Sunday Challenge 5th December 2010

Do you ever get finished on a LO and then sit and look at it for ages trying to think up a witty title? I know that I do, so this week's challenge was a revelation for me...

This week it's a simple one. Maybe you do this all the time or maybe you can't bear the thought of it... scrap a page without a title.

It's harder than you think as our design team discovered!

Please welcome Julie Dix to the design team for December. Here is her first LO of the month:



Amanda:

It did feel odd not putting a title on my page! To overcome the feeling that something was missing, I made sure to place little details in areas where I might usually consider putting my title. I filled the area beneath my photo with vintage seam binding and my journaling, my date was placed to the left of the pic and a flower embellishment to the right. I then added a little border strip above my picture. That way I wasn't tempted to slap a title in any of those spots!

Anna:

This photo is my brother and sister-in-law just before they had my nephew. I kind of used the heart for my title and made a bit more of the journaling to fill the space where the title should be! I thought this challenge was going to be more difficult than it was, it's great to use it when you really can't think of a title for a layout, like me with this photo!

Fabi:

I tried to think of an layout like a painting, so a title was not needed...
This was quite a challenge as I never scrap without titles. We are all looking forward to see your creations!

Here the details from the journaling:

Lisa:


Sometimes a page doesn't need a title I guess. The photos and journaling says it all.

Nic:
This challenge did challenge me - creating a LO without a title felt rather strange, looking back through my albums, every single LO I've ever made has a title. As not having a title felt a bit different I decided to downsize from my normal 12 x 12", instead making a 5 x 7" sized LO using an old photo of all my grandparents to fill a photo frame. This is the LO:

and here it is in the photoframe:

Rebekah:

I found a great LO in a UK magazine this week by Katharyn Brine and I lifted it here for this week's challenge. Actually, it didn't start out as being for this week's challenge but when I finished it I couldn't think of a three word title and I wanted it to be a three word title because that's what Katharyn had done and it looked so good. So I decided to leave the LO as it is. It does seem slightly unfinished to me, but perhaps it'll grow on me?! :)

Tessa:
I went through the last fifty or so layouts I've made and could only find a couple that didn't have a title. Titles are something I struggle with sometimes, so I'm grateful that this challenge inspired me to change up my thinking about actually needing one.

Valerie:
No title - this was hard for me. I go through phases with titling - sometimes it's really big, sometimes really small. I'm not one for big 'punny' or cutesy titles. I did learn with this challenge, though, that I always include some kind of title on my layouts. I also learned that I can't make a layout without graphic type elements. So here's what I came up with. No title specifically, but still managed to use my beloved graphic elements:

materials: cardstock: Bazzill; patterned cardstock, letter stickers: Echo Park; tape: Tim Holtz; stamp: Hero Arts; metallic accents: Ranger; date stamp: office supply

Have a Quick and Easy Christmas!

Hi everyone!

Well, December snuck up on us all too quickly, didn't it?! This month we're going to be sharing with you some 'Quick and Easy' Christmas projects! The idea is to give you some ideas for things you can make quickly with minimal effort to help you through the holiday season.

First up we have a tutorial from Fabi, with an idea for using some of your photographs to make Christmas decorations. You can view her tutorial here.

Do you have some other ideas to share with us? Let us know in the comments - we'd love to hear your ideas for taking the stress out of Christmas crafting, too!

Have a great December and check back regularly for more simple Christmas ideas :)

Wednesday Extra 1st December 2010

Hello everyone, Nic here with today's Wednesday extra project. 

It's that time of year when we start to think about the process of decorating our homes for Christmas, and so in keeping with this, I thought I'd devote my Wednesday extra to a tutorial that is all about decorating an item.  I often think to myself that the many beautiful papers and embellishments we scrappers have at our disposal deserve to take centrepiece within our homes, so decided to decorate something that could be displayed in my home both throughout the Christmas festivities and beyond!  I was also mindful of the fact that it's an extremely busy time of the year so wanted a project that was super easy to make and required minimal time, effort and thought.   In came the Kaisercraft handbag tidy that I've had sitting inside my stash for a while now combined with a couple of minature plants and hey presto, one finished project:  a decorated handbag planter.

If you'd like to view my tutorial for this project, it can be seen here.

