Crate Paper

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!  

tips & techniques

Do you love spring as much as “we” do?  We happen to think that  “Pink Plum” is the perfect paper crafting collection for accenting your spring inspired layouts this year. Christine Middlecamp created this lovely layout using a variety of blossoms to get you thinking about spring. She’s also put together a host of tips & techniques for us, which you’ll find below. Check it out! 

              CP Girls

Window boxes, both large and small, leave plenty of room for surprises. This particular layout houses a large window box. Within the box sits a long series of pattern papers and homemade embellishments. The box serves a “frame” for these items and is the base for the title.

The window box/frame is cut from vanilla cardstock using an exact-o knife, ruler and cutting mat.  Before trimming box/frame from cardstock, pre-measure it to ensure it’s of the appropriate size to fit on your layout. Also, decide on width of the frame. Width is important because it will determine the size of the window. After trimming the window box from cardstock, trace the inside of the window on background cardstock. Cut around tracing and use as base for adding items to your window. After you’ve completed your window’s design, adhere both window contents and frame to layout as shown above.

Flower accents are easy to create and are extremely popular right now. The flowers above are created using the following four items: Martha Stewart Large Flower Punch, MS Starburst Punch, ¾” circle punch & pink buttons. Punch eight large flowers from “Pomegranate” pattern paper. Punch eight starburst circles from “Very Berry” pattern paper. Punch eight geometric circles from “Wildberries” pattern paper. Combine items together to make the flowers and use to your liking!

Speaking of popular, paper rosettes can be found just about anywhere these days. They’re really simple to make and offer up all kinds of design options. All that’s required to make them is paper, tweezers, scissors and glue-dots. Trim a medium size circle from paper. Cut circle in a spiral-like fashion. Wrap spiral around tweezers tightly. Remove wrapped spiral from tweezers and adhere rosette at base using large glue-dot so that it doesn’t come apart.  Use your paper rosettes on a layout/project either individually or as part of a grouping of rosettes. The possibilities are endless!

Decorative scissors are great for creating your own one-of-kind borders. Use decorative borders to accent a focal point on a layout/project. The “Raspberry” pattern paper above is housed between two thin borders trimmed from pink cardstock using pinking scissors.

Lastly, even though Valentine’s Day is officially over, there’s always good reason to add hearts to a layout/project. Remember the days of hand-cutting hearts from folded paper? It’s the easiest way to trim an “almost perfect” heart. Layer hearts with embellishments like the one above, Crate Paper’s newest addition – “Sparkle Chip” – layered chipboard with glimmer and rhinestones!

Thanks Christine for the beautiful inspiration.

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.

 

CHA Design Peek..We just can't wait.

This gorgeous mini album was designed using our new pink plum collection that is debuting at CHA.  We loved pink plum before this mini album was created but now we may not part with any of it.  Christine Middlecamp deigned this stunning mini album especially for mothers day.  Your going to want to make one just for yourself.  Wait, you'll see. 

                    CP Girls

 

 

 

 

 

 
Visit Christine's Blog for design details. 

Happy Mothers Day..... just a little early! 

  

Pink Plum..How adorable is this.

I'll say it again, how cute is this design. The strips of paper have so much detail yet you don't feel overwhelmed with all the papers patterns. The flowers are placed so intricately that it gives it a full layered affect.  Adorable!  This beautiful layout was created by Jen Jockisch.

                  CP Girls