True Scrap is back October 20-22!  You’ll get 17 instructors, virtual make-and-takes, tons of inspiration and fun, right to your computer!

These are just a few of the workshops that caught my eye! There are a total of 17 planned for the weekend.

Show Me the Money! A Dozen Ways to Make Money Scrapbooking
Lain Ehmann, author of Snippets: Mostly True Tales from the Lighter Side of Scrapbooking

Going Off the Grid: Creating layouts that are anything but square
Lisa Dickinson, Scrap Celeb

Ready, Set, Distress!
Nic Howard, author of That’s Life: Finding Scrapbook Inspiration in the Everyday

Phoning It In: Using cell phone photos effectively
Tami Morrison, Simple Scrapbook Magazine’s Funnest Scrapbooker Ever

Solutions for Small Scrapbook Spaces
Aby Garvey, Certified Professional Organizer

Photo Composition
Katrina Kennedy, of ScrapYour365

Stitch it. Dot it. Edge it.
May Flaum, of ScrapbookUpdate and Big Picture Classes

…Plus special guest interview with Cathy Zielske!

And you get forever access to the class recordings and chat transcripts.  Can you think of a better way to spend a weekend?

Sign up for True Scrap Today!

Register for Boot Camp 2011

Here are the deals:

• You can still register for Boot Camp for $30 through 9/2. (Price goes up to $33 on 9/3.)
• All Digital Scrapbooking Month sale prices are good through 9/2.
• The coupon code 200CENTS actually doesn’t expire until 9/9/11, and it can be used on Boot Camp, any of our sale-priced digital products, or anything on our site (excluding gift certificates). Note: Only one coupon per customer. Cannot be combined with any other coupon code or gift certificate.
• All $10 Ella Gift Certificates are on sale for $8 until 9/2.

I’m waiting for Crystal Wilkerson’s new ebook, Inspired By, to be released in September. I’ll be buying a gift certificate for myself!

1. Learn a new feature on one of your scrapbooking tools.  It could be as simple as learning how to use your Crop-A-Dile to place an eyelet, and now you won’t just use it for punching holes (even though it is just totally amazing for that!)  If you have a die cut machine, take out the manual and try one new feature with a scrap piece of paper.

2.  Read an inspiring scrapbooking article on one of your favorite scrapbooking sites.

3.  Browse through an online scrapbooking gallery, like the one at Two Peas in a Bucket.

4.  Order some new supplies at an online scrapbooking store.  They are all having some kind of awesome sale today!

5.  Take a photo of your scrapbooking space as it is right now.  You can make a layout for it later and journal about National Scrapbooking Day.

6.  Make a quick list of 10 things you love right now and remember to date it.  Tuck that away to scrapbook later.

7. Pick a photo and make an easy digital scrapbooking page using a digital quick page.

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

House of 3 is having one final sale before they close the site.  Until May 8th you can save 50% on the entire store.  Be sure to use the code FIFTYOFF.  Don’t miss out on your last chance to buy some digital and printable supplies before the House of 3 is no more.  I’ll miss you, House of 3!

Right now I’m taking May with May at Big Picture Scrapbooking.  It just started May 1st, but so far I’m really enjoying May’s enthusiastic teaching style.  One of the first things she did was take us on a video tour of her craft room.  It’s always fun to see how someone else organizes her space and supplies.  I’m in the process of reorganizing my space so this was definitely a great start to class for me.  She is also very active on the class forum. I believe registration is still open for this class.

Here’s a little update on a few of the other classes I enrolled in this spring.

Mouse Paper Scissors: Mom at JessicaSprague.com – I really hesitated on this one to the very last minute.  It was one of the more expensive classes I took, and I tend to do very little hybrid scrapbooking.  I couldn’t resist taking a class with both Jessica Sprague and Heidi Swapp though!  What a fantastic class it was!  I think I’m hooked on hybrid scrapbooking now.  I absolutely loved the mini book we made and will definitely be using this same book technique in future projects.  The paper from Bo Bunny is absolutely gorgeous too!  Because all the papers are downloads, you can use them again and again in both printable or digital forms.  I can’t wait to take another hybrid scrapbooking class with Jessica and Heidi.

Spring Training at Ella Publishing - This is an ongoing event at Ella Publishing, and we are into the second week.  Every day there is a new daily exercise and video.  I’ve especially enjoyed the photography tips.  Registration is still open and the price is now reduced to $30!  You still get access to all the videos and tips too!  They also offer some great coupons and specials from their sponsors each day.

Get Those Creative Juices Flowing with Amy Tangerine – This class was offered at Big Picture Classes.  It was a self-paced class, but I”m not seeing it on the currently offered classes right now.  I loved the mini book projects in this class.  What an awesome way to use up scraps in your stash! I made a couple of these books, and I even pulled out my sewing machine.  I’m just now starting to appreciate sewing and scrapbooking, but I’m still not patient with my machine.

