Club Scrap & Mocha Java & 4th of July

Hi there!

Hetty here, all the way from The Netherlands. I am so honoured to have been asked to write here on the Club Scrap Blog and to share my art with you. First let me tell you a little about how I became a member of Club Scrap. Years ago, hardly anyone in The Netherlands had heard of scrapbooking, so how did I learn about it? Well here comes the computer and the internet connection: I searched for stamps and found a set I wanted on ebay. This lady told me about a group of stampers and I entered the world of Yahoo Groups.

Suddenly, I noticed people stamping on photopages. I liked it and talked to several members, and they told me to search for scrapbooking. That is how I stumbled upon Club Scrap. I wanted to know more so I ordered a 3 month subscription. Well, that was in June 2003 and I never stopped!  I wanted to learn all about it, so I became a member of the Club Scrap Yahoo Group, too. (The Yahoo Group has since moved to the Club Scrap Coffeehouse Chat Forum -- see, it's all about coffee.) Through it I got to know many people and quickly learned a lot more about scrapbooking. Now I am a happy member of the Club Scrap family.

 This card is created with a cut out mug shape

and decorated with the Mocha Java stencil.

Many of you know me because of a thing I have for coffee. The Mocha Java Kit was out before I became a member, but I liked the stamps and the paper very much, so I tried to find some on Ebay. I did find some, and I started stamping and scrapping with them. I begged Tricia and Dinah to reprint them, not just one time, but many times! I made a coffee page nearly with every kit! One day I got an email from Tricia to watch my email. The next day, the Mocha Java Remix was advertised and believe it or not it was sold out in a day! There are many projects I made with the Mocha Java Remix (I got 2 kits!). You can see them on my Craftchaos blog (just put "coffee" in the search box and you'll find many ideas). Club Scrap also just released a collection called "Brewed Awakenings," and you can still get it!

Because today is the 4th of July, I cannot just make a normal coffee card or page, it has to be something patriotic, so this is what I came up with.

 I have created an American flag background

with papers from various kits (see below).

The picture is taken in Washington before we came to the

2007 Club Scrap August Reatreat (my first one).

 I used the Jubilee firework stamp and inked it up

with red and blue distress stain to give it this

multicolor look and cut it out with scissors.

The stars are cut out with star shaped Spellbinders dies

and pierced with a tiny golden brad.

 Papers and materials used:

Mocha Java paper, stamps and stencil Nov 2002

Steppin' Out paper Nov 2004

Let Me Count the Ways paper Feb 2006

Framed paper Jan 2006

Bistro paper July 2007

Jubilee stamps Jan 2019

Gratitude paper April 2010

Star Spellbinder die, gold brads and ribbons from various kits.

Over the years I have been to some of the Club Scrap Retreats and met many fellow members. It is so wonderful to meet face-to-face. I will be there for the October Retreat this year, so I do hope to meet YOU and get to know all of you a little better.

 Happy 4th of July 

and have a creative day!