Goodbye ScrapMatters!

After many years, it is time for me to say goodbye to ScrapMatters. It has been my digi home for three years so allow me to reminisce a bit. πŸ™‚ I have been on the CT there for over two years, and the hybrid CT leader for almost two years. Yes, it has been a very long love affair. I did my very first speed scrap at ScrapMatters. I still remember the summer of 2008, when the site reopened with lots of games and prizes during the Olympic Games, and I was instantly hooked. The community at ScrapMatters has always been friendly and supportive, and I felt at home right away. I got into hybrid because of the It’s In the Cards challenges there, in October 2008 – I fell in love with hybrid and the rest is history! I won a guest spot on the CT by finishing in the top posters for Queen of Scrap in 2009; during my guest spot I applied to the hybrid creative team call and got accepted, thanks to Kari’s (then hybrid CT leader) and the other hybrid designers’ support; a few months later Kari left to be a designer at Jessica Sprague’s shop, and I was asked to be the hybrid CT leader. In my role as hybrid CT leader I met my best digi friend, Kim (kimbytx), who was asked around the same time to become digi CT leader. Kim and I have been through a lot together: CT calls, designer assignments, and much more. I have met so many good friends during my time at ScrapMatters, and have been endlessly inspired by incredibly talented scrappers – I am especially in awe of the rockin’ hybrid girls! I hope to have inspired people with the monthly hybrid tutorials I wrote for the newsletter first, then for the quarterly magazine. I met many of my all-time favorite designers at ScrapMatters, some of whom have asked me to be on their CT (Jenn and Krista, I wub you!!). I value tremendously the opportunity to work with the newsletter team – such a talented bunch of ladies! It was a pleasure to collaborate with so many wonderful people and I will be forever grateful for being part of the team at ScrapMatters. It is now time for me to move on, but I will carry these special memories in my heart.

Paper Trees

It’s time for me to share a Christmas project I did a while back. I know it’s still a bit early to think of Christmas, but I like to plan ahead, especially when crafting. I love to create hybrid home decor accents and I love Christmas, so I had lots of fun putting this project together.

Christmas paper tree

Credits:
Once Upon a Shabby Christmas by Haynay Designs

These Christmas paper trees are so simple to make and look so pretty! I am eager to decorate the house for Christmas now! πŸ™‚

DVD Folder

I must share a project I recently made with a great hybrid template by Simply J Studio and some of the ScrapMatters September Mix-a-Kit. I love how it turned out!

DVD Folder

Credits:
CD/DVD Folder Template by Simply J Studio
Hopes and Dreams Patterns by Down This Road Designs
Out of This World Alpha by geniaBeana Designs

I’m going to burn a DVD with photos of this year to go in it. πŸ™‚

CD/DVD folder

DVD Folder

New ScrapMatters Magazine!

I’m a bit late in posting this, but if you haven’t noticed already, the monthly newsletter at ScrapMatters has turned into a full-fledged Magazine. It’s a quarterly release, and it’s chock full of amazing inspiration! You can sign up here (in addition to the magazine, you’ll also receive the weekly new release newsletter). For this quarter, the topic is travel, and I made two very cute projects (if I say so myself) with a detailed tutorial. πŸ™‚ The first is a beginners project, a luggage label.

Luggage Label
Credits:

And the second project is more advanced but adorable: a magnetic tic tac toe game, perfect for road trips and more.

Magnetic Tic Tac Toe

Magnetic Tic Tac Toe

Credits:
Great Escape bundle by WM [squared] Designs

Now, to brainstorm the projects for the next number! πŸ™‚

Interactive Card!

Cathy (Scrappycath) is hosting the latest It’s In the Cards challenge at ScrapMatters, and she made a fabulous template for it! Here is the card I made to play along:

You Are My Sunshine card

Credits:
Template by Cathy (Scrappycath) for the 7/28/11 IITC challenge
Oh, Happy Day by Erica Zane and Jenn Barrette

It’s really fun to turn the wheel and see what appears in the window! πŸ™‚

New Releases!

I have so many gorgeous new products to show today!! Let’s start with this fabulous collab by Erica Zane and Jenn Barrette, at ScrapMatters:

This kit is fantastic! The colors make me so happy, and the doodled elements and papers are so gorgeous! I fell in love with this paper, so I made this page with it:

Happy Hour (1)

Credits:
Oh, Happy Day by Erica Zane and Jenn Barrette
Font: CK Chloe

Next, there is a seriously awesome new kit by Valorie Wibbens at The Lilypad.

