Croppin' 4 Kids 8th Annual Crop

We are happy and honored to announce that we are sponsoring a wonderful cropping event!  It's called Croppin' 4 Kids, and benefits children with special needs.

Here's a little bit more about the event:

When: Friday, August 2nd - 9 AM until Midnight and Saturday, August 3rd  -   9 AM until 10 PM
Registration: Open now
Where:   Little Rock, AR
Classes are being taught by April Derrick
Croppin' 4 Kids Website:  http://www.croppin4kids.org/index.html
Info: 

If you have a passion for cropping and helping children with special needs, then you don't want to miss the eigth annual Croppin' 4 Kids! If you missed it last year, you sure don't want to miss Croppin 4 Kids 2013!

Cropping 4 Kids will return to Second Presbyterian Church to have a fun-filled time cropping. This year we will be raising funds for Helping Hand. Since 1990, Helping Hand has provided children with special needs Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy Services on an outpatient basis (birth to 21 years) as well as the non-profit Learning Center which provides Day Habilitation in a preschool setting for 6 weeks to 6 years.


If you are in the Little Rock area, please consider joining in this fabulous event, there will be lots of fun and you could win our July Home Sweet Home Kit with the Patterned Paper Add On or one of many other great prizes that have been donated by the other sponsors!

~Melinda

Meet our newest Designer!

We have another exciting Design Team announcement today!

Kathy Mosher is joining our team!  Kathy has been a subscriber to our kits, and she is one of the nicest ladies you'll meet, and we just love her work, so we're thrilled that she's joining the team!

I am so honored to be chosen to be a member of the SOE Design Team. This is my first DT position and boy am I nervous!!! I've been married to the man of my dreams for 41 blissful years, have 2 grown children (boy and girl, 36 and 37) and 2 wonderful grandsons (2 and 4). My family is the center of my world. The best part is they all live here in Anchorage, Alaska near me. I love Alaska, and you will probably see me saying that over and over, it is a magical place to live, which is why I've lived here for 41 years. Before that I was a Navy brat traveling all around the country and overseas. I am a Federal career employee of 32 years and hope to retire VERY soon!!! 
I started scrapbooking about 10 years ago, and then got burned out. I have devoted the majority of my spare time to quilting. I've been published, an instructor and own a major long-arm quilting machine. However, the call of all those photos waiting to be scrapped last year brought me back to a passion I've developed for this highly evolved world of scrapping! Wow! Things have really changed, and I love every bit of it. Every time I do a layout, I try or learn something new, all the new mixed media techniques, distressing, you name it is a whole new ballgame for me. But, the best part is all the love, support and encouragement I have received from my sisters in the scrapping world. What a fabulous group of folks you are!

Kathy will begin designing with our August kit, and we can't wait to see what she does with it!

Gypsy Summer Sketch Challenge

Come join us for our Gypsy Summer Sketch Challenge!

Our July kit is out, and that means a new sketch, with a new sketch challenge. You do not have to use our kits to participate in the challenge, and you could win a great prize, so I hope you'll come play along!

Here's the beautiful sketch Suepup has created for us this month:

And here are the challenge rules:

1. Create a layout or project inspired by our Gypsy Summer sketch. (shown above)
2. You may use any of our kits, and/or any other scrappy supplies you want, it is NOT a requirement that you use one of our kits to create your entry.
3. Upload your layout/project into our gallery and in the sketch challenge post on our forum.
4. The winner will receive a $20.00 credit in our store.
5. The challenge ends August 14th
6. That's it.  Have fun scrapping!

And here's a little inspiration for you!  The gals on our Design Team created these layouts based on the Gypsy Summer Sketch:

Created by Kim Arledge

 Hope to see you there!

~Melinda

Ocean Background Tutorial

Good morning, and happy Monday!

