Ibis Arrastia is a scrapbook layout and altered art enthusiast who enjoys teaching new techniques and designing projects that have an element of texture through inking, embossing, adding fibers or embellishments. She is heavily involved in local civic organizations dedicated to promoting crafting and creativity through workshops and community events. To learn more about Ibis, visit her blog.

Tim Holtz has done it again with the latest addition to his Idea-ology line: Type Charms.  These charms are made of the same high quality metal that we have come to love from his Idea-ology line.  Each package contains a kit of charms and stickers to allow you to create your own charms.  You start off with 16 charms in the same tone of antiqued nickel making it easy to create a design with several matching charms.  Then you put together your own charm using the metal charms, letter stickers, and clear epoxy dome shaped stickers for the top.   I was really impressed with the quality of the epoxy stickers.  It is thick and sturdy and added the perfect finishing touch to each charm.

For my first project I created four charms using the letter stickers and epoxy stickers.  It was very easy to layer each sticker on the charm and I was so thrilled with the results.  The epoxy sticker magnifies the letter just a little which made the letter stand out very nicely.  I created a scrapbook layout and used adhesive to hold each charm in place underneath my ribbon.  It was a perfect nostalgic touch to my vintage style layout.

I was even more excited when I read on the packaging that you are encouraged to use your own images on the charms and make them unique.  They suggested a 1/2″ punch to get a perfect fitting insert for the charm, but I cut some strawberry shapes out of paper by hand and tried them out in the charms.  Once I added the epoxy charm on top, I had a perfect little matching embellishment for my next project.  My favorite thing about making your own inserts for the charms is that you can stray away from Tim Holtz’s traditional vintage style and make the charm all your own.  The possibilities are endless!  Here is a layout I made with the charms and more vibrant colors.  This time I threaded the charms into the lace to allow them to dangle loosely.

As you can see, these customizable charms help you create the perfect matching embellishment for any project, no matter your style or color scheme.  The neutral nickel goes well with just about anything and with the clear epoxy sticker on top, you have a great looking embellishment with very little effort.  I really loved how easy it was to put together each type charm and use it in my projects.

So, if you thought that Tim Holtz products were for only vintage projects, then you need to take a closer look at the type charms, and all the possibilities that come with it.  Try them out in your next project!

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Related posts:

1. Analyzing My New Love of Stamps
2. Organization, Part 2: By Supply Type, Theme or Company?
3. Book Review: Baby Face by Barbara Smith

Making Memories Vintage Findings Medium School Collection Findings #1 -Kimberly C. @ 8:44pm on 10/30:

I love the idea of kits, I sell them all the time to my regular customers! They come to my house & put them together… it’s alot of work to prepare the kits, so I love the idea of having kits for myselft!

Making Memories Vintage Findings Medium School Collection Findings #2 - Ginika @ 9:59am on 11/01:

Wow! I love the mimi travel kit! Sooo cute.

Making Memories Vintage Findings Travel Mini Kit – Rean C. @ 9:34am on 10/30:

I love kits! The MM vintage kits are a great combo. Saves me time and effort in choosing paper and embellies..

If you are one of the lucky winners, please email me at scrapbookupdate@gmail.com from the email address you supplied with your comment. Include your mailing address so you can receive your prize!

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3. [Organization] Room Spacing Kit Giveaway Winners!

Today Lain Ehmann joins Scrapbook Update as our guest blogger.

Lain Ehmann is CEO and co-founder of Ella Publishing Co. A former “Simple Scrapbooks” contributing editor, she is the author of “Snippets: Mostly True Tales from the Lighter Side of Scrapbooking.” She blogs at Five Things.

Why can’t we all get along?

American Crafts buys Pebbles, Inc. Rhonna Farrer, Heidi Swapp, and Janet Hopkins band together to create House of Three. Colorbok buys Heidi Grace from Fiskars. In addition to creating an entertaining game of corporate musical chairs to observe, mergers and partnerships like these say that the time of cooperation is at hand for the scrapbooking industry.

Social media is ushering in a new era of interactivity between companies, even those who appear to be at odds with each other. The Internet is such big property that one company or entity can’t cover it all, and the only way to make an impact is to team up. A great example of this is our very own Nancy Nally working with Noell Hyman of Paperclipping. Instead of viewing each other as competitors, they’ve teamed up to bring a very valuable – and fun! – resource to the scrapbooking community via Paperclipping News Break.

