Sketch-y Friday

Hello blog friends and happy Friday!

As always, I have a new sketch to share with you.  But first, I want to remind you (or let you know in case you missed it last week) about our HUGE First Birthday Sale-ebration!  It is being held on Friday, August 5th and Saturday, August 6th, you can find all of the information including times and special events here.

Lot's of ScrapMuch? purple in the sketch today, love it!  But you know you can interpret it any way that suits you and your photos.

Have fun with it, and remember .....

I'd love to see your take on this sketch.  So,if you create a layout based on this sketch, you can have it published here on this blog by emailing me a picture of your creation by Thursday August 4th at 6pm here.

Thank you for popping by for your weekly sketch!

Laura
xoxo

Tip and Technique Wednesday

Hello Blog Friends!

It's Wednesday and I'd say we are half way through the work week, or something to that effect, but I am on vacation so I hope the week is long and peaceful!  However, I do have a tutorial for you.  This one is all for me, though I do hope to inspire a few of you at least.

I really wanted to create a silhouette of my little guy to hang in my scrap room, why I wanted to do it right now is beyond explanation as my room is a mess and not looking to be organized any time soon!  All I can say is, I'm sure you, my fellow addicted will understand!

Anyway, I set about creating this silhouette and thought I should document it to share with you.  Bear in mind, this is what I came up with, of course you can do what ever you think will work for  you.

 First, I took a picture of my son against the window, to have a better contrast of the outline.  (Look the one time it doesn't matter if your child's hair is messy!)

 Then using the photo editing software that came with my computer, I converted it to black and white and played with the brightness, contrast, shadows and highlights of the photo a bit to make the photo more dramatic.  This just makes for easier cutting.

 I decided to print my photo as a 5 x 7, you can do what suits you.

 Next, start trimming out the outline of your image (this is when you can trim off any messy or wild hair if you choose).

 This is what you end up with, I kind of like this image, I may need to do something with it for a future project.  But for now it will serve as a tracer.

 Depending on which way you want your silhouette to face, you can lay it right side up or upside down onto a sheet of black cardstock (I say black as silhouettes are typically black, but you could have some fun with different colours too.

 This is the traced outline.

 Next trim out that outline.

 Since I was using white core cardstock, I decided to further enhance that by sanding the edges of my silhouette.

 Next I added a subtle pattern paper to a dollar store 8 x 10 canvas, and inked the edges.  I knew I wanted my finished project to be black and white, so I embellished it accordingly.

 Here it is hanging on the wall.

Here is a close up of the fairly simple embellishment cluster.  I made the flower using a technique in a tutorial I demonstrated on my own blog over a year ago, you can see how to here.

Now i just have to finish unpacking my scrap room and start hanging things on the wall so I can hang this too!

Thanks for coming by the blog to see what I have been up to!

Laura
xoxo

CHA Sneak Peak

Hello all!

I have a ton of stuff to share with you from CHA and I will, I promise.  But I will do it a bit at a time so as not to overwhelm you or take up too much of your time all at once.

Today I wanted to share with you a brand new label from American Crafts, called Amy Tangerine.  A sweet girl named Amy Tan is the designer of this line and we had the good fortune to meet her and pose for a picture.

Her line includes patterned papers, machine stitched papers, fabrics and a plethora of embellishments, you know all of the usual suspects. It is a fun and quirky line and at first glance it looks a little random.  But I think that is the beauty and intention of this line.  It is travel influenced, but suitable for so much more.  I think all 4 of us that headed down to CHA are looking forward to the arrival of this product so that we can play with it.

One of my favourite parts of the collection is this little journal.  It comes loaded with pages but you could always add more if you need to.  And while it coordinates with her line of papers and embellies, you could do almost anything with it.

Here is a video that will tell you a little more about Amy Tan and this little journal.



And finally, I will share a few of her layouts, these are different to the ones you would have seen if you followed the links above.

We hope you will love this collection as  much as we do, it should be arriving in our store mid to late August.  If you are interested in pre-ordering this sweet journal feel free to email us here, and we will confirm all of the details with you.

Either way, leave us a comment and let us know what you think.

Thanks for popping by today, keeping checking in with us for more CHA fun and more fun blog stuff!

Laura
xoxo

A HUGE Announcement!

Hello friends!


We have a super fun and exciting announcement!

   We are celebrating our FIRST Birthday! 

And of course, we decided that we should celebrate with you, our loyal and fabulous customers.  So we are hosting an event just for you!

Here are all of the details:

We will be offering this free children's make and take on Friday. August 5th  between 5pm and 8pm.  Limit 1 per child, to the first 50 children.

AND, if that is not enough we will be offering a FREE CROP on Saturday, August 6th, from 9am - 6pm!  Come and spend the day cropping with us and take advantage of our great sale!  Bring your own lunch, drinks, snacks etc..  Crop spaces are limited and will be on a first come first served basis.

