Wow, it’s October already!  This year is flying by!  Cathy here with a little project to help you out at Halloween.  Ever end up with plans the night of Halloween and you’re not able to be home to give out the candy?  Or maybe you want to escort your little characters as they trick or treat their way through the neighborhood and just need a helping hand for a bit.  Believe it or not, your craft and digi supplies can come to the rescue!

You can create a sweet sign to leave out with your stash of goodies. This way you get to enjoy your other plans, the Halloween visitors still get their treats and your house doesn’t get tricked, hopefully!

This is a fairly simple project. All that you’ll need is a picture frame, some printing paper and your favorite Halloween themed digital kit.  Lucky for you, the Mix-a-kit series at ScrapMatters for October has some great Halloween themed items.  You can pick and choose the portions of the kit that suit you best.  I used Frightful – The Patterns, Frightful – The Extras (by WM Squared Designs); Scary Elegance – Paper Pack (by Haynay Designs); Shabby Solids - October Mix (by GeniaBeana); Haunted House Elements, Haunted House Alpha (by Dream Big Designs), Purple Monster Alpha (by Amy Stoffel)

I found an old picture frame that was not being used and painted it black. It is an 8.5″x11″ frame which I turned on its side.  I designed my sign in Photoshop.  I printed it out on Red River Canvas paper.  Just popped it into the frame and I’m all set.

Perhaps the creepy eyes “watching” will keep the kids from taking all the candy!  I used a brush to create smoky clouds to help accentuate some of the design.

Believe it or not, I’ve had to leave a bowl of candy on the porch for the trick or treaters to help themselves in the past. I thought they would empty the bowl in no time. But I actually had leftover!  Hope you have a crafty and Happy Halloween!

Good Day.  Welcome to this edition of ScrapMatters Home Matters.  September tends to be a typically challenging month for those with children returning to school and this September has been particularly challenging for me personally.  My daughter starts kindergarten and I’m not sure which one of us it’s harder on – me or her.

To help me with this big change, I want to make sure that Emma knows that her Daddy and I are thinking about her by including a little note in (or on) her lunch bag.  While I’d like to think that these notes will be cherished for 100 years, I’m more of a realist and didn’t print these to be reused.

Before I dive into my hybrid projects, I like to gather my supplies.  So lets see, I need a ruler, a lunch bag, some ribbon, printing paper and my favorite digital kit.  Today my kit inspiration comes from the new Make-A-Kit series that the design team creates monthly!

Check out these from CrossBone Cuts Schooled – The Elements, Schooled – The Patterns and Schooled – Dots & Solids.

I measured the paper lunch bag to find that a best fit for the bag would be a 4” x 4” square.  I opened my scrap program (PSE 6) and created a document 4.25” x 4.25”.  This way when I got to print on my 8.5” x 11”, I can have 2 bag labels side by side.  When I go to print, my print menu screen will allow me to scale my project to print within the bounds of the printer’s parameters (takes the guess work out of making sure it’s correctly sized to begin with).

If you would like to preserve your note cards, you could print on a heavier paper like a cardstock (though you may find the colors to be muted) and seal it with Mod Podge or even laminate your cards.

Thanks for tuning in to my segment of Home Matters.  If you’d like to include a little something special to brighten your bagged lunches, you can also check out A Time to Learn: Note Cards by Stolen Moments and explore.learn.grow. Printables: lunch box notes by Simply J Studio and Sahlin Studio.  Hope that inspired you to take a printable look at your digi stash!

Welcome all to this month’s edition of Home Matters.  Ami here with a quick little project to help spice up your fridge.

I’ve always been drawn to magnets- for the most part they are inexpensive.  Whether its a memento from travels or a sovenir for a friend, a magnet can be a quick gift that shouts “hey, I was thinking about you!”.  I have found that the inspirational magnets tend to be a little more pricey.  So today, I am going to show you how I’ve made my own using some of the wonderful product in the ScrapMatters store.

