The First 3 Hours....

Here's a couple snaps from the first layouts of our Done in 15 class.  This class starts a week from today and runs for 5 weeks!  During that time you'll complete and entire scrapbook and pick up lots of tips, tricks and new techniques along the way.  

Wednesday nights starting January 18th

7-10pm; $100/5 sessions

Call 310-410-7272 to register.  

Happy Hanukkah!

Can I tell you a funny story?    This one has nothing to do with scrapbooking but it does involve the theme of today's layouts.  Yesterday I was at Trader Joe's and an older couple was arguing in the baked goods section about whether or not certain items were kosher.  It was getting to be a pretty heated discussion and everyone was backing away and giving them their space.  Finally the husband walks off in a huff and says, "Fine, let's just bring them a ham."  It was one of the funnier moments I've had at TJs!

Ok, back to scrapping....here's some Hanukkah inspiration for you for the first day of the Festival of Lights!  I loved layering the new Hanukkah paper from Karen Foster with other prints around the shop, including a navy houndstooth that is found on the reverse side of a My Mind's Eye print and a distressed solid from Crate Paper's Random collection.   The ruffle couldn't have been easier!  I added double stick tape along the perimeter of the paper and formed the ruffle by hand.  No sewing involved!  Love it!  Of course, you can't go wrong with torn or sanded edges.  

Be sure to set out some time to shop our Hanukkah selection, its the best one we've ever had! 

Sonja

Cousins' Christmas with Jingle from Lily Bee

Remember I said that I got to scrapbook with my own photos last weekend?  Well, here's another layout featuring the Jingle Collection from Lily Bee Design.  It's not quite done yet.  Need to journal a bit about our special cousins' Christmas gathering, but I think there's enough here so you get the idea.  

I combined the cardstock & alphabet stickers for the custom title banner.  The layout itself is a patchwork featuring the collection's Index Journaling Cards.  

Come on in and check out this collection...you'll love it!

Christmas Kitty with Canvas Corp

I hope you are sitting down, because not only did I scrapbook with real photos this weekend but I scrapbooked with my photos!  I actually made pages for my own scrapbook!  Once you have recovered from your dizzy spell take a look at "Christmas Kitty" with Canvas Corp papers.  

I accented the layout with canvas fringe ($2/yard) 

and a canvas star shape ($2/3)!  

The layout is also accented with Candy Cane twine from the Twinery and 

custom buttons from Epiphany Craft Studio! 

But wait, there's more.  I have another layout to show you.  You'll see later this week!  

Best, Sonja

Shop Hop Make 'n' Takes

Sawadeeka! Thanks so much for taking the time to visit our store during shop hop. It is so wonderful to meet all of you. I hope you enjoyed the little bit of Thailand that I brought to the shop.

Here are the photos of our two make 'n' take pages featuring the Thai Saa Paper.

The pages are pretty straight forward, but here are some guidelines for helping complete them:

1) Adhesive....since this is a fibrous paper, tape runners won't work. They'll just pull the top layer of paper off. Instead, use Glue Dots or your favorite liquid glue, like Zip Dry.

2) Pop, Pop, Pop....I believe everything looks better on a 3D dot, so use those to layer your bamboo, elephant and palm tree.

3) Texture with Tearing....tear the edges of your photo mat for extra dimension.

4) Umbrella....open them fully, then fold them in half. Adhere with a liquid glue.

Enjoy!

Sonja

Driving My Toyota To Honda

About twice a year I drive my Camry down to Honda Corp in Torrance and teach the wonderful ladies of the scrapbook club! This year we created a fun summer inspired layout using my two favorite colors of Bazzil paper (kraft and natural), printed paper from My Mind's Eye and stickers from Heidi Swapp. I still have stickers available for only $1 sheet if you want to recreate this layout at home!

Thanks for having me! I'll see you in November!

Sonja

Halloween in June

If we can have Christmas in July, why not have Halloween in June? So I created this layout last night with the fantastic Best Creations Halloween line, their glitter paper and glitter dot paper.

Tanja is always reminding me about texture. So I added a strip of gold tinsel on the bottom.

This weekend only...50% off all Halloween items in stock.
Sale ends Sunday, June 5th.

Happy Spookbooking!
Sonja

146 Pages Later....

It has been quite a month for custom work here at the shop! Today I tallied up the pages....146 pages for three different clients. So much fun! Although, I definitely got to a point this last week where I was certain I had lost my ability to cut a straight line. Unfortunately due to scrapbooker/client privilege I can't show you much of my work, but with permission, here are a few samples.

If you follow me on facebook you'll know that I promised you some speed scrapper tips after the 50 pages I power laid out for a friend. This was a really unique experience for me becuase I focused on the base of the layouts rather than the photos or the finishing touches. So here was my process....

1) Pick gorgeous papers and a matching solid

2) Identify your base paper (usually for me it was the solid paper)

3) Layer the other sheets in easy patterns...blocks, sqaures, sidebar borders etc.

4) Focus on texture...ripping the edges of the paper is my favorite "new" technique. Of course, inking is also a must and everything looks better popped up with foam tape.

5) Finish with ribbon, brads or a handmade embellishment. Of course, this step can wait until you are ready to add your photos.

