Trash and Some Imagination

I am a fan of using anything for projects. Joanna had to buy a BUNCH of vintage Christmas balls for a class she is teaching. Many of them came in these adorable little boxes. Once the balls were out of the boxes though, the question became what to do with the little boxes. We couldn't bear to throw them away, so they were kept.

Here is what Joanna has done with one of them. A very cute little shadow box decoration.



She has also used random objects to make other groupings. Thought you would enjoy looking at these!





The class she is teaching is to make a lovely vintage looking paper tree with the little vintage balls. The second class is coming up in December. Check the Events page for all of the information.



PS: the Sonic cup is not part of the project, although, hmmmm, there's got to be a use for it:)

Kits, Challenges and Other Winning News

Although I know more people bought the kit than sent in pictures of projects, I am excited that three people chose to submit their project for the challenge. I can see from the pictures sent and comments made with them, that you guys really did find this out of your norm and it did stimulate you to do something different. I find it thrilling to think that it did that.

The pictures of the challenge submissions have been posted in the gallery on the store's website. When you click the link, it will give you thumbnail pictures. Open the first one and then you can select 'next' and go through each page of the submissions.

I'm glad I was not the judge. I would have had a REALLY hard time deciding. I found it interesting that everyone did an album of some sort. I guess with that many papers in the kit, it lends itself to those. We asked someone who is not affiliated with the store, doesn't know any of the participants but is a scrapbooking person to judge.

The winner (you thought I'd never get to this didn't you) is KIMBERLY. She is participant 1 in the gallery. CONGRATULATIONS Kim! The gift certificate will be waiting at the store for you! Thanks to all who did the challenge!

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The Kit for August has a theme of Celebrating Summer. The colors remind me of summer. They would work for any type of layout or project, but to me the colors look like summer times: back yard bar-b-ques, family get-togethers, a day at the lake, celebrating a special person or a birthday or an anniversary. I hope the kit inspires you to make something...maybe to even make something you haven't made before.


For August, we will do a give-a-way of a September Kit (approximate value $25.00) to the winner. I will draw a name from all of those who submit their project or layouts. I want to remove the excuse some people might use-thinking "oh it is not good enough & will never win". All submissions have an equal chance of winning.:) Stop by the store and pick up a kit or buy it on line here. Submit your pictures to us by midnight August 30, we will draw the name and announce the winner September first right here on this blog. (there are a couple of the July kits left too, if you wanted one) Here is a picture of the August Kit.


This time, we will post some ideas the design team came up with to use elements of the kit. I hope they will spark some ideas for you. Feel free to use any ideas from these in your projects if you want. Come up with something totally new if you want.
by Brook


by Joanna


by Sherri

For September, we will be putting together actual project kits as well as the paper kits, so stay tuned. Also, there are a BUNCH of classes and crops going on in August and September. Check them out here. Hope to see you soon! Hope to see a creation made by you soon as well! Email them to carolyn@thecraftyscrapper.com.

Thanks & Happy Scrappin'!

ONE MORE SAMPLE (GASC)

Here is another sample that will posted in the booth next week at the Great American Scrapbook Convention in Arlington, TX. This was so easy, and I was able to complete in one evening (in between interuptions from Matt and his friends, they had to make flags out of something other than paper). The main reason for this sample was to showcase the Maya Roads ribbon. Just about everything is Maya Roads: ribbon, flowers, chipboard letters. The rest is from my stash! And the hangar is from Crafty Secrets. I scraplifted this idea from Keisha Campbell's blog, check it out here http://abiteast.typepad.com/. I also used a flat canvas board and really, really liked the end design. I will be making more, no doubt about it. Get inspired, and you never know what you might come up with. This one will hang in my studio forever....I mean who wouldn't be inspired by all that COLOR!

Words of A Song

Well Brooke's April challenge has come to an end and I wanted to post my layout. Two post in one week......miracles do happen.....what can I say I am on a roll this week. The challenge was to take lyrics to a song and make a layout. Well "Say" by John Mayer is one of my new favorite songs and this picture of Matt is also one of my latest favorites so I thought I would put them together. I think they make a perfect match!!! I took this picture at my niece's wedding a month ago and have been dying to scrap it. He looks so handsome, so grown-up and in deep thought. It was a staged shot but it still love it, it's no MarieQ by any means, but I'm proud of it and it envokes so many memories in my head of when he was little and he is growing up to be such a fine young man. Oh by the way....Matt is being recognized as an "outstanding" student in the Coppell ISD on May12th at the the Texas Rangers Game, isn't that great, more pictures to be taken....he is so proud of himself....and he should be, so am I!

LIFE LESSONS -----GOOD OR BAD?

