Am I just a sucker for babies or is this a fantastic LO?!? The hint of blue, the ricrac for texture, the lines, the hanging photos in the clustering, and the simple beauty caught my eye! Candacesoon has my pick for LOTW Aug. 7th!

Image is linked to leave love!

Jamie (jamieh)

This is such a fun gift idea and even though this one is a wine journal it could a daily journal, special notebook for school, autograph book, etc.  So many possibilities!!  Hats off to NikkiFB for this fun project concept!  It also uses the fabulous “Great Escape” kit by wm[squared].

You can click the image above to leave love! =)

Lisa (Kelseyll)

Here to ride the blog train?  Keep reading! 

We are so excited to share our birthday with all of our friends!  There is a lot going on this weekend, games, challenges, prizes, freebies and even a scavenger hunt!!  Be sure to check out our BIRTHDAY FORUM here.

Now on to the good stuff…  Our design team has created a beautiful FWP kit for you.  To get this kit free, load your cart with $20 dollars of items, and this kit is FREE.  There’s a great sale, so it is a good time to stock up!

Now, I know why you are really here… you want the freebies!  We understand and that is why we have brought you this amazing blog train AND a BONUS scavenger hunt!!  What? You say?  A scavenger hunt!  Yes!  We have 47 designers and CT who have worked to create you some amazing freebies BUT 10 of these downloads include a PHOTO PIECE.  If you collect ALL 10 photo pieces, you have the opportunity to win another prize!!  I can’t reveal yet what the prize is, but we will soon!  Take your puzzle pieces and piece them together, then upload your image to your favorite photo host.  Once you are done with your image, simply post A LINK TO IT IN SCAVENGER HUNT THREAD.  Please remember just to post a link, not the actual image.  If you have ANY questions, you can send a PM to Kat, she’s been working hard to get this all organized for you and can answer any questions you might have.  You MUST have your puzzle image in by 12 AM EST Monday Aug. 8th (That’s SUNDAY night at Midnight! 

Now, without further ado… here’s your train.  If you get lost, come back here to help find your way.  Hold on tight!  It’s going to be a great ride!  DON’T FORGET TO GRAB YOUR FIRST PUZZLE PIECE HERE…

2. Scrapmatters.com blog: http://scrapmatters.com/wordpress/
3. Wendy: http://wendys-craftycreations.blogspot.com/
4. Val: http://geniabeanascraps.com
5. Mary: http://plumdumplingdesign.blogspot.com
6. Jaime: http://simplyjstudio.blogspot.com
7. Jenn: http://www.confessionsofadigitalscrapper.com
8. Amber: http://stolenmomentsdesign.blogspot.com/
9. Angie: http://downthisroaddesigns.blogspot.com/
10. Tanya: http://crossbonecuts.blogspot.com/
11. Erica: http://ericazane.blogspot.com/
12. Krisi: http://krisiskreations.blogspot.com/
13. Steph.designs: http://lesdigisdesteph.blogspot.com/
14. Lina: http://ldragdesigns.blogspot.com/
15. Ana: http://sugaryfancy.com/blog/
16. Jenn H: http://truebluestudio.blogspot.com/
17. Elise: http://www.elisespieces.com
18: Amy: http://justus-mylifeinpictures.blogspot.com/
19: Cheri: http://dreambigdigi.blogspot.com/
20. Christina: http://www.wimpychompers.com/
21. Yari/Jady Day Studio: http://www.jadydaystudio.com/
22. Kimbytx: http://kimbytx.blogspot.com/
23: Calliclaire: http://www.calliclaire.blogspot.com/
24: KimB: http://kimbsdesigns.blogspot.com/
25.  Jenn http://www.thetypativescrapper.blogspot.com/
26. Fran http://franscraps.blogspot.com
27. Ophelia http://www.navaja77digiscraprealm.blogspot.com/
28. Amanda http://mhkscraps.blogspot.com
29. Heidi http://myfamilyscrappings.blogspot.com
30. Fiona http://mydigaddiction.blogspot.com/
31. Kendall http://majorscrapitude.blogspot.com/
32. Neverland Scraps http://neverlandscraps.blogspot.com/
33. Heather K http://createdbyheather.blogspot.com
34. Manda http://sankostudio.blogspot.com
35. Melissa http://yzerbear.blogspot.com
36. Trista http://tristaree.com
37. Annisa http://themeyersfamilystory.blogspot.com
38.Chel: http://scrappingchelcreations.wordpress.com/
39. Melanie: http://live-capture-create.blogspot.com/
40. Heather W: http://heatherw25.blogspot.com/
41. Sharon: http://quietangelsb.blogspot.com/
42. Amy: http://melniczenkomusings.blogspot.com/
43. Cathy: http://scrappycath.blogspot.com/
44. Kat: http://katdesigned.blogspot.com
45. Becca A: http://www.beccas-paper-view.blogspot.com
46. Crystal: http://www.sugarpiescrapping.blogspot.com
47. Day: http://digiinspirations.com/blog/

