Tuesday Tips

Tuesdays at For the Love of Scrap are full of tips. These tips could be anything, for example:

• How to organize your craft space.
• Hosting a crop at your home.
• Getting the most from your supplies.
• Great scrapbooking sites.
• Answers to questions you send to me.
• An much more...

Today's Tuesday Tip is how to host a crop in your home.

First, food and beverages are essential to any gathering. But when scrapbooking, it can spell disaster. You should set up a separate area just for eating and drinking. I've had a glass of pop, accidentally spilled by a fellow scrapper, take out a stack of my favorite papers. Consider serving non-finger food. Greasy fingerprints can ruin a layout. Try offering scrap-friendly snacks instead, like pretzels.

In addition to the food station, you will want an inspiration station. This is where you would leave scrapbooking magazines, books and sketches for others to borrow.

You may also want to consider having a supplies station. I'm not suggesting you provide the supplies for everyone. But, rather that all the participants can leave supplies they no longer want and take what they like. Like a mini scrap swap.

Finally, you need cropping areas for each participant. I suggest that you provide a space about 3' by 3' for each person. This allows for spreading out their materials and a nice sized area to work on their layouts. Remember to provide everyone with a plastic grocery bag for their trash, so clean up is easy. Also, remind them that they can place larger scraps that they don't want at the supplies station for others to use.

All the best,
Colleen

Make it Monday

Mondays are Make It Monday at For the Love of Scrap. You are challenged to create a layout using the inspiration I provide. The inspiration maybe a word definition, a quote, a color palette, or an advertisement. This challenge meant to train your mind to look for scrapbooking inspiration in the world around you.

This Monday's inspiration is an advertisement. Try your hand at making a layout based on this ad. This technique is called a scraplift.

I want to see your work. Please post completed layouts on our google group board here.

Have fun,
Colleen

Saturday Sketch

I know I said I was going to only sketch in grey scale from now on and avoid using digital kits, but I couldn't resist this one. 10 photos of varying sizes fit on this double layout.

The two journaling blocks are created through the use of Hand Drawn Journaling Panels acrylic stamps by Autumn Leaves.

Pattern Paper, ribbons and bows all from No Room for Grey kit by retrodiva (Tracy Collins) www.retrodiva.net.

Remember to post your completed layouts at our google group.

Happy Scrapping!
Colleen

Freebie Friday

This entire digital scrapbooking kit can be downloaded onto your computer for zip, zilch, nada. That's free folks. ;o) Get it here.

Be Mine by retrodiva {designs}

Happy Friday,

Colleen

The Thursday Review

Thursdays at For the Love of Scrap include reviews of products, books, magazines, stores, and all things related to scrapbooking and papercrafting.

Up for review this week is Scrapbook Page Maps by Becky Fleck.
Let me start out by saying I wish I had written this book. This is the best scrapbooking book I have purchased to date (let's just say I have a few).

So what exactly makes this book so great? First, the book's construction. The book is spiral bond, so it lays flat when open. But, unlike most spiral bound books, the publishers were smart enough to cover the spiral binding with a hard cover. This way when the book is on a shelf, you can still find the book by looking at its spine. Also, unprotected spiral binding tends to snag itself on objects. The books pages are printed full-color on glossy paper.

Second, the books sketches or page maps (60 in total) vary in size and orientation. They include: 12x12 single, 12x12 double, 8 1/2x11 vertical, 8 1/2x11 horizontal and 8 1/2x11 double. In addition, each sketch is accompanied by no less than two full-color sample layouts.

Third, along with the details of how the sample layout was created, each page contains "tip," "give it a try" and/or "eye spy" boxes. The "tip" boxes give advice, such as "For added dimension, double up photo anchors one on top of the other and attach with a brad." The "give it a try" boxes provide step-by-step photos demonstrating a scrapbooking technique, such as how to create a title block that looks like granite. The "eye spy" boxes draw your attention to details contained in the sample layouts that you may not have noticed, such as "Connie used the negative piece left over from popping the 'Y' out of the nested chipboard letter and backed it with patterned paper."

Lastly, the most unique and arguably the best part of this book is the deck of sketch cards that is included. The cards and card box are located at the back of the book. All you do is punch out the cards and box. The box is easily assembled by folding on the pre-scored lines and taping shut one side. The cards, just like the book, are full-color. One side of each card contains the sketch and the other contains a sample layout along with a materials list needed to recreate the layout. The cards are the size of children's playing cards and are coated, thus perfect for bringing to a crop or shopping.

So, is there anything I don't like about this book? Yep. I don't know when or if a sequel will be published.

This book is perfect for the novice scrapper to the seasoned scrapbooker.

Rating: $$$ out of $$$
$ = Not worth the money.
$$ = I wouldn't pay full price, but definitely pick it up when on sale.
$$$ = Don't wait, buy it now!

Happy scrappin',
Colleen

What's New Wednesday

Wednesdays at For the Love of Scrap are for sharing what's new in the world of scrapbooking.

Today's find is a set of clear acrylic stamps Sometimes You're the Bug ($9.99) by Clear Dollar Stamps LLC. This set of stamps is so cute, unique and versatile.

2 coordinating stamp sets are currently available too. These include: Heaven Bound ($4.99) and Bugs and Kisses ($9.99).

I've been buying stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps LLC for a couple of years now. The quality is always great.

I also like that when you spend at least $50, you get the stamp of the month set free. In addition, if you spend more you get more free. See here for details.


ttfn,
Colleen

Tuesday Tips

Tuesdays at For the Love of Scrap are full of tips. These tips could be anything, for example:

• How to organize your craft space.
• Hosting a crop at your home.
• Getting the most from your supplies.
• Great scrapbooking sites.
• Answers to questions you send to me.
• An much more...

Today's Tuesday Tip is how to make your own scented embossing powder.

1. Add Kool-Aid drink mix (dry) to clear embossing powder in a small container.
2. Shake container to mix.

You can also try substituting dry spices and unused coffee grounds for the Kool-Aid drink mix.

Note: If you use larger granule ingredients, like unused coffee grounds, you will not to use embossing enamel or UTEE in place of regular embossing powder. This is due to the fact that regular embossing powder has finer granules and they will sink under the larger coffee granules and the result is less than ideal. Also, don't use powders that contain sugar. The sugar will caramelize when heated.

I recommend you only use these scented embossing powders on cards or other papercrafts that don't need to be archival safe.

Here are some card sentiments to try:

Have a berry nice Christmas.

You're a grape friend!

Thank you cherry much.

Thank you berry much.

Thank you for being a berry good friend.

Thanks a bunch. (think grapes or bananas)

I love you a whole bunch.

I'd go bananas without you.

May your new year be fruitful.

Orange you glad we're friends?

You're an orange-inal.

I'm nuts for you.

I'm cocoa for you.

Thanks a latte.

Is there any problem chocolate can't solve?

When life gives you lemons...make lemonade.

You can use the scented embossing powder just like regular embossing powder. Just stamp your image, sprinkle with the embossing powder, tap off excess powder and heat with embossing gun.

Try it on stickers, die cuts, and patterned paper too.

Post your creations on our google group board.

All the best,
Colleen