National Scrapbook Day...and a surprise announcement!

 
Good morning and happy National Scrapbook Day friends!  This is always a fun day on the SCT blog and we have SO much to share with you!  So go make a cup of coffee or tea, turn on some great music and get ready to be inspired! 

We asked each of the SCT team members to share a little something with our readers and as usual, they came up with something amazing!  And, if you have been with us this week, you know we have some exciting news!  So, let's start there...

 

We are thrilled to announce the launch of "Crop & Create" - a series of spectacular events to be held in various Provinces all across Canada!  Designed with the papercrafter in mind, these events will combine fun and educational classes from some of the industry's top teachers, with loads of cropping time, make n' takes, and a host of fabulous prizes! Sound like fun? Then we hope you will join us for a weekend full of classes, camaraderie, creativity, and cropping!  Oh, and the best part? We've heard there may be CHOCOLATE! 

The first “Crop & Create” event will be held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on September 30^th – October 1st, 2011 and we are thrilled to have Becky Fleck, Kelly Goree, Kimber McGray and Vicki Boutin joining us!  They are so excited to share new classes, full of product and techniques, with you.  Mark your calendars as registration opens on June 3rd!   For more information about "Crop & Create" and additional dates please visit our website HERE!  We hope to see you at one of our events! 

With the launch of Crop & Create we also want to welcome the newest member of the SCT team...

 
Leica Forrest joins the SCT team as Special Events Coordinator and will be working with our team to ensure every.single.detail is in place for each Crop & Create event.  Leica brings her event planning skills, award winning smile and high energy to us and we are very excited to have her on board!  Click here to get to know a little more about Leica.

On to part two of today's fun...INSPIRATION!  One of the most popular places on our website and in each issue are Becky Fleck's PageMaps.  People love them, collect them and they also want to see how others interpret them.   So on that note, we asked our team to choose one of Becky's PageMaps and share their interpretation!  (there may even be a *bonus* sketch at the end!)

 

Emily Pitts

I have to admit, the more I use sketches, the more I fall in love with the whole idea of them! I was perusing the SCT website and found THIS sketch.  It incorporates two of my favorite elements, ric-rac and buttons! And the design is one I turn to often. However, I had two small photos, and this sketch only calls for one. What to do? Make the sketch work for you, I decided to add a second column and run the title down the middle. I love how it turned out, lots of fun elements all on one nice and neat page.

 

supplies: PATTERNED PAPERS, Sassafras; BORDER STICKERS, Sassafras; BUTTONS, Autumn Leaves; RIBBON, Maya Road and American Crafts; ALPHABET STICKERS, Sassafras; TWINE, Divine Twine; PEN, EK Success; ADHESIVE, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

I was analyzing the sketch, trying to figure out how to do the side frame around the photos when I realized it was actually an artesian label, all chopped up. I thought I'd show you how to do this quickly.

 

I used the Noteworthy cartridge for my Making Memories Slice and cut a label 1 inch bigger than the size of my photo. My photo was a 2x2 square, so I cut a 3 inch label. Then I cut off the sides, each slice being about a 1/2 inch piece. Those two pieces became the top and the bottom of the stack. The rest of the label became the frame of the photo. Really easy and such a fun look. I know I'll be using this tip many more times. If you don't have a die cut with the label, you can find digital files for sale that you could size and print off with a graphic program like Photoshop or Elements, then hand cut and use as above!

 

Sheri Reguly

Looking through the latest Spring issue, this 12 x 12 double page bonus sketch jumped out at me.  I based my layout on this sketch...with a twist...

 

I opted to use only the left hand side of the sketch, featuring a large 6" x 10 1/2" photo.

 

I followed the sketch pretty closely, with only a few minor modifications. Rather than incorporating a round photo into my design, as indicated by the sketch, I opted to use this space for my title.

