Special Guest Blogger: Cindy Tobey
05/29/2009 at 10:05 pm | Posted in guest blogger | 16 CommentsTags: Cindy Tobey, Creating Keepsakes, crepe paper flowers, guest blogger, Scrapbooking, technique
Hello! I’m Cindy Tobey, a member of the 2009 Creating Keepsakes Dream Team. I’m so excited to be this week’s guest blogger! In celebration of spring and the beautiful flowers that are blooming outside I’m going to share how I created the crepe paper flower on my layout.
Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Patterned paper: BoBunny (green dots), Cosmo Cricket (blue floral), Making Memories (green solid), Scenic Route (green circle); Journaling tag: Scenic Route; Paper frill: Doodlebug; Chipboard: We R Memory Keepers; Stickers: KI Memories; Ribbon: Cosmo Cricket (green stripe), Jenni Bowlin (crepe paper), SEI (green dot); Buttons: Fancy Pants Designs; Font: Nevison Casual downloaded from fonts.com; Other: beads, felt, thread.
To create this bloom I used Jenni Bowlin’s Crepe Paper Ribbon, Fancy Pants Designs buttons, and some seed beads.
1. With a pencil, lightly draw a circle where you want the flower to be and at the size you want your flower. You can do this free hand or by tracing around something circular. I used a roll of masking tape as a template for my circle.
2. Apply adhesive around the outside of your circle. I used a permanent dry dots adhesive.
3. Add crepe paper ribbon, all the way around your circle tracing. You will need to make small folds in the ribbon as you go.
4. Add three more circles of the ribbon. You can sketch a circle for each addition or just “eyeball it” based on the ribbon circle you’ve already completed.
5. Place a dimensional glue dot into the center of each button. You can use liquid adhesive but the glue dots are much faster.
6. Press each button (with glue dot) into the seed beads. Fill in any empty spots with beads by hand. (The thick glue dots allow you to really push the beads down into the adhesive for better staying power.)
7. Finally add the bead decorated buttons to your flower with glue dots.
I hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to make this flower and will give it a try! Thanks, and happy creating!
Cindy
For more creative ideas from Cindy, check out her work in 101 Expert Solutions for Scrapbooking and visit her happy blog!
Trend Talk: Cool Looks with Clotheslines
05/29/2009 at 2:52 am | Posted in Hot Trends | 11 CommentsTags: Boxer, clotheslines, clothespins, crafts, Creating Keepsakes, Hambly Screen Prints, Hip & Humble, K&Company, Lori Fairbanks, MAMBI, Megan Hoeppner, Scrapbooking, trends
photos from Hip and Humble, Salt Lake City
Love is in the Air by Megan Hoeppner Supplies Cardstock: Die Cuts with a View; Letter stickers: American Crafts and Making Memories; Image stickers: American Crafts, Close To My Heart, Chatterbox, Glitz Design and Making Memories; Gem: K&Company; Pen: EK Success; Adhesive: Glue Arts and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L; Other: Clothespins, cording and fabric.
Your Turn to Chat
Now that you’ve “listened” in on what a typical trend conversation sounds like between us, we would love to hear from you. What trends are you spotting? How are you incorporating those ideas into your scrapbook pages? Where do you go to find trends? Please, dish. Trends are a favorite topic around here, and we can’t wait to hear what’s on your mind.
Your trend-loving friends, Lori Fairbanks and Megan Hoeppner
Weekly Warm-Up
05/26/2009 at 12:28 am | Posted in weekly warm up | 3 CommentsTags: Beth Opel, birthday layouts, CK, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes magazine, creativity, free downloads, journaling, pet layouts, playtime layouts, scrapbook inspiration, scrapbook pages, Scrapbooking, sports layouts, submissions, technique, titles, wedding layouts, weekly warm up
Happy Tuesday, Friends of CK!
Coming to you this week a day later than usual, but never fear–the Weekly Warm-Up is here!
