I'm on a Design Team!

The details are not important (meaning the fact I begged and my good friend Suzy feels sorry for me) - the fact remains I will be creating using the AWESOME Memory Cafe Die Cuts!

Suzy has an eye for design I can only hope wil rub off on me some day.. this is a Friend Greeting Card I decorated with simple paper.

Thanks Suzy for letting me be on your Design Team - this Creative Bug won't let you down!

Friendship!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! I sure did... I set up shop at my usual 10 - 10 - 10 crop and had a great time. We were a small but mighty group of scrappers- Over the entire weekend I managed to get 10 pages done and in albums - I'm pleased with the accomplishment.

Keep your eyes on the blog this week for peeks at the projects I finished up!

In the meantime I want to share a layout with you created by my long time designer and true friend Shannon:

This is Shannon and I at CHA January 2009 - the first time we had met in person. Shannon's journaling takes my breath away - she is right, we do have a remarkable friendship! I have recently had a "falling out" with a dear, dear friend - something I never thought would happen - but as a result I have been able to analyze and examine what true friendship is and what it means to be a good friend.

Shannon is a True friend and I pray every day to be a good friend to her!

When I met Shannon online as a designer for 1 Creative Bug - I was instantly drawn to her honest, open nature. When I was blessed to meet her in person - the bond we had developed over cyberspace was cemented. Shannon is sending me this picture and the palm tree paper so I can create my own version of this layout- I am so excited!!! We are also going to be playing our own little version of Trading Pictures! I am sending pictures to Shannon and She to me - and we will scrap for each other! How cool is that???

Thank you for the gift of friendship Shannon, You mean the world to me!

...and the RAK goes to.....

Drum roll please... a great big thank you to Shannon and Kristy for their compliments about 1 Creative Bug's New Chipboard mini albums!

They are so fun to work with - and I promised a RAK (Random act of Kindness) drawing for any comments - so without further adoo... the RAK is going to Kristy of Kristy's Custom Creations!

Keep your eye on the mail box Kristy!... Everyone else should head on over to Kristy's Store and take a look - she has some beautiful Page Kits, Intricacy Paper by MOSD, and lots of fun embellishments!

Crop time for me!

I was blessed with some scrapbook time last friday - this has been a project on my table forever...

Yup - that's me dressed as a pink kitty cat for ballet class.

I didn't stick with ballet very long - I liked tap dancing better - it made more noise!

Summer is here!

Happy Summer everyone! The first official day for summer was yesterday and here at 1 Creative Bug we have the perfect summer project for you! - A Worbook Album! You can create your album to say anything you'd like:

Summer





Swim





Play





Fun in the Sun *





Pool





Beach - - - you get the idea!

Here is a book I whipped up on Friday using MOSD's Expressions Build a Book Letters.

It says SWIM

This book was so easy to put together - and the bright bold colors say Summer is here!

Need some tips for covering the chipboard letters - Check out this post: Covering Chipboard Letters

Order your own book, each letter is just $1.25 each!

* Fun in the Sun album is 6 letters with a blank seperating the two words - on the blank you use letter stickers or order a Buzz Word saying "in the".

More Chipboard Albums!

Cupcakes are so cute! No matter how you decorate this album the end result will be adorable. . . with it's "paper" bottom and frosting top - this cherry topped treat can't be beat!

The inside pages of the cupcake still have a cupcake 'look' without the layers and cherry so you have plenty of space to put pictures, embellishments and journaling. The overall album measures aproximately 6" X 9" (not counting the cherry on top!) and can be yours for only $7.50.

This next album needs no introduction... he's a pretty famous face! The 1 Creative Bug Magical Mouse Album is one of the few albums that is not 3D, but you can see by the picture below, it still has the simplified inner pages. (Circles)

The Magical Mouse album has 2 covers and 6 inner pages and comes in two sizes. Order teh Jumbo Magical Mouse for $ 6.00 and you'll get an album that is 9.5" on the outside with 6" inner circle pages.

