Two Scrapbook Friends

Great Ideas From SRM Stickers!

2012-02-10T10:16:00.002-05:00

Before I show you some great ideas from SRM Stickers, if you are looking for the information about our Valentine Blog Hop, click here!

The new 'We've Got Your Borders' stickers that were just introduced at CHA are a BIG hit! They are truly an amazing product and are making lots of "favorite new CHA product" lists. We have ordered them and SRM sent us some ideas using this fabulous new product. These borders are so versatile for layouts, cards and altered projects as well.

This project was created by Corrie Jones (an SRM design team member). Love the party of look of the stickers and mists on this page!

The new border stickers are perfect for tags and tubes. Here is a darling project from Jan Tatomir (an SRM design team member) using the Baby Boy Border Stickers and the new Skinny tube. Jan cut out the top part of the tube cap with a craft knife and inserted a baby bottle nipple. Then she decorated with "precious baby" border stickers around the cap and then added the border banners at the top of the tube and placed the "welcome little one" border up the side of the Skinny tube. Adorable! What a perfect baby shower favor!

And finally, a darling altered project from Valerie Mangan (an SRM design team member). She took some little boxes that she found at her local craft store and turned the box
upside down so that it resembled a cake. Then she decorated it with SRM Border Stickers! Love this project. What a perfect little party favor!

We are expecting our shipment of these awesome border stickers early next week. If you want to be one of the first to get your hands on them, check out our pre-order section on our online store. You can order yours and we will make sure you receive them before they even hit the shelves in the store.

TSF Valentine Blog Hop - Join in the Fun!

2012-02-10T07:55:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Two Scrapbook Friends Valentine Blog Hop! The Two Scrapbook Friends and their super talented design team have been busy creating to help inspire you with your Valentine's Day projects. Join in the fun of 'hopping' from blog to blog and gather ideas on your way. You also have a chance (or two) to win a fabulous prize!

You will begin the hop here, at the Two Scrapbook Friends Blog and travel from blog to blog leaving a comment on each one. If you comment on each blog, you will qualify to be in a draw for a special prize from Two Scrapbook Friends! Also, you will find a RED HIGHLIGHTED word (s) on each blog which will make a phrase at the end of the Blog Hop! Once you have completed the hop to all our designers blogs, leave a comment on the Two Scrapbook Friends blog and email the phrase to us and we will enter your name for a second chance to win!

The hop will remain open from today, February 10th, to February 13th at midnight (EST). Winners will be announced on February 14th, back here on the Two Scrapbook Friends' Blog. So be sure to stop back and check to see if you are the winner of a fabulous prize from Two Scrapbook Friends.

Here is the order of the hop:

Carolyn Wolff
Christa Uttley
Jayne Morgan
Joanne Burton
Sharlene Nye-Petrone
Sharon Jaeger
Shelby Koehler

In order to be entered to win:

1. Leave a comment on all the blogs as you go and then come back to the Two Scrapbook Friends blog and leave a final comment there.
2. To have a second chance to win, keep track of the HIGHLIGHTED WORDS from each blog and email the phrase to 2friends@execulink.com. Put "Blog Contest" in your subject line.
3. Check back at the Two Scrapbook Friends blog on February 14th to see if you are the winner. (Winners will not be contacted personally.)

Have fun hopping!

Design Team Feature Post

2012-02-09T11:26:00.001-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Scrapbooking With Meaning (part one). "Scrapbooking with Meaning" has been my philosophy for over a year now and it truly helps me to create cohesive designs that have meaning and tell a story. Sounds good, right? But what does it MEAN?!

Last year, while experiencing a period of growth in my own scrapbooking, I realized that when the papers, embellishments, titles and EVERYTHING I put on my layout had meaning and was relevant to my photos, it was easier to create with them and the finished product looked better too! I began to think about what I was choosing and WHY it fit on the page. I began connecting the elements of my design and making connections in my craft!

During this three part series, I would like to share that discovery with you. Perhaps YOU will find that this idea works for you!

Let's begin!