One Little Word with Ali Edwards - This is an ongoing class for 2011 at Big Picture Classes.  Registration is still open.  What’s not to love about a class taught by Ali?  She is always inspiring and uniquely creative.  This class offers monthly prompts to help you focus on your 2011 One Little Word (mine is Goodness).

Yes, I admit I’m addicted to online scrapbooking classes.  My husband travels a lot, and these classes are my treats while he’s away.   They keep me busy, teach me new techniques and introduce me to new scrapbooking friends.

I’ve also bought a couple of ebook/video classes that I’ll talk about in another post.

Definitely go check out what Big Picture Scrapbooking has to offer.  They have one of the biggest selections of scrapbooking classes online.   Also remember you can get a reduced price at Ella Publishing Co. presents Spring Training 2011.

As a bonus, you’ll also receive a coupon for $5 off your Ella Publishing purchase with your registration confirmation.

They have a great article on their Ezine this week as well.  It’s called Baby Bonanza : 3 Creative Approaches to Baby Layouts.  I really liked the idea to connect the past with the present on your baby scrapbooking layouts.  There’s a lot to check out when you visit Ella Publishing, and if you’ve never purchased an Ella ebook, the bonus coupon offer for Spring Training 2011 registration is a great opportunity to pick up an ebook at a great price.

Image by shimelle via Flickr

Did you miss the True Scrap event?  It’s not too late to have access to Ali Edwards Keynote Interview, all 12 classes and the virtual make and takes.  True Scrap has made available video replays of the entire 3-day event.

For $127 you’ll receive video replays of:

• Kickoff/Keynote Interview (Ali Edwards and Lain Ehmann)
• Touch Me!! All About Texture (Nic Howard)
• Going to Pieces: Simple Tips for Turning Paper Scraps into
• Cute Embellishments (Kelli Crowe)
• Creative Stash Diving (Shimelle Laine)
• Make and Take: Jenni Bowlin
• Make and Take: Polka Dot Whimsy
• Scrapbook Organization Your Way (Aby Garvey)
• From the Ground Up: Design Your Story (Noell Hyman)
• Expressive Photography: It’s in the Details (Tracey Clark)
• A Few of My Favorite Things (Stephanie Ackerman)
• Lights-Camera-Action! Action-based photography (Katrina Kennedy)
• Make and Take: Scrapbook Circle
• Make and Take: unKit
• Inspiration Files (Tami Morrison)
• Super Stamping Secrets (Jennifer McGuire)
• Die Cut Dress-Up (Erin Bassett)
• Pain-Free Journaling the EZ Way (Lain Ehmann)
• Make and Take: Studio Calico

*Each class lasts approximately 30 minutes; make-and-takes are approximately 15 minutes.

That’s over seven hours of instruction time, plus five virtual make-and-takes!
Your purchase also includes soon-to-be released audio Q&As with many of the instructors, as well as supply lists and resource guides.

Don’t Miss Your Last Chance for True Scrap!

Join Ella Publishing for a Spring Training Extravaganza!

April 25–May 7

12 exclusive video coaching sessions
4 expert coaches
12 hands-on training exercises
20 minutes a day
daily challenges, downloads, sponsor prizes, and more
=
1 amazing online event that includes a minimum of 240 minutes of scrapbooking fun

Price: $40

Save $8 now! Use code 8ELLA to register for $32 through April 15!

Get Ready to Learn About…

Expert lighting tricks for your photographs
Single-sentence journaling: four simple strategies
How to create a gorgeous stenciled page background
Adding inspiring tricks to your design toolbox
Paint and poetry: a tutorial you’ll never forget!
Creating photo-booth effects for your photographs
Distressing 101: paint, sanding, and beyond
Discovering and embracing YOUR signature scrapbooking style
How to “get the shot” that truly captures your subject’s personality
And MORE

Daily Giveaway Sponsors

Big Picture Classes
Little Yellow Bicycle
Jenni Bowlin
Nikki Sivils
And MORE

Learn from:

Angie Lucas, Your Journaling Coach
A word nerd at heart, Angie has been a professional writer and editor for 15+ years and a scrapbooker/journaler for as long as she can remember. The founder of ellapublishing.com, this girl definitely has a way with words.

Wendy Smedley, Your Inspiration Coach
Professional scrapbooker Wendy Smedley has written three best-selling books about scrapbooking and hundreds of inspiring articles for crafting magazines and websites. She currently spends her days keeping ellapublishing.com and bigpictureclasses.com both inspired and organized.

Kelly Willette, Your Photography Coach
A family photographer, photography teacher, blogger, designer, and writer, Kelly won Nickelodeon’s Parent’s Choice Award for Best Family Photographer in Norfolk in 2009—and she’s here to share her secrets with you.

Tammy Tutterow, Your Techniques Coach
From paper to fabrics to stamping, painting, and beading (and everything in between), there’s not a technique that Tammy hasn’t tried—and then blogged about it, taught it in a class, video-taped it, or had it published in a magazine. Get your hands dirty with Technique Tammy!

Remember :

Save $8 now! Use code 8ELLA to register for $32 through April 15!