Pumpkin Album Finished Photos

Hi, everyone!

I got a request a l-o-o-o-n-g time ago to post pictures of the finished pumpkin album & totally forgot about it until today ~ basements eat your brain, it seems!

Below please find photos of the finished album. The album was cut with an AccuCut pumpkin die & decorated with Bo Bunny papers and embellishments. Enjoy!

Front Cover:

First Layout:

First Page:

Second Page:

Second Layout:

Third Page:

Fourth Page:

Third Layout:

Fifth Page:

Sixth Page:

Fourth Layout:

Seventh Page:

Eighth Page:

Fifth Layout:

Ninth Page:

Tenth Page:

Back Cover:

You can see all the details + tutorials on how each page was constructed over on USTREAM, starting with Part One: Pumpkin Album, Part One.

Have a great weekend!

~Kathryn :D

FOR SALE: Christmas in July Stamps!

Hello, everyone & happy Monday!

I have mailed out all of the pre-ordered Christmas in July stamps & now I am ready to offer the extras for sale.

The prices below include shipping. Each drop down box has options for the stamp price + USA, Canadian or International shipping via USPS First Class Mail. Please be sure to choose the selection that's right for you. If you order more than one stamp & we can combine shipping to save you money, we will do so & refund you the difference via PayPal. Stamps will ship the next business day after payment clears.



Angel Single Stamp + Herald Angel Background Sample:


Supplies Used:
White Cardstock
Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
Fine Gold Embossing Powder
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
LaBlanche or Ranger Speciality Stamping Paper
Distress Markers: Aged Mahogany, Tattered Rose, Wild Honey, Scattered Straw, Tea Dye & Vintage Photo


Our Daily Bread "Angel Single" Stamp: $8.00


Approximate Image Sizes:
1. Angel: 2 5/8" x 3.5"

Shipping

Stamp + USA S&H$8.85 USD Stamp + Canadian S&H$9.40 USD Stamp + International S&H$10.15 USD

Heartfelt Creations "Herald Angels" Background Stamp: SOLD OUT

Approximate Image Sizes:
1.Background: 4.5" x 5"



Wreath Sample Card:


Supplies Used:
White Cardstock
Ranger Archival Ink in Coffee
Distress Markers: Aged Mahogany, Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet, Tattered Rose, Fired Brick, Scattered Straw, Vintage Photo & Weathered Wood


Our Daily Bread "I Wait for the Lord" Set: $20.00

Approximate Image Sizes:
1. Advent Wreath: 2.5" x 2.75"
2. Isaiah 9:2: 1 7/8" x 2.5"
3. Luke 1:31: 1 1/8" x 4.25"
4. Psalm 130:5: 1.25" x 3.75"

Shipping:

Stamps + USA S&H$21.15 USD Stamps + Canadian S&H$21.65 USD Stamps + International S&H$22.55 USD

Nativity Scene Sample:


Supplies Used:
Olive Cardstock
Maroon Cardstock
Ranger Gold Dabber
Sizzic Stars & Swirls Embossing Folder
LaBlanche or Ranger Speciality Stamping Paper
Ranger Distress Stains: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo & Wild Honey (Distress Inks will also work if you don't already have the stains)
Water Brush or Paint Brush


Heartfelt Creations "Nativity Scene" Set: $15.99

Approximate Image Sizes:
1. Nativity Scene: 3.5" x 3.5"
2. Everlasting Light: 3" x 1"

Shipping:

Stamps + USA S&H$17.15 USD Stamps + Canadian S&H$17.65 USD Stamps + International S&H$18.55 USD

Winter Pelican Sample:


Supplies Used: (I'll be tweaking the design for a more blended look, since I wasn't in love with how the markers looked for the sky. The supplies listed below will be what is used in the class & not what was used in the sample above)
White Cardstock
Lalanche or Ranger Speciality Stamping Paper
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Distress Ink: Faded Jeans & Stormy Sky
Distress Ink Application & Foam
Water Brush
Distress Markers: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Weathered Wood, Pumice Stone, Fired Brick, Peeled Paint, Wild Honey & Stormy Sky
Ranger Liquid Pearls: Pearl, Buttercup & Rouge
Ranger Stickles: Silver


Impression Obsession "Winter Pelican" Stamp: SOLD OUT!

