Creating Keepsakes Blog

March/April 2010 Issue: An Insider’s Look

creatingkeepsakes — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:52:23 +0000

Hey there! Are you as antsy for spring as I am? If so, make sure you check out the March/April issue of Creating Keepsakes. It’s got so many great ideas for spring-themed pages and techniques to try on them that you’ll be thinking warm, sunny thoughts, even if it’s still a bit chilly outside.

Here are three of my favorite items from this issue, along with a couple of tidbits from our team:

1. Stamping with a template and spray ink

Spritzing and stamping? Ooh la la! Stamping makes me happy, so I was so thrilled to learn about this technique from Liz Hicks, education coordinator for Tattered Angels. I love how Dream Team member Kim Watson interpreted the idea on her page. Want to learn more? Get step-by-step instructions in this month’s “CK Shows You How” column on page 23, and see Liz’s video demo.

"She Has Spring in Her Step" by Kim Watson, as seen in the March/April 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes, page 26

2. Lots and lots of beautiful pages

If you need a little scrapbooking eye candy, then you’re going to love our “Scrapbook Your Life” article as much as I do—it’s packed with fantastic layouts like this one from Shelley Jaquet. I love how she fit 17 photos on her layout and that they show so many fun family activities.

"Our Family . . . Everyday Life" by Shelley Jaquet, as seen in the March/April 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes, page 72

3. Cool ribbon techniques

Jennifer McGuire always has many creative ideas for using products, and this month’s “Tools & Techniques” column is just too much fun. Check out the grass on this darling “Monster” accent—can you believe she created it by fraying green ribbon? Too clever! (You’ll find additional tips from Jennifer on getting more from ribbon in her column.)

"Monster" by Jennifer McGuire, as seen in the March/April 2010 Creating Keepsakes, page 106

Here are some fun tidbits about this issue from the team:

Creative editor Megan Hoeppner designed the adorable layout featured on our cover—didn’t she do a fabulous job? What you may not know is that the photo on the layout was taken by reader/contributor Brigid Gonzalez. She e-mailed it to us at editorial@creatingkeepsakes.com, and it was chosen for this cover! If you have a great photo with strong eye contact and good lighting, send it in for consideration. Your photo could end up being featured in a future issue!

Reader/contributor Stacy Cohen found a way to use her instant-coffee purchase on a layout about her morning fix. See the idea on page 108.

Editor-in-chief Jennafer Martin had a ball working with contributing writer Mou Saha on the “Spring Is in the Air” feature for this issue. “Mou had so many creative ideas and her enthusiasm for this springy topic brightened up the dreary fall when we worked on it,” says Jennafer. See more of Mou’s work in future issues of CK or on her blog.

There’s more than one way for your page to be published in CK. Fresh Face Donna Creedon, whose “Cheeky Grin” layout is featured on page 96, had originally posted the amazing layout on her blog, where creative editor Megan Hoeppner spotted it. It fit so well with the “Spring Is in the Air” article that we snatched it up right away. You never know when one of your layouts will be spotted by our roving talent reporters!

Accident or accent? After dropping an ink applicator on her page, reader/contributor Iris Uy turned the unfortunate ink spot into a really cool embossed accent. See it on page 16.

April Fools for photos. In the editor’s note, Jennafer Martin wrote a sidebar mentioning a couple of sites to play with your photos. “We didn’t end up publishing it, but I played with my photo on Faceinhole.com to become one of my favorite superheroes. You can be anyone you want to be by putting your head on a photo there,” Jennafer says. Try it today!

What were your favorite items about this issue? Leave us a comment by Friday, March 26, 2010, and you could be one of three lucky winners to receive a sampling of some fun, new scrapbooking products.

—Lori Fairbanks, editor

You Be the Judge (September 2010)

creatingkeepsakes — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:00:41 +0000

Happy Wednesday! Can you believe it’s the 10th day of March already? I sure can’t! It seems like just yesterday I was getting ready for the Christmas holidays. But growing up in sunny California, I am definitely a fan of spring. So I say bring on the sunshine—and all the pretty beauties that come along with it. Speaking of pretty, I am enjoying the new galleries over on our Club CK site. It’s been super fun browsing your projects. I’ve picked five of my favorites and would love to have you help me choose the one that will be featured in the September 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes. It’s really quite simple. All you have to do is click on this survey and vote for your favorite. The layout that receives the most votes will be published. Here is a sneak peek at one of the five fabulous pages you’ll have the opportunity to vote on—and if you can’t decide on just one, no worries. There is no limit to how many times you’re allowed to vote! I will announce the winner at the end of next week, so keep checking back to see if your favorite was chosen.