 
Supplies: Cardstock, Bazzill Basics; Patterned Paper, Sassafras, Basic Grey, Bo Bunny; Die Cuts, My Little Shoebox; Veneer Heart, Studio Calico; Brads, Bazzill Basics; Pin, Maya Road; Fabric Flower, BasicGrey; Paper Flower, Prima; Glimmer Mist and Glitter Paint, Tattered Angels; Pearl Accents, Kaiser Scrapbooking; Glitter Glue, Stickles by Ranger; Note Book Punch, Stampin' Up!; Flower Punch, Martha Stewart Crafts; Banner Die, Papertrey Ink; Die Cutting Tool, Cuttlebug by ProvoCraft; Fonts, Fontleroy Brown, Times New Roman; Other, Adhesive Foam, Machine Stitching, Thread

I selected a pre-made journaling die cut to help anchor the small scale of my title...proving that journaling blocks aren't just for journaling.

 

One of my very favorite techniques, is to take the simple, and embellish, to create a unique accent with dimension and interest.  My very first step was to lightly chalk the edges of the die cut accent. This instantly helped to define the edges.  Next, I added stitching details to all the of leaves, as well as the outside of the journaling grid. The existing circles within the design, aided in the placement of my stitches, making the process relatively quick and simple.  Small pearl accents were then added to resemble flowers, or berries, and a hint of glitter glue was applied to the bird's wing to add a wonderful hint of sparkle.

 

After embellishing my die cut base, I adhered my title, which I had printed onto a pre-made label sticker. Next, I added a large layered flower accent, several smaller flowers that were punched from patterned paper, as well as a wooden veneer heart, that was first colored with a Copic marker, and then topped with a hint of glitter paint to add a subtle sheen.  A girly page always needs a little bling!

 

Kimber McGray

While you are scrapping away on National Scrapbook Day, grab those left over scraps from your layout and make a card! The leftover pieces from the layout you just made all go together so nicely. Grab a sketch from the SCT CardMaps book (order HERE) and make a super quick card.

 

 
Supplies: Cardstock, Pattern Paper and Die Cut: Jillibean Soup; Gems: Queen & Co.; Punch: We R Memory Keepers

Instructions:

1. Card Base from Kraft paper folded to  4x5.5"
2. Cut pattern paper 1.75x2.5"
3. Round corners and adhere to card front.
4. Adhere die cut with foam squares.
5. Embellish with yellow gemstones and faux stitching.

Tip!  Simple faux-stitching with a black pen adds a quick and easy handmade touch to any card with out busting out the sewing machine!

 

 
Supplies: Cardstock: Core'dinations, Jillibean Soup; Pattern Paper, Die Cuts and Twine: Jillibean Soup; Stamps: Paper Smooches

Celebrate card

1. Card Base from Kraft paper folded 4x5.5"
2. Cut red pattern paper 3.75x5.25". Adhere to front of card.
3. Cut 3.75" star from white cardstock.
4. Cut 3" star from blue pattern paper. Layer stars and adhere to card with foam adhesive
5. Stamp Celebrate on white cardstock.
6. Wrap twine around sentiment strip and tie on die cut jewelry tag.
7. Embellish with die cut stars.

Tip!  I mixed large patterns (red) and small patterns (blue) with contrasting neutrals (white and kraft) to let everything stand out and nothing take over the card at the same time.

 

Vicki Boutin

Here are two fun tips that I would like to share with you in celebration of National Scrapbook Day.  First, I like to finish almost every layout off with a few stamps!  I find that I can add a little black to a page with stamps (which is a staple to most of my work) and they are the quickest way to tie elements together or fill negative space.

 
Supplies:  Patterned paper,  Crate Paper, Pink Paislee, Sassafras; Stickers, Crate Paper; Tags, Pink Paislee, Studio Calico; Brads,  Crate Paper, Making Memories, 7 Gypsies; Photo Turns, 7 Gypsies; Stamps, Stampin’ Up!; Ink,  Hero Arts, Ranger; Tissue paper, Pink Paislee; Gems,  Queen and Co; Punch, Stampin’ Up!; Font,  Bohemian Typewriter downloaded from the Internet; Adhesive,  Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Here is the page before the stamps were added:

 

This is the final project with a few stamped butterflies floating across the page:

 

I LOVE my stamps!!!  They are a definite staple in my scrapping arsenal.

Here is one more quick trick.  Try making a rolled flower from tissue paper like I did here with Pink Paislee’s awesome printed tissue! 