It started with a box....and from there my imagination took flight. Annette gave me the task of coming up with a class that could celebrate Grandparents Day and I took it a little further. This class could work for several ocassions that are coming up over the next couple of months. Grandparents Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day...whoever has taught you lessons about life. I didn't have the priviledge of Grandparents growing up (not like my boys...they even have great grandparents) so all of my lessons were learned from my parents. Good or bad...they are all lessons. I really had fun this week coming up with this class and I hope you enjoy what I've posted here.

The front of the pages were so fun to come up with words. I think you can tell I like to use words when I'm doing a book. Is there a name for my kind of people? I used lots of little stamps that are currently available at where else...."The" Crafty Scrapper. It is fast becoming my favorite stamp store along with scrapbooking supplies. Carolyn has really out done herself on the new lines coming out. Oh yeah!!! Martha Stewart has arrived at The Crafty Scrapper....and all her glitter glory (I'm going to have every color you know!).

I haven't had the chance to finish the back side of the pages yet. I've got to go and get some pictures reprinted in a smaller size, but you get the idea. This is a great little book that can be done fast and with all the great Fancy Pant stuff it makes it so easy. Don't you just love double sided papers. I didn't use to but I've become a huge fan.

As you can see I have been hard at work this week creating a fun and special class, designed especially for those we wish to thank for all they have taught us. See you soon, at the Crafty Scrapper, hopefully in my class.

JESSICA'S BIG DAY!!!!

I just can't get over what an outstanding day we had for my niece's wedding. I've already posted comments on the forum and on Marie's blog (check it out, there are some fantastic shots) and now I've come here to post one of my own pictures of the bride. I love you, Jessia & Aaron, I know that you are on your way to Mexico....I'm sending prayers your way and will be thinking of you all week!!!!

WHAT A WEEKEND!!!

First, I'm going to show you something that i did a month ago at another retreat. I try to go to retreats at least 4 or 5 times a year, I get so much accomplished (at this one I completed 14 layouts, a record for me). Ali Edwards's posted something very similar to what I end up doing on her blog about a month ago. I was just so inspired by it that I had to "scraplift" the idea. It was so simple, yet so great...all it took was an 8 1/2" x 11 piece of cardstock and a bunch of scraps of coordinating pattern paper. Take a shape and punch as many as you want (I used a butterfly), then adhere to the cardstock in even rows and columns. Done! Ready to frame and hang. I love stuff like that...simple....and quick.

Oh, my gosh, I go so much accomplished this weekend. I had the pleasure of going to Stolen Moments Inn in Maypearl with some of the best girls in the world. I personally had a blast hanging out with all the girls, having cupcakes, celebrating birthdays, bashing a certain man (or lack of man, I should say). My first order of business was to create this 24 x 24 canvas using my favorite quote from a Beatles song. My oldest son, Steven (the one in the picture with me) is a huge Beatles fan I thought this would really make a nice addition to our home and be something special for him. We are going to be colabrating on another Beatles project soon...I can't wait...it was totally his concept...maybe I will even get him to do some of it.

Now, believe it or not I actually made a 2 page layout this weekend. I've been wanting to do this layout for a long time and I finally sat down and did it. My iPod is my life line to inspiration, all the songs that i have on there encourage me to do something: love, dance, laugh, regret, reflect, create, rock out, work out and smile. I took some of the songs off my iPod playlist and typed them out on a vintage typewriter. It took me some time, but i had a good time going through my list and remembering why I have them on there.

Another one bites the dust!! (*ideas that is) Done! Love it when I things done and off my brain.

Have a good week....CREATE!

Joanna

"Scrapbooking" on my Walls

This is where I am right now, almost finished, but not quite. There are still a few more "things" that I want to get and fill in some of the "holes", but I'm getting close and it felt so good to get this up on the wall and out of my head!!!

I have lots more ideas for a couple of other spots in the house, and as time goes by I'll post some more pictures as I get them done. Can't wait to see what other great ideas you can come up with. Leave comment and show me some pictures.

Let the gift making begin....this year I got very ambitious and decided to make handmade gifts for many of my friends and family. I just wanted to give something special this year, something with thought, and little bit of my own touch. Something that said I'm thinking of you...I value your love and friendship. I've mostly spent the time right now making trees, but I have made a few ornaments too, a picture frame and a shadow box frame. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of some them before I gave them to their receipents. Oh well, take my word for it they came out soooo cute. Now this year was also the year I went a little crazy on ebay buying vintage glass ornaments and mercury glass beads. So on many of my items I'm using my buys from ebay. Some are faded, some have cracks but believe me it gives them such great character. Plus, it's bringing back wonderful memories of my childhood. So, enjoy and hopefully it will motivate you to give a little of yourself this year and make something with your hands for those you love.

This one I made for my sister. Can you tell that I am loving the Maya Road birds? I have used them on several projects this Christmas. Autumn Leaves buttons from the Christmas collection this year. I wanted to give her something handmade this year along with her other gifts. The only thing that I had a hard time deciding was do I put it on an easel or do I make it where she can hang it on the wall. I decided to go with the easel (as you can see).