An area where I’ve seen rampant and impressive RAKs (random acts of kindness, for the uninitiated) is in the digital scrapbooking arena. In my experience, digital designers go above and beyond to promote other digital designers. For example, in a recent article for Ella Publishing Co.’s Scrapbook Ellaments eZine, digital designer Jodie McNally sang the praises of Paislee Press. “When I’m in need of a perfectly precise, quirky quote… I go straight to Paislee Press,” she writes. It reminds me of the scene in “Miracle on 34^thStreet” when Macy’s gained tons of great press when their Santa Claus forwarded children on to competitors when the toy they wanted couldn’t be had in-store. Not to call “Scrooge,” but when’s the last time you heard Stampin’ Up! sending people over to Close to My Heart?

Speaking of good ole’ Stampin’ Up!, they’ve been taking quite a beating lately. When they mandated that their demonstrators sever Internet ties with non-SU entities, the backlash was swift and immediate, with many demonstrators choosing to lay down their Stampin’ Up! aprons rather than forsake their friendships. The statement was clear: Consumers, employees, and industry bystanders have seen the power of connection and aren’t willing to relinquish their personal or professional networks in favor of corporate short-sightedness. And they shouldn’t have to.

Despite the economic realities of our times, the scrapbooking pie is a large one. Rare is the consumer who uses exclusively one product line; most have scrap rooms where Fiskars punches are used on Bazzill cardstock, and Fancy Pants patterned paper co-exists peacefully on the shelf next to Piggy Tales. It’s time for the manufacturers to realize the next generation is about interaction and support, not exclusivity and isolationism.

For manufacturers and designers who want to make their way in today’s social media but don’t know how, here are a few starting points:

Twitter. Open a Twitter account and freely offer your expertise and support to those around you – yes, even to your competitors! If that’s too big a step, start with companies or designers who sell complementary products rather than competing ones.

Facebook. Become a Facebook fan of a competitor. When you do so, the news is relayed to your entire network – what a powerful statement of solidarity!

Blogs. Mention a cool product you saw from a competitor on your blog. Go over to their blog and leave a supportive comment. Or in your next tutorial, use products from a competitor and give them credit. Instant karma boost!

To me, the future is clear: Those who pair up and work together will prosper, while those who insist on going it alone will suffer and eventually die off. Survival for all of us in this global economy, in this recession, depends on partnerships. After all, if you Tweet in the forest and there’s no one around to hear it, does it make any noise?

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1. Stampin’ Up! restricts Demonstrators’ online activities [Updated]
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Tami is a mom of four and a sucker for great color combos, fun containers, clever packaging, and stationery products of pretty much any kind. She’s one of the REAL housewives of Orange County where she stays chronically busy and one step behind the housekeeping at all times. She believes that scrapbooking helps her keep the focus on the fun; she only wishes it also helped keep the kitchen floor from being sticky. Visit her blog, follow her on Twitter, or take a class from her at Big Picture Scrapbooking.

The Polaroid camera is a photography icon synonymous with fun. I vividly remember snapping photos with my mid-1970s version and excitedly waiting for the picture to appear. Something about that instant gratification factor turned mediocre photo quality into a magical experience.

When Polaroid announced in early 2008 that it would cease production, it was the instamatic shot heard round the world. Photography enthusiasts clamored to hoard the last of the film, and SavePolaroid.com was born to, well, save Polaroid.

Fortunately, the crusade was relatively short-lived. On October 13 of this year it was announced that Polaroid cameras and film will be revived in 2010, in a collaboration between Polaroid and The Impossible Project, the company who bought the original Holland manufacturing plant.

This is great news for Polaroid fans. But if you’re itching to hold some grainy nostalgia in the palm of your hand right now, you do have a few other immediate options.

The new Fujiilm Instax MINI 7 was released in October in the US, after being well received in Europe and Asia. The prints are similar in size to a credit card, and the look is described by Photojojo http://photojojo.com/ as that “classic instant film look that everyone loves”. The Instax features four different exposure settings for indoor/outdoor photography, a built-in flash, and a wide angle lens…attributes that give the photographer more control than with its Polaroid cousin.

Shaking an instant photo while it develops seems to be a universal habit, even though experts say it’s no longer necessary. There was a time when shaking helped dry the chemicals more quickly, but the modern version dries behind a clear plastic coating.

