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Archive for October, 2009
Challenge Gallery and New Challenge!
October 30th, 2009 
15 comments 
Hello from Washington! It’s a cold and blustery day-before-Halloween here, perfect for fall sweaters and warm scarves. I’m curled up next to the fireplace, laptop in hand, and I’m ready to look at some cards with stitching! Thanks again for all of your submissions – keep ‘em coming!
First up is a gorgeous bird and botanicals card by valfm66 – I apologize I couldn’t find your name in the email so I’m using your email address. The colors are beautiful, the attention to detail is perfect, and the stitching really hits home!
Create a stem and leaf with green thread like Laurel Seabrook did here to finish off a stunning handmade paper flower.
Create the look of wisps of wind like on this “Ever After” card by Brenda Weaver by handstitching a few swirls next to bold stamped leaves using a light colored thread.
Someone please teach me how to make these elegant knots in the middle of the stamped flowers on this “Friend” by Maile Belles! Such a fun finishing detail!
Winter is in full swing in some parts of the world – I hear Colorado got a good foot and a half of snow the other day! Create your own flurries of snow with some handstitched swirls like Kandi Phillips did on her “Happy Holidays” card.
A combination of two challenges in one – always a bonus! This “hello” card by Alice Wertz has some random stitching and boasts that simple, colorful, collage-y feel from last week’s challenge.
Use a template or various sized circle objects from around the house to create this concentric circles hand stitched flower card by Kelley Eubanks. Isn’t it eye-catching?!
Festive beads attached to the string while you’re stitching looks just like ornaments – how clever! This Merry Christmas To You card by Joy Ott is going to make the lucky recipient so happy!
Another fun idea for a holiday card is to handstitch different styles of lines across a paper Christmas tree and vary the color of thread like on this “Noel” card by Amy Heller. Don’t forget a dash of jewels for ornaments!
Here are those lovely knots again on these simple sentiment cards by Maile Belles. Wouldn’t this batch of cards make the best gift? I know I’d like to have a set 
And we’ll conclude with this fun card by Jess Moyer. Some handstitched swirls make the perfect resting place for cute’n'cuddly owls.
For this week’s challenge I thought I’d try something a little different. Any Project Runway fans out there? Did you see the episode a few weeks ago where they had to design an outfit made out of newspaper? I found some pictures on the internet but I’m afraid to post them due to copyright laws – so try googling “Project Runway Newspaper Challenge” if you’re curious. Anyways, I was so inspired by what the designers came up with that I want to see what fun card embellishments you can create out of newspaper, magazines, or vintage book paper! Think flowers, ruffles, ribbons, and bows. Please email your cards to paiget@scrapbooktrendsmag.com by next Thursday night or really early Friday morning.
Have a happy Halloween tomorrow! Until next week, ciao!
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Paige Evans
Crazy Jacks
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One of our talented readers, Nancy Holley, made this super cute and crazy jack-o-lantern hanging quilt, and I just had to share. The “Crazy Jacks” pattern (and a kit, if you so desire) is available from Buggy Barn right here. Thanks, Nancy!
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Tammy Morrill
Want to be a Scrapbook Trends Cover Girl?
Have you ever looked at our covers and dreamed about having your own layout featured? We love showcasing reader layouts on our covers and are always on the lookout for new ones. Here is a brief list of elements we watch for:
Photography
- A great photo is crucial for a cover layout
- One or two pictures is preferred
- The picture should either tell a story or be an eye-catching photo that has good eye contact with the reader
- Close-up photos that express emotion work well
- The photo should be dominant on the layout
Layout Design
- Engaging and striking layouts, with great design elements
- 12 x 12” , 6 x 6” and 8.5 x 11” all work (8.5 x 11” layouts must be vertical)
- Design should be well-crafted; not too busy, but with excellent elements and embellishments that add interest to the page
- Strong title
- Journaling is preferred, but not required. Journaling should be brief and keep the focus on the photography and design
- Digital layouts are accepted
We invite you to send layouts that fit the above criteria to submit@scrapbooktrendsmag.com with Cover Submission in the subject line.
