May Design Team Reveal

How about a peek at what some members of the design team have done with the May kit. This one was a favorite of mine on a long list of favorites. So I thought, in the spirit of favorites, I would show my favorite layouts from what the design team has created so far.

First is this amazing layout from Tonya Dirk. I love the patchwork quilt look she created with the patterned paper with the photo centered in the middle. Such detail!
"Puppy Love" By Tonya Dirk


Of my creations, this one was my favorite mostly because I love the amount of journaling I did and the fun old photos.
"Sweet Summer" by Jennifer Findlay



This one is from Karen Grunberg who has been working on creating a Layout A Day and used her May kit to challenge herself to create one layout each day. She has also made a really fun departure from her usual style and is really loving using bright colors lately. Luckily this kit is full of bright colors.
"Don't Touch" by Karen Grunberg


And last but not least is this beauty from Larissa Albernaz. I really love the grid pattern she created with the punched paper squares.
"Sweet Sumer" by Larissa Albernaz


The rest of the design team is still working on some inspiration for you, so stay tuned here to the blog for more reveal. Or if you just can't wait, have a peek at the Design Gallery here.

Technique Tuesday with Rachel Hall

Homemade Mini Album
Today I am offering a quick and easy mini class on making a portfolio style mini album from scratch. Enjoy!



Materials Used:
Wood Paper (if you don't have access to this paper by Creative Imaginations, you can use any thick cardstock),
double sided patterned paper,
cardstock,
trim/twine,
embellishments/ephemera,
permanent adhesive (I prefer fabritac),
office portfolio clip
I used the Girls Paperie On Holiday line which can be found here.

Instructions:
Cut your wood paper, or cardstock if that is what you're using, to 8.5"x5.5"

Cut a piece of patterned paper 8.5"x5.5" and adhere to the back of the wood paper or cardstock using a permanent adhesive. Let dry and then fold in half making a 4.25"x5.5" booklet.

Embellish cover as desired or as shown. For my cover I used a 5"x3" piece (red dot), 4"x3" piece (floral pattern) and a strip of a decorative edged piece roughly 2" wide. Sand/distress/ink edges of papers if desired. I wrapped this decorative edge piece completely around my album. Add trim and embellishments of your choice.

Open up booklet and using your office portfolio clip, mark where you need holes punched and punch them.

Using 3 different double sided patterned papers, cut pieces in the following measurements:

6"x3.75"

5"x3.75"

4"x3.75"

Score along the bottom 1" from edge and fold that piece up. Use a border punch on a couple or all of the folded up edge if desired. I used a scallop border on the largest and smallest pieces. Sand/distress/ink edges of papers if desired. Adhere folded piece in place.

Score .5" from the top to create a booklet that is easy to flip. Adhere each piece on top of the last.

Adhere booklet in place. Using cropadile or hole punch, punch holes for the portfolio clip.Place clip through booklet and secure. Paint/sand/distress clip if desired.

Embellish pages as desired. In my book I used small gatherings of vintage postage stamps, decorative brads and punched circles of patterned paper. Add small photo mats with cardstock. In my book they measure:

page 1- 1.25"x1.5"

page 2- 1.5"x1.75" and 2"x2.5"

page 3- 2.5"x3.25"

Add your photos and journaling.

Add a piece of jute twine to hold your booklet together.

Member Monday with Larissa Albernaz

It's Monday and you know what that means. We have a new Layout of the Week and this week's pick comes from Larissa Albernaz who chose this layout by Zarah. Larissa said, "I love Zarah´s design, the color palette, the beautiful photos and the movement she added to her gorgeous page."

"Anna: by Zarah


Here is a little interview Larissa sent the AMM Super Diva, Zarah so read on and don't forget to leave some love for her on this post! We can all use a little praise right?

1) Tell us a bit about yourself. What got you started in scrapbooking? I'm Zarah. I'm an almost 31-year old Swede with a passion for dark chocolate, bling and puns...! ;)I've been scrapping for little over four years, and it all started after I got this idea that it'd be fun to make my own cards. It sorta escalated and... here I am! ;)
2) What three supplies would you not scrap without? White cardstock, flowers and alphabet stickers.
3) What is your favorite part about scrapbooking? The way it makes me feel. I get all happy and relaxed - plus: scrappy people are THE sweetest! I've gotten so many amazing friends through this, it's almost unreal. :)
4) What are your favorite products and manufacturers? Bazzill, Petaloo and Zva, probably! I'm also addicted to the ColorBox Fluid Chalks. ...and I could probably go on forever, but these are the ones I keep turning to, no matter what.
5) Tell us about scrapbooking [art and craft] in your country. Sweden is a blooming scrappy country, in more sense than one. ;)When I first started, there weren't a lot of shops available, and there was basically just one online forum for meeting like-minded - but that changed so rapidly! Now, there are tons of Internet stores, as well as a bunch of brick and mortal ones - and the hobby keeps on growing. We have a lot of very talented scrappers, and a lot of them are on really huge international teams. Most of all, I believe that the joy of making things with your own hands (after an era where store-bought beat homemade every time, in every way) is international, and here to stay!

You can check out Zarah's AMM gallery here and have a peek at her blog for more inspiration.