Still, if you just can’t resist the urge to “shake it like a Polaroid picture” (in the immortal words of that 1990s Outkast song), maybe the Shake It iPhone app is for you. For 99 cents, you can download an entertaining Polaroid experience on your iPhone. Snap a photo, shake the phone to help it develop faster, and presto! The square shape, color saturation, and white borders make it look just like a Polaroid. (Hint: this is a great app to keep the kids busy at the mall, and you will wind up with all kinds of interesting kids-eye-view pictures of mall life — and if you’re lucky, a pair of jeans that fits).

Want that “fauxlaroid” look on a scrapbook page? The iPhone photo quality is not great for printing, but with the Retro Digital Frames from Ella Publishing, any photo on your computer can have a cool Polaroid vibe. Simply download the digital elements and follow the included instructions to give any photo in your library that retro Polaroid charm.

The Polaroid phenomenon is an example of how, even within a changing industry, a good idea can equal long-term staying power.

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2. Going To The Dark Side….
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Today Scrapbook Update is delighted to bring you the fabulous retail minds of Kizer & Bender.

As speakers, authors, consultants and customers, Rich Kizer & Georganne Bender have 70 plus years of combined business experience – everything from “time in the trenches” to senior management positions at national corporations. Nationally recognized as experts in customer diversity, Rich & Georganne speak to thousands of business people each year through their “Retail Adventures in the REAL World™” and “Business Adventures in the REAL World™” keynotes and seminars. Their client list reads like a Who’s Who in American business, and you’ll find their articles published monthly in a variety of national trade and business publications and on the Internet.

Savvy retailers flock twice-yearly to Rich and Georgeanne’s hit business seminars for retailers at CHA. You can follow them on Twitter at @kizerandbender.

It’s a busy retail world out there – every competitor wishes they had more customers. Actually, they wish they had YOUR customers. Keep competitors at bay and thrill your customers with these easy-to-implement, customer-pleasing, traffic-building, sales-increasing ideas!

On the Sales Floor …

1. The customer’s first 10 seconds inside the store sets the tone for their entire shopping trip. What kind of first impression does your store give? Check it daily.

2. Hang a bulletin board near your Decompression Zone (the first 5′ – 15′ inside your front door). Post a store map, a list of this week’s sale items, Bag Stuffers, special events, and other important information. In time, customers will stop at the bulletin board first to see what’s going on in the store.

3. Place speed bumps – small tabletop displays of product just beyond your Decompression Zone. Make these displays irresistible and easy to shop: customers are far more likely to buy if they’re encouraged to pick up the product.

4. Check your store aisles; they should be a minimum 3.6′. Can shoppers easily maneuver the aisles? Can two shopping carts – or two customers – comfortably pass one another in each aisle?

5. Set your end features to sell! End features are meant to display promotional items; not to house everyday, basic merchandise. You need to plan what will go on your end features, so assign each one a number, and make a list of product each end feature will house each month.

6. Studies show that customers will spend 25 percent more in dollars, and up to 15 minutes longer in the store when they shop with a cart. Even if your store is tiny, you can still offer customers a shopping cart. Visit www.BigBasketCo.com and check out their Basket Carts.

7. Don’t house shopping carts and baskets in the Decompression Zone because customers will walk right by them. Instead, place them just past the DZ and in key locations throughout the store. Instruct associates to get carts for customers’ carrying product – once their hands are full, they tend to stop shopping.

8. Implement a signing program. Signs serve a purpose – they act as silent sales people, helping customers until a real person is available to help. Sign making software is available from a variety of vendors.

Check Out the Checkouts

9. The wall directly behind your checkout counter is major selling space! Use it to display new items, hot buys, and impulse product.

10. Policy signing must be professionally done. Nuke the “No! No! No’s!” Write your policy signing in a positive voice: “We gladly accept returns and exchanges within ____ days. Your receipt guarantees it.”

11. Increase sales at the checkout with impulse item displays – your female customers can’t resist them!

12. Instruct associates not to hang out behind the checkout counter unless they’re helping a customer.

13. Save the sale! Keep a stash of items that customers frequently forget at each checkout counter. Then when a shopper says, “I forgot to get __________. I’ll get it next time,” the cashier can reach under the counter and hand the customer the item. Cashiers can be your best add-on sales associates!

Store Operations

14. Make sure that your store is open when your customers need to shop. This means before and after work, nights, and Sundays.

