Weekly Warm-Up: Spring is in the Air
04/12/2010 at 1:12 pm | Posted in Uncategorized, weekly warm up | Leave a commentTags: Adorn It - Carolee's Creations, CK, CK March/April 2010, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes magazine, creativity, giveaway, Lori Fairbanks, March/April 2010, Mou Saha, My Mind's Eye, Sassafras, Scrapbook, scrapbook pages, Scrapbooking, weekly warm up
Good morning! I hope you’re enjoying some beautiful spring weather and have had the opportunity to get out and take some terrific photos of your springtime activities and happenings.
Looking for fun ideas for scrapbooking them? You’ll love our March/April 2010 issue particularly Mou Saha’s “Spring is in the Air” article. She shows you how to use pre-made products like stickers and patterned paper to create seasonal accents like rainbows, kites, and clouds for your spring-themed scrapbook layouts. Here’s a sneak preview of two of the darling pages featured in this article.
I love how Mou used patterned paper featuring clouds as the background for this page, and it’s so clever how she used photo corners to create the kite.
"Let's Fly a Kite" by Mou Saha, as seen in the March/April 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes
Look how cute the buttons make this rainbow patterned paper. If you want to recreate this look but don’t have this particular patterned paper, don’t fret! Use a circle cutter or a dinner plate to cut concentric circles or rings in several colors of cardstock. Then just ink the edges of each piece, arrange them to look like a rainbow and adhere your buttons.
"You Are My Rainbow" by Mou Saha, as seen in the March/April 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes
How about some fun products to scrapbook your photos with? Check out the cute bees and flowers on the Bee Happy line from AdornIt – Carolee’s Creations:
Another cute line you won’t want to miss is Quite Contrary from My Mind’s Eye:
And, if you’re feeling spunky, you’ll want to check out this energetic line from Sassafras called Nerdy Bird:
Want to win one a sampling of one of these great spring lines? Leave us a comment by this Friday, April 16, 2010 and let us know what you like to take photos of in the spring. We’ll choose three lucky winners from the comments to win one of these three great lines.
–Lori Fairbanks, editor
Trend Talk: Ruffles
03/31/2010 at 5:00 am | Posted in General Inspiration, Hot Trends | 7 CommentsTags: CK, CK March/April 2010, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes magazine, creative editor, creativity, Lori Fairbanks, Megan Hoeppner, Mou Saha, Ruffles, Scrapbook, scrapbook pages, Scrapbooking, Stacy Cohen, Trend Talk, trends
-Megan Hoeppner, creative editor, and Lori Fairbanks, editor
Scavenger Hunt: March/April 2010
03/18/2010 at 3:42 am | Posted in Scavenger Hunt | 12 CommentsTags: BasicGrey, CK, CK March/April 2010, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes magazine, Dorathy Gilchrist, giveaway, Kim Watson, March/April 2010, Mou Saha, Scavenger Hunt, Scrapbook, Scrapbooking, Webster's Pages
Hello! We hope you had a lovely St. Patrick’s Day yesterday. If your lucky leprechaun didn’t quite find you a pot of gold, here’s another chance to gain some goodies! As you read your March/April issue of Creating Keepsakes, jot down your answers to the questions below and e-mail them to us for your chance to win a lucky prize package from BasicGrey. (You’ll find more details at the end of this post.)
1. Name one of the five major idea categories in the “Scrapbook Your Life” article.
2. If you were to make a layout based on this issue’s “Seasonal Solutions” theme, what would yours be about specifically?
3. What is the contest mentioned in “Scrappetizers”?
4. How did Kim Watson make the seasonal accent on her “Egg Hunt” layout?
5. What are two items you see in the sky that could inspire layout accents, as taught by Mou Saha?
6. Who used coffee mixed with gesso as paint on her layout?
7. What product has Webster’s Pages come out with recently, as seen in “Latest & Greatest”?
8. What four products were used as masks in the “Tips & Tricks” screen test?
9. What is the common animal in the pet layouts in this issue? (Hint: Check out the index where all layout themes and pages are listed!)