Little Something Sunday with Tonya Dirk

Rosebuds
Here is your tutorial to make the rosebud that you see on this card...


Supplies:
Three of the same size scallop circles, one of which has been cut in half.



Take one of your halves and fold the right side over and then overlap with the left side. This one needs to be a little tighter. Your left side will end up wrapping around to the back where you will need to glue down that flap to the back of that part of your flower.


Glue that first part of your flower to the second half circle. Make sure to raise your first folded piece a little bit above the top edge of the half circle you are gluing it to.

Fold your right side over, again followed by folding the left side over, once again a little looser that the previous piece. Then follow the same instructions using the last two circles. You may like the look of varying whether you fold the right or left side over first.

This tutorial was shared by Tonya during our NSD weekend long crop. You can find other tutorials from the design team here and here.

Design Team Recommends with Me-Jenn Findlay

Hi all. It is my turn on the Design Team Recommends this week and today I am sharing some of my favorite older and newer lines and products with you. Seeing all my faves together really gets me in the mood to scrap!

First up is anything from the Crate Paper Lemongrass Line. And with the whole Crate Paper craze that seems to be popping up, this line is an oldie but goodie. I love this die cut page, "Lemon".

I also love this page, "Lime". I just love the colors in this collection, yellow, green, cream, brown, and orange.

Pretty much anything from Basic Grey Nook & Pantry line, but especially the doily pages like this one, "Dishes".

Pretty much anything from the Basic Grey Origins line, but especially Basic Grey Origins "Refresh". I love the distressed grid pattern on the back of the paper.

Chatterbox Fabulous Die Cut Shapes Those cork shapes are to die for cute! I love the different texture they add.

And new to the store are these, Jenni Bowlin Playdate Journaling Cards. I love the bit of whimsy and fun they have with the images on them.

Looks like I better get shopping! Shop now and save on shipping with our $5.00 shipping rate for domestic orders. There is lots new in the store such as the new Jenni Bowlin Playdate, 7Gypsies, Cosmo Cricket Delovley, and October Afternoon Thrift Shop and Fly A Kite. You can always click on the "What's New tab to see what we have in store!

May Guest Designer Kit Reveal

Hi there. today I wanted to share with you the awesome designs our May Guest Designer, Anabelle O'Malley came up with.

"Cherry Blossoms" I love the layered flowers she came up with her using the Lily Bee chipboard pieces and some patterned paper.


"Field Day" I love her layering here behind the focal picture. She used some patterned paper, Prima packaging and the October Afternoon Wild Cards


"Sweet Summer Ice Cream" Her misting and masking is awesome and I just love this picture! I also love how she cut those circular shapes out of the patterned paper.


Anabelle also created some really cute cards. Love the banners on these cut from the American Crafts Dear Lizzy paper.

And this one uses one of the October Afternoon Wild Cards as the focal point of the card. Love it!

You can see more of what the design team did in the Design Gallery here. Thanks so much to Anabelle for inspiring us this month!

Checking in on the Challenge

Hi there. Happy hump day! Today we are checking in on the Design Team Challenge hosted this month by Larissa Albernaz. Your challenge should you choose to accept it, is to use that sketch over there to the left, designed by Kat Glossop, and to use clouds somehow in your layout.

Let's take a peek at the entries we have received so far.

By "dulces"

By "Nati"

By "Zoe"

If you would like to enter to win a $10.00 AMM store gift certificate as well as an assortment of AMM vintage trims when you place your order, then be sure to complete your challenge layout and upload it to this thread by midnight on the 21st of May. Larissa will then choose and announce the winner on the challenge thread! Good luck

Technique Tuesday with Karen Grunberg

Freebies!!
Now that we are past Mother's Day I am sure you have all kinds of cute pics of you and your kiddies or you and your own Mother to scrap, so here are some overlays and fun ticket shaped downloads created by Karen Grunberg to add to your Mother's Day layouts.

You can download the overlays here.

Have a peek at this video on how to color your overlays!

And here are the tickets. Download here.

Be sure to post your creations in the gallery or link us up here. We would love to see what you create.

Member Monday with Tonya Dirk

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a sweet Mother's Day. A new week means a new Layout of the Week and this week's choice comes from Tonya Dirk. She chose the layout below by Zoe Nemburt.
"Big Sister Hugs"

Here is a quick interview Tonya did with Zoe to help us get to know this AMM Newbie a little better. So read on, and be sure to leave Zoe some love on this post.

1) What inspired you most to make this layout? You know it's funny, I don’t normally go for the bright colours, but something told me to buy the Paper Doll collection and was so happy I did I was instantly inspired, and this layout pretty much made itself, I have 2 girls who adore each other, their love shone through in this photo so it was easy!

2) What are three of your favorite scrapbook companies? My favourite scrapbook companies are Prima, Pink Paislee & Basic Grey I have many more favourites but as I'm only allowed only three these are the companies I could be stuck on a dessert island with!

3) If you weren't a scrapbooker you would be a.....If I wasn’t scrapbooking I would definitely be doing something crafty, card making, altered art, cross-stitch & knitting those sort of things!

You can visit Zoe on her blog here! Thanks so much for the inspiration Tonya and Zoe.