As scrapbookers, we wear many hats–we’re photographers, historians, designers, artists and storytellers. It seems that many of you are least confident in that last aspect of the hobby, so today we’re going to focus on the story. We’re here for you, dear readers!
In the June issue of Creating Keepsakes, we focus on your most-scrapped topics, with a reader gallery full of awesome layout inspiration.
Perhaps amidst all the fantastic designs you missed the little online icons that direct you to additional content on our website. So in case they slipped past your notice, check these out:
Stymied for a title? You’ll find great title ideas for:
Need a fresh journaling approach? Find a ton of ideas for:
I can just feel the inspiration oozing from your pores now. Get scrappin’, people!
And one last suggestion: If you’re on Facebook, be sure to become a fan of Creating Keepsakes to receive updates, submission calls and additional cool ideas!
Beth Opel
Senior Writer, Creating Keepsakes
some gave all
05/25/2009 at 12:52 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 4 CommentsTags: Beth Opel, CK, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes magazine, Memorial Day, military, military families, military scrapbooking, military wives, Scrapbooking
Hello Again, Friends!
This is a special day.
Today we pause to remember. To honor and thank those who paid the ultimate price so that we can have our picnics and parades and parties. To recognize the sacrifice of the families whose loved ones gave their lives in order that our freedoms could be preserved. To consider the ongoing challenges of those who voluntarily put themselves in harm’s way to protect our country, our values and our way of life.
We at Creating Keepsakes would like to extend special thanks to military wives and mothers today. We appreciate the commitment you show to your loved ones in the service, and we admire and respect your courage.
"Defining Moment" by Carol Banks
So whoever and wherever you are, enjoy your holiday today, but never forget what it means. And to our heroes . . . thank you. We can never express how deeply we appreciate the difficult choices you have made and continue to make on our behalf.
Beth Opel
Senior Writer, Creating Keepsakes
Special Guest Blogger: Kim Kesti
05/22/2009 at 5:06 pm | Posted in guest blogger | 4 CommentsTags: card, CK, Creating Keepsakes, guest blogger, handmade cards, Kim Kesti, Paper Crafts, Paper Crafts Pro, Scrapbook
Well hello, my scrappy friends! I’m just excited to be guest blogging today. Actually, it feels a little bit like old home week. You see, before I joined the Paper Crafts magazine team as a Paper Crafts Pro, I was a die hard scrapbooker. And, I still really, really love scrapbooking and everything about it.
Nowadays, I combine my love of papercrafting and my scrapbooking. Recently, I created this 8 X 8 page for my new daughter’s album.
When I finished, I gathered up all the scraps from my work surface and quickly created this cute card:
It only took me about ten minutes and I love how it turned out. This card, like most I create, is done in five steps or less, and the cost? Practically nothing since everything came out of my stash. Gotta love that.
If you are interested in card making, please check out our brand new issue of Paper Crafts Magazine! It’s our “Eco” issue and includes many, many tips on saving time, money and resources. In fact, one article I participated in is called “5 Cards 5 Occasions 5 Dollars”. You can take that one to the bank. Hee, hee.
Thanks for letting me share my passion! I say, “Scrapbookers and Papercrafters Unite.”
Hugs!
Kim Kesti
Paper Crafts Pro
For more from Kim, check out the happy things happening on her blog and read her “With the Pros Wednesday” post that she did this week on the Paper Crafts blog.
P.S. Don’t forget that today is Free Font Friday. Get this week’s free font here!
You Be the Judge Winner (May)
05/22/2009 at 12:19 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments
Thanks for helping us narrow down our choices for publication by voting for your favorite page. (For more info, see my last post.) We received 894 total votes for 5 selected pages. And the winner is No Coffee for Me, Mom by Joscie!
Congrats! This page will be featured in the October 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes in our Reader Gallery column. Thanks to all of you who voted.
Joscie, please email me at editorial@creatingkeepsakes.com (with “You Be The Judge winner” in the subject line) so we can go over the next steps.
