Introducing our Anniversary Kit Guest Designer, Gabrielle Pollacco

ScrapThat! has a very special guest designer with us for our May Anniversary Kit. 

We are delighted to introduce

Gabrielle Pollacco.

My name is Gabrielle Pollacco, I'm a mom of 2 sweet girls, happily married to my husband Steve and we have one big fluffy Labradoodle named Zoe, that sometimes makes her way into our family photos!  

Many of you may know me from some of my past and present design teams which include, Bo Bunny, Webster's Pages, Maja Design, Dusty Attic and Scrap365 Magazine (Some of my past design teams being, Daisy D's, The Color Room and Zva Creative).  I've been scrapping for many years now and would say that my style would be described as vintage/shabby-chic. I love trying out new techniques and love to share my tutorials with my blog readers! I've had the privilege of being a Guest Designer for ScrapThat! in the past year and was delighted to come back to scrap with this year's Anniversary kit! 

My blog:  http://gabriellepollacco.blogspot.ca/

Gabrielle Pollacco xo

GD Kelly Klapstein ~ Featured January Projects

When I received my ScrapThat! January kit, I couldn't wait to get into my studio! The beautiful Powder Mountain collection from Bo Bunny is one of my favorites this winter.  And there were so many wonderful embellishments that worked perfectly with all my photos and page ideas.

For the first two layouts, I scrapped some older photos of my children.  I love these pics of my kids when they were younger and spent many hours outside in winter time, not feeling cold, but enjoying playing in the snow.  They built forts, made snowmen and even happily shoveled the driveway!

Check out this fun bottle cap in the kit that I used as a journaling spot...

 

I used a new Tim Holtz/Sizzix die "Snowflake Rosette" to cut out this snowflake from the Bo Bunny double dot card stock in the kit.  Then I topped it with a white snowflake button and bling from the Embellishment Add-On kit...

There were so many pretty ribbons included!  I used the silver one behind my punched border for a subtle glittery effect...

 The other blue border above is a sticker from a 12x12 Bo Bunny card stock sticker sheet in the Powder Mountain collection.  I added some blue gems to this sticker....lots of gorgeous bling in this kit too!

The title "Ice Cold Winter" is cut from a Powder Mountain patterned paper that has cool wintery word art...

...and is backed onto a wide knit ribbon in the kit, which I stiffened with white acrylic paint, hoping for a frosty effect.

I also used more blue gems from the kit to bring some sparkle to the title.

Here is my second layout, with photos of my older daughter shoveling the driveway a few years ago. [I think this is the last time I've seen a shovel in her hand...2007! ha ha!]

I also used lots of card stock stickers from that awesome Powder Mountain sticker sheet on this layout.  The title "Snow Bunny" are alphabet stickers on circles cut from one of the pieces of patterned paper.

I think I used almost ALL of the snowflake stickers from that sheet!  The title is layered on top of the largest snowflake sticker, and I used the other ones with these pretty white organza flower brads...

Even my journaling tag has a snowflake sticker and brad!

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I cut out the snowman from the white woodgrain patterned paper and added some gem eyes, pearl buttons, a charm and a ribbon scarf. I loved all the variety of bling in this kit!

These 3 snowflakes were a happy accident.  I used the kit's white card stock to punch out some snowflakes for the third layout (coming up), and decided to use it as part of my background for this page.  I put a strip of navy card stock behind the punched out images and added pearl centers.

For my last layout, I decided to use all the pretty floral embellishments to create a winter scene with my youngest daughter's photo, taken during our first blizzard last November.  Amarylis's January sketch was inspirational!

The Bo Bunny papers have images on them that are easy to cut out and use as page elements. I cut out the birch trees and birdhouses from a different piece of paper and popped them up in the bottom corners on this page.

 I added glitter along the top edges of the bird houses.  These white snowflakes were punched with a Stampin' Up! punch from the white card stock in the kit (as mentioned in my second layout above).  The gem centres give them pretty yet subtle sparkle.

