Written by admin on 02 September 2010
Alancleaver2000/flickr
Think you’re addicted to scrapbooking? Take this short quiz and find out for sure:
You know you’re a scrapbooker when…
- …The words “archival quality” and “lignin-free” are part of your everyday vocabulary.
- …You take your daughter to get her hair cut, and you tell the stylist to “crop it to shoulder length.”
- …You know what you’re doing every Thursday night for the foreseeable future.
- …You are on first-name basis with the photo clerk at Ritz Camera.
- …Every pen in the house is acid-free.
- …You’re talking about adding on to the house, and you tell your husband you’d rather have a scrapbooking room than a bigger kitchen – and you’re serious!
- …Your monthly tab at your local scrapbook store exceeds your grocery bill.
- …You make so many furtive phone calls and emails to your Creative Memories/Stampin’ Up/Close to My Heart consultant, your husband refers to her as “your dealer.”
- …All you want for Christmas is a long-reach stapler.
- …You insist that your son round the corners on all his homework papers before he turns them in.
- …You had to buy a bigger purse to carry all your scrapping supplies around with you.
- …You needed to upgrade the memory on your hard drive to store all the digital scrapbooking elements you downloaded.
- …Your kids have the most beautiful book reports in town.
P.S. If this kind of stuff flips your skirt, check out my book, Snippets: Mostly True Tales from the Lighter Side of Scrapbooking
. You’ll love it!
Posted in Scrapbooking Humor | 2 Comments »
Written by admin on 01 September 2010
Oh Happy Day! ONLY SIX ONE OF THIS KIT AVAILABLE LEFT!
All the things that make me happy, in one kit! But I could only make six (watch the video to see why, and to see what’s in this fab-you-lous kit!)
Oh Happy Day Kit
(Click on the link below if the video player is not appearing)
Oh Happy Day Scrapbooking Kit from Lain Ehmann on Vimeo.
(6) Sheets Patterned Paper:
-Scenic Route Blue Grid
-Heidi Grace Reagan’s Closet Dots (double-sided)
-Sweetwater Family Ties
-Anna Griffin wild stripes
-Sweetwater All About Me
-KI Memories Colorful Word Whispers
(1) Sheet Laser-Cut Numbers (American Crafts)
(1) Sheet Laser-Cut Letters (American Crafts)
(6) Sheets Cardstock
-Pink 12×12
-White 12×12
-Aqua 8.5×11
-Aqua scallop die cut 12×12
-Kiwi embroidery paper yellow 8.5×11
-Kiwi embroidery paper orange 8.5×11
(a) Yellow/citron 8.5×11 self-adhesive glitter paper
(1) 5×7 pink notecard with envelope
Embellishments:
-Pack Letter Stickers: Aqua
-Rub-Ons: Arrows
-Fiskars Squeeze Punch: Arrow
-Heidi Grace Icons epoxies
-Labels: Happy Happy
-2 mini file folders
-Vellum mini envelope
-Oversized brads: Yellow, white, blue
-12 self-adhesive rhinestones
-4 chipboard flowers
-4 plastic accents
-Ribbon: orange and white dots, orange and yellow with blue dots, orange mini, green and blue
-Pink embroidery floss
First project, a cute card using the blank pink card… duh!
I covered one of the chipboard flowers in the orange “embroidery” paper, used a paper piercer to poke holes for contrast and texture, and added the yellow brad as the center.
Next, a 12×12 layout. I love this more the more I look at it! The hardest part was computer-generating the journaling. I trimmed the blue-scalloped paper down to send through the printer, and that meant I cut the scallops off! So when I was done and I looked at those scallops, I figured I could use them… see ‘em up at the top?
An 8.5×11 layout with the double-sided patterned paper as the background:
I particularly like the stitching I added. It was the only time-intensive part of this layout (hint: I pre-punched holes to make it easier to put the needle through):
I’m pretty much in love with this one, too:
Did you notice how I sewed with the ribbon? Isn’t that fun? (I thought so!)
One more 8.5×11 layout…
Did you catch how I cut up one of the arrows to make a photo corner? Tricky, eh? Yeah, I’m good like that.
Here’s the scoop. Six two (and only six two!) of these kits will be sold at the bargain price of $30 + $10 priority shipping. IF YOU ARE A SCRAPHAPPY MEMBER, you get a friends and family discount of $5 — yahoo!
Please email me to tell me you are sending paypal payment to lainehmann (at) comcast (dot) net. I will respond regarding availability. I CANNOT HOLD KITS — immediate payment is required as soon as I tell you there’s a kit for ya!
Let me know if you have any questions.
