The Scrapbook Shoppe

Project12 - #7

2011-07-01T12:26:00.010-04:00

The month of June just flew past and now it's July 1st already!
Soooooooo..........it's time for the next sketch in our Project12 series.
Ready?This time, we chose something with a big 'ole circle in the design.
After all, most of our stuff is usually squared off cuz that's just the easiest thing to do.

So get out your circle cutters (or in my case, a big old bowl) and get to work!
Here's the sketch design for you to build off of:

I loved every single element on this one and the way it laid out, so I didn't change a thing.
Here's my take on it: (I used photos from one of my son's photoshoots ~ went perfectly with the paper I wanted to use! Make sure you check out his Flickr page HERE!)

I added a folded, Stickled flower up in the corner with a big button.

And, of course I glazed my title again....love, love LOVE my Glossy Accents!

Now, take this fun sketch and run with it!
Show us what YOU can do!

And if you really like our version, you might like to join us for our Power Pages make-n-take at The Shoppe on July 16th....this is one of the pages you'll be creating!

Shoppe Hop Winner!

2011-06-24T15:29:00.005-04:00

Hope everyone enjoyed our first blog hop.

And we hope you all found a little something inspirational along the way to use in your future creative adventures!

So.....as promised.....we're going to give away a little sumthin'-sumthin' to one
lucky person who hopped & commented.

Here's our winner!
(Samantha picked from the basket, so you can blame her if you didn't win! ha!)

We have a Reminisce good package for you to dive into....
send me your physical addy and it'll be on the way!
thescrapbook(at)bellsouth(dot)com

Thanks everyone ... join us next time!

The Very First Shoppe Hop!

2011-06-14T15:37:00.013-04:00

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to The Scrapbook Shoppe's very first Blog Hop!
The girls are all excited to participate in this event so we aren't gonna waste any time .... let's start showing you all the wonderful creations they came up with!

Let me start off by giving Sandy all the credit for getting this up & running. Thanks Sandy for kicking us in the butt on this!

We were all given the same papers to use: bright, fun, happy ones from Reminicse (we LOVE that company!) and asked to create a layout, a card, and an altered project.

This is what I made for my entries . . .

a layout featuring everyone's first kind of bike!

a card with some of the leftovers... mine's kind of a gatefold with a top-opening flap

and 2 altered items from the leftover scraps and some matching stickers....

a cute Pencil Cup...make a personalized one for your child's teacher this year!

and a sweet door hanger with a special treat tucked inside . . .

Judy has not yet jumped into the blogging world, so you can stop by The Shoppe to check out her creations....they're here now!

If you would like to re-create any of the projects you see along the way (or have an idea for one of your own!), then pay us a visit and we'll hook ya up!

Your next stop will be over at Claire's blog to see what she has come up with for this challenge.
Click HERE to to jump on over.

Leave a comment at each stop on the hop and you'll be entered for a give-away!
Thanks for visiting!

Buttons, Buttons....I Love Buttons!

2011-06-03T14:48:00.005-04:00

Hey Guys!

I've been using buttons on just about everything I create lately, so I thought I would share my latest project.

Pretty simple....something anyone could put together.
It would make a nice project for the kids during the summer to keep them busy for an afternoon!

I started with an inexpensive wooden letter and painted it white. . . .

Then I got out my white buttons and a bottle of Sparkle Mod Podge and got to work.

and this is what is going to be hanging on my wall soon with the rest of my Letter *S* collection...

Have a wonderful weekend!

Project 12 - Month #6

2011-05-31T11:48:00.006-04:00

Hi Everyone!

Hope you all had a great Memorial Day Weekend and got to spend it with the ones you love!

Did you take lots of pictures? If you did, then maybe this month's sketch challenge will come in really handy!

I wanted to feature another sketch that had room for lots of photos without being too busy.
So this is the one I chose....( picture it centered on a 12x12 background)
Pretty simple. Not too difficult. Or time consuming. Not alot of *junk* to distract from the photos.

Here's my version....

I chose to use just 1 main photo as my focal point.
Then I just graduated down the other companion pictures in size, using black & whites to cap off the edges.

I really do not like my titles at the bottoms of my layouts, so I just flipped the sketch upside down....pretty simple remedy.

So now.....get to work and show us what YOU come up with!

S.O.S!

2011-05-26T12:26:00.005-04:00

S.O.S = Save Our Store!
Have you read your latest newsletter that we sent out on Tuesday?

The Shoppe is up for sale.

We had put it out last summer when we completed our business plan of 5 years and our lease was coming to an end. We had a few inquiries and a very interested party then. But our landlord needed a definite answer sooner than the sale could take place.

He offered us a super-fantastic lease in the suite next door and we decided to sign for another year.

Well, that year is coming to an end soon. We are not going to re-sign and keep going. We have other "avenues" that we are persuing, along with my spending more much-needed time at home with my family.

So the store's assets and the inventory is for sale to be snatched up by someone else who would like to keep it going here in Columbus. Or you may want to move somewhere else.

It would be a WONDERFUL opportunity for a retiree or a group of friends who could share the purchase & operating hours, thus keeping the costs down tremendously!

If you have dreamed of owning your own business like this, now would be the PERFECT opportunity! We are putting it out at a rediculously low price....starting from the ground up (like we did) would cost you 8 or 9 times what we are selling for!

We hope with all our heart that someone will step up and keep The Shoppe going so that Columbus does not lose this independent store....too many others have closed across the country lately and all the communities are left with are the chain stores. And we all know how helpful they are!

So talk to your husband, your kids, your friends and give us a call if you would be interested in keeping this scrapping store alive!

Another Sketch For You. . .

2011-05-03T08:10:00.017-04:00

Hey Guys!

What an exhausting weekend!

We hosted our National Scrapbook Day activities a week early this year.
My own *Princess Cait* is getting married next weekend -won't she be beautiful? (that's NOT her real dress - she'd kill me if it was posted already!)

Anyway....What a weekend we had!

We had the opportunity to host classes sponsored by Fancy Pants, KI Memories, & The Robin's Nest taught by their designers! They even wore tiaras to our Princess Crop.

That's Charity from Fancy Pants & Gretchen from KI Memories with me (I was a Rock Princess). Click on their names to visit their blogs!

Make sure you check out our FaceBook page for pix ~ our croppers were all such good sports! We had a blast!

So now it's on to #5 in our own Project12....how have you been doing so far? Keeping up?

For this month's sketch, I chose to use one that featured room for a bunch of photos.

And to be able to get them all on without cropping away alot of the image, I printed them out in wallet size (that's a new thing for me - doing it more & more!) I also stretched the sketch to make it a 12x12.

Once again, I altered the chipboard letters ~ they weren't the right color.
So I painted them brown .....and hated it.

"Oh great!" I said to myself. "Now how am I gonna fix THAT?!"

Well, I pulled out my metallic creme rubons that I have had since the beginning of time and rubbed on some blues & greens over the paint. Now I am in love with those again!

And in case you're wondering what this crazy layout is all about, here is what I wrote on my journaling block:

**Oh Alex - where DO you get your photo ideas from?
I don't even ask anymore. I just say "OK" and away we go....
This time we climbed onto the roof of the store and jumped our hearts out!**

Crazy, loveable boy . . .
check him out here.

Have fun with this next sketch in our year-long series!
Post your own finished layout on our FaceBook page and label it as your Project12!
We wanna see what you did!

Mid Month Craft

2011-04-18T17:46:00.007-04:00

Hey Everyone!

I’m back again with another quick & easy money saving idea…..this time for party entertaining and it won’t cost you a dime!

If you are a paper-crafter, then no doubt you have a box full of left-over scraps that you just can’t bear to throw out.

So put them to good use at your next summer-time get together!

Go through your stash and pick out the

brightest, happiest patterns and cut them into flower shapes.

You can cut these free-hand or use a die-cutting machine.

Next cut a simple circle in a matching solid

color & adhere to the flower.

Punch a hole in the center & insert a drinking straw to brighten up any

summer-time picnic or pool party!

Or put a twist on it and try this sweet idea for your

Easter Egg Hunting Celebration this year . . .

too cute . . .don’t ‘cha think?

#4 in Our Sketch Challenge

2011-04-01T10:35:00.016-04:00

Hi Guys!

March seems to have come in & flown right back out!
A new month means a new sketch challenge in our own Project12 series!

Here's your new sketch to work with:

And here is the page I created following that sketch:

For my border strip, I chose to do a little bit of paper pleating....LOVE that look!

I used 2 different Chipboard Alpha styles in my lettering, smudging them with some Stickles (love those too!)

Since I spread my title out on the top AND bottom (if you know me, you know I'm not much of a journaler ~ shame on me!), I slinked my butterfly & pearls embellishment from corner to corner to keep your eyes moving across the page. . .

And remember there's no rule that says you HAVE to use the same size photos . . . try mixing the sizes.
Another tip that I've been doing lately: Instead of cropping your photos, print them out in wallet size instead so you don't lose any of your image.

This photo might look a little altered or distressed, but it's not. My son, Alex, is HUGE into photography (go check out his awesome work on Flickr here) and is always looking for interesting situations. He actually took this through a window screen to get that canvas effect.

So that's your challenge for this month. Have fun & show me what you can do with this one by posting your finished layout on The Shoppe's FaceBook Page here.

Remember to mention that it's your April Project12 and the next time you come shopping, we'll give you a Project12 Discount!

It's Time for Another One!

2011-03-01T12:07:00.011-05:00

Hello Everyone!

Know what today is?
It's March 1st.

Know what that means?
It's National Craft Month!

Try making it a priority this month to catch up on all the crafting, scrapbooking, and card-making that you love doing.

If you don't set aside and dedicate some time, you will never get done.
Or even started!

Sooooooo...........
Are you ready for this month's next challenge?
We are!!!!!

It's #3 in our own Project12 assignment!

This sketch is a good one if you need to get a few pictures onto one page or if you have shot a sequence of photos.

Here is my page:

Instead of cropping away most of your photos, print them out in wallet size instead......you won't lose anything!

And to highlight your favorite one, keep it regular size....
or give it a decorative frame ~ it'll stand out the most!

I also added some extra embellishment at the top ~ it was a little too plain for me.
The patterned word paper from Teresa Collins was perfect for this page!

Have fun creating your page with this sketch and don't forget to post it on The Shoppe's FaceBook page!

Tag it as your March Project12 and the next time you stop by, we'll give you a P12 discount!

Let's see what you do with this one!

Project 12 - Month #2

2011-01-31T17:05:00.007-05:00

Wow!
Can you believe how fast this first month of the new year has flown by?

I can't believe February is already starting.
And this month will go even quicker cuz we're missing a few days!

So let's get you guys started out on Month #2 for our Project12.
(did you get last month's finished?)

This month's sketch features room for 2 photos, cuz let's face it: sometimes that's all we have!

And if you'll notice, this sketch was designed for an 8.5x11 page layout.
That doesn't mean you can't use it for your 12x12 pages!
Just extend things a bit, like I did!

And once again, I flipped the sketch upside down - worked better for me that way.

I also love, love, LOVE to use Paper Glaze & Glossy Accents on things I want to feature - it makes them stand out so much more!

Anyway, challenge yourself to get this page done this month . . . it's NOT that hard!