The most beautiful cream rose is in the kit, along with a number of pretty leaves.  I painted the leaves white and sprinkled them with glitter while the paint was still wet.  The lovely tiny string of blue pearls are swirled and layered under the rose for an extra touch of elegance.

I used these pretty golden pearl flourishes as my photo corners...

The page element that is the main feature is the frosty winter window, which is simply made with a piece of card board included in the kit, plastic packaging, white paint and glitter.  My full tutorial for this window appeared earlier this week on this blog.  Click HERE to check it out.

Isn't that bird cute?  It reminds me of the blue jays that we still see sometimes here in the winter.  Their bright blue colours are stunning against the winter whiteness.  I cut this one freehand, using the other bird images in these patterned papers as a guide.

Working with the January ScrapThat! kit was a delight, and I loved creating with all the fabulous products!  Being Guest Designer this month has been a wonderful way to start off a new year of scrapbooking!

Introducing our December Guest Designer ~ Robin Shakoor

We are honored and delighted to have the

AMAZING and TALENTED

Robin Shakoor

join us as our December Featured Guest Designer!!

She is a former ScrapThat! designer and is currently
designing for Dusty Attic and Graphic 45. 

I have been a paper crafter since February, 2008. I started shortly after a cruise I took with John Mayer. Yes, you read it right, John Mayer! My daughter is a huge fan and Mr. Mayer was brave enough to cruise the seas with a few hundred of his closest fans!

 

When we arrived home, we had over 1,000 photos. I remembered seeing a store called Scrapdoodles. I figured it was a scrapbook store, but I wasn't quite sure. One day I stopped in, took a look around, touched my first piece of patterned paper and I was hooked!

 

I have over 10 years experience as a floral designer and my love of flowers is reflected on most of my projects. I always have the urge to add a flower here or there. I truly love the art of design in all aspects of life.

If I had to define my style using one work it would be "Romantic." I love beautifully embellished projects with lots and lots of detail. I use die cutting, detail cutting, inking, paper piecing, punching, stamping, and anything else you can do with paper.  
 

I am honored to be a ScrapThat! Guest Designer!

Thanks so much for having me. 

Be sure to stop by Robin's blog 

Designs by Robin 

to see her fabulous work!!

Tracey Gregory ~ Guest Designer Nov. Kit Projects

I am thrilled to be the November Guest Designer for the ScrapThat! Kit Club. ScrapThat! is a Canadian based kit club with beautiful and perfectly combined papers, flowers and embellishments. I wasn't sure what to expect when I received my kit but-WOW! Love these rich fall colors and all the Prima goodies that came with it!

Here is my first layout-using only items from the
main kit:

The pic is my daughter at the gates of the cemetery - yes, creepy, I know but we were shooting nearby in the leaves and she thought this would make a "cool, Cullen-type" shot. These BoBunny papers were rich and exotic and I water distressed the edges,then highlighted the wrinkles in Rub n' Buff. I made the flowers out of the black tulle ribbon and ZVA pearls that came with the kit. I will post a tutorial on the flowers later this month. I fussy cut the dragonflies and using the cracked glass tutorial by October GDT member Patti Hamil, created their funky wings. I painted the chipboard with black crackle paint and after inking the edges of the brown ribbon with the kit's Ingrid Bolme ink in Teak Wall, I wove it around the page and highlighted it with more ZVA pearls.

This is my second layout, using the inspired sketch by ScrapThat! DT member Amarilys:

This one is my fave! I used the main kit, the flower and embellishment add-ons and some mixed media from my stash. The frame is a $1 Michael's cheapie that I distressed and attached the Prima doors/shutters to. Aren't the Prima leaves and vintage keys just perfect for this palette?

The poem is one of my favorite by Robert Frost,"Nothing Gold can stay."

 Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

  Nothing gold can stay. 

My Sketchabilities Layout used a totally different color palette with the same kit!

 See how versatile it is?

