Better Late

Than never, right? I made this card for the June issue of SNR. I really wanted to remind people that sometimes less is more. This card has very simple lines, not a lot of fussy detail, and I think that is what makes it work. Tip: Look at your paper for key design elements. In this case, my sentiment strip is straight from my paper. It saved time, and looks oh-so-coordinated.

Supplies: Kraft paper; Scenic Route, Bazzil, Whispers Ink, Twine.

Can We Help?

This was from the May issue of SNR. I was trying to show how easy it is to create backgrounds using your stamps. Even the little dollar stamps that so many of us buy and then don't know how to use, can be used to create wonderful backgrounds. The brown and the green strips are examples of this. In this case, I also made my own ebbossed paper by embossing all of the stamped images, as well. So easy to do, yet is adds such great texture to the final project.

Scrapping Cents

I saw the best tip...this is from fellow SNR staffer Lucy Chesna:

Make your own Stickles

What you need:
Clear craft lacquer ( aleene's paper galze, ranger glossy accent or judi kins diamon glaze)
Glitter ( any color )
toothpick or brush to mix
Mixing container
mini bottles- empty eye dropper bottles cleaned out and ready to put in your stickles
syringe

Directions:
In your empty container mix equal parts clear lacquer and glitter. Mix with a toothpick or brush
Add more glitter if it's too runny or more clear lacquer if it's too thick.
It should be the consistency of glitter glue (or thinner if you want to cover a large area)
Then when you done , use your syringe and suck it up and put it into your bottle.
You are done and repeat the steps for any color of glitter you want to use

Such a great tip!! For more awesome ideas and information, be sure to join us on the SNR forums. We are a wonderful group of scrapers who love to chat and share ideas, inspiration, and smiles. And you are very welcome!!

LilyPad

Hi, thanks for hopping in. Aw, come on! You know I couldn't resist. I got some new Apple Blossom Studio stamps to play with- and they are so perfect. The green matting on this card is one of the new journal stamps. I love finding different ways to use these treasures! The frog is one of my favorites from Whimsy Stamps.

Have a great weekend!

Evening Snack

Pulling from the stash a bit, but this was a perfectly summery one, so I thought I would share. This was made with a stash of Bo Bunny Paper I had been saving- and I loved the somewhat grungy look.

Want to make flowers like this? It is is simple. Cut your paper into rough circles of graduated sizes. They down't need to be perfectly round, in fact, they look better if they are not. Then, take an edge distresser, or a pair of scissors, and rough up the edges all the way around. A few tears will add to the look. Now, take the circles, and crumple them up into a ball. Open them, but don't flatten them out. Stack, add a button, and your done. Easy, and a great way to get custom flowers for your project.

A Flower For You

Lizzie Anne Stamps were one of the sponsors of our last event- and I fell in love with these stamps. These are deeply etched red rubber, and leave the nicest, crisp impressions. The paper for this is Cosmo and Prism.

Here's a little tip for you: I left the tag blank on this, so that I could fill it in later. Having a small stash of all occasion cards, like this, can be really handy for those events that just seem to pop up.

Hi!

Isn't this a fun and cheery card? I made this for the SNR Spring into Summer Event- and it is all Cosmo. Isn't this the perfect card for a warm summer day?!

Want to see something else that is fun? Head on over to Scrapbook News and Review- we have just launched an all new site- and it is too cool!! There are all kinds of great new features, a new interface, an more new bells and whistles are on the way. Everything you have always loved about SNR- souped up!

Blog Love

So, I gave my blog some love today- it was time, don't ya think? If you are in a blog reader, take a moment to click on the site and see the changes. I think they are fun. :-)

Have a great Sunday!

Purrfection

Is there anything as soothing as a kitty all snuggled in for a nap? I love it, just instantly relaxes me...or makes me completely jealous, lol. I made this layout for the Scrapbook News and REview Spring into Summer Event. While there is some great chipboard and patterned paper from our Sonsor- Cosmo Cricket...it was our other sponsor Prism that formed the bulk of this layout. I had never worked with Prism before, and since I am extremely picky about my cardstock texture, I was a ;little nervous to try them. Wow!! Was I ever suprised! This paper is an awesome weight, and has a great texture, too. The thing I liked most, though, was that you can turn it over and get a smooth side for stamping. Perfect!!