The trick to this being speed scrapbooking is to turn off the overly analytical part of your brain. I know....gasp...I am asking you to not be critical of your own work and to relax. First of all, the companies have done a fantastic job of pairing papers that match, so let them do the work for you. Secondly, don't worry about your layouts all looking the same, because they won't. Once you have added your photos and other embellishments they will take on a life of their own. Some of the layouts can even be flipped and used with a different orientation, making them stand out from crowd. So have a blast....and just tear through it...pun intended.

*****

So my first project was great inspiration for my second project, an ancestry album for a graduation present. This family spent hours and hours collecting stories, memories and interviews with relatives as well as scanning family photos. Such a labor of LOVE and a terrific reminder to make this happen; to tell your family story! So here are some snaps of that project!

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So I can't show you my last project, but here I am hand delivering it today. Although this project was a lot simpler in style with very few patterned papers and embellishements, I was reminded that simple is still super classy! Everything was double matted with solid cardstock and mounted with foam tape. Clean lines and basic layouts are still the way to go when you want a stunning presentation!

Have fun!

Sonja

Layout of the Month

I've been tinkering with this layout for weeks. Then I said to myself, "enough already, post the stinkin' layout!" So here's our latest layout of the month, featuring the Mix & Mend collection from Sassafras Lass.

I wanted to focus on working with paper that is already super detailed. How can you make the most of the detail, add your own texture and twist and still add pictures? We'll I never made it to the pictures part...but there is space for them on this layout...one 5x7" & two 4x6". Here are more details of the project.

Learn how to make this layout on Sunday, March 27th or Tuesday, March 29th.
Drop - In, Anytime, All day; $20

Please bring your basic tool kit!

February Layout of the Month Class

This year I want to get back to the basics and focus more on layouts...hence the last several posts. So I want to make sure there is a layout class for you each month. Classes are designed for anyone who wants to learn how to scrapbook or anyone who wants to try new tips and techniques...and everyone in between.

Here's this month's layout...featuring Scarlett from Glitz Design.
Click on the photo for a larger version!

We'll play with stamping, frames, glossy accents and even cover some Cricut basics. And you'll see how fun it is to scrapbook with smaller photos!

I'm offering this class twice:
Thursday, February 24th & Sunday, February 27th

It's drop-in style, anytime on those days, but please
do me a favor and let me know you're coming =)

The class fee is $20 and please bring your basic tool kit and own bottle of Glossy Accents or purchase it here at the shop. We'll be using lots of it!

This class really works better if you come with photos,
so please bring at least 6 photos print wallet size.

Off to work on March's layout!
Sonja

In Love with Lost & Found

The Lost & Found Collection from My Mind's Eye has inspired a lot of romance around here. The french inspired motifs and glitter accents are fantastic to work with. Here are four layouts to share!

There are lots and lots and lots of layers on this layout, which seems to be my favorite style right now. Here 2 papers are layered for a mat, plus a distress background rub on from Glitz Design. Imagine a photo or two on top of that shabby damask pattern. Next I accordion folded a border and added a rose ribbon border on top of that! The title is popped up on top of it all....simply perfect.

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I played with layering a bit different on this page...creating a bit of a shadowbox effect by taking the center out of the pink stripe paper and popped it up over the background paper. I double matted my photo mats and cut slits in the background paper to tuck pieces under elements like the bird cage, etc. The rose bouquet from ZVA is an easy way to add texture.

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I have to admit this one took me hours, but only because I kept trying tons of different ribbons until I found the exact right one. But that's all done for you so this layout will be easy as pie. Trim roughly 3" of the right side of the die cut paper and that will be the left part of your corset. After you add the eyelets for lasing, mount both pieces of the corset to the background page with foam mounting tape. Then lace your ribbon through. Take your left over ribbon pieces to make photo corners for your mats.

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Cant' leave the boys out. This super cute cowboy motif is found in the "blue" collection of Lost & Found. I added a chipboard piece as one of the photo mats and layered ribbon under my paper layers for extra definition. Tanja had the brilliant idea to use silver photo corners to pick up the silver glitter accents! It all works!

Have fun creating!

Wedded Bliss

For a single lady I'm extremely picky about wedding paper. And there isn't much out there that I love which means there isn't much here at the shop. But when I saw the Anna Griffin winter line last fall I knew I had to have it....for Christmas and for wedding. It comes in two tones, silver and gold and either collection is perfect for your special occasion.

Here's a single page spread I created during the 4 day crop.

I started by layering lots and lots of patterns and textures. First the base paper then another layer on the diagonal. Then a pearl lining border. The photo mats are double matted with a 3rd print, a solid and photo corners. To give them extra dimension they are popped up with foam tape.

The layout still needed a focal point so I started playing with the triangles of paper cut from my 2nd layer. It resulted in a flower...I have step by step instructions below. The center is a Bling Brad from Bazzill.

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So here's how to make the flower...

1. Start with a triangle...

(I cut my 4 triangles in half for a total of 8 to make the flower)

2. Fold one side of the triangle up at the center point

3. Fold the other side of the triangle up at the center point.

4. Flip and fluff. Use your finger to open the center area up to give it extra dimension. Repeat for all 8 piece and layer for a flower!

*****

If you haven't seen the winter layout yet, here it is again!

I combined 4 prints from both the gold and silver collections, plus mats from the Creative Imagination's Real Wood Collection.

I added dimension with popped up die cut and tinsel from Melissa Frances.

Enjoy, Enjoy!
Sonja