stacking smaller buttons on top of larger ones
• wrapping twine around the outside of your button. 
• string several buttons on a piece of twine to make a garland
• bunch them together to make bouquets of flowers
• use them in place of the letter "O"in a title
• use them to top your letter "I"s
• they make cute wheels for trains, trucks and cars.
• use them as eyes on monsters, aliens and cute little critters.
•  they make perfect snowflakes and raindrops
• use them instead of leaves to create a stunning tree.
• use them with leaves in place of apples or other fruit.
• use them on top of stick pins to make your own.

JJ Sobey 

Practical Scrapper Bev

( Read to the end to see a tutorial for these sweet flowers!)

Irit Shalom

 

Color Blocking/Grids on Layouts

I have always loved the look of grids/color blocking on a scrapbook layout.  There is just something neat about a well done, clean project with lots of straight lines that is very eye catching.   It seems like this style also tends to bring out the bolder colors - just looking at this post there are so many striking projects!  They have recently been picking up in popularity again so we thought it was time to run a feature on them.  Here's some great cards and layouts from our designers and reader submissions.

Monica

Yara

Frugal Finds- Felt Coasters

I love rummaging through my local dollar store looking for fun things to incorporate into my scrapbooking projects. When I began scrapbooking, it was an inexpensive way to build my supplies, and now that I have loads of supplies, it 's a great way to get myself thinking outside the box.

This month's challenge item, felt coasters, were found in the summer section of my local dollar store. I'm sure you could find similar ones in department stores, or party supply stores.

 So how can you incorporate a felt coaster into a scrapbook page? Well the first thing you could do is just cut and use it as a page accent as I did in the layout below. Because these are quite thick, I felt I needed something else with a bit of dimension on my page, so I used a bit of Prima felt, and a foam heart shape.

 

(Practical Scrapper Erin)

You can get messy and have a bit of fun as I did here, by using the coasters as masks, and misting Glimmer Mist over them onto a light coloured cardstock to make a custom background.

I also changed the colour of some of the felt by also using Glimmer Mist. ( light green to dark green, light pink to darker pink). Feel free to really cut into them to make fun shapes, and vary the scale. ( Yes that's a silly band on the bottom of the page).

( Practical Scrapper Erin)

If misting has you a little worried, you can achieve a sunny background like the one on Kerri's page below using the felt as a stamp. Once she was done stamping with the coasters, she stuck them on her page, and topped them with flowers!

 

( Practical Scrapper Kerri)

But wait- look at the beautiful cards you can make ( said in my best infomercial sales pitch- lol)

Kerri played up the intricate pattern by using pearl accents, and an embossed background for great dimension and texture.

( Practical Scrapper Kerri)

Christine also created a card - backing her coaster with some Authentique paper from the Blissful line.  The paper subtly pops out without overpowering the coaster as the feature.  She also played up the texture of the card adding in bakers twine and mesh.

(Practical Scrapper Christine)

Have you ever used repurposed anything from the dollar store on a paper crafting project?

Fabulous Finds Friday ~ August 26th

Running a little behind here getting this up today as there have been some family emergencies here in our Practical Scrapper administration team (sending prayers to Christine, our fearless leader, who's husband was taken in for an emergency appendectomy).  So this week I share my fabulous finds as I've been blog hopping around all morning long to find some inspiration going into the weekend before school starts here.

Pinkalicious

I had to pick this one one because I own every single one of the Pinkalicious books, which are great reads for all those young girls as they have to do their reading for school.

When in France

I loved the journaling in this one (as did Practical Scrapper Brenda who suggested this).

Would a Bad Witch Wear Shoes this Fabulous?

I am a huge altered project fan and Practical Scrapper Aymee always has a fabulous one on her scrappy desk.

Back to School

One of my favorite blogs to visit and one of the first scrappers I met in the online community, Pinky is always on my blog stop!

Sommarn ar min

I've been wanting to try this for a long time now with my photos, but have yet been brave enough to cut into one and just do it.  Thanks Pia for reminding me I need to just go for it so I can cross it off my scrappy "to do" list.