We've got great little mixed media tutorial for you today.  Helena is showing us how she created the gorgeous background on this layout:

Here's what you need:

Paper Bo Bunny Prairie Chic, Laundry (from the July Home Sweet Home main kit)

Paper Pink Paislee Cottage Farms, Crate (from the coordinating paper add-on)

Cheesecloth (from the main kit)

Texture Paste

Lindys Stamp Gang mist, Baby Blue Eyes (from previous Color add-on)

Shimmerz Texturez, Tidy Widy (from the Color add-on) and Patina (from previous Color add-on)

First I cut out some of the pattern from the Bo Bunny paper and glued them on the Pink Paislee paper. I had a design in my head, so I knew how I wanted to place my photo and flowers. I cut the pattern so the blue paper pieces will show beneath everything else when the layout's finished.

Then I cut some pieces of cheesecloth and laid them on top of the blue paper pieces.

I then used texture paste as glue on the cheesecloth as you can see in the photo. Don't overdo this step and take too much, you want some of the cheesecloth as it is to get the "ocean feeling" :)

I used Lindys Stamp Gang mist, Baby blue eyes, and misted the entire layout. A fantastic color!

After I glued my photo and embellishment into place, I took out the Shimmerz Texturez (Tidy Widy and Patina) and applied this amazing medium with my fingertips. I just put some Texturez on here and there until I was satisfied. I used this on the chipboard pieces too, after I painted them with white gesso.

And here is my final layout:

Big News!

Amid all the excitement of the upcoming Summer Create N Connect show this month, we have a bit of our own excitement happening...

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Keren Tamir is joining our Design Team in August!

My name is Keren Tamir and I'm 39 years old. I am a wife to a wonderful husband who is very supportive of my scrapbooking and a mother of two amazing kids; a 12 year old boy and a 6 years old girl. I've been scrapbooking for 10 years and I mainly scrapbook about my family. I love to create and experiment with many different mediums and techniques.

My style is mainly Shabby chic but I love to combine it with mixed media. I use lots of flowers and vines on my projects mixed with pastes, gels and mists. My style is always evolving and that’s one of the things I love about this art.

One of the main reasons I started scrapbooking was to preserve memories and photos for my children. However over the couple of years, I’ve started to enjoy another aspect of scrapbooking. I love the artistic outlet that it gives me. I love to create and I’m passionate about what I do.

I’m currently a design team member at Prima Marketing, 13 Arts, 2 Crafty, Scrap around the world, Sketchbook 365 and Scrap for Help.

Hope you enjoy my creations!!

Keren

I've been a fan of Keren's work for some time now, so I can tell you that I am pretty excited to see what she will do with our kits, and I am certain we will all be inspired by her work with them! 

I also want to leave you with a little teaser today... keep your eye out, we'll have another Design Team announcement in a few days...

Until then, I hope you all have a fabulous day, and that you Create Something Beautiful today...

~Melinda

July kit premiere!

Our July kit is here, and I am so excited to share it with you, it's full of fun and perfect for those carefree summer day photos!

Gypsy Summer Kit

This month' we're featuring Graphic 45's Bohemian Bazaar collection (perfect, if you were thinking you wanted to enter Graphic 45's July challenge!), My Mind's Eye's Collectable collection, and we've thrown in lots of fun mixed media items to play with:  a printed digital collage sheet, Gelatos, a Deep Red cling stamp, and lots more!  Visit our website or store to see the full list...

And I just thought I'd share our kit add ons for this month, as well:

Patterned Paper (these are the papers that are also included in the main kit):

Coordinating Paper (these papers are not in the main kit, but will coordinate with it perfectly!):

Cardstock:

Embellishments:

Color:

Creativity:

Floral:

Our design team is working with the kit as we speak, and we'll have lots of gorgeousness from them to share with you soon!

~Melinda

Bring Your ATC Game Challenge - July/August

Good morning, my scrapping friends!  I hope those of you in the United States had a wonderful 4th of July!

The weekend is officially about to begin, which for many of us, means scrapping time!!!  And Renea is hosting the perfect challenge on our forum to get you going!

Bring Your ATC Game Challenge

The rules of the challenge:

1.You do not have to be a kit club member or create your ATC with our kits - this challenge is open to everyone.