1, 2, 3...Blow!

OK, cute story. So, the kids are out on the playground and they are doing what they are not supposed to---they are purposely trying to get the ball stuck in the tree. Congrats to them...they did it. Now the problem becomes- how to get it back down? So they are standing around, holding a big meeting, weighing all the options. Pretty soon, one of them tries to grab a tree limb and pull it down- which is against the rules. Anne: "NO. You can't break a rule, even if you have a good reason." More discussion. One of them gets a stick...also against the rules. Anne: "No. You may not break the rules, even if you have a good reason." At this point, I get a bit distracted. The next time I look over, they are all lined up, under this ball, pointing their little bodies at the ball. And, I hear...."ok, 1,2, 3....BLOW!!!" Color me shocked when that didn't work!

This was a layout I made for the Sping into Summer Event at Scrapbook News and Review. this was an awesome day of events, classes, challenges, prozes and more. This layout featured Paper and Chipboard from one of our sponsors: Cosmo Cricket.

Splash!

I love to try for action shots- and I have a pretty good camera, so they usually turn out. But, these were just beyond fun. I love seeing the water splashing up, and Erin part of the way in...too fun! Oh- and play a little in your graphics proggie, and you can even set up fun filmstrip prints, too.

I made this for the Scrapbook News and Review Spring into Summer Event. This was an incredible day filled with fun, workshops, challenges, games and more. Be on the watch for more fun events from SNR!

Supplies: All Cosmo Cricket.

Busy As A Bee

My goodness, it has been a serious while since I have shown you a layout, hasn't it? I do still make them, lol. Here, let me prove it. This one is for a few pictures I took in my own garden. Now, I love the pictures, but I have to tell you- I give seriousl kudos to those photog's that can get the amazing shots that stop the bee's wings. Man, that is hard! By the time I would get the little guys all focused, he would have dissappeared. Argh! I shot probably 100 pictures that morning- and these are the best I got. But, it was fun trying!


I made this for the Scrapbook News and Review Spring into Summer Event. This was an incredible day filled with fun, workshops, challenges, games and more. Be on the watch for more fun events from SNR!

Supplies: Cardstock: Prism; Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket; Punch: EK Success; Pearls: Basic Grey

Under the Mushroom

This is an image I received in the Card Universe Stamp Image Swap. Ever done one of these? They are too fun. the concept is so simple, you stamp out five imges for every person in the group. Then you mail those images to the hostess, she swaps them around, and you get a bunch of images back in the mail. Too fun!

I colored these with a little of the Smooches, too. Used the grey to highlight a few of the details. It may be hard to see in the picture, but in real life, it gives this stamp the look of a charcoal drawing. Very nice.

I made this for the Scrapbook News and Review Spring into Summer Event. This was an incredible day filled with fun, workshops, challenges, games and more. Be on the watch for more fun events from SNR!

Flowers for You

Here is another card I made for the SNR Spring into Summer Event. This one features a Magnolia stamp, and the fun new smooches from Clearsnap. These are a hoot to work with, I tell you. They come in the cutest little nail polish bottles, and the applicator is a dream to work with. It is the perfect size for really getting into those small areas.

Here's a tip for you: When coloring with Smooches, start from the inside of the image, and work your way towards the edges. This will help you to avoid smudges and glopping ink over the lines.

Everything

http://s243.photobucket.com/albums/ff216/annejillian_photo/?action=view¤t=AnneHouse_TC_Prima_Clearsnap_CosmoS.jpg

This is a card made with a Teresa Collins journal tag. I love the elegant look of the tag against the Cosmo Card. And, yupo...this is just more goodnewss from our event. Be sure and watch for our next Summer Workshop event.

FUN!

