Hi from Gina A!

Once again, had a great time using this month's products! You can't really tell from the internet pic (so you need to come into the store to check out the actual layout ... such a tough assignment, I know ... as if a visit to Photoscraps isn't the best minimum-daily-requirement ever - LOL!) Anyway, the printed paper has a tiny ladybug design which immediately led me to doing a layout about my daughter Caitlin's involvement in her college sorority, ASA. Their "mascot" is a ladybug, so the tie-in worked beautifully. I kept the design simple, using scraps of papers from the line as my embellishments as well as one of the rub-ons in the corner of the focal point photo. This is an easy design to "scraplift" ... (and if you're just beginning and don't know what that term means, stop by to sign up for one of my monthly 101 classes!) Finally, I had to add a few ladybug die-cuts ... look for them in our "SPRING" corner of the store. Enjoy the extra-long days of July - perfect for squeezing in some scrapping time. I had a ball at the crop last Friday night ... looking forward to seeing many of you at the other crops this month! 'Happy Scrapping' from Gina A.!

Lemonade Layout from Gina A

Gina will be blogging about her delicous layout later, but I wanted to show it off.

Overacheiver Here

Hi everyone,

Of course, I have a completed Lemonade project. I took it with me to the scrapbook convention so I could be done early. The papers in this line have such pretty colors and patterns. The die cut sheets are so perfect for cutting apart. I'll get photos of the 12, yes 12, cards that I made that show off the fabulous die cuts.

I hit my button stash hard for this one. Luckily, we have tons of buttons at the Creative Cafe Bar.



Do you remember me mentioning a Contest for a Guest Design Team member? Here is how the contest will work. We made up a Basic Grey kit that has lots of buttons, ribbons and papers for you to make a layout or whatever creation you come up with. The kit is available behind the counter for just $12. You do not need to use everything in the kit but you do need to use at least 90% Basic Grey with the majority of the layout or card or altered project being the New Lemonade line. You need to submit your projects to the store by July 22nd and we will have voting via a poll on the Design Team Blog and the email. The winner will receive a spot on next months Design Team and a free kit for next month. You will be featured on the blog next month and in an email for all to see. Here is the featured kit.

Are you thirsty??

There is nothing like a cold glass of lemonade on a hot day, and there is nothing like Basic Grey's hot new Lemonade papers to quench the creative thirst! Yes, our paper line this month is the newly released Lemonade by Basic Grey. It is bright and fun and yummy!

I have nothing to show off yet, between making Amusapalooza samples, taking the kids to the pool, and my summer class, I have had no time to play in the Lemonade. But as usual, we have some overachievers and they have some samples ready to show off. Stay tuned!

Cindy

Hello From Lisa H.

Hello all!!
This month brings the beginning of summer....yeah!! Our paper line this month inspired me to dig out some assorted family pictures--my favorite subjects! I love the combination of the hot pink, lime green and brown---so modern! Come in to the store to see our design wall and be inspired by the variety of projects. It is so interesting to me to see how our design team members interpret the papers differently. What others do would never occur to me. Today I am checking in the new Basic Grey lines and one of those will be our line to use next month. Stay tuned to see what we come up with! Happy Summer everyone!! Lisa H.

Hello from Boston... again, but not the same

Hi everyone,

Hope everyone had a fun weekend. I spent my Sunday driving to Boston with the kids to visit my mom. We are staying in Falmouth on Cape Cod. Shon stayed home for this adventure. He promised to clean while we are gone. If I get home to a clean home, I may be taking more trips. We will be walking around the town tomorrow and doing a little shopping. Of course, Kirstin has high hopes of buying lots of stuff, but I saw mostly boutiques so I think she will be a bit disappointed. The town looks very nice and I can't wait to take photos in the daylight.

This past Saturday one of our wonderful customers Kate Blue hosted a Charity Crop for Children's Miracle Network and the Johns Hopkins Childrens Center. She has a fun blog and you need to look at her cool blog header and her photo. Very Creative. http://www.kateblue.blogspot.com/

Hi from Gina A

Hello all!
Finally had some time to scrap... loved working with these great supplies from My Little Shoe Box!

As many of you know from talking to me in the store or taking my 101 class, I scrapbook by theme vs. chronologically. However, each year there are those "one-of-a-kind, don't-fit-into-a-category" pics that I still like for some reason or other... ususally because they remind me of something fun or funny that happened during the year. I love capturing these memories in a little mini-book and that's what I decided to create with this month's Design Team challenge! (And no, it's not complete at this point ... I left half of the book for the rest of this year's special memories :-)

I mostly used the My Little Shoe Box "Enjoy Life" line but also supplemented with some paper from the "Who's There" line.

I love using coordinated papers from a particular manufacturer and line - all the hard work of matching is done for you! - but that doesn't limit me from using other papers from the same manufacturer and/or others, too! Always check around the store for great papers that can coordinate with your look. (A good example of this is the Gingerbread House book I created last Christmas using papers from two different lines ... check out the sample in the store - the papers go together beautifully!)

