Hello all! Tami here to bring you this week’s Photo Phriday. Can you believe it’s Friday again already!? Wow! I’m just thrilled to have made it to the end of my son’s first week back at school. Phew!

Ok, on to this week’s topic. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about “home.” This can be where we were raised, where we feel most loved, where our heart is, or our hometown, state, country or simply our address! But how many of us have taken the time to scrap about it? I know I haven’t. How cool would it be to have something to show about where we live, in the years to come when we might not be where we are now?

Growing up I was always told that my Grandpa BUILT (yes, with his own two hands) the house my mom grew up in. But I haven’t EVER seen pictures! I would have LOVED to be able to see it and appreciate all the work that went into it. I would love to know what her life was like, what her neighborhood looked like, what malt shoppe she visited on Friday nights! I would love to be able to see the home, or hometown, of my dad who was born in Soda Springs, Idaho, or just one simple snapshot of the store my grandfather owned before it burned to the ground. How amazing would it be to be able to connect with the past and learn so much more about where my parents came from? I can go visit those places now, but everything has changed. It just wouldn’t be the same as traveling back through time to see it as they did.

So this is my challenge, start documenting the places you live, love and call home. Make them the focus of a layout or two, so years from now, your friends and family can truly appreciate where you’re from and what you loved most about it. And, of course, a picture is worth a 1,000 words! So go! Snap some shots and share your life with those to come!

To give you a bit of inspiration, I remembered a LO that Britt created about her first real home with her hubby. I love that she listed what she’ll remember and what she loved most. Won’t her future children just love it!?

Have a great weekend!

Well, Krista here to announce that Chia won a $5 gift certificate for the challenge from last Friday. Here is her winning layout:

Image is clickable to credits, so go leave Chia some love.  Thanks for playing!

Hello everyone! Jeni here with another Theory Thursday post. Well, it’s that time of year again. Back to school – WAHOOOOOOOO!! I’m just a little excited. ; ) So I decided to celebrate with a little back to school hybrid fun!

I made each of my kids a little backpack tag with their picture on it so they can find their bags easily in the SEA of backpacks at school. That was so much fun that I also decided they needed some cuteness in their lunchboxes as well. These projects were both super easy! Here’s what I did:

First I created all my projects and then printed them out on matte photo paper.

Then I cut out all my lunch box notes – easy peasy!

I mounted the two backpack tags onto some chipboard that I recycled from the packaging of some patterned papers I had bough – yes, ACTUAL papers. : ) I mounted the tags using my trusty Xyron machine so they would be completely adhered to the chipboard. Then I switched out the cartridges in my Xyron machine and laminated the two tags for more durability.

Then I cut them out – very carefully. I also colored in the white edges of the tags with Sharpies to help them blend in a little more. Especially on the black tag – the white paper core was VERY obvious.

I punched holes in the top of the tags and placed eyelets in them for durability.

I attached the tags to the backpacks with a jump ring I got at my local office supply store. And that’s it!

Thanks so much to Leslie of GG Digital Designs for letting me use her goodies {School Days} and {Flower Power} to make my notes and tags. I’ve got a little goodie for you too! I made a template from my backpack tags so now you can make your own! We’d love to see what you do with it so be sure to post your completed projects in the gallery so we can all “ooh” and “aah” over them. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD TAG TEMPLATE HERE

Hi all, it’s Monica here today with your Words for Wednesday. I wish that I could say that I have some great words of wisdom for you guys today, but that’s not true. To be honest, I forgot I was doing this post until it popped up on my calendar yesterday. So after some deep thought I decided to focus on layout journaling, once again.

For the most part when you look through the different galleries you see very minimal journaling. There’s the title, date, and maybe some names as well. Some layouts will go into great detail with some additional word art and maybe even a short paragraph. Then there is the digi journal. In the digi journal the journaling is the main focus. I’m a huge fan of the digi journal, but that’s not what I wanted to discuss today.

Let’s say there’s a lot you want to say in a single layout and a few words just isn’t enough. The easy solution here is to allow your journaling to be your most important embellishment. By no means does it have to be your only embellishment.

To help me get my point across i took a little tour through our wonderful ScrapMatters Gallery. Here are a few layouts that put a little more focus on the journaling.

Sahlink made it very easy for me. She had quite a few layouts in her gallery that focused on the journaling. Amazing work.

To end my post today I want to offer you all a little gift.  I completed a template in which I embellished with journaling. One simple template can often have many interpretations. This template is for your personal use. I’m offering no challenge with it, but do encourage you to practice your journaling. The possibilities are endless. I’ve also added a bonus acryllic alpha set.

This template will be available for one week only. Included in the download file is 1 PSD layered template, which shadows included in their own separate layer, and the individual png files for non PSD scrappers. Enjoy!

Good morning scrappers! Brittney here, bringing you yet another fun and exciting TUESDAY TEMPLATE CHALLENGE!!

This week I took one of my own favorite recent LOs and turned it into a template for you all to play with. I scraplifted MY LO from a LO by littlemuffin called “Matching PJs”. Thanks so much to littlemuffin for allowing me to share her awesome LO design with one and all!

