Friday, July 31, 2009

Happy Friday!

Before I jump in to today's post I want to respond to a few questions/comments from yesterday's post. Gemscraps, you can store the Copic markers either way! Personally, I have one of the Copic Wallets and I store mine in those, laying down. But's a personal preference thing. Poppyscraps, yes! I will get some basic tutorials up for you as soon as I can!

It's been a busy week and we're back today with some more great projects! Our friend Jannie created this layout based on last week's sketch...

Jannie used the 2x2 Doublekutz Puzzle to create her border! What a creative idea....I would have never thought of that! For her title, she used a combination of Reuse and Chicken Noodle and added the '&' from the new Teriyaki alphabet. That is such a great photo too! Thanks for playing along with us, Jannie!

This week's sketch comes from DT member Jenn! She created this sketch using her Silhouette software!



And here's what Jenn did with her own sketch...


Jenn used the Quickutz Heart Border and used her Silhouette to create the scallop heart and her title which she welded and shadowed. Super cute!

Veronica used the fun Zelda font for the title of her layout...

She added that cute 2x2 Bathtub and stamped her journal block using Unity Stamps This is the Time Large stamp set. Bath time is always so much fun!

I am a procrastinator, in case you guys didn't already know that. I completed my layout this morning! GASP! Yes, it's true! I visited Scrap-Mart yesterday and while I was there I grabbed one of the new Sassafras Lass Me Likey Scrap kits. *LOVE* this kit! It is sooooo much fun! Anywho, I used my new Me Likey kit to create my layout. Here it is...

I used ONLY the Me Likey kit to create this layout...well, that a 2 wiggly eyes for my frog. A nice, quick and easy page. See, no more excuses....EVERYONE can find time to scrapbook!

Edited to add: The Me Likey kits are out of stock but will be in shortly! I have linked to the individual paper sheets for your reference! Please let me know if you have any questions!

Okay, so I promised a giveaway today so here goes. All you have to do is participate in this week's sketch. That's it! Jenn will choose 1 random winner who will receive 1 of each sheet from Pink Paislee's CHA releases! How cool is that? Okay, no GO CREATE something! You can email your layouts to me at Katie@scrap-mart.com. Have a great weekend and we'll see you soon!

Katie

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Today's reveal is.....

the *NEW* Copic colors!

When I first started hearing about Copic markers I was skeptical. Not of the marker or the quality but of my ability to make them come to life. At the time I really wasn't much of a stamper either so I questioned my "NEED" for such a high quality coloring medium. I bit the bullet and bought a handful and I'm soooooo glad I did! These markers are amazing! You don't HAVE to use multiple colors and blend and shade. They work just fine individually. However, after a little practice the blending and shading will be calling you! It's really easier than you may think. Practice. It's that simple! Here's a sample card from the Spellbinder's booth that was colored with Copics.

This card sports some of the new Spellbinders Pendant dies as well. Isn't it gorgeous?

And just for fun, here's a card I stamped (that I've already showed you) that I colored with Copics.

I wanted the truck to have that "old" look to it so I used different shades of brown and blended them together. I'm by far NO Copic expert but I want you all to see that ANYONE can color with these markers!

If you have any questions about coloring with Copics leave us a comment and we'll get you an answer! We're so glad you stopped by today! It's been fun sharing all the new goodies with you. Be sure you check in tomorrow to see the new sketch for this week and check out our reader's takes on last week's sketch. I'm also going to be giving away a pack of Pink Paislee's NEW CHA papers so you won't want to miss that! See you tomorrow!

Katie

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

*NEW* Slice Design Cards!!!

Please note that this is the second post for today! Scroll down to see our With us Wednesday post with projects!


Here they are...ALL 14 of the *NEW* Slice Design Cards! I've listed them below in order of release...

Shipping Early August:

Spook Alley


Mix and Mingle Fonts



Shipping Late August:

Words and Expressions Holidays



Mistletoe



Vintage Findings



Think Pink



Shipping in September:

Dance and Music



Farm Life



Under the Sea



Handwritten Fonts



Shipping in October:

Faith



Playground Fonts


Jungle



Home Sweet Home



Okay, now let me hear it! Which one is YOUR favorite? I cannot decide...yet...but I have to tell you that I'm lovin' them ALL!!! Be sure to check back often between now and Friday to catch glimpses of the rest of the releases!

Katie

It's With us Wednesday and....

I have a *winner* for a new PINK Slice Apron! Random.org chose #1! Congrats Marla! Please email me your mailing address so we can get your apron out to you! Thanks to all of you who popped in for our impromptu post yesterday!

It seems the general consensus is that you want to see more Slice! I'm currently working on getting some better close-ups and as soon as I do, I'll get them up here for you!

