Happy New Year!!!

Hello everyone! Happy New Year to you and your family! Remember, today is the day we reveal our 2010 Design Team and our new blog! To see all to deliciousness go to www.scrapmart.squarespace.com. Hurry, we'll see you there!

Katie

Last post for this year!!!

Wow! What a rush this year has been. So much has happened in what seems like so little time. I'm sure everyone is thinking the same as me..."where did the year go?" Luckily, we all have our scrapbooks to look at so we KNOW where the year went, right? It went to birthday parties and baseball games, first days of school and graduations, births and moving to new homes. And think of the possibilities that lie ahead for 2010! Amazing!

Friday begins a whole new chapter for us at Scrap-Mart too. We will kick off the new year with a brand new design team and a brand new blog! The new blog is AWESOME!! There is a photo gallery set up so you can see each design team members projects by designer, it has a find it section so you can quickly search out a post with say Spellbinders Labels Nine, it has a drop box so you, our readers can add YOUR projects to the blog too! And that's not all! But, to SEE it you'll have to wait 'til Friday. I know, I'm mean. My kids tell me that all the time. LOL, just kidding. But seriously, you do have to wait 'til Friday.

But what else happens Friday? That's right, we reveal our 2010 Design Team! And what a team we have! You guys won't believe the inspiration just waiting for you! But, until then I have a quickie project to share with you. My mother and father-in-law are adamant about NOT buying gifts for them and that's where this little hobby of mine comes into play. If I MAKE them something, I can still get away with giving them a gift.

My father-in-law still signs ALL his gifts "from Santa" and insists he doesn't buy anything. hehehe So, I thought he would love to have the pictures of the kids visiting Santa. My sister-in-law and I went together with her daughter, who is almost 2 and my two little ones to see Santa. I took their pics and had them printed in wallet sizes so I could fit all three into one frame. I cut a Spellbinders Labels Eight out of green cardstock then again from a patterned paper then cut the patterned paper down to fit just the bottom half of my cardstock label. I tied a piece of white grossgrain ribbon around it to cover the seam. I combined my white mini-alpha stickers with my Santa's Workshop font for the sentiment. Bam! Done in literally, minutes! I love it! And so did they! Imagine the possibilities! You could do this for ANY occastion! Remember Jenn's frame she made? You can see hers HERE.

Thanks so much for a great year! Our job would mean nothing without YOU! We truly appreciate each and every one of you and we look forward to another great year with you. Don't forget to stop by Friday to meet our new design team and check out the new blog! Please have a safe and enjoyable New Year's Eve and we'll see you NEXT YEAR!!!

Katie

White Christmas...

is a bit of an understatement for those in my neck of the woods! Some areas of Northeastern Oklahoma got 8 or more inches with snow drifts up to 14 inches deep! Wow! It was so beautiful though. The roads are clearing now but I hear more snow is coming for New Year's too!

With the holidays I have not done much creating. In light of our recent snowfall I thought I'd dig into my card vault and share with you again one I made a few months back...

The background for the Snowman was embossed with the Quickutz Snowflake Embossing Folder then misted with a clear Glimmer Mist. I kept it simple with a handwritten sentiment then tied it all up with a gold cord bow.

One of the best parts of my job is all the happy mail I get. I love seeing beautiful projects grace my inbox. The project I'm about to share with you comes from our friend PJ.

PJ used her JustRite stamps to create the sentiment then cut it with Spellbinders Circle Nestabilities and mounted it on a Scallop Circle. What a cute, quick card!

Well, I sure hope you all had a fabulous Christmas! And, let's give it up for another short work week!! Gotta love that! hehehe No fear, we will be back on Wednesday for our last official post of the year! I can't wait to tell you all about our new design team and all the fun stuff we have in store for you! Until then though, enjoy what's left of 2009! We'll see you right back here Wednesday!

Katie

A Yummy for Your Tummy!!