Step 1: Picture Perfect!
Everything begins and ends with your photos. They tell a story that you want to preserve for generations to come. They are the reason we do this and they should shine when we reveal our finished product.

I should first say, that I love to work with different sizes of photos for visual variety in my scrapbooks and sometimes I only have ONE photo of a special event and making it larger helps to fill more of the page and make it a larger focal point. Sometimes, I have 20 photos of an event that I need to get onto one double page layout! Different sizes can help you do that. So give some thought to printing your photos in different sizes to better tell your story, it provides a foundation of visual interest on which you can build your designs.

For example, with this design I used smaller photos from my iPhone to create a fun photo strip feel. It allows me to get lots of similar photos in one place.

On this design, I have used a 5x7 and some smaller photos to create flow and visual interest.

Close-ups and panoramic views will also, help you tell the whole story. After all, a picture speaks a thousand words. Be sure you are tell your whole story in a variety of ways.

To recap: photos of different size creates a foundation of visual interest on which to build your design.

Step 2: Discovering elements in your photos
COLOUR
When I begin a project I take a close look at the photos I am working with. I want to choose colours that make my photo stand out. I do this is several ways.

Usually, I choose a shade from my photo and use that to make my choices in a colour palette. For example, here's a layout I made using a pink shade to make my daughter's cheeks and lips seem rosy.

Secondly, I sometimes apply basic colour theory in choosing colours. The theory of colour could fill volumes so for our purposes, I will refer you to this link where they discuss (quite simply) Basic Colour Theory using a colour wheel like this one.

In colour theory you can learn that sometimes using a colour from the photo is not the best way to make that photo stand out. For example, I chose browns and orange to contrast the navy in my son's sweater.

If your photos are black and white or sepia, you can still use colour to create a feeling. For example, for this layout of my daughter, I chose a sophisticated palette of black and yellow to express how I felt about Adriane growing up. In this way, colour has helped me tell a story.

To recap: Use colours from your pictures or ones that compliment them. You can also use colour to tell a story.

THEMATIC ELEMENTS AND FOCUS
Our photos and their story are our focus in scrapbooking. Often these pictures have elements in the that we can use to determine a "theme". Using elements from our photos or the story we want to tell can provide cohesion and meaning to our designs. If we work WITH these elements rather than ignore them, the design will be easier to create and look better when we are finished.

For example, I created a design about our trip to Busch Gardens where we went on Safari to get up close and personal with the Giraffes. I chose an animal print line and made the focal pattern the Giraffe patterned paper. The colour palette and the patterns and the THEME made this design meaningful. What if I had chose a light, floral pattern and put rosettes and lace on this design? YIKES!

OK, so what if your photos don't have obvious thematic elements ( like safaris, or birthdays, Christmas, and Easter)?

In this design of my son, I chose to use a cool wintry palette, pulling white from the snow and the aqua complements his hat/coat and skin tone. Since my story is about him lying in the snow, I used SNOW as my thematic focus.

When thematic elements are even less evident in the photo, the STORY would direct me in my choices. In this design, my kids were celebrating with their Dad. It was summer and he seemed to lift their spirits. I chose brightly coloured paper, a kite and some summery clouds to reflect these feelings. This layout came together in an hour because these colours and thematic elements had MEANING.

To recap: Use your photos to determine thematic elements to help you make paper, embellishment, and title choices, and to develop MEANING in your layouts.

Here ends part one! In the next two parts of this series, I plan to talk more about choosing patterns, embellishments, fonts, titles and taking our designs to the next level. Please let me know what you think!

Until next time, keep doing what you love to do and do it with MEANING!

Christa

Only Two More Days!

2012-02-08T13:09:00.002-05:00

In just two short days we will be starting our Valentine Blog Hop at Two Scrapbook Friends! We invite you to share in the love starting February 10, 2012 beginning at 8 am!