Thanks again for voting, everyone! Don’t forget to put your pages on the online gallery—we could pick it to be published in a future issue.
–Joannie McBride, Assistant Editor
Weekly Warm-Up: Make It Easier than Ever (part deux)!
05/18/2009 at 12:21 am | Posted in CK & Me, weekly warm up | 5 CommentsTags: Beth Opel, Cindy Tobey, CK, Coldplay, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes idea book, Creating Keepsakes magazine, double-page spreads, Easier Than Ever 2, easy, Frank Sinatra, Leah LaMontagne, Linda Ronstadt, Lionel Richie, Lisa Dorsey, reader gallery, save time and money, Scrapbook, Scrapbooking, scrapbooking shortcut, simple, simple scrapbooking, simplify scrapbooking, step-by-step, time-saving, weekly warm up
Gooooooooooooooood Monday, Everyone!
Let’s face it. Life can be hard. We’re always looking for ways to simplify, streamline and shortcut our tasks, processes and even hobbies. In fact, it seems that we long for an “easy button” in many aspects of our lives.
“Easy” is such a popular concept that it has frequently been reflected in our life soundtracks. Remember Linda Ronstadt’s claim, “It’s So Easy to fall in love”? Lionel Richie informed us that he was “Easy like Sunday morning.” Coldplay insisted that they were “so Easy to Please,” and Frank Sinatra encouraged us to “take it Nice and Easy.”
We know that you’re busy, so easy’s the name of the game when it comes to your scrapbooking, too. You want quick, fast, no-sweat designs and tips. Brand-spankin’ new from Creating Keepsakes, here’s the very idea book you have been looking for!
You absolutely MUST get your hand on this special issue. It has so much of what you love: double-page spreads, step-by-step instructions, and tons of tips for quick and beautiful pages using the supplies you have. Check out these terrific layouts taken from the pages of Easier-than-Ever 2:
"My Hunny" by Leah LaMontagne
"Play Doh & Toothpick Math" by Cindy Tobey
"Free Falling" by Lisa Dorsey
Now that we’ve whetted your appetite, check out even more in our sneak peek. Ready to get your hands on your own copy? We’ve even got an extra incentive for you–head to our online store and use this coupon code: QEYB-5778-ULYB–before May 31, and receive 15% off your purchase of this special issue!
For your Weekly Warm-Up, take inspiration from one of the layouts above or in the sneak peek . Scraplift a technique, design, concept, etc. Be sure to upload your creations to our online gallery! And don’t forget to drop us a line for our CK and Me challenge. Send us a link to your page and describe how you drew inspiration from one of the layouts from Easier Than Ever 2 to letters@creatingkeepsakes.com. Put “CK & Me” in the subject line. You just may see your “CK & Me” story right here on our blog!
Cheers!
Beth Opel
Senior Writer, Creating Keepsakes
Our Heroes
05/16/2009 at 10:00 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 CommentTags: Armed Forces Day, army scrapbooking, Beth Opel, CK, coast guard scrapbooking, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes magazine, marines scrapbooking, military, military scrapbook supplies, military scrapbooking, national guard scrapbooking, navy scrapbooking, scrapbook pages, Scrapbooking
Hello, Friends!
Yes, here we are with another weekend blog. This time, we’re posting a special tribute in celebration of Armed Forces Day. The men and women who serve our country deserve our thanks and support for the ongoing sacrifices they make to ensure our freedoms.
I’m sure that most of us know someone who is either currently serving or who has served in the military. My cousin Andrew spent some time in Iraq a few years ago, and my sister and I were able to use scrapbooking to help him cope. We created a simple album for him with photos of all of us back here in the states who were praying for and supporting him, and he still refers to how much that meant to him while he was far away from loved ones. Upon his return, his mom and sister compiled another album to document his experience, using memorabilia he collected during those years. Both of these projects highlight the importance of our hobby in preserving history and honoring the lives of those who we hold dear.