—Joannie McBride, assistant editor

Choose Our Cover

creatingkeepsakes — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:05:27 +0000

There’s something really liberating about having choices, isn’t there? We know it’s satisfying to pick out just the right ribbon or button as a finishing touch for our pages. So we wanted you to gain that same satisfaction from choosing a part of our upcoming special issue.

The second of four Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks special issues for 2010 is almost ready to go to the printer. But . . . it’s missing a cover. And that’s where you come in. We’d like YOU to tell us which cover to put on this issue. “But Jennafer,” I can hear you saying, “how can I choose the cover when I don’t even know what the issue’s about?” Great question! Here’s a little bit of info to help you.

In case you missed it, the first Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks special issue was all about organization. This is its cover:

Adorable, right?

This second issue is all about paper. Patterned, shaped, laced, and die-cut papers, scraps, and more—this issue has hundreds of ideas for how to use this wonderful supply in unique ways for your scrapbook pages. We asked three talented scrapbookers to create layouts for this issue’s cover, and they are all so adorable—we just can’t decide on a favorite!

So we need your help. Which one should we feature on the cover? See the covers and take our poll between now and March 15, 2010, to let us know your vote.

Thanks for your help!

—Jennafer Martin, editor-in-chief

Weekly Warm-Up: Spray on Some Color

creatingkeepsakes — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:13:12 +0000

Enough of the gray skies and cloudy days already; we’re ready for some color! It’s a good thing spring is right around the corner. In the meantime, we can always turn to color in our scrapbooking. Spray mists are all the rage right now. If you’ve never given them a squirt or if you just want to learn more about this hot topic, you’ll want to check out our March/April issue of Creating Keepsakes. Just in time for dyeing eggs, CK editor Lori Fairbanks talks about dyeing scrapbook pages (or elements of them) in the “CK Shows You How” column. In the “Latest & Greatest” column, you’ll also find this Spray Ink Review.

"Spray Ink Review," as seen in the March/April 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes, page 49

After seeing how much fun Lori was having, I couldn’t resist getting in on the act. In my “Tips & Tricks” column, I show four fun ways to create a background from mist and around-the-house items or scrap supplies. I’m not going to give all of those techniques away here, but I will share my favorite one. I used mesh from Magic Mesh and Maya Mist from Maya Road to create a polka-dot background. So easy. So fun.

Speaking of “Tips & Tricks,” this page by Steph Devlin comes out of the column’s archives (featured in the July 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes). Steph punched circles from tissue paper and misted them with Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels to create her awesome circle flower. Talk about a textured treat!

"Balance" by Steph Devlin, as seen in the July 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes, page 107

Want to see a little misting in action? Check out my recent “Studio 5” TV segment for a quick demo on misting and a look at some of the happiest color-adding products on the market right now. Plus, see a review of four additional must-try trends and tools.

A Colorful Question for You
The quickest way to cure a case of the winter blues is with a little color. Besides misting, what are some of your favorite ways to brighten up your designs? Leave your thoughts in a comment below, or e-mail editorial@creatingkeepsakes.com. We always love hearing from you.

Happy soon-t0-be-spring!
Megan Hoeppner, CK creative editor

Getting in the Irish Groove

creatingkeepsakes — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:36:27 +0000

Rather than bringing in a special guest blogger this Friday, we thought we’d point you to some other great sites on the web that have some fantastic projects you can create for St. Patrick’s Day, which is fast approaching. Check out these projects below, and then head to the links for more details and how-to information.

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Shamrock Boutonnieres from Martha Stewart

Cut or punch shamrocks from green-patterned papers, and then tie them together for a shamrock bouquet or boutonniere like this one from Martha Stewart.

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Swizzle Sticks from Martha Stewart

Enjoy this idea, also from Martha Stewart, of using a heart stamp to create great swizzle sticks for a St. Patrick’s Day party.

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Leprechaun Catcher from Family Fun

If you have little ones at home, they’ll enjoy creating a Leprechaun Catcher like this one from Family Fun.

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Onesie from ApplesLovesOranges on Etsy

If you want to play with felt, glean inspiration from this adorable onesie by ApplesLovesOranges on Etsy.

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Shamrock Pin from Disney Family

And although you may not have suckers in your scrapbooking stash, I couldn’t resist sharing this idea from Disney Family. It’s easy to turn three green suckers into a shamrock pin that’s good enough to eat.

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—Brittany Beattie, online senior editor

P.S. Don’t miss the Free Font Friday download this week: CK Pleasing.

Mark Your Calendars

creatingkeepsakes — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:28:08 +0000

Whether your first week of March came in like a lion or a lamb, I want to invite you to think ahead to the first of May—not just because it’ll be warmer by then, but because it’s National Scrapbooking Day. It’s never too early to plan for that, right?