And when you do, post it to our Facebook Page.
Then when you come in, remember to ask for your special Project12 Discount!

Let's see what wonderful creations you can come up with!

Sweet Treats

2011-01-27T16:02:00.014-05:00

I'm back today with another way to use all of your paper scraps for
something other than scrapping.

Since Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, it's time to think about giving little momentos to those you love. So here is a quick & easy project...

Wouldn't you love to see the smile and hear a squeal when your kids open their doors on Valentine's morning to find one of these hanging there??

We tucked a cookie into ours but you can fill them with whatever sweet goodie you'd like.

Super simple to make ~ AND you can get 2 holders out 1 sheet of 12x12 paper!

First trace and cut out your desired paper ~ double sided works best since
you'll be folding the backside up.

We used a piece from Kaiser Crafts **Love Notes** collection for this one
and left the decorative border on the top

Score and fold on the lines to create the pocket. Secure with Glue Dots or
Tacky Glue ~ these will hold better and longer than a tape runner!

Use a large circle punch at the top for the hanger part.

And then embellish to your hearts desire!

And don't think these are just for Valentine's Day...they're for ANYTIME! and ANYONE!

A teacher would love to walk to her classroom and find one of these on her door.
Or surprise your best friend and hang one on her car's antenna for when she leaves for work!

We made this one for a little guys birthday. . . .

The sky is the limit on these treat holders so use your imagination and your scraps!

By the way....we have the template at The Shoppe.
So if you'd like to make some, stop on by!

Have fun!

A Guy's Card

2011-01-14T10:09:00.009-05:00

Back again!

Thought I'd share an easy card I made recently for my daughter's boyfriend.

Guy cards are already a little more challenging cuz you can't add all ribbon, glitter, bling, and flowers that we love to use. And a teen guy is even harder!

So here's what I started with - polkadot paper from Reminisce's Making the Grade line:

and a pocket cut from an old, ratty pair of torn-up jeans:

I punched a circle,

glued that inside a metal-rimmed tag, and stamped on it:

I attached that tag to the pocket with a safety pin and glued the pocket to the front of the card:

This is the message that I chose for the inside of the card:

So after Jarod read that, he had a big smile on his face and went back to check for this! (I had it tucked out of sight when he first opened it!)

Hope you guys enjoyed this little quick -n- easy card and it gave you a little bit of inspiration for those hard-to-create-for people!

It's a New Year

2011-01-03T11:29:00.007-05:00

and along with each January 1st, many people choose to make "New Year's Resolutions".

Now, while we all have good intentions of following through with these, more often than not, our good ideas last all of about a couple weeks at best.

Here at The Shoppe, I am going to try my very, very best to keep up with this blog on a regular basis. More ideas, more tips & tricks, more shared sketches, more challenges....more of anything I can think of!

So to kick off 2011, we are going to challenge you to make a scrappin' resolution for this year.
And really, this shouldn't be at all difficult for ANY of you to keep up with!

We're calling this resolution **Project 12**
And just as the name hints at, we would like you to make a promise to yourself to complete
1 layout every month for this year. 12 layouts in 12 months. That's not much to ask. And NO CHEATING by doing 3 or 4 at a time and saving them for the coming months!

The purpose of Project 12 is to keep you scrapping on a regular basis.

So that will be YOUR commitment.

Ours will be to supply you with a new sketch every month to jump-start your creativity. Cuz let's face it ~ it can be hard to always come up with a new idea that's totally different from something we've done in the past.

Use our sketch if you'd like or choose one of your own....just make sure you complete 1 layout.
When you do, then please share it (and the sketch you used!) on our FaceBook page ~ we wanna see too!

As an added incentive, if you do post and share(make sure you put Project 12 in your status!), we'll give you a
Project 12 Discount on your next purchase at The Shoppe!

So here is your first prompt for 2011 ~

and the layout I created.
Please note: I flipped this sketch upside down...worked better for me that way!

Have fun with this and look at it as a personal challenge, not a chore.
You'll be glad you did it!

For the Love of Vintage

2010-09-29T12:04:00.010-04:00

Vintage:
A year or period of origin.
Old or outmoded.

I am completely in love with anything and everything vintage. Thrift stores and antiques shops are my fave way of spending a free day.

If I had it my way, the entire Shoppe would be shabby chic-y, old world, black & white, and full of buttons and lacey goodness. Like an old fashioned ice cream parlor or boutique.

Why do you think I chose to spell the store's name with an extra p&e on it?

Well, lately I've become a collector of old world postcards & images. I adore them!

So today, I'm going to share a couple layouts I've created with the Vintage Chip Cards I've been playing with that we have available at The Shoppe.

The edges of these cuties are already inked & distressed.

We've even given them a hint of sparkle & shine!

Just add them to a page or a card and you've got an instant embellishment with a ton of charm!

And just cuz it's vintage doesn't mean it has to be drab & dreary . . . use happy colors!

I think this one is my favorite . . . till I make another one!

Hope this post gives you another new idea to try for your albums & cards!

I Can See Clearly

2010-06-02T13:35:00.016-04:00

Hey Guys!

I'm back again with another something that you may not have tried yet.
Clear Sheets!

Clear, acrylic albums and embellishments are still quite popular but many people are afraid of them.
Why not stop by The Shoppe and pick up a sheet or two to play with and you'll see just how amazing your projects can become with that little hint of transparency!

We have lots of pix here of samples for you to view . . . a Disney Album, a clear card, tags, and lettering. If you can think it, you can create it with these clear sheets!

We're starting you off with clear covers that we created using the lighter-weight of plastic which we cut on our Cricut machine and then embossed in a Cuttlebug folder.
After that we lightly sanded the embossing and inked the edge with Stayz-On Ink.

You'll need to use the deepblade on #6, set your multi-cut button to 2x, pressure on high, and speed on low.

Next are the letters, also cut on the Cricut but then we layered them with coats of Crackle Accents (that's from the last post!)

You can also run these sheets through your AccuCut, Sizzix and Cuttlebug machines. We used the heavier sheets for these tags & die-cuts, also inked with Stayz-On.

Then lastly, here is a clear card made with the heavier weight sheets. As you can see, the plastic is also score-able for folding cards, as well as thin enough to cut with your patterned scissors.

If you are lucky enough to be attending Heidi's class on June 26th, she'll also have an example along of an album she created using clear tags!

So don't forget to stop by The Shoppe to grab a couple of these to play with.
Then come back and show us what YOU'VE created!

Watery Good Stuff

2010-05-28T10:17:00.014-04:00

First, I gotta apologize for so seriously ignoring this blog. Sorry.

But today I'm back and ready to share a product (or two) that you might not be familiar with.

They are: Paper Glaze, Crackle Accents, and Glossy Accents.

These all pretty much cause the same effect no matter which one you choose.
Paper Glaze & Glossy Accents will give you a clear thick finish.

While the Crackle Accents does just that . . . it crackles when it dries.

There's no special instructions to use them ~ just squeeze it where you want the highlights!

I love using them on anything water themed because the finish leaves your projects looking wet and shiny . . . just like it's fresh out of the water!

That makes them the perfect choice for all of your beach and pool pages. And don't forget about aquarium, bathtime, and blowing bubbles!

If you are registered for Heidi Kelley's Beach Pages Class here at The Shoppe in June, you might want to stop by & grab a bottle BEFORE class day. She'll be showing you how to re-create her gorgeous projects with them!

Here's another peek at something Heidi will being showing you in class!

So give one of these great products a try .. . I promise you'll love what you create!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Another Celeb Design Class!

2010-05-15T13:25:00.005-04:00

Yep . . . we're on a roll!
We've got another company designer lined up to teach here for us!

Next month we have the honor of hosting Couture Cardstock design team member Heidi Kelley!

She'll be here teaching you how to create some gorgeous beach-y elements for the layout & card you'll be making, while using all kinds of goodies!
Everything from ink & Stickles to micro beads, sand, & Glimmer Mist!

Here's a peek at what she's designed for us:

Since she works with Couture, she gets to choose from just about any other paper company she'd like. So for The Shoppe's class, she's going to incorporate the beautiful new "Seaside Retreat" designs from Webster's Pages!

Class seating is limited & is already 1/2 filled!

Go check out Heidi's blog & her gallery and I'm certain you'll fall in love with her stuff just like we have!

2010-03-31T10:34:00.009-04:00

Oh it's been W*A*Y too long since I've been here!
The Holidays kept me jumping and then it was the dreaded tax time stuff . . . YUK!

And of course the Shoppe's new FaceBook Page is such an addiction . . . I gotta stay away from there!
Maybe . . .

Anyways, today I'm happy & really excited to post about an upcoming class on our calendar in May!

We have the honor of hosting a Celebrity Make~N~Take Class with
Stephanie Howell!
YAY!
(Click on her name or pix to go to her blog)

If you guys aren't familiar with her name yet (and if you're true scrappers, then you'll have seen her & her work all over the scrapbooking world!), she is on the design teams for Jenni Bowlin, Lilybee Designs, and Studio Calico.

She's going to be here on May 22nd and if you'll be in her class, get ready to use some of the just released product from Lilybee's "Hello Sunshine" collection!

We just got our order in from them ~ the entire line! ~ and it's "OH-So-Cute! Bright, happy, and fun . . . just in time for the Spring & Summer photos you will all be taking!

So if you're in the Columbus/Atlanta area and would like to join her, please call The Shoppe to reserve your seat . . .May 22nd 1p - 3p . . . .706*321*0202

Christmas Card Alternatives

2009-12-09T13:02:00.011-05:00

We're back again with another Holiday idea for you to try . . .

We know that many, many of you enjoy creating & sending your own cards for the Christmas season.

This year, why not put a different spin on those hand-crafted greetings!
Send out "Holiday Postcards" instead!

Now these will be a little bit more time consuming but they are Oh-So-Cute!
Whoever receives these will surely remember them for years to come . . .and what a surprise to find in the mailbox!

We made ours a 5x7 size, but any standard letter size will work . . . just remember to add a little extra postage!

You'll need just a few basic ingredients for these:
Chipboard
Assorted Holiday Papers
Ink Pad
Stickers, Rub~ons, Stamps, Photos, etc.
Mod Podge
Cut your chipboard to your desired size and adhere (with ModPodge) your chosen papers.

Remember to ink the edges to cover the raw chipboard & give it a bit of a distressed look.

After that, the sky's the limit!
embellish with more paper, stickers, photos . . . . whatever you'd like.

Stamp or print out your sentiment, sign your card and address it.

Your last step will be to give it another all-over coat of ModPodge to seal all of the edges to keep them from coming up.

Super simple and really cute . . . . Have fun with this one!

Christmas Wraps

2009-11-30T17:20:00.008-05:00

Hello Everyone!

We're finally back with another idea (altho' not original) for you for your handmade gift-giving this season.

Many of us love to bake & give holiday treats to those we love.
So instead of just handing them a bag of goodies, why not dress it up a little?

Today we're sharing our ideas on presenting those home-made breads we love to make.

These are super simple & quick to put together.
So if you own a sewing machine & can sew a straight line, you're in luck!

To begin all you need are a couple strips of co-ordinating papers.
We cut ours into a 3x12 inch strip and two 1inch strips.

