A mini-book for National Scrapbooking Day | Club Scrap Blog Hop

I hope you're enjoying the Club Scrap [Inter]National Scrapbook Day blog hop.  Thanks for joining in!

I think some people forget how broad the term scrapbooking is. To me, scrapbooking is just a way of capturing moments and sharing them with those we love. It could be a home decor piece, an album full of layouts or a mini book. It's not always about making pages (although that's fun, too!).

This book starts with a box - I couldn't bear to cut into my Club Scrap paper to make this box, but doesn't it look lovely even if it isn't Club Scrap paper?

This book is from the Club Scrap 2011 retreat.  I finished it recently to give as a gift. It looks like I forgot to take a picture of it all closed up. It has a sweet elastic closure, and we used a lot of different techniques to distress the cover.

I used a rolodex die to create a little cover page for each section, used the index prints from my photo order as embellishments.  I think they are so sweet.

Each section has a blue cover.  I used my Sizzix to emboss the covers, and decorated with strips of coordinating paper (from Gimme a Ring) and stamped images (from Natural Resources).

Each page simply had stamped edges, and a photo. Easy peasy, as Jac would say.  :)

No gift is complete without a little love in it.

Minibooks make great gifts. My mom and dad loved this book, and I hope they fondly remember the time we spent together when they look at it. To me, scrapbooking is all about preserving memories. I hope you find some time to preserve yours - but not until you check out the next stop on this hop, Deb at DebDuzScrappin. If you missed anyone, or got lost along the way, please visit Club Scrap Creates for the whole list of bloggers.

More collaged backgrounds

Before I made my misted backgrounds last week, I experimented a bit with my new distress stains to see what kinds of effects those would yield.

I started by applying the stain through stencils, and then applied stain to stamps.  I used broken china and vintage photo here.  I also used the tattered leaves die to make some leaves for my cards.

On this card, I started with the same harlequin stencil, but then I used a CS stencil with ink and the Postcards from Paris stamps with ink to add a bit more definition in the background.  The blue panel was hand stamped with the same Postcards from Paris stamps in white pigment ink.

I'm wondering if I can get some of the same effects with watercolors.  I love the stains, but I already have lots of watercolors on hand.  If only I had more time to play...

Be sure to some back on May 4th.  I'll be sharing a mini-book I finished recently as part of the Club Scrap blog hop for National Scrapbook Day.  Mini-books make great gifts, and Mother's and Father's Day are closer than you think!

Misted Collaged Backgrounds | Club Scrap April 2013 Blog Hop

Welcome to the April Club Scrap blog hop, featuring the Spring Chorus kit.  I hope you enjoyed Roni's project and are looking forward to more inspiration for card making!

The blues and greens of this kit really inspired me to create some misted backgrounds with lots of water and stamps featuring natural images.

These cards are always unique. No two are ever quite the same.  I was also inspired by Tricia's art orphans, and Christine experimenting with mix'd media ink to play with my inks and stamps.

It's easier to show you how I made these, so I made a little video sharing my techniques and thoughts with you.
I hope this inspires you to "think spring" and use your mists to create some ephemeral backgrounds.  I still have three feet of snow on the ground in my yard, so I need all the help I can get with getting into the spring spirit!

Who can resist a card with a saying like this?

I hope you're enjoying the Club Scrap Blog Hop.  Next in our hop is the talented Deb at DebDuzScrappin.  If you missed anyone, or got lost along the way, please visit Club Scrap for the whole list of bloggers.

Supply list:

• White panels for misting from the Steppin' Out! kit - no longer available, but substitute any thick white paper of your choice.
• All other paper from the Spring Chorus collection
• Memories Mist by Stewart Superior - Blueberry Shake and Wheatgrass
• Hybrid ink from Club Scrap
• Just Dandy stamps from Club Scrap, along with assorted sentiments

A quick card collection - Bookshelves Blog Hop

It's the 27th, which means it's time for the latest Club Scrap Blog Hop featuring the March kit - Bookshelves. I hope you enjoyed the previous stop on this hop - Ink Stains with Roni.  I saw her sneak peeks, and it's a lovely project.

I made this lovely card collection for this months project.

I am in desperate need of some cards, and have had no time to make any lately due to the ice show this weekend (yes, I skated in it!).  So, I pulled out my trusty Club Scrap idea deck, and got to work on a card collection.

One of my favorite things to do is to pull out a card formula from my idea deck (five of diamonds here) and double it.  This formula called for two pieces of paper, and makes four cards.  Each card would then just have two colors that alternate.  By doubling the paper, you can mix and match more pieces.  Here are my four pieces that I selected.  I love to use patterned paper - it gives every card a bit of pizzazz with very little work from you.

I start by cutting all of the pieces and separating into piles.  These are my scraps - wow!  I love when I have no scraps.  Hey.... That larger piece looks stampable - it's not a scrap!

I then start to arrange the pieces to see what I might like to see together.  Although everything coordinates, some combinations just appeal to me more than others.  This is my modified assembly using the "scrap" on my card.

I pulled out my stamps and stamped all of the panels.  Sometimes, when I find a pattern I like, I just keep doing it.  No need to reinvent the wheel, and these sympathy cards won't end up in the same family, so nobody will know my little trick. I do a lot of color testing and stamp testing on my paper blotter.

On these cards, honestly, I was too lazy to get my cutter out to trim the larger panel, so I tore it.  I like the look, but it was born out of laziness!

You can see that I'm addicted to bows and ribbon.  I have a ribbon hanger in the hallway, and like to search to see if there are any scraps I can use when I'm making cards.

On this one, I used a border punch and dimensional paint to create an interesting edge.

This formula makes these wonderful z-cards that were a bit tricky to photograph.  I stamped on one edge (hidden here) with a border stamp to give it a bit of texture.  The inside has a greeting, too.  I like to put sentiments inside my sympathy cards so I don't have to write too much.  The words are never easy then.

All of my stamps are from Club Scrap, but are sadly not available any more.  All paper is from the Bookshelves Club Scrap Lite kit.  Ribbon is from my stash - I can't remember where for all of it!

Thanks for visiting me today on the blog hop!  Do you have any tips for using the card idea formulas in your card making?  Leave a comment and let me know.

Our next stop on the hop is Deb Duz Scrappin' - she's a great crafter and I can't wait to check out what she has in store for us this month! If you missed any of the blog posts, check out Club Scrap Creates for a complete list.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A few cards featuring some of my favorite irish quotes.

These cards were inspired by a design from Stamp TV.  Instead of buttons, I used button dazzles - less bulk, and they add a nice bit of shine.

All materials and stamps are from Club Scrap.

May the luck of the Irish be with you today (and always!).