Challenge Day! 12 Days!

Hi! Hope everything is going well! The poor little guy is sick again....he is my official germ bag because I have a cold too. But the grossest thing in the whole world happened this morning.He was Very upset that he had to get up and go to school so he was throwing a temper tantrum (I swear he never did this when he was 2. Three..or almost three is a MUCH harder age!!!)). He did the whole thing too...flailing arms and laying down on the floor. It would have been comical but the poor guy had a yucky nose too so I felt very bad for him. So at one point he laid flat on the floor, kicking...I was trying to comfort him as best I could and he lifted his head to look at me and he had two big snot bubbles coming out of his nose! Now, nothing really grosses me out when it comes to him...He is my son and my everything...but this grossed me out. He will be going to bed early tonight!

So I have a pretty cool challenge for you guys to do. You will have to sign up by Monday and it will get you scrapping. Here is it....12 days.

Starting February 1st I am going to have a 12 day challenge. For twelve days you will create a page (or card or altered project...whatever you want to do) a day. The layouts can be simple or complicated, but the next morning you should email me your challenge. So on the first day (Feb 1) you will complete your layout. On Feb 2, you will email it to me and I will post them. Feb 2 you will create a project and email it Feb 3. This is a great winter project (especially for 10 degrees!!!). Remember, each day does not have to be elaborate. It just has to be some kind of project for 12 days!!!

So think it over and email me (jenne@darice.com) by Monday at 5:00pm to sign up and join!!! I am sorry, but I cannot accept late comers. And if you do not hear from me confirming your desire to join, please email me again. Thanks and I look forward to working with all of you!!!!

my email: jenne@darice.com

Jennifer

Get it Straight!

Yes, it is Thursday and only my second post of the week. I am trying! My work load here has been heavy and I have been exhausted....BUT I have found the cure to my son getting up out of bed in the middle of the night, waking us up, and climbing in with us...short of putting a net over his bed....JUICE!!! (Dentists close your ears because I doubt this method is approved by the American Dental Association, but it is defiantly approved by my sandman) Ok water juice, but still, it is working! So he always wants juice or water in the middle of the night so he comes on over to our bed. So I began giving him a sippy with one ounce (or about) juice and 9 oz water. It still has a LITTLE flavor....but he has it and he doesn't get out of bed!!!!!YEAH!!!!! Can you say SWEET! Can you say thank heavens he is back to sleeping through the night in HIS bed. YEAH!!! I woke up in the middle of the night last night and had to go check on him (like I did when he was brand spankin new)...

So, there is a product available in our stores that will help you keep it straight (granted you use it correctly....don't ask!).

This cool thing is the Westcott Laser Ruler (12"). You can use it straight or on an angle to position stickers or embellishments. I used it to line up pictures and see how much I would have to cut on each side to make them all the same size. This helped me determine which side to cut off more of. The product can also help with stamping and punching!!! This great little contraption comes at a great Pat Catan price of $10.97!!! Cool! That is less than a dollar an inch!!! Even better (considering I just got the spending speech from the dear husband!!)!

Use it for your journaling too! You can also get two and make crosshairs on your pages! This a really cool tool. A must have!!!

Below are a couple of layouts I made using the new product on the End Caps! I had lots of fun with these pages!!!

Hope all is going well and thanks for looking!

Jennifer

Rockin' Challenge submission!!!

Hi everyone! Hope you had a great weekend (or are still having a long one...I am back at the desk playing grownup again...how did that happen so quickly?)!

