Leap, March, Scrap!

It is time to leap into March!  Did you spend some time doing special things on this bonus day?  My family welcomed a new baby boy into the world.  He is absolutely precious (of course!) and we can now begin the debate--which month do we celebrate his birth?  A good friend of mine happily turned 10 today (or 40 if you count traditionally) and she fully believes that she should always celebrate on BOTH Feb. 28 and March 1.

I am up for celebrating every day!  I know all of my scrappy buddies out there are, too.  After all, we try to find something scrapworthy about each and every day.  Today we have something super special to share--a gorgeous kit from talented Pixels by Jen.  Her designs are always lively and totally fun!  Take a peek at her blog to keep up with her latest releases, specials, and tons of inspiration.

Here is the freebie she created just for our readers:  Bring me a rainbow.

Download Links:  {expired}
Please respect this generous gift and do not upload/share this kit.  Friends are welcome to download it here for the next month.  Thank you!

Ready for some more inspiration?  We have another quick and easy read--our March mini mag.

Next month we will be back with a full ScrapStreet Magazine issue.  We will look for you then!

It's Leap Day So ...

Let's HOP to it!! Hi everyone. I made a fun interactive card inspired by leap day. We only get to do this every four years, so we may as well have some fun with it, right!?!

This type of card is called a slider card because a piece of it slides. Most slider cards are straight lines. I've seen cars as sliders driving on a road, or hot air balloons floating in the air. For my card, I wanted my little froggy to leap. so his path isn't straight across or up and down. He goes up and around like he's leaping from one lily pad to another. The sentiment HOPpy Birthday seemed to fit perfectly.

Hope you're having a fun leap day!!

Graphic 45 @ CHA

I was downloading the pics from my camera and had to share.  I was lucky enough to go to Winter CHA and one of my favorite booth is always Graphic 45.  They have show stopping samples and their booth is always decorated to the extreme.

Here is a pic of Diane Schultz (designer and owner) and Aimee on the day they where highlighting the "Little Darlings" collection.  Every day the group working the booth dressed up in a different costume.  It was awesome.

Little Darlings Beautiful Display

I thought this bracelet was so unique and creative I had to take a picture of it

You have to check out this designer, her bracelet was really impressive

Can you believe Melanie Forbes made the bracelet out of the Graphic 45 door knob

Kraft Relections

Tropical Travelogue

Old Curiosity Shoppe Display - amazing!

Old Curiosity Shoppe

Old Curiosity Shoppe "When Pigs Fly"

I love Graphic 45, you can tell by how much time and pictures I took at their booth.  Here is an album I did a while back with the "Once Upon A Spring Time" collection.

And last but not least, what would a trip to CHA be without getting a picture of Tim Holtz!

If you havent tried Graphic 45, you must - their product is amazing!!

What a Difference!

Have you ever created a layout that you just love, yet something didn't seem quite right about it?  I have - and I have found I can fiddle with elements, shadows and photos for hours, trying to get just the right feel for my page.

Here's a quick tip that I hope will help you next time you find yourself stumped ... try changing the background papers on your layout.

I had grabbed a the light green background for this layout because the color matched the flowers in my DIL's bouquet.  I created my page and liked how it turned out, but I felt it was a little washed out - so ... I opened up each background paper in the kit and layered them all under the elements and photo on the layout.  One by one I began hiding and un-hiding the layers.  When the dark blue background appeared, I knew it was the one I would use!

Here's the "before" layout:

And here is the layout after adding that beautiful deep blue paper:

(Kit credit for the above:  For Us by Pretty In Green Designs, found HERE)

Here's another example ... I started by using the turquoise background because of the colors in Chelsea and Trenton's clothing.  Again, it seemed washed out, and when I switched the background to the darker color I liked how it made the photos pop from the page.

After:

 Kit credit for the above:  A Fresh Start by Sugar Pie Scraps found HERE)

And on this page, I started off by using the dark background.  I liked how the black and white photo blended in well with the background.  Then I swapped out backgrounds ... the lighter color background really made the beautiful red flowers come alive on the page and even made the black and white photo look better (in my humble opinion!)

 After:

 (Kit credit for the above:  Enjoy Life by LDrag Designs, found HERE)

Thanks for stopping by today - I hope you have found inspiration here!

Have a great day!!