Next we zig-zag stitched the 2 strips on each side of the wider piece . . .

After that, use your imagination!
For this pink one, we used a decorative border punch to finish off the sides before wrapping it around our Banana Bread.

Or try using a scallopped scissors . . .

And don't forget to add a cute tag and some frilly ribbons & bows!!

We hope this post inspires you to create some beautiful wraps of your own this year!

Watch this place for another Christmas idea soon!

Check Us Out!

2009-11-16T13:01:00.006-05:00

OK . . .we did it!

The Shoppe is now on FaceBook!

So make sure you visit us & become a fan for the most up-to-the-minute news!

Now you can get updates immediately instead of waiting for a newsletter!

Click on the box up in the corner to join us!

Another Halloween Treat

2009-10-27T15:20:00.005-04:00

Here's another quick & super simple cute, cute Halloween treat idea!

And there are only a couple ingredients that you'll need . . . . here's the 1st one:

A simple piece of styrofoam . . .

and this is the other thing that I used . . . altho' not neccessary, but it makes it easy!

And here is your first peek at what I ended up with:

Here's the big picture . . . really cute & takes less than 10 minutes (plus glue-drying time)

Now keep in mind that you'll need to round off the corners of your styro piece & glue a grey piece of cardstock to the front. The ghostie goes on the back side.
And it's alot cuter when you add a little pen doodling and some googly eyes.

Then just poke in your favorite lollies and your finished!

Hope you enjoy todays little treat project!

Do You Want Fries With That?

2009-10-02T20:25:00.011-04:00

OK, Guys . . . .Here's the next treat project idea we've got for you!

And they're Oh-so-Cute . . . .

So here's a hint:

We've taken out the fries, changed the color, and added candy to ours!

These are cutest when made with double-sided papers (we used one from Fancy Pant's Trick or Treat line). . . . and we wrapped them with ribbon to add a little more ooh-la-la to them.

We've got a template for these here at The Shoppe if you'd like a copy for your own party favours. Just stop by!

And while you're here, grab a few extra sheets to make yourself some of these treat bags . . . . we've got the die for this one . . . it'll take you just 2 seconds to roll thru the machine!

And to send you off for now, here's another cutie-patootie we found . . .

He doesn't involve any paper ~ just some chenille stems (that's a fancy-schmancy word for good ole' pipe cleaners )

Hope this post gives you guys lots of creative inspiration for some special treats for your classroom parties or get-togethers you have planned for this Halloween season!

TaTa until next time . . . .

Halloween Goodies

2009-09-29T12:28:00.012-04:00

It's that time of year when we begin to start collecting candies and goodies for our children's classroom parties and for the trick or treaters that show up on Halloween.

And we can take the easy way out by just filling some generic treat bags

~OR~

we can take the CUTE way out and make those treats special!

Today we're going to show you how to make some really cute "Sour Cream Containers" using your leftover scraps of papers, stickers, ribbon . . . .whatever you have on hand.

To begin, cut a scrap of paper into a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" strip.

Using a good, strong adhesive, run a strip down 1 long side and 1 short side of the back of your paper.

Next, roll the paper into a long tube shape and secure . . .

Then pinch the short end shut so that it's flat . . .

Put the flattened end into a paper crimper and crimp about an inch and a half up.

Then fill the paper tube with your fave treat . . . we like Peanut M&M's!

Turn the tube sideways, add more adhesive, pinch the other end closed, and run through the paper crimper again . . .

All that's left is to add a matching ribbon and a tag!

Here's a few more ways to dress up your sweets with leftover scraps . . . .

And don't forget to wrap up those plain candy bars!

We've got a few more ideas up our sleeves for decorating this season, so check back soon!

Yard Sale Info

2009-09-15T09:42:00.006-04:00

OK . . .the votes are in and a Fall Scrapbook Yard Sale is now on the schedule!

Make sure to mark Saturday, October 10th on your calendar for this wildly, popular event.
This will be our 6th yard sale here at The Shoppe and I'm sure those who come for the shopping will, once again, find a TON of amazing scrapping goodness!

Or if it's time to clean out your stash, you may register for a seller's number. You'll earn 100% of of anything you sell in store credit, giving you lots of play money for the new stuff that's always coming through the doors!

Make sure you get here early on sale day . . . the lines start forming around 7am ~ yes, 2 hours early!

This is what the sidewalk looks like before the doors are unlocked . . .

And then there's a mighty stampede to the cropping area where eager scrappers frantically grab their fabulous finds . . . .
Just to drop a hint of what to expect on the tables: I know there will be 1 or 2 Cricut machines for sale, along with Sizzix, Creative Memories items, and much, much more yummy scrap stuff!

Now remember . . . we WILL NOT be hosting another sale like this again until May or June of next year, so make sure to attend this one, either as a seller or a buyer!

If you would like more info on selling your stuff, please call or email The Shoppe:
706*321*0202
thescrapbook@bellsouth.net

REMEMBER: Your trash is someone else's treasure!

2009-08-20T09:19:00.004-04:00

Yard Sale?

2009-08-19T10:52:00.008-04:00

Yes, I'm shamefully crawling back.
No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth. . . .just been super busy with 3 custom album projects and the Disney Class Series I started.

Boy! I didn't know there was such an over-whelming need for Disney designs! The classes have been selling out almost instantly and 6 people have reserved seats for ALL of them!

I think we'll be doing another series like this again . . . and soon!

Anyhow . . . Lately we've been having alot of customers asking when the next Scrapbooking Yard Sale is going to be.
We've been hosting them in February, but only once a year.

With so many requests tho', we're thinking of throwing another bash in October for Fall.

Please go to the poll ( at the top right ) and vote . . . It'll really help us determine whether or not we should wait till the winter months.

Thanks Guys
See ya all soon!

Public Television

2009-07-07T20:57:00.006-04:00

Hey Everyone!

Just a quickie this time!

Go check Shelley's blog & see what she's up to!
Hint . . . a PBS show!

Shelley's Blog

Make Your Own . . . .

2009-07-03T10:20:00.010-04:00

We all love the look that epoxy stickers give to our layouts & cards, but using them all the time can get expensive.

So today's Shoppe tip might help get you the same great effect while saving you some $ . . .

We'll show you how to make your own!

Here is your secret weapon . . . . It's called "Aleene's Paper Glaze"

You can use this on ready-to-go flat printed stickers to give them some depth & dimension or try it like we did with punched paper pieces to perfectly match your layout.

Just squeeze it out onto your chosen item, then let it dry & harden . . .

(drying time depends on how thick you coat your pieces)

On this "Cute as a Button" page, we coated simple circles and then punched holes thru it to resemble matching buttons . . . .

This product is also WONDERFUL to use on beach & pool party themes or on bathtime pages . . . It leaves a "wet" look on water splashes & bubbles!

Or you can use it to just highlight certain features here & there, like we did on this wedding layout . . .

So grab yourself a bottle of this handy-dandy stuff and make your own expensive-looking embellies!

Soon you'll be adding a touch of glaze to glimmer up whatever you're working on . . . .

Disney Days

2009-06-26T10:33:00.010-04:00

Do any of you recognize the guy in this photo?

**HINT** He's the one responsible for "The Happiest Place on Earth!"

Yep . . . Mr. Walt Disney, himself!

And we know that many, many of you visit his magical amusement park each year, thus taking a gazillion photos of this, that, the other thing and this & that again!

So to help you get those photos scrapped, here at The Shoppe, we're going to start up a "Disney Make-n-Take" series of pages!

These make-n-takes are the perfect way to get your albums finished ~ we do all the thinking & designing for you! All you do is add your pictures!

Here is the 1st set we'll help you create . . . . Pages for the Main Mouse himself . . .

(We're also gonna include a Title Page in this class for you to start your album with!)

Class date is Saturday, July 11th at 1pm

Here is a peeky at one of the design elements on this page . . .

This class has only 4 more remaining seats open so if you're at all interested, PLEASE call to reserve your seat ASAP!

Next up in the series will be pages for Mrs. Mouse (they are married, aren't they?)

And a couple teasers of the elements . . .

Minnie's Make-n-Take date is on the calendar for Saturday, August 1st at 1pm.

Reservations are already being accepted for her too!

Stay tuned for more of your Disney favorites coming soon!

Until then, remember . . . .

Stumped on Your Story?

2009-06-18T16:54:00.014-04:00

I think that maybe at one time or another, all of us have had trouble coming up with some clever or creative journaling to go with our photos.

For me, it's not so much that I get stuck ~ it's more like I don't much like doing the journaling thing. (I know . . . that's pretty bad)

Well, today we're going to suggest a simple, little solution to some of those times when you just don't know what to write about.

We'd like you to all start thinking of some of your favorite songs . . . .
You know ~ maybe a verse or a chorus you always catch yourself humming to or singing along.

One that makes you smile & laugh cuz it's so true in your life ( I can think of a ton of Brad Paisley songs right now!)
Or one that gets you all teary-eyed & makes you boo-hoo every time it comes on the radio. (I'm good at that, too . . . not too smart when you're driving down the road tho')

So here we go . . . .
Here's a couple layouts that I used song lyrics on instead of traditional journaling:

This one is "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None The Richer.

I printed it out on vellum so it would appear soft and the background paper would still show thru.

Next is one of my most favorite set of pages ever!

It's from Toby Keith's "I Wanna Be A Cowboy"

This was my 1st attempt at stamping . . . . ever!

So each & every letter was stamped one at a time . . . . . THAT took me awhile, but it was SOOOOO worth it!

And I couldn't resist showing you all a pix of my little cowboy.

This is on our farm in Kentucky . . . He was 4 yrs old & had his very own horse, Dakota.

So now, to send you all off trying to think of your fave songs, we'll give you a couple links to help you along.

If you're like me, I think I know the words, but usually end up WAAAAAY off the path! Or I make up my own words & my kids think I'm such a dork!

(Gosh ~ I shouldn't be telling anyone this stuff . . . you might hear me at The Shoppe one day!)

Well, if that sounds familiar to you, then these places will help you out tremendously with that!

http://www.songlyrics.com/

http://www.sing365.com/

http://www.lyrics.com/

http://www.singlyrics.com/

http://www.leoslyrics.com/

Make this type of layout your personal challenge this week & let's see what you can accomplish!

Let us know how it works out for you!

2009-06-17T11:44:00.004-04:00

While the GFC (that’s the global finacial crisis!) is still causing doom and gloom all over the world, we, here at The Scrapbook Shoppe, are asking everyone to ‘Keep calm and scrap on’

We know that, thanks to the ease of digital cameras, everyone will continue to keep snapping photos of their favorite people, places, & things.

So why would you stop scrapping them?

Some people say “Oh, it’s so expensive . . . I can't afford that.” But really, is it? . . . think about it.

A sheet of pretty paper costs about 79cents. We could all probably find that in the couch cushions or under the car seat!

You can create some very beautiful pages for $2 or $3 . . . . That’s less than the cost of a fast-food meal or a trip to StarBucks.

Try skipping a trip or two each week to those places (are they REALLY neccessary?) & use that money for your scrapbooks instead. Future generations (not to mention your waistlines!) will thank you!