2. Create an ATC around the size of 2 x 3 (Any theme, any style)

3. Post your ATC into the challenge thread on our forum.

4. Challenge will close August 30, 2013 at Midnight Pacific Standard Time

5. ATCs will be voted on by the Scraps Of Darkness and Scraps Of Elegance Design Team, based on creativity, and originality. The winner will be posted on Wednesday September 4, 2013.

6. Have Fun!!!

Please feel free to post the challenge on your blog, Facebook, forums or any other social media you use Thanks, ~Renea

"And what", you ask, "besides fun, do I get for creating an ATC for this challenge?".  Well, my friends, you get a chance to win something really awesome!

If we have 4 or more artists join in the challenge, Renea will be sending this AMAZING RAK, valued at over $40.00 to the winner:

Here's what's included:  

3 Sets of Reneabouquets Etsy Butterflies
1-Large Organza Flower from Tresors De Luxe Etsy Shop
3-packages of the newest release Scrapmatts Chipboard pieces
1-package Prima Flower & Butterfly set
2-Metal Scissor Embellishments from Ingredients For Lovely Etsy Shop
2-Metal Key Embellishments from Ingredients For Lovely Etsy Shop
Lots of Mulberry Paper Roses from I Am Roses
1-Set of Small Leaves from I Am Roses
1-Set of Large Leaves from I Am Roses
4-different styles of Vintage Lace Trim
1-hand dyed Crinkled Ribbon
1-strand peachy pink pearls
1-strand white pearls

AND... if we have 6 or more artists join in, Scraps of Darkness and Scraps of Elegance are throwing in a sweet little bonus RAK, so the winner will receive both RAK's shown here:

The RAK if we have 6 or more participating artists is Renea's RAK as listed above plus we are adding the following 4 cling stamps, valued at $26.00, by Deep Red Stamps:

1. ATC Angel Stamp

2. Sewing Kit Set

3. Fashion Tickets Set

4. Audrey Hepburn Stamp

So what are you waiting for... come join in the fun and take a shot at winning these fabulous RAKs!  Enter here:  Bring Your ATC Game Challenge

~Melinda

Bring Your ATC Game!! Challenge

Good morning, my scrapping friends!  I hope those of you from the United States had a wonderful 4th of July!

The weekend is officially about to begin, which for many of us, means scrapping time!!!  And Renea is hosting the perfect challenge on our forum to get you going!

Bring Your ATC Game Challenge

The rules of the challenge:

1.You do not have to be a kit club member or create your ATC with our kits - this challenge is open to everyone.

2. Create an ATC around the size of 2 x 3 (Any theme, any style)

3. Post your ATC into the challenge thread on our forum.

4. Challenge will close August 30, 2013 at Midnight Pacific Standard Time

5. ATCs will be voted on by the Scraps Of Darkness and Scraps Of Elegance Design Team, based on creativity, and originality. The winner will be posted on Wednesday September 4, 2013.

6. Have Fun!!!

Please feel free to post the challenge on your blog, Facebook, forums or any other social media you use Thanks, ~Renea

"And what", you ask, "besides fun, do I get for creating an ATC for this challenge?".  Well, my friends, you get a chance to win something really awesome!

If we have 4 or more artists join in the challenge, Renea will be sending this AMAZING RAK, valued at over $40.00 to the winner:

Here's what's included:  

3 Sets of Reneabouquets Etsy Butterflies
1-Large Organza Flower from Tresors De Luxe Etsy Shop
3-packages of the newest release Scrapmatts Chipboard pieces
1-package Prima Flower & Butterfly set
2-Metal Scissor Embellishments from Ingredients For Lovely Etsy Shop
2-Metal Key Embellishments from Ingredients For Lovely Etsy Shop
Lots of Mulberry Paper Roses from I Am Roses
1-Set of Small Leaves from I Am Roses
1-Set of Large Leaves from I Am Roses
4-different styles of Vintage Lace Trim
1-hand dyed Crinkled Ribbon
1-strand peachy pink pearls
1-strand white pearls

AND... if we have 6 or more artists join in, Scraps of Darkness and Scraps of Elegance are throwing in a sweet little bonus RAK, so the winner will receive both RAK's shown here:

The RAK if we have 6 or more participating artists is Renea's RAK as listed above plus we are adding the following 4 cling stamps, valued at $26.00, by Deep Red Stamps:

1. ATC Angel Stamp

2. Sewing Kit Set

3. Fashion Tickets Set

4. Audrey Hepburn Stamp

So what are you waiting for... come join in the fun and take a shot at winning these fabulous RAKs!  Enter here:  Bring Your ATC Game Challenge

~Melinda

Mandy's Texture It! Challenge

Mandy's hosting a fabulous challenge on our forum.  The challenge starts today and ends August 31st, so you have plenty of time to enter!

Here are the rules:

Hi There Ladies!

Today I bring to you an easy peesy challenge - All you need to do is show me some kind of texture using:
Molding/modeling Paste - example Texturz, Golden, etc.

You do not have to be a member of the kit club to join in on this challenge.  Show me some clever ideas using "Texturez" with this month's "Home Sweet Home" kit and I'll add an extra bonus in with the prize package! hint: something vintage

This challenge ends August 31st at 12:00 midnight - Eastern Time.
I will choose the winner with random.org on September 1st and post the winner in the challenge thread on the forum.
Come on - join the fun and lemme see some texture!

Here are two samples of my texture filled projects!

 

Mandy used our Home Sweet Home kit for both of these layouts, but as she states in the rules, you do not have to use our kits, you can use your own supplies, and join in for a fun challenge, and you will have an equal chance to win the RAK no matter what your experience level is, as she is choosing the winner randomly!

Here's the link if you'd like to join in, we hope to see you there!  Texture It! Challenge

~Melinda

Our July Guest Designer

Good morning!  Yesterday our July kit premiered, and today I'd like to introduce you to the talented lady who will be guest designing with the kit for us this month!  

We're happy and excited to introduce you to:

Pamela Ellis

I worked at the Toronto General Hospital as an RN until I retired from a back injury and made my way into the social service sector. I worked with women and children victimized by family violence and started a non-profit group called A.L.I.V.E. in Toronto. I ran the program for several years until my hubby and I opted for a quieter life in the North and moved to Gravenhurst Ontario where I have lived for the past 12 years. I've raised five daughters and have three granddaughters with my fourth grandchild on the way this November! I took up scrapbooking after my first granddaughter Lilly was born six years ago. I wasn't able to really explore the field, as I cared for my mother for three years full time until she passed away from cancer in 2011. After her passing I resolved to put myself first for the first time in my life and redid my scrap room where I have hunkered down for the long hall. I find peace in scrapbooking. I like the solitude I have when I am alone with my memories and love matching them up to the perfect paper & embellishments. I am a paper junkie and always will be! It doesn't matter how much I have, it's never enough! I don't have a specific style, I start with one idea and finish with something completely different and will always strive to be better. Most of all I love the sense of community in scrapbooking. I have met some pretty incredible people in the field of scrapbooking, some of whom I now consider true friends and am truly grateful for how much scrapping has enriched my life. 
Pam Ellis

We look forward to seeing your work with the kit, Pam!

~Melinda

The July kit is here!

It's a rainy summer day here, perfect for staying inside and scrapping. We've got a beautiful kit this month that's perfect for those rainy days that you aren't out snapping summer fun pics!

July 2013

Home Sweet Home Kit

We've matched up beautiful papers from Pink Paislee's Cottage Farms, Bo Bunny's Prairie Chic, Kaisercraft's Base Coat 2, and Studio Calico's Atlantic collections with gorgeious embellishments (some custom made just for this kit) to create endless possibilities for your summer crafting!

And if you are one of those people who just can't get enough scrapping goodness (and who of us isn't?!), we have beautiful coordinating Add Ons available to go with the Main Kit.  

Patterned Paper

Coordinating Paper

Embellishment Add On

Floral Add On

Color Add On

Stop by our store if you'd like to see the full list of what's included with the Main Kit and each add on, and to see the AMAZING sale we have going on right now!

~Melinda