Download your template HERE.

Check out what our wonderful team did with this template!

By Denise:

credits: “Lavendar Skies” kit by Erica Zane, “A Kid Again Alpha”, “Black Bead Alpha”, “Date Stamped v.2″ by Britt-ish Designs

By Stacy:

credits: “A Touch of Cherry” kit by Erica Zane, “Date Stamped v.2″ by Britt-ish Designs

By Linz:

credits: “Summer Sweets” by Andilynn Designs

By Katie:

credits: “Urban Boy” kit by Designs by Tater

and By Kate:

credits: “High School Never Ends” by Britt-ish Designs and GG Digital Designs

Are you inspired?! Well – go download your template and scrap your LO! No rules or themes this week. Just have fun with the template. You have until midnight the night of Monday, Aug. 25th to get your LO scrapped, uploaded to the SM Gallery (be sure to put it in the Tue. Template Challenge Gallery) and leave the link to your LO in this thread in the forum.

I’ll be randomly drawing 1 LO who will win a $5 GC good for any Britt-ish Designs products! You can’t win if you don’t enter so get scrapping!

Have fun!

I have chosen the winners…

the randomly chosen winner was Chia with this layout

http://www.scrapmatters.com/gallery3/showphoto.php?photo=3725

And it was a really tough decisoin to choose my favorite, but I finally decided on *fanfare plays*

Laura M ‘s *Fear of Water*

]
http://www.scrapmatters.com/gallery3/showphoto.php?photo=3579

I just really kept being pulled back with those doodled flowers.

Well done everyone!! 

To our winners…we are having a little bit of difficulty getting GC, but we will have them back up soon and I will get them to you.  Please bug me if you don’t hear anything soon.  K??

Hello!  It’s me Katie with a What Matters Monday post…

In the past, I’ve mainly stuck to writing up some challenges or interviewing people, but I finally decided on something that mattered to me, and I wanted to share it.

I know when I’m making layouts, I tend to focus on events, well moreso the people at the events.  One of my children’s birthday celebrations, a family get together, a fun outing, that sort of thing.  But there are so many more things that are important in our lives.  There are things that my kids do or dream or want that I want to remember, that has very little to do with an event or a person.

So I’ve made it my goal to scrap these things too.  Here is a layout I just scrapped last week:

My son has had a fascination with Ireland since he first heard about it.  I don’t even know where or when he heard about it.  Just one day he started talking about it.  He tells us he’s going to move there when he grows up (right now he’s 7 1/2).  What is it that draws him there?  He says it’s the leprachauns…but I don’t really know.  Will he still love Ireland when he’s 14, 17, an adult?  Will we even remember that that was one of his dreams??  Like most things, I tend to think, I’ll never forget this, but I do (unless it’s one of those persistent in your face kind of things…) so if this dream falls to the wayside for another country or another dream, I’ll probably forget about it.  But I love that he’s dreaming and imagining and reaching.

So what does this mean for us?  Scrap a thing.  Scrap something that has nothing to do with an event.  Scrap an accomplishment.  Scrap the foods that you couldn’t get enough of when you were pregnant.  Scrap the favorite colors, the favorite games, the favorite toys, the favorite books, the favorite tv shows.  Scrap something that is not a person and let those memories live on, long after your done being pregnant or when your little girl is done playing with Barbies.

Here’s some more inspiration…

http://www.scrapmatters.com/gallery3/showphoto.php?photo=1661&ppuser=52

Ooohh dang this wordpress scheduled posting! I guess I did it wrong cuz I just realized this didn’t post itself this morning! SORRY EVERYONE! It’s been done and waiting to be posted for like 3 days! ARGH! OK – enough whining. On with the post . . .

Hello Everyone! Brittney here, filling in for Sya, who is off on vacation! It’s Sunday and its time to spotlight another one of our amazing Creative Team members. She recently had a birthday and treated US all to the gift! She’s an amazing artist, a total hybrid queen, and an all-around amazing woman! Today we’re going to get to know HEATHER LEE a little better!!

Heather, what is your main job/career?

I am the chief operating and financial officer of our family of four, as well as homeschooling mom of a kindergartener. I also assess early childhood classrooms and mentor teachers.

Are you married/kids/pets?

Life is really good with my DH and two sweet girls, 5 and 18 months. They are the only pets I have at this moment.

Where do you call home?

I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, USA.

What are your three favorite foods?

Only three? Sigh… my DH will laugh about this one! Eating is my favorite hobby and considered a contact sport in my house. I love Italian and Asian cuisines, and desserts of all kinds. Mmmm, getting hungry again.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Homemade strawberry ice cream.

Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks?

Is “all of the above” an acceptable answer?

What is your favorite beverage?

Freshly squeezed orange juice!

What is your least favorite food?

Capers are not my friends.

PC or Mac?

Diehard PC gal – my DH is a brilliant IT professional, so I have built-in tech support.

How long have you been digi-scrapping/How did you get into it?