10. What is one of your favorite layouts or techniques from this issue and why?
E-mail your answers to ckblog@creatingkeepsakes.com by midnight MST on Sunday, March 21, 2010. Be sure to put “March/April scavenger hunt” in the subject line. We will choose two winners by random drawing from the correct responses and post them on the Giveaways tab on or around Monday, March 22, 2010.
—Dorathy Gilchrist, associate editor
Choose Our Cover: Winner
03/15/2010 at 7:34 pm | Posted in Promo, You Be the Judge | 6 CommentsTags: CK, cover, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes magazine, Jennafer Martin, Linda Barber, Mou Saha, scrapbook pages, Scrapbooking, Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks, vote, voting, Wendy Sue Anderson
You know how they say “be careful what you ask for”? Well, we asked you to choose the cover of our next Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks special issue, and wow—did you ever respond! For a week, all three cover options have been neck and neck, each barely inching out the others for the chance to win. At one point or more, each option was in the lead. What a close race!
But after more than 1,200 votes, the winner is clear: option number 2!
Ta daaaah! The scrapbook layout on this cover was made by the talented Linda Barber.
In case you were wondering who the talented scrapbookers behind the other options are, they are CK Dream Team member Wendy Sue Anderson behind option #1:
And CK contributing writer Mou Saha behind option #3:
Thanks to all of you who voted. We appreciate you input and are excited to feature the cover YOU chose for this issue, which will be on sale in May.
Jennafer Martin, editor-in-chief
March/April 2010 Issue: An Insider’s Look
03/11/2010 at 3:52 am | Posted in General Inspiration, Insider's Look, Uncategorized | 57 CommentsTags: Brigid Gonzalez, CK, CK Shows You How, cover photo, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes magazine, creative editor, creativity, Donna Creedon, giveaway, Iris Uy, Jennafer Martin, Jennifer McGuire, Kim Watson, Liz Hicks, Lori Fairbanks, Megan Hoeppner, Mou Saha, reader pages, ribbon, Scrapbook, scrapbook layouts, scrapbook pages, Scrapbooking, Shelley Jaquet, spray ink, Stacy Cohen, stamping, Tattered Angels, technique, techniques, Tools & Techniques
Hey there! Are you as antsy for spring as I am? If so, make sure you check out the March/April issue of Creating Keepsakes. It’s got so many great ideas for spring-themed pages and techniques to try on them that you’ll be thinking warm, sunny thoughts, even if it’s still a bit chilly outside.
Here are three of my favorite items from this issue, along with a couple of tidbits from our team:
1. Stamping with a template and spray ink
Spritzing and stamping? Ooh la la! Stamping makes me happy, so I was so thrilled to learn about this technique from Liz Hicks, education coordinator for Tattered Angels. I love how Dream Team member Kim Watson interpreted the idea on her page. Want to learn more? Get step-by-step instructions in this month’s “CK Shows You How” column on page 23, and see Liz’s video demo.
"She Has Spring in Her Step" by Kim Watson, as seen in the March/April 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes, page 26
2. Lots and lots of beautiful pages
If you need a little scrapbooking eye candy, then you’re going to love our “Scrapbook Your Life” article as much as I do—it’s packed with fantastic layouts like this one from Shelley Jaquet. I love how she fit 17 photos on her layout and that they show so many fun family activities.
"Our Family . . . Everyday Life" by Shelley Jaquet, as seen in the March/April 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes, page 72
3. Cool ribbon techniques
Jennifer McGuire always has many creative ideas for using products, and this month’s “Tools & Techniques” column is just too much fun. Check out the grass on this darling “Monster” accent—can you believe she created it by fraying green ribbon? Too clever! (You’ll find additional tips from Jennifer on getting more from ribbon in her column.)
"Monster" by Jennifer McGuire, as seen in the March/April 2010 Creating Keepsakes, page 106
Here are some fun tidbits about this issue from the team:
- Creative editor Megan Hoeppner designed the adorable layout featured on our cover—didn’t she do a fabulous job? What you may not know is that the photo on the layout was taken by reader/contributor Brigid Gonzalez. She e-mailed it to us at editorial@creatingkeepsakes.com, and it was chosen for this cover! If you have a great photo with strong eye contact and good lighting, send it in for consideration. Your photo could end up being featured in a future issue!
