Hi everyone! Melissa (profiler_mar) here for another hybrid corner! With the new year coming up on us, everyone is making resolutions. I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions, since I rarely ever keep them. But I do tend to try and make changes in the new year. This year, my boyfriend and I will be on a really tight budget and paying off some debt. So, I plan to become serious about using coupons to save money on groceries and household items. I decided to make some customized envelopes to sort the coupons in, and I have to say, I love how they turned out!

Here are some hybrid products that you can use for this project:

Cover It Up Money by Krisi’s Kreations:

Cover It Up Invitation by Krisi’s Kreations:

Cover It Up Square by Krisi’s Kreations:

For my envelopes I used Cover It Up Money by Krisi’s Kreations and Boho Chic by geniaBeana Scraps.

First, open the envelope template in your scrapbooking software and decorate it to your liking. I used all five envelope templates and separated my coupons into five categories, which I listed on the front of each envelope. Once done, print your envelopes out. I used Epson Premium Presentation Paper Matte for this project.

Next, cut out the envelopes.

To make the envelopes easier to fold, score them along the scoring lines that were marked on the template. I use a bone folder to score my projects.

Next, to assemble the envelopes, you need to be very careful with the adhesive, so that the back of the envelope does not stick to the front when you fold it over. On the templates I used, the back of the envelope does not completely overlap the flaps that fold in on the sides. If you apply adhesive to the front of the flaps, you will have excess adhesive due to the width and length of the flaps. So, I cut two small pieces of adhesive and applied them to the blank side of the back of the envelope, as seen below. I only applied the adhesive up half way, because of how the back of the envelope folds over. I do not want the front and back of the envelope to stick together when I fold the envelope together. I used red line double sided tape, as I want these envelopes to have a strong adhesive, since they will be used multiple times.

You can see how then envelope folds together below:

And you can see, my coupons fit the length of the envelope and just slide right in:

Here are my finished envelopes:

See how simple that is? And now I will be the envy at the grocery store with beautiful custom envelopes. You can use these envelope templates to organize so many different things, so go on and give it a try! I can’t wait to see your beautiful hybrid projects in the gallery!

Happy Monday after the holidays!  Did everyone survive the weekend?  How’s the clean up and rest process going?  It’s Kat again (ktanker) with your weekly home matters post.  I’ve been browsing through the galleries looking for some projects that may help your holiday clean up, or at least keep you busy avoiding it.

Check out this “cleaning caddy” created by knlchevys

How about making your soap dispenser a little prettier?  Look at this project by one of our hybrid team members, Dalis.

What about your digital organizing?  Got lots of photos from Christmas?  I took almost 400 pictures on Christmas Day alone.  Believe me, I would have never thought and still am trying to figure out how that happened!  So I like to use these cool DVD/CD holders.  I like it because it is really fun to make and pretty darn easy to assemble.  Suddenly I WANT to take the time to put my photos on DVDs.

Here’s a project using this template by one of our fab girls, profiler_mar.

And here’s another great view…

Be sure and post a comment either here or on our facebook page to show us what you have done to help out around the house with your holiday clean up!

Wow, it’s hard to believe that the holidays are winding down. I hope everyone had a wonderful time filled with family, friends, and lots of memories to scrap. Today, I’m bringing you not one, but TWO Sunday Spotlights. So, grab a snack and drink and get cozy for some good reading.

First up, we are getting to know one of our amazing SM designers, GrahamLiketheCracker.

1. Your screen name? Your real name? GrahamLiketheCracker and my real name is Jen Graham.

2. What is your main job/career? My main job is chief engineer in charge of child rearing, culinary delights and the decorative arts.

3. Are you married/children/pets? I am married to Travis. We have one son named Alton and two furbabies, Jackson and Lucy.

4. Where is home for you? We hail from Southern California.

5. What are your 3 favorite foods?  1.  Coffee. I have a violent love affair with the one cup I let myself have the morning.  2.  Mexican. We could (and often have) eat Mexican food every day for a week. We might be on a first name basis with the crew at our local Chipotle and I just found out that Alton’s school sells Chipotle Scrip… so I expect we will be dining there even more often. Ole! 3.  Anything baked. I loved homemade baked goods. I love to make homemade baked goods. I just figured out though that my body does WAY better without them. Le Sigh. It’s like a sad, sad joke really.

6. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?  Oh my… how to limit it to just one? There’s no way. New York Super Fudge Chunk at the store. Peanut Butter Cup Perfection @ Cold Stone and Plain Tart at Yogurtland. I am not sure why… but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the plain tart yogurt all by itself at our local frozen yogurt place.