I was never a big paper scrapper, because I couldn’t bear to use up my supplies. My nonexistent scrap-life changed forever in early October 2007 when I stumbled across Jessica Sprague’s website. I signed up for her Up & Running with Photoshop class, and I’ve since taken every single one of her classes. She is an amazingly talented artist and teacher.

What program do you use to digi-scrap with?

Photoshop CS3

What are your hobbies besides digi-scrapping?

I enjoy working out – I’m training to run a half-marathon right now. I really love to take photos, especially of my girls. Now that I am into hybrid scrapping, I am into paper crafts again! And did I mention that I love to eat?

What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking ?

I would love to pick up quilting and embroidering.

What are your favorite books/authors?

Anything Tolstoy turns my crank. The classics really move me. (But I haven’t read anything lately – don’t tell anyone)

What are your favorite movies?

I love Glory, starring Matthew Broderick and Denzel Washington. I’ve watched that movie at least 30 times.

What is your favorite quote?

“To live content with small means;
to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
to be worthy, not respectable,
and wealthy, not rich;
to study hard, think quietly,
talk gently, act frankly;
to listen to stars and birds,
to babes and sages, with open heart;
to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely,
await occasions, hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual,
unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.”
-William Henry Channing

Where do you find inspiration for your layouts?

I pour over magazine advertisements and graphic design websites, as well as digi-scrap galleries. I have a notebook full of clippings and scribbles.

How much time are you able to spend scrapping each week?

It varies – when I stay up, I get more time. But as you know, it wreaks havoc on the family unit when Mom is a raging nutcase because she is sleep-deprived.

What is your favorite element to use?

Those that are photo-realistic.

What is your favorite digital technique?

Shadow work and extractions, both integral to my artwork

What are a few of your favorite layouts?

Thank you so much, Heather, for inspiring us and letting us get to know you better. You are a master artist!

Check out Heather’s amazing gallery here to continue being inspired! Her blog is also fabulous.

Hope you have enjoyed our spotlight and feel inspired to create!! Have a happy Sunday!!

xoxo,

Hi friends…Tater here to host this weeks Saturday Special Challenge. This week I’m bringing you a “Word” challenge. The word is….”Remember“. Your LO must contain the word “Remember” in your title. It can stand alone in the title, it can be used as one of the words in your title, or you can even use it in a quote. You decide! (Using it in your journaling does not count.) That’s basically it…pretty easy right!! Everyone who participates will receive my “Spiral Notebook Alpha” as a participation prize and my favorite LO will receive a $5.00 gift code to the ScrapMatters Store!

Here are some examples from our FABULOUS team…

Lina – Frog on a Toadstool by Scrap’ It Designs alpha from About a Girl by Scrap’ It Designs

Wendy (kissncontrol) Template – “Happy Template” by Britt-ish Designs
Alpha – “Label Tape Alpha” by Britt-ish Designs
All other elements – “Friday Flea Market Collab Kit”

Brittney – Papers from “Little Miss Sunshine Papers” by misschifis
- Elements from “Little Miss Elements” by misschifis
- snowflake rub-ons from “Snowbound” kit by Britt-ish Designs
- ‘remember’ element from “Say it With Style” by Ellie Lash Designs
- Staple from “Just Married” kit by Britt-ish Designs
- “Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust” by Britt-ish Designs
- Mickey Ink Stamp by Sophia Sarducci

Stacy (Shutch) – Happy Scrap Girl’s Wild kit with bits and pieces from her Taylor Paige Kit

Linz (mikelinz)

Me – Ellie Lash Yesterday Kit

All entries must be completed by midnight on August 22nd. Be sure to post your LO in the SM “Saturday Special” challenge gallery, and then link us up in the forum here to be entered to win. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

CT CAll for ScrapMatters
We are looking for talented hybrid and digital layout artists to join the ScrapMatters Creative Team!
We want you to:
-Be a team member for 6 months
-Create 4 layouts/projects each month
-Post in 4 galleries: SM, DST, and 2 of your choice
-Participate in site challenges, the team blog, and the forums
As a Creative team member, you will receive:
-complete access to the ScrapMatters Store!
Please email the following to Andrea at andilynn [at] scrapmatters [dot] com:
-A short bio
-Gallery link
-Link to your blog
-Link to our most active forum

Please specify which team you are applying for HYBRID or DIGITAL LAYOUT or you don’t care EITHER ONE IS FINE!
This call closes at midnight on August 24th.
We can’t wait to meet you and look forward to your reply!

Isn’t that call poster gorgeous?  It was created by Heather, hedderlee, with our latest Mega collab kit, Friday Flea Market.  I’d like to introduce Heather as our new Hybrid Team Leader. When we decided that we wanted ScrapMatters to have a hybrid team, we immediately thought of Heather, our resident hybrid queen, to be the leader.  We have been wowed with the hybrid projects she has shared here on the blog and were thrilled when she accepted.

We have made another staffing change as well.  Kate, kateypie, will be our new Blog Editor.  She has already been hard at work, she is the talented layout designer who created our new daily blog headers. Kate has also started a facebook profile for ScrapMatters, so if you’re on facebook we’d love to be your friend.