I'm finishing up my last minute wrapping and gift making. Both of my older boys asked for hot chocolate for Christmas. I thought is was a simple enough request but I wanted to give them something special. I saw some hot chocolate treats in cone-shaped bags with marshmallows and candies for $15 the other day. I thought surely I can do that!!! So, I did!

I got everything I needed at Wal-Mart! The baggies I used were Wilton Icing bags found in the craft area. I bought regular hot chocolate packets and dumped them into the bags. One bag has mini chocolate morsels in it and the other has crushed candycanes. I stuffed them into tall mugs and created a handmade tag for each. Here's a closeup view of the tags...

I cut the background for the tags with Making Memories Shimmer Paper and Spellbinders Labels Three Nestabilities. The center image is from the JustRite 2 3/8 Something Sweet set and the border is from the Homemade Treats set. These sets are soooo easy to mix and match! After I stamped the image I cut it with my Circle Nestabilities then embellished it with my Copic Spica Glitter Pens. The tags were tied to the handle of the cups with a little gold cord. I know my boys will love these treats and again, this was a gift that I was able to put together in less than one hour...for both!

Our friend Karin made some mini albums to give her family this year.

Karin used her Gingerbread album from the Santa's Workshop Gift Set collection. I love giving handmade gifts and giving one I can fill with pics is even better! Thanks for sharing with us Karin!

I'm sure glad you've all stopped by today! I know everyone is super busy right now but I appreciate you taking the time to drop in and I hope you've found some inspiration! We will be taking Friday off to spend time with our families for Christmas but we will be back Monday! I hope to see you then! I'd like to take a moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas filled with love and family!

Katie

With the hours and minutes...

quickly passing, it will be Christmas before we know it. Inevitably, you'll run across one person you forgot or you will need a last minute hostess gift or maybe even a thank you. Our focus for today is quick, easy and fabulous homemade gifts.

Jenn created this adorable picture frame for her sister...

Jenn started with that adorable picture of her nephew, added some computer journaling then used the Quickutz 2x2 Football and Aquarius font for her title. She tucked it in a black frame and she has a wonderful handmade gift for her sister that is packed with sentiment and love.

My Scor-Pal has had quite a work out this week! Here's another little treat bag I made that would work for just about any kind of candy...

I started with a piece of cardstock that measured 3 3/4 by 12. I laid it on my Scor-Pal with the 12" side along the top and scored at 5" and 7". Then, using my Spellbinders Lables One Nestabilities I cut the frame opening on the front of the treat bad. When you do this part, you want to make sure your label is centered from left to right but you do not want to center it top to bottom...just place it about 1/4" to 1/2" from the score line. After I had the window cut I cut the largest label from my glittery polka dot paper to use as the top closure. Using my JustRite 2 3/8 Wood Stamper and the Something Sweet Christmas Borders and Centers set I stamped the sentiment then cut it out with my Spellbinders Circle Nestabilities. I inked the edges of my circle then adhered it onto my treat bag and tied some ribbons round the opening. Here's a peek from the side...

I tucked some peppermints inside and that was that. Another project you could easliy have done in about 15 minutes!

I'm so glad you've stopped by today! I hope that you're finding inspiration that will help you not only this holiday season but perhaps will inspire you in your crafting next year as well. We'll return this Wednesday with some more crafty inspiration for you! Enjoy your week and don't get yourself too worked up trying to tie up all the loose ends. See you soon!

Katie

Quick Holiday Gift Ideas...

Let's face it, life is busy. You work, you have kids, you have a house to care for and you want some {me} time. For many of us, that {me} time is our craft time. The holiday season brings upon us many more tasks to undertake. I created the mini treat bag below in less than 15 minutes! I spent $1 on a pack of Almond Joy mini candy bars to fill it and I now have a quick, easy, affordable handmade gift to give to my child's teacher or a co-worker. The best part is that this treat bag is easily modified to fit different size candy or treats.

Here's what the bag looks like...