And by scrapbooking, you will feel a sense of calm-ness during this trying time . . . scrapping is our therapy, our little get-away from our troubles . . . so don’t stop!

Join us for a crop, make some new scrap friends, and save your sanity ~ or if you prefer, come on in by yourself.

The tables are always open during the day! It's a service we, here at The Shoppe, provide for FREE to our customers.

And free is good these days!

Got a Ribbon Dilema?

2009-06-08T16:42:00.013-04:00

Before I go on to the ever-important ribbon storage dilema, I would like to sincerely apologize to all of the faithful blog readers out there.

Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad blogger I have been . . .

There should be no excuse for that . . . not really sure what happened.

Oh . . .I know! I was working!

Yep, since starting this blog thing, I've been seriously neglecting lots of store stuff that I should have been doing.

Stuff like more sample pages, more altered ideas, ordering more good stuff!

So I had to get caught up . . . .so, so sorry bloggers!

Anyway . . . we had some very wonderful comments from you guys on our little adventure we call "the blog" and the winner of our very 1st blog give-away is . . . .

Dum . . .Da Da . . . Dum:

Tracy Jones
She said...
I have only recently found your store and your blog!! I must confess, I spend time at work daily reading your blog instead of working! I have found so many terrific ideas such as the note-taking station made from a double-sided acrylic frame. You ladies have the most impressive ideas and I'm so glad I found you!

So Hip, Hip, Hooray to Tracy!
Email me w/ your addy & I'll send you out a box of scrappin' goodies!

Now . . . . on to the ribbon thing.

We all have been lovin' using ribbon since it's burst onto the scrap scene ~ whether on our pages or on cards. But the big question I get asked all the time at The Shoppe is how to store it.

Does this look familiar to any of you? (don't lie . . . you know it does!)

Tangled in a basket . . .

Or stuffed into a giant baggie . . . .

Well, today we're gonna show you a really cute and practical way to store alot of ribbon in a small space AND neatly. You won't have to search & hunt thru tons of strips for a specific color this way.

And, once again, it won't cost you anything! Nope . . . not one cent!
Now that's MY kind of storage idea!

Here's the secret . . . head on over to your local paint store.
Yes . . .Paint Store

They have tons & tons of paint chip samples and that's what you'll need to grab.
And grab LOTS! All different colors!

Next thing you'll want to do, is get out your circle punch.
You'll want to punch 1/2 circles on either side of each color swatch.

(Thank You to our hand model, April)

After that, just wrap your ribbon around each color co-ordinating block and that's all there is to it!
Super easy to pull out just the color you're looking for without going thru it all.
No more bulky spools or ribbon stew to deal with.
Plus they look really cute this way, too!

After that just put them into a cute basket . . .

Or . . . (this is my favorite way) . . . get an in-expensive pencil box!
It's the perfect size & will hold a ton of ribbon-filled chips this way.

Hope you all find this to be one more idea we've helped you with.
I promise to be a more faithful blogger from now on.

TaTa till next time
and remember . . .
we love to hear what you think, so drop us a comment when you see something you like!

Goodie Time!

2009-05-18T13:28:00.008-04:00

It's time for our 1st Blog Give-Away!

But first I'd like to share a couple pictures from Friday's Cupcake Crop!

We had some of the most yummy-licious things ever!

Just imagine . . . . more than 130 cupcakes for us to nibble on all night long!

Next up is our "Sundae on Friday Crop" . . . got any guesses what that might involve?

More yummyness!

OK . . . . So on to our Give-Away.

The Shoppe's blog has been up & running now for 6 months.

As of this posting, we've had almost 7200 visitors!

We've spent alot of time trying to show you all some cute ideas, give you some tips, and maybe bring some oldie but goodie ones back to life again.

We've had alot of positive feedback from customers who've been in.

And knowing that we're helping you with your scrappin' and gift-giving projects, keeps us pushing on . . . wanting to bring you more!

So to say "Thanks for Reading our Ramblings!" we've got some scrappin' goodies to give away to 1 lucky reader!

Just leave a comment on this post . . . Let us know how we're doing, what you like, what you don't . . . . maybe sign up to follow us! & we'll draw a winner on Friday .

Good Luck Everyone!

And THANX FOR READIN' !

Challenge Yourself

2009-05-13T09:48:00.008-04:00

Today we'd like you guys to challenge yourselves . . .

Grab 2 or 3 co-ordinating sheets of patterned paper & see just how many layouts, cards, & altered projects you can make!

I used 3 sheets of these papers from Daisy Bucket to make 6 layouts (plus I have a tad bit left yet for a card!)

Now, of course I added some basic cardstock to each of these and did some Cricutting, Sizzixing, & stickerizing, but I got alot of pages finished.

This technique would be perfect for putting together a themed album quickly.

These pages are all 12x12's so just think how far a couple sheets of paper would go if you were making a smaller sized album!

Here's a closer pix of each of them for you to view (just in case you want to lift any ideas!)

(For some reason the greens photographed in different shades, but all of the pages were made with the same bright, lime green stock)

Hope you all find some of these color-blocking techniques helpful & useful for

your upcoming layouts.

Thanks for visiting . . . Please stop by again soon!

Graduation Pages

2009-05-08T10:32:00.010-04:00

First of all, we'd like to share another award we found in our email this morning . . .

Thank You to Amanda W. from somewhere out in blog-land!

She wrote " I love the chalk tip on your blog. I used to use mine so long ago, but mainly for shading. I never would have thought to use them on photos or even printing my pix out on stock! Thank You!"

Well, you are very welcome Amanda W. . . . glad to help!

Now then . . . . on to our Graduation Pages for today.

We're gonna share a really easy layout that can be completed in about 20 minutes.

You don't always need themed papers for you pages.

Sometimes, simpler is better . . . .and more elegant.

We used just black cardstock & some metallic gold paper for this page along with just 1 photo and the invitation.

We cut the info from the inside of the invite and mounted it below the invitation.

Then of course, there's the Senior Portrait with the name cards that always fall out and get lost . . .

And if you have an empty corner, add some something simple to enhance the main items ~ not over-power them.

On this page, I laid a plastic stencil down and globbed on a thick layer of glue stick.

Then I covered the glue with gold embossing powder & melted it with my heat gun.

In the center is are some plain white petals with a brad.

It's simple but very nice . . . AND inexpensive!

Didn't spend more than 2 bucks on this one!

So hang onto those invitations and programs & make sure to add them into your memory books. You'll be glad someday that you did!

Chalk Art

2009-05-07T14:15:00.014-04:00

Today we'd like you guys to get another item out from the bottoms of your scrappin' totes and put them back to good use.

We're talking about the pallettes of dry decorating chalks that we all started out with.

They seem to have been replaced by the cat's eye chalks lately. But unlike the cat's eyes, these are MUCH more forgiving.

If you make a mistake with these, all you need to do is erase it with a white eraser and start over again . . . . can't do that with the inky kind!

Now most of us use these for shading & highlighting our die-cuts and photo mattes, but today we're gonna show you how to colorize your photos with them.

And all you need is a very basic supply . . . . cardstock!

You'll want to cut a sheet of cardstock to your desired photo size, choose your photo, & set it to print black & white.

You can choose either smooth or textured.

If you print on the textured kind, your photos will have that canvass-y look to them.

Then all you need to do is start coloring in the areas you want to highlight . . . Easy as that!

Here is my finished page of my daughter's graduation . . .

And a couple close-ups of the added embellies . . . .

Here's another way to use your chalk sets . . .

Get out your favorite stamps & emboss them.

Then give the images a dusting of chalk . . .

And you've got a really inexpensive, different style of embellishment for your pages & cards.

So go look for those lost, forgotten chalk sets you know you've got around somewhere and try something new on your projects.

You'll be pleasantly surprised at how it looks!

Quick & Easy

2009-05-06T09:13:00.005-04:00

It's time for another Quick ~n~ Easy project . . . .

We've made this one even quicker & easier cuz we've done all the work for you ~ the designing, the measuring, the cutting ~

All you have to do is pick up a kit & glue it together!

So here ya go . . .

Another cute, cute page layout perfect for spring or the special "Tweetie" in your world!

We used some of the new "Pink Lemonade" paper from On The Dot in these kits. There's more on the shelves if you'd like to turn this into a 2-pager, along with other co-ordinating papers & tags in a few different color schemes.

And if you've been thinking about these Mother's Day pages, don't wait to sign up too much longer . . . there are only 3 more seats available!

Saturday, May 16th .. .1p - 3p . . . call The Shoppe to register 706*321*0202

Thanx for joining us today . . . . Stay tuned for more ideas, tips, tricks, and other scrappin' goodness.

****HINT**** we'll be hosting a Blog Give-Away soon, so be sure to check back often for that!

Mother's Day Project

2009-04-28T08:32:00.005-04:00

We just finished up our sample pages for the Mother's Day Make-n-Take at The Shoppe, so we're gonna share some close-ups of it today.

The sun is brightly shining this morning and that makes these pages even prettier!

A double page spread for your albums using Daisy D's papers (~or~ this would be a wonderful gift in a shadow box!)

A peek at the scallopped photo matte . . .

A giant-sized vellum butterfly . . .

A sweet, sweet poem for your mom or even for yourself . . .

And a pix of some of my tulips this Spring just cuz they match these pages so well . . .

This class is scheduled for Saturday, May 16th from 1p - 3p at The Shoppe.

Please register for class as seating is limited.

$15.00 class fee includes all supplies to create this gorgeous layout!

If you're visiting our blog from afar, and would like a class kit, please contact us!

We'll ship ya one!

The Scrapbook Shoppe . . . ph# 706*321*0202

email . . . thescrapbook@bellsouth.net

Thanx for visiting us . . . Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Blast from the Past

2009-04-27T18:16:00.011-04:00

Today we're gonna post about a product that was popular way back when in the scrappin' world. Some of you seasoned scrappers may remember this & maybe even still have some in your stash . . .

It's a "hard-ware" type of embellishment called Magic Mesh. It looks just like the name says . . . mesh-y.

It's got a self-adhesive backing, making it easy to attach to your projects ~or~ add more hardware to it to bring it out even more!

I used some behind the 3 smaller photos on this layout with paper from Cherry Arte and then added some staple bars to the 4 corners for even more of a rugged, out-doorsy feel.

It's perfect for those "man" pages we sometimes get stuck on (cuz most guys don't want flowers or bling on their stuff) . . . It's Man Bling!

These little rolls of goodness are available in an assortment of colors - not just metallics.

So try something new on your pages and cards and tags . . .You'll be pleasantly surprised how they turn out.

We've got a shipment of this stuff on it's way to The Shoppe now . . . just in time for National Scrapbook Day . . . so be sure to stop by & grab some!

It's Time to Color!

2009-04-20T19:58:00.013-04:00

OK . . .So we're back.
It's been a very busy few days for me since our last post.

Friday night was our "Hot Potato Crop". We served gigantor-sized spuds at our Baked Potato Bar for 30 hungry ladies. Some Baked Sweet Potatoes, too!
YUM . . .YUM . . .YUM is all I can say!

Then I actually had off 2 days in a row!
Shelley worked the March of Dimes Charity Crop all day on Saturday hosting about 20 ladies who supported that wonderful cause thru their crop fee donations. We even had 2 of our local TV Station reporters come to join us!

