Archive for the ‘Scrapbooking’ Category

Register now for Ella Publishing Boot Camp 2011 by August 31, and not only will you save $3 for early registration, but using coupon code PINKCAMO will save you another $2! The coupon expires September 5th, but registering by August 31st will save you a total of $5 before the price increases on September 1st.

Boot Camp 2011 will give you inspiration and concrete starting points to make over a dozen layouts in 6 days. From September 19-24, you can log into the Boot Camp Barracks each morning and evening for a 10 minute training video follow by a hands-on drill that can be completed in 10 minutes. What a great way to get more pages done!

You can check out the official recruiting video and take advantage of pre-registration pricing (don’t forget to use the additional $2 coupon PINKCAMO by August 31st to get the most savings) by visiting Ella Publishing.

I nearly missed this one!

2Peas blog has a free online scrapbooking design class that just started this week. Design School at Two Peas in a Bucket combines design with papercrafting. Each week they are discussing two principles of good design. This week’s topic is Balance and Unity.

You can follow the class at the Two Peas blog.  You’ll get a lesson along with scrapbooking layout examples and homework to practice what you’ve learned.  You’ll see projects highlighting design principles by special guest scrapbookers. They also have a pdf download for each lesson that you can printout and keep for reference while you’re scrapbooking.

Jump on over to the 2 Peas in a Bucket blog to follow along!

Have you noticed this trend in scrapbooking?  Promotional scrapbooking videos set to music?  Here are a couple of my recent favorites:

Amy Tangerine’s Mini Album Video for American Crafts

And the video for the widely popular K & Company Smash Books:

A few weeks ago, I purchased Ali Edwards’ Scrapbook on the Road class.  This is an online class that includes an instructional ebook in pdf format as well as video lessons and printable elements.  There are 2 main videos that describe Ali’s philosophy and process for creating a travel mini album.  The other videos show you techniques for preparing your album pages.  She also includes full photos of her album pages before she leaves for her trip and then photos of the pages of her completed album.

I love Ali’s scrapbooking style. For many years, I’ve been a huge fan of her blog, her books and her digital scrapbooking products.  This class is a great value just for the a couple  of hours of video instruction from Ali.  It’s only $14, which is becoming quite a bargain for an online scrapbooking class.  Am I the only who has noticed that the cost of classes seems to be going up?

I really loved this class.  I’m going on a 2-week vacation this summer, and the album I made following Ali’s model will be perfect for documenting this trip.  I made a couple of pages using each of the techniques in the videos and followed her overall style for preparing the mini album.  I already had many of the supplies she used, and I added a few other items from my stash to complete the pages.  The techniques for painting chipboard, using transparencies with fabric patterns and printable items were easy to follow and give a unique look to the foundation pages of the scrapbook.

My favorite part of Ali’s scrapbooking on the road process is collecting bits and pieces from the places you are visiting.  This is something I’ve always done, but having the scrapbook right there with me instead of coming home with a bag full of papers and brochures means I can work on the album as I travel.  I love having pages already prepared to capture my thoughts and feelings along the way.  I usually carry a small notebook with me, but I’m really excited to see how this process works for me.  I’m also planning to try her ideas for storytelling on the road and travel photography tips.

I highly recommend Ali’s Scrapbook on the Road class.  Even if you already know some of the techniques she teaches, watching her process from start to finish will certainly give you some ideas for your next travel scrapbook.  Just browsing through her completed album pages is pure inspiration!

If you follow Ali Edwards or Cathy Zielske, you’ve seen how they use self portraits to document their everyday lives in their scrapbooks.  Ali uses this technique throughout her “Week in the Life” and
Project Life” albums.  She takes photos of herself working in her studio, taking a coffee break, sitting on the floor with her children, and even driving her car.  With a webcam, camera timer, or her iphone, she frequently includes self portraits in her layouts.

Would you like to learn how to take creative self portraits?  Are you like many scrapbookers who tend to be the family photographer, but often don’t include enough photos of ourselves in your albums?  The Digital Photography School, one of my favorite websites for learning photography, has just released a new ebook that will teach you techniques to create beautiful self portraits.

