**NEW** Scraps of Elegance Blog Hop!

You may know Scraps of Darkness already, she is on the edgy and daring side and is always the "pushing the envelope" kit of diversity.  Now we would like to introduce you to her new sister---

"Scraps of Elegance" is the alter ego of her sister club. Her style is more on the sweet and romantic side... a true classic beauty.  Today is the reveal of the very first "Scraps of Elegance" kit!  "Vintage Elegance"

Beautiful papers have been carefully chosen from Kaisercraft Sweet Nothings, Websters Pages Western Romance and Melissa Frances 5th Avenue Collection.  Also added some wonderful embellishments and unique vintage items for you to create something beautiful to compliment your most treasured photos. You can see the full list of kit ingredients at the Scraps of Elegance Website


I was honored to be asked to be the first Guest Designer for this fabulous new kit club and was completely WOWED when I got this gorgeous kit in the mail!  Here are a few of the projects I made with this lovely kit...

I love the pretty bling and lovely rub-on's that came with this kit!  There are also these wonderful vintage tags and cards that I know you'll love to design with!

For the above layout I used the Martha Stewart leaf punch on some green cardstock to make the leafy canopy (It was fast and easy to do with that punch!  I lightly misted the leaves with some water and gave them a little crinkle to give them a more 3D effect).   I also used an old stamp set I have from Prima (Build a Frame) to create the border around the edges of my paper.

The corner flourish is a new Dusty Attic Corner Flourish, I used some embossing powders on it in gold and blue, then added a bit of green mica powder (Pearlex) and then added some Glossy Accents to coat it all.  Here is a close-up pic of the finish... 

And a third layout I made with this kit I used the soft 'shabby chic' elements of this kit.....I just LOVE the pretty Mellisa Frances resin piece included in the kit!...

I cut the chandelier from one of the patterned papers to create the 3D embellishment and used pop dots to adhere it to the page (below)....

I'm often asked how I apply unusual items like pearl strands to a page.  I love the Tombow liqued adhesive (green & white) bottle.  You apply the adhesive to your project and let it 'set' (it becomes clear) and turns tacky...then it's easy peasy to attache the strand because it immediately grabs and holds the strand as you attach it.  It becomes more permanent as it sits.

The amazingly talented Suepup has been creating the inspiring sketches for Scraps of Darkness each month and Scraps of Elegance is excited to announce that she will also be designing sketches each month for this new kit club as well!  Now we are sure you don't want to just hear about her sketches so we are pleased to share this months inspirational sketch with you.

Scraps of Elegance has pulled together some of the most talented designers in the scrapbooking community for their new design team...

2012 Scraps of Elegance design team:
Lisa Novogrodski- Lead Designer
Charlotte Jenkins- Sketch Artist and Designer
Jennifer Snyder-Designer
Mandy Harrell- Designer
Karen Zueger- Designer
Renea Harrison- Designer
Rachelle Sigurdson- Designer
And they are quite certain Escape Kitty will sometimes make off with some of Jennifers Scraps of Elegance goodies to create something beautiful!

SOE are kicking off the reveal of their first kit by way of a blog hop this month. You can enjoy not only the full reveal but a chance to win an incredible prize!

SOE will be awarding a THREE MONTH SUBSCRIPTION TO THE SCRAPS OF ELEGANCE KIT CLUB to one lucky winner!!!!

You win not one, not two but THREE SCRAPS OF ELEGANCE KITS!

The subscription will begin with the March kit and end with the May kit.

All you need to do to win is become a follower of the Scraps of Elegance blog. Visit each designer and leave a comment on their blogs. When you have completed the hop come back to Scraps of Elegance and leave a comment letting them know you have completed the hop and are a follower. (If you are already a follower, after commenting on the designers blog leave a comment here letting them know!)

International entries are welcome to participate. All international entries are responsible for shipping costs in excess of 15.00.(The designers will address the eligibility of international participants individually on each of their blogs)

Now let's get started! We warmly welcome you to the first SCRAPS OF ELEGANCE BLOG HOP!