Order the Small Magical Mouse album and you'll get an album that is 6" on the outside and 4.24" circles for the inner pages.

Let me know your favorite album by leaving a comment (remember I have comment moderation turned on) and you will be entered to win a RAK from 1 Creative Bug!

Magical Memories...

...are made for this "Magical Castle" Chipboard Album!

An incredible feature of 1 Creative Bug Chipboard Albums is the inner pages... I don't know about you, but if I had to cover and trim 8 intricate castle shaped pages, I'd never buy this album - it would take me too long to finish... so thinking of all the time crunched paper crafters like myself- I designed chipboard albums that solve the problem - the inside pages have been simplified so covering and trimming is a snap! Take a look at the picture:

What you see here are the 6 inside pages sitting ontop of the back cover page of the album.

I couldn't wait to decorate the cover of this album so you could see how realistic the 3d layers make these albums. Now I just need to gather my Disney pictures, or maybe I'll use the pictures from the princess party the girls had, or the Fairy Tale wedding pictures of a friend... oh so many choices and only so much time!!!

The Magical Castle Chipboard Album covers are "oversized" at 9" X 10.5" for a dramatic look. The inside pages are 4.5" X 8.5" leaving you plenty of room for pictures and embellishments without the "wasted" space of castle towers!

Order this album and you get 1 3D castle shaped cover, 6 inside pages and 1 castle shaped back cover (plain) all for only $10.00. Remember the 3D chipboard pieces come attached with repositionable adhesive and you can decorate you castle with any colors you choose!

I look forward to shipping one or two of these stunnng albums out to you!

NOTE: on the decorated castle album, the "banners" are made from argyle print patterned paper and are not a 3D chipboard element

Beach Ball Chipboard Album

Drum roll please.... here is the cutest beach ball on the block! Guarenteed to last more than one summer, unless you drop it in the water that is!

I had a blast decorating this album. It is perfect for pictures of that awesome pool party, swim lessons, or a day at the beach. Before we learn too much about the beach ball album I need to tell you why the 1 Creative Bug Chipboard albums are special (besided the fact I made them) --- This line of chipboard albums comes with layers for the front AND back covers as well as simplified inner pages that make decorating your albums faster and easier than ever...

There you have it 1 Creative Bug is making 3D chipboard albums - it's chipboard "Paper Piecing" at it's 1 Creative Bug Best!

Take a look at the plain album below - see how it has dimension? This is more than an ordinary circle album or MOSD circle banner board - it has additional pieces cut so you can easily create a realistic looking beach ball album in a flash!

The album comes with 2 outside 3 dimensional covers and 6 inner pages - for a total of 8 chipboard pages. The albums have the layers attached with repositional adhesive and are prepunched for easy binding with the included ring. (ring may vary from picture)

Another cool feature of the Beach Ball Chipboard Album the inside pages are slightly smaller than the cover set so none of your inside colors clash with the cover decor you have chosen. The covers are 6" and the inside pages are approximately 5.75"


To create the decorated Beach Ball I simply used white paper to cover the first circle cover and colored papers to cover the layers. I reassembled the pieces using pernamant adhesive. Quick easy and adorable!



I'f you'd like to order the Beach Ball Chipbord album simply email me - they are only $7.50 each. You can also order a Perfectly Shaped Clear Coverset For just $6.00 each. These coversets are 6" square and are made from quality clear acrylic. One of my favorite Midnight Oil Scrapbook Designs Products! The picture shows "white" covers because all MOSD acrylic products come with a layer of protective film that is easy to remove - revealing clear covers for your Chipboard Album!

Chipboard Mini Album Week!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you had a great weekend - perhaps you were able to sneek in a bit of creativity this weekend... I sure was! 1 Creative Bug is launchng a new product line - chipboard mini albums. Now, you may be asking yourself what is so special about that, companies have been selling chipboard albums for ages --- well these albums have the 1 Creative Bug touch... so tune in all this week to see what all the buzz is about!

