The June Sneak Peek Continues!

Wouldn't a stitched mini album with cool canvas board covers be a great June Project for the Club Scrap Hopes Kit?!?!  YES!  I thought so, too!

Since the instructions are already written and going into the Hopes Scrap Rap (live on Monday), I just happen to have a few snapshots of the project handy to show you ahead of time.

Hopes Canvas Board Mini Album

The colors are fun, but of course you can decorate the covers with any inks, stamps, and stencils you'd like. Below,  I used stamps from a past Club Scrap Collection on the same project.

This fun project ships on Monday. If you don't receive the Club Scrap Kit and want to, you need to click HERE!

I hope you enjoy this project and kit as much as I do!

Thanks for stopping by,

Kay at Club Scrap

Ron ‘Hopes’ Ya Don’t Mind a Digi-Spoiler!

We’re just few days from the release of the June Hopes kit, and let me tell ya, it’s gorgeous! Clean and crisp and simply beautiful. And those colors? Yummy! This is a more ‘generic’ kit than most, and that means it will work with pretty much any photo you’ve got. How cool is that?

I’ve been playing with the digital kit for several days now, and I just couldn’t resist sharing a little bit…

Just a bit of Hopes Digital!

One of the things that I first noticed about this kit is that some of it is so similar to the paper kit, but then again, some of it is so completely digital and unlike the paper kit (almost like two kits in one!).

And all you digital members just need to wait a few more days until you can play with the goodies! Not a digital member yet? What are you waiting for? CLICK HERE to join now. It’s quick and easy and you won’t regret it!

I really hope you enjoyed this little peek at the Hopes Digital Kit - cross your fingers that Tricia doesn’t think it’s too much of a spoiler! (Yeah, she should talk after Tuesday's blog entry.) See you next week (I hope)!

-Ron

Cape Cod Blog Hop Time!

Today's hop is all about May's Cape Cod collection. This kit couldn't be MORE perfect for the project I wanted to make my dad for Father's Day. Dad and Mom LOVE lighthouses. Their family room is lighthouse-themed, and whenever they travel, they visit as many lighthouses as they can. This altered mirror will be a great addition to their home!

I started out with a MALMA Framed Mirror from Ikea. (Don't you just love Ikea? So many fun things at such good prices! Each visit results in a few "extra" items in my cart that I just KNOW will come in handy "some day".) The patchwork design covering the raw wood frame was created using the same technique I used to make the photo album cover in a previous post. Before gluing the pieces to the frame with Bookbinding Glue, I inked the edges with India ink. Finally, a few final touches: a handful of mini seashells, a small corked bottle (love those!) and a few other doo-dads from my stash.

(Sorry for the not-so-great picture...have you ever tried to photograph a mirror? It ain't easy.)

The "Father" quote from the Cape Cod Greeting UM stamp sheet is the perfect sentiment for Father's Day. Do you think he'll like it?

So, that's enough about me, because there's a whole lot more creativity for you to explore! Here's a list of all today's hoppers, just in case you get lost:

Club Scrap Creates (you are here)

Pat Huntoon: The Technique Trail

Julie Heyer: Cape Cod Scrapper

Roni Johnson: Ink Stains with Roni

Deb Charlesworth Lift Bridge Cards andCrafts

Deb Weller: Deb Duz Scrappin

Jill Pechauer: Jill P's Place

Tricia Morris The Efficient Crafter

Hetty Sanders: Craft Chaos

Kay Williamson: Kay's Keepsakes

Cathy Gray: The Artful Gamut

Anne Marie Healey: Artfully Balanced

Anne Hunter: Crzymom's Tidbits

Jen Rodgers: Scrap Happy Sisters

Debby Hernandez: Masculine Inspirations

Janet Moran: Dishing with Janet

Your first stop is Pat Huntoon's blog. I just know she'll have something awesome to show us...enjoy!

Creatively yours,
Karen

Hopes Spoiler!

I'm calling this one the "photo eater." The paper from June's "Hopes" collection will literally swallow up just about any picture you throw its way.