Approximate Image Sizes:
1. Pelican: 3.75" x 4.75"



The classes will be held on Saturdays at 1:00 PM Eastern USA time over on my USTREAM channel. Above are samples of the cards we will be making during the card series. We will be making at least TWO cards using each stamp set. One will be designed for mass production for mailing to lots of people & one will be more detailed for hand delivery to a few people. So we will be making all the cards shown above and then some!

Thanks for stamping along with me on this! I think it's going to be SO MUCH FUN and I am really excited about these projects!

~Kathryn :D

P.S. The rest of the stamps shown on USTREAM will be made available in August and September before the relevant card classes.

Stamps Are In!

Hi, everyone!

Just a quick post to let you know that the stamps are in & will be shipping out to those who pre-ordered. We hope to have them all shipped by Monday. You will get a shipping email when yours ships, so be on the lookout for one!

Also, we did get some extra stamps for those who missed the pre-orders. I hope to make those available on the side bar by the end of the weekend as well.

Thanks!

~Kathryn :D

COMING SOON: Sizzix Pop 'N Cuts Card Series

Hi, everyone! Happy Thursday!

I wanted to take a moment to let you know about my next big USTREAM series. I'll be doing a card series with the new Sizzix Pop 'n Cuts dies. The base dies and accessories are available at Scrapadabadoo now! They are currently running a special on the base die for my viewers, so be sure to get yours before they sell out at the special price!

Here are two videos from Sizzix showing how the Pop 'n Cuts are used:

Introducing Pop 'n Cuts: (watch on YouTube here)




Pop 'n Cuts Base Tray: (watch on YouTube here)




I am so excited these dies are finally available! They were one of my favorite products from CHA-W 2012 & I see TONS of possibilities for them ~ not just for cards, but also for scrapbooking. Be sure to check them out on YouTube & then join me on USTREAM to see them in action!

Thanks!

~Kathryn :D

Happy Monday!

Hi, everyone! Thanks so much to everyone who left me birthday wishes this weekend ~ they really meant so much to me. I have a wonderful weekend with family and friends and am looking forward to a quiet week at home after all the excitement of last week.

The pre-order period for the Christmas in July card series stamps has closed & I've taken down the PayPal buttons. Once the stamps arrive from the manufacturers, we'll ship them out and schedule the first class! Thanks so much to everyone who ordered ~ I'm really looking forward to this class series.

Thanks again & have a GREAT week!

~Kathryn :D

FOR SALE: Christmas in July Stamps

Hello, everyone & happy Monday!

Since last Thursday's show I have been on the phone with the manufacturers of the Christmas stamps I bought at Great American Scrapbook Convention. During Thursday's show, we discussed using these stamps for an upcoming Christmas in July {and August & September} card & gift series. I now know FOR SURE that I will be able to get as many of these stamps as we need, so I can make all of them available to anyone who wants them! Yay!

To ensure that everyone who wants any of the July stamps gets exactly what they want, I will be taking pre-orders this week. The pre-order period will close at 11:59 PM Eastern USA time on Sunday, July 8, 2012. I will place the orders on Monday, July 9, 2012, so be sure to check out before the pre-order period closes if you want to be sure there are stamps for you! While I will be ordering a FEW extra stamps, we will not order much over what is pre-ordered, so if you know you want these stamps, please be sure to get your pre-order in this week. I don't want anyone to miss out on the fun!

The pre-order prices below include shipping. Each drop down box has options for the stamp price + USA, Canadian or International shipping via USPS First Class Mail. Please be sure to choose the selection that's right for you.

There is also the "I Want Them All!" option which includes all the stamps at a 10% discount off MSRP with shipping via USPS Priority Mail!
If you order more than one stamp & we can combine shipping to save you money, we will do so & refund you the difference via PayPal.