Scraps of Elegance Blog - http://scrapsofelegancekits.blogspot.com/
Gabrielle Pollacco- http://gabriellepollacco.blogspot.com/
Lisa Novogrodski - http://lisas-livingincolor.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Snyder- http://scrap-escape.blogspot.com/
Rachelle Sigurdson- http://rachiebabe56.blogspot.com/
Karen Zueger - http://lostcoastscrapper.blogspot.com/
Renea Harrison- http://www.myglittercoatedlife.blogspot.com/
Cheryl Casas- http://www.cherylspassion.blogspot.com/
Karolina Stopyra- http://drycha.blogspot.com/
Nancy Hanttula - http://justaboutthedetails.com/
Escape Kitty- http://escapekitty.blogspot.com/
Charlotte Jenkins - http://suepup.blogspot.com/

You will have until February 4th midnight Pacific time to leave your comments and a winner will be announced at the Scraps of Elegance blog on February 5th.  After you've left a comment at my blog you will then move onto Lisa's Blog.  Happy Hopping! xx

P.S! A little side note!  I have hit my million mark on blog visits here at my blog and am going to have a huge giveaway tomorrow to celebrate (lots of my favourite things!) so be sure to pop by again to have a chance to win! xx

Websters Pages Everyday Poetry Layout....and something new & COOL!!

So I showed you all the beautiful new 'Everyday Poetry' collection from Websters Pages in the post below, here is one of the layouts I made for display at the CHA to go with this pretty collection!  I just love all the pretty images on these papers....cherry blossoms, butterflies, even fairies & frogs! how cute!  The blooms I made by using my 5 petal Retro Daisy punch on some pink Websters Paper and layered it with some Tulle.  The lace (brown and white) are some of the new trims that go with the Everyday Poetry collection.  Here is a pic with close-up details...

Now, check this out!  How cool is this??  Websters Pages now makes an 18 sheet paper pad that have all the motifs from thier new collections!  So Perfect for all you gals that like the fussy cutting to decorate your pages with!  Really excellent for cardmakers too!  They are called 'Perfect Motifs' ....so if you want some butterflies to decorate with....just cut some out from the 'motifs' ...no need to chop up a perfectly good 12x112 paper sheet to make an embellishment! gotta love that! 

If you'd like to read more about it you can check out the Websters Pages blog today! Websters Blog

Thanks so much for stopping by and thanks so much for all your sweet comments....my appologies for not hopping over to all your blogs these past few weeks, I've been working hard to get some l/o's done for the CHA! xx 

Websters Pages Sneak Peeks! & a GIVEAWAY!!

Yep! that's the name of another of the new releases for CHA 2012 for Websters Pages!  And I'm not afraid to admit...I LOVE IT!!!  Bird cages, butterflies, frogs & fairies, cherry blossoms and more!  What's not to love about this collection!  I just got some of my DT package in today and have seen these IRL....LOVE LOVE LOVE this collection!  Here is a wee peek at some of the papers... 

....and of course here are the Clean & Simple papers to coordinate with the collection... 

....and as always, the embellishments are just to die for!  Check out the trims, cameo's and bling that have just come out....

....and speaking of cameo's....check out some of the cameo's that go with some of the other newly introduced collections....

**Gasp!** check out the beautiful detailing on the cameo's for the new 'Palm Beach' collection (above)...to view the whole collection be sure to pop into the Websters Pages Blog (you'll have to scroll down because it was yesterdays peek :)

Do you want a chance to win some of these new collections?  Be sure to check in at the Websters Pages Blog throughout the days before the CHA!  .....PSSSST!!  They are announcing a giveaway this very afternoon and I hear it's a BIG one!  so be sure to pop by the Websters Pages Blog this afternoon!

Websters Pages 2012 Design Team!

So yesterday the announcement went out for the new Websters Pages 2012 design team!!  I was so flattered and happy to be asked back by Brandin for the 2012 team!  We have 6 new members for the new Clean & Simple team and 1 new member for the Classic design team!! I want to welcome Kay, Jaime, Diana, Jill, Jamie, Nina, and Janine to our new family!!! I am so looking forward to working with these wonderful ladies this year!!  I know it will be a blast.....just keep your eye on the Websters Pages blog for sneak peeks of the gorgeous new collections coming out at the CHA!  Websters Blog

Websters Pages Sneak Peeks! Sunday Picnic!

I love the weeks rolling up to the CHA!!  I get so happy seeing all the new collections being revealed!  And Websters Pages has some beautiful collections coming your way!!  This week they have been showing peeks at the NEW 'Sunday Picnic' collections along with many of it's gorgeous coordinating embellishments!  I made the above layout using some of the fresh and pretty new papers!  Here are a few close-ups of my page...

The words that come to mind when I see these papers is 'fresh & pretty!'   It made me think of this funny photo I have of my youngest daughter that I took a couple of years ago wearing her lavender linen dress.  Her hair-do makes me smile, it was one of her own creations where she added hair dangles, bands, every sort of hair embellishment she could find.....but I just love her quirkiness.

