Hello everyone Lina here

to bring you another Tuesday Template Challenge!

This is my first template challenge and I am really glad about it!!

Today’s template is based on an Lo I had made some time ago using

Flower Girl kit by GG Digital Designs! And here it is

And this is the template

DOWNLOAD HERE

So your task today is to grab the template and give me your best with it!

The rules here are that there are NO rules!!! You can do whatever you please with it!

Scrap about whichever subject you wish and just try to make the template yours!!!

Remember that you have to link your LO to this thread in the forums

and also remember to leave a link in your post so that we can find your LO

and leave you some love!!!

Ok and now time for your prizes!

Well yes, there will be two prizes!

The first prize will be a participation prize that everyone will get!

It’s 4  5×7 bragbook quickpages made using my latest kit

Vintage Lilac Dreams which you can find here!

Here is the preview of the BB quickpages!

And the second prize will be awarded to my favourite layout and it

will be a $5 GC to my store!

Ok would you like to see what our fantastic Creative Team has come up with?

Of course you do!

Here they are!

This one is from Sharon Dale (aka Skyezak) using Sweetness kit by Ellie Lash

This one is from Lisa Kane using So Sweet mini kit and

Glitter Sticker alpha-Silver by Ellie Lash

and Ribbon Jar by Britt-ish Designs.

This one is from Christine (aka Alamama) using Fall Splendor kit

by Haynay Designs

This one is from Stacey (aka shutch) using Halli and Just for Mom kit

by GG Digital Designs

And the last one is from Kim (aka Kimbytx) using the Grab Bag , Ribbon Jar and

Enchantment kit by Britt-sih Designs.

Don’t you think they are fantastic?

Thank you girls for all these really beautiful pages!!! They are amazing!!!!

Now remember that you have to complete this challenge until Monday 6th

of October midnight!

I will be waiting for your pages !!!

Love

Hello Everyone!

Krista (sahlink) here to bring you What Matters Monday.   When I thought about what I was going to write about today, I just had to take a look at the title for inspiration… what REALLY matters.  Of course, most of us will say family and friends, right?  That is initially why we do what we do…  Staying up endless hours, finishing that LAST layout or fixing the color on a photo.  Our goal is to create beautiful pages that document how much we LOVE our family and friends.   About our lives, or perhaps a reminder of a happy time. We document to tell a story and to leave a message.  Of course, some of us scrap because we MUST! The comforting glow of the computer screen as we buy a new kit or post a great LO in the gallery is almost as addicting as chocolate!   But I digress!!!

After we are done creating, usually all of these stories are stored in a photo album.   Hopefully, they are not still sitting helpless in your hard drive!  But, have you thought about incorporating it more into your life or into your home? Why not hang some of your favorite layouts on your living room wall?  In your bedroom?  The office?  Heck, why not spruce up the bathroom while you’re at it (you’ve probably already got some cute ‘kid in the tub’ pics already!).

I recently did a layout that I found I wanted to look at ALL the time.  Or at least I wanted to see it more than just in a book.  It turned out so beautifully and I thought… this could top any piece of art in an art gallery (although a mother’s love for her children can often be quite biased!).  I believe that these pages and pictures should be showcased like the art that they are.

Here’s my layouts in jpeg format:

1) Different Options for Printing
I looked into numerous different options.  What do I do?   Print and frame the picture, enlarge and have it backed with tag board.  There are so many options that are available to do nowadays.   What I ended up choosing was to turn my layout into a canvas print.   I have to admit I was a little nervous.  How is it going to turn out, are the colors going to be true?

2) Choosing a Company
As you can imagine, there are hundreds of different companies that do all forms of printing.   When I was doing my research there were a few things that I was looking for.  What size of print are they capable of printing? I make 12 x 12 layouts, which is not a ‘regular’ size for printing companies.  How thick was the frame going to be? I specifically wanted the profile of the frame to be as minimal as possible.  What is the cost? As everyone, I would like the least amount of cost for good quality.   On average, I found to print a 12 x 12 canvas picture to be around $60.   Does the company offer any guarantee? If so, what was it? My main concerns were…what if the colors don’t turn out?  what if the image doesn’t wrap around the frame correctly?   These are some of the questions to ask a printing company prior to ordering.

The company I decided to go with was http://arttecprints.com/.   I asked my list of questions (listed above) and was thrilled with all of their answers.  They were able to print a 12 x 12 canvas from photo (which was a custom size), on a gallery wrapped frame (which has a thickness of .75 inch), and get this…. for only $29 plus shipping.  Yes, I was VERY skeptical that it wouldn’t turn out because they were so cheap.   But they told me that it was fully guaranteed, which eased my fears.  They were also able to keep my entire image on the top and mirror the sides, so I didn’t have to change my layout at all!   And being the skeptic that I am, I was still a bit worried that the picture would indeed be fully on top.  But they emailed me a preview (within an hour of ordering) of exactly how it would print.