I, on the other hand, had date day with my husband & we spent the day in Birmingham at the Mustang Car Show. I actually really enjoyed it.
I soooo want one . . .but an old one . . .'65 baby blue convertible to be exact!

Sunday was Daughter #1's birthday . . .20 years old!
WOW!
I'm not THAT old, am I?!?

So, enough about that stuff . . .you can always go to my own blog to catch up on that ( in a day or two . . . gotta finish this up first)

We're here today to share some COLOR stuff with you . . .

Sometimes, we get stuck in our scrapbooks. And I don't mean the "How Can I Put This All Together?" kind of stuck . . . more like "How Can I make This Stand Out From My Other Pages?" stuck.

If you've been scrappin' for awhile, you no doubt have developed your own kind of "style" . . .
whether it's in the layout design you tend to drift back to

( for me, it's the strips of patterned paper I use as borders),
the way you use a corner-rounder on all of your photos,
or the same "Ho-Hum" favorite color combos you use over & over again (Pink - Yay!).

If it's the color thing for you . .. here are a few inspirational suggestions to help you bring more life to your albums . . .

Clothing
Go to the mall & check out what's hot.
Every season is marked by a new color scheme.

Magazine Covers
Covers are designed to catch your eye.
The colors are a big part of the impact.

Paint Chips & Room Idea Cards
The paint sections at home improvement stores
have walls of color ideas! Room idea cards & brochures
are great sources of inspiration for new color combos.

Product Logos
Companies pay big bucks to have logos analyzed
for their impact on people. Take advantage of
their research!

Fabric
Browse thru your local fabric stores for
unexpected color finds.

Color Websites
There are entire websites like colorcombos.com
devoted to cool and trendy color combinations.

Home Decor Magazines
The hottest designers use the hottest colors to
make magic happen in a room. Put those colors
on your pages!

And . ..

The Good Ole' Color Wheel
You might be surprised at the perfect colors
this little gadget will help you put together!
Get him back out from the bottom of
your tool bag!

Now, if you live in the Columbus area, we'd like to invite you to stop by & check out another tool that we have available for our customers to use.

It's a WONDERFUL color tool book from Prism Papers. (We * Love * PRI*SM!) It lets you actually change the "mood" of your photos that you'd like to portray . . . either warm or cool. Just with the colors you choose!

There are SOOOOOOO many choices when it comes to choosing your colors . . . so why not spice it up a bit from your signature style?!

Or - better yet! . . . Print out your photos in black -n- white and then the sky's the limit!

Speaking of black & white . . . stay tuned for our next blog entry!
We'll show you a way to colorize & texturize your pictures in a way you may not have thought of before!

Wow! What an Honor!

2009-04-15T15:30:00.005-04:00

We got an email the other day from someone who was a customer here at The Shoppe when we first opened 3 years ago.

She's an Army wife & came in with her little one always in a stroller.
You all know that the military families here are always going just as fast as they came, so we may only see some of these scrappers once or twice before they're sent somewhere else.

Now, I'm usually pretty good with remembering names & faces, but she stuck out cuz I thought her daughter's name was so unique ~ I loved it!
Her name is Harper.

Well, it just so happens that this little girl's mommy is Stephanie Howell.

"Who the heck is that?" I can hear some of you saying to yourselves.

Well, if you're a real, true, addicted scrapbooking blogger
(that means you spend more time traveling to all the blogs & links, & links, & links than you do working, eating, & sleeping) then you'll know that she is just everywhere,
linked to everyone's blogs . . . personal, designers, & manufacturers alike!
She seems to be many, many people's favorite girl!

She designs for a few companies and if you're a Pea Person, then you'll have seen all kinds of her stuff over at 2 Peas in a Bucket.

She emailed us cuz she had seen a post I had made at 2Peas.
She remembered coming in to shop & how friendly we were.
She'll be moving back here with her family to Ft. Benning in the fall.

She said she'd like to come crop with us (she'll be in need of some scrappin' friends here!) and maybe teach some classes here at The Shoppe, too!

I'm so excited that she remembered us, much less to get a message from her! She's even left a comment on my own blog about my Secret Sister gift! (Thank you, Stephanie!) Hope we can live up to her standards!

Anyway, I've added her link to our Great Places list (I was keeping it a secret for
myself until now) so please go & visit her blog.
You can click here for it, as well.

Get to know her now thru her posts & meet her when she gets here!
She's soooo cute! Not to mention the cool stuff she does . . .

Hand-made Paper Embellishments

2009-04-10T10:31:00.016-04:00

Today we're gonna share a different kind of embellishment that you can use on your pages, cards, and home decor projects.

They can be fun & cute or beautiful & elegant depending on what you need.

We're talking about Paper Casting . . . That pretty much means making your own paper.

We used this technique to make some sturdy little embellishments for our pages & cards.

On this Callaway page, these items are the butterflies . . .

Here's a close-up . . . .you can see much more detail.

Aren't they the cutest?!?

And here we added one to a simple card . . .

So let's get started & show you how to make these!

Here's the secret weapon that we used . . . . Plastic Candy Molds.

They come in all kinds of designs & sizes. Choose one that you like or pick up a multi-pack like this. You'll find them in the cake decorating & candy making dept.

You'll also need a couple of common kitchen tools . . . a blender, a spoon, & LOTS of paper toweling.

First thing you need to do is gather your scraps of cardstock and choose a color theme. Next - tear them into small chunks into the blender. (This is a good time to put the kids to work!)

Then you'll want to add enough water to cover the pieces . . .

Let this stand to soak for a minute or two.

After that, turn your blender on high speed & pulverize it all.

Add more paper if you need . . . it takes more than you'd think!

What you want is a mooshy-gooshy, bloppy-ploppy mess!

Spoon out your paper pulp into your desired mold . . . .Note: You'll want to pile it up into a good mound!

Using the paper toweling, push the pulp down into the mold very tightly and soak up as much water as possible . . . the more water you take out now, the faster it will dry and harden.

After that, just set them aside to dry. It may take 2 - 3 days but you can speed that up a bit by placing them outside in the sun.

Now, I'm a bit impatient. When I get a notion in my head, I'm the kind of person who wanted it done yesterday.

So I tried a hairdryer - that was taking forever & would have burned it out .

Then I had the bright idea to put them in the microwave . . . not so bright!

Only 30 seconds & it melted the mold.

So . . . after your embelly is dry & hard, just pop it out of the mold. You can then use as is, or try painting & inking them or even chalk them! Afer all, they are made out of paper!

These are some leaves we created . . .

HINT ~ If you want some graduated coloring, start with your lightest color of stock, mold a few pieces, then add some darker colors of the same family to what's left in the blender.

These little crowned pieces remind me of those pastel after-dinner mints . . .

And this is a page using the leaves from above that I scrapped for a customer who walked in with the most beautiful heritage pictures.

I'm very proud of how this one turned out! Lucky customer!

So, I hope you all will find this post a useful one.

It's a great way to use up alot of little scraps that are laying around.

It's probably not something you'll make very often, but it sure will add a nice touch to whatever you do use it on.

Have a Safe,Happy, & Blessed Easter!

Holy Cow !

2009-04-08T13:03:00.007-04:00

Wowzers!

I can not believe how crazy these scrappers are here in Columbus!

We opened up registration for our National Scrapbook Day Crop this morning at exactly 10am.

Before 930, there were already people lining up to be able to reserve their seats for that day.
(Thank goodness it wasn't raining today!)

Now, I thought it was insane-ness last year when all the seats were sold out within 2 hours.

I don't think this year's record can ever be beaten!

All 24 seats were taken within 10 minutes!

YES . . . . 10 MINUTES !!!!!!

More people walked in and the phone would not stop.

So, you ask . . . "what did we do?"

In addition to the cancellation waiting list, we added on another crop for Friday.

That's ok . . . we've had to do that the past 2 years as well.

We have so many croppers wanting to join in on the festivities of that great day of all scrappin' days, and we don't want to disappoint anyone.

I'll be dead-to-the-world by the end of Saturday . . . .but they'll all be happy scrappers!

So, if you're some of the lucky ones to have gotten a seat, get your sombreros ready girls!

We're gonna have some fun!

"Fiesta Ole' " style!

What a Compliment!

2009-04-07T19:20:00.003-04:00

We had this waiting for us this morning . . .

It makes us feel so good knowing that we can bring a little joy into someone's life with the little things we do . . . .

Thank You Shoppe Cropper Kelly!

(Why does that remind me of a Hostess Twinkie? . . . .Yum, Yum, Yum!)

We got Tagged!

2009-03-31T12:09:00.010-04:00

Yesterday, I got "tagged" by Amanda and played along on my own personal blog. Part of the game is to "tag" others. Well, I tagged Sandy. . . She in turn, tagged The Shoppe.

You can go to each of our links to see what we've posted!

So here is the deal . . . We need to post the 5th photo from the 5th folder from our files on our computer. Then we need to "tag" 5 others to play along . . . .

Well, (just like at home) my files & folders are not in any kind of order that make any kind of sense. At least not to normal people.

So, this is what you guys are ending up with . . .

Now, I wish I could tell you that we're making strawberry daquiries or margaritas, but alas, that is not the case . . . (Big *Sigh*)

I can't really explain to you what it is right now . . . you'll find that out shortly . . . so watch your email for this one!

So now it's time for us to "tag" 5 others . . . .

Since this is the store's blog & we have many, many readers, we can't single out just a few.

We're gonna open it up to EVERYONE!

If you wanna play, post the rules above from this run on your blog. Let's see what our favorite people come up with!

Just remember to email those you've chosen to let them know that they've been tagged!

Calendar Desk Set

2009-03-26T10:32:00.011-04:00

Here's a calendar project that we came across in our blogging travels.

We thought it was so cute and so easy that we'd make one of our own & share it with all of our readers!

All you need for this is one of those inexpensive clear, acrylic double frames that's V-shaped and a few supplies.

Start by cutting a decorative paper the entire size of the frame . . . we used a double 5x7 frame for ours.

Add your favorite photo and any embellishments directly to the paper ( so it will be protected under the frame) . . . Slide that all into the frame.

(We used Cricuts Graphhically Speaking cart for the Sweet Girl Tag)

On the outside of the frame, we glued down a clip which holds our calendar, some ribbon, and the post-it note pad.

We also decorated a glitzed-up pen to match our desk set.

You can easily make these by wrapping some Terrifically Tacky Tape around a regular ink pen. Then dip it all into some tiny seed beads. Lastly, sprinkle the entire pen with some ultra-fine glitter - this will fill in any gaps where there are no beads.

Make one for yourself or as a nice surprise for a co-worker, teacher, or secret sister!

Here it is again . . .

Have fun with this cute project . . . TaTa till next time!

Our 1st Blog Challenge

2009-03-18T11:31:00.013-04:00

Yep . . .that's right. We're going to jump into this blogging world by challenging everyone who visits us here with a personal challenge . . . one that you can use for your "All About Me" books!

Today we celebrate the 1st Day of Spring!

Our days are now longer & warmer . . . greener & sunnier . . . less dreary & definitely more happy!