Design Team call! (Feb 2011 - Jul 2011)

It’s that time again – The Studio needs YOU! We’re searching for the new Studio design team!

This time we are looking for FOUR layout designers, FOUR card designers and FOUR papercrafters who love to write tutorials and articles.

What is required from our DT members:

Layout team:
1. Maintain a regular presence on our blog
2. Commenting on followers' blogs and encouraging those who enter our challenges
3. Creating 1 scrapbook page per fortnight for our regular Sunday challenges We may also ask you to create an occasional extra project for special events
4. Setting occasional challenges and other ad-hoc requirements, such as posting to the blog

Card team:
1. Maintain a regular presence on our blog
2. Commenting on followers' blogs and encouraging those who enter our challenges
3. Creating 1 card per fortnight for our regular Sunday challenges We may also ask you to create an occasional extra project for special events
4. Setting occasional challenges and other ad-hoc requirements, such as posting to the blog

Tutorial team:
1. Maintain a regular presence on our blog
2. Commenting on followers' blogs and encouraging those who enter our challenges
3. Creating 1 project per month for our regular ‘Wednesday Extra’ feature. This would generally be a tutorial or article. We may also ask you to create an occasional extra project for special events
4. Setting occasional challenges and other ad-hoc requirements, such as posting to the blog

Our site does not run for profit, just fun, so there is no payment (money or stash!) for your work. Products may be supplied to the DT on occasion by sponsors. Of course, you also have another string to add to your scrapbooking resume!

So, to apply email amanda@scrapbook-101.com with DT call in the subject field, and include the following:

1. THREE projects which showcase your best work (image files no bigger than 1MB please) and are relevant to the team you would like to be part of. Please specify which team you are applying for. If you would like to apply for more than one team you do NOT need to send separate applications.
2. A paragraph about who you are, why you’re PASSIONATE about paper and glue, and what you could bring to our team.
3. A link to your blog and any online galleries you have
4. A list of any current or past design teams you have belonged to. Previous experience is not required – we love to see NEW talent! Your passion and enthusiasm are what’s important!

Our DT call is open to everyone, past DT members are also welcome to re-apply. International applicants are welcomed and encouraged to apply. If you have any questions regarding the call please email me at amanda@scrapbook-101.com

The call is open now, and will close on 20th December 2010. Those selected will be notified shortly after that date.

The term for successful applicants will run from 1st Feb 2011 – 31st July 2011.

Good luck to all who apply!

Sunday Challenge 28th November 2010

The final weekend in November already! Goodness me. Well, let's celebrate with another great challenge shall we?

It's our Sunday sketch challenge this week! I've created a sketch for you, and the challenge along with it is to use a monochromatic colour scheme.

Sadly we have to say goodbye to our November Guest Designer, Sophie Crespy, today but what a way to go out. Look at this stunning LO. Thank you Sophie.


That last challenge was the hardest one for me!! I loved the sketch but the monochromatic part was the hardest!! and that is as much monochromatic as I can get!! My girl is pink obsessed so the color was easily chosen!! Thank you again to Amanda and the whole team for this lovely November I spent with you at the Studio!!

Anna:

This challenge was quite a difficult one for me as I like using lots of different colours when I scrap so keeping it to different shades of the same colour was definitely a challenge! I chose this photo of my brother and nephew in the pool on holiday, as it had lots of blue in the photo I just went with it and ended up a bit blue mad!

Fabi:
I really enjoy sketches. They made my mojo flow more easily and are always a nice start for a layout. The challenge for me was the monocromatic, but i liked the result. I've had this picture of my son at 2 years...he was sad about vacation finishing. Its not a new picture but I thought it would go perfectly with the blue monocromatic challenge. Below some details of the work Ive made in the chipboard doodle: ive covered it with blue metalic paint and sprinkled emboss all over it, to create a texture.Than made some paper flowers to add an extra "something" lol. XX



Lisa:

Nic:

Making a monochromatic page was a first for me - I've wanted to scrap this photo of my son for a long time, and so decided to go with the snowy theme and chose to use many different hues of white including a bit of sparkle for some added interest. I love the end result so guess I'll be experimenting with some more monochromatic projects in the future!

Rebekah:
Okay, so it's not quite monochrome but I couldn't find any paper that complimented the photo so I went with orange and browns for the accents and hope you won't notice the greens and yellows in the paper ;) Love working from a sketch but did mix it up a bit. Not really sure why! Just in one of those moods I guess.