My son started doing the funniest thing this weekend. To everything I asked him to do, it was "Oh WHY?!" Hmm. I wondered when that started. I am now rolling on the floor, laughing (or trying hard not to), trying to come up with a reason why my almost 3yr old has to do something. Eat. Sleep. Play. Stop picking his nose. OH WHY? It is too funny. I have reverted to my mom's fav...'because I said so.'...hmmmm....she is laughing at me everyday now. Every day. I don't want to call her some days cause I know she is going to laugh at me... :) This is what she went through for 20 some years. And now I know. It is quite funny. My dad also reminded me that the reason you have children is for the grandchildren. He stated he now knew the secret of Children (ie:grandchildren) are a reward for the late nights, the boyfriends, the crying, basically raising children....he LOVES the grandchildren. And he laughs at me too. Especially after a night of sweets and running around. They pack him up and send him to us....where he promptly acts like he has never had rules in his life. OH WHY?! :)

So I received this AWESOME 4-product challenge from one of the current relay girls, Rose Ann. I LOVE it!!!

I hope to see more!! Tomorrow I have a great new product for you that is in the stores...I love this one too!!!

Happy Monday!

Jennifer

Cool projects and more!!

HI everyone! It has been a busy week for me and I promise more posts!!!

My son did the cutest thing yesterday! He has a "girlfriend" at his school. Well her mom came to pick her up before I got there and guess which little man got her coat from the coatroom for her???? Mine!!! YEAH!!! It was so cute when his teacher told me that. A gentleman I am raising!!!! That is my goal...he is such a good kid.

We also went to the pool to go swimming yesterday and unfortunately there was a swim meet so we could not swim. And although Nathan was a little upset, when I asked him if he wanted to stay and watch and he was game! He was clapping and having a grand old time! Maybe he will be a swimmer like his mom! That would be very cool.

Ok, I got a bunch of things to show you!!!!

First up is an invitation (and instructions) from Jane at store 12 (Springfield). It is adorable and a great thing to keep in mind with the wedding season coming up!!!

This is the front. It opens from the middle

This is the inside (flaps are not shown)

This is the back

This is the envelope

Instructions (email me if you would like Word format: jenne@darice.com)

Try this project, it is great!!!!! Thanks for submitting!!!!

The layout I have to show you is from Jill and she used the St. Patrick's Day paper and embellishments that are now in the stores! You will find it on an end cap!!!! WOW!!!! It is a fantastic layout and truly captures the mood (more like festivities) and overall great time they had!!! Thanks for the submission!!!

I also have a submission from this week's challenge - the 4 product challenge. This is from Erin....thanks Erin!!! It is a great page and sticks to the 4 products - Alphas, patterned paper, cardstock, and stamp set!

She did mention that it was a challenge just to stick to those 4 elements....Well that is the point!!! Great job!!!

Hope to see more projects soon!!!

Jennifer

The Relay girls have done it again!!!!

I am so impressed with these ladies!!! It is great to see all their work!!! Last weeks relay challenge was to scrap a top 5 or top 10 list! They did great!!! Plus, they are a blast to work with!!! Look for the new relay/circle journal coming up toward the end of the month!! Here are their submissions!!!!

By Maxine

By Rose Ann

By Terri

By Stacie

Thanks ladies!! You have been doing a great job!!! If anyone else wants to try the challenge, send it to me at jenne@darice.com!

Til next time!

Jennifer

Weekly Challenge - 4 Product Challenge

This week's challenge is to use the 4 following products and your basic tool kit to create a layout. You will find all the product at Pat Catan's.

Bazzill Bling Pink Cardstock, Basic Grey Perhaps - Julia, Heidi Grace Clear Stamps, American Crafts - Thickers - Shoebox.

Here is my creation!! (only 4 products!!!!)

Send me your challenge (jenne@darice.com)!!!!!!

Jennifer

New Product in Stores!!!!! YEAH!!!!

Good morning everyone!!! It is going to be a wonderful weekend!!! I wanted to share with you what is on the new End Caps at all Pat Catan stores!!! This is great looking paper and embellishments and at a great value!!!

Heidi Grace - Frost Blvd.

Creative Imaginations - Winter

American Traditions - Snow

Die Cuts With a View - Love

Karen Foster - Easter

Creative Imaginations - Rock Star

Die Cuts With a View - Rock Star

As you can see there is a wide selection of embellishments and papers!!! Go get yours now because when it is gone, it is gone!!!! Each store only gets so many of each. There is also a St. Patricks Day line that is not pictured. Thanks!!! Happy Scrapping!!