So our challenge to you all is to scrap a page for yourself . . . a "Feel~Good" kind of page. . . .and this is your theme: "5 Things that make You Happy about Spring"
It's a great chance to scrap the everyday kind of little things in your life . . . things YOU love!

We're also gonna share a great sketch that would be perfect for this theme . . . Use it if you'd like or choose one of your own.

We found this sketch over here at Moma's Blog . . . . her sketches are all beautifully done in color, as well as great detailing!

And . . .to give you a little inspiration to get going, the Shoppe Girls
have all listed their most favorite things about Spring.

So go visit their blogs to see what makes them happy!

Sandy, Shelley, Amanda, & Me.

Have fun with this everyone & Happy Spring!

If you email me your page, we'll try to post as many as we can: thescrapbook@bellsouth.net

Q & E

2009-03-17T17:01:00.013-04:00

Yep . . . It's another Quick ~n~ Easy Project to share with you guys today!

Remember the Valentine's Baskets we showed you how to create simply with 2 ovals?

Well , these little purse cuties are even EASIER!

All you need is a scallopped circle and some ribbon for these little Purse Favours.

Simply make 2 score lines about 3/4" apart in the center of your circle so your purse will sit nicely.

**NOTE**(Our circles are 4", but you can easily make them any size you'd like . . . just adjust how far apart you make your score lines)

I always use a stylus and the groove in my paper trimmer for a perfect, straight, crisp line every time. (Gosh, my fingers look chubby in that photo!)

After that, punch 4 tiny holes & thread your ribbon thru for the handles and add an embellishment or two. Can't get any easier!

Fill them with little sweets or trinkets to surprise your kids, a teacher, the bus-driver . . .anyone who deserves a little "ThankYou for being You" kind of gift.

Or they'd look great as place cards for bridal or baby showers!

Here are a few that we made here at The Shoppe . . . . Enjoy!

LOVE * LOVE * LOVE the pearl handles on this one!

A New Sketch Challenge

2009-03-11T12:47:00.007-04:00

Hello Bloggers!

Today we'll be sharing Amanda's newest sketch for our monthly contest here at The Shoppe.

Hopefully you will find it useful for those times when Scrapper's Block hits. Sometimes it's nice to have most of the thinking done for you!

Amanda also always makes her own page using the same sketch design as an example to help you out a little bit more. . . .Some people like to have that added visual to get them started.

So . . . here ya go . . . .Have fun!

While we're at it, we thought we'd share last month's Sketch along with the talented lady whose page was voted the winner. Maybe you'll find this one handy, too!

This is Ms. Betty's winning version of the February Sketch . . .If you look closely, you can see that she twisted the sketch one turn to be able to fit her chosen photos on correctly . . . .she's taking home a gift certificate for her work!

If you would like to see more of Amanda's work, you can find her here.

She is also a design team member for Graphic45 Paper and we are honored to have her be part of our shoppe, as well!

It's on the Way!

2009-03-10T13:05:00.003-04:00

Chick-a-dees . . .Flowers . . . and Eggs ~ WaaHoo!

Here is a Sneak Peek at some really, really adorable new Easter stuff from Studio 8 that is on it's way to The Shoppe as we speak!

Stay tuned . . . cuz I have plans for this cutie-patootie collection!

My Latest Project

2009-03-05T16:01:00.007-05:00

This is something that I've been toying with as a class project now for several weeks.

An Altered Clock . . .

I needed to give my "Secret Sister" a be-lated birthday gift so I decided to make one for her & see how easy it would be. After all, some of our class participants are still newbies so I didn't want to get into something really in depth. (And Yes~she figured out right away who gave it to her so that's why I can blabb it on here . . .she loved it!)

Of course, pink was my 1st choice of color and I've been having a great time with some of the new BoBunny papers, especially the stripes, so that's what I used for the base on this 1st altered clock:

Then I went on to make one for The Shoppe's wall, too:

The green swirly pieces on both clocks were cut with the Cricut machine and the StoryBook Cartridge and then dusted with a bit of lime green Stickles.

I wanted to add a butterfly to the second hand that ticks around at all times so it would appear to be flying, but ditzy me snapped it off! So he's just sitting on the hour hand now. . .still just as cute & sparkly!

So now I'm waiting for some new papers to get to The Shoppe and soon you'll be seeing this class on the calendar!

The Bathroom Door People

2009-03-04T12:14:00.013-05:00

Yep . . .that's what my husband calls the subject of today's post.

You've all seen these guys around . . .on doors, on road signs, painted in parking lots.

They're the simple silhouettes that can add just the right touch to your invitations, cards, & scrapbook pages.

If you've got a wonderful little Cricut machine, then you're in luck! You can cut these easy shapes out from the "Going Places" cartridge in a flash!

And the designers have come up with more than just the man & woman symbols . . . .

they've got families, prego ladies, playful children . . .

even dogs and cats . . .

Here are a couple layouts that I made with this cartridge:

This one is perfect for the little boy who's always on the go . . .

For our "Caboodle" page, I cut out the Man & Woman set three times in 2 different sizes for us and the kids:

And for this last one, I covered the people in clear micro beads for an added dimensional pop!

Now, don't worry if you can't find this cartridge anymore . . . you can rent out ours from The Shoppe ~ or you can always pick up a package of these cuties already cut for you!

Hope you find some inspiration in today's projects . . . some new style to add to your albums.

2009-03-01T16:17:00.003-05:00

Apparently, we must be doing some good stuff on here, cuz we received another blog award!

Thanks go out to Stephanie L. for this one . . . it's fabulous!

Bad Blogger!

2009-02-27T20:52:00.007-05:00

Yes . . . that's right. . . bad, bad, bad.

I know it's been W-A-Y too long between posts. Here are my sad, sorry excuses . . .

We've had LOTS of social-ness (is that a real word?) going on here at The Shoppe and it's been soooooooo much fun!

Valentine's Day here hosted 2 new group meetings. We began another CookBook Club with 16 ladies forming 3 different recipe swap groups.

They'll be scrapping their favorite recipes each month to exchange and the best part? They'll be bringing along their dishes for each other to taste-test!

Here's a peek at some pages from a similar group I was in in Kentucky . . . these make cooking so much more fun!

After that, more of us got together and we exchanged names for a Secret Scrappin' Sister Society.

No . . . we're not some creepy cult thing ~ just a bunch of scrap-lovin' girls! There are 18 of us in this group and we remember our sister secretly on brithdays, special occasions, or "just because" with little trinkets of scrapping goodness through-out the year.

We're planning a Secret Sister Tea Party at Christmas when we'll reveal ourselves to each other. So until then, we'll just be showering each other with unexpected gifts like these . . .

All right . . .my gift from "Edible Arrangements" doesn't really qualify as scrappin' but that's OK . . .it involves chocolate and chocolate is ALWAYS good!

OK . . .so if that wasn't enough to all get going, last weekend was our 3rd Annual 20 hour Pajama Crop! OH MY GOSH ! 30 pajama-clad ladies . . . WAY too much fun!

Super fun and crazy games . . .I tell ya, these ladies will do anything for a prize! Poor Amanda F. took a face-dive into the carpet and tore up her knee cuz she was determined to crown the

winner for her team!

Combine all the scrapping & fun stuff with TONS of yummylicious food (might I mention the chocolate fountain at 2am?) and I'm happy to report it was another successful crop!

So now that things are a little less hectic, maybe I can get back to putting some more projects on here. I've got some cute stuff to show you all!

TaTa for now!

Quick & Easy

2009-02-10T18:06:00.004-05:00

Yep ~ You're seeing that correctly . . .

This Valentine's page is so simple & fast, it has earned the "Easy Button" status!

If you'd like all the details, click here & take the quick tour.
That's it for today . . .Please stop by again!

Happy Birthday!

2009-02-06T17:42:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday to The Scrapbook Shoppe!

We are 3 years old today . . . WooHoo!

We'd like to thank all of our loyal, faithful customers who keep supporting us, especially through these uncertain times.

We know that you all will keep snapping photos of those moments you want to remember, so we'll be here to help you scrap them!

These flowers are from one of our dear customers who remembers our anniversary every year with a bouquet . . . Thank You, Betty!
Sccot over to Amanda's Blog & take a look-see at what she made us!

Poem to Make You Think!

2009-02-05T15:03:00.006-05:00

Today we're gonna share a poem we came across.

This certainly makes me want to kick my butt in gear with my scrapping . . .I don't want this happening to me & my family.

Strangers in the Box

Come look with me inside this drawer,
In this box I've often seen.
At the pictures black & white
Faces proud, still, serene.

I wish I knew the people
These strangers in the box,
Their names & all their memories
Are lost among my socks.

I wonder what their lives were like?
How did they spend their days?
What about their special times?
I'll never know their ways.

If only someone had taken the time,
To tell who, what, or when,
These faces of my heritage
Would come to life again.

Could this become the fate
Of the pictures we take today?
The faces & the memories
Someday be passed away?

Make time to save your pictures,
Seize the opportunity when it knocks.
Or someday you & yours could be
The Stangers in the Box.

For everyone who uses the excuse "I don't have the time" . . . You might want to start MAKING the time!

Commit yourself, even if just for an hour a week . . . Or sign up & join us on Friday nights . . .You'll be glad you did!

Sweetie Pie Page

2009-02-04T11:23:00.006-05:00

Hello Scrappers!

This post will be short & sweet . . .
Just wanted to share a layout I made yesterday using the new BoBunny "Sweetie Pie" papers that we got in at The Shoppe last week.

If you'd like to see more details, you can view them here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Valentine's Treats

2009-02-02T15:02:00.010-05:00

We're back with a few more ideas for presenting sweets to your sweeties this holiday . . .

Now, what would Valentine's Day be without the chocolates?

Yes, you can give the little Conversation Hearts or decorate cupcakes, but chocolate is always best. To give, but especially to receive!

So, today let's dress up those plain chocolate bars . . .

These are a few examples we found while we were blogging out and about:

And here are the ones we've created here at The Shoppe . . .

These are the giant~sized Hershey Bars . . . the ones every scrapper secretly wishes for!

This 1st one was covered in solid cardstock with chocolate & pink paper from Basic Grey's Sultry line. We added a dove chipbird & stamped a tag with some fuzzy fibres.

The next one is made using BoBunny's Sweetie Pie papers, an embossed heart, Prima flowers, and a monogram using Cricut's Storybook Cart, all mounted on a chipboard scallopped circle.

This one would be perfect for a teacher. Or your best friend!

And last, but not least, are good ol' M&M's in an empty flower jar.

We've added lace around the rim and topped it off with layers & layers of die-cut flowers. Add a metal rimmed tag with a cute butterfly from Cricut perched on top!

Super-Simple projects, once again.

We hope that we've inspired you to make this Valentine's Day a little more special.

Thanks for stopping by . . .TaTa till next time

Look What We Got!

2009-01-28T14:20:00.005-05:00

We had a very sweet message waiting in our In-Box this morning,

so we thought we'd share part of it today.

Thanks Blogger Amy!

Goodie Baskets

2009-01-27T08:45:00.009-05:00

Hello Everyone!

Today we're going to share an easy-peasy Treat Basket project.

All you really need for this (besides some cute papers) is an oval or circle cutter.

