Spotted in the Gallery

I have been thinking that I would like to do a weekly "Spotted in the Gallery" feature. Check the blog every Saturday to see what creations caught my eye this week. There is so much eye candy right now, especially with the September Contest still running!

Here are some wonderful layouts I spied this week:

I just love all the details in the following layout by Gina. I know that it can be hard to scrap in a circle and Gina did such a fantastic job!

Lisa's layout about summer treats is so beautiful. I love the color scheme and the lovely picture of her daughter. Check out the cool flowers and butterflies!!

I love the distressing on this card by Keely!! I also love the layering! Great card.

The next layout I chose was created by Angie. I love all the design elements and the colors she chose. It is simply stunning!

Here is a fun, fresh and funky card by Rebecca. I love her paper choice and the fun felt embellies!

Thanks again to everyone who loads their creation in our gallery and share their wonderful work with us. Check back next Saturday and see if your layouts or cards will be featured! Every layout I feature will earn a ballot for the monthly blog draw!! So... keep loading those layouts up girls!

~Tara~

Sketch Puzzle ~ Challenge #21

I love making and solving sketch puzzles. I haven't posted one on the blog for awhile and I have had a request for a new one.

Since we had our wonderful chat with Kelly Shults I thought in keeping with the theme that I would use one of her great sketches. Yes... Kelly is a sketch artist as well. She wears many hats!! You can check out her sketches on her blog: Kelly Shults Designs.

I have made two versions of the same sketch:

Medium Version

Hard Version

Once you are done solving the puzzle, print it out and use it as the foundation of your next layout or card. Then, email it to me at: thynner5@yahoo.ca and please put Scrapdango Challenge 21 in the subject line. I will then put your name on a ballot for this months Blog Prize Draw...... a Widget Kit. The lovely Bazzil Stitch set!!

If you have any problems printing it off I will gladly email the sketch to you!

Have fun and Happy Scrapping!

~Tara~

Getting to Know....

Today we are Getting To Know.................................

Kathi aka Kathi Minikatie!!!

When did you first start scrapbooking and how did you get into it?

I started scrapbooking in late 2005 after my parents’ passed away. While my siblings and I were cleaning out my parents’ home, we kept running across boxes of photos in all areas of the house (basement, attic, cabinets, and closets), and none of us recalled ever having seen some of the photos, primarily my parents’ heritage photos. I began cataloging the photos and putting them in date order as best I could. I also knew I wanted a way to document (almost none where and we still don’t know the who, what, when, where of most) and feature the photos that had special meaning to me. After a trip to Michael’s and JoAnn’s, scrapbooking happened and has been going strong ever since.

Looking back into your creations is there one you really dislike and would you change it or leave it?

Seriously, my first couple of LOs were really NOT good. I don’t know why I felt the need to cut all the photos in shapes, but I did and thought that was what scrapbooking was all about! After those first couple of LOs, I discovered scrapbooking magazines and realized that there were so many possibilities that I had yet to explore. I then discovered a group that met once a month at a local Archivers to scrap and joined in the fun and also found a few message boards online. I then sought out my first LSS and discovered better quality pattern papers and the obsession truly started then. So, even though my first couple of LOs are not my favorites, I’ll never change them.

What does scrapbooking mean to you?

Of course, all the standards like documenting and preserving memories, but far more importantly to me is that scrapbooking is my creative outlet. Scrapbooking has replaced numerous other hobbies in my life and it supplies all the creativity I need right now. Scrapbooking has also expanded my circle of friends since I have met numerous friends in the Atlanta area through this craft.

What is your can’t live without scrapping tool?

My Tonic guillotine trimmer, ATG gun/adhesive, paper piercer, micro tip scissors and tweezers. I use these tools all the time.

When beginning a layout are you the kind of person who has to work of a sketch or you can throw anything together and it all works?

I have to admit that I never really think to use a sketch unless I’m participating in a sketch challenge. I didn’t start scrapbooking with sketches and they are just not part of my usual process like they are for some. On occasion, and it’s pretty rare actually, I’ll sketch an idea I have in my head before starting on a LO.

How did you find Scrapdango and what do you like most about it?

I knew of ScrapDango’s existence but had never participated on the site. I was visiting PubCalls and saw the Design Team call, so I visited the site to check it out. I was a late comer for the DT call, so had to post my design for the first challenge immediately. I then took time to participate during the next week and the duration of the DT call and found that ScrapDango offered the type of community that I wanted to be a part of.

Show us a couple of your favorite layouts. What makes them a fav?

XOXO – I love the LO because it documents a special moment/bond between my sister, Kimberly, and her cat. We both have senior cats, so capturing moments like this with them is a priority for us.