7. Snacks…Salty or Sweet?  I believe I addressed this above, but sweet. Please.

8. Beverage of choice? Water. Seriously. I rarely drink anything besides my morning cup of coffee and iced water. The colder the better.

9. What’s your least favorite food? Broccoli. It is the darnedest thing for me to try to get Alton to eat it too, because I think it’s hideous.

10. PC or Mac? What program do you use? PC please. Have you seen the price for a comparable Mac? Maybe someday… I hear it’s better for graphic design. I currently use CS4 to design.

11. How long have you been digi-scrapping? How did you get started? My girlfriend Charmaine (Charmedeebob) and I met in an online expecting club and when we met in real life, she taught me how to digiscrap. I have been digiscrapping for about 2 1/2 years now.

12. What was your 1st LO about? 
My first layout was a page from when a bunch of us from the online expecting group met in real life at Charmaine’s house.

13. Do you have any other hobbies besides digi-scrapping (are there other hobbies)? I am of the camp that believes there are no other hobbies…. If I am not designing, I scrap.

14. What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you? Finding time to do it. I spend a lot of time designing, and then admin-ing… I love when can find time to scrap since I started doing this to document Alton’s childhood.

15. What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking? I would love to learn to sing. I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.

16. What are your favorite movies/TV shows? I will admit, I am a TV junkie. The Food Network is on constant loop in our house. We change it off of Food Network to watch Vampire Diaries, The Biggest Loser, Grey’s Anatomy, Survivor and Castle.

17. Describe your “scrapping” environment.  My “office” is in my tiny living room. My MIL gave me her desk when her movers couldn’t fit it in her office door. It’s HUGE. I am in the middle of our living room. When Alton’s at school I put music on, and when no one is home I CRANK the music while I design. Sometimes when I have a deadline, I will work in the evening while we “watch” TV, but I am so absorbed by my work that I couldn’t tell you what was happening on the television.

18. If you only had 2 elements to use on a LO, what would they be? A string to weave and stars to cluster. I LOVE weaving things on my layouts.

19. Would you like to share a little known fact about you…? Are there any left? I talk a lot.  I ran track in high school and I am in training to become a runner again.
 
20. When did you start designing? What is your favorite product that you’ve designed? I started designing in March of 2009. I wouldn’t consider myself competent though until about the beginning of 2010.  My favorite collection I have ever designed is currently FamilyMatters. I designed the color palette with my favorite colors and to this day when I want to scrap something and can’t find the perfect kit, I grab that.

21. How would you describe your design style? Eclectic? Clean lines with a little bit of worn grunge thrown in.

22. Where do you get your inspiration/motivation? Pottery Barn. You can buy everything there! All kidding aside, I usually make a palette based on the season or theme I am working with and when it’s going to be a REALLY good kit, I can picture the preview in my head and start making stuff!

23. Which of your kits showcases you style the most? FamilyMatters and An Orchard Harvest. I love making my own “paper” elements.

24. What is your favorite color scheme to design with? Red and blue. I lub dem.

25. Favorite kit you’ve designed?  FamilyMatters and Persephone.

Thanks so much for letting us get to know you a little better Jen! Be sure to stop by the GrahamLiketheCracker shop here at ScrapMatters and check out all of Jen’s fabulous kits. Did you see Friday’s blog post?!? Jen has graciously given a special coupon that takes 40% off your order of $10 or more! Just enter MerryMerry at checkout for her special Christmas gift to you!

Next up, we are getting to know another awesome SM designer, Jady Day Studio.

1. Your screen name? Your real name? yari/Yari

2. What is your main job/career? stay-at-home Mom

3. Are you married/children/pets? Yes with 4 kiddos under the age of 6 1/2!

4. Where is home for you? I currently live in Southern California.

5. What are your 3 favorite foods? I like pretty much anything Latin, Italian, and Chinese.

6. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Cookie Dough.

7. Snacks…Salty or Sweet? Occasionally I have Doritos chips but then there’s also chocolate, so I guess it’d be both sweet and salty.

8. Beverage of choice? Water all the way.

9. What’s your least favorite food? Veggies

10. PC or Mac? What program do you use? PC/Adobe Photoshop CS4.

11. How long have you been digi-scrapping? How did you get started? I have been digi-scrapping since early 2008. I came across a website that used someone’s kit for the design and the credits were linked to the designer’s store. So I clicked on it, read about all that digi-scrapping is about, and then did a search for digital scrapbooking stores. Then…it happened…I saw a flood of gorgeousness and was hooked immediately!