Challenge Time!!!

Do you have a layout using up stash? Ribbon---Buttons---Patterned Papper --- or Flowers ????

... the products I highlighted this week???

If so leave a comment with a link to your page for a chance to be entered into a drawing for a cool 1 Creative Bug Paper Piecing!

You have until Monday June 15th to post!!

NOTE: I have comment moderation turned on so if you don't see your comment with link right a way, check back - I'll get them approved, no worries!

Have a great weekend and Happy Scrapping!!!

Patterned Paper Anyone?

Do you have a ton of paper? Want ot use some up? Perhaps your papers are from all different manufacturers so they don't quite coordinate - NO PROBLEM!

It's OK to mix patterned paper!

Mixing patterns adds visual interest to your pages. Look for patterns that share common colors to help create a harmonous feel. Mixing geometric patterns with organic ( nature ) patterns can provide balance to a layout. Using patterns of different sizes creates visual interest and can be pleasing to the eye. Don't go overboard however, - it is ok to have some solid areas so your eye has a place to rest.

On this layout the designer used one busy pattern that has colors for the two other ore subtle patterns - very cool! She also uses an MOSD banner board... Very cool!

I used two patterns that share the same color families when I designed this kit - like it... you can purchase it at Scrapbook Page Kits.com!

I actually used 4 different patterns on this layout - the burgundy background is a scratched look patterned paper! This is one of my favorite layouts of all time...

Got Flowers?

I bet you do!!! Looking to use some up... here are a few ideas...

Create a wreath, right on your page...

Mix silk, diecut and fusy cut (from the patterned pape) flowers...

You can even use flowers on "Manly" pages!!!

I love using flowers - and I have enough to scrap a lifetime of pictures!

Button, Button - Who's got the Button?

Boy do I have buttons --- I think I have more buttons than a seamstress! - It's time to scrap simle and just use some buttons...They make great embellishents!

Use up some Ribbon

If you are anything like me you have ribbon coming out the wazoo! HEre is a great way to add pizazz to your page and use up ribbon in the process! - Create a ribbon frame around your page!

This frame is easy to do - and is great for boy or girl pages... Here are the instructions for using the template below...

1. Using light box trace the lines from the template ontothe back side of your paper. Make the lines ¼” longer than the with of your ribbon. Use your ruler as a guide.
2. Use your craft knife to cut the slits.
3. Place a piece of scotch tape over the end of your ribbon to create a tab, this makes threading the ribbon through the slits easier.
4. Begin by weaving down A, up B… Down C, up D… down E, up F and finally, down G, up H. Tie the ends together to form your bow.
5. Rotate frame as desired to position bow along the top or along the base of your page.

Practice a few times and soon you'll be framing lots of pages with ribbon!

Serendipitous... is that a word?

Here is a layout I used Serendipity squares to create - it shows my daughter Megan "showing off" her talents!

This is a tag I made ... I added bubble stickers for "pop"... And finally, another layout...showing how versatile serendipity squares are!


Have fun creating... and check back next week for more inspiration from 1 Creative Bug!

Save the Negative!

For those of you that know me in real life- you know I am definately a positive person - I avoid the "Debbie Downer's" of life as much as possible - but today I'm going to show you when the NEGATIVE is a good thing!

Save the negative when using punches and die cuts and use them to create a cool look on a layout! This is a layout for my Book about Me - titled Little Teacher!

The journaling says: In the beginning there was a shiny chalkboard and a room full of stuffed animals. I would spend hours and hours teaching them to read and do math. I guess it was natural for me to teach.

So there you have it - 1 Creative Bug's week of Scrapping with your scraps... I normally don't post on Saturday's but I have a few more layouts to show you - so stop by and check them out!

Tear it up!