15. Decide how you want the telephone to be answered, and then let every associate know that’s the plan. The phone must be answered within three rings, customers are “connected” not “transferred,” customers are asked before being placed on hold, and no one stays on hold longer than 45 seconds.

16. Cross merchandise whenever and wherever possible. Visit www.SouthernImperial.com for J-hooks, clip strips, power panels, and other inexpensive fixtures designed to help you sell more product.

17. Assign category captains. Their job includes making sure the shelves are full, the shelf space is optimized to avoid out-of-stocks, and that top sellers have been given enough facings.

18. Control your back stock. Make sure the product you’re about to order isn’t already in your back room.

19. Create a never out item list. Category Captains can check this list daily, and re-order product as necessary.

20. Every item on your sales floor must be assigned a “home” that’s identified with a bin ticket. If you don’t use bin tickets, your stock won’t be organized and product could end up in several different places.

21. Ditch the dogs! Add a “sell by” date to price tags and bin tickets and mark down as necessary. Move product with special sales, grab bags, store-created kits, and “Last Chance” clearance dump displays.

Your “Things to Do” List

22. Do our 360 Degree Pass-By™ every single day. Begin at the front door and walk the entire store. Note things that need to be attended to before the store opens for the day.

23. Are your windows set to sell? Window displays need to be refreshed as necessary and set to a new theme on a monthly basis.

24. Each morning create a Store Opening Checklist that outlines tasks that must be completed by the day crew.

25. Each afternoon create a Store Closing Checklist. These are the things the closing team must accomplish before they leave for the night.

26. Set a daily sales quota for each person working that day. If it’s not written down, it’s not a goal. Your people will perform better if they know what’s expected of them.

27. Make time each day to quietly observe your customers. This daily exercise will help you come up with new ways to amp up the customer experience.

28. Host one MAJOR in-store event and two to three MINOR in-store events each month. Major events fill the store with shoppers; minor events limit the amount of participants. Think classes and demos.

Your Team

29. Hold a New Hire Orientation for each new associate. Let them know what’s expected, and give them an assignment they can easily accomplish on the first day – this will boost their on-the-job self-esteem.

30. Implement our “7-Tile Rule™”: Each time an associate comes within seven floor tiles – that’s seven feet – of a customer, they must acknowledge that customer.

31. Don’t react to customer questions. Respond. When you react you tend to give a short, unfocused answer. But when you respond to a customer, you look them in the eye and really engage them in conversation.

32. Associates must also do a daily 360 Degree Pass-By™. They need to know the products they sell, where they’re located, and what they’re priced.

33. Unless the customer looks like they need help ASAP, never ask, “May I help you?” Schmooze a little bit by talking about the customer’s kids, the weather, or local news – the best opening lines have nothing to do with the store.

34. Have associates carry product you don’t want customers to miss. After a little schmooze time, the associate can talk with the customer about the item.

35. Encourage every associate to practice add-on selling (selling the primary item, plus additional merchandise). Ethically, adding on to the sale actually strengthens customer relationships because it saves them time and money.

36. Do a monthly add-on selling exercise. Hold up an item and ask associates to shout out complementary things they could add on to the original item.

37. Each month ask associates to write three things they could do to exceed customer expectations. Implement their suggestions.

38. Reward associates when they do a good job. A program like “Associate of the Month” is a great motivator IF it’s well run. Have associates nominate one another and vote for the winner.

39. Be flexible with scheduling. According to a recent survey, 61% of working women would leave their current jobs if they were offered more flexible hours elsewhere.

40. Offer on-going education. Hold monthly in-store training classes, keep a library of books and DVDS, and ask vendors what they have available to help train your team.

41. Two words: Dress code. Make sure that every associate is properly dressed to meet your customers.

Build a Buzz About Town

42. Pick an e-mail marketing company (we like www.emailcontact.com ) and send out monthly e-mail blasts. Send your blasts on the same day each month and customers will look forward to receiving them.

43. Add a “Forward to Your Friend” link to every promotional and marketing e-mail message you send to customers.

44. Create a weekly bag stuffer and hand one to every single shopper. DO NOT pre-stuff them in your bags – they never get read if you do that! Some weeks, use your bag stuffers to advertise specific product or events; other times, create a monthly calendar that’s loaded with in-store goings-on.

45. Make a list of all the services and conveniences you provide and build a “Brag Sheet”. Print it on the back of your weekly bag stuffer, and add it to your website and e-mail blasts.

