Photo Tips

Great scrap books start with terrific photos! Now that I've been going through boxes of photos, I'm realizing what a terrible photographer I was. With today's cameras and a few tips from Erin Manning you can take awesome photos for your scrapbooks.

Scrapbooking

Okay, so I have finally decided to spend some time scrap booking my children. My children are not young and most would see this as a CrAzy task! My children are 19 and 12 and I have very little accomplished. I am totally relaxed about this whole thing. I don't need to have 10 albums per child! Just accomplishing one page at a time brings a huge smile to my face. Of course, I'm loving the ever so simple layouts. I don't want to take away from my children's photos. I have a once a month scrapbook night, come join me!

Ingredients: So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue Cardstock. Fish are from 'Just Beachy' (Saffron, Tangerine, and Riding Hood Red). Die cut letters (Go Go Boots) using the Big Shot. The bracket is made with the Top Note die.

Occasions Mini Sample

This is a great masculine card using "And Many Mower" from the Occasions Mini Catalog. Don't forget, there are only a few days left to take advantage of Stampin' Up!'s April's promotion.

Spend $40 on Occasions Mini products or host a $150 workshop and choose an item from the "Under $10" page in the Idea Book & Catalog for FREE! (Those who host a workshop will also receive the standard hostess benefits) - You can also receive promotion and hostess benefits by making a minimum of $150 purchase.

To view the Occasions Mini catalog, visit www.stampinup.com and click on 'Our Products'. To place an order, visit www.myhomegrownart.com

Card Ingredients: Real Red, Basic Gray, Black cardstock. Big Shot Texture Plates were used to create the pattern on the Gray cardstock. Word Window punch for the greeting.

I'm Here To Help!

Hello stamping friends! I just wanted to post a little note to let you know that I'd love to hear from you any time. If you have questions about products, need help on a project, or simply need the measurements from one of my cards/ projects, just send me an email! I really love what I do and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Also, I know how much I like to share my artwork with you and I'm guessing you probably like to share yours as well. Send me a photo! I'd love to see pictures of your paper craft projects.

Great Friend

I copied this card from my great friend and upline, Kim Allen (but changed the color combo). It's awesome how you can make this card season appropriate by simply changing the colors. The 'Great Friend' stamp set is available in the Occasions Mini.

Color Combo: So Saffron, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie.

Just Buzzin' By

Here is my frame layout again, double matted. I shifted the center slightly to allow room for ribbon. It's also mounted on Dimensionals to give it dimension of course!

Card Ingredients: Just Buzzin' By stamp set; So Saffron and Basic Black ink pads; blender pen and apricot ribbon (very close to the saffron!).

Lovin' This Layout!

I just can't get away from this summery stamp set! Yes, Just Beachy has these freakin' cute flip flops. I surprised myself with this color combo: Tempting Turquoise & Pacific Point. I think they look great together. The sand is Kraft cardstock stamped with Itty Bitty Backgrounds in Close to Cocoa. Wish Big is from 'Short and Sweet'. Flip flop colors are Bold Brights: Lovely Lilac, Tempting Turquoise, and Green Galore.

Just Beachy

I'm totally drawn to this stamp set (Just Beachy). I love how these fish appear to have personalities.

Did you notice this is the same layout as the 'Great Friend' card? This is a great layout for picturesque styled artwork. I can't wait to try it with other stamp sets as well. I love to create little scenes.

Card ingredients: Pacific Point and Whisper White cardstock; Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, and Riding Hood Red ink. The sea grass is from 'Season of Joy', however other stamp sets like Baroque Motifs would probably work just as well. The greeting is from 'Family Phrases'.

Another Mini Sample

'And Many Mower' is a fun masculine stamp set. I made this card at a demonstrator shoe box swap (sorry I don't know who designed it!); we got together and made each others projects...fun, fun, fun!

Card Ingredients: Mellow Moss cardstock and ribbon, Manchester Designer Series Paper, and and Baja Breeze Corduroy Brad (from the mini...love these!).

Simple and Elegant 'Great Friend'

This is another stamp set from the Occasions Mini called 'Great Friend'. I wish you could see the colors better in this photo. Elegant Eggplant is the background color, and it looks beautiful! The butterfly is stamped in Cameo Coral and the leaves in Always Artichoke. I love the matted picture frame look!

Hoppy For You

Those of you who know me know that I'm crazy about critters, especially frogs! When I saw the stamp set, 'Hoppy For You', in the Spring/ Summer IB&C it immediately went on my wish list. Check out some of these cute samples I made with it.

New Occasions Mini & April's Promotion

Just Beachy is just one of the many cute stamp sets in the new Occasions Mini Catalog. The set also includes flip flops, a sun, a bucket & shovel, & more! Click here to view the new mini catalog.

*April's Promotions: Spend $40 in the new mini and choose a free stamp from Pg. 208 of the Idea Book & Catalog! Want a catalog? Place an order online at www.myhomegrownart.com and Stampin' Up! will send you one for free! ($9.95 value)

This card was made using the new Circle Scissors Cutter, which can easily cut circles up to 6"! I used Stampin' Up!'s punches for the smaller circles. Colors are Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise, and Brilliant Blue. The greeting is from the stamp set Family Phrases.