Do you have a loved one who is or has served in the military? Why not create a layout honoring them today? Their efforts preserve the life we sometimes take for granted. Let them know how important they are by creating a page or two or even an entire album.
"Life Preserver" by Beth Opel
Looking for products or ideas for military scrapbooking projects? Check here for an entire site devoted to just that!
Beth Opel
Senior Writer, Creating Keepsakes
Special Guest Blogger: Kelly Purkey
05/15/2009 at 1:42 pm | Posted in guest blogger | 5 CommentsTags: American Crafts, CK, CK Dream Team, Cosmo Cricket, Creating Keepsakes, guest blogger, heat embossing, Kelly Purkey, Ranger
Hello! I’m Kelly Purkey, a member of CK’s 2008 & 2009 Dream Team. I was thrilled to be asked to be the guest blogger here this week. I wanted to share one of my favorite techniques with you today—heat embossing with an embossing pen. I love embossing since it was one of the first techniques I learned when I started scrapbooking and card making. Using a pen with clear powder is a great way to add some gloss and shine your scrapbook pages.
For this layout I used a Ranger embossing pen and clear embossing powder from American Crafts. I used it combined with my new favorite Cosmo Cricket patterned paper.
1.) Pull out your embossing pen and color over elements of the pattern paper you want to make shiny. Pour embossing powder over top and shake excess off of the paper.
2.) Heat with an embossing gun. The clear powder will melt onto the paper and make the part that you covered look wet.
3.) Add fun details with embossing powder to spice up pre-made embellishments. I took the little birdie and added some polka dots with my pen, then covered those with powder and heated them up. So easy to create your own touches!
Supplies: Cardstock: (American Crafts); patterned papers (Cosmo Cricket); letter stickers (American Crafts – chipboard, Close to My Heart); chipboard (Cosmo Cricket); punches (Fiskars); adhesive (Fiskars)
I hope you’ll give heat embossing with a pen a try. I think you’ll be really pleased with the pretty results! It’s a great way to make products really shine.
Have fun!
Kelly
A Look Inside CKC
05/14/2009 at 1:00 pm | Posted in Insider's Look | 15 CommentsTags: CK, CKC, class projects, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes Convention, Embellish It!, Megan Hoeppner, Queen & Co., St. Louis, Vendor Faire
One of my favorite parts of my job is definitely teaching at the Creating Keepsakes Conventions (CKC). These shows, which take place all over the country, bring enthusiastic scrappers together to create, play and have fun!
I’m actually typing this on the airplane on my way to CKC Manchester in New Hampshire. So, to get in the CKC spirit and give you an inside glimpse into the show, I have a few videos to share from my last CKC experience in St. Louis, MO.
First, let’s take a look at just a few of the cool class projects you can make at the show.
To really be CKC cool, you must dress yourself in the finest convention logo wear. Our store has some awesome clothing available, including the super popular “Scrap Chick” t-shirt. Plus, you’ll find an assortment of our latest CK products for sale. Click on the video below to take a look inside the store:
As a CK blog reader, you know how we feel about giveaways around here—the more the merrier! Well, the CKCs are no exception. We have class giveaways and the CKC team always hosts a fun layout contest, where awesome prizes are awarded! Here’s a look at some of the entries from the St. Louis show:
And what would any scrapbooking convention be without some fantastic scrap shopping? The Vendor Faire is packed with the latest products, as well as screamin’ deals and friendly faces. Here’s just a taste of what can be found:
Embellish It! Booth
Queen & Co. Booth
Are you attending CKC Manchester this weekend? If so, please take a minute to say hello. I’ll likely be the one in the pink polka dot apron, holding the video camera. 😉 And if you’re not in the Manchester area, worry not; as I said before, we have conventions all over. Click here for a list of the towns we’ll be visiting this year. We hope to see ya at one soon.
Cheers!
Megan Hoeppner, Creative Editor
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