Jill, I haven't seen a Scenic Route release yet either but I would LOVE to see a travel line from them! Poppyscraps, I bet you'll be able to find a design card from the new releases that catches your eye!

I have another Copic airbrush project from our friend, PJ to share with you.

To make the background, PJ tore strips of paper then used them as a mask. She cut the circle for the sun from the Slice Basics Shapes 1 Design Card then airbrushed the reddish sky. After airbrushing the sea, she added torn strips of tan cardstock for her sand then added the surfer which was cut from the Slice Travel USA design card. Isn't that cool?!

Veronica has been playing with her Silhouette. Check out this card she made using the new Print and Cut feature...

The 'f' is what she made with her Silhouette. She added a bit of punchinella and some flowers and buttons! With the Print and Cut feature, you basically create your design, print it to your home printer then load that document into your Silhouette and cut it. There's a few steps in between but you can go HERE to read an in depth tutorial on how to use this function. It is really easy, once you get the steps down.

I thought it'd be fun to create a layout with my favorite Quickutz release from last CHA...

I knew I had to have that Honeybee alphabet the minute I saw it! I also used a piece of the Sizzix Loops and Hearts border. I sprinkled a mixture of clear embellishments and Prima flowers and that's it!

Thanks for stoppin' by today! We'll be back on Friday with some reader layouts and an all new sketch this week! We hope you're enjoying your week and the new releases! See you soon!

Katie

Monday, July 27, 2009

Just for fun.....

we thought we'd share a few pictures from the floor of CHA! Boss is in Orlando with the painstaking job of finding all the fun new stuff to buy for us ;)!!! Here are our friends, John and Phyllis Parkins, owners of BossKut...

Aren't they the cutest?! I can't tell you enough how sweet they are! I had the privilege of meeting them in Ontario, CA earlier this year for CHA Winter. I had a blast with them! You can click HERE to see and pre-order the BossKut CHA release dies which will begin shipping in September!

Here's a picture of the floor from outside the Spellbinders booth...

They've got the goods hidden behind those drapes! Wonder what they've got up their sleeve?!

And lastly for now, here's a sneak peek of some upcoming Slice Design Cards....

Here's the list of new cards:

Shipping early August:
Spook Alley
Mix and Mingle Fonts

Shipping end of August:
Words and Expressions Holidays
Mistletoe
Vintage Findings
Think Pink

Shipping in September:
Dance & Music
Farm Life
Under the Sea
Handwritten Fonts

Shipping in October:
Faith
Playground Fonts
Jungle
Home Sweet Home
and Slice Drawing Tips - (pens) retail 4 pack for 14.99

I'll add more pictures as I get them so be sure to check back often!!! And, just for fun leave us a comment and tell us what you're most excited to see (either from what I've already showed you or from what might be coming) and I'll randomly choose one winner to receive a new *PINK* Slice Apron! Have a great day and see you soon!

Katie

I have another CHA sneak peek for you!

This one is from American Crafts. Every girl loves a little shimmer in her projects right? Check this out...

This glitter paper comes in a shocking 25 different colors and it won't leave you covered in glitter when your project is complete!

And check out the new Elements Embellishments...

AC will continue to offer their embellishments in monochromatic packs but will also now offer them in these variety packs!

In keeping with the glitter theme here are the new AC Glitter Buttons...

The best part about these buttons is the glitter is inside so again, NO MESS!

AC is introducing something all new for them...Album and Page kits!


These are an excellent value!

Then there's the new albums...

12x12 Faux Leather D-Ring



And 12x12 Patterned Albums

The bottom two are actually embroidered. Awesome, right? I'm lovin' that glitter paper and the buttons! What is your favorite from this release?

Before I go let me share a few projects with you. Here's a layout from Tammy...

On this layout Tammy used the Quickutz Nesting Circles, Photo Corner and Scallop Border. The papers Tammy used are from Pink Paislee's Enchanting collection.

I tried to step out of my comfort zone for this layout. I don't normally do much distressing so this was a challenge for me.

The journal stamp, sassy and circle border with heart are from the Confession: I luv Unity anniversary kit. The swirl is from Unity's Bevy of Butterflies kit which will be available in August. I added a touch of Scallop Border and sprinkled the page with some Kaiser pearls. After I stamped the sassy word I colored over it with my Copic Glitter pens. I really like the simplicity of this layout!

We're so glad you stopped by to start your week with us! We hope you're enjoying all of the sneak peeks. I'll be back Wednesday with another sneak peek from Boss Kut and some more inspiration! Have a great day and we'll see you then!

Katie

Thursday, July 23, 2009

We had quite a few...

participate in last week's sketch challenge. One of the readers is only 8 years old! Yep, just 8! Check out her layout...