Thank you for popping by today, we hope you will join us for our big "Sale-ebration"!

Anita, Elaine, Eileen and Laura

xoxo

Sketch-y Friday

Another Friday, already!

Wow this week has flown by with so much fun and excitement!  It seems like only yesterday I was sharing a sketch with you and here I am back again.

I thought I'd do something a little fun and different with the photo portion of the sketch this week.  But remember it`s your layout, do what suits you the best!

Also, I'd love to see your take on this sketch.  So,if you create a layout based on this sketch, you can have it published here on this blog by emailing me a picture of your creation by Thursday July 28th at 6pm here.

Here is a layout that was shared with us, based on the sketch from two weeks ago.....

I love that this layout by Christa Uttley has great balance, white space, oh and let's not forget the use of a paint chip!  Love that!  Thanks for sharing Christa!

Thanks for stopping by today! Happy scrapping.
Laura
xoxo

Tip and Technique Wednesday

It's Wednesday! Yeah! 

That means I am back with another tip for you.  As promised last week, I am going to show you how to use a layout sketch to create a card.  It's a great way to use up your scraps before tidying up at the end of a scrap session.  You can skip adding a sentiment and leave the card blank, if you are adding it to your stash of cards.  Sentiments can be added later when you decide who the card recipient will be. 

I used the same sketch as last week, from July 1st......

 This card was created at the same time as the layout I featured last week.  Using up some of my scraps is something I have been doing recently, it means I have to store less and I have a few cards in my stash for emergencies ;)
 

The layout is basically the same, but I chose to do less layers for my card as well as  fewer embellishments due to the smaller space.

 You'll notice that I changed the scalloped strip to sit on top of what would have been the photo mat.  I am using the photo mat area as a place to hold my sentiment instead of placing it where the title was.  If you wanted to use a stamped image on your card you could place it where the photo was and add your sentiment where the title was.  Again, the possibilities are endless.

Embellishments can be related to your card's theme or a basic flower.

Thank you for stopping by this week to see what I have been up to!

Laura
xoxo

CHA

Hello and Happy Monday!

We (Anita, Elaine, Eileen and I) are heading off to Chicago today for the summer CHA!  We are all super excited, even those of us (meaning me) who are afraid to fly!  Good thing I have lots of hands to hold! 

Are you familiar with CHA?  It is a semi annual trade show, that brings manufacturers together with store owners, designers and others in the industry.  New products are featured and samples are displayed.  Each manufacturer has a booth, which is decorated to the nines!  I love seeing all of the booths and samples.  I will be snapping a ton of photos to share with you.

We will be shopping for lots of new product to bring back to the store.  As usual, shipments will be staggered as products are released, this way we should have fresh and new goodies to shop from on an ongoing basis.

Stay tuned for some sneak peeks!


Laura
xoxo

July Featured Customer

Hello blog friends!

This month we have asked Anne Jobes to be our featured customer,  I`m sure you have seen Anne at some of our functions.  Anne is a avid and talented scrapper and Mom to a beautiful daughter, not to metnion her many other roles inlife!

Meet Anne,,,,,

Take a minute to get to know Anne a little better, here are her answers to our standard Featured Customer questions.....

1. How long have you been scrapbooking?

I've been scrapbooking since about 2004. Very shortly after we moved to Elmira, the local (now closed) scrapbook store was doing an intro to scrapbooking class. I grabbed the first packet of photos I could find - we weren't even unpacked yet - and did a layout about Sarah's birthday. I loved it and knew I had finally found the hobby for me. That's what started it all!

 
2. Do you also create hand made cards?

Yes, I do, although I haven't made too many recently. My cards are usually stamped, rather than scrappy style. 

3. Who is your favourite subject to scrapbook?

My family, hubby Brian and daughter Sarah, and the things we do together. I am not a chronological scrapper so I have about 4 or 5 albums on the go and scrap whatever I feel inspired to scrap. Could be dance photos one layout, our Disney trip the next. I used to chronological scrap, thinking I had to finish this album before starting the next, but it stymied my creativity and turned scrapbooking into an obligation rather than fun.

4. Where do you find your scrapbooking inspiration?

Sketches often get me inspired. And my photos. I don't feel most of my photos are spectacular, but they do capture a moment or memory and so they are the reason I scrapbook and they inspire me - the colours, or the occasion, or non-occasion.

5. Where do you scrapbook?

I work from home and have a room that does double duty as my office and as my scrap space. This is where I do most of my scrapbooking, although if there's something I enjoy on TV and I'm scrapping at night, I'll take stuff downstairs to work on. Then I get me workout running up and down to get more stuff to add to the layout!

6. What is one of your current favourite products?

One, really? A lot of my layouts incorporate some sort of border or horizontal strip, so I have to have border punches nearby when I scrapbook. 

7. Do you have a blog that we can share with our readers?

Absolutely, and I'd love it if you'd all drop by!

http://inkspiration.typepad.com/inkspiration_for_stamping/

``Thanks, Laura and ScrapMuch? It's been fun following this series of posts and getting to know you ladies and some of your favourite people, and I'm honoured to be part of it!``

Here are a few of Anne`s favourite layouts, and we can see why she loves them so!

We love that this stunning layout really focuses on the photo of Anne`s beautiful daughter.

We love that Anne has used 3 good sized photos on a single page layout.

We love the use of non-traditional Christmas colours and the varying sizes of photos.

We would like to give Anne a big thank you for playing along with us this month!

If you or anyone you know would like to be a featured customer, please send me an email here.  I am looking for a customer to be featured for the month of September (and beyond).    I know it seems so far away, but with summer schedules and whatnot, I like to stay on top of the line up.  You can expect to receive a confirmation email a few weeks before your turn and then one email detailing what we would need from you.  Sign up today to be placed on the list!


Thanks for stopping by today!
Laura
xoxo

Sketch-y Friday

It's Friday, it's Friday!

That is definitely worth singing about!  I hope I will have some scrappy time this weekend, how about you?

As always I have a sketch to share with you .....

Have fun with it, and remember .....

I'd love to see your take on this sketch.  So,if you create a layout based on this sketch, you can have it published here on this blog by emailing me a picture of your creation by Thursday July 21st at 6pm here.

I received two submissions based on last weeks sketch, have a look.....

This layout is created by Ann Jobes, I love that she turned the sketch to suit her photos.  I also love the extra details with the all of the stitching.

This layout is created by our very own Anita.  I love that she used stickers for journaling and stars instead of flowers.

Thank you for playing along ladies!

Happy scrapping!
Laura
xoxo

Tip and Technique Wednesday

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

It's tutorial day here on the blog and this week I am going to give you a few tips on working with a sketch.  Next week I will show you how to use the same single page layout sketch to create a card.

I started with this sketch from July 1st......

And this is the layout I created......

 
I kept this layout fairly true to the sketch, but the beauty of a sketch is that you totally have creative license to make it your own.  It truly is a starting off point and you can take your layout wherever you want it to go.   For instance you can  turn the sketch side ways or up side down.  You can use a few small photos instead of one large photo.  You can use patterned paper or card stock where ever you would like. You can use edge punches instead of having straight lines.  You can use more or less embellishments.  The possibilities are endless.

As the sketch suggested I used a circular embellishment around the title and placed the title on this semi circle above the photo.

The sketch had butterflies on it, but flowers and a bumblebee worked better for me, you can choose to use which ever embellishments you would like, to help reinforce your theme.  The sketch helps suggest locations for embellishments that will help to balance your layout, but again you can do anything you like to make it your own.

The sketch suggested a large scalloped edge punch along the lower portion of the layout, but I chose to use a few semi circles in the same pattern as my large semi circle to help tie the colours together and repeat the shape.  A bonus tip, I used a green flower as 'leaves' for my crocheted flower by cutting off a couple of petals.

Adding dimension also helps to make the layout your own.  You can decide where your project needs a little or a lot of pop.

I love seeing how we all interpret a sketch and the varied end results.  Don't forget each week you can send me your layouts created using my sketches, to have them featured on the blog.  Read how to do this on friday's sketch post.

Thank you for popping by to visit!  I hope you have a scrappy day!

Laura
xoxo

Sketch-y Friday

Hello and happy Friday!

I have a sketch for you today, hope you have some crafty time to play along with us.  You'll notice this week's sketch is based on one of my layouts from last week's reveal.

I'd love to see your take on this sketch.  So,if you create a layout based on this sketch, you can have it published here on this blog by emailing me a picture of your creation by Thursday July 14th at 6pm here.

Thanks for stopping by today to see what we are up to!
Laura

Tip and Technique Wednesday

Hello Blog Friends,

It's Wednesday and that mean I have a technique to share with you!  If you remember way back in the middle of March I shared a technique with you about Crushed Lollipop flowers here.  Well today I have a variation on that for you, using scrap fabric.

You can pick up small bits of fabric in the clearance bin at your local fabric store, but I tend to just keep bits of clothing that my son has worn out and is not suitable for donation.  Scraps of felt from other craft projects is great too.

 First I punch a few sizes of circles from a scrap piece of paper to use as a template.  You could always use your Cricut to create a template, too.

 Then I trace these circles onto my fabric.

 And hand cut them for a charming whimsical look, but if you have a Cuttlebug with circles dies feel free to use that as well.

Last step is layering up 2 or 3 sizes of the circles and adding a button centre.

Thank you for stopping by today!

LAURA
XOXO

News and Updates

Hello blog friends!

I hope you had a great long weekend!  On July 1st we send out our monthly newsletter, if you do not get it emailed to you, you can check it out here. Anita, has detailed all of our upcoming events for you in it.   If you would like to get our monthly newsletter sent directly to your inbox so that you can stay up to date with all of our happenings, send us a quick email here, asking to be put on our mailing list.

Hoping you have a scrappy week!
Laura
xoxo

Sketch-y Friday and July Designs Revealed

Hello all!

Happy Canada Day to all of our Canadian followers!  It is great to be able to enjoy a long weekend, I hope you get to squeeze in some scrappy time.  Here is our usual Friday sketch for you to play with.

Don't forget if you create a layout based on this sketch, you can have it published here on this blog by emailing me a picture of your creation by Thursday July 7th at 6pm here.


And now for my monthly reveals.  This month I was fortunate enough to get to play with Lime Twist by MME.  Actually, I got some of the 'Happy Go Lucky' collection and some of the "Out of the Blue" collection.  And both are super fun to play with, the colours are fun a vibrant and as you can see from my layouts, both collections are very versatile.  Here is a little sneak peek at the line.

 (you can click on either picture to see the full lines on the MME website)

And now for my reveals....

 I knew when I saw this line that I wanted to use it for this photo of my son,  Timmy with 'Goofy'.  I thought that the purples were so pretty but that there was enough teal and blue in the papers that it wouldn't be over the top girly.   And some times a Mom of boys needs to play with other colours, wink wink!

 I added some of the bakers twine that coordinates with this collection to my 'lollipop' flowers.  I think they are a super fun addition to this layout.

 The title strip that came with this collection said 'this is a perfect day' which would have been perfectly fine, but I knew I wanted to use the word 'Goofy" in my title, so I altered the title strip by adding a matted banner and some small foam Thickers.

This is the second layout that I created.  The two sweeties in the photos are the daughter, Zoe, and pet, Stella, of ScrapMuch? owner, Elaine.  I think the pictures are perfect for this layout. I love the acrylic overlay on the larger photo.

These flowers were fun to create and are a variation the lollipop flowers.  Who knows maybe a tutorial is on the way!

 This layout features photos of Timmy and Zoe taken recently when a bunch of us got together for a nice dinner and a performance of The Lion King in Toronto.  Nope, I know it looks like it but we did not coordinate their outfits to match each other or this paper line! lol

 Some tiny little leaves turn a button into a flower.  And glitter is always a good thing, I used Stickles to add the sparkle to these leaves.

A punched butterfly, more glittery leaves and a bit of doodling, just for fun.

And now for the more masculine line....

 I have been sitting on this photo for a while so I was thrilled to see some train paper with this line, I like that it is not over the top theme-y. 

I added pop dots and Glassy Accents to these stars stickers to give them more presence on the layout.

The ticket border strip was created with a die and some stamps.

 Again the title element that came with the line wasn't quite what I wanted so I added another layer to it and then adhered a title using the mini alpha stickers that coordinate with this collection.  I love doing this,  it makes it more personal and it's easy to do.

 More photos I have been sitting on for a while, they were taken when my now 19 year old turned 16, the photos were not what I wanted, they were taken by someone else besides me, which is unusual and I don't mind that I am in them, which is also unusual!  But there was too much background 'chaos' as is typical with  birthday parties.  Also, there weren't enough shots of the birthday boy himself.   But they did capture the side story of my little guy jumping on my 16 year old and blowing out his candles 'for him'.  So I sort of went with that in my layout.  This is what the journaling reads.... 


"I cannot believe it  has been 16 years since you were born.  You are turning into an amazing young man.  I love the kind of big brother you are, completely playing along when Timmy 'tackled' you and blew out your candles!  Continue to shine and share your true self with those around you."

 Buttons and layered stickers create a nice little embellie cluster.

 The 'sweet' sticker came with this collection and I hand cut the '16' out of the number patterned paper.  An easy peasy title.

 I loved the hot air balloons in this collection and I also really wanted to scrap this photo of Timmy, for no other reason than that I love it.  This layout is fairly simple so that the images on the background paper can still be seen.  And go figure, this time I left the title intact, but I did add some dew drops to it.

 I layered the little star stickers onto buttons and topped them off with a layer of Glossy Accents to create an epoxy like embellishment.

 I drew and hand cut the clouds, then ran them through my Cuttlebug to emboss them and added some seafoam coloured chalk ink to enhance them a bit.  I thought it would be fun to add a couple of more clouds to give this page another layer of dimension.


Next I made couple of cards, one masculine and one feminine.

 I love the look of using the acrylic overlay on the solid card base and then adding the die cut piece.

This die cut phrase and butterfly were perfect for this card.

Glassy Accents makes the phrase shine.


Thank you for sticking with this post til the end, i know it was a long one!

Laura
xoxo