First I gathered up my supplies!  Some bottle caps, a few spare magnets, my glue, a hot glue gun, pop dots, a hammer, a block of wood and my trusty scissors.  Then I did a quick search of the ScrapMatters store for flairs.  Did you know that this turned up 181 items?  Now that’s a lot of options!  For today’s project, I am going to be using:

So after a little playing around (and some help from my husband), I found that I preferred the look of the bottle cap to be neatly smashed with the ribbed edge to be folded towards the inside of the cap.

I then measured the diameter of the cap to find it was almost an inch.  I opened my scrap program (PSE 6) and created a quick template of 1″ circles using the elipse tool and these settings -

Using the template I created I sized the flairs to fit, printed and cut them out.  For extra stability, I printed on watercolor paper and coated it with mod podge.  Once dry, it was time to affix the flairs and the magnets to the bottle caps with the hot glue gun.  Here’s my new set of magnets-

Thanks for looking!

Hey there!  LuAnn here with this month’s Home Matters project.  But first, an update on the Home Matters postings.

Starting in May, there will be only one Home Matters post monthly – these will occur on the 2nd Monday of the month.  Our goal is to give you some new ideas on how to incorporate your scrapbooking talents (and digital supplies!) into your home.

Let’s get started with this month’s Home Matters project!  This project is one of the easiest projects to do if you are wanting to give Hybrid a shot!  I know, I know… I’ve said it before in my postings, but this one is really easy!!!!

Today, I’m going to show you how to create some decor that is perfect for a nursery or young child’s room.

My niece just recently had her first baby.  He was two months early and his nursery isn’t quite ready for his homecoming.  Erin sent me a photo of the bedding that she had for the nursery.

I decided to create some wall decorations for the nursery as my gift.  And Chelle’s Creations’ kit Zoo-pendous – combo was a perfect match with both theme and colors!

And here’s what I created to match the nursery bedding:

To create the wall art, I picked up three 8 x 10″ brown photo frames from a local discount store.

Next, I opened my photo editing program and created an 8.5 x 11″ blank canvas – this is the size of regular paper/cardstock.

note:  I always create my own “template” whenever creating a project.  After I create my template, I then go about filling the template much like a scrapbook page layout until I have the results that I want.  You could print full sheets of the paper of your choice, cut an 8 x 10 piece of from the patterned paper and then a 5 x 7 piece with the focal element centered, layer them and be done!

Using the rectangular marquee tool, I drew an 8 x 10″ shape on my canvas.  After adding a new layer, I flood filled the 8 x 10 shape with black.

Next, I drew a 5 x 7 shape, added a new layer and then flood filled the 5 x 7 shape with white.  Center on the black layer.   This will be my template.

After adding the giraffe element from the kit to the center, I picked out the background paper for the matting of my pictures.

I decided to leave the 5 x 7 area white as I had special paper I wanted to print the giraffe.

Before printing, I added some slight contrast and saturation to each layer. This helps tweak the printed color a little.  I then added a shadow to the giraffe.

I printed the background patterned paper on Epson Matte presentation paper and the giraffe element on a piece of Red River paper canvas paper.  Below, you can see the texture of the paper.

After trimming my papers, I adhered the paper canvas with the giraffe in the center of the background paper to create my picture before slipping it into the frame.

note:  you could also add a shadow the the giraffe element and also to the white 5 x 7 area before printing and then print as a flattened digital image to slip into the frame.

I designed the elephant and lion pictures in the same way as described above except that after creating my template, I rotated my canvas to the left so that those pictures were landscape.

Here are all three of them individually:

Didn’t they turn out darling? And I have to say they match the bedding nicely!!!  I’m totally stoked about how they turned out and can’t wait to mail them to Erin.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and are inspired to use your digital supplies to create something beautiful!

Hey everyone – LuAnn here with your March Home Matters post.

When I brainstorm ideas for my projects, I often take a look at what I have stashed away in my hybrid supplies.  I’m the type of person that will buy things in the clearance sections of stores and at yard sales with the intent of using them for a project.  Sometimes I use them right away and other times I tuck them away for a rainy day.  Even my kids will stop and ask, “Mom – can you use this for one of your projects?” before they throw something away.  How’s that for training??? 