Jennifer

Tips and Tricks - Creating Great Pages Everytime you Scrap!

It is Wednesday!!! Whew, we are halfway to Friday! I have to talk a little about my pizza I made last night. Usually I buy dough at the local grocery store and grab sauce, etc. It always turns out good (who can mess up pizza, right?), but it lacks that umph, lets eat it again. Well I found it! Without talking about brand names, I bought fresh pizza dough instead of my regular dough, a shredded 7 Italian cheese pack, fresh pepperoni, and this garlic and herb spaghetti sauce. OMG it was AMAZING. I considered calling all the companies that made the ingredients to buy them in bulk and open my own pizza shop. It was crispy and my husband and son gobbled it up. I have two very picky eaters (a 30 something and a 2 yr old) so this is always a good sign. My husband even mentioned how good it was this morning. I am even going to make it for my sisters bday tomorrow.

My pizza success is along the same lines as scrapbooking success. Do you always have good layouts, but they are missing SOMETHING and you do not know what? Do you want fantastic (pay me for my work) pages every time?

Well there are a few "rules" to follow if you want guaranteed success every time. You need: Unity, Rhythm, Emphasis, and Balance in your pages, and you will have it! Just like having the right pizza ingredients! Let's go one by one:

Unity

Unity is when all elements on a page look like they belong together. It is the same as picking out shoes with your outfit. You would not wear brown shoes with black pants. You can create unity through color, shapes, textures, line, and patterns. Pick one and stick to it. Say you want circles in your layout. Well then use buttons in your layout. Group and repeat shapes. Keep your readers eye on the page. Pick a color that emphasizes your pictures. Then use different shades of that color. Make sure all elements belong in your page. If you have a picture of a very modern living room, do not use country themed embellishments. Think of those picture games that you have to pick what is out of place and do that with your layouts....ask yourself, what does not belong....and remove it.

Rhythm

Rhythm is achieved when you have repetition and variation of shape, size, color, and texture . When someone looks at your layout you want them to "read" it and have the page make them look at the rest of they layout by drawing them into it. Think of music bars. Your page should "read" like that. You can also think that one element leads to the next. Creating a large half circle on your page that connects your photo, journaling, and embellishments, creates rhythm. Your eye is drawn through every aspect of your page. When looking at your layout ask yourself if every element begs to be looked at. If it doesn't, it probably needs to go.

Emphasis

What do you want to share in your layout? Is it your wonderful pictures? Your brand new paper or embellishments that you could not live without? You need to decide this before you start. Why are you scrapping this? When you answer that you know what you need to emphasize. To emphasize photos, make them bigger, make them a different shape than the others. Basically create your focal point. Use strong colors to mat the picture. Place it off center. Also place the photo thing you want to emphasize a little off center. This gives it an added "punch"

Balance

Where would we be without balance? Flat on our faces! So will the layout if you don't have it! To create balance, make sure your page does not feel too heavy or too light on one side. Do not place all your embellishments on one side. Spread them out. If you were to draw a vertical line down your page, make sure each half can stand by itself.

Once you have these qualities in your layouts, they should look great! Happy scrapping and good luck! Practice makes perfect!

Jennifer

Tips and Tricks - More Rub-on ideas!

Hey everyone! Hope you are doing well! First 5 day week in a couple of weeks. And many more until Memorial Day....at least the sun was shinning and it was very nice outside today! Oh and you cannot forget about the fact that it was lighter out later! YIPPEE!!! (positive thoughts only, please :) )

Ok you have mastered your rub-on technique...what do you do with them now? There are many things! Here I am going to create a card using a white rub-on and Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments from Jacard (found in the Art Department at Pat Catan's). If you do not have the Pigments, I would try chalk...although you probably will not get a pronounced rub-on with chalk. Anyway, here is what you need:

You will need a white rub-on (this one is Basic Grey), the rub-on stick, Cardstock, Pearl Ex Pigments, mat, Alpha rub-ons, and sponge to apply pigments.