I'm serious about this. I've kidnapped a dozen spoiler photos from Kay Williamson's SD card and decided to share a sneak preview so that you can be as excited about this one as I am.

The art was inspired by one of the handmade papers included as a goodie in the collection. The base of the handmade sheet has a soft fabric-like texture, and is silk-screened with a fun circular design accented by a tasteful touch of gold glitter. You're going to adore the raised thermal texture printing on two of the designs.

I could wax on and on. It's almost not fair to show you the images ahead of time, because it will simply never compare to holding it in your hands. And it won't be long! June's kit ships in less than a week.

Not a member? Guarantee you will get one by joining today!

Editor's Note: links to the kit have now been added 6/13/13 jmh**

Triple Message Shadowbox

Pat Huntoon here, pleased to be a guest blogger for the Club Scrap Blog! I have been having a blast playing with the Cape Cod kit this month. My family and I have spent quite a bit of time on Cape Cod, so this kit is close to my heart. And since I spent quite a bit of time on the Cape over many Memorial Day weekends, it is like coming home to be sharing this with you today.

The project above is a Triple Message Shadowbox from the Technique Junkie Newsletter Move It CD. This is such a fun card  - each of the sides slide out to display a different message. and then it can be closed again (like I show on the side and below) for totally different looks.

There were so many great stamps and cut-outs included with this kit that I had a hard time deciding what to include! I think the whole thing captures the feel of the beach, though. The "sand in the front (under the chair) was made with texture paste that was sponged over with light brown ink (make sure the texture paste is completely dry - its the hardest part!). All of the elements were colored with Pastel Chalk Pencils.

Since it is a holiday weekend, I would love to give away a Move It CD. If you would like to enter the drawing, simply leave a comment on this post. On Thursday, my random number generator will select a winner, and I will amend this post with the winner's name. Check back after Thursday to see if you were selected!

Don't forget -- we have the hop on Wednesday, too, and I am so happy to be part of it again, See you then!
Pat Huntoon

The Winner of this CD is VERONICA, who said:

"Great technique and lovely card. Thanks for the opportunity to win one of your CDs."

Email me with your name and address, Veronica, and I will get the CD right out to you!

Editor's Note: link to the kit added 6/13/13 jmh**

Re-purposed Frame

Happy Friday, Bloggers!

While doing some cleaning a while back (yes, that occasionally happens in my house), I came across an old 5x7 black frame with nothing inside. I placed it on my "projects that need to happen sometime" shelf in my basement. Then sure enough, I ended up filling it with inchies.

I took the frame apart and filled up the 5x7 space with rubber stamped, inked and embellished 1x1" inches. Then I put the frame back together.

I found that many of my past doodads from the Club Scrap embellishment cups worked well for embellishing.

To display, putting this frame on a little easel or hanging it on the wall would have worked just fine, but then I got the idea to make a stand out of a wooded candle holder from my local craft store. It just needed a little black paint before attaching the frame with bookbinding glue.

Although there was some assembly required, this was pretty easy and fun to make!

Creating inchies is such a fun "little" craft, and it's exciting to see what creative people do with those tiny works of art. Check out this Pinterest link if you care to do more of that.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend, and thanks for stopping by Club Scrap Creates!

Kay at Club Scrap

What Inspires You?

Do you ever get into a digi-slump? Ya know, you want to make a digital layout, but nothing seems to work?

To help me get through times like this, I’ve started keeping a notebook for inspiration. After all, there are lots of amazing layouts and cards out there, and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? Whenever I see a layout (either paper or digital), card, ad in a magazine, etc. that appeals to me, I’ll draw a quick sketch in my notebook - nothing fancy, just a simple line drawing to help me remember the overall design. If I’m out and about, I’ll grab a photo of something inspiring with my phone and print it out and later glue it down into the notebook, too.

So this week, I thought I’d use a paper layout from Cape Cod’s ALSB instructions. Even though paper scrapping and digital scrapping are quite different in many ways, the goal isn’t to re-create the paper layout exactly, but rather to use it as a starting point and then let the inspiration take over.

