Card Swap #3

Well, what do you think? Here is a picture of cards from the swap. As always, there are a lot of interpretations of the template and many unique and creative designs. From the use of a Sam's card for an embellishment to old patterns to coloring of cute stamps and cut outs, the group was inventive. So many beautiful cards. Some cards for fall, for Christmas and some for everyday use.

Want to be in the next swap? Here is all you do. Make 10 cards using the template below as your guide. Bring your cards to the store by the due date. The next swap is due December 6, 2007, and you will get cards and a thank you for playing gift back on December 10, 2007.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

I thought I'd show you the Rudolph that I made the other day using the Carolee Creations pre-cut wood kit. It took very little to complete the look; some paint (cream colored) 2 sheets of paper (Carolee's), little scraps of white and black card stock, a piece of sandpaper, 4 - 6 bells, a few little snips of ribbon, some floral wire, a larger ribbon piece and mod podge. I could have used a chenille stick (pipe cleaner) too, but didn't have one at the time. I would have used two screws to put him together, but didn't have any handy, so did hot glue-which is what they used too I think. I made him as close to the example the company gave as possible--not my usual way of doing these, but wanted him to look like the pictures.

He is pretty cute. He is large. His face is about 10 inches tall, then his antlers are another 8 inches or so on top. He would be great to hang on a door as is, or put him in a wreath. Very inexpensive for a gift too-I thought. The example is at the store along with more kits for you to create your own variation of Rudolph.

Puppy Dog Layout

A few weeks ago, Annette and Carolyn challenged me to create a 12x12 scrapbook page. While some of you will think nothing of creating a 12x12 layout, for me this was a BIG deal. This was my first 12x12 layout, EVER! I'm primarily a card maker and churn out an altered item now and then. But scrapbook pages, especially 12x12 pages, were uncharted territory for me, until now. (So, don't snicker too loudly when you see my page!)

I used new paper and rub-ons by SEI to create this page. I like the double-sided papers -- they're a bit heavier, and give the page more substance.

I pulled out the ol' sewing machine for this layout as well. The pups in the photo are my own Miss Daisy and Mister Farley. They really are the BEST of friends.

You can see this layout in the shop, along with many others created by fellow design team members!

Grand Opening of the "Creative Cafe Happy Hour

OK, we've told you about it, but NOW you have to come see it for yourself! Its so YUMMY, I promise you will want to touch the buttons and the many rows of chipboard, felt, etc. You will feel like a kid in a candy store! IT'S HOT, HOT HOT!
Join us for our first ever Creative Cafe Art Bar "Happy Hour" this Friday November 9th from 6-8pm. We will offer exclusive projects created by the designers of Creative Cafe that will be created right at our very own Art Bar! The project cost will vary depending on the project - anywhere from $1 - $10. Participants in the weekly happy hours will receive a special Creative Cafe Club Card. It features a coffee cup for each happy hour workshop you attend that will get punched. When you fill your card, you get one happy hour workshop free!

This weeks project is the "Thankful Mini Tag Book" cost will be $3. We will also have lite snacks and coffee. Here is a sneak peek of the project:


Annette and I will have several projects on display for the upcoming "Happy Hours", so come by and check out our new candy store! Also the store has been transformed into a Christmas Wonderland! Wait until you see all the new Christmas collections and Christmas projects the design team have done, its a great place to get ideas. I will post pictures throughout this week.

Super Baby Book

This is a great idea for a baby gift. This little family album/baby book was done with a stock 8 x 8 album. The front was easily embellished with a cute ribbon and a tag stamped with the baby's name (since it was known).

Each of the paper sleeves then has a little folded page inside of it. When the page is in the book, you see the tab for the insert and the actual page that was done for the book. The insert can be just a 8 x 8 size paper, or could be a folded page if you wanted.


For instance, this first page shown is an adorable layout for a first photo, tucked behind it (and pulled out for showing here) is another page that could have journaling, other photos or cards perhaps that the mother wanted to save for the baby.

Notice that this one is a folded page, so when opened up it reveals another area for words, journaling, photos or whatever you as the designer wants to put there.
This is a view of the book, looking at the tops of the pages with all the tabs showing. Notice each one in this book is a month. 1 month, 2 months, etc.
And then just a few of the layouts that again are hiding a great insert behind them.

Hope that gives you some ideas for a book you might need to do!

HEY EVERYONE...My mom just got the new Creative Cafe Artbar In!

Creative Cafe is a joint product line from Creative Imaginations, Hampton Art Stamps and Bazzill Basics Paper. Many items will be sold in bulk containers...how fun is that! Every Friday night we will have "Happy Hour" at 6-8pm, where you will come to the bar and create a fun project. Each project will range from $1-$5. Participants in the weekly happy hours will receive a special Creative Cafe Club Card. It features a coffee cup for each happy hour workshop you attend that will get punched. When you fill your card, you get one happy hour workshop free! We are still waiting on the dies and stamps, and have decided in order to make our first "Happy Hour" special we will hold our grand opening of the bar November 9th at 6pm. For now come by and shop the Artbar, its fun to scoop up the buttons and mix and match the product. Our design team will be busy making up projects so you can see what we will be making each week. Of course the girls here wanted to add more, so Annette and Sherri begged me to order Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels to add to the projects. If you have not seen or tried this you will love it. Check out some of the fun stuff that we will be creating at the Artbar here!

