Saturday, February 26, 2011

Scrap That! Blog Hop (& March Kit Reveal)

If you have just arrived here from "the reluctant scrapper blog" (Janis) blog you are in the correct place. If not, head back to the blog hop beginning at Scrap That! and join us. Remember, the hop will end at midnight on Feb 27th EST, so get your hop on, and get over to www.scrapthatchat.blogspot.com to start and to seethe new kit contents!

We have 8 AMAZING blogs for you to visit today, each with a some beautiful projects that were created using the Scrap That! March "SECRET GARDEN" kit.

All qualifying entries will also be entered into a draw for the GRAND PRIZE, a Scrap That! "SECRET GARDEN" kit which is loaded with new releases from CHA!

TO QUALIFY:

1) VISIT EACH BLOG ON THE HOP, LEAVE A COMMENT AND BECOME A FOLLOWER OF EACH BLOG

2) GO TO SCRAP THAT! FACEBOOK PAGE AND BECOME A FRIEND

3) GO TO THE SCRAP THAT! SOCIAL COMMUNITY AND BECOME A MEMBER

4) EMAIL THE SECRET SENTENCE TO FRIENDS@SCRAPTHAT.CA

For my first layout "treasure", of my daughter las summer, I didn't want to mess with the beautiful G45 Springtime paper so I kept it really simple. I just added a paper doily (with green chalk ink) from my stash along with some  gorgeous embellies from the kit.

Design Tip: Use a soft paintbrush instead of the Smooch paint applicator (teal Smooch paint is in this kit!) to get a smooth finish on your chipboard.

In my second layout "angelic", again my daughter last summer, I used the gorgeous February Dusty Attic sketch and snuck a few chipboard pieces from my stash on there.  I just love all the Prima yummies in this kit! Also, a special thank you to my team-mate Ivana for the beautiful handmade resin buttons (wonderful gift, from a wonderful person). Sorry these beauties are not part of the kit... but be sure to tell her she really needs to sell these babies when you hop to her blog next!

Design tip: Make your own flowers to match the Prima one in the kit by using my "shabby crinkle flower" tutorial and plain cardstock. Just omit step 5 (do not squish towards the center at the end) and only use 3 large punched flowers - since you'll be placing a button or jewel in the center. Even easier than the original flower!

Design tip: Ranger crackle paint and brown chalk ink work wonderfully on chipboard to give a weathered texture. Be sure to enter my Dusty Attic Giveaway - the draw is on April 1st!

For my third layout "cuter than most", I did  whole lot of fussy cutting on the BG Curio paper (that matched the G45 ones perfectly!) and reworking the flowers in certain areas. It does take a lot of planning to make it look like the paper was printed that way though, so be careful before you start cutting. Everything on this layout is from the kit, even the brown background cardstock and light pink Stickles on the fairy!

Design tip: Adding flowers to a flower patterned layout can be tricky. The style and color should match... but the kind of flower doesn't necessarily need to be exactly the same. More yummy Prima!

In my last layout (for now) with this kit, "tender", this is my hubby when our daughter was a newborn. I used the Creative Scrappers sketch #142. The large white doily was from Michaels and the string pearls were another great gift from Ivana. Can you believe I still have enough papers to create another layout or two from this kit? And I WILL! Again the BG and G45 were a heavenly match for this kit. The title didn't photograph well but is really pretty and shimmers in real light.

Design tip: Make a fan using an accordion fold to add a special feature/handmade embellie to your page.

Thanks for joining us today for this fantastic blog hop. Before you hop along to Ivana’s blog, you will want my secret word to continue completing the sentence, which is OUR. Now head over to Ivana's blog (http://papergirlcrafts.blogspot.com) for some more amazing creations using the March Scrap That! "SECRET GARDEN" kit.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Prima February BAP and Palette

Well, I couldn't resist the Prima February BAP sketch and Palette (pinks and reds), so I combined and did both in one project! I had to scrape and scrounge in my Prima scraps for this one, LOL. This is my daughter at a little over a year old right after her first haircut  - yes she had THAT much hair already!


Design tip: use some fabric rose petals as a soft delicate border under a picture.

Here is the sketch... you still have a few days left if you want to enter the challenge!

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to come back tomorrow for the Scrap That! blog hop and March kit reveal. Oh and while you are here right now, make sure to enter my chipboard giveaway in the previous post!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

I'm a Dusty Attic Retailer! (& GIVEAWAY)

I can hardly believe it myself! With the encouragement and support of Mandy Harrell (on the DA design team and a retailer herself) and my really wonderful husband, I am thrilled to announce that I am officially a Dusty Attic chipboard retailer. Thanks again Mandy!