 

I altered the white Prima flowers in the kit by misting them with Tattered Angels in Cinder, trimming them down and highlighting the edges with Diamond Stickles. The little banner is from the Prima package itself. Thrifty or just cheap? You decide!

ScrapThat! currently has openings for new subscribers.

Stop by our store for details.

Be sure to visit Tracey's Blog ~

A Lifetime of Pages

to follow her gorgeous work.

Introducing our Talented Guest Designer ~ Tracey Gregory

 ScrapThat! is honored to have the FABULOUSLY TALENTED designer

Tracey Gregory

join us this month as our

 Featured Guest Designer

Hi everyone! I was so thrilled to be asked to serve as this month’s Guest Designer for the fabulous ScrapThat! Kit club! I have had such a great time meeting the super talented members and playing with the gorgeous November kit. (Just wait til you see it!)

I am a Christian, happily married mom of 4 children, ages ranging from 12-21, and live nestled in the mountains of the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. The foliage right now is incredible! I work as a RN in a long term care center which often blesses me with the gift of hearing the stories and seeing the photos of my geriatric residents as they share their histories with me. When not working or scrapping, I can be found at my daughter’s drama activities, the church nursery or working with my church’s drama team.

 I have been lucky to be published in a variety of forums and online magazines and had my first "paper publication" in the September issue of Scrap365. I am excited to share that I have been selected to also appear in the December and January issues! I am currently on DTs for Scrapping Everyday Miracles and a Stuck on U Sketches, a sketch challenge blog.

 If you have the time for a visit, my blog is a lifetime of pages.

I was not sure what to expect upon receiving my November kit,but..WOW!

 Gorgeous, gorgeous,jam-packed and so versatile.

 I can’t wait to show you my sneaks and will have a tutorial coming up as well!

 Have a blessed day!

Introducing our Talented October Guest Designer ~ Patti Hamil

ScrapThat! is honored to have the FABULOUSLY TALENTED designer
 PATTI HAMIL

join us this month as our

 Featured Guest Designer

I have been scrapbooking for about 15 years now. It’s my creative outlet, and I enjoy it tremendously. I have made many lasting friends while creating keepsakes for family members to come. 

I have had the honor of being published, had my work published in various publications and catalogs, had work featured on television and served on design teams. I am currently on several design teams, one of which is Anna Griffin. I create layouts for use on HSN and QVC UK and other social media. I have taught classes at Creative Keepsakes Conventions and my local scrapbook store and have been lucky enough to meet some of my scrap idols by attending CHA for several years. 

My usual subjects of my creative endeavors are usually our children, who are now grown. I also have been know to scrap our 4 legged children, even they run when they see the camera come out! 

If you want to take a peek at some of my work, please stop by my blog for a visit – I’d love to have you.

I am honored to be a guest designer for ScrapThat!, and have really enjoyed creating with the beautiful October Kit.

A SPRING CARD

Happy Saturday everyone!!!  This is Janis bringing you another project to share here at Scrap That!'s blog!!!

As promised, I'm sharing with you the project where I have used the stamped wheat image from my previous tutorial HERE.  Over at the forum, Melissa challenged us to use this watering can shaped card template from Paper Popsicles:

Here's my take:

 Supplies:  Paper and cardstock:  American Crafts, Stamp:  Prima Marketing, Pearls:  Kaisercraft, Ink:  Ranger Industries, Alphabet Stickers:  Jenni Bowlin Studio, Making Memories, Border Punch:  Martha Stewart Crafts, Pen:  Sakura, Other:  ribbon, sketch by Pagemaps.

Some close-ups:

 

Hope you can join us in this challenge!  Do share your creations and upload your works in our gallery!!!

