New Websters Pages are in the store!!!
The embellishments will be shipping in the next few weeks but here are the papers from the new Postcards From Paris line. AMM is the first to have this new collection in the store. Take a look at the papers below and click here to go put some in your shopping cart!
This great sketch site is in its second year and as part of the design team there, I can honestly say that it is the most fun sketch site.
There are tutorials, a really supportive message board community, prizes, and not to mention the great sketches designed by site owner, Julie.
If you are ever low on inspiration, I suggest stopping by the site for the sketch of the week or looking through the archives for past sketches. Here is a peek at the sketch up this week. Head on over to the site, register, and upload your interpretation of the sketch for a chance to win this week's prize!
Click here to check it out!
Pleated Paper Flowers
Here are the instructions for making the pleated paper flower embellishments I used on this page:
Materials needed:
1. 12-inch strips of paper (they can be anywhere from a ½ inch to an inch wide)
2. Ruler
3. Adhesive (I like to use Fabritac glue)
4. Chipboard circles
5. Buttons, rhinestones, or whatever else you want to use to top off your flowers.
1. Take a strip of paper. Starting at one end, use the edge of your ruler to make a diagonal fold in the paper.
2. After the first fold, make a fold on the opposite side of the paper so that you have accordion style folds (back and forth, back and forth, as the picture below shows). When you are pleating the paper make all of your folds at an angle so that the pleat forms a circle.
You might need to manipulate the pleats as you go along to get the round shape you want. Keep going until you have a circle and trim any excess paper.
You should end up with something like this:
3. Glue the pleated paper “wheel” to the back of a chipboard circle. I used October Afternoon chipboard embellishments on the flowers I created for the “Grow” layout above. For the example below, I covered a plain chipboard circle with cardstock, sprayed on some Spritz spray, and then I added Stickles around the edge.
4. Top off your flower with a button, rhinestone or other embellishment. Voila!!!
Thanks so much Stacy, can't wait to give this a try.
Today's Member Monday is from me. It is finally my turn! I picked Maria Swiatkowski who so gracioulsy scraplifted me. Here is Maria's layout:
"Love Your Crinkled Nose Squinty Eyes Grin"
And here is my layout which is based on sketch 28 over at 52 Sketches 52 Weeks.
Here's a little interview I had with Maria so you can get to know her a little better.
1. What got you started in scrapping?
Alexa was a little over 6 months old, and I was browsing around a bookstore. A scrap mag caught my eye and I picked it up. My co-worker mentioned she scrapbooked and brought in her albums and more magazines to look at. I couldn't wait to try it out. A little while later I attended my first class at a LSS. Hooked ever since.
2. What are the three scrapping tools you just couldn't scrap without?
Border punches, Basic Grey Precision files and a craft knife.
3. What manufacturers do you really love? Too many! But, my top five this year are: Basic Grey, Pink Paislee, October Afternoon, My Minds Eye and Cosmo Cricket.
4. What one technique is one of your projects not complete without?
Lately, it's using one or more border punches. I seem to be reaching for those over and over.
5. What is the inspiration behind this layout?
These pictures had been sitting on my scrap desk for weeks. I was looking through the AMM gallery and saw Jenn's take on the sketch at 52 weeks/52 sketches. I thought it was the perfect fit for the new Basic Grey Lemonade papers.
Thanks so much for the awesome compliment Maria and thanks for sharing your project with us. If you want to leave Maria some love, leave a comment under this post or head on over to the gallery. You cna find this layout here and see the rest of Maria's gallery here.
The Design Team is being sponsored by the fabulous Lily Bee this month with papers and die cuts from the really pretty French Couture line. Here are a few peeks of some of the projects created be design team members. I'll be bringing you more as they are added to the gallery.
Here is a gorgeous layout from Karen. Who knew pink could look so sophisticated on a baby boy page layout! I love the color combination on this one and that big flower is so pretty.
"Shh" by Karen Grunberg
Here is a really fun summer layout from Susan. The summery colors on this one go perfectly with the pool pics and I love those splashes on here.
"123, jump" by Susan Dupre
And here is one from yours truly. I used one of the 4x4 die cut pieces to make a mini layout within a layout. Of course lots of white space and some Glimmer Mist using a Glimmer Screen. I also used my Cricut to cut out the leaves from the Lily Bee paper.
"She's a Doll" by Jennifer Findlay
Thanks for stopping by today!
I am so excited that the new Melissa Frances stuff is in the store. I have been waiting for this BINGO mini book for so long! But you better hurry because I bet they will sell out quickly!