The outsides of this treat bag were cut using Spellbinders Labels 8. LOVE them!! I cut two panels from my Making Memories Slice Shimmer Paper. The inside was made with my Scor-Pal. I cut a piece of Kraft cardstock to 6 1/2 x 7 1/2. Lay the cardstock on our Scor-Pal with the 6 1/2 side along the top and score at 2 1/2 and again at 4 like shown below...

Turn your cardstock 1/4 turn and score at 1 1/2 and 6...

After you have all your lines scored you will cut out the little squares on both 6 1/2 inch sides like shown...

Next, all you have to do is crease your folds and glue your tabs and you have your inside assembled. Adhere your two Labels 8 panels you cut earlier then you're ready to embellish. To embellish mine, I stamped an image with my JustRite 2 3/8 wood stamper and Something Sweet border and center set. Then I cut that image with Spellbinders Labels 3 then mounted it on a slightly larger square. I tucked a little ribbon behind it and added a button with some gold cord and I was done! Here's a peek from the top so you can see how wonderfully the candy lines up inside...

This bag could be easily altered to fit any occasion! Try it and see just how easy it is to make!

We love it when our friends (aka customers) send us handmade items. Check out this beautiful card we received in today's mail...

and a glimpse at the inside...

Amanda used her Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities to cut and layer up this beautiful card. A big thanks to the Havon family for thinking of us this holiday season.

I don't know about your kids but mine are out of school after today. I'm looking forward to these next few weeks and the extra time with them. My youngest ones really enjoy driving around and looking at Christmas lights so I'm sure we'll do some more of that. Please have a safe and wonderful weekend. We hope you'll stop by Monday morning to see a few more last minute gift ideas.

Katie

Ding Ding Ding...

That's it. That's the bell. The 2010 Scrap-Mart DT call has officially closed. Let me tell you, the selection is going to be so very difficult! I have received well over 50 applications! I'd like to thank each and every one of you for submitting. I know sometimes it's hard to put yourself out there like that and while we can't choose everyone, we appreciate the thought, time and effort you all put into your submissions. I don't want anyone to have a heart attack either if you receive an email from me in the next week. hehehe It is very possible I will contact some of you with more questions. The heart attack shall come on or about Dec. 30th {wink}

Okay, how 'bout something crafty? It is Wednesday, after all. With us this Wednesday are our dear friends Jenn, Karin and Kristi. Jenn recently received the new Texture Boutique from Sizzix and she's lovin' it. I know many of us try to find one machine to do it all and the Texture Boutique is for embossing only but Jenn says it gives the finest, most detailed embossing she's seen! And Jenn knows her machines. hehe Check out this card she made using her new machine...

The background and snowman were embossed with new Winter Impressions Folder by Sizzix and the strip was embossed with the Quickutz Polka Dot folder. After she embossed it she inked it up and added some shimmer with Stickles. What a great card!

Karin has completed her holiday decorating and is already getting to her holiday scrappin'! Impressive! Karin created this layout to capture her nativity scene...

Karin trimmed the Quickutz Nativity Border down to fit in her layout. Then she mixed the Holiday and Banana Split fonts to create her title. It's such a nice layout and one that has so much meaning behind it!

This next project is a decorated holiday envelope from Kristi.

Kristi embossed her cardstock with the Quickutz Snowflake Embossing folder then trimmed it to fit her envelope. I'm guess she has a Christmas surprise inside so she tied it all up and added a little tag! What a great way to spruce up your envelopes and gift cards!!

Thank you all for stopping by today! It is cold here in T Town and I'm anxiously awaiting our first snowfall. Although the weather reports are saying nothing but a possibility on Dec. 23rd. I'll take it! How 'bout you? Do you get snow where you live? Do you look forward to it or not so much? Enjoy the rest of your week and we'll see you right back here on Friday. I have a great little treat bag to share complete with instructions. You'll still have plenty of time to whip one up for a last minute teacher gift or to stick in your child's stocking! See you then!

Katie