You will begin the hop at the Two Scrapbook Friends Blog and travel from blog to blog leaving a comment on each one. If you comment on each blog, you will qualify to be in a draw for a special prize from Two Scrapbook Friends! Also, you will find a RED HIGHLIGHTED word on each blog which will make a phrase at the end of the Blog Hop! Once you have completed the hop to all our designers blogs, leave a comment on the Two Scrapbook Friends blog and email the phrase to us and we will enter your name for a second chance to win!

The hop will remain open from February 10th to February 13th at midnight (EST). Winners will be announced on February 14th in the Two Scrapbook Friends' Blog. So be sure to stop back and check to see if you are the winner of a fabulous prize from Two Scrapbook Friends.

So remember, in order to be entered to win:
1. Leave a comment on all the blogs as you go and then come back to the Two Scrapbook Friends blog and leave a final comment there.
2. To have a second chance to win, keep track of the HIGHLIGHTED WORDS from each blog and email the phrase to 2friends@execulink.com. Put "Blog Contest" in your subject line.
3. Check back at the Two Scrapbook Friends blog on February 14th to see if you are the winner. (Winners will not be contacted personally.)

We will see you on Friday :)

Sketch Challenge with Sharlene

2012-02-08T10:40:00.000-05:00

I am excited to share my first sketch with you. I have to admit, when we were informed that we are to create our own sketch, I GULPED. I immediately asked one of my co-workers to help me out with Photoshop. I am still learning so please bear with me.

Here's my sketch:

Here's my layout that I created for my Design Team Kit. This collection from Kasiercraft - Cock-A-Doodle-Doo - is so much fun … so full of bright colors, adorable embellishments and fun-to-design with patterned papers! You’re going to be smitten with it all! Laureen was kind enough to let me use one of her photos. Thank you Laureen...

Hope you like this sketch as much as I do.. You can flip it or yet you can make a card. Check out our Forum and link up your projects there. And also don't forget to upload them into our Gallery for everyone to check out your beautiful creations. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Happy Scrappy!

Sharlene

Gallery Pick of the Week with Shelby!

2012-02-07T10:10:00.000-05:00

I love spending time in our gallery. We have so many creative scrapbookers and card makers and I think it's great that we are sharing our creations.

This week's Gallery Pick of the Week goes to

(someone I have serious card envy of...)

Karen!

I could honestly pick any one of her cards but this one just grabbed me because I love hedgehogs AND it has a banner which I am also a big fan of.

The sentiment is great and would work for just about any occasion. The little guy looks like he is actually swinging on the banner. Karen mentioned that this hedgehog usually hangs onto balloons and I think it's great she saw beyond that and made it work!!

Congratulations on being this week's GPOTW Karen!! Enjoy your buttons!

Keep uploading to the gallery and maybe next week YOU will be the GPOTW!!

Crafty Challenge with Sharon

2012-02-06T11:08:00.004-05:00

It's time for another Crafty Challenge!

Do you love twine as much as I do? Two Scrapbook Friends carries twines from the thickest jute to the thinnest button twine and everything in between. My challenge for you this week is to show us all the great ways to use twine on a layout, card or other crafty project.

Here's a layout of our flight from Fort Myers to Key West in Florida last Christmas. Look how tiny that plane is! It was kind of scary, but my hubby, who got to sit next to the pilot, thought it was fascinating.

I tied some Doodlebug baker's twine around one of my photos. Plus I dug in my beading stash for some hemp cord and tied it around one of my title letters. These papers are from Basic Grey. The bling is Doodlebug and Basic Grey and the mini alpha stickers are My Little Shoebox. I used several Tattered Angels mists on my layout too.

Here are some detail shots.

Remember to check out the Forum for all our challenges and post your projects there and in the Gallery for everyone to admire.

I hope you can play along and I can't wait to see all the twine on your projects!

Kit of the Week!

2012-02-06T07:00:00.002-05:00

"A balanced diet is a cupcake in each hand!"

We have a sweet birthday layout for our Kit of the Week this week! Designed by Shelby, it has all the yumminess of a special celebration or it can also be used for a fun time of baking in your kitchen.

