Crate Paper

The Sketch Challenge--April 2011 Edition

HAPPY FRIDAY Crate Paper friends! Have you had a chance to start playing with the new releases yet? I think my favorite part of this season's products are the eclectic button sets that each line carries. The house shape from the Neighborhood line is definitely at the top of my list, I really want to buy 5 or 6 more packs and line up a little neighborhood of houses.   

You didn't come here to discuss Emily's favorites though, you want to see the sketch, right? Well, I can accommodate that! This month's sketch is a three photo layout with lots of rows of scallops. Don't feel like you have to stay with the scalloped look, feel free to use any sort of border punch or deco scissors, or just go with a straight strip. There's lots of room for journaling and your title can sit over the photos in a nice little frame. I hope you have fun with the sketch, I know both myself and the design team members that played along enjoyed it. There were so many great variations this month!

Here are the rules and regulations:

• You have until midnight (MST) Friday the 22th to work on the sketch. That's one week.
• Projects must use at 50% Crate Paper products, new releases are not required.
• Sketch can be a layout, cards, tags, or other project.
• Scan/Photograph your project and send it to info@cratepaper.com
• Winner will be selected based on quality or invention of work. I will send my top 5 to the Crate Paper office, then they'll choose one winner to be announced on Monday the 25th. I share some of my favorites with you at that time too.

And here's the sketch:

Here's my take on it. Apparently I have a hard time sticking to the sketches. :) Last month I had to add a photo, this month, I had to take one away. I turned the design sideways and moved the journaling over to the column of photos. I used the "Boys will be boys" tag to hold the place of the third photo I eliminated.

 

This is what Lexi Bridges did with it, trading out the scallops for stars, love that look! And her journaling ended up tucked behind the photos because she used the original spot as a great place to cluster some fun elements.

Anne Jo also turned the sketch sideways, shrinking everything as well. She used one of the blocks to house the title and replace the original title location with the cute bunny embellishment from the Paper Doll Collection. She mixed a lot of the lines here, I love how they all work together!

 

Kinsey Wilson went with an 8.5" x 11" version and really dolled up the journaling in the upper left corner. I love how she did all the fun stamping in pink! The perfect compliment to her topic! 

 

There you have it, four versions all inspired by the same sketch. And now it's your turn, go, create! 

 

 

The Color Challenge - Introduction

Hi, Crate Paper fans, it's Lucy Edson and I'm so excited to be hosting a new monthly challenge for you here on the Crate Paper Blog. Color is a driving force in my work and something that really inspires me. I'd like to invite you to come play with color with me each and every month and have the chance to win some gorgeous Crate Paper goodness! 

This month's prize is a Crate Paper Collection Pack of your choice!!!

 Here's how the challenge will work:

• I'll post a monthly color palette - it might be an inspiration photo, color swatches or a different combination from Crate Papers - old and new.
• I will show my inspiration from the color palette. You look at the palette and draw your own inspiration.
• You may submit a layout, card or project to be eligible. Projects need to be submitted by midnight (EST) Dec 10th - that is a week. Email it to me @ info@cratepaper.com
• You may use the colors in any proportion you wish, as long as you use the 3 colors in the palette. And you may add black, white or kraft paper to the colors.
• Projects must use at least 50% Crate Paper - you may mix any paper lines you like, old and new.
• The winner will be announced on December 12th and I'll share some of my favorite projects here on the blog on date. The winner will selected based on creativity and quality of work.

This week's palette is based on the colors from Peyton Ellie from the Paper Doll Collection by Crate Paper. So many times a lot of the work is done for you with a patterned paper - the color matching is already there - just pull out the colors and select your own papers!

I love to mix and match collections and add in bits and pieces from my stash and I hope this will encourage you to do the same. If you notice at the bottom of my storyboard - I've pulled a color swatch from the paper colors - it made this palette so quick and easy to pull together.

Your inspiration board:

 

My layout: And just so you know....this is not what I call myself....lol. The journaling tells this humorous story. ;)

I combined papers from Snow Days, Restoration and Pink Plum to go with the palette. A layout is never finished with out some black or white for me, so that goes in, too.

A great tip.....if you are struggling to find a perfect color match, why not use paint or mist? And you'll add a special artistic touch to your work.

 

I can't wait to see your interpretation of this color palette!  

Non-Traditional Journaling with Lucy Edson & CP Giveaway!

I often struggle with adding journaling to my layouts, but I still desire to tell the story or the feeling behind my photos. Sometimes, it's hard to find a place to add journaling where it compliments the overall design but doesn't overwhelm it. Another issue I deal with is keeping my handwriting straight..lol. So, the school lined paper {Study Hall} from the School Day collection was the perfect solution in this layout! I simply filled the background with free flowing thoughts about my daughter's smile and thereafter, realized it served multiple roles - handwritten journaling, straight lines, and a great design element! 

In this layout, I combined papers from Snow Day, School Spirit and Paper Doll. I then added in embellishments from these same collections and also, Restoration and Brook. Lastly, I further embellished my layout with fabric, crochet pieces and buttons from my stash. 

You could do this with any kind of ledger paper, including those that are formated via grid! Another idea is to create your own by following a paper's design or sketching in lines using a pencil and ruler! Be sure to erase away the lines after you are finished! 

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So, we're wondering what sort of inventive ways you've come up with when integrating journaling into your work? Have you ever resorted to sneaking it behind something such as a photo or large section of pattern paper? Are you one whom enjoys using journal stickers or journal cards? What's you're ideal solution for fitting in journaling on an otherwise busy, "not-a-lot-of-room" kind of layout? In responding to this question, we're offering up a mish-mash of Crate Paper delightfulness to one person, so leave us your answer below! We highly encourage you to "think outside the box" in answering the question as we'll determine our winner solely on creative merit..the name to be announced this Friday!! Good luck & we can't way to read your responses!!

feelin the cp love

Happy Valentines Day!  We hope you have a great weekend.  Don't forget to show some love to your scrapbook room and keep those crate layouts coming our way. (email your designs to info@cratepaper.com)  We are going to start our all new SGND....(scrapbook girl next door) posts.  That's right, the girl next door just might be a scrapbook dream that we never knew about.... and it could be you.  More SGND details to come, but for now we wanted to leave some sweet layouts to brighten your weekend.

                        xoxox

                       CP Girls

 

    pink plum collection   { Lisa Truesdell }

   

    brook collection   { Lisa Truesdell }

 

    paper doll collection   { Lisa Truesdell }

 

 

 

 

    paper doll collection   { Davinie Fiero }

Hi from CHA

We are here in California at CHA and having a great time.  Thanks to all of you that stopped by to visit with us about our new blog and the three new collections.  But mostly thanks to our great retailers that continue to support the Crate brand.

Look at how cute these cards are. They each include some simple layering that gives you results that looks stunning.  Remember the goal is to give the impression you designed for hours. (but we won't tell if it only takes you a couple of minutes)

                CP Girls

         Paper Doll Collections

          Brook Collection

      Pink Plum Collection

Designer:  Melissa Phillips

Simply Crate

One of our favorite styles is simple contemporary and we think that Becky Novacek captured it perfectly in these timeless layouts. 

Simply put... we love them.

                   CP Girls

 

       paper doll collection

 

        brook collection

        pink plum collection

See you in California this weekend.

Stop by and see us at CHA booth 2087.