Anyway, while going through my supplies I realized that I have quite a few things that have been in my stash for a while now.   It was at that point I decided that I was not going to buy ANYTHING for today’s project.  I was only going to use stuff that I had already in my house.

So, the hunt was on…. What all did I have and what could I use to create a project?

Well, here’s what I came up with for today’s Home Matters post – I spent no money at all on this project!!!  Everything used was found in my stash!

The frame was from a Stampin’ Up! project that I didn’t really like when we made them at the party a year ago but I loved the frame so I kept it!   It originally came from the big box store that sounds like Mal-Wart and was only $3.

The chipboard letters are from 2 different, but same sized alphabets.  The background was a left over piece of 12 x 12 neutral, canvas textured cardstock.

I even used a paper pack in my digital stash that I had downloaded before Christmas and never used!  It is a paper pack by Inspirations from Day called Zen Garden.

Aren’t those papers swoon-worthy? 

Additional supplies used: thin matte presentation paper, my Tombow adhesive tape runner, an exacto knife, a sanding block, ink for edges, scissors.

But again, use what you have!  No adhesive tape runner?  Use mod podge or even white glue or a craft stick.

Let’s get started on how I made my framed chipboard welcome sign.

1.  First, I figured out what paper I wanted to use for each letter.

2.  Since my letters are about 3 inches, I resized the papers 4 inch x 4 inch squares.   I printed the squares on presentation paper using my printer’s best print option.  Next, I cut apart my squares.

3.  I didn’t want the gray sides of the chipboard letters showing in my project so I inked the edges of my letters with Tim Holtz’ Distress Ink.  I used Q-tips for the hard to reach spots on the letters – like on the inner edge of the “c”

4.  I applied my tape runner adhesive to the front of each letter and placed one face down on each of the backs of the printed squares of patterned paper.

5.  Using an exacto knife, I carefully cut around each letter and in the center of the “e’s” and the “o”.

This is what all of the letters looked like covered with the papers:

They are very rough looking from being cut out with the exacto knife, but we’re going to take care of that next.

6.  Using a sanding block, I sanded all the edges of the letters (you can also used a piece of fine grit sandpaper, a flat nail file or metal nail file).  This not only removed any excess paper from where I didn’t trim close enough but it also smoothed and distressed the edges.

tip:  always sand in a downward motion.  If you sand up and down, you’ll pull the paper up from the letter.

7.  I then used brown ink and a small piece of sponge to ink all of the edges of the letters and then set them off to the side to dry.

8.  While my letters were drying, I measured the inside opening of the frame.  It was 5 inches x 12 inches.  I chose a light cream colored, canvas textured cardstock that went with the colors of the printed papers.

tip:  if your frame opening is larger than 8.5 x 11, I recommend taking the finished chipboard letters, along with the frame you are going to use, to pick out a coordinating 12 x 12 background scrapbook paper.  Most papers will run between $.59 and $1.99 a sheet but it will save you from having to try to paper piece your background.

9.  I centered my letters on the background cardstock piece.  After I was happy with the alignment and centering, I picked up one letter at a time, applied adhesive using my Tombow adhesive tape runner and replaced the letter on the background.

tip:  you could use a ruler and lightly pencil a line across your background paper to assure your letters are on straight. 

10.  Insert in the frame behind the glass and there you go!

This project would make a perfect housewarming gift, wedding gift or  Christmas gift!  It’s never too early to start crafting those Christmas gifts!!!

There are many different ways you could re-create this project and make it your own:

• Use letters to spell out the recipient’s last name instead of “Welcome”.

• Add those trendy rolled roses in a cluster in a corner on the outside of the frame.

• Add a little bling to your letters with a few glued on crystals.

• Spell out a new baby’s name and use colors that coordinate with the nursery as a unique baby shower gift.

The possibilities are endless – you are only limited by your imagination!

