Mix it up!

Do you find yourself looking at objects from other aspects of your life and thinking - how can I use that in a scrapbook? Or, is that just me? It seems it is always about the scrapbooking for me...so it's no wonder I used a coffee stir stick as a place for my title. I do love my coffee!

Paper Tearing

Long time blog followers should know my favorite techniqe is>>> Paper Tearing! It adds extra dimension to layering and helps visually divide the layers. If you have not tried it - put down the scissors and trimmer and start tearing!

White Space

When you are scrapping, don't feel like you have to fill every nook and cranny with pictures and embellishments. Leave what is called "white space" so your eyes have somewhere to rest!

Working with Ribbon

Ribbon has got to be one of my FAVORITE things to use on a scrapbook page. I am excited to now carry a selection of ribbons for YOU!

At our next crop, April 3rd - you will see over 50 different ribbons...solids, dots, prints - so many FUN designs... so what do you do with it??

1 Creative Bug will be teaching a class Called Ribbons and Bows the first Tuesday in May - it seems far off, but honestly - mark your calendars! We will have all the nitty gritty details for you soon. What I do know for sure - you will learn how to make this cool ribbon frame and there will be layout options for both 'boy' and 'girl' pages.

If you want more deails, be sure to email me! I will add you to my newsletter list - or check back here for the specifics!

Collage Scrapping

Happy Monday!!! Did you get any scrapping done this weekend? I hope so! You can scrap a page in under 15 minutes with 1 Creative Bug's Fast Frames... this is "Frame #4" - fancy name isn't it - ha ha! But seriously with 9 grid openings , some quick picture trimming and letter stickers your page is D- O -N- E - done!

Fast frames measure aproimately 11x11 and look awesome mounted onto cardstock or patterned paper. Want to add Journaling??? Easy just use cardstock to fill in one of the grids - and wa-la a perfect journal spot!

Fast Frames are available as a custom order too! Custom colors and custom sized openings! What can you create?

Embellish My World!!!

I wanted to share a layout I did that is a bit over the top... it took a lot of time, had a ton of embellishments and many details... but it was worth it!!! I used a kit from Kiss Crop N Shop - so it was EASY!!! Come on - me, do it if it's hard - no way!!! this KISS kit was just made for these sunrise and sunset pictures my hubby took while on the road.

Sometimes - you just need to embellish!

Seeing Spots...

Pictures, unless you crop them into a shape, are linear - many pages therefore take on a linear look...but look how easy it is to curve it up... I used a circle punch and my CM circle cutter - page done! You can do this same thing with Stars, arrows - whatever shape you want - spice it up and make the look your own!

Luck of the Irish to ya!

I can not be the only lucky mom, daughter, friend, aunt, cousin... YOU are lucky too! Highlight the person or people that bless your life with this great "lucky" kit... it's only $7.00!

Any title you want - FREE! Check it out!

Highlight your Mom, Aunt, Grandmother, friend or mentor with this simple kit... there is a bit of chipboard (the slide frames) to cover - but as part of our git 'er done! line of Quick Kits... this kit will be sure to delight. In fact - did you know - if you like the kit but not the title, I'll make you a custom title FREE - that's right - any title you want with the purchase of the kit - so use this kit for easter, a wedding, tea party, princess, birthday.... now the possibilities are just about endless!

I think I take too many pictures...

When you start scrapping the candy...it's pretty bad. Many of the layouts I have highlighted over the past few months are of ONE day trip to the apple orchard, lol... I definately take too many pictures. Thank heavens for 9 cent prints at Walmart!

Custom, Custom, Custom...

I think I mention my ability to custom create at least once a week- so here it is AGAIN for this week... Once you make a custom request you will be hooked... I have a handfull of customers who order SOMETHING completely custom at least once a month - and I love it!!!

Don't be shy... request away!!

This weeks layout was created by the lovely Shannon - and has a paper piecing replica of the karate school's logo - it's called the Shark Academy. I took a jpg image of the school logo, and whipped it up in no time... what custom request can you come up with??/ Oh, you might be thinking a custom request will be pricy - no, silly! Shannon's logo was a 6 inch piecing and it was just $5.00 - I want to see Jolee's beat that ;-)

To journal... or not??? That is a BIG question!!!

There are many schools of thought on journaling on your pages - I'm going to share mine... It's NOT always needed... seriously! Look at the Nap Time Buddies layout...

Do you need me to tell you???:

It's Nap Time

My son is sleeping with his stuffed buddy

The cat joins my son for nap time

The picture and the title tell the story - so journaling doesn't have to!

Stickers - they are still COOL!

Stickers were the first scrapbook embellishment, in my opinion... We went a little crazy buying and using them in the early days...I'm not even going to scan and show you one - ya, that bad...

HOWEVER, stickers are still cool, and can really accent your work...check out the ladybug stickers 'crawling' along my title... the trick with sickers is to keep them meaningful and simple.

Simplicity...

There is nothing rong with it... if you know me and have seen my work enough, you know I go back and forth between fully detailed, inked, embellished and "amazing" pages and the simple pages, like hayride above. Keep it simple, git 'er done!

NEW! - Page Phrases --- 5 free to give away!!!

Page Phrases start at $4.00... with a price like that, you just have to try one! What are Page Phrases you ask.... Well, let me tell you!

Page Phrases are 'large' quotes or sayings designed to go on a page with or without pictures. Full size page phrases make a great introduction page - you know that very first page of an album... or you can use them when you want a double page spread, but don't quite have enough pictures.

The Before you were born Page Phrase above is a wall hanging! The possibilities are endless... keep watching the blog for more ideas - In fact - do you want to share your idea??? That would be AWESOME...

Here is what you have to do... be one of the first 5 people to leave a comment on this post - and I will send you a Page Phrase of your choice FREE - in return you create something wonderful, scan it or take picture, and email it to me to use on the Blog... I have 5 free page phrases available - what are you waiting for!!!

Darn, I only have one piece of patterned paper....

Have you ever run into this problem... either you want to do a 2 page layout, or you want to use the same paper to accent or embellish a single page layout and you only have 1 piece of patterned paper???

Well, if so, I have an idea I want to share with you today... Here is a single page layout I created using only 1 piece of paper for the background, and the punches going down the middle...

The trick is easy - perhaps you guessed it... I cut a large square out of the patterned paper with my craft knife, and I used cardstock on the front of the layout to hide the big 'hole'...

You can use the 'extra' paper for anything... punches Like I did - or a large accent on a second page! I love it when an idea comes together!

Having a Ball

Here is a new kit available from 1 Creative Bug... It's called HAVING A BALL... it is part of my "Git it Done" collection, designed to go together quick and highlight special moments.

I have to say - the colors are my favorite part of this kit!

So many colors... so little time!

For several months I have been cutting, cutting, designing, designing... so much so my cardstock bin was severely depleated...so it was time for a Paper Order... out came the swatches - because I have been DYING to add to the spectrum... Here is my full bin - I added 7 NEW colors to my offering...and at only 50 cents a sheet your sure to be delighted!

Stopb by and see me Friday the 5th of March at St. Catherine's or Saturday March 13th at CSDR... you can also call or email and come over for a private color show - LOL!