Sue:

Tessa:

It's no secret that I love yellow monochromatic layouts.  However, I've never made a boy-ish one, so I challenged myself to make one work for my little guy. 

Val:

I just love to work with a sketch. It makes life so much easier when you don't have to worry about where to put the parts. You can compound the ease-factor if you throw in a club kit. Then you don't have to worry about what the parts are (besides photos, of course!) Since this is the season where I notoriously over-extend myself, I was thrilled to have these options for this layout. Most of the materials here are from a club kit from a few months ago - with a couple of extra items thrown in for good measure. The layout tells the story of the day our friend came to pick up some cookies he ordered from me in his airplane. We met him at our local commuter airport. The kids got to sit in the cockpit and good fun was had by all. Oh, and it was the first time anyone ever picked up a cookie order by plane. Here's a close up:

supplies: patterned cardstock: Basic Grey, Studio Calico, Girls Paperie; letters: Making Memories; frames: K & Co.; rub ons: Basic Grey; die cuts: Girls Paperie; stamp: Studio Calico; tab punch: McGill

Don't forget to upload your LO and add a link using the Inlinkz in the sidebar to be in with a chance of winning this month's prize.

Wednesday extra - 24th November 2010

Today we have a truly stunning home decor project to share - this beautiful canvas which has been created by Tessa.

Tessa's tutorial can be found here.  Enjoy!

Sunday Challenge: 21st November 2010

Have you started (or finished) your Christmas shopping? This week your challenge is to scrapbook about shopping! Maybe you'll scrap your shopping list, pictures of your favourite purchases or journal about how much you detest heading to the supermarket.

Make sure that you add your creations to our link in the side bar to be in with a chance of winning this month's prize and so that we can have a look :) Here are some ideas from our design team to help you along your way...

Amanda:

I decided to focus the page on my love of shopping for pre-loved goods! I enjoy shopping for cute and quirky items at antique shops, markets, charity shops and auctions. I love giving a new home or purpose to things that other people have previously cared for.

I used a mixture of new items like the felt AC flower and crafter's workshop template, alongside vintage goodies such as the old music papaer, pins and floral playing card. This page makes me smile :)

Anna:

I love going shopping at this time of year to see all the Christmas windows full of pretty decorations and gifts and the Christmas lights. Especially when we go into Bath to shop as it's so pretty anyway and all the Christmas decorations make it extra pretty! It really makes you feel full of Christmas cheer!

Lisa:This week I decided to document a way I did my grocery shopping for years. Louis was a very difficult little boy right up until he started school. My way to combat this was through disctraction, keep him busy. So I introduced him to his own shopping lists when we went food shopping. His would have pictures on and he had to look out for these items and put them into the trolley. This really worked and made shopping much easier with him.

Nic:

A page to celebrate my favourite kind of shopping - stash shopping of course *winks* It's become a new tradition to visit the big stamp and scrapbook show at Alexandra Palace so this was the theme for my LO. I made an envelope from kraft cardstock to store my show tickets and receipts.
Tessa:

The only holiday shopping I truly look forward to is our traditional Sisters' Shopping Trip the day after Christmas.  These photos are from last year, when we stopped at Old Navy and posed for pictures with their super cute mannequins.  The employees and other customers thought we were strange, but we had fun!
Val:

supplies: Patterned paper: Basic Grey, Making Memories; letter stickers: Making Memories; chipboard shapes, border sticker: Crate; sticker tab: October Afternoon; stamp: Studio Calico

I used to love it when I was younger (and had more disposable income) but now I detest going to the mall. Especially near the holidays. It's this time of year especially that I rely on the stacks and stacks of mail order catalogs that arrive in my mailbox daily. I know the internet will eventually do away with my 'glossy shopping center,' but for now, I love to sit down with a stack and a cup of coffee and a pad of post-it notes.

Sophie (GDT)
This challenge was a hard one for me! being a mother of two young kids and living in a very small town I don't get many occasions to shop ! so when I do , I get things that really please me ! that is what my layout is about! shopping for the sake of my soul!!




papers: basic grey and jenny bowlin studio
embellishments american crafts and pink paislee
and lots of clothes tags!!