Don't miss out on this sweet kit! Order your Celebrate kit today by calling or emailing the store. You can also order online by clicking here.

Friendzy Friday With Shelby!

2012-02-03T10:43:00.000-05:00

For this week's tutorial I thought I would revisit the sew easy tool, particularly the scallop head. There are so many things you can do with this tool beyond the basic straight scallop stitch and I would like to share some with you:

The first few times you do this technique you may want to test it out on some scrap paper to get a feel for how the wheel works. Keep in mind that when making your shapes that they don't have to be perfect. You want them to look whimsical and handcrafted. To create trees, clouds, flowers etc push the wheel towards you so the rounded part of the scallop goes on the outside. Don't worry about the holes not poking right through, you're just looking for the shape to follow.

After stitching, carefully trim off excess paper following the line you created. Add a trunk and voila a cute tree to add to a layout.

Clouds and flowers follow the same idea on smaller scales.

To create waves for cards/layouts run the scallop straight then trim the paper to make points.

Here is a tree that I created to use on a layout.

More uses for your Sew Easy Scallop head are: butterfly trails, cupcake tops, snowbanks, borders around pages, fuzzy bodies of animals like sheep and dogs.

We have this head, along with other Sew Easy products, in the store right now if you would like to add it to your collection - check it out here.

There Is Still Room!

2012-02-02T16:31:00.004-05:00

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and we have the sweetest treat basket that you can make for someone special! This adorable heart-shaped basket is done in pink and teal and holds the perfect amount of candy kisses for your Valentine!

Join us this Saturday, February 4th, at 10:30 am, to make this sweet project.

You now have two options when signing up for this class:

Make the basket and we will include the filler and candy for only $8.00 each

Make the basket without candy and filler for only $5.00 each (then you can fill it with the candy of your choice)

If you can't make the class and would like the kit, you will pay only $7.00 without candy/filler or $10.00 with candy/filler!

Call or email today to get your name on the list to join us for this special treat basket! We hope to see you on Saturday!

Buttons, Buttons, and More Buttons!

2012-02-02T11:54:00.003-05:00

Just a short one today ladies........we are going to be restocking our buttons garden with some of the yummiest buttons ever!

What do ya think? I know Joanne is gonna LOVE them!

A Valentine Blog Hop Coming Soon!

2012-02-01T12:38:00.002-05:00

Are you in the mood for some scrappy love? Are you craving design inspiration for your Valentine's Day projects? What better way to 'feel the love' than to spend some time with your friends at Two Scrapbook Friends and be inspired in the process! We invite you to share in the love starting February 10, 2012 beginning at 8 am with a fun Valentine Blog Hop!

You will begin the hop at the Two Scrapbook Friends Blog and travel from blog to blog leaving a comment on each blog listed. If you comment on each blog, you will qualify to be in a draw for a special prize from Two Scrapbook Friends! Also, you will find a RED HIGHLIGHTED word on each blog which will make a phrase at the end of the Blog Hop! Once you have completed the hop to all our designers blogs, leave a comment on the Two Scrapbook Friends blog and email the phrase to us and we will enter your name for a second chance to win!

The hop will remain open from February 10th to February 13th at midnight (EST). Winners will be announced on February 14th in the Two Scrapbook Friends' Blog.

So mark your calendars and plan on joining us!

Sketch Challenge with Sharon!

2012-02-01T10:42:00.001-05:00

Are you ready for something new?? We know how much you love sketches and sketch challenges. So now, Design Team members will be creating our OWN sketches just for your scrapping pleasure!

I am up first, so please be gentle with my VERY FIRST attempt at crafting a sketch. It is hand drawn, but you still get the idea!

Here is my layout using my sketch as inspiration. These photos are from our wine tour in South Australia. I tore some edges for interest, added a Dienamics doilie, along with some Prima and BoBunny flowers. The papers are Scenic Route, 7 Gypsies and Echo Park. And the title is American Crafts vinyl Thickers.

Here you can see some details. Isn't that sign funny?? I guess they must have problems with the tourists driving on the "wrong" side of the road.

