Christmas 2020

Nov3

Well, Halloween has pasted and Hallmark is already showing Christmas movies!!!! Nothing like rushing the season. On some level, I’m wanting to rush this whole YEAR as it has been so trying for many.

Scrapbook crafters (and really any crafter) always have something to do whether it’s inside/outside or alone/with friends. So, 2020 has not frazzled me as much as some. If you’re reading this, you know what I mean.

Craft stores usually have Christmas stuff out early because people are getting ready for craft shows. I wonder how many of THOSE we’ll see this year. Probably only a handful is my guess. So bummed!!!

Today I wanted to show the new Christmas paper from Close to My Heart (CTMH). Honestly, it’s not my favorite. I’d be terrible on QVC because I can’t just “love” everything. Who does???? Perhaps it’s just age, but I love the traditional colors and images.

Having said that, there was nothing traditional about 2020 so maybe this year’s paper is in good company. lol So, without further adieu, let me present Jingle Joy. The colors are Flamingo, Raspberry, Clover and Evergreen. These are some pages I’ve created using the stickers as well.

There is another choice for the Christmas line. It’s called Serenity and it’s Blue. I did not get this but the paper packet is as follows:

Of course, there are Christmas Gnomes. YAY! Not sure WHY I love these so. These come with or without thin cuts. You can always fussy cut them if you don’t want the thin cuts. Some people find it relaxing.

Well, you KNOW what my Christmas cards will be of (gnomes) but there are a lot of cute things in the Nov-Dec catalog. So check out the new stuff and get something to play with in case we get locked down again.

As always, comments and questions are welcome and encouraged. Until next week, Happy Scrapping.

Hugs

~Debbi

Founder of: this site and Not Your Mamas Senior

Party Time

Sep5

I’m very excited to show you this new paper from Close to My Heart (CTMH). I decided to join CTMH because I love scrapbooking, they have quality paper AND I get a discount. Who doesn’t like THAT. Do I use other store’s paper? YES, if there is a craft store in sight, I’m THERE!!! However, when you feel the difference between Michael’s paper and CTMH, you understand. CTMH feels thicker and it’s all 2 sided as well — which I love. The big downside for me is that the paper is only available for a limited time. I wish it was open stock.

So, this is what I made from paper called PARTY TIME and used the Wishing You Everything stamp set. Depending on which side of the paper you use, it can be for girl or boy birthday or any celebratory event you choose really.

What do you think? I just love the colors! Can you SEE your photos on these pages? They’re so fun and festive. I know my grandkids love colorful stuff like this AND looking at their own photos. Honestly I’m not a fan of the acrylic yellow stars because I don’t care for “bumpy” pages but kids love to touch them. I guess we have to think about WHO we’re doing this for.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited about a new catalog. If you want to check it out, there are way too many cool things this time. There’s also a seasonal products catalog (good for Sept – Oct). While it doesn’t thrill me as much, I do LOVE the gnomes and generally I’m not a gnome kinda gal. They came with or without the thin cuts but I’m sort of addicted to the thin cuts now.

Happy Scrapbooking

Comments and Thoughts are welcome and encouraged.

Hugs

~Debbi

Founder of Scrapbooking for Anyone

Full disclosure: if you purchase a product from my link, I get a commission. I was just excited this time and had to share.

Scrapbook Workshops

Apr2

I’ve heard so many people say, “I love your work, but I’m not creative” or ask if I have kits. At this point, I don’t have kits although I have MANY Cricut cartridges and the new Cricut that does not require cartridges. Therefore, I might create some kits for people who need things cut out. Tell me what you’d like in the comments below or email me at: eclecticspirit3@gmail.com with CTMH in the subject and tell me what you’d like to see.

In the meantime, I’m LOVING Close To My Heart (CTMH) Workshops. They have such beautiful (and quality) papers that you can’t find anywhere else. The nice thing is that you can get a Workshop with not only everything you need for your layouts but instructions on how to do it all.

CHARLOTTE Workshop — Charlotte is new and it’s so pretty!! These are layouts you can do with the workshop.

Charlotte layout 1

Charlotte Layout 2

PLUS you can make about 9 cards using your remaining workshop materials and just a few extra supplies that you may already have if you’re a crafter.

Don’t get me wrong, I use product from everywhere and buy stuff when it’s on sale. However, these workshops are helpful to get the juices flowing. There are a few things that I like about CTMH product:

-you know those small strips that you cut off the end of 12×12 paper? Well, there is actually a design on the CTMH strips so you can use them in your layout or cards – there’s no waste.

–time saving – everything is already coordinated. Sometimes I get overwhelmed trying to find the paper and embellishments to match when I go to a Michaels. There is just SO much to choose from and it takes me forever.