Posted in Scrapbooking Layouts, Videos, scrapbooking ideas and inspiration, scrapbooking supplies | No Comments »
Written by admin on 01 September 2010
Dear Scrapbook Company,
You know I love you. After all, I’ve purchased every one of your products regardless of whether or not I thought I’d actually use them on my layouts, just because the packaging was too cute to pass up. Not that it’s all been about the physical, though. Of course, I respect you for your mind as well.
But I have to say, though my emotions are pure…
I’m a bit mystified.
I bought these cute rhinestone frames with the best of intentions. After admiring them from afar for weeks on end, admiring their delicate lines and imagining all the fun and creative things I could do with them, and after caressing their adorable packaging (of course), I finally broke down and opened them.
And that’s where the trouble began.
Maybe I should have kept things as they were, instead of pushing for a more intimate relationship with these teensy-weensy little adornments… but I could not resist. They were beckoning me, and I wanted to take things to the next level.
Perhaps I moved too fast.
Perhaps I scared them.
Perhaps they needed their space.
Because instead of attaching themselves to my page and becoming one with my creation (in an easy one-stick piece, as the oh-so-cute packaging stated), they jumped ship. They abandoned me. They fell off one by one, like so many petals falling from a June rose, never to be reattached.
My heart is broken.
I know I will go on, but I cannot help feeling a bit betrayed. After all, I did everything right. I followed “The Rules,” and still I feel like I was played for a fool.
I am hoping there has been some kind of misunderstanding, and that things between us can once again return to normal. Maybe a tube of Aleen’s Tacky Glue is all it will take. Or maybe stronger measures are needed. I’m not sure. I’m writing in hopes you can enlighten me, and we can return to our mutually beneficial relationship (viz.: I buy, I adhere to page, you stick).
Until then, I remain-
Your devoted fan.
P.S. This post is a ScrapHappy classic from my blog in 2006! If you like scrapbooking humor, you may want to check out the REAL classic, “Snippets: Mostly True Tales from the Lighter Side of Scrapbooking.” If you buy it, let me know — I might have a little goody to send you!
Posted in Scrapbooking Humor, scrapbooking supplies | No Comments »
Written by admin on 31 August 2010
I have resisted “heritage” scrapbooking for years. Honestly, it just didn’t appeal to me. The idea of digging through old photos to figure out who these people were and what bearing they had on my life was not too appealing — I was way more interested in focusing on the here-and-now. I wanted to create pages of my cute kids, not of dreary black-and-white ancestors who I felt no ties to.
But my idea of heritage scrapbooking has changed in recent months. Maybe because my parents are getting older (or maybe because my kids aren’t as cute anymore, Haha!), I’m starting to feel the pull to document more of my “ancient” history. I’m still not digging into Gramma’s trunk in the attic; instead, I’m working on photos from my own childhood, so there is still an emotional attachment for me.
If you feel like you “should” create heritage scrapbooking pages but face some of the same hesitations I did, here are my suggestions:
- Start with recent rather than “ancient” history. It will be easier for you to get the stories to document on the page if you were involved in them.
- Use the products you love. Another reason I’d avoided heritage scrapbooking was that the “traditional” heritage scrapbooking supplies were not my favorites — they were dull and boring. While I don’t use all the bright colors that I might use on “modern” layouts, I still use bits and pieces of the supplies and embellishments I adore.
- Make copies of the photos! Scan in precious images and use copies — you’ll feel more comfortable experimenting on the pages and cropping images.
- Incorporate ephemera. Little pieces of history add so much to the page, whether they’re snippets of handwriting, receipts, pieces of fabric, etc.
- Give yourself permission to scrap as much or as little as you want — even one heritage scrapbook a month! — will be a great contribution towards documenting your past.
- Have fun! Involve your family members, interview older relatives, have your KIDS interview their grandparents… enjoy the process!
P.S. One of my favorite books on heritage scrapbooking is Family History Scrapbooking
by Becky Higgins. She provides a very straightforward approach to working through your family scrapbook projects.
Posted in Scrapbooking Idea Books, scrapbooking ideas and inspiration, scrapbooking projects, scrapbooking resources | 3 Comments »
Written by admin on 30 August 2010
I love this weekly challenge from Jen at Simple Scrapper: Share a photo, and then spend a few minutes getting at the story behind the photo. Scrapbooking at its sparest!
This was a rainy day this past spring, before Callie’s karate class in Bedford, MA. I love the bright splashes of yellow in her boots and umbrella — they remind me of the sunshine this little girl adds to my life. She doesn’t see a puddle of dirty water; she sees an adventure waiting to happen. She doesn’t see a bent-up umbrella; she sees a magic parasol with the ability to transform the everyday into a spectacular event.
Callie has the rare ability to be happy, where she is, just because she’s surrounded by the people she loves. If she’s near me, she’s okay. She trusts me completely, and I find myself wanting to be a better person so I never let her down or disappoint her. She brings out the very best in me just because she expects the best to happen.