Have fun creating,
janis

STAMPING WITH DISTRESS INKS

Guess what????  Lori has to be away and she asked me to babysit the blog for the week so here I am, Janis, blogging here at Scrap That! again!!! ;o)

Today, I'm gonna share with you a fun way to stamp using your distress inks.  I don't usually use distress inks for stamping, but I recently got this huge Donna Downey Wheat foam stamp from Prima Marketing, so it's a good excuse to play!!!  ;o)

Gather and prepare your supplies:
Stamp
Craft mat
Cardstock
Mini-mister with water
Distress inks (I used Shabby Shutters and Pine Needle from Ranger Industries here.)

Rub your distress ink (I used Shubby Shutters) first on your craft mat.  Make sure that you got the top part area of the stamp covered.

Build on another layer by rubbing a different shade (this one is Pine Needle).  Make sure that you rub it closely to the first layer so that there will be no space in between.  Build on layers until you cover the whole area of the stamp. 

Get your mini-mister and mist the layers with water.  Just be careful not to over-mist - -distress inks are specially formulated to spread when wet so just enough spritz to cover the layers will do.  ;o)

Get your stamp and press it into your craft mat.  You can move the stamp around a little just to make sure that you have covered all the areas completely...

... and stamp your image on you cardstock.

Pretty neat, huh?  ;o)  Love the combined effect of the distress inks on the stamped image!!! You should definitely try this!!!

I used this stamped image on a project that I'll share with you on Saturday.  Until then!!!

Have fun creating,
janis

TEA BAG HOLDER TUTORIAL

Hello everyone!!!  This is Janis guest blogging here at Scrap That! again.  You might be wondering on what project did I use my handmade blooms that I taught HERE.  The cat's out of the bag - - I created some tea bag holders as gifts for my kids' summer school teachers !!! ;o)

This is not the first time that I made these (check out my first set of tea bag holders HERE - - and definitely, this will not be the last time.  What I love about these tea bag holders is that they are cute, personalized (really appreciated by those who will receive them) and versatile (you can switch chocolates or other items in lieu of tea bags!!!).  I first learned how to make them using this tutorial at Splitcoaststampers, I just shortened and deleted some steps (thanks so much for the inspiration, Beate!!!).


Gather and prepare your supplies:
One 3 1/2" x 7 3/4" piece of cardstock
One 6 1/2" x 7" piece of patterned paper (I used Upsy Daisy's Bebe papers again to match my handmade blooms!!!)
Mini-scor pal, or other scoring tool
Adhesive (double sided tape or liquid glue)
25" piece of ribbon (optional)
1" Circle punch (I used the smallest Fiskars Circle Squeeze Punch here)
Scraps of cardstocks and patterned papers to decorate the tea bag

Step 1:  Get the 3 1/2" x 7 3/4" piece of cardstock and score at 3 1/2" on both sides.

Your cardstock will end up like this:

 Step 2:  Fold along the scored lines.  Set aside.

Step 3:  Get the 6 1/2" x 7" piece of patterned paper.  With the 6 1/2" side up, score at 1/2" and 3" like this:

Step 4:  Fold along the scored lines. Apply double sided tape or liquid glue on the 1/2" section of the paper and fold paper over. 

Step 5:  Score at 3 1/4" on both sides.

Step 6:  Fold along the scored lines.  Slide paper partially into your circle punch.  Center and punch.  Do this on both sides.

Step 7:  Apply double sided tape or liquid glue on the spine of your patterned paper and center and adhere on your cardstock like this:

Step 8:  Apply double sided tape or liquid glue on the middle of the cardstock.  Place ribbon on top and tie it around the cardstock base so you'll end up with this:

Variation:   In lieu of ribbon, you can also use a belly band.  I used one 1 1/2" x 8 1/2" patterned paper which I adhered on both ends for this.

You may now decorate your tea bag holder with your choice of cardstock and patterned papers.  I added my handmade blooms and thank you sentiment from Upsy Daisy's With Gratitude Rub-Ons and voila!  Really nice and thoughtful gifts for my kids' teachers!!!

 

Hope you like my tutorial.  Thanks again Lori for the opportunity to guest blog here at Scrap That!.  ;o)  See you at Scrap That's forum!!!

Have fun creating, 

janis