Picture of emailed preview:

It took about 10 business days to receive my order.  It turned out so beautifully.  I couldn’t wait to put my creation up on the wall!!  I think my kids were even more excited to find out they were “featured” on our wall!  Here are some photos of how it came out:

I hope this edition of ‘What Matters Monday’ will inspire you to do something special with your layouts.  You are all truly talented, artistic ladies… and your work deserves more than just 2 hours of appreciation on an internet gallery!  Create your own permanent gallery in your home…   Now, get to work!!

Krista (sahlink)

This just in! The Scraps Matter Gang announces it’s LOTW!!

This week’s fabulous LO comes from One Happy Mama, titled My Boy. Click the image to go leave her some love!

Good Morning all! Mary (littlehiccup) here with your Sunday Spotlight! I hope you are having fun with all the birthday celebrations! Today we are spotlighting a ScrapMatters devotee, Heather (tuttle). She’s a fantastic scrapper, you can check out her GALLERY here!

1. Your screen name? Your real name?

tuttle, Heather

2. What is your main job/career?

I’m a new SAHM – I taught high school Chemistry & Physics until the day before my daughter was born this past May.

3. Are you married/children/pets?

Yes, four years now with 2 beautiful children, Jed & Stella also a 3-toed box turtle named Scooter, a.k.a. Pete Turtlinger by my students

4. Where is home for you?

Western Wisconsin

5. What are your 3 favorite foods?

chocolate, pesto anything, fresh baked bread

6. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

vanilla, drenched with hot fudge & dry roasted peanuts

7. Snacks…Salty or Sweet?

Sweet

8. Beverage of choice?

Fountain Coke or water

9. What’s your least favorite food?
I’m not really a big fan of Mexican/tex-mex. I think I may have overdone it at some point in my life . . .

10. PC or Mac? What program do you use?
PC, PSE6 (I would LOVE a MAC someday – I got hooked at school)

11. How long have you been digi-scrapping? How did you get started?
For about 4 months over a year period of time. It all started when one of my best college friends moved across the country for her husband to attend seminary. We both started blogs to share our lives with each other and our growing families. She would post her newest LOs. So finally last year, I broke down, emailed her and got started. I used a trial version of PSE5 to it’s fullest. It ended as inservice began and teaching took over my “free” time again. In Nov, my DH gave me PSE6 for my birthday and I purposely didn’t load it on the computer until winter break – I knew I was addicted already. Turned out that our computer needed more RAM for it to work properly, so my scrapping went back on hold. This summer, we put in more RAM. My DH and I anxiously sat, waiting to see if PSE6 would work. It did, so I guess the rest is history.

12. What was your 1st LO about?
It’s about a 102+ degree day in July. We were all trying to keep cool – my husband and I decided to wash the cars and we put Jed in his bathtub outside. It was before we had a swimsuit for him – so he was wearing baby girl bloomers that I found in a bag of hand- me-downs. It was just a silly situation – to have our 5 month old son in girls bloomers, in a baby tub, on the lawn in the shade. But he loved it!

Credits for Beating the Heat

13. Do you have any other hobbies besides digi-scrapping (are there other hobbies)?
Is reading considered a hobby? I love to read and I’ll read almost anything. I think cooking and baking too. I do want to try quilting . . .

14. What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you?

It changes with every LO I do but overall, I have problems using patterned papers. I just can’t seem to make them work. Also titles using alphas.

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

Being a better wife & Mom.

16. What are your favorite movies/TV shows?

Movies: Pride & Predjudice (the 6 hour A&E version!) also Batman Begins as well as all the STAR WARS (especially the original ones) TV shows: The Office, Grey’s Anatomy, LOST

17. Describe your “scrapping” environment. Music? TV in the background? Drinks? Snacks? Where?
Our computer is in an what we call the “office” – but it’s more a play room full of toys that just happens to have a desk and computer in it. Sometimes music – online radio and sometimes TV since I can see it from the computer. I usually have water, sometimes a coke or coffee and as soon as the cold sets in, I’ll have either tea or hot chocolate! I’m terrible about the snacks – I’ll have M&M’s in a bowl or goldfish crackers. I also have a baby on my lap 90% of the time – she’ll sleep longer if she’s on my lap or cradled in one arm.

18. If you only had 2 elements to use on a LO, what would they be?

Stitches and frames.

19. Would you like to share a little known fact about you…?

I’d rather play a midnight game of Ultimate Frisbee than sit around and chat with the women . . . I’m still a tomboy at heart.