12. What was your 1st LO about? Unfortunately I do not have it in any gallery. I made it with a freebie kit.

13. Do you have any other hobbies besides digi-scrapping? I love interior design and photography.

14. What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you? For me I think the hardest part is starting, you know that part where you think, “OK how do I want this layout to look?” and then actually going from what you envision. So many times I start a layout and not too far into it I hate what I have done so far but I keep working on it until it is finished and by the time I am done with it, I absolutely love it.

15. What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking? Well, I would love to learn more about photography, though that is related to scrapbooking so I’m not sure if that counts.

16. What are your favorite movies/TV shows? I love The Cosby Show, The Wonder Years, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance. As far as movies go, I love all the Harry Potter movies and books.

17. Describe your “scrapping” environment. Music? TV in the background? Drinks? Snacks? Where? Um, well it sure would be nice to do it in a such a nice environment but my environment usually consists of me sitting in my office at home with children constantly coming to ask me questions or wanting something from me (like chocolate milk), which I do not mind at all but it does take me longer than usual to finish a layout. Oh well!

18. If you only had 2 elements to use on a LO, what would they be? A swirl or flourish, and a flower. I figure I could repeat those as manytimes as I want to make the layout look like I want it too, but yetsimple enough so that it’s not overwhelming.

19. Would you like to share a little known fact about you…? My life is C.R.A.Z.Y.! But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I get bored otherwise.

20. When did you start designing? Since June of 2008, so 2 ½ years. I started offering hybrid freebies on my blog and then about a month later I ventured on making my first kit and offered it as a freebie. I received a lot of comments from people suggesting I make more kits so I did and here I am.

21. How would you describe your design style? Totally sweet, happy colors, realistic, and very practical.

22. Where do you get your inspiration/motivation? Things I do with my family, or life events. Sometimes I am inspired by the season, or just photos I have that need to be digi-scrapped but have not found the perfect kit to use with them.

23. Which of your kits showcases you style the most? Definitely my “Little Apple School” kit.  I love the textures, the colors, the realistic look of the elements and papers, the practicality of it because it can be used in so many school layouts and projects, and how jam-packed it is!

24. What is your favorite color scheme to design with? I absolutely love turquoise/light aqua! I use it often. I also use dark brown, off white, and a kraft color on pretty much all of my kits because I feel these are essential and go with any color.

25. Favorite kit you’ve designed? My favorite product that I have designed is my “Beautiful” kit released in November of this year.

Thanks so much Yari for letting us get to know a little more about you! Be sure to stop by the Jady Day Studio shop here at SM to pick up some of Yari’s fabulous kits!

I appreciate you sticking with me today and taking the time to learn more about two of our amazing designers!

-Kelli (kellig)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I know there were tons of amazing hybrid goodies in the gallery this week, but this one really jumped out at me! I absolutely LOVE this! It is a GREAT gift idea… but I want to make one for myself too!! Take a look at this Hanging JOY project from scrapporreia.

Congratulations Linda! Be sure to stop by the gallery and forum to leave her some love for this amazing and super creative project!

-Kris (PhotoNut71)

I love this layout, Home for the Holidays, by simplegirlscraps…it is beautiful and even though there are no photos, it has such touching journaling that I’m reminded that it is our stories that are just as important to share as our photographic memories!

Congratulations Theresa!! Be sure to stop by the forum and gallery to leave her some love for this awesome photo-less page!!

-Kris (PhotoNut)

Merry Christmas!! I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful day filled with family, friends, blessings and joy. I’m here to bring you a special edition of our Sunday Spotlight…on Saturday evening. Today we are taking some time to get to know our two awesome guest designers, Cindy Schneider and Aaron of Sirscrapalot.

First up, let’s meet Cindy.

1. Your screen name? Your real name?
Screen Name: cindys732003  
Real Name: Cindy Schneider

2. What is your main job/career? I’m a SAHM

3. Are you married/children/pets? I’ve been married for 10 years and have 2 children, Ashley (7) and Curtis (5)

4. Where is home for you?  Bradford, Ontario, Canada

5. What are your 3 favorite foods? Pizza, Pasta, a good Stirfry!

6. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Mint Chocolate Chip

7. Snacks…Salty or Sweet? Both, usually sweet first, but then I get sick of that and want something salty LOL

8. Beverage of choice? Iced Cappuccino for taste, water if I’m thirsty!

9. What’s your least favorite food? Mushrooms

10. PC or Mac? What program do you use? PC, Adobe Photoshop CS2

11. How long have you been digi-scrapping? How did you get started? I started digiscrapping in the spring of 2006, shortly after the birth of my son.  I used to paper scrap, but it was just too time consuming and messy with kids around, so I switched to digi!