I hope you have fun with my sketch. Remember, you can flip it, make it into a double or even be inspired to make a card. Check out our Forum for all of our challenges and link up your projects there and also upload them to our Gallery so everyone can enjoy!

I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Sharon

CHA Day #3 - Bella Blvd Cuteness!

2012-01-31T21:05:00.007-05:00

Another exciting day at CHA for me! I am going to show you a new collection coming in from Bella Blvd. It is for all those baby photos in boxes, for all the new mommies and for all the expecting mom's out there.

These photos are not in any particular order. The connection is very slow and it takes too much time to move things around. Sorry! There is a Baby Boy collection, Baby Girl collection and an Expecting collection.

Get ready for a lot of cuteness!

Well, what do you think?

Gallery Pick of the Week with Jayne!

2012-01-31T15:18:00.004-05:00

Well here we are for our very first Gallery Pick Of The Week on our new and improved Forum, and I'm up for the task.

Have you been into the Gallery recently? I've been stalking for the last week or so and my goodness, I feel blessed to have somewhere like this where there's a whole array of inspiration right at your fingertips, and such a variety of projects too.

I honestly wanted to pick six but I am told I can only choose one, and boy did you guys make it difficult for me.

On that note, if I have to choose just one project that caught my eye, or rather, the item I wish were sitting in my house, then my Gallery Pick Of The Week goes to................

Ann Jobes for this..........

Beautiful job Ann. I'm so loving the depth you've created on this frame, together with great embellishments, and of course a beautiful photograph!

Congratulations.....you are now the owner of 10 shiny new buttons on the Two Scrapbook Friends Forum.

So that's it for this week, but please continue to upload your projects to the Gallery, and remember to tune in next week to see if the chosen one is you!

Finally, if you get a chance, take a tour of the wonderful creations in there and if you like what you see, share the love......everyone loves a comment!

Have a great day
Jayne.x.

Today at CHA!

2012-01-31T01:00:00.004-05:00

Today was a busy, productive day for me. It started with the first booth I visited.........Authentique! What an amazing company. I just know that you guys are going to love everything that is coming your way from this amazing leader in the industry.

This is a fairly new company (the last year or so) but it has really grabbed my attention. The two newest collections are Celebrate.......

and Genuine.......

They also sell 6x6 sheets for cardmakers......in individual sheets. They also have the 6x6 pads too.

Here are a few photos of some of the displays in the booth (the lighting was not very good so the images do not to the products justice)........

Here is a photo of the guys in the booth that helped me put together my order. I spent a great deal of time networking with them and I know that we are going to have a long relationship with great products!

Today's Crafty Challenge in TSF Forum!

2012-01-30T10:47:00.002-05:00

Good morning scrappy friends! Today's Crafty Challenge in the Two Scrapbook Friends Forum is to be inspired by the following palette to create a layout, card or other crafty item. These colours are very hot this spring and we are seeing them pop up all over in different shades at CHA.

Here's a layout I made using a large photo of my daughter and me. I have chosen to mix a few paper lines, Echo Park and some Prima. I also incorporated an old charm and some great letters from Momenta and Glitz Design.

If you choose to play along with us this month, be sure to upload it to our gallery and forum. We are looking forward to meeting you and seeing what you create.

Until next time, keep doing what you love to do!

Kit of the Week!

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

It is finally beginning to look and feel like winter in southern Ontario! People are actually shoveling snow, building snowmen and even playing outdoor hockey!

Our kit this week is perfect for your fun winter photos. Brrrr!, designed by Shelby, has beautiful shades of blue and teal and features a sweet die-cut polar bear and a large, glittery snowflake title as the main elements.

Enjoy the beauty and fun of these winter days and stop in this week to pick up one of these great kits to help you document your memories. You can also order on-line by clicking HERE!

A Little Eye Candy From CHA Day 1

2012-01-29T23:36:00.001-05:00

It was a great first day at the show. I walked miles and carried many, many catalogs back to my hotel room. I am just doing a quick post for your tonight. It is very visual (cause I am too tired to say much).

