Spotted in the Gallery

Eye spy with my little eye.............. lots of eye candy!!

Ginni G created an amazing mini album that really caught my eye. It's awesome!

I also spied this wonderful layout Carrie did of Jovanna. The design is awesome and I am loving Bella Blvd! Look how grown up her sweet daughter looks now!

Julie also used the Bella Blvd for this great layout of her and her beautiful daughter. Love seeing a picture of her on the layout. Look at the proud Mama!

When I saw this layout by Heather.... I knew I had to post it. It is so fresh and funky. I love the black and pink combo. Rugged and beautiful!

The cover for Kathi's mini album is so sweet and pretty. I love the Basic Grey papers and the sweet birds in the paper:

I am in love with this layout my Rebecca (mamakven). I love the whole theme of the layout, the photo and the design. I think this may be my favorite of hers so far!

When I saw this photo in the gallery I knew I had to post it. Why?? Michelle Galloway's son is so darn cute!!

Back to a fantastic layout by Lucy Chesna. WOW...I am entranced by it. It is so beautiful, soft and full of details. I must find out how she altered her chipboard. Stunning!

Tracy (Momhinman) created this truly lovely layout. The papers are a PERFECT match for her photos. Notice the little bow in the hair? Great job!!

My last pick is by Tallgirl_msu. Look at all the wonderful eye candy on Jana's layout. It is full of color, has a fantastic focal picture and lots of wonderful layers!!

Be sure to check the blog next week to see what I have spied in the gallery!

**Keep loading up the gallery with your scrappy creations! I have decided that for every layout I spy in the gallery and post on the blog.... will earn a ballot for the monthly draw!! This month it is some lovely Maya Road stamps!

~Tara~

Tip Time ~ Challenge # 23

Let’s talk about scissors. I don’t know about you but I have my very favorite, must have, scissors. I was upset yesterday when my girls used them to cut sticky food with. Yup… they gunked them up so bad that I couldn’t use them. I cracked open my unDu and removed the goo but they were so dull they wouldn’t cut paper anymore. Now I am on the hunt for a replacement pair. I can’t seem to find them anywhere…. at least not yet.

I have several pairs of scissors. I use them for different jobs. My first pair I ever bought were Honey Bees by Cutter Bees. These have a great Teflon coating and work great for cutting through sticky glue dots, double sided tape other such sticky supplies.

When it comes to cutting any type of fabric I have my straight blade and my pinking shears. They work the best for fabric and felt. I find any of my other scissors aren’t sharp enough and snag. Fiskars makes great scissors for cutting through felt and fabric.

I like to work with wire, metal, acrylic and plastic. I have some strong Titanium scissors. They are extremely durable and strong. They seem to cut through anything and remain sharp.

Now… my favorite pair are spring loaded. I adore them because they are extremely comfortable and my hand doesn’t cramp or get sore when I plan on doing either a lot of pages or a lot of fine detailed cutting. They are always sharp and have a fine tip for detailed cutting. Alas…. they are wrecked. *SIGH* My Tim Holtz, Tonic, Spring Loaded, Fine Tip Scissors are sad too.

Quick Tip#1: If you are finding that your scissors are sticky just use a little dab of unDu and it will disappear.

Quick Tip#2: If you find that your scissors aren’t cutting like they did when you first bought them you can cut a sheet of aluminum foil or you can get them sharpened professionally.

Quick Tip #3: If your scissors are getting sticky but not because of goo or glue, you can cut through waxed paper too!! ** this tip was from Ginni. I have just given her a ballot for the draw. Thanks for the tip!**

Blog Challenge:
I would like you to use some decorative scissors on your next layout or card. You can email me at: thynner5@yahoo.ca and please put Scrapdango Blog Challenge in the subject line.
Remember that this month I am offering a cute set of Maya Road Stamps!

~Tara~

Getting to Know....

It's time to Get to know another great Design Team member!

I would like to introduce to you .....................................................

Heather Lough!!