–cheaper – when I go to the store, I end up spending more because I’m not sure what will ultimately fit so I buy additional stuff.

–quality of the paper

-I like that the paper is frequently double sided and easy to match

-I like the ideas provided. Some of them take me outside my box.

Here’s some examples of cards I made from the Charlotte Workshop remnants:

Charlotte card

I used the watercolor paints on some of the flowers (made from the Springtime Wishes Stamp set) but, to be honest, I’m not a big fan of the watercolor. I prefer the markers for more color saturation. I love me some Copics. LOL. The leaves are done with my Copic markers.

Another Charlotte card

As you can see, you can use all your scraps to make these one of a kind cards that, oh by the way, people love. They’re also cheaper than a card purchased. I can’t BELIEVE how much they charge for cards now.

If you’d like to see more workshops, just go to my page.

Thank you for playing with me. Let me know if I can help you in any of your creative ventures. Please leave a comment or question below.

~Debbi

Founder of Scrapbooking For Anyone

Washi Tape

Nov21

Duck tape (or is it duct tape?) has been around since WW II and was originally olive drab in color and used to repel water from ammo cans. It is now used for dresses/wallets/you name it. They even have Frozen (like the movie) duck tape! It has been said duck tape can rule the world.

Variety of washi tape

Well, perhaps that’s so but washi tape makes that world pretty. I haven’t always been a fan of washi tape but now that I started using it, I like it. Washi tape is about the same texture as masking tape. It can be cut or torn just like masking tape. It can be purchased at any hobby store, online or even the dollar store. It comes in different widths and loads of pretty patterns and colors.

So, what do you do with it?

Use it in your scrapbooks (most of it is acid free) as:

-a tab on the edge of a page

– a hinge on top of a photo (journal underneath)

– simply a decoration

-write a verse or message on it

Washi tape can be used just as you would use ribbon.

Just like duck tape evolved, so has washi tape. Buy it for your scrapbooks but also use it for:

-cards

-Christmas ornament decoration (glass and ceramic)

-gift wrap decoration

-decorate gift bags or even

-label electrical cords so you can keep them separated

Tape as simply decoration (arrows)

Tape as hinge
(silver at top)

Decorate Container

Once you start, you’ll want to keep using it. It’s not only fun but it’s an easy embellishment that doesn’t cost a lot and goes a long way.

Decorate Gift Bags

Whatever you do, let your imagination run wild and enjoy!

Please let me know if you have questions or comments.

by Debbi founder of ScrapbookingForAnyone.com

Thanks for visiting. Comments always welcome.

Paper Bag Books

Nov15

Paper bag books can not only be fun to make but they’re quick, easy AND use of the small scraps of paper you have left over from page layouts.

Lunch bags used here but you can use any size

Take 3 lunch bags (can be purchased at the Dollar Store) and lay out as follows:

Order of bags

Stack them and fold them in half.

You’ll want to bind this folded edge somehow. I’ve used large eyelets, in this case, but you can use a heavy duty stapler, cut holes and use rings or cut holes and string with ribbon. It’s all up to you.

Front of eyelet

If you use eyelets:

-Make a hole where you want to place the eyelet
-Drop the eyelet into the hole and with your finger over the eyelet, flip the bags over. Carefully pull your finger out.
-Place the eyelet setting tool in the eyelet back and hit it with a hammer until the eyelet locks into the paper.

Tool. Notice little tip at the end that fits into the back of the eyelet.

Back of finished eyelet.

Now decorate with scrapbooking paper and add photos (making sure no photo touches the paper bag directly)

Use the pockets for journaling or line the pockets with scrapbooking paper and add a photo on a tag that can be pulled out.

Pocket made from inside bag.

Another pocket made from the bag flap. Insert tag.

Have fun with it. Use your imagination. I’ve made TONS of these. They’re fast, easy and people enjoy them.

by Debbi founder of ScrapbookingForAnyone.com

Thanks for reading. As always, please leave comments or questions.

Scrapbooking Gift Ideas

Nov12

The stores have been putting out Christmas items since this summer. Crafters start early. Yet many of us work better under pressure. So there’s still time to create something special. Have you thought about what you’re going to give that person who has everything? I’m right there with you. Here’s a couple small scrapbooking gift ideas.

Make it personal. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate or fancy. I found out that generally between a store bought expensive gift and a thoughtful handmade gift, most people prefer the latter. Last year I bought a friend a gift that cost quite a bit and then at the last minute decided to make her a small scrapbook about a weekend we had taken with our daughters. She LOVED the scrapbook. It was only an 8×8 but it was the memories captured in this book that she’ll cherish.

