Card Swap....Join Us

Here is the challenge for the newest card swap. Make 7 cards using the template posted here. It is up to you what papers or stamps or other things you use on the card. It is up to you what size you make the cards. Please include envelopes. Just have them to the store by September 28, 2007 and we'll get them swapped out and ready for you to take back by the first of October. Join in the fun.

(PS: Susie from the design team is hosted a challenge with this same template if you want to see how others interpreted the theme, check it out here)

Hi I am Aimee AKA Crazy Aimee............

........some even know me as A-I-M-E-E, dashes included. I am a newer member to the design team. I have always been a crafty person but only made my first layout, about two years ago. I don't think I have a certain "style" of scrapping, BUT I do love my stamps.

John and I have been together about 4 years. We moved here from California in November 2005. We finally bought our first house the end of February, and after a short 3 month remodel we moved in the first week in June. I only have one baby Dalton and he will be sixteen this Sunday. (time has flown by) Dalton always seems to inspire me to scrapbook, he is always keeping things that I could use on a layout, receipts, ticket stubs, oh and the screw the removed from his broken leg.

After moving to Texas I got a job doing billing and collections for a small company, but decided a few months ago that was not for me, Now I have a in home day care, so far i am really enjoying it, but i am going to have to get a part time job to support my stamp addiction.

Here are some cards I made with the new Crafty Secret Tea & Coffee stamps. I used colored pencils and with a blending tool and mineral spirits I blended the colors. On the coffee cup ones I used Diamond glaze to give it that epoxy look. Also used was a gelly roll star dust pen and We R Memory Keepers paper. Oh and we cannot forget the Heidi Swapp bling bling crown!

I'm Sherri

I have only been involved in this kind of artform for about a year and a half. I have always loved crafts and artistic endeavors and have done many things that used color, balance, shape and similar skills. Like several others I looked forward to doing art kits, making Barbie furniture, and sitting and coloring with my crayons endlessly as a kid. Unlike many of the others on the team, I don't design or do art work for anyone else, and have never been on a team like this elsewhere. I am very excited about the team becoming more formalized and can't wait to see what is in the future for us.

When I first starting doing projects with scrapbook supplies I tended toward altered art sort of items. Doing layouts is the newest thing I have done. I like many styles of art, decor and of course scrapbook work. Carolyn tells people I am the "out of the box" girl. I enjoy using unusual items on my pieces and have quite a bit of vintage papers and pictures that I like to use as well. I don't think I have a particular style, each piece is driven by a photo or other thought in my head. I do enjoy mixing patterns and sometimes use unusual color combinations.


I will often try ideas that come into my head --usually very impulsively on a page. I also make happy accidents from time to time. After I had completed this very simple layout page of my son's car I decided to drive a toy truck through white paint and then drive it on the paper.


I enjoy doing all sizes of art/scrap work including 1 x 1 inch pieces(inchies), 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch ATCs, 4 x 4 inch pieces all the way up to 12 x 12 layouts. Each size has it's own challenges. I participate in several swaps with art groups and frequently do challenges from magazines and these groups. I also still alter boxes, tins, frames and about anything else I can figure out that glue, paper, paint or treatments will stick to. These are some of the ATCs I have made.


(clicking on the pictures will enlarge them)

In my non-scrap life, I am a Registered Nurse and work full time for a managed care company. I have just started telecommuting for this job, which is wonderful so far. I have a daughter, a son, a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter. All the main focus of my life. They are the best. They are also great subjects for layouts. I have lived in Texas since 1976, most of the time in Arlington, moving to this area in 2002. I try to keep a blog going here. Since moving out here, I have done quite a few things related to downtown Waxahachie, including window displays for a couple of stores. I work with Carolyn doing the windows for this store too. I look forward to working on things for the team and working with you.

Easy Yet Impressive...

In the store we have several different overlays. Transparencies is another name for them. The one we're showing here is an 8 x 10 size. We also have quite a wide selection of 12 x 12 ones. Many are made with cute designs or frames. These look like the front of a magazine.

They are wonderful use on a layout as the example Heidi made shows. In the layout, she shows how the 8 x 10 can be just one section of the overall layout. Very cute with family picture in it, or maybe just a child's picture.

Also fun would be to put a special picture behind it and frame it in an 8x10 mat or frame. There are "fronts" for money magazines, home decorating, travel, pets and parents. Think how fun it would be to give someone their picture looking like they were the cover model for the magazine.

