Show and Share

This week's topic of discussion is transparencies. Here's what our designers have to say. Don't forget to post your opinions and layouts (scrapaganzaonline@gmail.com)!

Kim
Transparencies are a great accent for any scrapbook page. I use them over photos most often. Many people are not sure how to adhere a transparency to their page or photo. The tool that I use to do this is a stapler! The function is great and the staple is the hottest basic embellishment in scrapbooking! Before stapling, I use a small piece of ribbon to make a tab or flag. Ribbon can be used as an extra layer on top or behind any transparency. Writing on transparencies can also be questionable. I use fine point Sharpie markers to do journaling right on the transparency. My favorite transparencies are made by My Mind's Eye, Hambly, and Maya Road.
Look for them at Scrapaganza!

Megan
Transparencies are great for highlighting a photo. Use the pre printed framed ones (my mind's eye) or add your own stamped or doodled border to put over a photo you want to draw attention to. I like to use the pre printed framed ones & cut the middle out just leaving the outside edge & then cut the frame into two pieces at the corner. I put the pieces on the outside of photos or journaling boxes to add dimension.
Also try inking with Stazon or paint. You can cut out the stamped image or leave it in a whole big piece & overlay it that way.
Printing your photos or journaling directly on the transparencies is a fun look!
There are No Rules, it is all up to your imagination!

Penny
I love the versatility of transparencies, and Hambly has some of the best! A sheet full of frames, borders/strips, journaling spots... Transparencies are nice because you can cut them up and use them in pieces, or if a 12x12 pattern, the whole sheet can be used! They come in great colors too! They can be fastened with staples, glue dots hidden under the design, or with eyelets and brads. They are fun to use "unconventionally" too... Cut a circle frame in half and use it offset. Tilt a frame so it doesn't fit the picture the "normal" way... the only limitation is your imagination! Don't forget to pick up some "slick writers" to write on your journaling spots! (Quick drying and none smearing made for slick surfaces!)
{technical problems, pictures coming soon}

Ashleigh
Being that I am no longer working at the store on a regular basis and instead am inspiring first graders, I don’t have the opportunity to stop in and check out the new stuff as often as before. However I was just in today and picked up the new Hambly. I am so excited to work with it. I bought almost the whole line, I just love how versatile it is! As soon as I came home I had to lay it all out on my counter in my scrap room. I like just looking at it, it inspires me to be creative!
I also love transparencies because they really dress up a page. There are so many great over lay transparencies these days that work great on sports pages. You can see in one layout the difference the over lay made and it’s so easy you just slide it in your page cover right over top of your layout!
Before Picture:

After Picture:

Wow, what a difference! (click on the picture to make them larger)

Candi
My favorite use of transparencies has been to make a mini album (you know how I love mini albums!) I just collected several transparencies and several pictures and alternated so every picture had a transparency in front of it. It is completely random and went together very cute. (it is on display at the store) Now that we got Hambly I am very excited to try a completely clear album!

Sheri

Don't Forget!

Just a quick reminder that all of your blog challenge layouts are due by the 31st!! Can't wait to see all the entries! You will want this prize!! (I do!)

September Mommy & Me Classes

Mommy & Me dates have been set!! Join Rachelle September 14th from 6-8pm or September 15th from 10am-noon to make these fantastic "Back to school" projects!

The 12X12 Layout


The 8X8 Layout


The adorable Ruler mini-book

Call today to reserve your spot (563)391-0099.

Stop in and see what's new...

The boxes just keep coming!! :) We are working as fast as we can to get them all unpacked, checked in, priced and on the shelf. (somethings aren't even making it on the shelves!!) Have you seen the newest Fancy Pants?? We got in 12X12 chipboard designs (3 sheets per package) the 12X12 acrylic stamp sets. Also, they have some of the neatest rub-ons!! As you know our first shipment of Hambly has arrived and is fading fast! We also got shipments from Rusty Pickle, 7 Gypsies-- TONS of NEW, Flair Calendar Line, MORE NEW Reminisce, Scrappin' Sports, Stampendous Stamps & flocking powders, Pioneer 3-Ring Box Albums & Suede 3- Ring Albums, EK Success BRAND NEW Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas. Be sure to call before you head over if you are coming for something specific to be sure it is out and ready! (563)391-0099. Beth is working as fast as the computer will let her get it in!! Thanks Beth, it is like CHRISTMAS!!!! LOVE ALL THE NEW STUFF!!!