Thank You

This card totally reminded me that my favorite time of year, fall, is just around the corner.  I love Cassie's cards and her clean and simple style is perfect for card makers at all levels!

Bubbles

Loved the shabby feel of this and felt it was a great layout to close out the summer.

Hope you enjoyed my version of fabulous finds.  Leave us a comment if you want us to check out your blog and add you to our blog roll.

~Kerri

**Designer projects are not always linked in our posts, but you can always find their blogs in our sidebar or in the staff tab**

Webster's Pages Feature & Giveaway

Last month y'all voted that you wanted to see a Webster's Pages Feature and the submissions started pouring in.  I got in touch with the folks at Webster's Pages and they agreed to sponsor a giveaway!  So today we've got two treats for you:  some amazingly beautiful projects and the chance to win some goodies!  

Practical Scrapper Fern

Wendy

Irit

Doris

Practical Scrapper Pia

Practical Scrapper Fern

Practical Scrapper Pia

Irit

Doris

Nicolle

Practical Scrapper Sandi

If you'd like to win the goodies from Webster's Pages, make sure you are a follower here and leave us a comment telling us if you've ever used anything from Webster's Pages.  Get a second entry for either of the following - like them on their facebook page or tell us what your favorite line of theirs is.  Deadline for entry is Monday, August 29th.  The winner will be announced on our facebook page so if you aren't already a follower there...you'll want to do that :)

**Designer projects are not always linked in our posts, but you can always find their blogs in our sidebar or in the staff tab**

Layouts Using Die Cuts

As Kerri highlighted on Monday we love to use Die Cuts of all sorts...be it from a machine or a manufacturer...they add something extra!  I love that they seem to be picking up in popularity and nearly every major manufacturer is making them to match their newest lines.  Today we've got layouts from our designers and some submissions to share with you.

Practical Scrapper Brenda

Irit

Challenge Me Tuesday: Flags

***Next week we're featuring customized buttons*** Show us how you can transform a button, or just a great fresh way to use them. Send us a link to your project at Practicalscrapperslayouts(at)gmail(dot)com If you would like for us to feature your work. 

If you thought banners were a popular page element in the past year or so, just wait until flags and pennants catch on! I've seen a few manufacturers releasing stickers or die cuts in flag shapes, and making your own is easy!

Flags are a great way to convey a message, or signal a celebration.

Practical Scrapper Erin

On my layout, I used a sticker by Echo Park layered on white cardstock, and "mounted" on a wooden skewer that I misted with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist. 

Practical Scrapper Christine

Christine made flags and attached them to stick pins.  She used Momenta paper and embellishments throughout the card and added some black doodling (100% inspired by Practical Scrapper Erin!) throughout to give the products a slightly bolder look.

 Practical Scrapper Michelle R

Here the flag coordinates with the rest of Michelle's page, using October Afternoon Product from the Rocket Age Collection.

Cards and Other Projects using Die Cuts

Happy Monday everyone! Today we kick off our week with die cuts. What are die cuts? Die cuts are shapes or as I to refer to them as (since I'm a big bake) the cookie cutters for scrapbookers, card makers, and other crafters. With the right die cut, you can tie your entire project together to complete your story or theme. Die cuts can be cut by an electronic machine (i.e Cricut, Silhouette), by hand, or with a manual die cut machine (i.e. Cuttlebug, Sizzix Big Shot). The best part about die cuts is what you do with them after you've cut them...distress them, color them with pens and markers, stamp on them, paper pierce them together, or decorate them with your favorite bling. Check out our favorite cards and altered projects submitted using die cuts...

Practical Scrapper Kerri

Patty

(send us a link your project and we'd love to link you back)

Fabulous Finds Friday August 19th

I've got a fun but busy weekend planned - starting off with the Scrapbook Expo!  Here's this weeks fabulous finds - enjoy!

Tent Card:  There is so much to this card!

American Crafts Guest Designer:  This is our amazingly talented Audrey

Venice Beach Layout: Clean and simple but striking

Gorgeousness:  The way she tucked her photo in on this is genius

Make a wish:  It's an old card but my favorite of hers ever

Picture Grid:  Such a creative use of a photograph

Tea Kettle Gift Box:  A great summery creation

Eager:  The colors, the corrugated cardboard, the twine...so much greatness

Back to School Banner:  The quotes are my favorite part on this

Love, Love, Love:  Awesome flowers and topic

First Time at the Park:  This layout just jumps off the page at you

Have a Great Weekend!

Burlap & Buttercups Kit Club Feature & Giveaway

This month I got to work with this great kit from Burlap & Buttercups.  Burlap & Buttercups is a new monthly kit club (they debuted in June) delivering beautifully coordinating scrapbooking supplies. Every month you'll receive a generous (and they mean really generous) assortment of patterned paper, cardstock, stickers, ribbon, and many other fun embellishments – enough to create a number of layouts and projects.  I could not believe how much I still had left over after I made my projects.  If I had time I probably could have created at least three more to share with you - my kids might forget who I am if I did that though :).

They have a great blog which includes several designers who've been featured either for their work here or in Fabulous Finds Fridays.  They also have an idea gallery to help get your creative juices flowing.  Here's what I created using this kit:

I love how this card turned out!  I punched circles and then folded them into squares.  The stones in the middle are actually buttons with bling in the center.

I love chevrons (who doesn't right now?) and wanted to use some of the pp from the kit to make them a layer on my page.  This perfectly matched my little petunia :)

I had never used anything from Simple Stories before this kit.  Their stuff is amazing - it coordinates so beautifully!  Here I punched hearts and created a wreath.  There's a lot of detail to this layout so here are some close-ups:

 To add some fun and unique texture I poked pin holes all around the inside of the heart.

 I also doodled a border and added some little hearts to that.

Unique title using a variety of stickers

I used mostly the Pebbles goodies for this wall hanging for my little girl - the dimensional butterflies did not photograph as well as I would have liked :(

I had to have one nice and simple project right!?!  As soon as I saw this paper I knew I wanted to use it.  Good thing I had a California vacation scheduled and the time to get out on the water and snap a great picture with my husband.  

Rachel is generously giving away a kit to one of our readers!  So head on over to their website and check out their first three kits.  Come back and tell me which one you like best.  If you want a bonus entry become a follower over at their blog.  Deadline to enter is next Wednesday the 24th.

Layouts Using Trim

 I have tons of trim just sitting in a box that I can't seem to figure out how to use it - several of these gave me some great ideas!  I always enjoy sorting thru our submissions and soaking up the inspiration - thanks so much to all of you who take time to submit!  Enjoy these beautiful layouts - we'll be back tomorrow with a kit feature and giveaway!

Practical Scrapper Christa

Sheila

Practical Scrapper Sarah

Challenge Me Tuesday: Trees

**Next week's challenge: Try adding a flag to your project, and show us the results! send project links to practicalscrapperslayouts(at)gmail.com if you want to be part of our challenge feature.

Trees are definitely popular images to use in scrapbooking and cardmaking. We use trees on spring, summer, fall and winter pages. They don Christmas layouts and holiday cards. What better place for placing sweet birds, owls and birdhouses that have become popular embellishments? Trees are full of symbolism, and pair perfectly with images of our growing children, deeply rooted love, and family. Today, we've got  a variety of projects to share with you, covering all kinds of types of trees. The next time you're looking for a universal element to put on a page, you might want to try a bit of foliage.

 Practical Scrapper Christa Uttley

 Penny Light

Wendy Antenucci

Cards Using Trim

Happy Monday everyone! Hope everyone had a great weekend! Since summer is "trimming" down, my family decided to spend the weekend at an amusement park before the kiddos head back to school in just two weeks here in PA. As your summers trim down to the final days here we thought we'd share cards, layouts, and other projects this week using trim. Here are our favorite cards that use featuring trim...

Practical Scrapper Aymee

Sheila Burns