12. What was your 1st LO about? Gosh, I don’t even think I have my first LO anymore, but the first one posted in my gallery at DST is:

13. Do you have any other hobbies besides digi-scrapping (are there other hobbies)? Digiscrapping and designing templates takes up most of my free time, but I love photography.

14. What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you? Definitely the journalling is the most challenging.   I am not the greatest writer, so it never comes very naturally for me. However,  I think I have definitely improved since I first started digiscrapping.

15. What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking? Interior decorating.  I’m so indecisive it’s hard for me to do!

16. What are your favorite movies/TV shows? We don’t watch a huge amount of movies (besides childrens ones!), but my favorite TV show at the moment is Modern Family.  I also love reality TV  and watch Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, and Amazing Race.  I love the Ellen Degeneres show as well, it totally makes me laugh!

17. Describe your “scrapping” environment. Music? TV in the background? Drinks? Snacks? Where? Depends on what kind of mood I’m in and what I’m doing.  If I’m actually putting together templates, then I usually have it pretty quiet.  If I’m scrapping, I sometimes listen to music and the odd time TV.  My computer/office area is in the basement where the kids and all of their toys are, so it’s never REALLY quiet, unless they are in bed!

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

19. Would you like to share a little known fact about you…? I have a Bachelors of Science Degree in Chemistry.

20. When did you start designing? What is your favorite product that you’ve designed for ScrapMatters? I started designing templates in the Fall of 2008.  My favorite product I’ve designed for ScrapMatters is probably Set #81.

21. How would you describe your design style? Generally I find it easiest to do layouts with multiple photos and lots of paper layers and clustering, but I always try to keep the photos the main focus of the page!
 
22. Where do you get your inspiration/motivation? My photos are always my inspiration when I scrap and design.  I tend to keep the photos on the larger side, without too much whitespace on the page, so they are always the focal point of the layout when they are printed out and put in an album!

23. When designing your templates, do you start with the template or LO first? I would say about 60% of the time I do the LO first, and the rest I do the template first.

24. What is your favorite template you’ve designed? My Year in Review Templates – here is one of my LO’s using them.

Did you know that Cindy has been kind enough to join in on the SM Christmas sale going on right now?!? Just enter code xmasCS30 at checkout to receive 30% off Cindy’s templates here at ScrapMatters.

Next up, we are getting to know Sirscrapalot. Yep, you read that correctly…we’ve got a man in the house!

1. Your screen name? Your real name?
Sir Scrapalot, Aaron

2. What is your main job/career? 7th Grade Math Teacher

3. Are you married/children/pets? Married to my wife Stephanie, and we have to daughters who are four and six

4. Where is home for you? Massachusetts

5. What are your 3 favorite foods? Pretzels, Pancakes, and Crackers

6. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Peanut Butter Cup

7. Snacks…Salty or Sweet? Salty

8. Beverage of choice? Diet Coke

9. What’s your least favorite food? Fish

10. PC or Mac? What program do you use? PC, Adobe Photoshop CS3

11. How long have you been digi-scrapping? How did you get started? I’ve been digi scrapping for three years. I started scrapbooking a few months before that as a way to stay off the computer, but then I found digi and haven’t turned back.

12. What was your 1st LO about? Music I was listening to at the time.

13. Do you have any other hobbies besides digi-scrapping (are there other hobbies)? I like music and reality tv, as well as keeping up my blog.

14. What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you? Getting to that “just right” point…I never feel like I am there.

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

16. What are your favorite movies/TV shows? Movie: Elf TV Shows: Glee, and most reality TV

17. Describe your “scrapping” environment. Music? TV in the background? Drinks? Snacks? Where? In my living room, with my wife watching TV. Usually no snacks, maybe a coffee.

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

19. Would you like to share a little known fact about you…? I have a musical theater background.

20. When did you start designing? What is your favorite product that you’ve designed for ScrapMatters? I started 3 years ago. My favorite product is Merry Christmas, Deer

21. How would you describe your design style? Whimsical and fun.

22. Where do you get your inspiration/motivation? Everywhere, but mostly out in the world around me…and by that I mean Target.

23. When designing, do you start with papers or embellishments first? Usually papers…sometimes elements if they are highly themed.

Thank you so much Cindy and Aaron for letting us get to know you both a little better. Be sure to stop by Cindy Schneider’s store and Sirscrapalot’s store to pick up their exclusive SM goodies before they’re gone at the end of the month.

Hello there!  It’s Christmas Eve-Eve as my boys and I call it. The holidays are filled with traditions. My youngest son has a tradition on this day. He and one of his best buddies have a sleep over each year on Christmas Eve-Eve. They started this 10 years ago at the age of 3. I was so thrilled that as teenagers this year they are still interested in keeping up with this tradition!