46. Watch QVC and HSN and the infomercials on television. Each time they host a gift or home décor show, or feature products you sell as well, hang “As Seen on TV!” signs over that product in your store.

47. Make your own “radio” advertising campaign. Play it over the intercom system and use it as your telephone on-hold message.

48. Contact local media and pitch stories about your store, product lines, services, in-store events and promotions, and more. 80% of the stories in local media come from a press release, so send one for each legitimate newsworthy thing you do in your store.

49. Contact the trade associations you belong to and ask to be put on their Reporter Referral List.

50. Collect customer testimonials and add them to your e-mail blasts, newsletters. website, and other marketing materials. A customer testimonial is 10 – 20 times more powerful than what you have to say about yourself!

If you send an e-mail to info@kizerandbender.com and put the word “Scrapbook Update” in the subject line, we’ll send you the forms mentioned in this article, plus additional customizable templates and employee motivational tools to help you stimulate store sales!

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Speculation had been rampant among her fans and industry watchers about what Higgins’ next professional move would be after announcing that she had left Creating Keepsakes magazine in September, after being with the company for 13 years. Her recent work with Creating Keepsakes’ Kit of the Month product had been extremely popular, so her new product line announcement will likely be well-received.

Although all the details aren’t available as of yet about the new product line, Higgins describes Project Life as intended to help people easily keep up with “photo a day” scrapbooking.

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1. Becky Higgins Leaves Creating Keepsakes
2. Scrapworks Product Line Sold
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If so, then stick around for Scrapbook Update’s version of “trick or treat”! Because instead of candy, Scrapbook Update is giving away holiday-themed scrapbook supplies in this Halloween extravaganza!

First up…are you wondering what to do with all those ghost and goblin pictures from tonight? Some Little Yellow Bicycle ‘Trick or Treat’ collection would take care of those pictures perfectly! Thanks to the generosity of Little Yellow Bicycle, we have two assortments from the Trick or Treat collection to give away:

Package #1:

Package #2:

But if you are already thinking mistletoe and carols instead of ghosts and goblins, Scrapbook Update’s got you covered there too!

How about some goodies from the always fabulous Brenda Walton– like some chipboard, a mat pad and some snowglobes you can actually stick to your pages?

Thanks to K & Company for sharing these goodies with Scrapbook Update’s readers!

If you are into stamping and card making, this next giveaway package is for you…how about some holiday Jolee’s stickers and a snowflake stamp by Inkadinkado? Thanks to the generosity of EK Success and Inkadinkado, one lucky Scrapbook Update reader can get a jump start on their holiday cards!

Little Yellow Bicycle has something to offer scrapbookers for Christmas as well as for Halloween…

Little Yellow Bicycle is generously donating a package from its 25 Days of Christmas collection for a lucky Scrapbook Update reader to enjoy!

If holiday gifts are more on your mind than holiday scrapbooking, Scrapbook Update has you covered there too.

This Creative Imaginations Bare Elements Veronika Gift Card Holder can be decorated to make the presentation of a gift card a bit more personal feeling.

Or, if it is an actual gift you want to make…how about some Jolee’s Jewels courtesy of EK Success?

On the right are all the elements that you will need to make a beautiful bracelet to give away (or to keep!)…instructions will be sent with the prize package. And as a bonus, you’ll also get some holiday themed charms as well (pictured left).

So…what do you have to do to win one of these packages?

All you have to do to be one of the lucky winners is leave a comment on this entry before Midnight U.S. eastern time next Sunday night, November 8th. (If you are reading this post via an email subscription, click on the title of the entry and it will take you to the giveaway on the  Scrapbook Update website where you can leave a comment to enter.) Make sure you include your email address in the line reserved for it on the comment form (for your own protection, don’t put it in the body of the comment, where it will be visible to the public – just in the line labeled “email” in the form where only I can see it). You will need it to verify your identity if you are a winner. One entry per person.

Please note: There will be a slight delay in selecting winners of this drawing due to my medical leave the next two weeks!

While you wait…why not take the Scrapbook Update Reader Survey if you haven’t already?

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2. Giveaway: Little Yellow Bicycle Sharon Ann Autumn Bliss
3. CHA Giveaway: Prima e. Collection

Today Scrapbook Update welcomes May Flaum as guest blogger of the day.