 

Instead of tucking the end to finish the flower, I let it flow across the page and unravel.  Love my tissue!  I hope you enjoy these little tips!  Now go make something fun!!! 

 

Summer Fullerton

I really loved THIS sketch from the summer 2010 issue. It really fit my style and I knew I had to use it. When I originally pulled the photos I had intended to really follow the sketch but then at the last minute I decided I wanted to enlarge one of the photos. Rather than just tossing the other 2 photos I had selected for the layout I decided to use them in the lower left part of the layout in place of some of the flowers. This is what is so fabulous about sketches you use them as a starting point and make them your own or you can follow them exactly. They are flexible, fun and limitless!

  
Supply List: Bazzill cardstock, Pink Paislee patterned paper, Sassafrass Lass Alphas, Fancy Pants Buttons, Crate Paper Decorative Brad, Doodlebug Rhinestones, Jillibean Soup Corrugated Shapes, Bella Blvd Chipboard accent, Joann’s stick pins/Webster’s Pages stick pin, Technique Tuesday stamp, Ink Ancient Page, misc corner rounder, DMC Floss, Silhouette cutting system/image, and font Traveling Typewriter downloaded from the internet

Just thought I would share how to create custom stick pin accents for your layouts or cards...

 
 
 
Start with your favorite die cut or chipboard shape and some old stick pins with flat heads. I used a painted Jillibean Soup corrugated butterfly. The stick pins I am showing are from Joann’s Fabrics and Fancy Pants Designs, anything with a flat surface will do. I often repurpose odd colored stick pins for just this use.

 

 Simply adhere your stick pin to the back of your shape. I used glue dots. If you are using chipboard you may even want to break out your hot glue gun.

 
 

Then to jazz up my butterfly I topped it off with some self adhesive bling from Doodlebug.

 
 I simply slipped the butterflies right next to the flowers on my layout. Enjoy NSD!  Make an embellishment!

 

Sarah Hodgkinson

I am all about using my scraps from my layouts to make cards too! I am also a firm believer that cleaning up after one project is just a waste of time. While all your tools are still out, keep your creative juices flowing and finish up with a card or two. By keeping a multi-purpose stamp set handy (like this new collection or this one by Hero Arts), you can whip up some cards to have on hand in case of emergencies...like a birthday that you remember at the last minute!

This layout was based on Becky's PageMaps from the spring 2011 issue:

 


 
Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Core Impressions - My Mind's Eye Collection) and Sand-It Gadget tool, My Mind's Eye patterned papers, diecut, dimensional sticker and ribbon, Jillibean Soup kraft paper, Maya Road trinket pin, Xyron Creatopia (at adhere ribbon), EK Success border punch, Stampin' Up! binder punch and butterfly embossing die, Helmar layering tape, Font: Mason, other: sewing machine and thread.  

And with my scraps I made this...

 

 
Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Core Impressions - My Mind's Eye Collection and WhiteWash) and Sand-It Gadget tool, My Mind's Eye patterned papers and ribbon, Jillibean Soup kraft paper, Fiskars grass border punch, Stampin' Up! binder punch, EK Success punch, Maya Road butterfly chipboard and trinket pin, Hero Arts stamp, Tsukineko VersaFine ink, Deco Art paint, Xyron Creatopia (to adhere ribbon), Helmar layering tape, other: sewing machine and thread. Based on a CardMaps sketch from CardMaps Today.

Want one more tip?  Check out this post to see my favourite cloud trick!  Happy NSD!

 

Lisa Kisch

Hello there!  I was drawn to one of Becky's bonus sketches from the Winter 2010 issue because of the cluster of 2x3 photos in an 8.5x11 design. I knew that I could use the printing feature of Picasa to easily print out my photos at the right size for the sketch:

1. Convert one focal photo to black and white and crop it so it is more of a close up. These two changes will help that photo stand out from the rest.

2. Use your cursor to highlight all five photos for the layout, and drag them to the photo tray at the bottom of your Picasa screen. You will know they are there when a little green bullseye appears at the bottom left of each photo. (If the bullseye isn't there, but the photos are in the tray, hit the green pushpin just to the right of the tray and that will do it.)

 

3. Click "Print" and choose the set of wallet size photos at the top left of the screen. Picasa will show you the photos as they will appear on the page-- just make sure you've chosen the right size printer paper from the "Printer Set-up" menu!