I love that about her.
P.S. Want to join in this storytelling carnival? Pop on over to Simple Scrapper and share YOUR scrapbook stories.
Posted in Scrapbook Stories | 1 Comment »
Written by admin on 30 August 2010
I am a dedicated Autumn Leaves fan. My nightstand pick is The Look Book
. One of my favorite parts of this particular book is all the little quizzes and interview questions sprinkled through the book. Who cares about the scrapbook layouts? I’d rather hear the details about the PROCESS. (Well, I guess the layouts are pretty cute, too).
I thought as a little treat today, I’d answer the same questions that were posed to the AL gals. That way I can at least pretend that I’m cool:
What part of creating a page do you enjoy most?
While the chance to use many of my favorite elements — graphic design, writing, paper, embellishments — is exciting, and while I love documenting my family’s history, I have to say that my absolute favorte part of scrapbooking is the peanut M-n-Ms.
Do your styles of dressing or decorating your home mimic your style of scrapbooking?
Oh, most definitely. After all, the whole house (and my entire wardrobe) is covered with adhesive squares and scraps of paper — much like my layouts. And my layouts usually have more than a few fingerprints — much like my house.
Who or what inspired you to start scrapbooking?
I had to find SOMETHING to do with all the patterned paper, buttons, ribbon, and other goodies I’d amassed.
When did your style click for you?
As soon as I realized I’d never have more than fifteen minutes to spend on a page. And as soon as I realized doodling makes my pages look like a seventh-grader’s math notebook.
Do you have any tips for recording memories until you can scrapbook them?
Crayon on used paper napkins works great.
Why does scrapbooking make you happy?
How could it not?
P.S. Want some help developing or decoding your style? Then check out my awesome new self-paced class, “Define Your Style from A to Z.” In 31 days, you’ll have a great handle on just what makes your scrapbooking tick! Based on my popular Layout a Day class from May, 2010, we’ll walk through the alphabet together, defining your style as we go.
Posted in Scrapbooking Classes, Scrapbooking Humor, beginner scrapbooking, scrapbooking classes, scrapbooking ideas and inspiration | 1 Comment »
Written by admin on 29 August 2010
If you’re looking for cute and cheap business cards, you could do a lot worse than MOO Cards! With MOO Business Cards, MiniCards and Postcards, you can use your own photos or choose from the pre-designed options which are ROCKIN’!
I had heard a lot about MOO Cards. I was hesitant to order because I figured if you could customize your cards with up to 100 different images, it would HAVE to be expensive. NOT SO! When I ordered my first batch of MOO Cards about 6 months ago, I got 100 MiniCards for around $20, plus shipping. NOT BAD!
The shipping was fairly quick, and the quality was great… except!
Several of my cards (I’d say about 5-10) had a wicked orange stain on them, like the printer had run out of ink or something. But an email to customer service, and I had a quick apology and a 20% off coupon for my next purchase. Gotta love that!
This time around, I thought I’d try the pre-designed options from the MOO designers… and I was thrilled with the dozens of options they had available. Wow! I found some that looked just like KI or American Crafts patterned paper, some that were cute cartoons, and then these (pictured above) with the word “Handmade.” Perfect for a scrapbooker, don’t you think? And of course, MOO Cards are double-sided, so the other side has my photo (in full color!) and contact info. LOVE ME SOME MOO! I am now a MOO fanatic and will be ordering postcards and business cards.
MOO Business Cards, MiniCards and Postcards – Create unique cards using your own photos or designs to help your business stand out!
P.S. Want to get some MOO for YOU? Use the coupon code 2RB2CK for new MOO customers for 15 percent off your first order. Oh yeah!
Posted in Discount Scrapbooking Supplies, scrapbooking resources, scrapbooking supplies | No Comments »
Written by admin on 29 August 2010
I think about scrapbook style much the way I think about clothing style: You don’t have to have one to cover all the essential body parts, but it sure helps you get dressed more quickly in the morning and feel better about what you’re wearing if you think you’ve got “it” going on.
Now, don’t misunderstand me – you don’t need to dress like a Kardashian or spend hours on your scrapbook layouts to have style. You don’t need to drop thousands on Rodeo Drive, look like a fashion victim, or cover your scrapbooking pages with bling – unless you want to.
In fact, style – scrapbooking style or fashion style – comes down to just that. Doing what you want and feel good about. If you like it and it’s not hurting anyone, I say, go for it – even if it means dropping an egg on the Oscars red carpet a la Bjork circa 2007. (You may not like it, but you can’t argue – that woman has a style of her own!).
So just as your clothing style may not be as easily defined as “Steampunk” or “Preppy,” your scrapbook style may not be able to fit neatly into a box marked “Clean and Simple” or “Shabby Chic.” (Note: few things in life are easily classified. And if they are, they’re probably not worth classifying at all!)