- Reader/contributor Stacy Cohen found a way to use her instant-coffee purchase on a layout about her morning fix. See the idea on page 108.
- Editor-in-chief Jennafer Martin had a ball working with contributing writer Mou Saha on the “Spring Is in the Air” feature for this issue. “Mou had so many creative ideas and her enthusiasm for this springy topic brightened up the dreary fall when we worked on it,” says Jennafer. See more of Mou’s work in future issues of CK or on her blog.
- There’s more than one way for your page to be published in CK. Fresh Face Donna Creedon, whose “Cheeky Grin” layout is featured on page 96, had originally posted the amazing layout on her blog, where creative editor Megan Hoeppner spotted it. It fit so well with the “Spring Is in the Air” article that we snatched it up right away. You never know when one of your layouts will be spotted by our roving talent reporters!
- Accident or accent? After dropping an ink applicator on her page, reader/contributor Iris Uy turned the unfortunate ink spot into a really cool embossed accent. See it on page 16.
- April Fools for photos. In the editor’s note, Jennafer Martin wrote a sidebar mentioning a couple of sites to play with your photos. “We didn’t end up publishing it, but I played with my photo on Faceinhole.com to become one of my favorite superheroes. You can be anyone you want to be by putting your head on a photo there,” Jennafer says. Try it today!
What were your favorite items about this issue? Leave us a comment by Friday, March 26, 2010, and you could be one of three lucky winners to receive a sampling of some fun, new scrapbooking products.
—Lori Fairbanks, editor
Weekly Warm-Up: Melt the Ice
03/01/2010 at 1:00 am | Posted in Holidays, How-Tos, technique, weekly warm up | 1 CommentTags: CK, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes magazine, glue, heat embossing, iron, Kim Jackson, Mou Saha, Scrapbook, scrapbook pages, Scrapbooking, spring, technique, techniques, weekly warm up, Wendy Sue Anderson
Welcome to March, everyone! You know what they say: if March comes in like a lion, it’ll go out like a lamb. Since most of us are still digging out from February’s snowstorms, we can certainly hope that warm, sunny days are right around the corner. In today’s weekly warm-up, we’re going to focus on techniques that are sure to heat up the last of your winter layouts and coax all that ice to melt.
Heat Emboss Accents
Turn up the heat on that last bit of wintertime fun by adding heat-embossed accents to a sledding, skiing, or snowboarding layout. Wendy Sue Anderson embossed her stamped title in addition to her accents on this adorable layout.
“Sledding” by Wendy Sue Anderson, as seen in the January 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes, page 27.
Iron on Designs
Next, fire up (okay, plug in) your iron! If you’ve ever ironed on patches to clothing or bags, then this technique is for you. Mou Saha applied an iron-on rhinestone-heart design to canvas to accent her darling “Valentines” page. Look for iron-on flower designs to add a little spring to your layouts.
“Valentines” by Mou Saha, as seen in the February 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes, page 78.
Create Hot-Glue Art
You’ll want to reach for your hot-glue gun for this next irresistible idea. On her “Forever Friends” layout, Mou Saha drew a simple shape using a low-temperature hot-glue gun, and then she painted over it. Try drawing some fluffy clouds or four-leaf clovers for a March-inspired look.
“Forever Friends” by Mou Saha, as seen in the February 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes, page 79.
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get warmed up with some ice-melting techniques! Try one of these ideas this week, and upload your completed layout to our gallery. We can’t wait to see what you create.
— Kim Jackson, senior editor
P.S. For step-by-step instructions on these layouts, check out the January 2010 and February 2010 issues of Creating Keepsakes.