Gracie used the Yogurt font to create her title! Look, she even journaled! Great layout Gracie! Thanks for playing along and sharing your layout with us! And here is Shar's take on the sketch...

Shar used the 4x8 Disco alphabet for her title then she added a strip of Bead Border. She created her journaling block using Spellbinders Labels 1 and created a space for her embellishments with the Quickutz Nesting Squares. Shar filled her blocks with the baseball cap, rain boot, dock and fishing pole. Her cute little fishies are from the Cricut Life's a Beach cartridge. What a great layout!

Our friend, Jannie McGibbon sent in this layout...

Jannie used the circle in the sketch as inspiration but mixed things up a bit by adding graduated circles she made with the Revolution Circles. She used the Biography font for her title and made a large tab by tucking the Cookie Cutter Recipe card behind her photo. Then sprinkled the layout with printed Prima flowers. I love the graduated circles!

We're so glad to hear you all are enjoying the sketches! And here's an all new one for this week from Page Maps.



For her layout, Veronica started with the Bungle Jungle collection from Sassafras Lass.

She mixed the Supermarket and Yogurt alphas for her title and added a few buttons and a sticker from the paper collection. Don't you just love all the layers?!

Here's Tammy's layout...

She used the Nutmeg font for her title. For now, she left the journal block blank because she plans to add some personal notes.

Check out what Jenn did with her title...


She used the 2x2 Clothes Pin to "hang" part of her title! The 'life with' part of her title was cut on her Silhouette and for 'boys' she used Marigold. Then she added the Washer and Dryer. Here's what Jenn had to say about her layout...I thought it would be neat to preserve the memory of
what our appliances and detergents look like now. Think back to when we
were kids - only powdered detergent and maybe some Biz bleach and what was
that product referred to as the 'ancient Chinese secret' - probably an old
version of Oxy Clean!

Thanks to all of our participants in last week's sketch! We hope you'll join us again this week! What a week! You got to see new stuff from some of our favorite manufactureres. But you know what? I'm not done! Be sure to stop back by on Monday to see what Sassafras Lass and American Crafts have coming! Have a great weekend and we'll see you then!

Katie

Are you ready...

to see what our friends at BossKut have in store for you? Take a moment to view this video...



The Embossing Mat and Embossing Blade are already up on our site!

I think this is awesome! I'm so ordering a Gazelle! My mind is spinning with ideas! Okay, let me hear it, what do you think? We'll be back here tomorrow with some great sketch layouts from our readers and an all new sketch! Have a wonderful day and we'll see you then!

Katie

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

This week will be JAM packed....

with exciting reveals! I promised you a sneak peek from Pink Paislee AND I have yet another release from Quickutz to share with you today as well. We'll start with Pink Paislee. They have *FOUR* exciting collections coming your way. The first two, which will begin shipping in August, are Amber Road and Twilight. Here's a peek at some awesome projects from the Pink Paislee design team.

Next up, shipping in October, is the Mistle Toe & Co. Collection.

And last but not least, shipping in December, is the Cupid Collection.

Don't you think it's *delicious* or should I say *Pink-a-licious*?!

Quickutz launched a sister company called Lifestyle Crafts, aka the "L". They have a revolutionary new product called Letterpress that is designed to work with the new
Epic 6. Basically, the Letterpress works similarly to embossing. It actually debosses the image but you only see it on the front of your paper unlike regular embossed/debossed images you see from both sides. You can add ink to your printing plate before you run it through the Epic 6 and you end up with a professional looking, colored image. Here's a look at the Letterpress Starter Kit...

Now I will show you a few project samples from the L design team and a look at the printing plate collections. First up is the Celebration collection.

Next up is the Everyday collection...

And the Holiday collection...

We'll have these up on our site as soon as possible but until then you can view more images HERE.

Now I have a great project to show you from our friend, Carrie Buss. Carrie is taking a summer Library Science class and she received an assignment to "make a book." That seems like a simple enough assignment, right? Carrie decided to make an ABC book for her children. For the next few weeks I'll be sharing Carrie's pages with you. Carrie basically made a mini-book with pictures of things that are relevant to her children's lives, laminated the pages then bound them with her Bind-it-All. Here's the cover...

Carrie used the Quickutz Marigold alphabet mixed with Dragonfly and Aquarius for her title. Here's her A, B and C pages...

Carrie added die cuts to EVERY page! Here she used the Apple and Aliens, the Bumblebee and Book, and the Cookie, Crown and Crayon.

WOW! I don't know about you but I'm excited to see what else our favorite companies have in store for us! We'll be back here tomorrow with a reveal from BossKut! Have a great day and we'll see you then!

Katie