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY SCRAPMATTERS!  chooo choooooooo!

Hello fellow scrappers,

Kayla aka keepscrappin here with today’s Saturday Special Challenge.  I love to have a title on all of my layouts; however, sometimes coming up with a new title for every layout can get hard.  I like my title to convey a message or reinforce the theme of my page, so when I’m stuck for a title one of the places I turn to for inspiration is word art.  Plus using a piece of word art for my title can be an easy and quick way to finish off my page.

So the challenge for today is to use word art for your title.  You can make your own word art or use a premade word art as is or combine it with a font, alpha, or embellishments.  The choice is yours – just have some fun and make your title really shine on your layout.

Many kits come with word art but if the kit you’re working with doesn’t have the perfect one for you, check out the special section for word art here in the ScrapMatters store.  Below are just a couple of the many word art packs available.

Here’s my layout using a word art (part recolored) from Little Princess Sighs Word Art by Graham Like the Cracker for the title and Fairytale from The Design Girl.

And here’s some inspiration from the Fabulous SM CT.

Becca used the Fresh Fun kit and Word Art from KimB for this understated beauty.

Ophelia used WM[Squared]‘s NEW Great Escape California for this Hollywood Blockbuster.

Kim used For the Love of Girls from Stolen Moments and Jady Day Studio for this sweet page.

Melissa used Mulberry Fields Family Word Art By KimB Designs and Lazy Days-E By Erica Zane for this cute family page.

Heather also used the NEW Great Escape: California Bundle from WM [Squared] for her star-studded page.

and Trista used the Fresh Fun kit and word art from KimB for her playful page.

Challenge reminders:
-You will receive one point for posting in the Saturday Special 8.6.11 forum thread & in the Saturday Special gallery. You can receive an additional point for using new Scrap Matters products; [COLOR="Red"]please make a note of new products in your post[/COLOR]. 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 August 2011 to complete this challenge to earn MOS points.

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

-You don’t have to use Scrap Matters products, but remember your SM gallery must contain at least 50% SM product beginning July 8, 2011.

Look What’s New at ScrapMatters.com 8/05/2011!!

Hello! Happy Birthday to Us! Happy Birthday to Us, Happy Birthday dear ScrapMatters! Happy Birthday to you! That’s right, today marks ScrapMatters 4th birthday and we are so excited to celebrate with you!

We have a blog train, chats and speed scraps all weekend long and the whole store is on sale! 30% off of personal use and 20% off of commercial use. It’s time to finally get those items from your wishlist! Plus, we have a GORGEOUS new Design Team collab that is yours FREE with any $20 purchase. Make sure you read to the end of the newsletter to get a peek at it.

Also with the new month we have new guest designers! If you have been shopping in this month’s Mix-a-Kit offerings, you may have figured out the identity of one of our guests, Gaye of GS Creations. Gaye will be joining us this month along with Rachel Jeffries, or Captivated Visions as she is known throughout the Scrappinverse. Finally, Jennifer Barrette had so much fun in July, that she is staying through the month of August as well.

Without any further ado, your ScrapMatters Newsletter.

**FREE with a $20 purchase during our 4th Birthday Bash August 5-11!**

*kit will be automatically added to your cart*

Subscribe to Our Newsletter!