Mark your calendars to join us the week leading up to National Scrapbooking Day, where we’ll host a weeklong online extravaganza with challenges, page ideas, and more. And if you happen to be in Utah that week, join us in person for CK Scrap & Play. This overnight crop will take place at the Provo Marriott Hotel, and it’s your chance to hang out with Creating Keepsakes editors and contributors, take classes, win prizes, and have a ball celebrating National Scrapbooking Day the CK way. The festivities will include:

* 3 Albums

* 4 Mini Classes

* Over 24 Hours of Cropping

* Contests, Games, and Prizes

For more information, see the CK Scrap & Play site.

We hope you can join us!

–Jennafer Martin, editor-in-chief

Layout Design: Using Contrast Effectively

creatingkeepsakes — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:50:26 +0000

In places with four distinct seasons, March can be a funny month. One day it’s as cold as Christmas, and the next finds you wanting to sack the jacket. As winter turns to spring, we appreciate warmth because we know what it’s like to be cold. Contrast, if not the spice of life, is certainly one of them.

Using contrast to “spice up” a layout can make a huge difference in the effectiveness of a design. Below are three examples of layouts whose colors and other page elements are designed with beautiful contrasts in mind.

Light on Dark

"An Aunt's Work Is Never Done" by Judy Nieusma, as seen in the Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks organization issue, page 81

Tips

Use light colors for your text and accents against a dark background.

Use both a large and a small font size in your title or other text.

Use straight lines and round accents together.

Dark on Light

"Island Boy" by Jennifer McGuire, as seen in the September 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes, page 47

Tips

Place brightlycolored photos against a plain white or neutral background. The beautiful colors will grab your attention and draw you into the picture.

Let the title stand alone so it stands out against a plain background.

When the subject of a photo is very simple (i.e., not “busy”), use an assortment of accents in a variety of shapes to add texture. Allow some element of the accents, such as color, to be the same as in the picture so the accents meld into the photo rather than distract from it.

Light and Dark

"Mr. Monopoly" by Laina Lamb, as seen in the January 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes, page 50

Tips

Make one layer of your background dark and the other light, arranging your layers based on other colors in the layout.

Draw attention to a focal point in a layout with only two or three main colors by adding a multicolored accent piece next to the focal point.

Combine straight lines, curves, and zigzags on a layout.

Enjoy experimenting with contrast on your layouts! If you have a favorite trick you use when adding contrast to your pages, feel free to share it by leaving a comment below.

–Dorathy Gilchrist, associate editor

Announcing the Grand Opening of Club CK! (Plus a Special Discount)

creatingkeepsakes — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:00:05 +0000

The CK team is excited to announce the grand opening of Club CK—the newest community for scrapbookers! Club CK is your one-stop community location with forums, project galleries, contests, videos, how-to instructions, and more! You’ll need to create a login to view some of the blogs and to comment on the forums and galleries, but signing up as a social member is FREE.

We’d love to have you stop by today. To get a bird’s-eye view of the site, I recommend first checking out these favorite destinations:

* The Project Gallery: Find the perfect layout to inspire your next scrapbook page, and upload your own layouts to share with others. You’ll even be able to post or view scrap spaces that are sure to inspire.
* The Forums: Chat about all things scrapbooking and connect with other crafters on a wide variety of topics.
* Our Guide to Getting Started: See how easy it is to create your profile, upload images, start a blog, and enjoy the other benefits of the Club CK site.
* The Blogs: Learn new tips from Creating Keepsakes editors each weekday, and check out what’s inspiring other community members on their blogs.
* Video Tutorials: See firsthand how to try the latest techniques, get more from your supplies, or use the hottest tools. New videos will be added regularly.
* Weekly Contests: Participate in weekly creative challenges for the chance to win great prizes. Throughout the month of March, we’ll be giving away a premium membership to Club CK each day, along with copies of the Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks organization issue and other CK magazines or special issues.

Plus, there will always be new articles, topics, layouts, and helpful how-tos for you to discover each day! You can even find a quote of the day to use on or inspire a layout. And if you sign up as a premium member, you’ll enjoy fantastic deals and discounts from companies like Tamron and Die Cuts with a View, receive a yearly subscription to our Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks publications, get free admission to a CKC Vendor Faire and a free CKC class (up to $20), plus a whole lot more.

Have fun exploring the site, and welcome to the Club CK community! We’re thrilled to have you with us! After all, Club CK is the place where scrapbookers flock for creative inspiration.

Click here to let your inspiration take flight as you create your free community profile and see for yourself how cool Club CK is.

See you in the club!