I Want Them All: $66.85






Angel Single Stamp + Herald Angel Background Sample:


Supplies Used:
White Cardstock
Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
Fine Gold Embossing Powder
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
LaBlanche or Ranger Speciality Stamping Paper
Distress Markers: Aged Mahogany, Tattered Rose, Wild Honey, Scattered Straw, Tea Dye & Vintage Photo


Our Daily Bread "Angel Single" Stamp: $8.00


Approximate Image Sizes:
1. Angel: 2 5/8" x 3.5"



Heartfelt Creations "Herald Angels" Background Stamp: $15.99

Approximate Image Sizes:
1.Background: 4.5" x 5"



Wreath Sample Card:


Supplies Used:
White Cardstock
Ranger Archival Ink in Coffee
Distress Markers: Aged Mahogany, Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet, Tattered Rose, Fired Brick, Scattered Straw, Vintage Photo & Weathered Wood


Our Daily Bread "I Wait for the Lord" Set: $20.00

Approximate Image Sizes:
1. Advent Wreath: 2.5" x 2.75"
2. Isaiah 9:2: 1 7/8" x 2.5"
3. Luke 1:31: 1 1/8" x 4.25"
4. Psalm 130:5: 1.25" x 3.75"



Nativity Scene Sample:


Supplies Used:
Olive Cardstock
Maroon Cardstock
Ranger Gold Dabber
Sizzic Stars & Swirls Embossing Folder
LaBlanche or Ranger Speciality Stamping Paper
Ranger Distress Stains: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo & Wild Honey (Distress Inks will also work if you don't already have the stains)
Water Brush or Paint Brush


Heartfelt Creations "Nativity Scene" Set: $15.99

Approximate Image Sizes:
1. Nativity Scene: 3.5" x 3.5"
2. Everlasting Light: 3" x 1"


Winter Pelican Sample:


Supplies Used: (I'll be tweaking the design for a more blended look, since I wasn't in love with how the markers looked for the sky. The supplies listed below will be what is used in the class & not what was used in the sample above)
White Cardstock
Lalanche or Ranger Speciality Stamping Paper
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Distress Ink: Faded Jeans & Stormy Sky
Distress Ink Application & Foam
Water Brush
Distress Markers: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Weathered Wood, Pumice Stone, Fired Brick, Peeled Paint, Wild Honey & Stormy Sky
Ranger Liquid Pearls: Pearl, Buttercup & Rouge
Ranger Stickles: Silver


Impression Obsession "Winter Pelican" Stamp: $14.30

Approximate Image Sizes:
1. Pelican: 3.75" x 4.75"



I Want Them All: $66.85





Stamps will ship as soon as I get them from the manufacturers. The class dates will not be set until all the stamps have arrived to me and been shipped to you ~ that way everyone will have a chance to get their stamps before the class.

Above are samples of the cards we will be making during the card series. We will be making at least TWO cards using each stamp set. One will be designed for mass production for mailing to lots of people & one will be more detailed for hand delivery to a few people. So we will be making all the cards shown above and then some!

I have been considering having an additional class specifically for these stamp creations, rather than trying to work the "Christmas in July" concept into my regular Thursday schedule. What do you all think about that idea? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for stamping along with me on this! I think it's going to be SO MUCH FUN and I am really excited about these projects!

~Kathryn :D

P.S. The rest of the stamps shown on USTREAM will be made available in August and September before the relevant card classes.

From the Archives: Card Process

Hi, everyone! I'm continuing to re-post older blog posts with useful information. I've chosen posts that answer some of my most frequently asked questions. This one is on how I store my scraps. This blog post was originally posted on June 13, 2009. This is the third in a three part series where I examine my creative process. This entry will focus on my process for creating cards. See the two previous blog posts for my process for creating layouts and mini albums.

Hi, everyone! This entry is going to be quite a bit shorter than the others, as my card making process is pretty simple.

My card-making process essentially starts when I pull apart a page kit. If I have any cardstock scraps are big enough to make a card base {either 4.25"x11" or 5.5"x8.5"}, I cut them down into a card base right away and store them separately from my other cardstock scraps. This ensures that I always have a good stack of card bases in a variety of colors.