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
01/18/2010 at 4:00 am | Posted in Holidays | 2 CommentsTags: 52 More Scrapbooking Challenges, CK, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes magazine, Dorathy Gilchrist, Holidays, January 2010, January 2010 Creating Keepsakes, Laina Lamb, Mou Saha, scrapbook pages, Scrapbooking, Steph Caskey-Devlin, Super-Fast Pages with 4 x 6 Photos
Today in the United States we celebrate the life and influence of Martin Luther King, Jr., the freedoms he fought for, and the ongoing efforts throughout the world to honor human rights. Join us as we share some ways that you can incorporate the spirit of this celebration into your scrapbooking.
For example, what people in your life or your nation’s past are you grateful for? In “Fond,” Mou Saha tells a story about her grandmother as told by her mother.
as seen in CK's "Super-Fast Pages with 4" x 6" Photos, Vol. 2," p. 27
Tip: Create a layout about someone who has influenced you or the world around you.
In “Paris Marathon” seen here, Sande Krieger remembers how a loved one completed a marathon run, despite having a broken ankle.
Tip: In the spirit of the Civil Rights Movement, make a layout about accomplishing something during difficult circumstances.
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech encouraged a nation to act on their hopes and dreams. Create a layout for your children with this theme in mind. In “I Hope You Dance,” Mou Saha uses her daughter’s drawing to illustrate her dream. In “Follow Your Dreams,” Laina Lamb records her son Cooper’s desire to become a marine biologist. She used a great picture of Cooper by the beach to illustrate the layout—remember that not all pictures have to tie directly to your page theme.
as seen in CK's "52 More Scrapbooking Challenges" by Elizabeth Kartchner, p.98
Tip: Have your children draw pictures to illustrate their dreams, and build a layout around their drawings.
as seen in CK's "Super-Fast Pages with 4" x 6" Photos, Vol. 2," p.41
Tip: Create a layout to encourage your children to pursue their dreams.
Steph Devlin expresses her hopes for her daughter to “never stop dreaming” in this lovely layout. The picture complements that thought without completely taking the spotlight.
as seen in the January 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes, p. 102
Tip: Quote a leader from the Civil Rights Movement on a layout to express a hope or feeling.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Did you know that today is the annual King Day of Service? Visit allforgood.org and type in your zip code to find out what organizations in your community could use a helping hand today—or any time of year. To learn more about this day of service, visit to mlkday.gov.
If you’re participating in a holiday service or event today, we’d love to hear about it. Leave your comments at the end of this post. Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!
—Dorathy Gilchrist, associate editor
February Scavenger Hunt
01/13/2010 at 4:00 am | Posted in Scavenger Hunt | 6 CommentsTags: 2010, CK, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes magazine, February, February 2010, Mou Saha, Scavenger Hunt, Scrapbooking
Hi there! I hope ya’ll are starting into a very scrapalicious new year. We’re sure excited around the CK office. We’re also excited that it’s already time for another scavenger hunt. Bring out your February 2010 issue, and let’s be on our way.
1. What is the fourth dating rule in “Matchmaker, Matchmaker”?
2. What product can you use to accent lace paper, as seen in “Tips & Tricks”?
3. Name two vintage-inspiration pieces mentioned in the “Vintage Vibe” article.
Creating Keepsakes, February 2010
4. What is the CK Font Find in “Scrappetizers”?
5. Name one way to produce dreamy photo effects.
6. In “Fire and Ice,” what tool does Mou Saha use to create a resist design?
7. What is unique about the title in the last layout shown in “Seasonal Solutions”?
8. What is your favorite layout from this issue and why?
9. Name two pieces of memorabilia either shown on the layout or suggested in the text on page 84.
10. Which product from “Latest & Greatest” do you most want to add to your collection?
E-mail your answers to ckblog@creatingkeepsakes.com by Sunday, January 17, 2010. Be sure to put “February scavenger hunt” in the subject line. We will choose two winners by random drawing from the correct responses and post them on the Giveaways tab on or around Monday, January 18. Happy hunting!
