Full Circle Friday

Boo To You! Happy Halloween! Of course I had to do a Halloween page today but I did something different this week... I created my entire layout digitally! Digital is a fun way to change up your scrapbooking style. Digital scrapbooking includes everything from adding text to a photo, to creating photo blocks, to creating an entire album. There is a lot of flexibility and you don't have to give up the traditional paper, stickers, rubons, etc. There is a creative, fun balance between digital and traditional scrapbooking.

If you are interested in learning more about digital scrapbooking, Windy City Scrapbooking now offers digital scrapbooking classes. Sesil teaches our "Get Digi" class with Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 3 and I teach the same class with Adobe Photoshop Elements 6. Right now we offer this intro-to-digital class; in the next several months we may consider a more advanced class. Check out our website and class calendar for more details!

This week's sketch has a 5x7 focal photo and 2 smaller accent photos. The cool thing about sketches is that they are adaptable. I decided to flip the entire sketch vertically so it was facing a different direction.

Most of the supplies are from Designer Digitals, a great digital scrapbooking website run by Katie Pertiet. She also graciously donated all the digital elements we use in our Get Digi class at WCS. (I created the orange cardstock background myself.)

Don't Forget!

We are having another Guest Designer Sketch for next week. Use the sketch in this link to inspire a layout (the sketch at the bottom of the post). Email a scan or clear photo of your completed layout, 500K or less, to classes@windycityscrapbooking.com by Wednesday, November 5th. All entries will be posted on next week's Full Circle Friday. Blog candy will be given away too!

Tuesday Tip * Heat Embossing*

Here is the video for this week. Have a great Halloween. Enjoy.
If you would like to see the video in high quality click here. HIGH QUALITY VIDEO




See you next week.
:)Sesil

Coupon Mania!!!

Hey guys! I wanted to give you a heads up on an awesome coupon we have going on right now!
You must go to our website http://www.windycityscrapbooking.com/Coupon.htm and print it out!

The reason I am telling you about it is because this is a great time to get a leg up on your holiday cards!!! All glitter, foil, and glazed papers are $1!!!!
Stock up on all glitter, foil, and glazed papers with a regular price over $.99. Coupon valid on in-stock merchandise only and MUST BE PRESENTED at the time of sale. While supplies last, Other restrictions apply.

That includes the glitter papers from Doodlebug! All the new Best Creations we got in-wedding,sports, holidays! And all the Heidi Grace papers that are glazed! There are LOTS of these papers through out the store!

Don't know where they are--ASK! We will help you find them!

This coupon is only good until October 31st, 2008 until 5:00 p.m.--Don't wait, RUN to Windy City and stock up on these fun papers!!

Scrappin on Sunday

Here is your SOS for this week!!

Tomorrow, October 27th is our last Manic Monday of the Month-- To complement your Halloween pages (or just to add some orange to a page) all* Simply Luxe ORANGE papers, Simply Luxe ORANGE alphabet stickers, and Simply Luxe ORANGE Jotters are 31% off!*In-stock, regular priced items only. Other restrictions apply

Tuesday, October 28th is T-SHIRT day--Wear your Windy City Scrapbooking you can choose one Halloween product and get 50% off that product!!

Thursday, October 30th is Stitchery with Angie and I think she has one more spot open!Call the store to reserve your spot now!

Friday is Halloween and we will be closing at 5:00 p.m. so we can all go trick or treating too!

Saturday we Melissa has two great classes she will be teaching- Get Digi and also Mom's Reminder book! Check out our website to learn more about these awesome classes!

We have lots of NEW product in! One of the items we know some of you have been waiting on is The Slice--well, we have it in stock! We also have all the extras to go along with it!


So this has been your SOS for the week and we hope to see you this week!
(in case you have not figured it out--I am stepping in for Alraynita!)
--Susan

Full Circle Friday

Hello! This week's sketch is a 2-page layout focusing on 1-5x7 photo with several smaller accent photos. This week I am completely going against tradition. Where are the rules that say you have to use certain colors and themes for events. I wasn't in the mood to scrap my pumpkin patch photos with the traditional orange, green, and browns. I found an old piece of Basic Grey Perhaps patterned paper on my desk and I challenged myself to use it. The colors reminded me of fall even if they are muted. I set to work and found several embellishments to work with my muted theme.

Supplies:

Scenic Route background texture patterned paper

My Mind's Eye chipboard sticker, rub ons

Maya Road sequin ribbon

Basic Grey patterned paper, Perhaps collection

Micron pen

I added a couple of horizontal elements to the top and bottom of the photos to emphasize the horizontal flow of the design. The journaling is toward the top of the design, which is different from my norm.

Tag, You're It!!!