This tree I did on the Friday after Thanksgiving...I actually started last year and finished this year to say "thanks" to friend (Thanks, Tracey) who is kind enough to host a girl's weekend for 4 of us every year on the weekend after Thanksgiving. This was our 4th year to go. It's become a very nice tradition. A wonderful way to start the Christmas holidays. We hang out, watched movies, shopped at Hobby Lobby, ate, and get even a little sleep.

And the other tree was done for Carolyn (queen of The Crafty Scrapper). It's become another tradition for me...making her some sort of Christmas tree. Just a quick note...I used foam cones for the base of all the trees. On this one I used the bag of buttons from Autumn Leaves and felt from the Creative Cafe and....Yes, I sewed each button on...one...at...time. I'm crazy like that. Carolyn is such a great friend and I really wanted to put a smile on her face. I think it's displayed in the store if you want to go by and see it close up. I know she won't mind...and pick up some felt and buttons while you are there. I plan on making 2 more with different colors schemes but all with the felt and buttons.

I'm still making more...but here is the latest, and i think the greatest so far. I did this one for my best friend, Lisa, and I didn't want to post it until after I had given it to her. I'm posting more than one picture...I wanted to do close-ups so that you can see the detail. I really had a lot of fun doing this one, the hard work really paid off. Oh yeah, and let me say I did get the basic idea from a posting on the Maya Roads Design Team blog. Go there and see it, it's beautiful and creative and all that stuff. I didn't have any christmas sheet music so i improvised with some paper from Flair that I've had for 2 years. It has the story of the birth of Jesus from the bible on it.

http://mayaroad.typepad.com/dt/2007/12/birds-of-a-feat.html.

Well, that's all I have for now. I've got to get busy and make the rest of my gifts. Merry Christmas to all! Be loved...and blessed this holiday season.

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.

I'm Back to Finish my Turn

It's me again, here to finish my post from earlier today. By the way, I had my boss take this picture of me and I decided to post it here. Since I don't have anything that's new in my studio I'm going to post some of my favorite projects from the past. All my stuff has been packed away and still is...I haven't created anything in a really long time. I'm having terrible withdrawls...my fingers are itching to do something.Until then enjoy some things from the past .

This little project was one of my favorites when I worked at the Scrappity Do Dah store in Grand Prairie. I was in charge of the make n takes there, and I have to admit it was the best part of my job. I really enjoyed coming up with something new and fun to make once a month. My youngest son is a great artist and this little book was my way of telling him how proud I was of him. I honestly do not know what my kids are going to do with all the things that I have made them. Hopefully, show their kids some day. This was the inside.

I love to go to trunk shows, especially at a rubber stamp store. Me and my best friend Lisa went to a Tim Holtz trunk show at a local rubber stamp store and got to play with his new stamps. This is what we made...needless to say I bought all the stamps that were in this great make n take. I'm a sucker for stamps. And the pair of wings in this project were to die for. Rubber Stamping was my first passion and will probably remain the thing that I am most creative with. I love it!

Can you believe it's August, and i'm already thinking about Christmas. In the process of moving I found this and it just made me want to start making Christmas things. This is a little tree that I made for Christmas last year to add to my tree collection. I love to make Christmas things!!! This year I want to get together with friends (like I did last year) and make handmade Christmas ornaments for my tree. We had a blast.

Well, that's all I have for right now. This weekend I went to a Donna Downey class and made an incredible 12 x 12 album out of two pieces of 12 x 12 chipboard and 12 pieces of 81/2 x 11 paper. I hope to show you in my next post.

Until next time, be good,

Joanna

It's My Turn!!!

Well, ladies, allow me to introduce myself...I am Joanna AKA scrapperangel. I am so excited about this blog that I just had to post something right away. I didn't want to be the last one to do this. Everyone is so on the ball, and I am way behind on everything. I recently moved from Duncanville to Coppell (just last Thursday to be exact) and I am still unpacking the mess. ( My house is too small!!! ) Well, in the process of the move both my film camera and my digital camera were stolen. Right out from under my nose. I'm telling you that I thought I had it all under control but I obviously didn't. They were good...I'm not so upset about the camera as I am about the pictures that were in it. Let this be a lesson in taking care of your photos, especially those in your digital camera. If I had just loaded them on my computer in some sort of program on say a monthly basis I wouldn't be missing some of them. Well, lessoned learned for us all...I hope.

I have been a paper crafter for as long as I can remember. This passion really took off about 10 years ago with my very first rubber stamp. It was a Hero Arts teddy bear and I was asked to make some baby shower invitations. That's where it all began...I've been making things (all kinds of things) out of paper. I enjoy this hobby so much. There is not a day that goes by that I'm not dreaming of something that I can create. It brings a smile to my face and a song to my heart.

I have to get back to work, I'll finish this later.....

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!