20. Can you tell us a little about your scrappin’ style?

I think I may still be working on that . But if I had to say . . . sentimental. Wait . . . is that a style?? If not, then minimalist, but I’m trying to branch out.

21. Favorite LOs that you have done?

Credits for 6 Minutes

Credits for Stella Lynn

22. How long have you been a member at ScrapMatters?

Since the end of June

23. Do you have any suggestions for kits you’d like to see in the SM store?

I love the SM store – it has such a variety of kits to choose from that I can’t ever make a decision! This may be a bit picky, but one thing that I would LOVE to see is a kit dedicated to a little boy who loves trains. (I have tons of ideas for elements & wordart!)

Thanks Heather for sharing a little bit about yourself (or a lot…we ask a lot of questions!) It was so great to get to know you a little better. Here are a few LOs that I LOVE from tuttle’s gallery! Check them out and leave some love!

Credits for I Knew

Credits for Mommy in the Middle

CT Member Kim (kimbytx) checking in for my first blog challenge! Weekends are my favorite time of the week since I am off work and am able to do things that I want to do…Sometimes that involves family activities, sometimes it is just getting errands and chores done, and if I am lucky it means time to scrap.

My challenge for you this weekend is to scrap a favorite weekend or leisure activity. It can be yours or someone else’s. It can be one thing or alot of things. Show us what you or those you love like to do during “play” time.

Here is my Layout. My husband and daughter’s new passion is our new Wii game system. They are having so much fun with it! I used Flim Flam by JenLin Designs and the Try it Out template by Britt-ish Designs.

Here are some fun and fabulous Layouts by our ScrapMatters CT

“The Hunt” by Andrea (chia) using Haynay Designs ”Fall Splendor”

“Playtime” by Lisa Kane using Ellie Lash Designs “These Crazy Days” and Sya’s Blueprints “Revived set 1″

“Hotdog King” by Britt using her Motor Mania kit and new birthday grab bag goodies

“Goecaching” by Mary (littlehiccup] using Haynay Designs  ”Fall Splendor” and Britt-ish Designs “Creative Block template”

Your participation prize will be this sweet mini kit by Simply Sweet Designs

I hope you have fun this weekend and can’t wait to see what you like doing!

Good morning Scrappers! It’s ScrapMatters’ 1st Birthday celebration this weekend and we’re kicking things off with a super fun freebie Blog Train! This is your first stop!! From here you’ll start collecting brag book pages (and a few other fun surprises) as you hop from blog to blog! Keep in mind that we are an international (and a very large) team, so if you hit a blog that hasn’t posted their blog train post yet, be patient! All freebie links will be valid for a long time, so you won’t miss out! We promise!!

Have fun on the blog train!!!

Head to your first stop now: Andilynn Designs.

Happy birthday to us–we’re turning one and we’re having a party to celebrate.  Thanks for stopping by and joining us.  Here’s the plan:

Everything except Bella Scraps Magazine, Commercial Use, Grab Bags and Clearance is on sale for at least 30% off.

If you spend $10 in the store you will receive our fabulous birthday collab called “You Say It’s Your Birthday.”  No need to do a thing, it will automatically be added to your cart when your cart has $10 worth of goodies in it.

Take a look at this fabulous kit:

We also have a blog train, a birthday daily download starting today as well as a chat with a freebie on Saturday.  So stay tuned for more info.  And thanks for celebrating with us.

Heather (hedderlee) here.  Aaargh! I was at the mercy of my downed internet connection. So sorry to bring you today’s Theory Thursday post so late!

We at ScrapMatters are elated to bring you many new and exciting components to our vibrant community, and I get to unveil our new hybrid scrapping line up. The new hybrid artists and I are so thrilled to take you on this journey. When you went digital, did you leave behind your glue and hoards of paper? Whether or not this describes you, here is a map of what you will encounter on Thursdays’ posts so you can come along:

Week 1: Hybridology 101 - We will walk you through simple hybrid projects with step-by-step tutorials.
Week 2: Happy Happy Holidays – Hybrid projects are a great way to celebrate the holidays. We will give you some great gift ideas as well as help you organize during the hectic holiday seasons.
Week 3: Project reNEWit – Any pack rats out there that see art possibilities in almost everything lying around the house? We will help you create hybrid projects for little or no money as well as take care of our environment.
Week 4: SM Designer’s Showcase – Our ScrapMatters designers have ready to make hybrid projects in the shop. Have you tried them? We will take one designer each month and highlight her product, so you can see what it looks like in finished form.
If there is a Week 5: Blogger’s Choice – Anything hybrid related here.

WOW! Talk about fun, fun, fun!!!

We will be hosting a new It’s in the Cards weekly challenge as well. Stay tuned for more!