Back to my "Enjoy Life" book ... one trick I like to do when combining a lot of unrelated photos into one book is to carry over an embellishment from page to page for continuity. In this case, I found an adorable bird stamp in our $1 bin (have you checked those out yet?!?!?!? I LOVE A BARGAIN!!!!!) The stamp had some words which I didn't need for this project and so just cut them away (or you could mask them before inking) Now the little bird is pop-dotted from page to page throughout the book - so cute!

One final thing - I used quite a bit of cardstock so if you work with this line yourself, you might like to know that the following Bazzil colors match wonderfully: Parakeet, Coral, Red Hot, Mud Pie, Mocha, and Tapioca.

Have fun playing and scrapping, everyone!
Gina A.

Girly layout from Lisa C

Hi Everyone,

Even though Lisa C knows how to blog now ( I watched her blog) I am posting her adorable two page layout for her. Last I heard earlier on Sunday was that her back is feeling better and she is moving around her house. She has stopped taking pain meds so it is good that she is still feeling better without the meds. I'll keep you all posted.

On to her adorable layout, she managed to get this finished right before her back went out. I'm sure that scrapping was not the cause of the back pain. Scrapping is therapy after all. Lisa combined the fun My Little Showbox papers with Hambly overlays. Did you know that the two companies are in the same town and often work together on products? We met ladies from both companies at the show we went to in Boston. Very nice. Notice how her neice manages to get both of her feet into the nail dryer. Too Cute!

Lisa Hetrick is da bomb!

I got to play today with our very own Lisa Hetrick's Scrappy Flower stamp designed by her for Unity Stamp Company. Did you know we had a star in our midst? Lisa has designed bunches of awesome stamps for Unity. It is too cool to work with an artist that actually creates the products we love to use.

My card uses Lisa's beautious flower, some fun ribbons and bling, and paper from My Little Shoebox, our Design Team company this month. I am lovin' the tab punch today. Look out for it on my next Demo Day card.

Have you stopped in to see the DT wall? I was in the store today and it looks great!! It is one thing to see these gorgeous creations on the computer, but it is a whole other experience to be able to put your hands on them and fondle them. Yep, I am a paper fondler!

Cindy

So Tweet...

Heres just a simple card. I'm telling you... I would normally never pick up some paper like this line but I promise you I will look at them differently now. They were really fun to work with.
Chrissy

This one is not the same papers but the same company makes these! How cute is this little house made with some My Little Shoebox papers. The box is made by Maya Road. Ever wonder as you're browsing through the store what you would do with one of these boxes??? Now you know... the possibilities are endless!

Chrissy

CD Tin mini album from Tracy

Hi, Everyone,

I made this cut little CD Tin album while I was away. I used Bazzill Dotted Swiss paper for the accordion part. To make one just cut the Bazzill paper into two 4.25 x 12 inch strips. Score one sheet at 4 inches and 8 inches. Score the other sheet at 3.75, 7.5 and 11.5 inches. Fold on the score lines. Attach the two pieces together by putting adhesive on the half inch edge on the second sheet. Corner round all the corners when folded so that the album fits in the tin easy.

Home Tweet Home

Here is one of my projects using the My Little Shoebox papers... I love a challenge but when I first looked at the paper I had nothing! A week later Nothing. I had to dive in and dig deep and I am so glad I did... once I started with this paper.. it was very easy and it all fell together. And look I added a picture... its the first picture I have added to something in 6 years! I sell everything I make and it felt great to add something of mine for a change. I hope you enjoy it. I look forward to making more with this line.

By the way Make sure you check out the creative cafe... I'm usually in a hurry to scoop all the new great papers that I overlook this wall and its fabulous finds. I found these great jumbo brads and buttons there that I used on the bird house. As well as a big baggy of other goodies! Check it out next time you are there... I'm sure you will find great items for your next pages!

Chrissy

A bit about me...

Hello everyone! I'm Chrissy.I must say I am thrilled to be part of such a creative and oh so talented design team. Thank You Girls!
I suppose its time to say a bit about myself..mmm.. luckily for you I don't have much to say. I am a stay at home mom of 2 and I love every bit of it. I am 31 years old... but if anyone asks I'm still 29. I have been scrappin for about 9 years and I simply can't get enough of it. I moved to Maryland about 4 years ago from Pittsburgh (back when this store was the second floor scrapbook store) I must say.... Tracy has done an amazing job.... I love comming here! Keep up the great work!

Chrissy

A few cards

Here are the first 4 cards I've made using My Little Shoebox papers, the line chosen for the Design Team to focus on this month. Have you ever felt intimidated by a paper? I felt that way when I first had it in my hands, but once I started cutting it up, I found that the cards came to me quite easily.

Two of the 4 cards have been stamped on, and the stamps I used were by Hero Arts. I love having a multitude of sayings in a wide variety of fonts. For the card that says "chirp", I cut that out of one of the papers from the line. Can you tell that I really like the green paper? I've used in on 3 of my 4 cards!

Keep watching for more DT projects this week.

Cindy