When I am making cards, I try to make two the same, if I can. I think it is just as easy to make two cards as it is to make one, since the difficult part is coming up with the design. Making two each time gives me a good supply of "emergency cards" for when I need one in a hurry.

Next, I go to my stamps. I like to have one big stamped image to go with my sentiment. Then I choose my patterned paper and embellishments from there. I usually just grab scraps that coordinate with my theme and my sentiment and go from there.

Since most of my cards are mailed, I try to keep the design very simple ~ usually just some patterned paper strips, one large stamp and maybe some ribbon.

{2012 update: I was not much into making cards when I originally wrote this blog post, although much of the information is still accurate. Typically now I will also make a card directly from an existing kit, rather than using only scraps as I did before. And not all my cards are simple these days.}

What's your card-making creative process?

~Kathryn :D
 Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.

From the Archives: My Mini Album Process

Hi, everyone! I'm continuing to re-post older blog posts with useful information. I've chosen posts that answer some of my most frequently asked questions. This one is on how I store my scraps. This blog post was originally posted on June 12, 2009. This is the second in a three part series where I examine my creative process. This entry will focus on my process for creating mini albums. See the previous blog post for my process for creating layouts.

Like my layout creative process, my mini album process can be broken out into two distinct starting points as well:

1) Starting from a page kit. This is the process I use if I have a very specific idea in mind of what I want my mini album to be. I used this process in several of my videos, such as my Seaquarium mini album and my Christmas mini album.

OR

2) Anarchy. This is the process I use if I have a general idea for a mini album, but not a specific plan on how to carry it off. I used this "process" in the creation of my Engagement mini album.

Okay, so what does this actually mean for my creative process? Let me see if I can break it down a little bit more.

The first creating process is very similar to that of my layouts. Since I have a strong idea in my head of what the finished product should look like, I choose photos and page kit and mini album and just get started. I still make decisions as I go ~ I don't usually use sketches, for example ~ but since I know what I want it to look like when I am finished, the decisions are easy to make.

The second creating process is quite a bit different. Usually when I am doing a mini album with the CHAOS process ~ like the Engagement mini album ~ I start with a vague idea & try to use all scraps if possible.

With the Engagement mini album, my idea was that I wanted a small book that was soft and romantic. That was it!

I had one picture & it was sepia toned, so I pulled all my cream-colored scraps and put them on my desk. Then I wanted some more color, so I pulled my pink and blue scraps and put them on my desk. Then I put any stamps and inks that worked with the theme/feel on my desk. I grabbed some brads and other embellishments and added them to the pile as well. I just kept grabbing stuff I might use until I had a huge pile of things on my desk. If you watch the first video in the Engagement mini album series, you can see the pile of stuff on my desk.

By the time I'm done making my pile, I have, essentially, created a page kit. So I an now sit down at my desk and start pulling papers together and pushing elements around until I like how it looks enough to glue it down.

I am equally happy with the creations from both processes ~ I like the Seaquarium and Engagement mini albums equally well, for example ~ but it is much easier to clean up after if I am using page kits!

Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.

From the Archives: My Layout Process

Hi, everyone! I'm continuing to re-post older blog posts with useful information. I've chosen posts that answer some of my most frequently asked questions. This one is on how I store my scraps. This blog post was originally posted on June 11, 2009.

I wanted to take a little time to talk about my creative process since I've been getting a few questions about aspects of it: whether I use sketches, how I choose papers, colors, etc. So, I thought I would just go over it all. At least, I hope it clears everything up for you ~ it may actually just make everyone more confused! :D In this blog entry, I'll be focusing on layouts. I will do two more blog entries on this subject: one related to my process for creating mini albums, and one related to my process for creating cards.

I always felt that my creative process was a little bit backwards from what most people probably do. My assumption {which may be completely wrong, and probably is} has been that most people start with the pictures they want to showcase and build the page from there. I actually start with the paper I want to use {mostly} or layout design I'd like to try {sometimes} and think about the photos I want to use or the story I want to tell second.