When did you first start scrapbooking and how did you get into it?
I started scrapbooking 8 years ago when I was pregnant with my first child. I was invited to a Creative Memories party, and I reluctantly went. I didn’t want to get into it, but I knew I wanted to display our family photos in a more creative way than just putting them into photo album sleeves. I had no idea that this hobby would become what it has today. While my main goal is still to preserve my family’s memories, it has also become my creative outlet and form of artistic expression.

Looking back into your creations is there one you really dislike and would you change it or leave it?
There are many layouts in my early years of scrapbooking that I don’t like, but that is mainly due to the products that were available back then and the styles that were prevalent. They still tell the story that I wanted to tell though, and I have no intention on going back and changing any of them. Some layouts I’ve done more recently have also not turned out as I’d envisioned in my head, but I don’t dwell on them. I have a get it done and move on philosophy.

What does scrapbooking mean to you?
Scrapbooking has brought so much to my life. I grew up with a very creative and artistic mother. She can do just about any type of craft possible from sewing and any needlecraft to painting to wood carving. I always tried my hand at various crafts but never felt like I was very good at any of them. It wasn’t until I discovered scrapbooking, that I realized I could be creative and artistic. It has given me my creative outlet, which with all the other busyness going on in my life with taking care of a family, is something I desperately need. Scrapbooking has also given me a passion for recording my family’s memories. If it weren’t for scrapbooking, I’m not sure that I would keep track of all the little moments in our lives, which I know I would regret later on in life. The other thing scrapbooking has brought to me is many friendships—mainly online, but friendships nonetheless. I get so much encouragement and support from all the friends I have met online like those at Scrapdango.

What is your can’t live without scrapping tool?
It’s not very exciting, but my can’t live without tool is my paper trimmer. I don’t complete a single project without it.

When beginning a layout are you the kind of person who has to work off a sketch or you can throw anything together and it all works?
I rarely work off a sketch. I always start with my photo and usually use the colors and theme from it to choose papers and embellishments. Then I just start playing and moving things around until I’m happy. If I have a lot of photos I’m trying to include on a layout or just get stuck, then I will pull out one of my sketch books or find one online to get inspiration.

How did you find Scrapdango and what do you like most about it?
I found Scrapdango by seeing a call on the Pubcalls blog for the design team contest this past summer. I loved that the contest went on for a month because it really gave me a chance to get to know the people on the site and vice versa to make sure that it was a good fit. Since becoming part of the DT, I have thoroughly enjoyed the members on the site. They provide such great encouragement and support and are so appreciative. Everyone is so genuine. I have never seen anything even slightly unkind posted on the site.

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

All I Want—I love this layout because of the funny photos. I was trying to get that perfect pic of me with my kids on Mother’s Day but that just never happens. This layout shows real life. I love the bright colors with all the buttons and the mixed up journaling.

4-Ever Family—This is a very recent layout I’ve done and one of my all-time favorites. The main thing I love about it is the photo. I love that the layout is simple, keeping the focus on the photo and the rich colors of the paper

Silly Boy—My style is usually very linear and clean, and this layout represents that perfectly. These are some of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken of my son, and I love how I was able to include so many of them without it becoming overwhelming. Also, these papers from the Scrapdango October spice kit went perfectly with the photos.

I sure am grateful that Heather found her way to Scrapdango!!

~Tara~

Spotted in the Gallery

It's time to post what I spotted in the gallery this week. There is so much eye candy that it is hard to chose. :)

Here are some wonderful layouts I spied this week:

The first one I found is an amazing layout by Kathi. I love the deisgn of the layout and the cool pictures of the Wicked Witch!

Next I came upon this one by Anne Marie (sisterbug). I love her journaling and the color sceme she chose:

You can't help but be drawn to the "Piggy Back" layout by NubiaR1. The oversized star elements commands attention:

This card by Scrappygirl is amazing. I can't say enough things about the fish and the cool effect it makes. Nicely done.

Finally my gallery quest brought me to this wonderfully, creative layout by Mamakven. All I can say is.... WOW! The tree element is stunning!

Be sure to check the blog next week to see what I have spied in the gallery!

**Keep loading up the gallery with your scrappy creations! I have decided that for every layout I spy in the gallery and post on the blog.... will earn a ballot for the monthly draw!!

I'll post the latest winner tomorrow!

~Tara~