Embrace – I’ve had this framed photo in my bedroom for as long as I can remember (me and my mom when I was one month old) and it’s always been my favorite photo. I kept the LO simple so the photo and journaling could take center stage and I love how it turned out.

Beach Bums – Of course, I also love scrapping vintage, whether my childhood or my parents before children or even their childhoods. I recently ran across this photo of my mom and her parents and I love it! What fun they had as a family together.

I am so glad that you decided to try out for the Design Team here at Scrapdango!! I love your work and enjoy having you on the board!!

Thanks for letting us Get To Know You Kathi !!

~Tara~

Complete Mystery Envelope Reveal

It has been a long haul to get them all posted. I have had a few requests to post the reveal in one post. I agree... it would be nice to have them all together. I am so happy with all the wonderful layouts everyone did using the envelopes I mailed out.

First up was Suzanne who had some Love Elsie to play with:

Next in line was Audrey who created two lovely layouts using Crate Paper:

Taryn created this lovely layout with some Making Memories goodies:

Next was Amber and she created this lovely layout also with some Making Memories:

Finally a very patient Jessie made this great layout with some goodies:

Thanks again girls for your patience and hard work.

~Tara~

Getting To Know....

I love these posts where we Get To Know someone at Scrapdango. Today we are Getting To Know................................. Brianne aka Breeze 7!!





1. When did you first start scrapbooking and how did you get into it?



I actually started “real” scrapbooking in the fall of 2006. My son was almost one and I knew I needed a way to document his growth and milestones in a creative way that I could share with our family and friends that lived so far away. In the past, I had always just put my photos in an album but it seemed to be lacking something.



2. Looking back into your creations is there one you really dislike and would you change it or leave it?



I have looked back MANY times over my creations and thought, “Oh I could do this, or change that and THEN it would look good”, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I think the change of my layouts over time shows my growth and gained knowledge in scrapbooking.



3. What does scrapbooking mean to you?



Scrapbooking allows me a creative freedom that nothing else in my life provides. It’s a way to escape the daily grind and to just relax surrounded by my memories. I love being able to document all of the events in our life together. We have smiled, cried, cheered, and sulked over many things and scrapbooking provides my family a way to remember all of our special times together and apart.



4. What is your can’t live without scrapping tool?



The scrapping tool I could not live without would have to be my computer. I do so much on it, from editing my photos, to creating unique embellishments and journaling spaces. I really need to upgrade soon (still trying to convince my husband).



5. When beginning a layout are you the kind of person who has to work of a sketch or you can throw anything together and it all works?



I can do it either way but I find that sketching out my layout first helps avoid frustration and/or an empty space that needs a “certain something”.



6. How did you find Scrapdango and what do you like most about it?



My friend, Diana, had been trying to convince me to try out for DT’s. We had been doing a few searches on PubCalls and I saw this one pop up. I visited the site a few times before signing up and throughout the contest, really started to enjoy your members and their energy. When Carrie called me to ask if I would be interested, it was a resounding “yes!” I really love the way everyone supports each other and pushes one another to try new things.



7. Show us a couple of your favorite layouts. What makes them a favorite?

Forever Neverland: This has to be my very favorite layout. It reminds me that my son is growing more and more every day and to cherish the “little boy-ness” of him now.

He Calls Me Babe: My husband is a very “military-minded” type of guy. Displays of emotion are sort of few and far between. This layout reminds me that even though he doesn’t show it every single day, his love for me goes far beyond what my eyes see. He is such an amazing source of inspiration to me.

Imagination at work: This layout makes me laugh every time I see it. I love the fact that my son is creative like I am but he tends to be the opposite of me when it comes to art. He LOVES to make a mess and just “EXPLODE” on his creations. I have always been a very neat and clean creator so to see him enjoy making huge messes reminds me that there is always room to try new things and that someone’s disaster is not always just a mess, it’s a work of art.

I am so glad that you decided to try out for the Design Team here at Scrapdango!! I love your work and enjoy having you on the board!! Thanks for letting us Get To Know You!!

~Tara~

Challenge #20

It has been a long, hot summer so far. Just yesterday it was so hot and humid that I felt physically sick. I had a headache and I found it hard to breath. I had to work at the Dry Cleaners amidst all the boilers and hot machines.


I was complaining to a friend who dropped off her laundry and she reminded me that soon we will all be complaining about the COLD!! Yeppers.... winter will be here before we know it.


My challenge for you is to COOL DOWN by creating a layout about something COLD!! It can be a winter layout, an ice cream layout or even a layout about your EX!!

Everyone who completes a layout and emails it to me at thynner5@yahoo.ca will have thier names placed into a draw for a monthly prize. This month I am offering a Widget Kit from Scrapdango. Have you seen the awesome Bazzil Stitch set yet?? If not... check it out!!

Happy Scrapping!

~Tara~