Here are some more fab projects from the design team using the July kit. Want to see more and some detailed pics? Click here to go to the design gallery.
Hand cutting Tips
Don't you love to see perfect hand cutting? You know the kind I mean...like it was cut with a die cut machine. It is a lot easier than you think and with just a little practice and a few tips you will be an expert cutter yourself!
Tip 1 - Always cut your image loosely from the paper before trimming close.
Tip 2 - Use a SHARP pointed, short scissor. I like Cutterbee's. I keep them for only hand cutting with a special ribbon tied in the handle so they don't get mixed up.
Tip 3 - Leave a margin around the edge of your image. Your flower or image will be more defined and if you mess up a little it will show less if you leave a margin. Try to keep the margin fairly even.
Tip 4 - Move the paper and not the scissors - do you know what I mean? The hand with the scissors should be still, except for opening and closing the scissors. Move the paper into the blade and you will get a smoother cut.
Tip 5 - Try to make long smooth cuts where possible. It is much easier to cut a smooth line when it is long and not little choppy cuts.
Misc. Tips -
-For interior cuts I use a craft knife on a self healing mat.
-When cutting out flower petals I always try to cut toward the center of the flower - not around the entire petal.
-Make sure you show off your hand cutting by popping it up with a pop dot for dimension.
It is amazing what a little detail will do for a project and it doesn't really take as long as you might think, so give it a try!
Welcome back to another Member Monday here on the blog. Today's pick comes to us from Susan. She chose the layout below by Jamie Dougherty, also known as "jaylynn" on our message boards. Here is Jaylynn's layout.
Go Green!
Are you in the Long Beach, California area? If so you should stop by Michelle's house for a Scrapbook Yard Sale!!
She is having a sale this weekend to clear out the warehouse to make room for all the awesome new CHA stuff.
Here are some of the prices:
Paper will be $.25 each or 10 for $2
Ribbon spools for $3
Embellies for $1 & $2
What awesome deals!!!!
So if you are in the OC or LA area, here's Michelle's address:
2378 Charlemagne
Long Beach, CA 90815
The sale starts at 7:30 on Saturday, so be there or you'll miss out on stocking up on some of your favorites!
Hi. Michelle here. We are having a sale that begins AND ends Friday 7/17/09. All orders get 15% off using code 221 at checkout. PLUS, if you are a US customer, spend $25 or more and get free shipping too.
We are working hard to clean house so that we are ready for CHA in a few weeks (11 days...but who's counting?). In order to help make room for all of the fabulous new product that we plan to order, we are going to have a warehouse clearance sale this Saturday, 7/18/09. If you are in or near the Long Beach, CA area, we hope you will take advantage of our sale. We will have ribbon spools for $3.00 each, papers will be 10 for $2.00, albums for $2.50, Prima flowers for $1.00, varius embellishments for $1.00 & $2.00 and more. I am still preparing for the sale, so I'm stil not sure about how much of everything we will have. But I know it will be a TON of stuff!!!
We will be ready to go by 7:30 am on Saturday. Here's my address:
2378 Charlemagne
Long Beach, CA 90815
On a completely different note, I wanted to share a story that I just heard about yesterday...Background first...
As many of you know, my daughter Chloe has Leukemia. She is still on chemotherapy, but is doing amazingly well. You would NEVER know that my child has Cancer. I think back to the day that she was diagnosed and I still get chills up my spine and tears well up in my eyes. It was the worst day of my life!!! The first two months were literally hell. My husband and I struggled every day to stay strong for our children while our hearts were broken and our world was destroyed. We lived every day these first two months wondering if we would be able to save our baby girl. I rememember one night in the hospital, Chloe laid asleep in bed and I sat in a chair next to her just crying. A nurse walked in and wrapped her arms around me. She whispered in my ear that things were going to get easier. I remember this as if it was yesterday because it meant SO MUCH TO ME. It was exactly what I needed to hear and most importantly ~ I BELIEVED HER AND IT MADE ME FEEL BETTER!!! And you know what? She was right!
Fast forward to the story I heard about on the radio yesterday. There is a one year old little girl named Allison Zicree in Southern California that is looking for a bone marrow match.
Her Mother was on the news asking people to donate blood and sign up for bone marrow registration this week. My heart just breaks for them! Allison was diagnosed a month ago. I remember those first few months in the hospital. Waiting to hear if she is in remission or not. Eatting, sleeping, praying all day long in the hospital. It's just the worst nightmare you could ever imagine!!!! Please visit Allison's blog and say a prayer for them. They need to hear our kind words right now. And if you have the time and are in the area, please stop by and donate blood to Allison and register for the bone marrow.