May Flaum has been published in numerous magazines and is the co-author of Paper + Pixels: Scrapbook Layouts. She is a Big Picture Scrapbooking instructor, education coordinator for the Fiskars Crafts website, and a design team member for Scarlet Lime kits. Over the years she has taught classes around the United States as well as managed a scrapbook store, been on design teams, and done freelance work with various companies.

May is currently preparing for her next Big Picture class “Adventures In Scrapbooking: Using Kits” as well as dreaming up her next wild project ideas. You can find her blogging most days on her website, and you can find more information on her latest on-line class at Big Picture Scrapbooking.

With Fall settling in and the holiday season fast approaching, the tell-tale signs are showing up in all my favorite crafting spots. While it is tempting to grab up every cute sticker, paper, and themed embellishment that I like, both years of crafting and a much tighter budget have me re-thinking my purchases.

I have a drawer of old themed stickers, papers, and embellishments I will likely never use because they are either not my style or just items that don’t work on my pages. I am trying very hard to eliminate those kinds of bad purchases – after all they waste both budget and precious space. Today I’d like to share with you my picks for this season, some tips, and some layouts that I’ve created with product that is new this year.

First let’s talk about the neutrals. I’m a fan of inks, paints, buttons, alphabet stickers, small print patterned paper, cardstock, and other embellishments that don’t have any theme. Neutral items such as these can be used on any layout. Since they are so versatile I’m much more likely to get them used, and that makes them great purchases. Like a little black dress or great pair of jeans, these items never go out of style and come in handy when you might least expect them to.

I like to purchase mostly items that fall into this category that suit my style and tastes. Then I can flex my creative muscles to get the most out of the product, and highlight my photos and memories to the best of my abilities.

To complement my basics, I like to selectively bring in supplies that are either just so “me” that they must be purchased, or things that I believe will fit my crafting needs. When shopping for my holiday product, I have to be very selective. I fall in love too easily and I have fallen trap to buying cute things that have no business in my home.

On a recent trip to Scrapbook Territory in Berkeley, CA I found myself stunned and overwhelmed by the selection of Christmas, Autumn, Halloween, Winter, and other holiday season goodies. Once upon a time I would have filled my cart to the brim, but no longer. I take the time to think about the selections I make, and I find myself happier for it. Before I share products that have become favorites this season, I’d like to offer my tips for shopping for holiday (or any theme) product:

• Look for product that is useable for other (non-holiday) layouts in some way. A double sided paper with a small or neutral pattern on the back, embellishments that don’t scream holiday, and other themed items that can be used elsewhere.
• It should work with my photos. My rule is that you shouldn’t buy product that would clash with the holiday elements sure to show up in your photos. For example, while I may appreciate very graphic or modern designs, those types of products work with the nostalgic, traditional, and sometimes whimsical photos I take.
• “So cute” doesn’t cut it. If it’s an item I won’t use, it’s over priced, or it’s just not my style no matter how cute – I leave it for someone else.
• Step away from the stamp sets. Unless you are doing cards, tags, and other paper crafting re-think that stamp set even if it is really cute. If you’re just making layouts, how many times will you really want to use it?
• Go online to your favorite companies and check their websites before you go shopping. Finding out if they’ll be releasing lines you love first will help you make sure you choose the best papers and embellishments.
• Put it in your basket, then when you’re done shopping go back and look again. See how much you could put back and not mind, and see if you’ve purchased items that are too similar.

Taking the time to both think about what you will use, and to re-think potential purchases, will save your budget for things that will be more useful and therefore a better value for you.

The assortment of product lines out for the holidays is staggering. From graphic to vintage, from bright to muted, there is something for everyone these days. The one trend I’m seeing and really appreciating is manufacturers putting out paper that is double sided. They make one side themed, and the other neutral with some kind of solid or small print. When I see this I’m more inclined to purchase because I know if the theme doesn’t work out I can put the paper to use in other ways.

I really like American Craft’s Merrymint line (pictured above) for this very reason. It’s themed in a way that allows not only beautiful Christmas pages, but also other fall and winter seasonal pages as well.