Also, thank you everyone for your interest in the creative cube class! It is actually OVER sold for this Saturday, but kits are available if you are still interested. Just call in and get on the list. Kits will be available for pick up after Saturday morning. (Detailed instructions come with pictures and extra copies of words, so you can remake as many as you like! Also, remember... You pick the paper and ribbon, so it can be customized for everyone and every style!) Again, the class/kit is $15 and you can call (563)391-0099 to reserve yours.

SCRAP PINK!! Is coming September 28 & 29, more details to follow.... You won't want to miss this two day fundraiser crop!

Get Signed Up!!

We still have a few spots open for tomorrow's classes! Be sure to call today (563)391-0099, and get signed up. Kim is teaching "Cherish"- a step mini album, using the Signature Life Collection from 10-noon.

Candi is teaching "Creative Cube"- a chipboard hidden surprise- you choose the paper and ribbon from 4-6pm.

The cost for both classes is $15 each. Kits with pictured and detailed instructions are also avalible (if requested) if you can't make it. Call to get yours ordered. These are great gift givers! Come learn the techniques to make these fun coffee table displays over and over! See you tomorrow.

Reminisce Winner- Halloween Laughs

Candi's "Halloween Laughs" book won the Reminisce contest! The prize pack was awesome... all 9 of the new lines and some extra goodies! This book will be a class and/or kit available soon! Stop in the store to see it in person!

It's coming in......

Okay, we have got in our first "big group" of shipments from CHA!! We are sooooo excited! Be sure to stop in soon before it is gone!! This stuff is fabulous! (Did I mention we love it? Or that we are so excited to have it in our store??) Here a quick list with a few pictures...


Hambly- This is a new line for our store. They have the coolest transparencies (clear overlays) and rub-ons and papers and oh-my you will want to play with this stuff!!
(click to enlarge)

DoodleBug- Sugar coated!! Need I say more? Anything with sugar in the name has to be "sweet"!! The glitter is so sparkly on the letters and embellishments it truly looks "sugar coated".
(Click to Enlarge)

Curious George, Chuck E Cheese & Shrek- We got in these licensed papers you have been asking for! Now you can scrap your pizza parties and fun times with your kids' favorite characters.


Best Creations- This is a very neat line! The paper is all embossed and glittered. Gotta feel it to understand!

Reminisce has also come out with 9 new lines!! The shimmery paper and coordinating stickers are here!
(click to enlarge)


We also got in Moxy, & Imaginisce. Sorry no pictures for them. This is just the beginning!!! Stop in and check it all out. I will keep you posted when we get more in!!

Show and Share

Are you all getting excited for the "return" of stamps?? Stamps didn't go away, they have just got improved! We are getting very antsy for our new line to arrive as well as some odds and ends from other lines! We found some really cool stamps and techniques at CHA! They should be arriving very shortly! So... we ask, what is your take on stamps.

Ashleigh-
I have really been enjoying all the new rubber stamps that have been popping up all over the scrapbooking industry! The clear acrylic stamps have to be my favorite, I just love all the flourishes and journal circles they are so easy to see exactly where you are stamping. I also love the 7 gypsies certified stamps. The circle dot it my favorite and I use it on almost every layout! The best thing about stamps are that you can use them over and over again. I just bought the Heidi Swapp FOREVER stamp to use on my wedding invitations since I can use it over and over it helps cut down on the cost.

Sally-
I personally had put all my stamps in tubs and forgotten about them for the last year or two... I recently had the chance to look at some of them, and will be starting to try to incorporate them into my scrapbook pages more. I realize I have a wealth of great stamps, and they can be used on the page as well as making embellishments. I can make great embellishments with this flower set I have from Stampin Up.