Back to Websters Pages though.....This is really cool!  Websters Pages has changed things up just a little bit!  They are still making their beautiful Classic style paper collections but now they have added a 'Clean & Simple' Paper collection to coordinate with each new line!  So for those of you who have sometimes felt a little nervous about using collections with a lot of design in the papers, this is the thing for you!  In upcoming months you will be seeing work done by the design team using the Classic style papers at the WP site but you will also be seeing the new Clean & Simple style papers put to use by the newest design team members! (announcement to be made next week!).    For the above page I combined some of the Classic  and the Clean & Simple papers.  

I also created a border using one of the Websters Pages Unity Stamps (Beauty).  Around the edges of one of the Clean & Simple papers.   For a quick little 'step by step'  you can check out the Websters Pages post HERE!

So, although the next peeks you will be seeing will be available after the CHA, Sunday Picnic will begin shipping this week!!  So if you are looking to get a head start on your scrapping just click this link to get your orders in!  ~~>  Sunday Picnic

and while you are there, check out the cute video they put together, if this doesn't put you into the mood to scrap, nothing will! :)

Goals for 2012....Bo Bunny!

I'm notorious for trying to remember my schedules instead of taking the time to write them down.  I haven't missed a deadline yet, but I've come to close for comfort lately!   So when Bo Bunny asked the design team girls to do a layout about our goals for 2012, at the top of my list I had to put make WRITTEN schedules! lol!  Among some of the other things I listed was to make more time for family and perhaps take some long weekends.  We let our past summer go being too busy with work to take some time off and enjoy the beautiful weather, this year I want that to change.   I used the Bo Bunny Welcome Home collection to make up this page.  Here are a few close-ups of the page...

The large white bloom is one from the Bo Bunny Olivia collection, I used a little bit of green ink on the end of a Q-tip to tint the center of the flower.

Supplies:

Patterned Paper: Welcome Home; Porch Swing, WH Dot, WH Dreams, WH Keys

Cardstock: Double dot Clover

Chipboard: Welcome Home, Et Cetera

Trinkets: Welcome Home

Blooms: Oliva (tinted with green ink in the center)

Stickers: Welcome Home Combo Stickers

Bo Bunny buttons

Butterfly: Gabrielle

Hinge: Dusty Attic Designs 

Bo Bunny Mini-Albums...Gotta LOVE them!!

I have to admit, even though I have a number of the gorgeous Bo Bunny mini albums in my stash, this is my first time making up my own album with one! I primarily do 12 x 12 layouts but I finally got around to trying out an album! And let me tell you, not only are these pre-designed albums beautiful to look at even before you begin embellishing it to make it your own....but they are so easy to work with!

I decided to use the Timepiece mini album for my first crack at this. Here is a little behind the scenes as to what is going on at my house at the moment....we are renovating our kitchen, tearing out cabinets and counters, redoing floors..so you can imagine the mess I'm in at the moment. So how can I manage a mini-album in the middle of all this?.....Easy! The pre-printed backgrounds on the Bo Bunny mini albums make it a snap! Seriously! I started yesterday evening around 4:00 PM and was done the whole thing by 11:00 PM! What really helps is to have a few of the coordinating papers and embellishments on hand. Then it's just a little bit of cutting and glueing and you've got yourself a wonderful album! Here is a pic of my 'Family' album with the cover straight on view....

I began by adding the chipborad title to the first layer of the album, then I added some blooms on the transparent clock design that goes on top of the front piece. Here is a photo of the first two pieces...

Then I simply took each page, added a little patterned paper (TIP: Noteworthy is an excellent package of small die-cut papers that beautifully embellishes the album). Here are the pages I made up showing photos of my parents, my husbands parents, my dear husband & myself, and at the end, I did a 'Then & Now' 2 pager of my daughters...

Supplies:

Timepiece mini-album

Patterned Papers: Timepiece: Numbers, Cut-outs, Dot

6x6 Paper Pad; Timepiece

Chipboard: Timepiece, Et Cetera (Title), Enchanted

Jewels: Timepiece

Trinkets: SnowFall,

Stickers: Timepiece

Noteworthy: Timepiece

Other:  Dusty Attic Chipboard (Chicken Wire, Skeleton Clock frames)

I'm a wee bit late posting this project as I did it for the Bo Bunny blog for the 22nd,  my kitchen makeover has me hopping....but it's getting there...the cabinets are now in and the floors are next! :)