From Scrap to Cards

Sometimes we receive way too many beautiful submissions they just can't possibly fit in the magazine. Thank goodness for our blog! I truly believe the cards I'm sharing with you today deserve a post all to themselves anyway. I've invited designer Michelle McClure to share a bit more about her cards. She takes us 'From Scrap to Cards'. :)

The Inspiration

I had just finished making a layout and had all these scrap pieces leftover. I couldn't bear to throw them away, but didn't really want to keep the odd bits of paper. I decided to make some quick cards before I cleaned up and turn scrap into scraptacular. 

The Process

To stream line the process, I mentally made a simple card sketch in my head so I could spend more time creating and less time deliberating. I decided on dividing each card into three sections and placing the main image and sentiment into the middle section. I also decided to add a 3-D element to each card to make it more fun for the recipient. To make myself stay on track I limited my supplies to what I had out already so I basically used paper, twine and Stickles. But I'll give you an official list of materials. 

Supplies: 

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics

Patterned Papers: Nikki Sivils 

Stickers: Nikki Sivils 

Pen: Pentel

Ink: ColorBox

Glitter Glue: Stickles by Ranger

Liquid Adhesive: Fabric-tac

Twine: The Twinery

Punches: Fiskars

Metal Accent: Imaginisce

Heating Tool: Imaginisce

The Cards

Card 1: "It's Your Birthday!"

I used the same paper for two background sections and a varying pattern for the central section. I popped up a sticker with foam tape for the sentiment. 

One of the patterned papers had a flag design on it. I cut out 5 of the flags and popped those up with a thicker piece of foam tape. I glued a strand of twine over the top to make it banner for my 3-D element. The flags had the black pen line printed on them already so I can drew the same design on my background pieces for a more cohesive look. 

Card 2: "Celebrate"

I went with three different papers for the background sections, but they kind of just blended into one another so I glued a thin strip of an accent color to break up the sections. 

For my 3-D element I paper pieced some presents, which is a great way to use up the really tiny pieces of scraps. I tied some presents with twine and adorned others with flower punches. 

Card 3: "It's Your Day!"

This time I changed the orientation of the card. I separated the yellow toned background pieces with a brighter pink punched scalloped border. 

For the 3-D element, I rolled up small rectangular pieces of scrap paper and sealed the edges with liquid adhesive to make some candles. I tied them together with twine and also adhered them to the card with liquid adhesive. The glitter glue flames looked too flat with the dimensional candles, so I added some tear shaped Glam-rocks in the center. I cheated and had to get that out from a drawer, but it was for a specified item instead of random foraging, so please forgive me. 

In Short

The three cards were quick and easy to make. My best tips for get things done are:

• less is more - don't get overwhelmed by supplies, choose a supply base and use those materials
• think first - if you have a plan of attack before you start working, then you can use your creative energies playing around with the materials instead of wondering how to fill up the space, sketches are great for this purpose
• let you be you - just develop your own style and don't compare your work with others, the recipients will love whatever you make
• go with your instincts - don't over think things and second guess yourself, just get it done
• have fun! - feel free to experiment and play with your supplies, there is always another sheet of paper if you don't like the outcome

To see more amazing creations by Michelle, you can visit her blog by clicking here. 

Thank you so much Michelle for sharing your process and these super cute cards! I think everyone can agree, there's a little something we can glean from what you have offered. 

~ Melissa E. 

Time Savers

I know I'm not the only one trying to find more time to scrap. Let's face it, there are only so many hours in each day, so I'm really not going to find more time. But, I've been fooling myself into thinking I have more time by being more efficient with the time I have. Let me share two "time tips" that have been working for me.

1) Use sketches. There are SO many sites, blogs, magazines, and books that can help give you that gift of time. I used to think using sketches was "cheating". REALLY?! Are the "scrapbook principals" going to come and check on my work? Sketches are not cheating. They are actually huge time-savers. Sometimes I use the sketch exactly as I see it, other times the sketch gives me the kick I need to start, and then I just use some of the elements from the sketch.

2) Look to other art sources for inspiration.  Find design principals and patterns that already exist in other art like painting, knitting, sewing, quilting, and other crafts. This page above is based on a quilt block that fellow Scrapstreet writer, Smitha Katti is doing as her Quilt-Block-a-Month for the Fiskars website. I do not need any more hobbies, so I am not going to even try quilting (although I could probably do this one since it is just straight lines). But, I can take a quilting design and re-create it with paper. It's not cheating...it's a time-saver.