Beth-
I love stamps! In fact, I can’t wait for all the new stamps we ordered at CHA to come in. I think stamps have become much more “scrapbooking friendly” with more swirls, doodles, and backgrounds. I really love using the clear blocks so I can see exactly where I am stamping.

Penny-
Stamps are now so much more user friendly. If you don't like rubber stamps with wood blocks (trying to place them, finding things you would even use on your scrapbook pages) there are a couple of options.
Inque Boutique offers a rubber stamp, but it mounts on an acrylic block. You can see the placement easily, because the image is printed on the back precisely where the image is on the other side! It is a precut stamp to, right next to the image! And rubber gives finer detail that you can get with acrylic stamps. We are anxiously awaiting for these to come into Scrapaganza!!
Speaking of acrylic, there are so many companies offering stamps for scrapbookers! Flourishes, doodles, alphabets, arrows, journaling boxes... things you can use over and over again!
Can't forget foam stamps! There are many fun alphabets and shapes available, and you can vary the look based on how thick the paint is on the stamps.
If you want a quick idea without our buying a stamp at all, use bubble wrap as a stamp! It is a great background or accent! Or use your pencil eraser for dots, the paint top or soda top as a circle, or curl a piece of cardstock into a tube/spiral to make a whimsical stamp image. If you are not comfortable with doodling, there are some great stamp options!
Stamps are becoming an awesome scrapbooking element! Give 'em a try if you haven't!

Sheri-
I haven't used stamps very much until this last year, so I'm not much of an expert at all. When the acrylic stamps became popular I decided to try them. I really like to use them so I can see exactly where I'm stamping. My favorite way to use them is to create one-of-a-kind papers using stamps and a watermark stamp pad. I like to dress up the stamp by adding brads, eyelets, flowers or ribbon.

Please, be sure to comment about your uses and if you have any photos we would love to see them. E-mail them to scrapaganzaonline@gmail.com

Here is a layout we got last week for the Flower topic. Thank you Charlene E. for participating and sharing your work.

Blue Ribbon Winner

It is that time of year again... FAIR TIME!! Our very own, Deb Trout, was the blue ribbon winner on two of her layouts at the Mississippi Valley Fair. Her remembrance layout also won Best of Show! Congratulations, Deb!

Let's get this party started...

Here we go...
This is your first Scrapaganza Blog Challenge!!
Make a layout (one or two page-- any size 6X6 or larger)

You MUST include the following... (Remember the Party theme??)
*Little Black Dress- use felt or fabric of some kind
*Lipstick- use pink or red in your layout
*Body Glitter- use some "Bling"
*Pump up the Volume- use song lyrics in your journaling, title, or some element of the page

Good luck and have fun!!
Now here is the exciting part.... PRIZES!!! We will be giving away a prize pack to the winner! (you will want this!) There are TWO ways to enter. First, you can submit your layouts online-- e-mail pictures of your layout to scrapaganzaonline@gmail.com (please include your name, phone number and e-mail address) Second, you can drop your layout off in store-- just let them know it is for the blog challenge. (you WILL get your layout back) The DEADLINE for submissions is August 31st. The winner will be announced by September 5th, and all entires will be posted on the blog. Thank you so much in advance for participating!! I can't wait to see all of the entries. The more entries the better, the more often we will do it, and the better we can make the prizes!! So as with any party-- Invite all of your friends.

Remember, have fun with it..... and Let's get this party started!!

Donna Downey Newsletter- Creative Playground

Do you read Donna Downey's newsletter? Once a month it is sent out... you can click here to sign up. In each "issue" it gives a challenge. Then the following month she posts some of her favorites. Last month was Shopping Tags-- you had to use your shopping tags in layouts, mini books, etc. I took the challenge and made a CHA book using all the clothing tags we collected over the course of the month. I was so excited to see I was part of her selection!! Here is some of the book. -Candi

Garage Sale

A big thank you to everyone who participated in the HUGE garage sale! It was a huge success! Thank you to those who brought stuff, thank you for those who shopped it! We all got some great buys. The plans are in the works for the next one! (coming soon) Here are some pictures from our fun, crazy, busy 1st day!! Again, thank you all!