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Pam Baird
Happy Halloween!
Halloween is only a few days away and I hope you are all ready for the big night of costumes and Halloween partying! I am really looking forward to seeing all the cool costumes out there this year.
Here’s a quick Halloween roundup featuring some of my favorite cards I recently spied on message boards. They are perfect to get us in the Halloween mood.
Up first is a card made by Kim Faucher - isn’t it adorable?! So much fun, and I love the way she incorporated all those bats.
Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Patterned paper: My Mind’s Eye, Papertrey Ink; Bat tape: K & Company; Border strip: My Mind’s Eye; Button: Papertrey Ink
I couldn’t resist this next card by Liz Qualman and I just fell in love with her hand-cut ghost. Isn’t it too cute to spook?
Here’s a little bit more about the process Liz used to create her card. “I love Halloween and this card was so much fun to make. I chose the Pebbles Spooky Collection for its fresh, funky patterns and especially the ghosts. First, I traced a ghost pattern on white cardstock and then used Pebbles Chips and Candy Dots to make crazy little eyes and drew the mouth with a felt tip marker. I added a black cardstock circle to the back of the ‘Spooky’ sticker for some extra texture and the big ‘Boo’ title is a sticker included in the kit.” Thanks for sharing, Liz!
And last (but definitely not least) is a card by Jaime Warren. I love the fabric piece she used in the background – beautiful!
Jaime used products from Pink Paislee’s Twilight line, which are just so awesome.
Now it’s time for another giveaway (you know I just love to give things away)! Leave me a comment about what you are looking forward to this weekend - candy, costumes, family time, or whatever your favorite Halloween thing is. Your comment will automatically enter you to win a 1-year online subscription to CARDS. Wahoo! Leave a comment by Sunday night 11:59 (MST) November 1st and we’ll randomly choose one of you to win.
If we don’t hear from the winner within 48 hours after announcement, we will randomly choose another winner.
Happy Halloween to all! Keep warm and stay safe. :)
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Alisha Gordon
Monster Bags
I was recently browsing through the inspirational world wide web, and, seriously, so many talented people out there! While in Halloween mode, I stumbled on these adorable monster bags by Charity Hassel. Oh, I just adore these monsters, they are my kind of scary!
Charity’s monster bags can be recreated quickly for those extra-special trick or treaters that stop by, or they can stick around longer and house all those yummy Halloween treats and toys that are only going to be around for a few more days. All you’ll need to make them are some small brown lunch sacks, patterned paper, stickers, and a small brad or two. Simple and perfect for a last minute project.
Charity shared a great tip with us too. She said “Place the brads in the monsters’ costumes before adhering monsters to gift bags – it’s much easier that way. Use foam adhesive on the monsters for extra dimension.”
Thanks for sharing, Charity! Hope you all enjoy a Happy Halloween!
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Alisha Gordon
WOW #16: Stamp a Background
Continuing on the same line of a few of the past Work It Out Wednesday projects, let’s do another tutorial on making one supply stretch.
I like to use one stamp to create a personalized background. You can do this with a shape stamp or even a word stamp.
You will need the following supplies to complete this project: a sheet of cardstock, a stamp, stamping ink, and sheet of scratch paper.
Step 1: Ink the stamp. (I like to ink my stamps upside down to get good coverage.)
Step 2: Begin by stamping slightly off the paper so the design will eventually cover the entire sheet of paper.
Step 3: Continue stamping a pattern (you may want to make small pencil dots for where each stamp will go until you feel more confident in this step).
Here is my completed project. I like to use a small to medium sized stamp to create a more detailed background.
(Supplies: Cardstock–Provo Craft; Pattern Paper–Bo Bunny, My Mind’s Eye, October Afternoon; Stamps–Hero Arts, Stampin’ Up; Stamping Ink–Versamark, Michael’s, Inque Boutique; Gems–Little Yellow Bicycle; Button–Making Memories; Ribbon–American Crafts; Twine–Craft Supply)
Did you play along? Add a link to your project in the comments section. I love being inspired by your fabulous work!!
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Jen Gallacher
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