—Dorathy Gilchrist, associate editor
Editors’ Picks: Best of 2009
01/06/2010 at 11:22 am | Posted in General Inspiration, organization | 3 CommentsTags: Allison Davis, best of 2009, Brittany Beattie, CK, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes magazine, Dorathy Gilchrist, editors' picks, Elizabeth Kartchner, Emily Falconbridge, Irene Tan, Joannie McBride, Joscelyne Cutchens, Kim Jackson, Kim Watson, layouts, Lisa Bearnson, Lori Fairbanks, Megan Hoeppner, Mou Saha, organization, Ria Mojica, scrapbook organization, scrapbook pages, Scrapbooking, Steph Caskey-Devlin, technique, techniques
Here’s the challenge. Take your entire stack of 2009 Creating Keepsakes magazines and narrow down all the happy content to the following four “bests”:
* Best Feature (for any reason that works for you)
* Best Organization Tip (yes, you can choose only one)
* Best Technique (broad, I know)
* Best Layout (no, you can’t have a 16-way tie)
It’s a tough task, isn’t it? Well, it’s just what I asked my fellow CK editors to do. And after much page flipping, I’m happy to share the responses from Brittany Beattie (online senior editor), Dorathy Gilchrist (associate editor), Joannie McBride (assistant editor), Kim Jackson (senior editor), and myself. Ready for the results? Okay, here we go!
Best Feature
Each issue, we offer 6-10 features (not to mention the 18 columns, which we didn’t include in the mix for voting). Times that number by 12 issues, and you have a big decision to make. The votes are in, and (in no particular order) our top features—rated strictly on personal opinion—are as follows:
- Brittany: “A Day in Your Life” (by Lisa Bearnson, May ’09, pg. 63)
- Dorathy: “Scrapbookers Making a Difference” (by Joannie McBride, Feb. ’09, pg. 89)
- Joannie: “Flights of Fancy” (by Beth Opel, Apr. ’09, pg. 79)
- Kim: “The 10 Most Important Pages Missing from Your Album” (by Brittany Beattie, Oct. ’09, pg. 85)
- Megan: “Festive Techniques for Trimming the Trees” (by Brittany Beattie, Dec. ’09, pg. 59)
"A Day in Your Life": Brittany's pick for best feature of 2009
Best Organization Tip
Getting organized is a common goal around here. These are the tips that really tickled our tidy bone:
- Brittany: Organize ribbon spools by hanging them on the wall (as seen in “Creative Spaces” by Megan Hoeppner, June ’09, pg. 34)
- Dorathy: Create a brad book (as seen in “Tips & Tricks” by Megan Hoeppner, Sept. ’09, pg. 114)
- Joannie: Let your scrap space evolve with your scrapbooking needs (as seen in “Creative Spaces” by Mou Saha, Oct. ’09, pg. 50)
- Megan: Category cleanup: set your timer for 15 minutes and choose a product category as a focus of your organization efforts (as seen in “In Just 15 Minutes” by Lori Fairbanks, Nov. ’09, pg. 77)
Store brads in a brad book: Dorathy's pick for best organization idea of 2009
Best Technique
At heart, we’re all technique geeks, which made this challenge an extra-fun one! Here are our top picks:
- Brittany: Create glitter pillows with a transparency sheet and a sewing machine (as seen on the “Sweet Slumber” layout by Elizabeth Kartchner, 52 More Scrapbooking Challenges, pg. 134)
- Dorathy: Create a stained-glass look with alcohol inks and a transparency sheet (as seen on the “Leaf Samples” card by Irene Tan, May ’09, pg. 112)
- Joannie: Add glitter to self-adhesive products (as seen on the “Big Sister” layout by Ria Mojica, Feb. ’09, pg. 97)
- Kim: Create a chalked background using mesh as the template (as seen on the “Fantasy Land” layout by Megan Hoeppner, Sept. ’09, pg. 79)
- Megan: Create tissue-paper flowers (as seen on the “Balance” layout by Steph Caskey-Devlin, July ’09, pg. 107)
Make flowers from tissue paper: Megan's pick for best technique of 2009
Best Layout
I’m starting to feel like an announcer at an awards show. And the “Best Layout” vote goes to . . .