To begin, you'll want to cut 2 ovals or circles from the same or 2 co-ordinating papers. Double-sided works the best so your basket won't have a blah, boring inside. You can leave the edges smooth or use a scallopped scissors for a cuter presentation like we did.

Next, fold your pieces in half:

Then, simply slide them together, forming a point at the bottom. Adhere them together.

After that, attach a paper handle (we punched holes in ours & threaded some ribbon through) and secure it with 2 brads.

Then it's ready for you to jazz up with your favorite embellies & fill with some yummies!

We think this would be a sweet gift for a teacher, surprise a co-worker with one, or hang one on your kid's bedroom doorknobs on Valentine's morning.

Thanks for looking!

TaTa till next time . . . .

Another Valentine's Project

2009-01-22T14:09:00.009-05:00

Yesterday we sent out a newsletter from The Shoppe highlighting some of the newest Valentine's products that arrived.

We also included a picture of a really cute Topiary Tree we found online.

Then one of those "Ah-Ha!" moments hit me ~ I had a vision!

So, to work I went . . . and here is our version of a Candy Topiary:

We started by punching green circles, along with red, pink, & white flowers. Curl all the edges around a pencil (or use your finger tips), then attach them to a styrofoam ball with glue and a stick pin.

Push a dowel rod into the ball and then into whatever container you choose. Make sure your dowel is thick enough to support the weight! (Ours has toppled a couple times already)

We added a little more shimmer to ours by brushing & dabbing on some irredescent glitter glue.

Then we hot-glued Hershey Kisses into the flower centers.

Add a tag with a sweet sentiment and you've got a sweet gift for a special person! We added a little heart to ours which we covered in Crackle Accents to give it a glimmer.

Make sure to create a hand-made card to give along with this Sweet Kisses Tree. This is one from Sandy's Valentine Card Class next weekend. Check it out here on her blog.

This would be a precious project to make along with your kids for their teachers this year. . . altho' they may eat just as many as they glue on!

Send Your Love . . .

2009-01-15T10:14:00.008-05:00

Yep . . .That's right. We're talking about Valentine's Day.
A day filled with red hearts, chocolate, & sweet sentiments.

So to celebrate this holiday, we're going to start sharing some cute ideas for you to create & give to those most special people in your life.

Today's project is a twist on the traditional Valentine's Card . . . Try sending a POSTCARD this year.

Here are the ones that were created at The Shoppe by one of the girls . . .
These are 5x7 postcards cut from chipboard and decorated with papers & stickers.
Once again ~ a great way to use up your scraps!

Add a sweet message and an address . . .Then give the entire card a coat or two of ModPodge to seal it well.Have them hand-cancelled at the Post Office, and think of the smile it will bring to the person who receives this unique surprise in their mailbox.

I sure did when I received this one for Christmas!
Check back often for more quick & easy projects we'll be sharing to help inspire you and your creativity.

A Family Tree

2009-01-05T13:40:00.012-05:00

Hello Everyone!

Today we thought we'd share an idea for a Family Tree Project.

This would be precious in a new baby's nursery . . .

Once again, this project is a great way to use up your stash of scraps & create a totally personal and unique piece of artwork.

We used Cricut's Paper Dolls cartridge for our tree base, but you could also free-hand one to fit the size of your frame. These leaves are from an Emagination Punch . . . you can make yours any shape, size, or color combo that you like!

We gave each leaf some inking, a slight crease up the center & added a popdot under one side to give it some dimension.

Then just add your names & any other info that you'd like.

We put birthdays with ours & added a rhinestone to co-ordinate with that month.

The frame we used is an in-expensive one from Walmart that we sanded & painted white. When it dried, we gave it another light sanding for an antiqued, worn look. We also left the glass out of the frame.

Wouldn't this look great in an over-sized frame ~ like 3x5 feet ~ just filled with leaves!?! You'd be able to add photos on the tags to one that size! How cool would THAT be?!?

Ink Recipes

2008-12-27T15:54:00.007-05:00

I decided to do a little "cleaning out" of my idea folders & came upon these recipes for making your own inks.

We are all using ink pads more & more these days not only for stamping, but also on our scrapbook pages & cards for that dimensional, distressed look.

So now, when your ink pads run dry, don't throw them out! Juice them back up again with these simple, easy recipes that use just a couple ingredients that most of us have on hand!

Here's the "secret ingredient" that we've all heard of:
Yep . . . .Good Ole' Rit Dye . . . the kind our moms used when our blue jeans were too faded or they wanted to change the color of their curtains.

This company even has a color chart available so you can mix custom colors. Check it out at www.ritdye.com Click on Dyeing Techniques ~ Custom Colors

OK . . .so here is Recipe #1

Stamp Pad Ink Recipe

You will need:
1 baby food jar
1 pkg. Rit Dye Powder
Rubbing Alcohol

Add entire pkg of dye into clean jar & fill with rubbing alcohol. Replace lid tightly & shake until well mixed.

Embossible Ink Recipe

You will need:
1 baby food jar
1 pkg. powdered dye
1/4 tsp. rubbing alcohol
5 Tbs. glycerin

Start by mixing the alcohol with the dye into a nice, creamy consistency. Add the glycerin and mix well.

These recipes make enough ink for several refill of your ink pads. Store in the jars until ready to use. Then simply pour & spread over your old ink pads.

The Stamp Pad recipe is also a good one for tea-staining or colorizing your papers to match your projects like this one: This would look especially great on some extra thick mulberry or hand-made papers!

Give it a try & see what you think . . . just remember to wear some old clothes while you're experimenting!

Gift Card Holders

2008-12-18T14:10:00.012-05:00

Here's a great way to present those boring, ho-hum gift cards that you're planning on giving this year. Make a unique Gift Card Sleeve!

This one is for my mom , whose special indulgence is stopping by her local Starbucks . . . .I bet alot of you can relate to that!

A simple, folded strip of cardstock is all that you need to make a pocket. Then secure a layered, co-ordinating wrap around it. Add a block on top showcasing your theme and make sure to ink the edges.
This is a great opportunity to use those decorative scissors that have been collecting dust!

I used Cricut's "Graphically Speaking" for the mug, steam, & the "Mmmmm"

And then dressed up the Slide-Out Tag with some rhinestones . . .

Here's another one that cutely (is that a word?) keeps a gift card to Blockbuster safe . . .
After all ~ what's a movie without the popcorn?

This time I added some doodly penwork around the edges for a fun feeling and also embossed the "popcorn" & top of the pull-out tag with my QuicKutz embossing die . . .

So give these guys a try . . . They're easy, quick, & inexpensive ~ A great way to use up the scraps you've got sitting around.

And it's so much more fun to give a blah gift card this way. . . .The recipient sure will remember it!

Buttons, Buttons Everywhere!

2008-12-14T13:47:00.017-05:00

We've been seeing them more & more on all kinds of projects lately . . .from cards to pages to home decor' items. It seems as tho' they're back in style again!

Buttons . . .a very simple, everyday item, but what a "WOW" they can make when you add them to your scrapbooks, cards, or hand-made goodies.
You can purchase these treasures just about anywhere, but I, for one (and I'm sure there are many of you out there who have one of these critters), collect mine from 1 of my sons.

He's still at the "I must destroy all of my clothes" stage. So, when I come across something on laundry day that is no longer useable, out comes my good ole' scissors and snip, snip, snip . . . . the buttons (along with pockets from his blue jeans and some clothing labels) come off and into my stash

The wavy, button border on this BoBuuny page just screams "Little Boy"

Buttons will always give your Heritage Pages a time-worn feeling . . .
And here's an inspiration if you're wanting to customize your Christmas Tree Ornaments this year . . .this is a GREAT idea for a Teacher's Gift . . . just pick up a styrofoam ball & some stick pins . . .
Here are a few other ideas that we've found along our scrappin' travels to inspire you to save & use those wonderful, little, everyday creations we know as "Buttons".

Here's another card creation ~ compliments of BoBunny:And an obvious use ~ the centers of flowers . . . only these are layered with some rhinestones, as well:Here's 1 more idea to try . . . .
Those of you stampers out there surely must already have some embossing tools. So why not try stamping & heat embossing these little gems for a spectacular accent!
No matter what you come up with, buttons will add just the right little touch to make your latest project stand out with the "OMG" ~ "That's so cute!" factor. So give them a try . . . You'll be glad you did.

Stop back by The Shoppe's Blog soon for another inspiring idea. . . . .

2008-12-07T13:18:00.013-05:00

We got a couple New Cricut Cartridges in at The Shoppe for you guys to try out. We rent them out (just like Blockbuster) so you can try them before you buy them -or- maybe you need a certain image only one time. It doesn't make any sense to purchase a cartridge if you'll never use it again.

So, newly added to our Cricut Library are StoryBook(my new favorite!), Graphically Speaking, & Sports Mania.
Shelley has already hosted a class make-n-take using the StoryBook . . .She did a Prince & Princess page set.

This is an idea I saw on the Cricut newsletter . . .Here is my version using StoryBook for the Lettering & the Cock-a-too and Home Accents for the swirls. This was made for my mother-in-law for a Christmas gift this year . . .You know ~ those hard-to-buy-for people!

It might be hard to see, but I stamped & heat embossed the letters with clear powder to give them a shiny, stand-out detail:
And to finish it off, I added some red rhinestones . . . you can never have enough bling!

Haven't had a chance to play with Graphically Speaking yet, BUT it's got some of the coolest word & number phrases!

And, well, what can I tell you about Sports Mania?! The name says it all . . . and boy, it sure does have it all!
Soccer, Wrestling, Hockey,Volleyball,Running,Tennis,Basketball,Martial Arts, Baseball,Football,Softball,Swimming, Golf,Coaches, Awards . . .Did I miss anything?
We'll be hosting our 1st Cricut Crop of the new year on Saturday, January 3rd. We know that many of you will be getting ( or just got) a Cricut Machine for Christmas & won't know where to begin. So plan on joining us that day to get started. Click on The Shoppe's Calendar (above & to the left) to get the details. We've already begun to plan for January!

2008-12-04T15:04:00.019-05:00

We just received an order from Pink Paislee here at The Shoppe so we thought today we'd share a few projects the girls at PP came up with using the Tinsel Town collection:

Here are some cards to start you out . . .

Here's a simple wooden frame just dripping with goodness!

Can't forget to dress up your holiday tree . . .

Oh my! . . . I'm getting dizzy just thinking about all the wonderful pages that can be created with these papers too! . . . anything & everything baby & girlie!

Wine & Dine Idea

2008-12-01T12:33:00.012-05:00

OK . . .We're back again with another wonderful idea using your scrapping & stamping stash.
This idea came from BoBunny . . . We loved it so much, we created our own!

This year, when you're giving the Gift of a Bottle of Fine Wine, step it up a bit further! After all, whoever receives this gift will need a set of glasses & coasters to go with it!

We used some fancy rub-ons for ours, but you can also stamp on these using StazOn Ink. The coasters are 4x4 marble or ceramic tiles. Make sure to wipe them down with some rubbing alcohol to remove any dust particles and afterward, give them a coat of clear acrylic spray to seal them! You'll also want to glue some felt squares to the bottoms to avoid table scratches . . . .

Now, don't forget to make matching goblets . . .

