Introducing...

We have an incredibly talented group of ladies who recently joined us as CP's newest Blog Contributors. Today, we'll begin introducing you to some of these ladies and their most recent CP projects. Many of them are already busy at work creating layouts with their CP collections and are sending projects our way for us to share with you here. In the coming weeks, we'll be posting more designs from our contributors. We'll routinely be recognizing their efforts and sharing their amazing ideas here as their projects arrive in our inbox. So, without further ado, let us introduce our first contributor:

Larissa Albernaz

My name is Larissa Albernaz. I have been scrapbooking for almost five years and I'm totally addicted which means I see artistic possibilities over everything around me. Every day, I enjoy perceiving the colors in my surroundings and I pay close attention to my inner emotions, even if it's to throw them out only on a layout.

Along the years, scrapbooking has provided me a great sort of artistic possibilities. It provides me to express myself in style, mixing paper, embellishments, colors, memories and a message. So, Scrapbooking to me is not only a way to preserve my memories but, it's the way I do Art.

In my Art, I pursue something that has sense to me, which inspires me and that can be different, interesting, cute, creative, colorful and fun! My style is eclectic, crafty. I also love shabby and vintage styles, anything that has a great dimension.

"For my background, I used a flower chipboard accent as a mask. I also reproduced another chipboard wine pattern at the top corner to add some interest and a lot of layers and movement to my layout." - Larissa A.

Another great suggestion we have from this layout is to outline the edges of your die-cut paper with a fine tip pen or marker. Note how Larissa has done this above with our "Tori" die-cut paper from the Paper Doll collection. It lends a playful feel to the layout and brings definition to the die-cut edging.

Ronda Palazzari

My name is Ronda Palazzari, like the beach boy song..help me Rhonda..only "no h". I currently live in the burbs of Denver, Colorado with my husband Andy and two teens. My house is ruled by two adorable Chihuahuas, Nina & Predro. I love being a stay-at-home mom and all things crafty....scrapping, cooking, knitting, sewing, interior decorating and photography. I'm addicted to chai teas, love to travel, say "Shut Up," "Totally," "Dude," & "No Worries" way too much, obsessed with colors & rainbow order, love to read books & sometimes reread my favorites, find that being a SAHM is one of the hardest but most rewarding jobs, am always listening to music & have very eclectic tastes, love baking & the scent of Vanilla, addicted to Project Runway, Top Chef & America's Next Top Model, love to sleep in late when I get the chance & very much a night owl, and totally dislike writing bios because I sound so cheesy. Some of my proudest scrapbook moments are being named Memory Makers Master (2009), becoming part of the Fancy Pants, Lily Bee, