Sketch-y Friday

Hello all!

I cannot believe that this is the last Friday of the month, where did March go?  I also cannot believe that some of us are lucky enough to be heading off to retreat this weekend.  For those of us joining us, we will be having lots of fun scrapping and relaxing.  We hope everyone else has a great weekend and also gets some scrapping time in!

Just in case, here is your weekly sketch to play with.....

We rec'd this layout from Ann Jobes, based on March 16th's sketch....

 Thanks for playing and sharing Ann, we love to see your layouts based on our sketches!


Remember ladies , if you play along with this sketch feel free to send your projects to me via email here and I will be thrilled to post them on the blog.

Thanks for popping in!

Laura

xoxo

Inspiration on Thursday

Hi there and Happy Thursday!

Thursday's are such fun days here on the blog, we have lots of inspiration for you today!

These first two layouts are from Anita.....

 And these next two are from Elaine.

If you have a layout or card that you would like to see posted here to inspire others, email your creations to me here.  Come on give it a try, I'd love to share your work on this blog!


Thanks for visiting!
Laura
xoxo

Tips and Techniques Wednesday -Homemade Chipboard Accents

Hi there!

I thought I'd share a technique that came in handy with me personally the other day, maybe it will help you too!

I wanted a chipboard element but didn't have the shape I needed in my stash (in my case it was a cloud, but you can create almost anything) so I thought 'hey, why don't I make one" (yes I do talk to myself!) and then I thought 'hey, why don't I do a tutorial too!"  So now that you know how I amuse myself when I am home alone, check out this easy tutorial!

First gather your supplies, for the base of my cloud I am using kraft card stock, but you could really use any cardstock you want.  This kraft piece just happened to be at the top of my scrap pile.  For the top layer, you can mist it, leave it 'naked' or cover it with a piece of pattern paper.  In this case I am covering mine with pattern paper, because I need the colour in my finished project.

Next, use your Cuttlebug, Cricut, punches whatever you have to cut our 6 of your preferred shape in the neutral paper and then 1 more in your pattern paper, if you are using it.

Now start gluing the layers together.  A basic white craft glue is fine.

Keep going, it won't look like much at first.

A little more.

This is all 6 layers.

This picture might give you a better idea when you compare the height to my scissors.

 

The last layer of pattern paper has now been added.

And then I added a bit of ink in the same colour tone as my pattern paper.  It really does add extra dimension.  You can tell when you compare this photo with the last one.

And in case you were wondering what I needed this sweet cloud for, you can check out my project here on my blog.


Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a scrappy day!
Laura
xoxo

March Colour Challenge Highlights

Hi there

Our March colour challenge has come to a close, so I wanted to be sure to feature a few projects that were submitted for the challenge.

To refresh your memory, these were the challenge colours....

I know this is a bit of a tricky combination but we had some great submissions!  Have a look ....

This beautiful layout is submitted by Brenshevia, showing us all that these funny colours can be pretty!  And what a cutie in the photo!

This fun masculine layout comes from Sandy R.  She did a great job combining papers from several lines to meet the challenge guidelines.

This fun layout was submitted by Laura S..  The colour scheme works perfectly with her science themed photos.

 We want to send a huge thank you out to everyone that played along!  Please check back on April 3rd for our new colour challenge!

Thanks for playing along!
Laura
xoxo

Tips and Techniques Wednesday - Packing for a crop or retreat

Hello ladies!

And happy Monday!  Yes I know it looks like I think it is Wednesday, but I wanted to repeat this tutorial from last year since we are all heading out on retreat later this week.  I was thinking that some of you first time retreaters may find it useful and if you aren't able to join us on retreat, the concept is great for crops, too!

You can check out all the information here, on a previous post.

And please come back Wednesday for a new tutorial!

Have a great day!
Laura
xoxo

Sketch-y Friday

Hello ladies!

It's Friday, woo hoo!  Do you have scrappy plans for the weekend?  Do you need a sketch to inspire you?  Well as luck would have it, I am here to post this week's sketch for yah!

And how about a little inspiration, customer and scrappy friend shared this layout with me.  It is base on the sketch from March 9th.

 Thanks for sharing, Sandy.   Sandy chose the perfect photo for this sketch, oh and about that photo, it is amazing!  I would love to frame it for my home!

Now remember, if you play along with this week's sketch feel free to send your projects to me via email here and I will be thrilled to post them on the blog.

Oh and by the way, look what just hit our shelves!

Just like Card Maps 1, the second edition is a great source of inspiration in your card making.  Filled with great photos, sketches and instructions you are sure to create beautiful cards.  Purchase your copy today!

Hands down our favourite scrappy mag, and as always free with a minimum $20.00 purchase!  Does it get any better than that!

 

Thanks for popping in!

Laura

xoxo

Inspiration on Thursday

Hello everyone!

Today I have some amazing inspiration for you!

These layouts are all crated by our very own Anita ans are all originals!  I love her use of vibrant colours, embellishment clusters and multiple patterned papers!

If you have a layout or card that you would like to see posted here to inspire others, email your creations to me here.  Come on give it a try, I'd love to share your work on this blog.




Thank you for stopping by the blog today!
Laura
xoxo

Tips and Techniques Wednesday - Another Zipper Flower

hello ladies!

I  am back today to share another zipper flower technique.  This one is as quick and easy as the tutorial I shared a couple of weeks ago.  In case you missed it you can find it here  The main difference is this flower is rolled, does not have actual petals and sits  a little more flush with your project.

Let's get started......

Gather your supplies, you will need a zipper, a circle of cardstock the approximate size you would like your finished flower to be, some liquid glue or glue dots, a need and thread.

For the first step we will modify the zipper.

Trim off the end of the zipper that has the 'stop' on it.

You can discard the off cut and the actual pull tab.

Next you will run a basting stitch along the zipper, the opposite side of the teeth and about 1/8th of an inch in from the edge. 

Make sure your needle and thread are quite a bit longer than the actual zipper.

Now gently pull the thread so that the zipper starts to curl.

Now manualy fiddle with the zipper so that i lays in a circular shape, stating with the inside from and working towards the back.

Secure the inner swirl with a stitched tack.

Add a couple more stitches to hold the whole flower together.  You really only need to put one stitch in a few places to hold it together.

It will pretty much sit as it should after this step.

Now glue it onto you cardstock circle..

Add something decorative to the centre a button or bling, or an Epiphany piece like I have.

This is the card that I made using my zipper flower.

Thank you for visiting us!
Laura
xoxo

Winner Day

Hello all!

We want to send out a big thank you to all of you that have visited our blog, and helped us reach 10 000 hits.  We are super excited and are taking it as a sign that you like what we are doing!  Though we are always open  for suggestions... are there projects you would like to see, contests, specific sketches, tutorials?  You only ever have to leave us a comment and we will do our best to please!

Mean time, of course we drew for a winner... from all the entrants (that qualified by commenting on each of the 4 blogs in the hop) the winner is ......

( insert drum roll here)


DEE!


Thanks for playing along ladies!  And Dee, email me here so we can arrange to get you your prize!

Also we would like to send a huge thank you shout out to Laura Shaver and Eileen for joining us in the blog hop!

We hope you all have a great and crafty day!
Anita, Elaine, Eileen and Laura

Sketch-y Friday

Hi all and happy Friday!

I am looking forward to our crop tomorrow, are you joining us?  Aside from all of our usual fun and craftiness, it's St. Patrick's Day, wear your green, you might get a surprise!

Here is this week's sketch, in case you are looking for some inspiration.... I think I am working on this one tomorrow!

Here is a layout that Elaine did ......
 

 ...based on this sketch from September!

Another on Elaine did .....

based on last week's sketch.

Remember, if you play along with any of our sketches feel free to send your projects to me via email here and I will be thrilled to post them on the blog.

Thanks for visiting!
Laura
xoxo

March Featured Customer

Good Morning all!

It's time for my one of my favourite posts, the featured customer!  And this month we have a treat, as our very own Anita (co-owner of ScrapMuch?) is being featured today!

In case you haven't had the privilege of meeting here, here she is.....

Anita is charming and has a great sense of humour, she makes you feel like a friend not just a customer.  She is inspiring not only in her creative style but also in her personal life as well.  She has become a personal trainer during this last year, something she accomplished after working so hard to meet her own lifestyle goals.  On top of owning and operating ScrapMuch? with her partner, Elaine, she teaches Aquafit classes, runs boot camp classes, waitresses and takes care of the three men in her life!

Here is a what Anita had to say in response to my Q & A.s .......

1. How long have you been scrap booking? I have been scrappin' for just over 6 years now. As a matter of fact, this is how I met my fantastic group of friends! I was invited to a neighbour's house to "scrap" and the rest is history! I really enjoy the hobby, and the socializing it brings.

2. Do you also create hand made cards? I do make cards, but not 'for the fun of it'...I only make them for occasions like birthdays, and other special events/holidays.

3. Who is your favourite subject to scrapbook? Hands down, my two handsome boys! (make that 3 as my husband occasionally makes the page!) I am trying to get more diverse with what I scrap, but I really enjoy creating layouts of the boys as I have captured so many of their life's moments. 

4. Where do you find your scrapbooking inspiration? I would have to say I am most inspired by my pictures (although they don't always turn out the best! LOL) For those of you who already know me, I love pictures and photography, but I am not the best at taking them! If I have a great photo of one of the kids, I get inspired to scrap it. I also find scrapping inspiration on the BLOG...I enjoy everything Laura posts, and when I see something I love, it "gets me in the mood" to scrap. The CHA (craft and hobby association trade show) where we go twice a year really inspires me too. It is so neat to see all the design and new collections.

5. Where do you scrapbook? I'm a kitchen table kind of gal. Sadly, I don't have a room in the house dedicated to scrapping. I have set it up in the basement before, and in my bedroom, but find every time, I gravitate to the kitchen table. I also get a lot of scrapping done at our crops and retreats. I find these all day or weekend events a great way to focus on nothing but scrapping.

6. What is one of your current favourite products? Oh, this is a toughie as there are so many new things on the market and in our store. I would have to narrow it down to two. They are both We R Memory Keepers products. First, the Corner Chomper. I used to only have the corner rounder to change the corner of my paper/picture, but the corner chomper comes in different designs and gives a special and different look to the corners. Second, the Sew Ribbon. This tool is awesome as it comes in a variety of styles, and allows you to "sew" ribbon in your layout. I especially love the scalloped sew ribbon.

7. Do you have a blog that we can share with our readers? (insert LOL here!) Before I owned a scrapbook store I didn't even know what a BLOG was! So, NO, I don't have a personal blog. One day. For now, I enjoy the business blog, which, if you are reading this, you are on!

Now, let's check out a few of Anita's favourite layouts.......

I love all of the hand cutting as well as the angle of this page.

All of the hand made embellies on this page are so inspiring.

I love that Anita is not afraid to put flowers on boy pages.

Loving the cluster of embellishments.

Such a sweet page of  a magical moment, the stitched ribbon is a great accent.

Thank you Anita for volunteering to be our featured customer and sharing your thoughts and layouts!

If you or anyone you know would like to be a featured customer, please send me an email here.   You can expect to receive a confirmation email, then a few weeks before your turn a second email detailing what we would need from you.  Sign up today to be placed on the list, we are looking for someone to feature for April and beyond!

Thanks for visiting us today!

Laura

xoxo