Here’s the ALSB layout I selected:

ALSB Inspiration

And here’s what I ended up with:

My Digital Result

Sure, there are a few similarities, but a few differences as well. I used the Cape Cod Digital kit, but I could have easily used another kit - but Cape Cod is such a gorgeous kit, don'cha think? Sometimes my finished layout doesn’t resemble the original at all, sometimes they’re very similar - but it doesn’t matter either way. The point is you were in a slump and your worked through it.

Now pick a layout - or a card, or a page from that magazine on the coffee table - and let it inspire you to create something wonderful.

-Ron







Editor's note: link to Cape Cod ALSB instructions added 6/13/13 jmh**

It's Wine Wednesday!

For those of you who know me (or follow me on Facebook), it may come as no surprise I'd take advantage of any opportunity to bring up the subject of wine. And it's Wednesday, so I've christened today Wine Wednesday!

But the MAIN reason for today's blog title, other than my love of wine, is that an awesome new special edition collection is being launched today . . . and it pairs well with WINE!!!

The Sonoma Remix collection is a fun twist on the original Sonoma collection from years ago. I just love Jac's fresh take on the artwork, and the purples and greens are simply yummy. The colors/textures go with everything! It sort of reminds me of that beautiful English Garden texture, for those of you who have been around long enough to remember.

Tricia had JUST finished the Assembly Line Scrapbooking instructions when I begged her to let me take the pages! I love how quickly and easily they came together. The collection creates TEN 12x12 pages. Now that rocks! Wanna see?

For ALSB pages 1 and 2, I chose some photographs I had taken in my garden, as the word "Bountiful"  aptly described my flower garden last year. Aren't the colors dreamy?

I wouldn't want you to think I don't have wine photos to scrap, so I used ALSB  pages 3 and 4 for the awesome group photos we took at the Wine Tasting at last year's Retreats (hmmm...that was on a Wednesday, too!) We did the tasting in both August and October, and I had an absolute blast hosting my Retreat friends both times. It's a tough job, I tell ya, but somebody's gotta do it!

The Mike-man and I try to get to Sonoma Valley, CA whenever we get the chance, and that chance presented itself a few years ago when I was traveling for Club Scrap. Mike met me after the event, and we took a couple of days to tour the area wineries. The photos from that wonderful trip are lovingly showcased on ALSB pages 5-8.

Finally, nothing is better than enjoying time with friends. The Mike-man and I recently had a "date night" with Kay and her husband for an evening of fine dining and martinis along with an unscheduled stop at our old downtown stomping grounds. Cleo's was our hangout a loooooooong time ago, before Kay and Willie were married, and pre-kids for the Mike-man and me. Our fond memories of that evening are documented below on the last two ALSB pages.

So there you have it...isn't the Sonoma Remix collection gorgeous? Remember, it's a special edition kit, so it's not automatically shipped to members, and you don't have to be a member to buy one. So what are you waiting for? Grab one...or two...before this particular wine is past its time!

Creatively yours,
Karen

Running half crazy? Scrapbook it.

It's funny. Sometimes if I share with someone that I'm running a half marathon, they'll say, "Wow--that's crazy!"

Maybe so. But if I'm crazy, I'm crazy with a whole bunch of other people. Thousands of people. Hundreds of thousands of people. There's something to this "running thing," folks.

Beth (sister), Todd (brother), Drew (Cliff's cousin), Tricia (me), Cliff (husband), Andrea (neighbor)

After logging roughly 200 training miles, I finished my 3rd consecutive Green Bay Half Marathon on Sunday, and it was a beautiful day. It was my husband's 9th. So, we're consecutively half crazy. :)

Cliff running his 9th GB Half Marathon. Mile 4.

We had an extraordinary start-line moment with 26 seconds of silence in remembrance of the Boston tragedy on April 15. Every runner received a blue bracelet that said "Boston 2013; We run as one." You could have heard a pin drop.

26 seconds of silence at the start.

My sweet neighbor, Andrea, ran her first full crazy marathon on Sunday. She was absolutely extraordinary, finishing the 26.2 miles in 4:09. I used to drive Andrea to middle school every morning, and to see that gal round the corner to the finish after circling Lambeau Field literally brought tears to my eyes.