Time for another Guest Designer Challenge! This one is due Wednesday, November 5th. Please send a scan or a clear photograph 500K or less and a supply list to classes@windycityscrapbooking.com. Again we will post all entries as long as they follow the requirements. Blog candy will be awarded too!
The sketch is for a 2-page 8.5 x 11 layout but you could easily change it to a 12x12 spread. Turn grid of elements/photos to 3x3 and change the focal photo to 8x10. That brings me to my next point... not all the rectangles on page 2 need to be photos. They can also be patterned paper, journaling, or whatever! You're creative, you'll figure out what is best!

To give credit where credit is due, I got this design from Ali Edwards. She posted some pages from a recent album on her blog and I was instantly drawn to them. She is fantastic!

Tuesday Tip Next week...

Sorry Ladies... Trying to fight a migraine. I have not had a chance to edit the video. It will be a quick card with heat embossing. So see you next week. :)sesil

Full Circle Friday

Hello and welcome to our first guest designer challenge! I have some fantastic layouts to show you inspired by this sketch (shown in order of submission):

"Perfect" by Cheryl H.

Papers and chipboard alpha letters from the KI memories travel clipboard kit
Making memories tiny alphabet
Office supplied cool columns ivory by imagination project
Stick pin
brads
SNU twine

"Pretty Young Thang" by Sylvia S.

Background - a recycled postal service priority box
Patterned Paper - Heidi Swapp
Letters - Thickers - vinyl
Butterflies - Making Memories
"Love" Journaling Block - Maya Road
Flourish - Made using The Crafters Workshop stencil, Stickles and recycled transparency from an acrylic stamp set.

Journaling reads: "I'm beginning to see less of my precocious little girl and more of a young lady".

"Apple Picking" by Alexandra M.

Supplies:
solid cardstock: Bazzill
stickers:Basic Grey's Beat It
red flocked paper and crushed velvet red brad: Doodlebug Design
acrylic stamp: Autumn Leaves
inkpad:Versa Magic ( Jumbo Java)
title:Quickutz Chemistry.
3 red brads:American Crafts

"Nemesis" by Christina V.

"My Angel" by Melissa B.

Bazzill Bling Cardstock
Basic Grey Patterned Papers, Rub Ons, and Brads
Creative Imaginations die cut paper
Tim Holtz Grundge Board
Heidi Swapp Flower
Making Memories journaling notebook
Uniball white pen

Thank you to all who submitted a layout! I think it is so wonderful to showcase the talents of our customers. As promised I will have some blog candy for you at the store. It will be available after Sunday, October 19th.

There will be another guest designer challenge posted soon, watch the blog for details! Have a great weekend!

WOW! New product!!!

I walked into the store after being on vacation and all I can say is WOW! There is so much new product I am not sure how I am going to catch up!

I thought I would share a few pictures of some of the new items!
For those of you who love Basicgrey we just got in the full line of Urban Prairie and Granola!!!

And for those of you who have waited to buy a QuicKutz Revolution now is the time!!
For a limited time it is on promotion for $39.99!!! This is just in time for the holidays!!

Imaginisce has a beautiful line called Fairest of Them All! It can be used for a baby girl, little girl or even a trip to Disney!










And I just wanted to mention for new stuff came in from Maya Road! Lots of new mini albums--so now you time to work on your holiday projects!

Tuesday Tip *Halloween Treat Bag*

Here is a video showing you a quick and easy way to jazz up a Halloween Treat Bag.
Enjoy.



Here is the same video on you tube.

This week we are getting back to the basics... a 12x12 layout with two uncropped 4x6 photos side-by-side. Getting back to the basics doesn't have to be boring though! The sketch also has a circle element in on corner with two embellishments running along the sides of the photo block.

I love new products that come into the store so it should come as no surprise that I chose the brand new Basic Grey Urban Prairie papers, stickers, and brads for my layout. Sesil, Cheryl, and I just put the new Urban Prairie and Granola collections from Basic Grey on the floor Thursday evening!

Supplies:

Basic Grey Urban Prairie patterned papers
KI Memories Glitter Lace paper
Basic Grey Urban Prairie stickers
Basic Grey Urban Prairie brads
Bazzill stretchy gingham ribbon
Maya Road flower gems
Micron Pen

Supplies from my stash:

Making Memories metal frame
American Crafts Thicker Stickers

I matted my photo block with an oversized mat of patterned paper. I also added in the glitter lace paper mat off center to add some interest.

I used a circle shaped journaling sticker but decided to use a metal frame over the top that has been in my drawer WAY TOO LONG! Sometimes I will just pull out something in my collection and challenge myself to use it on a layout. That metal frame was my challenge for this layout.