Hi everyone and welcome to the Getting Hybrid challenge for the month of August. For this month, we will be hanging by a string by creating a mobile to hang around the house with just a few simple supplies.

To get us started, you will need the following supplies:
- Embroidery hoop or hoop created from cardboard
- String/ thread
- Cut out elements and circles
- Adhesive

Step 1: Select and cut out elements. Punch out or cut circles in complementary colors. I used Jady Day Studio’s Summertime Fun- At the Zoo and cut out 12 copies of different animals. In order to view the animals from any angle, I made mirror images of each animal so that they were double sided

Step 2: Lay out elements and circles per string depending on how long you would like each strand to hang from the hoop. I tried to make them about 18 inches long, interchanging between shapes and circles every other time
Step 3: Attach elements and circles to each strand either by stitching them together or gluing them to the string and attach each strand to your hoop. I attached the shapes to the fishing line using glue dots and then used a gluestick around the edges. Tie a string on both sides of your hoop to use to hang your finished mobile

Here are some wonderful examples from the creative team:

Tracy used He’s Out of This World by WimpyChompers to create an out of this world mobile

Melanie used Little Fish by The Design Girl to create an underwater adventure

Ami used Spring Chicken by Erica Zane to create a beautiful spring baby mobile

Thanks for such great pieces of inspiration ladies! Happy crafting and I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

************************************************** ********
The details:
-You will receive one point for posting in this thread & in the Getting Hybrid Gallery

-You can receive an additional point for using new ScrapMatters products; please make a note of new products in your 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 August to complete this challenge to earn MOS points.

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

- You don’t have to use Scrap Matters products, but remember your SM gallery must contain at least 50% SM product beginning July 8, 2011

Hi all! It’s Cyndi here and it’s my turn to host this next edition of Grand Theft Layout! I’ve chosen a fabulous scrapper and she just happens to be one of our ScrapMatters Girls. It’s jamieh and you can find her gallery HERE. Whether you’re a single photo or multi photo scrapper…. if you like clean lines or clusters galore…. you’re sure to find something you like. She’s even got a few hybrid projects in there you might want to try.
I chose Sleep Tight to lift.

Not only is the theme perfect for my photos, I loved Jamie’s patterned paper choices and her layered ribbons.

And here’s my layout

using Baa Baa Black Sheep & Glitter Trails by Band Geek Designs

And here are a few examples from our CT to get you inspired…

this first is from Becca236. She lifted…

and her wonderful layout…

using Oh Happy Day by Jenn Barrette and Erica Zane

Chel lifted…

and her take…

using geniaBeana Scraps August Mix a Kit

Kayla (keepscrappin) lifted…

and came up with this stunner…

using Imagination Creation from Stolen Moments and Flergs.

Kim (kmkarayannis) also like this one…

and her awesome take…

using Whooo Loves Ya? elements-Elise’s Pieces, Simple Life Paper Pack and Solid Papers-Haynay Designs and SMD:Sassy Saffron-Stolen Moments.

and from Fran. She liked…

and her layout…

Thanks gals for your inspiring layouts! Now your turn…

As a reminder:

*You will receive one point for posting your layout in the forum thread and in the Grand Theft Layout gallery. You can receive an additional point for using new ScrapMatters products; please make a note of your new products in your post in the forum. At the end of August, you will be entered into a drawing where you may just win a bonus point!

*You have until the end of August to complete your layout.

*Remember no double dipping. Your layout must be unique to this challenge.

*You don’t have to use ScrapMatters products, but we love it when you do! Please keep in mind that as of July 8th, at least half of the layouts in your SM gallery must contain at least one current SM product.

Hello everyone and happy Tuesday! The Tuesday Template challenge is one of my favorite challenges and even more fun to host. So here is what I created for you:

and here is the layout I created using it myself. I used the super cute Oh, Happy Day kit by Erica Zane and Jennifer Barrette

and here is what the amazing ScrapMatters creative team came up with using the same template:

Ophelia:

Becca:

Fran:

LeeAndra:

Cyndi:

Melanie:

Carina:

Stop by the Tuesday Template Challenge thread in the forum to download this great template and play along!