Here’s something really simple and fast made of cardstock and ribbon:

Outside booklet (heavy cardstock)

Inside booklet

The outside can say anything from:

-I’m Thankful For …..
-You Are …..
-When I look at You …..
-I Love You Because …..
-Because of You …..
-In Your Eyes …..
-Reasons You Make Me Smile …..
(then list everything on the inside)

to:

-Favorite Recipes from …..
-Highlights of Our Year

You don’t have to use a lot of photos. You can do a 6×6 or even use a spiral bound book. I found this one in the Dollar Store yesterday.

Smash Book Dollar Store

I thought it was adorable. Just make sure if you use one of these and use photos, you protect the photos from touching anything not acid free. You could staple ribbon tabs on the edges for decoration.

I’ve done these small books and put them in a basket with a mug and hot chocolate, tea or coffee and some baked goods so they can snack while they look through the book.

My next post will be talking about paper bag books.

by Debbi founder of ScrapbookingForAnyone.com

Thank you for reading. Comments/Questions?

Trip – Gift book

Oct1

When I do a gift scrapbook, it’s normally an 8×8. This size can accommodate quite a few photos with journaling. I don’t do elaborate albums because the pages are so small, but I do use some embellishments. I just finished this one for a friend’s birthday. We had gone on a mission trip together. Please note, the white blotches you see are faces that are covered to protect the people in the photos.

This is the cover. I used pearl lettering that I found on sale at Hobby Lobby.

Cloth 8×8 Album

These 2 pages simply use stickers. I coordinated the papers with the photos. You’ll see the brick school has a brick background paper. Notice I didn’t mat the photos individually.

Using stickers

For this page, I used butterfly stickers. I mounted them on glue dots to lift the butterflies off the page. I also used an edge cutter to make sort of a mat. As you can tell, I’m not big on individual mats. This is the yellow lattice work you see near the edge of the photos. Again, the paper was coordinated.

Cut mat with stickers

The final sample uses my favorite electronic tool — my Cricut! I used the Cricut to make the green leaves along the bottom edge. The flower is made from bling that I found on clearance at Michaels. I also used a raised butterfly and bible verse sticker.

Cricut, bling, stickers

As you can see, none of these pages are very hard to make. I know I keep saying this, but it’s so important — you can NOT do it wrong. The main thing is to put the photos in an album to protect them and tell your story. I think I wrote on this page that she looked either really tired or bored. All simple yet something she loved because it was hand made and something she could look back on forever.

Please look for more layouts. Thank you for stopping by. I hope I helped you feel more comfortable with layouts.

Happy Scrappin’

Please leave comments or questions.

~Debbi

Got Ribbon?

Feb10

I love to use ribbon in my layouts. It adds some dimension to the page and doesn’t cost a lot. This is just a very small portion of my stash.

As you can see, I’ve hung a rack to store some of the ribbon but I also purchased a CD holder (it cost about $10). I angled the shelves when I assembled it so that the ribbon wouldn’t fall out. This will give you about 7 shelves. I know, I’m overflowing on that too. If you think this is bad, you do NOT want to see my shoe closet! LOL. As I’ve said before though, if it’s not on sale, I don’t buy it so I can guarantee that I did not pay full price for any of this.

I also have a basket that I use for scraps of ribbon from various places. For example, clothes that you buy with those annoying ribbons sewn on in the store that they use to hang the item. Those ribbons just stick out of your clothes (or mine anyway) when you wear them. So, I always cut them off and have used those little pieces in layouts. Should that be a secret? LOL. These little ribbons are a resourceful way to collect a nice variety of ribbons for your collection. Sometimes stores will sell the end of a roll (less than a yard) and put it on clearance. I periodically get gifts with nice satin ribbon and I keep it. When you get ribbon, just throw it in a basket. That’s what I do. Then when I need just a tiny piece, I check my stash for something to match. It costs very little or nothing at all.

I’m making a baby scrapbook for a friend so here are some samples of how I used ribbon. The pages in this book are only 6” x 6” so, I can’t do a lot, but you’ll get the idea.

Page 1

Notice the little envelope on Page 2. The ribbon is attached to a note card that will be for private journaling.

Page 2

Page 3, I attached some paper clips to a tag and used ribbon to hold it to the paper.

Page 3

Page 4 I stapled ribbons to the side of the page for decoration and used 3 color coordinated buttons on the bottom left.

Page 4

Page 5 I just used some ribbon scraps wrapped around the photo frame and added a tag with a brad that says “Love”

Page 5

I hope this inspires you to start your OWN ribbon stash. It’s less costly than all my shoes too. LOL. Ribbon just adds a little dimension and pop to a simple page.

by Debbi founder of ScrapbookingForAnyone.com

Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment.