Reader's Pages!

Happy Thursday!
I am excited to have received a few more reader's pages in my inbox the past week and I wanted to share them on the blog! So sit back and get some inspiration from two fabulous artists!

A scrapbooker named Kim did a COOL thing with one of my templates. She flipped my Two Curves Template and used it on a fun kids tractor page. I adore the colors, fun design and tire track in the middle. You can download or see the sketch for the template here. Check out Kim's page! (btw - you can also view Kim's gorgeous gallery here)

Next, we have two fabulous projects by Mitra!  First, she created this super fun Easter Bonnet from lots of fun craft items (just like the Designer Showcase: Easter Projects)! You can see how many pretty flowers are there and also flip flops ... you can read the story here. Here are are few photos of the finished hat!

Mitra also created this adorable "no circles" page just like the Designer Showcase: No Squares. Check out how she used all circles on her cute dog page. I love the way she did the title and the cute photo frames!  You can read more about Mitra and see more projects at her blog here, so make sure you hop over there today :) Here is her cool page.

Thanks to Kim and Mitra for sending in your pages!

Designer Showcase: Using A Sketch

Hi everyone! I'm here to share the fabulous layouts that the contributing artists did with the sketch showcase this month. It's so neat to see how different the pages turn out even though we all start out using the same general idea! Here is the sketch I created and sent out...

Here is the layout that Sara created... I really love the color scheme she used. I think the angle of the photo does an amazing job of drawing your eye in to the page, and the little sneakers hanging by a string are such an inspired addition. All in all it's such a cute take on the sketch! 

Dolores used the digital template that will be available for download at the end of this post. Her page is so soft and pretty. It really feels like Spring! Her photos are really incredible and I love how she added the bracket shape to the center block on the bottom. 

Cathy really wowed me with the paper pieced fire truck! Her attention to detail is amazing. The embossed diamond plate and her metal work are just stunning! Plus, who could resist her kiddos cute faces? I love that they have fire suits in their size. 

Nancy turned the sketch on it's side for a really cute change! I love the soft, girlie colors in her page. The stitching is amazing too! One day I'm going to fly her out from California so she can teach me to stitch on my pages. The cluster of flowers is super pretty here. Nancy does shabby chic so well.

I love how Pammy double matted the whole block of paper on kraft cardstock. It really sets off the colors in the papers. Her photos are beyond adorable and the big white flourish feels like a snowy wind blowing through the page. Plus, I love that it echoes the swirls on the background papers. The whole page just feels cool and icy. 

I created a digital layout with the template first. I loved the Jack's World paper from Cosmo Cricket and these photos of my son playing with his trucks on the beach this past Winter worked perfectly with the dump truck embellishment in the kit. I just couldn't resist!

I wasn't planning on creating a paper layout with the sketch until I got my March Scraptastic Club kit. When I saw the papers I knew they would work perfectly with these three vertical photos I had of Jordan. I made lots of changes to the sketch but in the end it turned out similar enough that you can tell the sketch was my starting point. 

Last but not least, I didn't forget my digital scrappers! Here is the link to download the layered template file that I created in Photoshop Elements. 

http://www.4shared.com/file/fVteNBjY/HL_MarchTemp1.html

If you create anything based on the sketch or template be sure to email it to Pammy so we can feature your layout on the blog!

The Love Birds Template

Good morning ladies! I am back to share a new template and sketch that I created based on a layout that I scrapped a few weeks ago. I usually have a digital example layout to share, but I haven't had enough extra time this week to create one. Sorry! Here is the sketch...

Please feel free to right click on the image and save it to your computer for future use if you want it! This is the layout I created using the sketch. I used the Scraptastic Club April kit called "Enjoy The Little Things" and a few items from my stash.

I also created a layered template in Photoshop Elements for digital scrapbookers. If you would like to download the coordinating template please click on the link below.

http://www.4shared.com/file/a0439odN/HL_AprilTemp1.html

Easy Peasy Spring Flowers

Since Easter is just around the corner, I wanted to make some spring colored flowers that didn’t take much time. I love to distress with chalk but these flowers are quicker because there is no chalking or inking involved. Easy for anyone who wants to make paper flowers that are super fast!

Here are the supplies: 
You need 3-2 inch flowers, 1-1 1 ¼  inch flower, 1inch flower, and ¾ inch flower…I used my cricut serenade cartridge…but punches work too.  They are all the same flower. 
Glue
Quilling Tool or Popsicle Stick
Colored Cardstock and Kraft Paper
Pearl

 

First twist each edge of the colored cardstock sideways on all three flowers.

Next curl upwards all the kraft cardstock on all 3 flowers. 

 

Last, glue each of the 3 colored flowers on top of each other and from large to small kraft flowers till you get to the center and add a pearl. Easy Peasy! 

 

Here are some spring flowers in different colors. 

 

Enjoy!

Ask the Artists!!

We haven't done an "ask the artists" for a while and I thought now would be a great time!! So let's get a chance to get to know our contributing artists better by reading their answers to these questions :D

1. What product (ie - adhesive, paper, flowers, etc) do you wish was unlimited in your scrap supply and you wouldn't have to buy more of all of the time? Why? 
Cathy: If adhesive could just automatically restock itself, I would be so happy!  But I really think it would be cool to have a drawer that every time I opened it there would be new trims in it each time.  I think I could spend all day just closing and opening that drawer. I love fancy pretty trims!!!

Dolores: Since I enjoy shopping for paper and embellishments like flowers, I wouldn't want to give that up.  It's just a really fun thing to do. On the other hand, shopping for the essential stuff, like adhesives, etc. is kind of boring.  So if I had an unlimited supply of all those ordinary things, then my shopping excurisons would only be the fun stuff. As a result I'd choose to have an unlimited supply of adhesives, glue pens, photo squares, etc.

Heather: I wish I could always have the correct shade of Bazzill cardstock in my stash and that I had an unlimited supply of adhesive. Those two things can stop me right in the middle of my creativity and I dislike going to the store to pick up more because sometimes it makes me lose my mojo!

Lisa: Flowers because they are a bit pricey but so beautiful and i just love them so much!

Nancy: I would love to have unlimited adhesive.  I hate spending money on it.  I would rather spend my money on something pretty and fun.

Sara: I wish I had a unlimited stock of foam take! I love giving dimension to my layouts and I use that stuff up like crazy!  I also wish I had a endless supply of albums.  I don't like buying albums as much as I like buying scrapbook supplies!

Vicky: I love flowers and can't seem to do a layout without any. My first choice is Prima but an economical second option is the mulberry flowers that come from Thailand. A lot of online places retail these like Wild Orchid Crafts and I am Roses.


2. What small, inexpensive tool (think q-tips, nail files, needles), are essential to your scrapping? What do you suggest ever scrapper needs.
Cathy: Q-tips rule!  I use them to apply and blend inks, to apply small amounts of glue, to "sweep" away stray glitter. I even use them to clean up those leaks of excessive liquid adhesive.  Another little gadget I always have handy is a push pin.  They are great for poking a hole for placing brads, piercing for stitching, they are priceless when you need to lift a self-adhesive alpha that you stuck down and now want it moved. Oh yeah, that happens all the time!  The head of the pin can be used to press down the wings of the brad too.  What do you suggest ever scrapper needs.....  A really good pair or sharp scissors!

Dolores: I know this will sound weird, but I am a scrapper who likes to lay everything out on my whole page before I glue anything down.  As a result I always keep small post it notes near by (sometimes I even cut them into smaller pieces) and when I am ready to glue the layout down I use these small post it papers to mark the placement of things. Marking items with post it notes is so easy, clean and fuss free.  It lets me preserve the design and I don't have to remember how all the layers and embellishments fit together when I start lifting things off the glue them down.

Heather:  I draw lines in pencil to keep everything straight on my pages. Because I do that I need an excellent eraser. I use one the white ones that click up and down in the dispensers. I don't know the brand name but I'd say a good eraser is definitely an essential!

Lisa: A distressing tool

Nancy: I couldn't live without my precision scissors.  With fussy cutting and edge distressing they are a necessity.

Sara: Every scrapbooker needs to have sand paper in their tool kit! I use it all the time for distressing and to smooth the edges of chipboard!

Vicky: Every shabby chic style scrapper needs to spend under $5 on a paper edge distressing tool (mike is the $3 Making Memories one) and some fine grit sandpaper. 