Create a quick mosaic frame by tearing coordinating paper scraps and gluing them down - I call that Scrap Savy!

Tomorrow check back for an out of the box idea for using scraps - and an Orange layout!

Use Patterned Paper Scraps...

I simply layered scraps of patterned paper to make a background for this layout of my daughter... she was 1 year old and so precious. (She still is precious).

Sve those scraps and check back tomorrow for another Scrap Savy Layout from 1 Creative Bug!

Serendipity Squares!

This technique is an oldie but a goodie - and fits right in with our theme of Scrapping with your Scraps to save money!

In the world of scrapbooking the word “serendipity” is used to describe paper shapes that have been collaged with various scraps, stamps, stickers and more!

The American Heritage Dictionary defines serendipity as:
making fortunate discoveries by accident.

If you have never given Serendipity Squares a try, or if it has been awhile...

here is what you will need:

3 or 4 scraps of coordinating cardstock

Scraps of patterned paper that match the cardstock.
Any glitter paper, vellum, etc that you have.

Small rubber stamp and Ink pad

Left over stickers, buttons or other desired embellishments

Punchies ( punched or die cut shapes) work GREAT!

1- 6 x 12 sheet of cardstock - this can also be a scrap - when you are done it will be completely covered so it's color is irrelavant.

Quick drying adhesive - a glue stick or Xyron or "Scrapbook Adhesives" adhesive sheet . Xyron and the Adhesive sheet should be applied to the paper BEFORE you tear it.

Ok- you are ready to begin:

1. Begin by randomly stamping all over 1 or 2 of your cardstock scraps. Don't stamp on vellum unless you plan to emboss and heat set it.

2. Tear all your scraps into small bits. They should be under 1" in size. Tearing adds charm - resist the urge to cut!

3. If you need to, apply adhesive to the back of the scraps and glue them down randomly to the 6 x 12 base sheet. The papers should overlap, change direction, etc. There is no rhyme or reason to adhering them to the base page.

4. If you have stickers, die cuts, punchies or other flat embellishments go ahead and add them now. Any 3-D embellishments should be left until later.

5. Let the glue dry if needed. Cut the entire mess into 1" squares.

Now you are ready to get your squares preped for your layout - you can mat them, add 3-d embellishments, letter stickers, etc.

I used mine to create this nifty title:

That's it! Serendipity Squares - quick, easy and thrifty to make!

Check back tomorrow for anothe cool Scrapin with your scraps project!

Save Money and still Scrap!

Scrapbooking is not really a hobby - it's more about the memory preservation. We need to preserve our memories for richer or for porer as the saying goes! This week I'm going to show you some cute layouts using scraps!

If you are not a scrap saver - now is the time. Personally I don't save every tid bit and scrap - but If I have a 3 x 3 piece or bigger - it's saved!

Let's begin by talking a little about organizing your scraps.

If your scraps are all jumbled together in one huge messy pile you are less likely to use them.

If they are well organized and close at hand you will find yourself reaching for scraps before a new sheet of paper! - This is crucial - you are not going to use what you can’t see!

I have a few quick, easy and inexpensive tips for organizing your scraps...

The first thing I recommend is separating your scraps into three categories:

CARDSTOCK, PATTERNED PAPER, AND SPECIALTY PAPER

Next, decide how you want to store your scraps- think about where you are going to keep your organized scraps so they are handy. I keep mine just below my work table for storage, and pull them up on top while I’m working. I couldn’t do that with a huge storage drawer system.

You can store scraps in:

Zip top baggies
Accordion file
Plastic drawers
12” X 12” 3 ring binder with page protectors
Hanging file folders
Large envelopes

Now, sort your cardstock by color- you can do color “families”, or go all out and give each color it’s own baggie/drawer.
You can sort your patterned paper and specialty paper by color also or just assign 1 drawer/bag to these papers- the choice is yours!

Once your scraps are organized you are ready to begin... tune in tomorrow for the first project using scraps!