Many of the papers and accents are festive, yet neutral enough to be put into play any number of ways. Just to prove my point – I’ve created this layout about a pumpkin patch with the Merrymint line.

supplies: American Crafts cardstock, patterned paper, ribbon, brads, alphabet stickers, and glitter buttons; Fiskars punches, Smooch ink, Tattered Angels glimmer mist, mom’s typewriter font, unknown vellum

A line that I fell in love with at first sight is Pink Paislee’s Mistletoe & Co. (pictured above) The denim blue and red combo is one that I really like, and the slightly off classic feeling of the line seems highly useable to me. I love that all of the patterned papers could easily be used for non-holiday layouts, and the fabric and transparent embellishments are favorites.

supplies: Pink Paislee stickers, fabric, letters, and paper; Prima pearls; Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist; unknown button and holly leaf

Not having green in the paper line except for a few details may seem odd for a holiday line, but it’s great as far as I’m concerned! Now my Christmas tree will stand out even more, and my photos will pop thanks to the complementary colors used. I stitched the fabric embellishment down, but I’ve found that brads or a strong dry adhesive work fine as well.

The third line of product I’m really looking forward to playing with is BasicGrey’s Eskimo Kisses (pictured above). The pinks and purples in this line will be so wonderful with all of the winter photos I take of my daughters. So often I have to stay away from red when scrapbooking winter photos simply because of the clash with their outfits – this line is going to get used a lot here!

supplies: Basic Grey paper, journaling transparency and paper, border sticker; American Crafts letters, Making Memories 3-d flowers and stick pins; unknown buttons and rhinestones

Something I like about this line is the floral swirls on the packaging. I already able to use them in this layout, and I do like packaging that can be utilized at least in part. Adding in aqua or green is no problem with this line – another selling point for me as I love those colors.

I hope that you’ve found my take on holiday scrapbook shopping helpful, and that I’ve given you some ideas to think about. Before I sign off, I’d like to share with you several of my other favorite new holiday lines.

Autumn Product Picks:

• Amber Road by Pink Paislee
• Moravia by SEI
• Sharon Ann Autumn Bliss by Little Yellow Bicycle

Festive Holiday Lines:

• Mistletoe collection by Making Memories
• Jolly by Golly from Cosmo Cricket
• Home for the Holidays by Webster’s Pages

Some of my favorite (not really themed) products perfect for this holiday season:

• American Crafts has a wide array of items from brads to ribbons that I consider essentials to my scrapbooking, but right now I especially find their cardstock in Autumn and Christmas to be great values. While the color palettes are meant for the holiday season, they’re simply rich and beautiful colors and at a price I couldn’t pass up.
• Jenni Bowlin memo pads are great for journaling, using for punching, as accent paper on layouts too. The red, and brown are especially great, but the green is my favorite.
• Smooch pearlized accent inks are my newest discovery – and I’m in love! The pearlized finish adds a rich touch that would be wonderful on holiday pages.
• Tim Holtz Filmstrip ribbon will work for most anything, but I can’t help but think how great it would be on a layout about a holiday gathering with lots of photos.

Happy Crafting!

Supply list for the holiday items pictured in the beginning of article:
(papers clockwise from top left) Graphic 45, Webster’s Pages, Basic Grey, Cosmo Cricket, Making Memories, SEI
(embellishments left to right) Cosmo Cricket, Basic Grey, Making Memories, American Crafts

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1. Disney Scrapbook Supplies: How can one company get it so right – and so wrong?
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Richard Conti, the departing CEO, will be replaced temporarily by company Chairman Jerry W. Levin while a search for a permanent CEO is undertaken. In a comment that is revealing about the reason for his departure, Conti said, “The Board and I both feel that Wilton’s new owners should have the opportunity to establish new CEO leadership for the Company.”

Wilton is under new ownership because of the settlement with its creditors that kept its holding company (Wilton Holdings) from being forced into bankruptcy this summer under an involuntary petition that was filed in July by several of its creditors. The petition was withdrawn as the result of an “agreement in principle” regarding the debt a short time later. The settlement was finalized this month:

As previously announced on October 12, Wilton’s parent company, Wilton Holdings Inc., and its subsidiaries consummated an agreement with their largest creditors, affiliates of TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, to recapitalize Wilton Holdings. The recapitalization provides Wilton Holdings with an improved capital structure, a reduced debt burden, the ability to continue delivering great products and quality service to customers every day, and the opportunity to focus on growth over the long term. As a result of this agreement, affiliates of TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas are the new majority owners of Wilton Holdings.

In addition to EK Success and K & Company, Wilton Brands also is the home of the Martha Stewart Crafts line of products.