3. If you could predict the trends (products, colors, embellishments, tool) for the future in scrapping, what what it be? Why?
Cathy: Well, since most of my photos are of my family, and I only have sons, no daughters.... I've really likes the trend toward more elements, papers and trims that can be used for masculine or non-gender specific pages and projects. The industry has been saturated with flowers, bling and the color pink for too long! :-)

Dolores: There are so many beautiful embellishments to add to pages these days, I am guessing that scrapbook albums are going to change in order to handlethe extra bulk we add to our pages.  I can also imagine that paper punches or craft cutters will keep getting better and more versatile since these tools allow us to much freedom to make our pages unique.

Heather:  I think jewel colors will be in instead of brighter colors. I predict that butterflies and flourishes will still be big. Vintage will still be in. I think that the trend of decorating with birds may be on the way out. As far as why... I don't know! I'm just guessing. Hehe

Lisa: I think that more vintage and distressed scrapping is the wave of the future because it really takes a lot more time to make like artwork.

Nancy: I think we are going to see a return to metal.  Years ago metal embellishments were huge, with lots of plaques, tiles, keys, locks, photo turns, and such.  I think we are going to see these make a come back in new and exciting ways.  For instance, zippers were huge and now they are coming back but in new and exciting ways, zipper flowers being one example.  I am also seeing metal coming back in florals. 

Sara: If I could predict the scrapbooking trends I would say their would be lots of new boy products coming our way!  I would love papers and embellishments filled with brown, orange and green!  I would also like a die cutting machine that you could just tell it what you wanted it it cut the exact object and the perfect size..... the first time, every time!

Vicky: Seems like metal, feathers, doilies, canvas and chipboard are huge trends right now - anything that adds texture to layouts. Vintage/shabby chic is still going strong and I predict is a style that's here to stay (my personal fave too). 


 4. Share the love :).. share the links and usernames (or first names from blog) of three scrappers you have just discovered in the past few months or so. 
Cathy: Some new to me scrappers that I have discovered recently are Lisa Patterson (Avant Garden and Artwerx), Linda Cain (Friends in Art), and Julia (Vintage with Laces)

Dolores:  Janine Koczwara at  http://www.janinekoczwara.typepad.com/; Helena (Willea at Scrapbook.com)  at http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/583705.html; Madeleines Mom (at scrapbook.com)  http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/210189.html

Heather:  I love Melissa Wilson's work. She does an amazing job layering and her layouts are always so funky and fun. Plus, she uses song titles for layout titles frequently just like I love to do. http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=130187
Sharon just started her blog and it's already super cute. She has a unique and fabulous style. I just adore when she does steam punk layouts! Her pages are full of little details. You have to look a while to take everything in! http://www.thatgirlfritchey.blogspot.com/
Vija has a beautiful romantic style! She's currently scrapping photos of her vacation to Paris and her layout about all of the unique doors she found is one of my favorite layouts ever! She also has two adorable dogs that have totally stolen my heart! http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=108744&type=-1&page=1

Lisa: I haven't been blog hopping lately but there are some really inspirational bloggers out there.

Nancy: Gina at http://canoncreativegirl.blogspot.com; Casey at http://creativecasey.blogspot.com; Irini at http://thelimitationsofthought.blogspot.com/

Sara:  Missy Widden at http://littlenuggetcreations.blogspot.com/; Melissa  at http://burstsofcreativity.blogspot.com/; Heather at http://thespottedleopard.blogspot.com/

Vicky: Jennifer (Jrabs)  at http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/176327.html; Renea (reneabouquets) at http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/537905.html; Dana (datartar) - http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/166245.html


5. I would describe my way of scrapping photos most like this (fill in the blank) ____________ (choices: I try to scrap almost ALL of the photos, I scrap about half of all of the photos I take, or I just scrap the photos that I really love).
Cathy: I would describe my way of scrapping photos most like this... I take a lot of photos. There is no way I could ever scrap them all!  With the exception of special trips, I generally scrap only the photos I really love.  BUT - I tend to love almost all of my photos! You can see my frustration - I want to scrap them all, but just can't!  I find it hard to NOT scrap all my photos. That's way you'll see that I have a lot of multi-photo pages. So, I scrap the photos I really, really love. I use ring bound 12x12 albums. I put most of the others photos that I really like, but just don't have time to scrap in page protectors with the 4x6 pockets on them. That way I can have the unscrapped-photos in the same album with the scrapped photos.