Be sure to check these out the next time you are in the store! The new products ordered from this summer's CHA are starting to come in too. Might want to fit a trip to the store into your weekly (if not daily) plans for the next several weeks

Hi, I am Heidi

When didn’t I scrapbook would be the better answer than when did I start. I have always cherished photos and felt like they held a currency to the past. I do not come from a family of storytellers and I felt like photos have always been the link. I always loved examining furniture and room colors in pictures, and especially clothes and hairstyles. Everything that is old is truly new again! I stared Creative Memories style, as most did, right after my youngest was born. I have scrapped so many moments of her life, but felt I had to branch out to preserve it properly. Thank goodness for the market interest and no matter where I go or who I talk to EVERYONE has a story to tell! The two things I can not live without is ink and pattern paper, and I love to stand while I scrap (usually dancing around listening to my I-pod.

Here are some projects I did to decorate my daughter Porter's room, scrapbooking isn't just for the books!

Bulletin Board

Unfinished at Michaels
MM Black Paint
Doodling, White paint pen
Boa, Michaels

Canvas:

Canvas 6 x 6 by Canvas Concepts
Paints by MM
Paper, Roxie by Love Elsie
Embelies, Roxie by Love Elsie
Stamps, Roxie by Love Elsie
Chipboard letters, manufacturer in store, in square box
Fringe, boa from michaels
Stickles

Frames:

Roxie by Love Elsie
Frames 12 x 12 Provocraft
Paint bt MM Paint Black
"P" by MM individual large letters
Ribbon by Maya Roads

Hello, hello! I'm Anna Wight!

I'm so excited to be a new member of The Crafty Scrapper Design Team! I've lived in Texas for a year, and The Crafty Scrapper has been a wonderful haven for me since I moved to Texas. I'm a stamper at heart, but also have a great time making altered items such as journals and frames.

My style can change every day of the week! Some days my projects are whimsical and fun, and some days I do clean, uncluttered designs...and yet other days I'm all vintage! Regardless of the style, all of my projects are made from the heart and I pay very close attention to detail.

I have an art degree from an Oregon university and put my creative energy to work daily through rubber stamping, paper crafting, illustration, and photography. I'm proud to be an artist for Whipper Snapper Designs, and am truly honored to serve on several design teams for rubber stamp and paper crafting companies. Every day is a creative adventure!

A big thanks to the gals at The Crafty Scrapper for welcoming me to the design team! I look forward to all the fun! You can see more of my work (there's lots of it to see), and catch the occasional glimpse of my life on a small Texas farm at http://sweetmissdaisy.typepad.com

Hi ! I'm Susie

My name is Susie Cannon Moore and I am a brand new member of the design team. I started scrapbooking just like everyone else with decorative scissors, a circle template and a paper cutter that didn’t cut straight. Throw in a few die cuts, patterned papers and stickers – that was the genesis of my scrapbooks.

Ten years later, I have discovered my scrapbooking style, which is linear and clean. My pages reflect that. BUT, my passion for mini books and card making knows no bounds. I approach any non-page project with an eye for the shabby chic, eclectic or just plain “out there”. If I can sand it, I will. Throw in a flower and some ribbon…. I’m in heaven.

I work full time for CBS Radio in Dallas. Scrapbooking, creating projects and teaching scrapbook classes are fun sidelines for me. I have even been on national TV teaching 2 scrapbooking segments on HGTV’s Crafters Coast to Coast.

I am just now discovering the world of digital scrapbooking and have been doing some hybrid scrapbooking. My latest passion is learning Adobe Photoshop Elements. I love a new challenge almost as much as I love a new scrapbooking tool.

My husband Randall & I have 5 grown children, a host of in-law children and 2 sweet grandchildren. We have ordered more grandchildren, but none are presently on the way. We reside in Dallas, and will go on a cruise at the drop of an invitation! Randall is my biggest scrapbook supporter.

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We own a scrapbooking retreat in Maypearl, TX. God has richly blessed this project at every turn. Stolen Moments Inn is my passion and my husband's hobby (if you call maintenance a hobby). You can look at our website here. We happily house 6-12 ladies each weekend. LOTS of scrapbooking gets done and I suspect lots of laughter and fun as well.