Instead, you’ll probably have to do a little investigating, a little exploring, a little trial-and-error. But that’s where the fun part comes in! You can mix plaids and stripes – on your body or on your page – and see how you like the effect. You can try monochromatic on for size and see if it really does make your legs look longer. Or you can just go off-roading and throw everything but the kitchen sink onto your layout and see how you like the result. Hate it? Take it all off and start over again.
Defining your scrapbook style isn’t about putting yourself in a box; it’s about finding some rails, as Accidental Creative host Todd Henry would say, so you can be even more creative. Knowing certain things about yourself (green looks horrible on you, you hate working with brads, you love oversized sunglasses and oversized photos) makes life a little easier. You’re no longer facing a blank page; you have a place to start from, some givens.
So today, I encourage you to think a little bit about your scrapbook style. What do you love? What do you hate? What areas of the scrapbook store do you gravitate to first? What colors make you giddy with delight, and which make your stomach clench? Be an observer in your own life, noticing how you respond and how you choose and how you scrapbook and what makes YOU happy. Even if it’s a giant Easter egg.
P.S. Want to learn more about YOUR scrapbook style? Check out my new online class, “Define Your Style from A to Z,” Based on the popular May Layout a Day challenge and perfect for newer or veteran scrapbookers, this self-paced course will help you scrapbook faster, have more fun, and love your pages more!
Posted in Fast Scrapbooking, beginner scrapbooking, scrapbooking classes, scrapbooking ideas and inspiration, scrapbooking resources | No Comments »
Written by admin on 28 August 2010
Finding Josephine/Flickr
The cheapest scrapbooking supplies are the ones you already own.
Seriously. If you’re a beginning scrapbooker — or someone just exploring the hobby — you may think you don’t have any scrapbooking supplies around your house.
Bosh, I say! Sure you do. Pull together the following:
- A pair of scissors (the sharper, the better. My faves are basic orange-handled Fiskars)
- Cardstock or even construction paper (I know, all you purists are screaming and running for your bottles of Archival Mist
, but c’mon, people! I’m trying to make things easy here)
- Adhesive of some sort. Double Sided Tape
is great if you have it; if you don’t, grab one of your kid’s glue sticks
.
- Photos. I’m sure you have some of these lying around!
- A pen. Don’t have one? Look under the couch cushions.
- Embellishments. Many scrapbooking embellishments are office supplies re-casted as cute scrapbooking doo-dads. Examples: Staples, brads, labels, paperclips, binder rings, bulldog clips, and even binders — these were all regular ole’ office supplies that were translated into scrapbooking-specific embellishments! Scoop out your junk drawer and your desk drawer and find a handful of fun goodies you can use on your scrapbook pages.
- Ephemera. “Ephemera” is a fancy word for leftover odds and ends of paper you might collect — coupons, junk mail, tickets, receipts, etc.
See! You’re ready to scrap, and you haven’t spent a dime!
You more advanced scrapbookers may be wondering how this applies to you. Well, it’s the same principle: The cheapest scrapbooking supplies are the ones you already own. So go get into your stash and get scrapping. Then show me what you do — I want to see!
P.S. If you are absolutely set on the idea that you HAVE to buy something, then stay tuned for my post on discount online scrapbooking stores.
Posted in Discount Scrapbooking Supplies, beginner scrapbooking, scrapbooking supplies, scrapbooking tips | No Comments »
Written by admin on 27 August 2010
Pink Sherbet Photography/Flickr
Digital scrapbooking is one of fastest-growing elements of the scrapbooking industry, and there are a number of awesome digital scrapbooking stores. Here are a few of my very favorites (I filtered these by which ones I allow to send me their newsletters!):
Jessica Sprague. Not only can you take awesome digital scrapbooking classes, there are digital scrapbooking tutorials and a store, too.
Oscraps. Great products and a fantastic digital scrapbooking community, too.
Designer Digitals. One of the most popular digital scrapbooking sites, with products designed by Anna Aspnes, Cathy Zielske, and Ali Edwards, among others.
Songbird Avenue. Gorgeous kits, and a percentage of the proceeds go to charity. Great prices, too.
Deviant Scrap. Fun and funky — not your ordinary digital scrapbooking elements!
Design House Digital. Challenges, community, great products. What more could you ask for?
If these sites flip your skirt, make sure to sign up for their free weekly newsletters… they often send out great freebies, deals, tutorials, and more. You don’t want to miss out on that!
P.S. Not sure where to start with digital scrapbooking? Check out this FREE “Intro to Digital Memory-Keeping” class from Big Picture Scrapbooking! Lisa Cohen will show you the basics in this self-paced class.
Posted in digital scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking stores, scrapbooking supplies | No Comments »