Dolores:  I usually scrap just the photos I love.  I take so many pictures, I could never scrap all of them.

Heather:  When I upload photos to my computer, I delete the ones that aren't so great. Then I edit them and upload them to a photo site and have them printed. I file them away in plastic containers labeled by month and year. When I get ready to scrap I pull out an entire event at the same time. I may use a few photos from each event. I pick the best ones and make one or two pages. When I'm done, I put the rest of the photographs in regular albums. I have been known to scrap the same photos twice if they are favorites!

Lisa: I scrap about half of all of the photos I take.

Nancy: I scrap the photos I really love.  I pick an event, or even just a photo I love and design around that.

Sara: I only scrapbook the photos I really love! I have a system to organize the others that I get printed.

Vicky: I definitely scrap my favorite pictures and memories. I mostly scrap one picture per layout to let that snapped second in time shine.

Re-using An Old Page Design

There are so many great places to get ideas for page design such as sketches, idea books, galleries, etc. One of my favorite ways to get page designs (other than sketches) is by looking at my old pages in my album OR in my gallery at scrapbook.com (pammy). I love to re-use a page design that I have enjoyed doing in the past and changing/updating it for a new page. Here are some examples of how I have done this with newest pages!

1. This first example is of a page design, "Go Slidin'", I created back in July 2009.

I like this design so much that I decided to change it up a bit and update for my newest page, "Surfing." As you can see I flipped the design horizontally and changed the color scheme. I kept with the orange on the top and bottom but opted for more embellishments for my newest page. I also changed the curvy lines up and down so I would have more room for journaling. (you can download the link to template made for the second page here: http://ideasforscrapbookers.blogspot.com/2010/09/new-two-curves-template.html )

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2. In my second example, my original page design called "Nature Walk", was created in March 2009.

In my newest example, I actually flipped my design 90 degrees and centered the circles and photos. Rather than having my photos on just one side, I extended them to both sides but kept withe middle "block" of activity. I also took away the curvy line in the middle and went with straight lines in my newest page. I chose a brown background for each to make the layouts "pop." (you can download the link to template made for the second page here: http://ideasforscrapbookers.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-graphic-circlescurves-template.html )

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3. For my next layout, I used the original design from a layout called "Autumn Fun" I created back in October 2008.

In my newest page, "So Happy", I flipped the page horizontally and used a similar idea of keeping the photos inside of the circle. I used three photo instead of two and extended my bottom photo all the way down. I also included journaling in the newest layout in the inner circle area. In the first layout I opted for a half circle title and kept it straight on the second.

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4. Lastly, I am sharing two older layouts I created that have the basic same design. Here is the first layout titled "Sun Kissed" which I created back in July 2009.

My second page created in April 2010 is called "Vacation" and it featured a very similar page design. I used four main photos with the same circle template (a digital item I purchased). I flipped the design 90 degrees on the second page and patterned paper in almost the same areas. The layouts both feature embellishments randomly placed all over the layout.

Have you used your older layouts as inspiration for another? If so send me your pages at scrappingpam73@yahoo.com , I would love to see 'em!

Designer Showcase: Ledger Paper

In honor of April 15th (when filing taxes due here) we are doing a designer showcase with ledger paper or notebook paper. What would be more fitting for this theme. Do you have your taxes done.. just a reminder that they are due really soon :) . Here are some fabulous examples by the contributors or using ledger paper!!

Vicky is sharing with us a pretty wedding layout featuring background ledger paper. I love the soft color of this ledger paper and she embellished her page so well with this ruffles ;)

Nancy created this totally adorable layout with ledger paper as the background paper as well! Check out how much it pops in yellow for this design. Her embellishments usage on this layout is simply adorable!!

Cathy created this sweet page using muted ledger paper and it a bit of lime green ledger paper on the bottom left corner. I like how she embellishments this layout in soft and bright colors :)

Sara is sharing a super cute page using notebook paper. Everything works so well on this page! I love the overall flow of the layout and the great use of color!!

Lastly, we have a page from Dolores who created this very pretty page about her favorite things of spring!! Check out how well that notebook paper goes with her page and is the perfect space for her journaling - love that!!

Are you inspired? Get out the ledger paper and get scrapping!!