I will start with carrying Dusty Attic products but my plan is to branch out and retail other foreign scrappy products (not manufactured in Canada or the USA). I will be selling through my Etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickyalberto) for a little while to gain a customer base and to allow me the proper time to research and develop a good website. I'm soooo excited that Jen Hedger at DA took a chance on me and that she sees the potential in my niche market business - thanks Jen!


As an appreciation to help me spread the word, I am drawing for this awesome DA blog candy (pictured above) from my stash.


What you need to do:


1. FOLLOW my blog (if you don't already). This is how you will find out about when product arrives and if you win the prize.

2.
WRITE a post about me being a new DA retailer and my blog candy - please include both the prize image above and my Etsy address - http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickyalberto - on your blog (or Facebook page if you don't have a blog).

3. Leave me a message at the bottom of this post, with the
LINK to your post, and tell me what DA piece is at the very top of your "wish list" (so that I know what you want me to carry).

The winner will be randomly drawn on April 1st. Since I will be shipping anywhere, this giveaway is also open to all countries.


As a fun BONUS... if my blog following more than doubles, reaching over 600 followers by the time my order arrives, I will draw for a second DA pack (when I announce that the product has arrived and is available for purchase of course!).


Thanks again for all your support in getting the word out there for your patience with the delayed stock production during these difficult times for the Dusty Attic "crew". Just a note, for future shipments I will be taking custom pre-orders with a minimum of 15 pieces.


Vicky


P.S. If you ever come across a great scrappy product that you'd like me to consider carrying just give me a shout through an Etsy conversation.

Prima 's FEB Palette

OMGosh have you seen the new Prima Palette? I'm working on a layout with their Feb sketch and this amazing pink (my fave!) palette right now...



Prima's Product Picks for February will make your heart flutter!
Soft pinks and rich reds are sweetly intertwined with gorgeous fabrics, luscious pearls, and sparkly crystals to create some of the most unique and exquisite products on the market: all hand-made by Prima!
This month's pick includes:
Audrey Rose, Delightful Day, Dechire & Floret Flowers, Fabric Ribbons, Candy Gems, Gianna Flowers, Melody Papers and journaling cards, Say It In Crystals Lace and Trim Sets, our new Heart Canvas Album and so many more gorgeous flowers!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Scrap That! WINNERS and March Sneak

 This is THE best kit yet and as the Scrap That! Kit Coordinator, I am involved in the upcoming kit selections, so I know they just keep getting more amazing leading up to Scrap That!'s one-year anniversary celebration in May. Anyways, we're talking about the March kit right now... OMGosh I almost died at all the Prima and amount of papers (better than it looks online) and all the... oh wow if I keep writing I'm gonna give it all away. This kit is JAMMED with goodness. Seriously, I think I could get 6 projects, maybe even 7, out of this kit (if I had more hours in a day to create, LOL). Seriously my fave since the start of the kit club and having a blast creating right now. Here is a sneak of what the DT has created to date and we still have a few more days until reveal on the 26th!




As for the recent contest and friendly rivalry with Tara... I lost by one lousy vote! But, on the bright side ROBIN SHAKOOR was the randomly drawn winner of the Scrap That! March kit. BTW, the guest designers were recently announced on the Scrap That! blog and you will see the following designers showcasing our kits over the next few months...

Tina Rutledge will be designing with the April/May kits
Robin Shakoor will be designing with the June/July kits
Melissa Vettorel will be designing with the August/September kits
After the September reveal, on August 26th, the Scrap That! community members will vote on which of these 3 lovely scrappers will remain on the Scrap That! Design Team for the rest of 2011. So exciting!

Now, I "grumbly" (LOL) ask that you pop on over to Tara's blog to see who won her Bo Bunny prize. Since she won the Scrap That! Designer Contest, she needs to draw for her promised blog candy. BUT before you go, I have decided that since my chipboard (that I was going to draw for if I "beat" Tara) would like still like a new home so... I will add it to a BIGGER blog candy giveaway that I will post on Tuesday. Until then, I will keep you in suspense.

Creative Opportunity for you!



Creative Scrappers is looking for a few featured designers for the months of March, April and May!

Send in your request to be a guest and maybe you'll be featured on the CS blog!

Interested?
Send Kristine an email! (kristine@creative-scrappers.com)
Title of email "CS Featured Designer "
Your full name
Blog address / or gallery address
2 of your Latest Layouts

Deadline for submission is March 1, 2011
Those selected will be emailed on or before March 3rd

www.CreativeScrappers.blogspot.com 
Come Create with Us!