And a customized label & tag for your wine bottle . . . .
Stack them & wrap them up with some frilly tulle and you'll have a beautiful, unique gift that the hostess will always remember!
Make a set as a gift or even for yourself, but most of all have fun with this project . . . .TaTa till next time!

Saturday's Card Extravaganza

2008-11-24T12:59:00.012-05:00

Today we're gonna share the cards that were made at The Shoppe's Holiday Card Extravaganza Class this past weekend.

Class participants visited with 4 different instructors throughout the afternoon, creating a total of 12 cards ready to be mailed out for this season's greetings. Everyone learned a new technique or style by making cards with the different teachers.

Here's a glimpse at what they took home . . . . .

We also have our Card Swap Board here at The Shoppe.

This is a *FREE* service for anyone & everyone to take advantage of.

All you need to do is bring in a card you've made & you can swap it out for another that you like! FREE . . . .Yep ~ No Charge!

Oh . . .What Fun!

2008-11-20T10:39:00.004-05:00

We got the "Oh What Fun" collection in at The Shoppe from 3 Bugs in a Rug. Really, really cute papers & tags . . . .sooooooo many possibilities!

Here's a great idea that the girls from 3Bugs had to share . . . .

Candles A-Glow

2008-11-19T12:12:00.013-05:00

Today we're gonna share a quick, easy, & inexpensive home decor' project. This would make a wonderful, unique gift as well . . . .
We've put together a beautiful candle setting using plain clear votive candle cups.
For the candle wraps, we've used pieces of white vellum that have been embossed with texture plates & the QuicKutz Tool. You can also use any of the Cuttlebug or Sizzix Embossing Folders, as well. Just remember tho' . . .The smaller your candle cup, the smaller your patterns should be!

After that, we dressed them up with some thin red satin ribbon & floral layers put together with a white eyelet.

For a beautiful presentation, we've placed them on a flat round mirror that we've stamped a flourish on with white StazOn Ink. For an extra added glimmer, add a few clear rhinestones!
This will make a wonderful Hostess Gift for the upcoming holiday parties on your schedule.

Or make one for your child's teacher, the next door neighbor, or your pastor's wife . . .

Don't forget about yourself! Match a set to your bathroom or place it in the front window for a welcoming glow to passersby.

We hope that you find some inspiration in today's project . . . .TaTa till next time!

Cookie Swap Idea

2008-11-17T10:17:00.012-05:00

Today we're gonna share a Cookie/Candy Swap that's taking place here at The Scrapbook Shoppe.
This idea came from this years edition of "Holidays" from Scrapbook Trends Magazine.

Instead of just a traditional cookie swap, we're taking it a step further & including the recipes(which are stored in a cookie tin) along with all of the yummy treats!
Here's our version:
We've picked up 7"x11" cookie tins & drilled 2 holes at the top. Our recipes are done scrapbook-style on both sides of a 5x9 piece of chipboard and attached with 2-1/2" book rings.

We'll be decorating our covers on Swap Day (along with eating TONS of delicious cookies & candies!) (There goes the diet!!!!)
We're also taking a photo of each participant with our Santa, which we'll print out & have everyone autograph for each tin. That way, we can look back to see everybody in our group.

We've got 10 ladies participating, giving us 2 recipes each! Here are a couple of the recipe cards that will be in our tins . . . We can't wait to see everyone else's!

There's still time to get your special group of friends together for a fun swap like this!
It would be a great opportunity for a Girl Scout Troop to earn their Cooking/Baking Badge or for the Church Ladies Group for their Holiday Get-Together!

Before You Know It . . .

2008-11-14T11:01:00.024-05:00

the Holiday Season will be upon us. Some of us will be ready and then there will be those of us who are scrambling for last-minute gift ideas.

Well, today's project should help you out a bit with that.

We've decorated some empty clear buckets and filled them with yummy, sweet treats. Make these for favorite teachers(don't forget the room moms!) , the bus driver (they put up with ALOT, you know!), the babysitter (so does she!) . . . anyone on your "Sweet Person" list.

Our buckets came from My Mind's Eye's newest Holiday Collection.

They were filled with these glittered chipboard pieces . . .
One we filled with peppermints & the other we filled with wrapped Hershey Nuggets. They are super-simple to throw together and a GREAT way to use the scraps you can't bear to toss out!

Here are our buckets . . .
We've got plenty more buckets here at The Shoppe along with the "Snowed In" paper kits. They include 1 of each of the papers in the collection as well as a sheet of matching die-cuts.

Here are a couple of pages you can create with this beautiful collection:

We hope you find some inspiration in today's project . . . Stop by The Shoppe to check out these cute buckets in person & the other goodies we've been working on!

The November Sketch Challenge

2008-11-12T10:50:00.009-05:00

Hello Everyone . . .

Today is the release of The Shoppe's Monthly Sketch Challenge. This sketch has room for ALOT of photos. We're posting it here, as well, along with a list of instructions that Amanda has put together for reducing your photos so you won't have to crop them.

Remember to submit your pages to The Shoppe for voting by Saturday, November 29th for your chance to win a gift certificate!

OK . . .so here is what Amanda sent me. Hope it helps you guys re-size your photos!

1. Use Adobe Photoshop Elements or any other photo editing program to crop your pictures to size before printing. Then you can plop them all onto an 8 1/2 x 11 file and print them at home. (This is what I do.)

2. Use this free program: http://www.zdnetasia.com/downloads/pc/swinfo/0,39043052,39002838r-39393702s,00.htm. It is certified safe and works great, even with Vista. Select what size you'd like to print and how many images you'd like to fit on that size. Here is a screen print of some of the pictures I've selected (from that same layout) and how it would print. Then you can re-name the file as a .jpg and upload it to your favorite photo developer.

3. If you use a photo developing kiosk you can select to have wallet sizes printed. But you can only get one sheet all the same picture. And who needs 4 wallets of the same picture to scrap? So of course there is the old crop method. Print your pictures and crop them down. This would be especially good for a zoo layout. You know, all those pictures with the teeny tiny animal in the middle. Save the big slots for pictures of the kids (or you!) eating ice cream and a picture of a funny sign.

I hope this helps! There are other options to the old crop method. The computer can really be seen as another scrapbooking tool.

If you're visiting us from afar and would like to receive The Shoppe's emails which include Amanda's monthly sketches, please email us at: thescrapbook@bellsouth.net & put "Sketch Request" in the subject line.

Have a great day!

2009 Calendar

2008-11-10T09:29:00.015-05:00

Today we'll be sharing the Calendar Project that we did in a class this past Saturday at The Shoppe.

These are all die-cut into an 8x8 scallop shape & mounted on chipboard. It's hard to see in the pix, but there's bling, glitter, & embossing of some kind on all of the the months.

We created a desk-top model which we hung on a good 'ole banana hanger ~or~ they can be strung on a beautiful ribbon with a big bow.

Take a picture the 1st day of each month and after the year is over, put them in a 8x8 book. You'll have another album to add to your collection . . . a "Year in Review" album.

It's the perfect way to see a new baby grow their 1st year!

If you stop by The Shoppe & choose your papers, we

can die-cut them for you ~AND~ we can also print

you out the 2009 label-shaped calendars that we used

in this class.

These cuties would make a WONDERFUL gift this holiday season . . . but we think you'll end up keeping it for yourself!

Hope you all enjoy today's project ~ Remember to check back tommorrow for another crafty idea!

Beautiful Fall!

2008-11-08T15:06:00.007-05:00

I just had to share a couple pix today cuz Autumn here in Georgia right now has the most beautiful colors that I've ever seen since we moved here 5 years ago. There has got to be every fall color you can think of out on our trees!

This is the top of our street . . . .Yes ~ we live on a mini mountain . . . .So, if your world is exploding with color right now, make sure you get your batteries charged & capture it before it fades!

And don't forget to pick a leaf or two keep those memories alive . . .

Here are some that we picked 8 years ago & pressed . . . They still have all of the color as the day we picked them!

Go Green . . .

2008-11-07T12:21:00.011-05:00

We hear this phrase everywhere ~ from everyone and we really should do our part to help keep our world beautiful.

So, instead of just tossing out those empty cans, put them to good use!

Here's a couple storage ideas that we made from some soup cans . . . .Just cover them with some fun papers (make sure you use Glue Dots!) and add ribbon, flowers, buttons, rhinestones, etc.

How about surprising a favorite teacher with this for her desk? You know they ALWAYS need more pencils . . .

~OR~

How about making one to store your make-up brushes in?

You can match it to your bathroom or vanity by using left-over wallpaper!

Have fun with this project idea and BE CREATIVE!

Quick & Easy!

2008-11-06T10:19:00.012-05:00

Today's project is a super-simple gift idea when you need something really quick (or just make one for yourself).

It uses minimal ingredients & can be done in about 20 minutes! Here's the recipe:

Our Home Mini Album

1 sheet 12x12 chipboard

2 sheets of your favorite 12x12 patterned paper

1/2 sheet of a co-ordinating solid color paper

Cut an 8x8 square from the bottom corner of the chipboard.

Measure & make a mark 6" up each side.

Find the center of the top & make a mark.

On each side, draw a line from the 6" mark to the top center mark.

Cut these triangles off . . .this is the back of the house.

From the reamining chipboard, cut a 4"x12" strip.

Cut this strip in 1/2 to get 2 pieces that are 6"x4"

These are the door flaps.

Cover these pieces with your papers, punch 2 holes on each side for the doors, & add your favorite photos

Hope you enjoy this quick & easy project . . . TaTa till next time!

Completely Personal

2008-11-05T17:50:00.008-05:00

Today's project can be as generic or as unique as you'd like.

I'm sure you've all seen the word albums before. Well, stop on by The Shoppe, grab some chipboard & make your own for about $3.00!

We've got 4" Monogram Dies here for you to use. We'll even cut your pages to size & punch the ring holes if you'd like.

To make it even easier to complete these, we suggest that you choose your papers & colors and glue them to the boards BEFORE cutting. If you don't want to cover them, you can always give them a coat of paint or leave them as is.

Here are some that we've put together here at The Shoppe:

Meet Amanda . . .

2008-11-04T16:43:00.022-05:00

OK . . .we're going to start you off with one of Amanda's Sketches. Use these handy-dandy drawings for inspiration when you've come to a bump in your scrappin' road and are just stuck for an idea.

Amanda J. has been designing a sketch for The Shoppe's monthly contest for the past year or so. For those who don't know about Amanda, she's a very talented lady. She's been published numerous times in magazines such as Creating Keepsakes, Scrapbook Trends, and Scrapbooks, Etc. (just to name a few), she's on the design team for Graphic 45, AND . . . she was also chosen as a runner-up in Creating Keepsakes Scrapbooker of the Year! We're very honored to have her be part of The Shoppe!

Click on her name above and you can check out all her accomplishments! (Hope you have some extra time . . . there's quite a few!)

This sketch was designed just for this year's National Scrapbook Day celebration at The Shoppe. We decided to post it here for you to take advantage of.

Welcome Everyone!

2008-11-04T09:19:00.001-05:00

Well, we've finally got ourselves our own little "website" going. Please be patient while we learn to perfect this art of blogging.

We're hoping to post a project a day here for you to view, scraplift, or just draw some inspiration from.

Stayed tuned . . . there's much more to come!