Now I want to introduce you to my friend Donna Sangwin, who founded a non-profit organization called reCREATE that teaches environmental awareness through creativity. She works with businesses in her region to collect their unwanted materials (read clean, usable treasures), then uses these items for an education program that teaches environmental lessons, art and creativity. Check out her inspirational program! We look forward to her monthly guest appearances. Now take it away, Donna:
(Donna, with her sweet little girl)

“I am here to encourage you to rethink your notion of what trash is. We have all probably heard that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, but in today’s “disposable” mindset – that it true now more than ever. Don’t worry – I’m not here to suggest you hoard everything you touch, and never throw anything away. I’m just nudging you to consider the possibilities of say, a tea bag container-box, or using the cardboard from cereal boxes, maybe even that really cute shampoo bottle. Once I started considering my throughput (my preferred word to trash), I realized I was trashing a bounty of good stuff.

The winner will be sent an organic cotton reCREATE t-shirt, and a bag of yummy scrap paper donated from local printers and my local scrapbook store.”

Thanks, Donna! Now here is the template so you can play:

***Download here***no longer available – thanks!

I made a bunch of notepads for a stationery swap we did recently. Aren’t they cool? Britt’s Shiver Me Timbers kit was a hit with the boys I made them for.

ScrapMatters is turning 1 year old this weekend and we are going to PART-TAY!

From Sept. 26 – 29

- At least 30% off on everything in the store (excluding commercial use, grab bags, and Bella Scraps Magazine)
- Freebie Blog Train
- Birthday Party Chat on 9/27
- all new Daily Download begins!

Come join us, won’t you??!

Hi everyone!

Denise here to bring you another edition of the Tuesday Template Challenge.

This challenge is particularly near and dear to my heart because I love to design templates…so it was fun for me to know that I was going to be able to give away a template here at ScrapMatters.

So, without further ado, here is the template.

The image is clickable.

This template is pretty special to me because it is based on a layout I really love! The layout is about the special relationship that my daughter, Becky, has with her friend Evan. It brings me great joy to watch them together.

So, here is the rest of your challenge. Take the template and scrap about a special friendship…either in your own life or in the life one someone close to you.

I would love to see you include initials and also use an alpha and dress it up! Oh, an include some journaling. (Of course, this part is optional, but I would LOVE to see it anyway!)

And to get you started, here is a little (okay a lot) of inspiration from the Creative Team.

Lisa (ckmom12673):

Stefanie:

Kate (scrappykate):

Monique (monsu):

from Christine (alamama):

Andrea (chia):

Krista (sahlink):

Cyndi (cyndi146):

Heather (hedderlee):

Kim (kimbytx):

Jamie (ocmath):

Wendy (kissncontrol):

Alice (fa11enan9e1):

Kari (karistamps):

Holly (**holly**):

Stacy (shutch):

Oh, my word, aren’t they AMAZING?

Doesn’t it just make you want to scrap your own? hehehe

So, get to it!

You have one week (until midnight September 29) to post to the Tuesday Template Challenge Gallery and link back in the forum here.

Everyone who participates will receive this fabulous alpha from Happy Scrap Girl.

Isn’t it great?

I am so excited to see what you come up with.

Happy scrapping!

If you open your scrapbook and look through the pages, what is the subject you scrap the most? Is it your spouse, your children, family or friends? Maybe it’s a pet or the places you go? I scrap my children and my family. I scrap the events that are important to us and the moments we share together. To me that is what matters most. As I look through our wonderful ScrapMatters gallery, it seems like I am not the only one that does that either. So it must be what matters most to you too.

But how often do you scrap about yourself? To my children, I am what matters most (or at least I like to think so and how much do they really know about me or see my picture in our family scrapbook album.

It was fun being the spotlight yesterday and letting others get to know me.  I also thought what a great idea for a layout or special page in my scrapbook. I have been thinking about this as well after my oldest daughter commented, while going through our family scrapbook, that I wasn’t in it. Except for my birthday, Mother’s Day and major holidays…I really wasn’t.

Years from now, when posterity is going through our records, I am afraid there will not be much to know about me…except that I loved my family enough to take the pictures and record (scrap) our life. I know, I know…it seems a little weird to scrap about yourself, right?   But that is my challenge to you this week, interview yourself and scrap it! Add a picture or two if you want, but give yourself a spotlight in your scrapbook.  And as an added little bonus, if you decide to participate, then please post to this thread in the forum and in the gallery as well, in order to receive this beautiful little mini-kit from me.

This was my example below…some of my favorites and things about me that maybe my children don’t know. But you can add anything you want that represents who you are and what you are all about. Keep scrapping your favorite subjects, but don’t forget about yourself too!  I can’t wait to see all the “About Me” layouts in our gallery this week.

Everything from *HOO’S ready for fall?*

(Additional credits in gallery)