—Brittany Beattie

P.S. As a special treat for our CK blog readers, you can receive $5 off the Club CK premium membership price by entering code FW-M4XU3at checkout when you upgrade your membership.

Weekly Warm-Up: Melt the Ice

creatingkeepsakes — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:00:34 +0000

Welcome to March, everyone! You know what they say: if March comes in like a lion, it’ll go out like a lamb. Since most of us are still digging out from February’s snowstorms, we can certainly hope that warm, sunny days are right around the corner. In today’s weekly warm-up, we’re going to focus on techniques that are sure to heat up the last of your winter layouts and coax all that ice to melt.

Heat Emboss Accents

Turn up the heat on that last bit of wintertime fun by adding heat-embossed accents to a sledding, skiing, or snowboarding layout. Wendy Sue Anderson embossed her stamped title in addition to her accents on this adorable layout.

“Sledding” by Wendy Sue Anderson, as seen in the January 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes, page 27.

Iron on Designs

Next, fire up (okay, plug in) your iron! If you’ve ever ironed on patches to clothing or bags, then this technique is for you. Mou Saha applied an iron-on rhinestone-heart design to canvas to accent her darling “Valentines” page. Look for iron-on flower designs to add a little spring to your layouts.

“Valentines” by Mou Saha, as seen in the February 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes, page 78.

Create Hot-Glue Art

You’ll want to reach for your hot-glue gun for this next irresistible idea. On her “Forever Friends” layout, Mou Saha drew a simple shape using a low-temperature hot-glue gun, and then she painted over it. Try drawing some fluffy clouds or four-leaf clovers for a March-inspired look.

“Forever Friends” by Mou Saha, as seen in the February 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes, page 79.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get warmed up with some ice-melting techniques! Try one of these ideas this week, and upload your completed layout to our gallery. We can’t wait to see what you create.

– Kim Jackson, senior editor

P.S. For step-by-step instructions on these layouts, check out the January 2010 and February 2010 issues of Creating Keepsakes.

Celebration Pages in Honor of the Closing Ceremonies

creatingkeepsakes — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:47:32 +0000

Hey there! I hope you’ve enjoyed the 2010 Winter Olympics and our Olympic-inspired scrapbooking ideas these past two weeks. In honor of the closing ceremonies scheduled this weekend, we’re pleased to bring you celebration-themed pages—layouts that rejoice in and commemorate happy events, accomplishments, and relationships. Take a look at the following categories, and then scrapbook a layout celebrating something wonderful in your life.

1. Firsts and milestones. Many first-time experiences are happy events that mark a significant moment of your life—your first day at a new job, your first car, or your first home, for example. Smaller firsts may also be meaningful to you and worthy of mention on a scrapbook page, such as your child’s first day at school, the first spring flower in your garden, or your pet’s first successful attempt at a new trick.

“Our First House” by Kim Arnold, as seen in the "Super-Fast Pages with 4" x 6" Photos, Volume 2" special issue

2. Birthdays. Commemorate your special day with a scrapbook page. And yes, that’s your birthday too—not just the kids’ birthdays!

“Happy Birthday” by Cindy Tobey, as seen in the June 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes

3. Weddings, anniversaries, and engagements. Keep these important celebrations fresh in your memory with pages highlighting the most memorable images and happenings from the event.

“The Perfect Day” by Kelly Noel, as seen in the June 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes

4. Babies. If there’s a baby in your life, then chances are good you also have thousands of photos of the little one on your computer. Choose your favorites to create special pages that document how tiny and sweet your baby is.

“Elsie, 4 Weeks” by Jamie Waters, as seen in the June 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes

5. Accomplishments. Scrapbook your successes—from goals met to obstacles overcome. Possible topics include graduations (from preschool to college), promotions or raises at work, sports achievements, and more.

“Mike’s Graduation” by Kelly Purkey, as seen in the February 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes

6. Your favorite things. Remember to celebrate the little things as well by recording what makes you happy right now. Your favorite song, your favorite color, the funny nickname your two-year-old has for the dog. Make a list and scrapbook it. Include photos if you have them, or make the layout design all about your words, like Deena Wuest did on her page.

“100 Things I Love” by Deena Wuest, as seen in "Get Creative with Type"

7. Very good days. Record the everyday happenings that make your life happy. Maybe the moments special to you are starting the day with a favorite breakfast, taking an evening stroll with a friend, or spending time in your garden.

“Thursday Morning Waffles” by Jennifer Davis, as seen in the February 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes

Whatever celebrations you choose to scrapbook, we hope you’ll share your happy pages with us by posting your celebration pages on our idea gallery at Club CK.

—Lori Fairbanks, product editor

P.S. Don’t forget to download your free font as part of Free Font Friday! This week, you can download CK Lounge Act here.