I’d love to know what you think about my project!  And if my project inspires you to create your own project, I’d LOVE to see it so please post a link in the comments section of this post!!!

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

Welcome to Monday’s Home Matters!  I am Kat (ktanker) here to show you a neat project to bring your scrapping into your home.  I’ve been wanting to do this project for a while now.  Have you ever seen the wood blocks that spell something out?  Like LOVE or JOY?  I wanted a custom saying for my mantle.  I went to Home Depot and found a long block of wood, bought a small hand saw to cut it and a sanding block.  At home, I already had a miter box (I think that’s what it’s called)… which you can use to hold the wood while you saw your blocks.  I scrapped my phrase out in Photoshop CS4 and printed it like any hybrid project.  I collected the following supplies:

• Basic Black Craft Paint
• Medium sized paintbrush
• Cup of water
• Matte Modge Podge
• Printed hybrid page
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Fingertip Craft Knife
• Sandblock
• Pre-cut blocks or piece of wood
• Hand or miter saw and miter box

Here’s all of my supplies ready to go…

Once I had everything ready, I recruited my husband for some help cutting the wood into blocks.  It really is something anyone can do (be careful!) but he’s stronger and it goes much faster.  I cut out my letters and embellishments and used the letters to measure the blocks.  I marked the place to cut using the gray colored pencil.  Once the blocks were cut, I had to sand them.  This was actually the hardest part.  It’s rather time consuming but you can give your blocks a very polished look.  I chose to sand each edge and smoothed out all the sides to make the blocks look slightly more rounded on the edges.  It made quite a mess!  I used my paintbrush and cup of water to dampen or clean the blocks.  This helped me get all the smaller flecks of wood off so I could paint.  I chose black paint for these blocks (about 50 cents at any craft store).  Here’s my blocks while they were drying.  I laid them out on a piece of wax paper over a cookie sheet (ha ha!) to dry.

On a few of my blocks, I went over them with a second coat of paint.  I waited about 30 minutes to let them fully dry.  I used my matte modge podge as a glue and secured the letters on the front of each block.  It was tricky, you have to hold the paper in place for about 30 seconds or it will curl.  I just wiped away the excess.  I learned that you shouldn’t touch the front of the blocks or the modge podge that’s on your hands will make an ugly mark on the paper.  I let those dry another 30 minutes or so.

The blocks looked good at this point but I assume they’ll be handled some so I thought I would seal them.  I used the same type of modge podge but there is also a hard coat version which works very well.  I painted over the paper and the sides of the blocks and let that dry for a while.  I used my paintbrush and found that it put streaks (somewhat) over the blocks.  I used a thin coating and made the streaks look as even and neat as possible.  You can hardly tell they are there.  I would guess that there is a better type of paintbrush to help prevent the streaks.  This is my finished product.

There are a few other things you can do to spice up your blocks.  For example, while your modge podge is drying, add a sprinkle of glitter for some sparkle.  This would be great for Christmas or holiday themed blocks.  I have some embellishments that I plan to stick on using small glue dots to add some depth (I painted them with the same modge podge prior to cutting them out so they have the same matte look).  You could even use some glue dots or tacky two sided tape to put your blocks together for display.  This is always a good idea in my house as my husband might try to run off with the S in my saying.  You can only imagine (LOL).

Here’s a great pre-made block template by Golden Girls Digital Designs and it comes with a supply list and instructions…

I hope you enjoy decorating your home with custom made wood blocks!  Have a wonderful week!  Merry Christmas!

Hey everyone!  LuAnn here with your Monday Home Matters post.

Home Matters is a newer feature on the ScrapMatters blog.  Our goal is to give you some new ideas on how to incorporate your scrapbooking talents (and digital supplies!) into your home.

I was inspired by some family tree art by Fancyprints that I found on etsy and decided to create my own family tree art using my digital kits.

Not only would these make special Christmas gifts but how about creating one to give away as a bridal shower or wedding gift?

This was very simple to make.