Here are some of the new collections from Little Yellow Bicycle! We will have 5 new ones coming your way over the next few months.

Paradise:

Swoon:

Splash:

The Escape:

CHA Day 1 - Morning

2012-01-29T11:47:00.002-05:00

Hello Scrapbook Friends! I have arrived in Anaheim, California and today is the first day of a 4 day show that I will be attending to see all the amazing new products that will be coming our way over the next few months.

I am having some difficulty uploading photos (bad internet connection) so we will see if it cooperates with me later today. Check back tonight (remember I am 3 hours behind you guys) and I will report on my first day.

Make 'n Take This Saturday With Christa!!!!

2012-01-27T17:00:00.001-05:00

Join us on Saturday, January 28, for a fabulous Make 'n Take at Two Scrapbook Friends!

Christa, our Design Team Coordinator, is a very talented scrapbooker and many of our friends have admired the gorgeous titles that she creates for her pages. This Saturday you can join her as she shares one of her special techniques for creating a beautiful Winter title!

Click here for all the details!

January Key Tag Days!

2012-01-27T16:41:00.003-05:00

It is time for our first Key Tag Event of 2012! Be sure to check out all the details here!

Friendzy Friday with Jayne!

2012-01-27T10:43:00.002-05:00

Hi there, Jayne here and for my first Friendzy Friday I wanted to talk about the 'Shake It' products you can find at the Two Scrapbook Friends store. **

This really is an awesome line that takes all the hard work out of creating 'shaker' projects, in a variety of shapes. There are two parts to the system, a plastic cover, and a paper overlay........

First, you will need to decide what you would like to appear behind the shaker window. This could be a stamped image, patterned paper or even a photograph....the choice is yours. I coloured a stamped image using my Copic markers.

You then need to carefully place whatever you want to use as your shaking elements, in a small pile in the center of your background. Again here the choice is yours, but I decided upon a combination of micro beads and sequins.

The next step can be a little tricky as we need to adhere the plastic cover to the background, and micro beads or glitter often develop a love affair with static! First, remove the clear film on the back of the shaker window.........

...then move fairly quickly to stick it down. I've found that the more you hover, the more the beads will move around, so decide where it's going and put it there!

Next we need to adhere the overlay. I tend to use a double sided sticky tape such as Scor-Tape as it creates a good firm bond. If you'd like to 'pretty' the overlay in any way ie. inking, distressing etc., do this before you stick.

I chose to emboss..........

You can then go ahead and put your shaker onto your chosen project. Again here the options are endless....... a card, gift tag, scrapbook page.....almost anything.

Mine found it's way onto a gift box I'd made, to hold a handmade set of cards.

I do hope you'll give these a try as they really are fun, so much so that my kiddies enjoyed making a few over the Christmas holidays.

Have a great day.
Jayne.x.

** Two Scrapbook Friends are expecting an entire shipment of the Shake It products to arrive in the next couple of days! We hope you stop in then to pick up some of these awesome supplies! Carolyn & Joanne

Pizza & Pop Crop

2012-01-26T17:51:00.004-05:00

Wouldn't you love to have an entire evening to work on your scrapbooking? Well, you are in luck! Tomorrow night, Friday, January 27th, we still have a couple of spots available in our Pizza & Pop Crop!

The crop runs from 5:30 - 11:00 pm and includes the best pizza from Maestros, pop, water and full use of our workshop tools! It is not too late to register - just give us a quick call or email us to book a spot for you and your friends :)

Phone: 519-746-6672
Email: 2friends@execulink.com

Even More CHA Updates!

2012-01-26T15:47:00.001-05:00

One of the coolest new trends we are seeing is the use of TAPE on layouts and cards. Here is some sensational Disney tapes from Queen & Co.

Girl, Boy and everyday tapes too!

They even have a magical Disney paper line!

I adore Disney and Queen and Co. will sure make it easy to scrapbook all those Disney Memories!

Until next time, keep doing what you love to do.
Christa