Gifts for Some Special People

Over the weekend of the 10th to 12th, the store had Wendy Vecchi teaching several classes. The Maya Road Design Team also came in for the weekend. They shared some ideas and took some classes too. It was a busy, fun weekend. Knowing that they were coming, Carolyn thought it would be neat to make each of the group a box or something that could be filled with some candy and given to them as a welcome. Several of the design team worked on these. I think they turned out pretty neat and am sharing them here as ideas to springboard off of.

Carolyn made this vase for Caroline. It turned out really great and you don't ever get the full effect from a photo.



This one was done by Annette for Wendy Vecchi. She used one of the flower boxes by Maya Road for this and personalized it with her own items.


Heidi decorated this Provo Tin for Aubrey. She used a lot of ink techniques along with paper on this tin.




Sherri decorated an old cigar box for Lisa Pace. The majority of the items used are old ephemera from her stash.



This one was for Jessica. It is a box with smaller box trays inside. There are Sassafrass Lass papers on here as well as prima flowers and page bubbles.



Hope you find some inspiration here. Let us know what you have made.

My Inspiration

I finally finished my canvas challenge Carolyn gave us last month. She wanted us to do whatever we wanted to an 8x8 canvas. So...what to do....?? I always create best through something that inspires me. It is often a new product I am experimenting with. Sometimes it is a great photo or story that must be told. Other times it is an instance of my life journey, something I am going through and, usually, a lesson God is teaching me. THAT was it this time. I have been challenged by parenting (aren't we all?!) and am reading Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson. It was confirming to me of my role in my son's life as teacher, caregiver, and guide. And this is the thought process that came about: So ALL the distractions around me are not what I should remain focused on. Being a mom and doing the "little things" really do matter. The verse in Jeremiah was on my heart..."For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord...". If I just look to God, He will show me the best plan for my life and that will be what is best for my son as well. So there you have it. My inspiration. My son. My faith. My art.

Scrap a T-shirt

Well, I just returned from my Sister's Weekend in CA. We had a blast!! Shopping, eating, laying out by my sister's pool, more shopping, eating, and non-stop laughter! Here is the shirt I "created", digitally. Actually, Melissa did the design in Photoshop then emailed it to me. After she scanned my sister's toddler picture, she added wings, crown, etc and POOF! it was a digitally scrapped image ready for print! I ran it off on Avery t-shirt transfer paper and took it to the t-shirt shop. They put each transfer on the shirts ("Sister's Weekend 2008 Amy turns 40!" was on the back of the shirt). Soooo easy and you could do it to! BTW, we were unable to get on the Ellen show, but had a great time anyway!

Here is a picture of our whole group, wearing our shirts, of course! Amy is the one wearing the boa (a sister's b-day tradition) and my niece's friend, Brenna, is wearing the crown (it was her 18th b-day). I'm on the end holding my 10 month old niece, Andee. Yes, she had a t-shirt too!

Creative Inspiration

Hi, you guys! One of the best things I did over spring break was pull an (almost) all-nighter with my super-scrappin pal, Melissa. When she and I get together, it amazes me how we feed off each other's creativity! After a fun trip to shop at the Crafty Scrapper we scrapped til 3am and most of the next day too. I accomplished several big projects. The one I want to share with you today used the awesome Blackboard mini-album from Cosmo Cricket and the oh-so-cool journal cards from Fancy Pants. Not to mention the best opaque white writer I have EVER used (and I've used them all, baby)...the Ranger white writer. I got Melissa so hooked on it that she couldn't stop writing!

One of my sisters turns 40 this year and this book is for her. Every year we have our sister's weekend getaway (there are 5 of us) and celebrate our sisterhood. In other words, we shop, eat, and laugh! Since Amy is turning 40 we are doing an extra-special celebration. We will all travel to her home in Palm Springs, CA. We are going to spend a couple of days in LA and are gonna try to get on to the Ellen show! (Of course I digi-scrapped transfers for t-shirts that we will all wear to MAKE Ellen love us, and that I'll show you on a future post!) SO...I made this little book o' inspiration to give to Amy to keep her celebrating herself all year long!

Here's some up close pictures. It was so easy, quick, and fun to make. The Fancy Pants journal cards come in a 12x12 sheet and are dirt cheap. Their colors are brilliant and with the white pen, really jump off the black chipboard backgound. Try your own little inspirational album! You will be hooked! Much love and scrappin', Annette

This one is a cute Winnie the Pooh saying. I added gaffer tape and a Maya Road tree.
The final project at a glance...