I thought I would show you a little of the ggodness that happened over at the Spring into Summer event at Scrapbook NEws and Review. This was the banner I taught in my class for Prism Cardstock. In this class, I showed how to chalk for a watercolor effect, resize images from the web to create digital stamps, paper piece, paint with acrylics for a great washed effect...and more. and mone was only one of 7 classes that happened. If you hurry over, you can still take a peek at the workshops that were offered.

Congrats to our Winners!!

We want to thank everyone who participated in last weekend's Oh Say Can You See Blog Hop. With over 90 blogs along the way, there was quite the parade of inspiration, fun and patriotic celebration for the holiday weekend. We have appreciated all of the wonderful comments and feedback we have received from everyone involved. A special congradulations goes to our list of Scrapbook News and Review winners for the event.

From the Staff Blogs, the winners for the 1 month free subscription are:

Anne: Peggy Marsh- the Wired Angel
Tina: Ginni Gass
Pam: Anita Bugg
Jamie: Kristina
Tami: Beth http://beth714.blogspot.com/
Grace: Andrea http://www.scrapteaze.typepad.com
Jennifer: Sheila
Thena: Joyce of http://iamsimplyblessed.blogspot.com/
Lucy: Cassie
Cheryl: Sonia Kertznus
Kim: Freida

And, our winner of the free 1 year subscription to Scrapbook News and Review: Adina Medina.

Congradulations, we know you will enjoy all of the inspiration inside our magazine.

A Day of FUN!

Are you looking for a great day of fun?! We have an amazing day planned for you over in the Scrapbook News and Review Forums. It is our first in a series of summer long events- today is A Spring Into Summer. We have free workshops, challenges, games, prizes, and a gallery filled with brand new inspiration. This event has been months in the making, and you get to benefit.

So, pull out your scrapping supplies and head on over...It is definitely an afternoon you will not want to miss!

Welcome!!

A big welcome to everyone who is joining us from the Card Universe Oh Say Can You See 4th of July Blog Hop. If you came from Hand to Paper you are on the right track! If you didn't you may want to hop to the Card Universe and start at the beginning.

Today I want to show you my Lizzie Anne Designs Patriotic Card:



For this project, I used my sizzex die to cut out the flowers. My favorite trick for making flowers look lifelike and interesting is to fold the leaves. Too often, people cut out die cut or punched flowers, they layer them, but they leave them flat. You want realism, start moving the petals toward the center of the flower, helping them to curl and add depth.

This is a project made especially for the Spring into Summer Event coming up next week at Scrapbook News and review. Lizzie Anne Designs is one of the sponsors for this, and there will be an entire gallery filled with inspriration. There will also be workshops, challenges, games and more- for all of our sponsors. It is going to be an incredible afternoon- so clear your schedule!





Now, my blog is the first SNR Staff member blog on the hop so far. So, I get to give you our first secret word. Your word is: COUNTRY. Write this word down, and as you hop along the blog hop, be on the lookout for the rest of the SNR Staff blogs. Each staff member will have a secret word or phrase to give you. Collect them all, and when you arrive at th last stop- SNR, you will be asked to unscramble them and form a famous quote. If you can do this, you can win a chance at a free 1 year subscription to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine!

Which reminds me- I have a little blog candy to share with you! Each SNR staff member is also giving away a 1 month subscription to the magazine. To enter into this random drawing, simply leave a comment to this post. Your comment must include your email address, so I will know how to contact you. You have until 10PM CST Sunday July 5, 2009 to leave your comment. Want an extra entry? I will give all those signed up to follow my blog an entry too. So, leave a comment, and sign up to follow my blog, and that is 2 chances to win. Winner will be by random draw, and notified by email.

Now- for your next stop on the Blog Hop. You are off to visit Jeanette at H2O Creations. HAve a great time- and enjoy the rest of the Hop!!

4U

Don't you love teddy bears? I have a confession, I used to collect teddy bears. Had over 75 stuffed...until they threatened to over run me and take over my home. Now, I stick to the adorable paper variety.

This little guys was a coloring page on the internet. I opened him up in my graphics editor, scaled him to size, and printed him on some brown cardstock. Then I sanded and distressed the edges for a little texure. The bracket from Technique Tuesday made the perfect window.