So how does that work for me exactly?

When I do layouts, I scrap from kits I make ahead of time {2012 update: see yesterday's blog post for more info on how I make the kits}, so my process can go one of two ways:

1) making kits, choosing my story/pictures, and then selecting the kit I feel best matches the feel I'm going for with the story {more common}

OR

2) making kits, deciding on the way I want the layout to look, selecting the kit I feel best matches the layout I want to create, and then choosing my story/pictures based on the idea of the layout last {less common}

In both scenarios, I'd already matched patterned paper to cardstock to embellishments when I made the kit, so when I actually sit down to scrap I don't have to worry about that. I also do not try to match my paper to the colors in my photos ~ that way madness lies. Almost all pictures look good with almost all papers ~ you'd really be surprised how little clashing there is ~ so I choose kits/pictures based on mood or emotion. Do I want the layout to be bright and cheerful? Subtle and understated? Serious? Scary? What reaction am I going for with this project? That's what helps me choose the right kit for the right project.

Once I'm ready to create, I just spread the photos out on my desk and start start playing. I grab different colors of cardstock and different patterned papers and just move things around until it look right to me. I am pretty decisive, so I just go with what feels good to me. I don't worry too much about the finished product ~ I just keep adding elements or taking them away until I love what I have left. That's when I know I'm done & it's time to start gluing stuff down ~ when I love it.

Very occasionally I get stuck for an idea. That's when I turn to my "Inspiration Notebook" which I keep in a basket by my desk with my idea books. This is just a cheap composition book here I glue layouts, magazine articles, etc., that catch my eye & I think will work for a layout. But that's a topic for another post, I think!

How do you create? What's your process? I'd love to hear from you!

Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.

From the Archives: Making Page Kits

Hi, everyone! I'm continuing to re-post older blog posts with useful information. I've chosen posts that answer some of my most frequently asked questions. This one is on how I store my scraps. This blog post was originally posted on June 10, 2009.

Today I wanted to write a little about the page kits I use in my scrapping. Many of the questions I get about my videos have to deal with either page kits or my scrap process, and the two are somewhat interrelated. I have prepared a little video of myself making a new kit which is available to view below or over on my YouTube channel.



At this point, I am scrapbooking almost exclusively from page kits I make myself. Now, I didn't wake up one morning and say to myself, "I think I'll make page kits!" Like everything else in this hobby, it has been a process for me. My evolution into scrapping from page kits started with my first purchase of a monthly kit. I liked how easy it was to create projects when all the papers and cardstock and embellishments were coordinated, but I didn't really want to keep buying kits since I liked my supplies. So I got the idea to create my own kits to incorporate my newer supplies with my older supplies.

I started by getting some Cropper Hopper Page Planners and keeping just new things in them. Over time I started adding stuff from my stash to the new products and eventually I got in the habit of creating page kits from a combination of new and old product every time I made a new purchase. When I find that I always skip a particular page kit and never reach for it anymore I take it apart ~ that means I'm sick of what's in there. Anything left in the kit gets returned to my stash and I now have an empty sleeve for a new kit. I keep all my kits in one of these Large Rhombus Strage Totes from the Container Store:
{2012 Update: I now keep them in storage cubes from IKEA designed to fit in the EXPEDIT where I store most of my scrap supplies}

The cubes hold a ton of Cropper Hopper Page Planners & they stay upright so I can easily flip through them to find the one I want. This makes it easy to sit down and start creating.

Retreat and crop packing are both easier. I just grab some page kits and some photos and drop them into my tote. Then I add some stamps, some inks and a few other generic embellishments and I'm ready to go!

Since I started scrapping almost exclusively from these kits, my scrap process has changed quite a bit. In the next three posts, I'm going to go over my scrapbook process for layouts, mini albums and cards. In these posts I'll go over how I find inspiration, how I utilize the kits, and what I do when I'm finished with a project. I hope you find the information helpful! Or, at the very least, not boring!

~Kathryn :D
  Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.