I’ve recommended DPS’s ebooks before.  They are very high quality, a great value, and written by experts in the field of photography.  The Art of Self-Portraiture is written by Anna Gay and offers 52 pages of advice, insight and techniques for beginning a journey into self-portraiture.

I read this book yesterday, and can’t wait to try out some of the techniques Anna demonstrates.  You don’t have to be a skilled photographer to take self-portraits.  She shows you everything you need to know to tell your story through self-portraiture.  I can see creating an entire album of these photos!

I love how she teaches how to use lighting to express moods and feelings, how composition can reveal your personality, and how focus can highlight your passions.  She even provides 52 themes for self portraits to get you started on this new photographic journey of self-discovery and creativity.

For a limited time The Art of Self-Portraiture is only $14.99 – $5 off the cover price.  This is an introductory price, so don’t wait long to make your purchase (offer ends May 31).  You also will have a chance to win an IPAD 2!  DPS offers a 60-day guarantee.  If you’re not satisfied, you can get a full refund.

Buy The Art of Self-Portraiture by Anna Gay for $14.99 – a limited introductory price!

Did you get a chance to watch either Heidi Swapp or Tim Holtz on HSN yesterday?  I DVR’d most of their appearances.  As predicted Heidi’s Parisian Anthology kit did sell out.  I’m so glad I ordered mine early.  She’s so full of energy and excitement.  She’s always a joy to watch.

I have a confession.  I’ve never used any of Tim Holtz’s products before except some of his ink, and that I just use in the typical way to ink the edges of paper.  I do gaze with wonder at the display of his products in my local scrapbooking store, but I’m never sure what to do with them or how to put them together.  The scrapbook collector in me wants so badly to buy up some of those vintage items “just-in-case” I come up with the perfect project for them.

After watching Tim demonstrate some of his products on HSN yesterday, now I have to give them a try.  Did you see the effects he got with the different types of ink?  Wow, did that ever look fun!  It reminded me of my days as a preschool teacher when it was all about the process and not the product.  Just have fun with it and see what happens!  I so have to try some of these inks.

To convince me even further is his book, A Compendium of Curiosities.  Even the name sounds fun!  This is an idea and instruction book that shows you how to use Tim’s products.  It gives project ideas and techniques as well.  Since it’s raining here and supposed to get cold again, I’m thinking this is the perfect cure for cabin fever!  I’m hoping my local scrapbooking store has it stock, because I really don’t want to wait for a shipment from HSN!  I want this stuff to play with today!  I’ll let you know how it goes.

Blogs hops are a wonderful way to get inspired by new scrapbooking ideas and discover new scrapbooking blogs!  Check out Ella Publishing’s March Blog Hop today, March 21, 2011. Hop from blog to blog to see some amazing projects inspired by Ella’s newest publication, Scrapbooking the Everyday, by Elizabeth Dillow and Tina Cockburn. And there will be a free copy of the eBook given away on each blog too. So hop along!

Start here: Brenda Johnston

And from there you’ll visit: Donna Jannuzzi
Jenni Hufford
Monika Wright
Jennifer Larson
Valerie Mangan
Lee Currie
Francine Clouden
Diana Chen
May Flaum
Keshet Starr
Mary Jo Johnston

Heidi Swapp and Tim Holtz will be on HSN tomorrow, March 21, 2011. Check your local listings for times. It looks like they will be on in the early morning and then in the afternoon. I watch Heidi Swapp on her House of 3 webcast on Wednesday nights, and she previewed the 3 kits that will be available on HSN. I know her stuff often sells out, so I’ve already ordered the Parisian Anthology and the Daily Junque kits. They are already available on HSN’s website for order.

Even if you don’t want to order any new scrapbooking supplies, do tune into watch Heidi’s appearance. I’m sure she will be showing some cool new projects, and she’s got a passion for scrapbooking that is contagious! Set your DVR if you can’t make it.

Here’s a peek at Daily Junque. I love this line! I have a few pieces that I bought from Archiver’s, but the HSN kit is a great deal. Not all the pieces below are in the HSN kit!  This is just a preview of the products in Daily Junque by House of 3.

Intro Video – True Scrap from Lain Ehmann on Vimeo.

Sign up for True Scrap today!

This is a fantastic deal to get your scrapbooking pages printed!

Super Bowl Sale