First Retreat at Stolen Moments Inn

First of all - many thanks to Carolyn for all of her support and encouragement to me as Randall and I have worked hard to open the best scrapbooking retreat in North Texas.

We are still working on the outside parking (the parking lot will be poured on Monday - yea!) and the landscaping too - but the inside is finished and we have just totally enjoyed getting it ready. Maypearl is becoming one of our favorite places to hang out!

Two weekends ago, we had our first group. It was a fun group of my friends and we had the best time. I have included a few pictures so you can see what the Inn is like.

Be sure to visit me at Stolen Moments Inn. I would love to have you!!

Susie

Happy Halloween

Last Saturday was our all day Halloween Crop. There was not a specific theme for the costumes this year and a couple people did not dress up (Sherri). Most of the group dressed up. The crop areas were full with Crafty Scrappers, some we had never met before. It was great to have everyone. Supper was from the College Street Pub. The brownies were delicious!!!

For the make and take, the group could make a paper bag book. It seemed like everyone enjoyed that as well as hanging out for the day with their friends and others. Enjoy the pictures!

There is not a Friday night crop this week because of the Bob Phillips Festival. The streets will be blocked off in front of the store. There will be a parade at 9:30 Saturday morning and a new addition to the festival called "Texas Country Kids". There will be over 150 booths set up for vendors selling food, selling handmade items and alumni from the show providing entertainment. The Bellamy Brothers will also perform later in the day.

November 2 is the exciting opening of the CREATIVE CAFE in our store. Stay tuned for more information specific to this!

Our next all- day crop will be the day after Thanksgiving, November 24th. It is a Pot Luck Crop.It is $10.00 to register, but on the day of the crop this can be used for store credit---so it is actually free. A great way to relax after the holiday and maybe a good way to get rid of so many leftovers!

Keep watching the blog and your emails to keep up to date on all the happenings at the store!

Played With These Yet?

Have you played with these "Love, Elsie" books? Here is one by Isla with the house shaped book. These are really cute small books. Take a look at how cute this one is done-not all pages shown. All the papers and embellishments are from the Love, Elsie line. It is on display at the store if you want to see it in closer detail.

Halloween Party!

October has been a good month of birthdays for the Crafty Scrapper Team. Saturday will be the Halloween Party at the store. 14 hours of cropping with fun and games built in! So many new things have come in to the store, which the design team will be working with, but for today, just going to show you one more Halloween layout. All of these will still be out here on the blog as ideas when you get your pictures back from this year, and for those who are working on several years ago--they are here now and then. Just combinations of papers and embellishments from several lines. As always, they are on display at the store for a real life look.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BIRTHDAY WISHES!!!!

I received so many emails and phone calls from all of you, you helped turning 40 not so bad, thank you. I was a little shocking when I came to the blog and saw the "40 Cake" from Sherri, it really looked scary. But throughout the day everyone I talked to said 40 was their best year, so I am looking forward to it. My sweet husband surprised me with flowers and planned a night of Sushi and dancing with a bunch of our friends, unfortunately I got sick so we had to postpone it to this
Saturday.....maybe I will post some wild pictures of us later. My good friend Marie also surprised me with a massage and facial, that was a treat...thank you so much Marie. I usually never ask for anything for my Birthday, but this year I asked my husband to make me a "Happy Place", and the handy man he is, he granted me my wish. Here are a few photos of my new "Happy Place", I have actually been able to scrapbook more, and it has been fun for Denton and I to spend time together working on projects. Also notice my NEW yellow headvase, a birthday gift from Sherri.

Happy Birthday ...

Happy Birthday!

Coming SOON!

What's The Crafty Scrapper up to? What could be coming to the store in October? It is a brand new concept for scrapbook stores!



It's the NEW Creative Cafe from Creative Imaginations, exclusively limited to 200 stores. We are thrilled and excited to be apart of this.




This awesome concept lets customers purchase single items, such as felt and chipboard flowers, tags, buttons, ribbon and many other things. All the paper, rub-ons, stickers and embellishments coordinate together. AccuCut and Hampton Arts has partnered up with dies, stamps, ink and self inkers that will coordinate with the Creative Cafe product. We will have "Happy Hour" on Friday nights which will be a different mini class using the product and learning new techniques. Here are just a few of the projects the girls behind this concept came up with for us to offer you

Please comment, we would love to hear what you think. Keep checking back for up dates on the Creative Cafe!

Have A Wonderful Day!