1.  Pick out an 11 x 14″ frame.

2.  I created my “art” for in my frame – the opening in my frame is for an 8 x 10″ photo so this is the size of my canvas.

3.  Find a tree that you like and want to use – Resize and add to the center of your canvas. The tree I used is the tree from Jady Day Studios’ Family Reunion kit.  A tree with a thicker trunk would probably work best as it allows a little more space for the “carving” on the tree that you will do. 

note: You can turn any element into a silhouette by adding a layer above the element, filling that layer with black and then clipping it to the element.

4.  Choose your background paper.  I choose my background paper after picking out my tree.  The paper was created by Yari (Jady Day Studios – Thank you Yari!) esp. for my project.   If your tree is a more whimsical shaped tree, you may want your paper to also reflect that whimsy.

5.  Find a pair of birds that you like in your digital stash.  Again, Yari was kind enough to create these love birds for my project.  Change your birds into silhouettes and position them in your tree.  Or search your favorite free font site for a bird ding font.

Remember – your silhouettes do not have to be black or even solid!  Play around with different  papers until you find something that you like!  Textured or patterned papers could be really cute for your birds!

6.  Find a heart shape that you like – it can be a solid heart or a heart outline like I used (thanks Yari for the heart outline too!!!).   Position the heart on the trunk of your tree.

7.  Using a fun simple font, add the couple’s first names or the initials of their first name and the date of their wedding.  I used the 2Peas Architect font.

Here’s a close up of the “carving” on my tree – please forgive the not so good photo.   My camera and I are going to have a long talk…

8.  Don’t forget some shadows (or not – it will depend on the look you want for your art).   Save and print on presentation paper or photo paper using your printer’s best print option.  Allow to dry, cut and insert into your frame.

And there you go – a very easy yet elegant custom made gift that is sure to be cherished by the recipient!

I hope I inspired you with my Home Matters project!  Now, go forth and create!

Happy Monday before Thanksgiving!  It’s Kat {ktanker} here with your Monday Home Matters post.  This post is a newer feature on the ScrapMatters blog.  Our goal is to give you new ideas on how to incorporate your scrapbooking talents into your home.  Of course, you can always print and frame your layouts.  I would guess that is the most common why to bring your scrapbooking into your home, but let’s explore some other ideas too!

Ornaments are a really unique way to bring scrapbooking style into your home.  Each year, I look for something I can add to my Christmas tree or use as a nice display around the house to remind me of the season.  Traditional ornaments are sometimes too expensive, too similar, or too “insert your line here”.  For me, they are usually too glittery.  I love a bit of sparkle but I hate picking up an ornament and getting covered in glitter flakes and the flakes stick like glue to my tile floors.  As a child, my mom made a lot of ornaments.  Those have now been retired and live in a nice box of older Christmas decorations but the photos and memories last forever.  They are also some of my best Christmas memories.  Take some time with your kids and make a few ornaments for your tree.  It’s a great way to spend time with the family.  Here’s an ornament template that would be easy to use.

What I love about this template is that while it is not a traditional project for hybrid crafting, it is a simple way to make and print an ornament.  To use this template, all you need to do is open the file, add your papers and text, then drag the ornament to an 8.5×11 page.  Once on the page, you can re-size and print.  Just cut out the ornament, add some ribbon to hang it or some other embellishments or a dab of glitter glue here and there.  Write on the ornament (front or back) the date and who made it so years down the line when you pull it out of your ornament box, you can remember that special time making ornaments together.

Here’s another great idea!  Next time you visit your local craft store, pick up some clear ornament balls.  They usually come in a package of 6 or 12.  Print out a few different sheets of your favorite scrapbook paper and tear it into strips.  Roll the strips around a pencil and put them inside the ornament.  Add anything you’d like to spruce it up.  I chose a different type of hook, added a ribbon around the top and tied a snowflake embellishment to hang off the side.

There is a great Hybrid challenge for creating ornaments in the forum.  Be sure and check it out and show us how you (and your family) made your own ornaments .

Kat