First make your card and apply the rub-on

Lightly dip the applicator into pigments (a little goes a long way)


Apply to card liberally. Shake Excess off.

I used two different colors - Jac688 Misty lavender and Jac643 Pink Gold. Be careful not to rub pigments off.

Oh and watch your two year old while cutting out rub-on alphas...this is what could happen. Needless to say my project was not the same after this, but let's continue...

Apply rub-on alphas and write a message inside. Remember to use a sealer (hairspray, etc) so the pigment does not rub off.

And you are done! It is really easy! I had trouble with my rub-ons after Nathan spilled the pigments. But you get the idea. Add more pigment for darker effect! This is really cool!!

And this is what happens when the husband gets hold of the scrapbook supplies (must make note to clean dinning room table off)...namely a stamper. I was first to get my stamp on my head...I was blindsided! Then he got his, and Nathan was having so much fun he HAD to have one. He attempted several times to do his himself. DVD camera, where were you?! At least we have fun!!

Have a great night! Go BUCKS!!!!

Jennifer

jenne@darice.com

My song title challenge

So I am having trouble uploading my song title challenge to the last post, so here is my layout.

Song is It's Your Love by Tim Mcgraw. Just letting you know, it took FOREVER to cut those lyrics out!!! :) Paper, stamps, alphas can be found at Pat Catans. Paper 12X12 Perhaps by Basic Grey, Chipboard Alphas American Crafts - Thickers, Bazzill Bling Cardstock, Heidi Grace Stamps (flourish by the "J"), Ribbon - Basic Grey Infuse - Chipboard Alphas- Darice 2" letters (ONLY$1.00! for pack!)

Enjoy scrapping!

Jennifer

From the relay girls!

Hi everyone! I am officially feeling holed up. This is day 5 that Nathan has not left the house and day 4 for me! He is feeling much better (and I am very glad of that!). MUCH better. I use two official meters to judge this by (other than the fact that he looks better and sounds better)...these are:

1.) Mess factor - the messier my house gets, the better he feels

2.) The whine factor. Ah yes, the whining has officially gotten louder and about everything. I have a feeling he will be back at school Monday!

In other news, our cat had to be put to sleep today. My husband took her and even though she was almost 18, that did not make it any easier. I keep looking for her to pop around. We will miss her. My husband rescued her from a dumpster out in Phoenix when he lived there, and missed home so much he named her Cleveland. She has traveled the country and kept me company when I was pregnant with Nathan. What a good cat!

So, like I had mentioned earlier, the relay girls have been working hard! their first challenge was to create a page using a song to express their page. I think they did a wonderful job! Not everyone did one, but they did not have to do it to take part in the relay. Enjoy!

Rose Ann

Patti

Terri

Great work ladies! Thanks for the submissions!!

Have a scrappy weekend!

Jennifer

HAPPY 2008!!!

Hi everyone! I hope everyone had a great New Year and has lots of pictures to scrap! YEAH! Here is to a happy and healthy and scrapable New Year for EVERYONE!!!!

Sorry I have been unable to post...my little guy has been sick, but is now on the mend....it is scary when the little ones are sick. I will get back into the groove of it next week...

I have lots for you this year! To start I have new product in the stores that will be featured in Wednesdays blog! It is VERY cool stuff! I cannot wait to show it to you! I also have a whole bunch of new challenges for you to try out. I cannot wait to get those going every Friday again! For the end of January I am going to start a circle journal....if you have not done one of these yet, it is time to try it! They are fun and you get to know lots of people! Also, I have a whole new set of tips and tricks for you to start working on new pages. 2008 is going to be a GREAT scrapbooking year!

The first group of creative relayers are doing a great job! They are getting into the project and the mini-challenges I have for them. I am so glad I have gotten to known them! Keep up the great work ladies! I will post their submissions for the first mini-challenge over the weekend while I am trying to catch up with my work!

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at: jenne@darice.com. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Have a happy scrapping Friday!

Jennifer