To border the photo block I used a combination of a sticker and ribbon. I accented the sticker with the small brads.

Overall this layout took me about 15 minutes to complete once I had my supplies chosen. Gotta love a quick beautiful layout!

Don't forget about the October Guest Designer sketch. Email your layouts by Wednesday, October 15, 2008 to be published on our blog. I will have some blog candy for everyone that enters!

SOS, Free Charm Bracelets and New Albums!

Hi, everyone -- It's Christina here, filling in for Al this Sunday! Al went away with several of her friends to a rented house in Indiana (or was it Michigan?) this weekend. We called her each day to get a page count to see if she was scrappin' or talkin' and the end total was 10 layouts -- so it looks like she did some scrappin' AND some talkin'! I am very proud of her! I just hope she posts some of the layouts she has finished. (hint-hint)

As for Windy City, we've had some exciting new products come in this week (I feel like I am up to my eyeballs in it with all the receiving I have done this week!) -- Maya Road clear albums, ribbons, chipboard and more, Imaginisce "Fairest of Them All" collection -- I just opened the box full of pretty princess papers, embellies and stamps -- a mini carriage stamp reminiscent of a certain princess that last her shoe....), but one of the most exciting has been the addition of Kolo to our wonderful album selection.

A lot of people have been looking for paper page albums and no one does those better than Kolo! Here are some photos of our new album arrangement! Come see it -- it looks better in person! These albums make great guest books, and they have slide on protectors to protect your photos and memorabilia once you are done with the pages!

And then, the other fun thing that came in this week are FREE Creative Imaginations Charm Bracelets. You earn your first charm (and the bracelet) with any $25 purchase of Creative Imaginations products (Creative Cafe, Narratives, Art Warehouse, etc. -- we have TONS of Creative Imaginations products to choose from). Each month, Creative will come out with a new charm and a $25 Creative Imaginations purchase in that month Will earn you the next charm to fill up your bracelet! And it gets better -- bring in a friend and if you both purchase $40 total between the 2 of you, you each earn the free bracelet/charm! And for the month of October, you just need to mention that you read about the bracelet on our blog and you will get the bracelet and first charm FREE with a $10 Creative Imaginations product purchase! Stop in and check out the bracelet and charms -- we even have a sample of November's charm to show you :)!

Ok-- that is it for this Scrappin' on Sunday -- I am actually going to get off the computer now so I can scrap -- and make a page for Melissa's Full Circle Friday Challenge -- it's due on Wednesday! I think I will scrap some photos of my dog, Quincy. We've had him for almost 6 months now and I haven't made him a page (the cat has about 20 pages).... let's see.....

Tuesday Tip *Water Threading Border Punch*

Okay.. it was easier for me to post a video. Sorry for the out of focus camara angle, but I think you will be able to get the point. I will try and post more video tutorials if it is eaiser for you. Just leave a comment and let me know what you think. I promise they will get better with time. See you next week. :)SESIL
Enjoy,

Full Circle Friday

I will admit it, I really don't look forward to scrapping big events like birthdays and holidays. I always have a ton of photos with a lot of distractions and noise in the backgrounds. So I tend to stuff those photos away with plans to do it later. Eventually there comes a time when I just need to get it done! Today was one of those days. I chose a sketch that used 6 photos, enough to give an idea of my daughter's 3rd birthday party (which was actually over a year ago, she is 4 1/2 now!) My photos were full of distractions (toys, tops of heads, piles of wrapping paper, etc.) so I cropped my 4x6 photos way down to show just the subjects. With this sketch I used 2-3.5x5, 2-3x3, and 2-2x2 photos. The photos are unified by following along a center line. In my layout I used a ribbon as the center line.

We had an aquarium themed party so instead of heading to the birthday section of W.C.S., I headed to the tropical vaction section to find my aquatic supplies. Sometimes the most obvious theme isn't the only theme. Great supplies can be found in many different sections of the store.

Supplies:

Heidi Grace patterned papers

Heidi Grace rub ons

Heidi Grace chipboard letters

Doodlebug glitter paper

Bazzill cardstock

Bazzill die cut cardstock

Micron pen

QuicKutz Blossom alphabet die cuts

Supplies from my stash:

Karen Foster ribbon

I added some patterned paper behind the photos but I also followed that center line. I used the scallop die cut paper because it reminds me of bubbles. I didn't have any aquatic accents other than my border rub ons so I made my own by cutting out shapes from the patterned paper. Cutting shapes from patterned paper is a great ways to use up your paper scraps!

Don't forget about the October Guest Designer sketch. Email your layouts by Wednesday, October 15, 2008 to be published on our blog. I will have some blog candy for everyone that enters!