Andrea just after the finish, still smiling!

Brenda Nejedlo, CS staffer, completed her second half . . . run/walking an awesome race with the support of her husband, John and enthusiastic Bichon, Missy.

Brenda found me in the Lambeau Field atrium before the start. 

My brother Todd and my sister Beth finished well. Oh, and my dear friends Lara and Russel, and my great pal/cousin/3-time Boston Marathon finisher, Drew, who brought home a 3rd place award in his age group.

Drew's plate-sized top finisher medal.

I'm proud as punch of my running friends. We celebrated our accomplishments with plenty of great food afterward. Entertaining a large tribe of runners post-race prevents stiffness from setting in, I suppose.

In celebration of our weekend, I wanted to put the last of the Marathon Collection on sale for a special buy. This is the last of it, my dear running friends. It's a cool collection and will be gone soon, especially at this crazy price!



Are you a runner? Are you a walker? Are you a runner wanna-be? I got started many years ago with this nifty "couch potato to 5-K program". I was the girl who said, "Oh, I don't run. I'll start running when I start seeing other runners smiling." Well, I can tell you that I smiled for almost 13.1 miles straight on Sunday. Thank you, GB Half Marathon organizers and volunteers for a great race day!

"Nobody said it would be easy. They said it would be worth it." -- Anonymous

Looking forward to hearing your running stories!

To your good health . . .
Tricia

Cliff, me and Todd sporting our hardware in front of Lambeau Field.

Peeking At the Seaside Memories Book

Creative Greetings To You!
Do you know what Monday is? May 20th! Club Stamp shipping day!

For those of you getting the Project sent with your Club Stamp Kit, here your sneak peek. For those of you that don't have a Club Stamp Membership, you may want to sign up here. Heheee, sorry, but I'm a little crazy about projects, so I love the Club Stamp Membership, what else can I say?!?!

The Seaside Memories Book 

It may look like a regular book on the shelf when it's closed, but the inside has all kinds of options for decorating. I think you're gonna love it! I'm also happy to let you know that there will also be Paperless Kits available. Above is my decorated Cape Cod Seaside Memories Book that comes complete with papers for wrapping as well as pages and thread for the mini album. 

I've already made two additional books using the Paperless Kit. I used Wild Flower Papers on the front cover and old dictionary pages for wrapping the inside compartments.

I'm also in the process of decorating another Paperless Kit that uses a photocopied photo on the front cover. I'll be blogging about that one soon! For now, I hope you'll enjoy this project as much as I do!

Thanks for stopping by,

Kay

Digital Galleria Stroll

It’s been  while since I took a stroll through the Galleria, and I thought today I would just focus on some digital inspiration there. After all, it’s Thursday, and that usually means something digital, right?

So here are a few treasures I encountered on my stroll - not a lot of comments here, just enjoy the creativity...

First up, Annette (AnnetteD) created a lovely layout called “Greek Islands” using the Lotus Pond kit:

Next, April (aprilpzzl) gives us “My Dolls” made with Bold Blooms - so bold and bright, it made me smile:

Rachelle (azemigh) combines Cape Cod, Pure & Simple, & Raku and creates the stunning “Searose Beach”:

“Afternoon Sun in Black and White” by Cathy (cathygray) uses Cape Cod for a dramatic layout:

I love how Barbara (fuzzylover) uses the photo in “Surfing,” made with the Cape Cod kit:

Lisa’s (Scrappin5150) “Let Me Count the Ways” combines Blossom and LMCTW for a beautiful layout - the colors in the bouquet match the kits perfectly:

Finally, Jill (jmp1022) created a simple, but beautiful digital card with the Cape Cod kit, simply entitled “Black and White”:

I hope you enjoyed this little digital stroll through the Galleria - I’m forever inspired by the beautiful digital art I find there. Now it’s your turn - go create something wonderful and post it in the galleria so we can all enjoy it!

Until next time.

- Ron








P.S. If you're not yet a member of Club Scrap Digital™, what are you waiting for? Click HERE to join! You'll be glad you did!!