I scrapped this page this morning during breakfast, because I could not wait to use the kit! And I’m dying to get back scrapping and use the other fabulous papers!

First Fawn Sighting

Journaling:
Today, a Friday, I was working at the kitchen table and I got up to get a glass of milk. I glanced out the window and I saw a fawn just outside out backyard. DH was out, unfortunately, but I had time to take a few pictures. Then, after the fawn walked away, I went outside and saw that in fact there are two fawns, not just one.

Credits:
The Everyday and The Everyday papers by Valorie Wibbens
Candy Flowers by Sahlin Studio
Free Spirit Alpha by CD Muckosky
Font: Typewriterhand

What a fun Friday! And I have more to share in a bit!

(Late) New Releases

I have been a bad blogger this week! I have two new releases from Friday to share, and am only getting around to posting them now! First off, a gorgeous element pack by Kate Hadfield at The Lilypad:

And here’s my page, also using a mix of products from the July BYOC.

July 4th Picnic

Journaling:
This year we went to our first 4th of July concert+fireworks! It was Ralph’s idea, although he almost canceled when he found out that this year they changed the ground rules, and you can no longer bring your own food and drinks. But we convinced him to go anyway, and it was fun! We ended up buying some cheese and wine there. We bought new camping chairs for the occasion. It was mighty hot, but still fun, and Ralph and Jeff were good company. It would have ended well, if only the Off clip-on mosquito repellent had worked. But even that was not the main problem, since I only got 4 mosquito bites. What was worse was the reaction to the bites: my feet/legs were swollen and hurting for a week and I ended up missing the fireworks in our town. I guess I should stick to indoor picnics… πŸ™‚

Credits:
Liberty Templates and background paper from Let Freedom Ring Paper Pack by Emily Merritt
Al Fresco by Kate Hadfield
Red paper from Gingham Summer Papers by Kelly Schmidt
Patriot Tickets by Amy Martin

Next up, a great bundle by WM [squared] Designs at ScrapMatters:

I didn’t have any camping pictures to go with it, but the adorable animals in it are perfect for hybrid cards!

Beary Happy card

Credits:
The Great Outdoors bundle by WM [squared] Designs
Fonts: The Typewriter by Heather Hess and SociaL AnimaL

Doodley Goodness

Jenn Barrette is guesting at ScrapMatters this month! Here is this week’s new kit:

Here’s the page I made with it:

Mom's Visit Day 8: Good Times Together

Credits:
Lazy Days of Summer by Jenn Barrette
Font: Pea Pumpkin Peters

And here is today’s new kit at the Sweet Shoppe:

I’ve never been camping, not do I wish to go (I need my comforts!), but this kit is just too cute! I used it to make this card:

Camping card

Credits:
Happy Camper by Jenn Barrette
Font: CK Hand

DH and I are trying to plan a trip next month, we’re still not 100% sure it will work out, but we’re hoping it does. I am so looking forward to it!

Summer Plans

I made a fun project for the June ScrapMatters newsletter: a summer plans booklet.

Summer Plans Booklet

Credits:
Melt Away kit and add on by Erica Zane and LDrag Designs
2 Green Thumbs by Erica Zane and LDrag Designs
Sunburn Savvy by Erica Zane

I’ll be filling this with ideas of stuff to do this summer. It was really quick to put together. It’s the first time I did a pamphlet stitch for the binding, and I really like how easy and effective it is. I’ll be doing more booklets like this one for sure! πŸ™‚

iNSD Time!

It’s iNSD (interNational Scrapbooking Day) time! There are lots of fun events going on at ScrapMatters: an incredible 40% off sale, fabulous grab bags, and a free with $20 purchase kit!

Here’s the schedule of all the fun going on:

It’s also BYOC time at The LilyPad and Sahlin Studio has two very fun packs:

Also, check out Ju Kneipp’s guest products:

Aren’t those robots just plain adorable? πŸ™‚

And there’s more sales! Mari Koegelenberg’s store is 30% off through May 8! And Bree of Scrap’It Designs has a 30% sale and a giveaway on her Facebook page:

I think this is all the news I have to share for today. But I’ll have more fabulous products to share tomorrow!