Which got me to thinking…. about the coming new year… and traditions…. and the simple things in life.  As I sat here sipping my coffee and appreciating all the simple blessings we have, it inspired me to create this card.

I’ve created a template for this card for today’s It’s in the Cards Challenge. You can download it here.

Challenge reminders:
-You will receive one point for posting in the IITC 12-23-10 Thread and in the It’s In The Cards  gallery. You can receive an additional point for using new Scrap Matters products; please make a note of new products in your thread post. And at the end of the month you’ll be entered into a random drawing that could earn you some bonus points!

-You have until the end of January 2011 to complete this challenge to earn MOS points. (yes that’s right – you get a special holiday extension to the deadline!!)

-Remember no double dipping…your card must be unique to this challenge.

-You don’t have to use Scrap Matters products, but we love it when you do!
And here is some yummy inspiration from our terrific creative team:

Check out the bright colors on this card by Tamara. She used EZ Wishes Bundle by Erica Zane.

Rebecca created this wonderful friendship card using The Sweetest Thing by The Design Girl and Terri – handwriting font by Krisi’s Kreations.

Tanya made this most adorable little snowman card (that makes a wonderful holiday decoration too!) using Winter Wishes by GG Digital Designs

This next card is so festive, I love the traditional holiday colors that quietangelsb used from the Christmas Time kit by GG Digital Designs.

Now check out this personalized card that Carina made using For Him by Graham Like the Cracker.

Wow!  Great inspiration.  I hope you have fun creating your card. I can’t wait to see what you have made!

Happy Holidays!

This week we are getting our lifting inspiration from Priscilliana! You can find her gallery here ! I love her use of white space, so her gallery really drew me in!

I lifted this page:

Here’s my interpretation of her page using Choo Choo Bundle and Blog freebie by Chelle’s Creations:

More inspiration from the rest of the team….

Becca lifted this page:

She used the Joyeux Noel collab kit by Stolen Moments and By Becca’s:

Jenn’s pick:

Using the Great Escape kit by WM[2]Squared Designs:

Jan chose this page to lift:

Using Happiness and Happiness Cluster Frames (Speed Scrap PP) by Creations by Rachael:

Melissa scraplifted this:

She used Captivated By You from Amy Stoffel:

Challenge reminders:
-You will receive [B]one point [/B] for posting in this thread & in the Grand Theft Layout gallery. You can receive [B]an additional point[/B] for [B]using new Scrap Matters products[/B]; please make a note of new products in your post. At the end of January you’ll be entered into a random drawing that could earn you some bonus points!
-You have until the end of December to complete this challenge for December MOS points or wait to post in January for January MOS points!
-Remember no double dipping…your layout must be unique to this challenge.
-You don’t have to use Scrap Matters products, but we love it when you do!
-Have fun!

I look forward to seeing how Priscilliana inspires you!
–Jami

Hello gals!!  Wendy here with your Tuesday Template!

As always, there is no specific theme or set of rules for today’s template, just have fun!! Use the template as is, or switch it up…it’s all up to you!

The template:

Here’s *MY* LO:

Credits: History Lessons by Chelles Creations, Stitch Me Up – Combo by Chelles Creations, A Little Sketchy by WM[squared],  Pea Dana Anne

Here is some inspiration from the ScrapMatters CT/DT & Admin Teams:

Layout By: Kim

Credits: Captivated by You by Amy Stoffel and It’s My Party by WM[Squared]

Layout By: Melissa

Credits: Summer in Hooville by Jady Day Studio and Simply Dated Vol 10 by WM[squared]

Layout By: Jami

Credits: Holly Jolly Holiday by Chelle’s Creations

Layout By: Bonnie

Credits:
Wishes Bundle by Erica Zane

See the rest of the wonderful LO’s in the forum!

Feel inspired? Good! Now go download the template –>>  here and lemme see what ya got! I’ve included both the .psd, tiff, thanks to Jan (QuiltyMom) i’ve included the .page file & .png files for you!

The “Fine Print” aka the Matter of Scrap Challenge rules:

You only have the rest of December to complete the layout – so get it in quick!  Upload it to the gallery, and leave BOTH the image and a link in the challenge forum–>> HERE!

You will receive one point for completing the challenge. You can earn an additional point for using a new product from the ScrapMatters store (PLEASE indicate you have used something new when you leave us the link in the forum), and one lucky winner will receive one more point – I will be doing a random draw!

Remember, no double dipping…your layout must be unique to this challenge.

Happy Scrapping!!

Wendy