What do you use as time-savers? I'd love to hear your ideas. Send them to me... kelly@scrapstreet.com , and I will share them in a future blog post.

 

Just a quick shout for this new POW Micro-glitter Paper from American Crafts. No more glittery fingers, eyes, nose, lips, counters,socks, (do you get my idea?). This thin, self-contained paper gives the same ultra pizazz as other glitter papers, but without the mess. And, it's punchable! I used it for the flowers and "PRINCESS" on this layout.  Check it out!

~Kelly

{a free printable card}

Hi everyone! Today I have quick freebie to share with you all...

Download here

This is a free printable card, you just feed a 8.5 by 11 inch cardstock sheet into your printer and hit the print button. Then trim the card to size, and fold. Viola, a pretty card is ready for you to use :)

(I added some tiny pearls here to act as punctuations)

Hope you find some use for these!!!

Artist Trading Cards

Let's talk about Artist Trading Cards, or ATC's.  If you have never heard of them they are small works of art that you create using various mediums.  It's art, so you do your own thing, use whatever you want.  Normally they are similar in size to a baseball card and you guessed it, sometimes they are traded or exchanged.

I enjoy creating them and I think that has a lot to do with their size.  Plus normally I am able to create them in a shorter period of time than anything else I do.  I love the satisfaction of completion.

Recently I discovered a challenge blog that is for ATC's.  Instantly I was hooked and often play at Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge Blog, which is owned and hosted by Jenn Borjeson.  There is so much inspiration there that I have to check the blog daily to see what's new.  Jenn hosts a new challenge each Wednesday. 

I'm hoping we can inspire you to create ATC and maybe join in on the challenges with a few examples of ATC's.

Melissa

Melissa

Jenn

Jenn

Jenn

Happy Crafting!

Melissa

Flash Cards ~



Hi everyone !!!  Have you ever found something really cool and love to incorporate them into your scrapbooking or cardmaking?  I came across these on a recent junkin' trip and thought I would show you what I made with them.

I added some scrapbooking supplies to the mix and this is what I created.  I used Jenni Bowlin Studio products and the vintage flash cards.  I used Helmar Craft Glue to adhere my embellishments. These would look great on a layout, card or used as a gift tag on a present.

Here is another example. Don't be afraid to use those vintage finds, they can really bring unique inspiration to others.  Have a great day and I'll see ya soon! by: C. Mercer

Digi Freebie

Time for a freebie? I have a little mini kit for you this month called Chocolate Kisses in scrumptious shades of chocolate, pink and raspberry!


With 6 papers and a handful of elements make yourself some sweet layouts!
Download here for the next week, then it is gone. Enjoy!

Hello You

Reason #859029122 why I love making my own cards: I can personalize the sentiment to my voice.

What do I mean by that? Well, you know how we all have our personal "slang"? Little phrases that seem to come out when we are around those we are most comfortable with... maybe even local slang that you use when greeting someone or congratulating them. Sometimes store bought cards can be so generic with their sentiments.

Happy Birthday


I Miss You


Thinking Of You

BORING!

Okay okay. Yes, I make a plethora of cards using those very sentiments. But I like to throw in some that use phrases like:

Dude... It's your BIRTHDAY


Hello You


Hey You


How You Doin'? 


Oh My Gah!

You see where I'm going here? So maybe the next card you make, consider personalizing it even more with one of your "signature" phrases. The recipient is sure to get a kick out of it!  Here is a card using Jen's new kit with a personalized sentiment.

Digital Kit used: Color Blast 1 by Jen Martakis


Other Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper, Letter Stickers: Lily Bee Design, Flower: Kaisercraft, Button: SEI, Jute: unknown


Thanks for swinging by! I am finding some time to be crafty this weekend then heading down to Seattle for a birthday bash. What are your plans?

~ Melissa E.

I Love Chipboard

I love chipboard because it is inexpensive and very versatile.  I use chipboard for album covers and pages and also to make my own embellishments.

So what happens when you take plain chipboard

Add some paint, crystal lacquer (same effect as Ranger glossy accents) and some stickles

Voila!! You get some nice embellishments that add dimension and texture to your layout.

Enjoy, and happy scrapping!