Maya Road Tree Album

Annette used the new Maya Road Tree Album and made a little book. She used just two of the pages. Using the new Graphic 45 papers, she covered all of the chipboard. Amazingly, she had a perfect sized picture for one of the pages. It is adorable. I know others have picked up this paper for their tree album too. I'm anxious to see how they turn out. Also notice the punch out of the heart on the front and other ways she customized the album. Thanks Annette
(here is the front)

(here is the back)

Make and Takes at the Crop

The design team was asked to develop make and takes for the Crop for the Cure which was Saturday at the store. All of the projects were to be in the theme of "cooking for the cure". The participants all expressed positive things about the make and takes. The new 'bar' at the front of the store was the perfect height for doing these projects. 7 people at a time could work on items at the bar.

Luxe Designs was great to donate a full make and take which Annette & Carolyn shared with the croppers. The card used jotters, rub ons and some papers from their Pashmina line for these cute cards.







Heidi developed a cute file folder recipe card using Coca Cola papers and cute kitchen stamps. The design used a Coke Can pop tab to hold the ribbon in place. She also taught the groups on use of acrylic stamps, tabs from punches and stapling with the mini stapler. (not pictured)




Aimee set up a great card using the clear stamps from Crafty Secrets and taught use of colored pencils with Gamisol to color in the scrappers choice of stamped image and used the same stamps to stamp a little expression on the card as well.






Joanna also used kitchen stamps from Crafty Secrets. For the project she designed, the scrappers cut out the images and attached them to one side of the recipe card. The design used the Flair kitchen papers. It was another wonderful design.





The design team is looking forward to being involved more in events such as this to share techniques and new products. Let us know in comments your thoughts on these projects.

Original Inspiration

My grandad's dream...my inspiration. My grandad invented and patented this Artist's Dream Kit back in the 70's. I am blessed to own his personal kit...complete with his used paints and paintbrushes. I treasure this b/c he died when I was just ten, yet his influence on my life was immense. I now proudly display (and use) this Dream Kit in my own studio. It reminds me daily of the power of Grandad's dreams and his resourceful nature. He didn't make much, if any, money on his invention. But I wonder how many artistic souls he inspired. I know he deeply influenced mine. Enjoy the photos of my studio and have an inspired day!


This is my desk...a bit messy, I know!


This is my armoire. I love that I can open it and have another work area and then close it to cover up the mess!

I call this my "thinkin' chair". I usually have a cup of hot tea on the dream kit table.


My messy, but organized closet. There are shelves up the sides you cannot see. I love artbins to hold my many projects in progress.

Hi, I'm Annette.

Glad to meet you! I have worked, taught, and designed for the Crafty Scrapper for over 2 years. But my passion for scrapbooking and all things art goes back to childhood. Let's see...I made my own Barbie furniture at age 7, totally redesigned and redecorated my room at age 15, started my own sign-making business at age 16, and the list goes on and on. Jump ahead to 2007: I'm 36, married 14 years to Perry, with one son, Riley, age 9. I'm more passionate about my creative life than ever before!

My style can best be described as shabby chic. I'm constantly trying new techiques and am most inspired by the latest and greatest products. (That's why working at the Crafty Scrapper is more than ideal for me!!) I recently became a member of the Crafty Secrets design team (http://www.craftysecrets.com/) and am having a blast with it!

I grew up in rural Kansas and am a farm girl at heart. I love the simple life and now that Perry and I built a house in the "country" (just 3 miles from town) I am truly at home. My studio overlooks our creek and 3 acres of trees. I am truly blessed to get to live out my passion. I know it is all a gift from God and a treasure to share with others. Let me know if I can ever help you find your inspiration. I believe there is one in all of us!

Here is my latest creation...a prayer journal we'll be teaching as a class in September.











I used manilla envelopes and my favorite, funky papers. There is room for daily prayers, answered prayers and blessings. Should be fun...I'll see you at class!

Here We Are

Yes, here we are. The design team for the Crafty Scrapper. This is a blog that the team will use to post ideas, techniques, challenges, swaps and anything else they can think of to excite the imagination. We plan to have FUN!

We hope that this will serve as a place to come when you are out of ideas, feeling less than creative, not sure what to do with a certain paper you got, etc. We also hope it will be a place you come when you are excited, have a gazillion ideas and want to see what others are doing. Please leave comments so we know what helps and what doesn't. With the changes in the team and now an individual blog just for the team---who knows what they'll come up with! The blog link will stay the same, but other details may change by the next time you visit.

Over the next week or so, each person on the team will introduce themselves and show a picture of a recent piece of work that they have completed. Once each has given a glimpse into themselves, we will start posting other ideas, projects, layouts and techniques!