- Brittany: “Drew’s View” (by Allison Davis, May ’09, pg. 83)
“I love the idea of scrapbooking photos taken by children—it’s a wonderful change of perspective that adds great insight into our scrapbooks. What an incredible addition this layout will be to Drew’s album!” —Brittany Beattie - Dorathy: “Signs of Summer” (by Kim Watson, July ’09, pg. 24)
“I love how bright and colorful the layout is without being overbearing. The layout offers a great color scheme to go with the summer photos. I also like how it has room for seven pictures.” —Dorathy Gilchrist - Joannie: “The Hat That Grandma Made” (by Shelley Aldrich, Sept. ’09, pg. 64)
“I love that Shelley has photos of not only her daughter in the hat but the grandmother holding the daughter wearing the hat as well—it’s a great connection. Plus, the whimsical feel of the page appeals to me.” —Joannie McBride - Kim: “Yindi and Unky Tobz” (by Emily Falconbridge, Jan. ’09, pg. 79)
“The pure energy of this design caught my eye immediately! I adore the modern look Emily created by combining red and yellow patterns and red ink splashes with the old-fashioned typeface in the journaling.” —Kim Jackson - Megan: “Homemade Pie” (by Joscelyne Cutchens, Nov. ’09, pg. 85)
“What’s not to love about this layout? The pie looks delicious, the photos are vivid, the color scheme is a real eye catcher, and it’s loaded with awesome techniques!” —Megan Hoeppner
"The Hat That Grandma Made": Joannie's pick for best layout of 2009
So, do you agree with our selections? We’d love to have you join us in this challenge. Tell us what has really stuck with you from our 2009 lineup. Let’s compare notes.
Going over these results was a wonderful reminder of the amazing year we had. Now, bring on 2010!
Cheers!
–Megan Hoeppner, creative editor
Weekly Warm-Up: Holiday Traditions
12/28/2009 at 4:00 am | Posted in weekly warm up | 7 CommentsTags: CK, Creating Keepsakes, Creating Keepsakes magazine, Dorathy Gilchrist, holiday traditions, Jennafer Martin, Joannie McBride, Lara Penrod, Lori Anderson, Lori Fairbanks, Mandy Douglass, Megan Hoeppner, Mou Saha, scrapbook pages, Scrapbooking, weekly warm up
What’s a holiday without its traditions? From blowing out birthday candles to hanging up pretty socks, we all have things we repeat year after year in celebration of an occasion or event. As the following talented ladies have illustrated, designing layouts around traditions is an awesome tradition in its own right. Rather than tackle all your holiday traditions in one year, scrap a single traditions page each year and you’ll eventually have an entire album of family memories to relive. Or, scrapbook the same tradition year after year and watch how the people involved and the activity evolve over time.
Mou Saha makes time to bake with her tiny tots each holiday season. What a sweet way to celebrate time together!
"Sweet Holiday Tradition" by Mou Saha, as seen in the December 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes
It’s a trip to see Santa that makes Mandy Douglass’s jolly list of traditions.
"Meeting St. Nick" by Mandy Douglass, as seen in the December 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes
Wouldn’t a “Traditions” mini album make a great addition to your holiday decor? Simply fill it with pictures and brief descriptions of your favorite holiday activities, and place it on the coffee table for all to enjoy. Soon, flipping through the album will become its own tradition!
One of My Favorite Traditions (and a Little Office Prank)
Now, I’d like to share a favorite tradition of mine at the expense of my wonderful coworkers. (Notice how I slip “wonderful” in there to try and butter them up.) I find this little activity impossible to resist and do it year after year. My holiday tradition: ElfYourself (and your friends)! 😉
Check out my elf-tastic videos below. You won’t be sorry.
Video #1: I join Lori Anderson, Joannie McBride, Dorathy Gilchrist, and Lara Penrod for some holiday caroling.
Video #2: Jennafer Martin, Lori Fairbanks, and Brittany Beattie catch a little disco fever!
Now that you know one of my favorite (and admittedly silly) traditions, I’d love it if you’d share one of your holiday traditions with us. What do you insist on doing year after year? Maybe it’s silly, maybe it’s sentimental, or maybe it’s spiritual. We’re, ahem, all ears! 😉
Cheers!
Megan Hoeppner, creative editor
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