My motto? “A day without scrapbooking? Not if I can help it.” So, here are a couple of my newest and/or favorite projects. The first is a quick and easy baby book I put together in one evening. I used Tres Jolies papers, and an Art Blanche calendar set for the covers and a few embellishments I had on hand. The second is a recipe clipboard that I did for a charity auction, and I just love how it turned out. My favorite part is the word "KISS" that I cut using my Wishblade.

I can't wait to meet you and hope we will have many happy days of scrapbooking together.

Card Swap

Over on the forum, there has been discussion about something to do as a swap. Swaps are always good to promote new ideas, challenge the person participating and just plain fun for the participants. The decision was made that for July, a card swap would be done. There wasn't a particular layout design to copy, only that the cards be 4.5 x 5 inches in size, using at least one stamp on the front of the card and usable as a Thank You card for someone. They didn't even have to have envelopes--that's just how easy it was. They have to be somewhat easy so that we can fit them in our busy lives.

Well, several people had to drop out at the last minute, which is understandable, but we still had five participants. There will be another one soon. Take a minute to provide some ideas on the forum for swaps or things you would like to do. In the meantime, thought we'd share what you missed out on getting in the last swap.

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!

Hi. My Name Is Carolyn.

Well I guess I get to go first, I will start with a little personal history and why I decided to open a store.

I am married to a wonderful husband, Floyd of 15 years. We owned a antique and gift shop for 7 years. After 10 years of trying to conceive, our miracle child Denton was finally here. I decided to close the business and stay home, that's when I discovered scrapbooking. I wanted to record every moment of Denton's life, including his cord when it fell off. Me and my friends would get together on Friday nights and scrapbook on my dinning room table. Our favorite tool at the time was Fiskar's templates and foam flowers. And those foam flowers are back in style. After realizing Denton would be starting school soon, I started thinking about things to do. Our local scrapbook store was closing and after MANY MANY days and nights of prayer I started my journey as the owner of The Crafty Scrapper. And a journey it has been. We have gone from 2200 sq. ft of store and 1 croproom to 4500 sq. ft, 2 croprooms, a coffee lounge area, online store, 3 employees, 2 teachers and 8 awesome designers. I am very blessed to have this team of girls and wonderful customers that just make my day when then come in. We try really hard to stay up on the industry, help new scrapbookers and challenge the expert scrapbooker.

OK enough of all the info, here are some recent projects I have worked on. Everyone knows I don't get to scrapbook a lot, but I love making things for people. Our dear friend Marie took this picture and I love how she captured that day, it is of my son and her daughter Madenline. It is a canvas from canvas concepts 12x12, Daisy D's paper and rubon, Imaginisce gems, Maya Roads Chipboard and I sewed the photo on the paper.


This next one isn't actually new, its 2 years old. It is one of my favorite things I have done and sits in my kitchen, and yes that is a muffin tin. I used AMM twill, Basic Grey paper and photos from our favorite place to go in the fall, Country Critters!




Tag your it Annette....your turn!

Design Team Blog: Under Construction

The design team has their own blog. Feel free to check it out. It is still being built, but feel free to leave comments on it, or here! (it is also linked on the left)
Thanks.

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!

Did someone say"Jotters"?

New from Luxe Design:
Jotters are innovative black and white die-cuts that can be inked, painted, colored and layered - the possibilities are endless! Each 12 x 12 sheet of 65 lb white cardstock has been printed and die cut to create 10 pop-out journaling pieces, ready to use or alter to match any of your paper projects. They sell for $1.49 each. Here are just a few, there are 12 different styles.







Here are a few of their new rubons, did someone say "smells like popcorn goes on like butter"!




Also two new paper collections
PASHMINA



POLO SHIRT


All these new items from Luxe Design can be found on our online store and at the Waxahachie store.

Doodle Fever..........

It seems as though this year everyone has been doodle crazy, from doodling our craft bags, page layouts and even on our photos. If you have not gotten one of Design Originals "Oodles of Doodles" book, it is HOT. It features the new doodle templates from Crafter's Workshop. The store just received all the new templates and the online store will have them loaded later today, here is a sneak peek of them. We also have the book in stock.

Husbands that know how to can........

I just had to share this, my husband is so proud of himself!
He received a bag of figs from a friend, and of course told me we needed to can them. I just looked at him and said "go for it"! Well he did, after a quick call to his grandmother, he started his cooking, ran to HEB for canning supplies and off he went. As I write this he is in the kitchen admiring his accomplishment, he is very proud of himself. Got to love a man that can cook.