All Things Paper - the release!

It's officially here, and the All Things Paper book is now available in the US.

Here is my little project that I contributed to the book, along with some Nottingham lace to set the mood.

I love little books for traveling, and the sentiment on the cover is one of my favorite Club Scrap stamps.  I was inspired by travel and maps that I'd picked up at a library book sale, and was curious how I could combine all of these items into a mixed-media cover.  At the time, I was taking some online classes, and I was wondering how I could use those techniques in my bookmaking.

This book is really different than a lot of the craft books out there. First off, it focusses on a variety of paper crafts. If you love paper like I do, you will find something that inspires you.  Secondly, the projects are a step above what you usually see in a book.  They range from quilling to box making (I think the box might even stump Kay!) and everything in between.  Finally, the projects themselves are a work of love.  The photography was done by each individual artist, and Ann did a fabulous job making sure everything was picture- and text-perfect.  Ann has a beautiful eye for selecting work, and has compiled a wonderful selection of artists to show their love of paper.

The All Things Paper blog has a giveaway going today through Sunday - check it out!

As soon as I can get my act together, I'll share some of my favorite projects from the book.  Until then, check it out on Amazon and look inside.  Also coming up soon are our annual anniversary cards!  Nine years and counting...

Half of the Cape Cod Blog Hop post

Welcome to the next stop on the Club Scrap blog hop for the Cape Cod kit!  I hope you're enjoying all of the inspiration from our crafters.  I absolutely love lighthouses, and navy blue is one of my all time favorite colors. Many a kit with blue paper has been cannibalized for its blue paper.  The other papers sometimes get sad and lonely until they're needed.

Whoops - need to get back on track!

So, what do you do when one of your very best friends gets engaged near a lighthouse?  Well, you use the Cape Cod paper to make her and her intended a fabulous keepsake and card!

Unfortunately, one of the rules of my blog is that the gift receiver gets to look at the present before you do, and she's out of town for a while. Not very good planning on my part!

What to do?  Well, if you're like me, you'll already know that if you're making one project, it's always better to make two.  All of the supplies are out, and you've got the mojo cranking (see my mojo posts from earlier this year for more tips like this!).

The 4 x 6 cut aparts in this kit really inspired me to make cards. My favorite card size is 5 x 7, and these 4 x 6 panels are just perfectly sized.  That empty space on them just screamed "put a greeting right HERE!" So, I did.

The photo mat frames it perfectly (no cutting involved!) and with two sheets of 12 x 12 paper, you're easily set to make two quick cards.

You're probably asking yourself - where is the other card since I'm talking about two?  Well, if your name is Meagan, it will be in the mail to you next week. A little something to look forward to. If your name isn't Meagan, there will be a blog post just as soon as she calls me to dish all the details on her engagement!

In other news, I just got an advance copy of the All Things Paper book. I'm a bit biased since I'm in it (and my project features the best stamps in the whole world - from Club Scrap!), but it is jaw droppingly beautiful.  There are 20 fabulous projects in there, all with fabulous step-by-step instructions. It's a large paperback, with each page a full-color glossy letter sized paper. It will officially be out on June 11th, so not too much longer to wait.

I do hope you'll stop by later to see what else I made from the lovely Cape Cod kit, and I hope you enjoy the next stop on our blog hop - DebDuzScrappin' - Deb Weller's fabulous blog.  If you got lost along the way or just want to start at the beginning, check our the Club Scrap Creates blog for a full directory.

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