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1. Wilton Holdings Reaches Agreement With Lenders
2. Lenders Push EK Success, K&Co Parent Wilton Into Bankruptcy
3. Panassidis file personal and business bankruptcy

On November 1st CarrieAnne will be officially launching Couture Cardstock at couturecardstock.com. Though they already have a staff of designers, they will be announcing an Open Design Team call for one cardmaker, one 3D artist, and one SVG cutter file creator.

Today’s post is part two of two. Part one, titled How To Be A Good Design Team Sponsor, was published yesterday.

As I discussed yesterday, I believe that the relationship between designers and design team sponsors is key to the success of companies, and even the entire scrapbook industry.  The four principles that I provided then about how to be a good design team sponsor also apply to being a good design team member, for different reasons:

1. Recognize and Value Expertise

Hopefully, you have selected the design team sponsor that you did because you are in love with their product, services or perspective. Now that you have made the team, it is your responsibility to find out everything you possibly can about their products, and develop unique techniques, projects and tutorials for uses your sponsor had not yet thought of. This requires you to be current in your field.

Like any professional, your value lies in your knowledge base. Actively read and research what others in paper crafting are doing. Compare and contrast your sponsor’s product or service to the capabilities of their competitors. Write down your observations, and offer them when asked, or volunteer them in a respectful manner if no one prompts you directly. Suggest directions you would love to see the product line go in. If your advice is not warmly received, keep a personal journal of your opinions and product-related observations. You may find that after an opportunity to contemplate your input your sponsor is more receptive.

If their mindset never changes consider this rigidity when the time for your contract renewal comes up. Your notes will at least continue to be a valuable source of information for your own professional development and for any future employers.

2. Invest in your Talent

Making a design team wins only half of your professional battle. You want to continue making design teams and growing professionally. This requires continued education. Whether you enjoy attending online or brick-and-mortar classes (or are a self learner), continue to push the envelope. Visit your local scrapbook store, read CHA updates and visit the sites of key industry leaders to keep up on the latest industry trends and tool development. Though what you can afford is determined by your individual budget, invest wisely in tools and products which will keep your skill sets current.

It is also wise to stay informed on the “business side” of the industry. There are a number of websites, like Scrapbook Update, that track company mergers, bankruptcies, and changes in top level leadership. Be sure that you are hitching your star to a constellation that plans on burning brightly for quite some time and that you are taking advantage of every opportunity the marketplace can offer you.

3. Put Your Best Saleswoman Forward

As a designer you have two skill sets you should be maximizing. The first, of course, is your creative genius and the artwork and techniques you develop from it. The second is your network. As a professional who has invested considerably in your online presence, are you making the most the connections you have made from popular scrapbooking and stamping forums, blogs, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter? Have you created a database, rolodex or address book of the people you know and the companies who they currently work for or have worked for in the past? This information will prove invaluable to you as you seek out new design team positions, need letters of reference, or attempt to improve the non-competitive inter-industry relationships needed by your current design team sponsor.

When attending trade shows, crops, workshops, or local store events, are you giving and getting business cards and building your network? When you are being compensated for attending such events by a design team sponsor, are you using even your “free time” to seek out partners and persons that offer complimentary product lines or who would make great additions to your team as guest designers or permanent staff? Your ability to “connect” yourself and those you work for will inestimably raise your market value in the eyes of your employer or perspective employer.

4. Be Reputable in Your Dealings

It is undeniable that mankind has produced some unsavory bosses. With that being said, do you really want to be the type of person who sinks to their level? If you take the step of signing onto a design team, whether by verbal agreement or by signing a contract, you have given your word to perform a task for a specified period of time. Your sponsor is placing his/her time, trust and resources in you with the expectation that you will perform your assigned duties as promised. It is extremely disruptive to their sponsors both financially and time wise for designers to abandon teams or take payment without providing what you promised. Though life’s emergencies do occasionally present themselves, you should, with only the rare exception, complete the task you have agreed to complete.

Should an emergency arise, contact your design team coordinator and mitigate the disruption your situation will cause as best as possible. Be sure to understand the problem resolution process of your sponsor. Does he/she have a mentorship program or chain of command? Identify and establish a relationship with these key individuals so that should personality conflicts, deadline issues, or product usage questions arise you will be fully prepared to solve them within established guidelines. A marker of a successfully completed tenure on a design team is your employer’s willingness to write you a letter of recommendation.

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Related posts:

1. How To Be A Good Design Team Sponsor
2. Buzz & Bloom Holding Design Team & Consumer Contests
3. Design Teams: Some Things Never Change