 

4. Print your photos, then crop, keeping three of the photos as a unit to affix directly to your page.

Here is the sketch...

 

and here is my layout with the photos I resized:

 
Supplies: Patterned Paper: Pebbles Inc.; stickers: American Crafts; jewels: Heidi Swapp, Bo Bunny; trim: Bazzill; punch: Creative Memories

We all know that taking a few extra minutes to print your photos at the right size will save cropping time when it's time to get down to scrapbooking!  Happy NSD!

 

Davinie Fiero

Inspired by Miss September in the 2011 PageMaps calendar (on sale HERE), I decided to create a card!  You can find card inspiration anywhere!  You can absolutely create cards from layouts, and you can also create layouts from card sketches.  I challenge you to try it!

 
Supplies: American Crafts cardstock; October Afternoon patterned paper; Jillibean Soup label sticker and alpha stickers; Fancy Pants button; Karen Foster floss
 
 
Here are some quick instructions:

1.  Trim card base for a 4.25 x 5.5 card.
2.  Using a border punch, trim the top of the front of the card.
3.  Trim 1 inch squares from 2 different patterned papers and adhere them to the card base, creating a pattern.
4.  Stitch the perimeter.
5.  Embellish with sticker alphas, a label sticker, and tie a button with floss.
 
See, super easy!  So go ahead and create a card from a layout sketch!

 

Kathy Thompson

What is National Scrapbook Day without a photo tip!  Taking a group photo?  Squeeze them in!  People do funny things as they get closer, and it makes everyone giggle a little! Also, aim for a slight 'triangle' height-wise, it's visually appealing!

 

 
 

If you have a busy photo or 2, try to pull out one or two colours that appear in the photo and coordinate your page details to those colours - even a slight nod to the yellow in these photos by using the one yellow heart helps pull things together!

 

Bonus Sketch Challenge

As promised, Becky has given us a bonus sketch and a challenge for NSD!  Use this sketch to create a layout and link it back right here.  We will choose one winner to win a copy of...PageMaps Vol. 2!

 

 
 

On to NSD prizes!!  If you have followed our blog for awhile, then you know we really like to CELEBRATE!  We are always lucky to have some wonderful sponsors and have a fabulous prize package just for you!  One lucky winner will win one of our favourite collections this spring, the Floral Lane collection from Pebbles...

 along with one of our favourite tools from We R Memory Keepers, the Sew Easy! 

 

some of our favourite stamps,the Sentiment Sampler from Paper Smooches....

 

and of course, what National Scrapbook Day would not be complete without a subscription to Scrapbook & Cards Today!

 

If you would like to be entered to win all these great prizes, just leave us a comment below before 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 12.  Good luck!

Well friends (and the best blog readers out there!!!), this is officially the longest post we have ever had and hope that you leave us today with a few new tips, a new technique or two and a sketch when you need it!  Have a wonderful National Scrapbook Day and for all those moms out there, enjoy your Mother's Day!

~ Catherine, Becky and the SCT team!

Comments

[Celeste B.]

Love seeing all the work with the sketches...and great prizes too!

[Kelly Sas]

It might be the longest post, but it certainly was the most amazing and best post ever! Thank you so much for sharing such awesome talent with us!

[Guillauma]

Love to see all these projects, just good inspiration for my next layouts.

[jill]

WOW! Awesome prizes! Would love to win.

[karla smith]

WOW!!!! Inspiring Post...Love all the Ideas and Projects. " Awesome Prize" thanks for the Chance to win...

[Michelle]

Wowzers. What great prizes! So fun!

[Laura Evangeline]

Oh, my! Everything looks so great!

[Printer Ink Cartridges]

This is one wonderful work of art.You must have give so much time to dedicated this passion on those habit.It is always good to know that their are blogs so dedicated to providing information that is seriously concerned with the reader’s needs.Thanks for sharing your insights with us through your blog.

[Roberta @ The Papercrafting League]

WOW! I just found your magazine and blog, and I am very excited about all the talent in one place! My fave part of today's long post is all the scrap layouts inspired by sketches! I love sketches! Beautiful work!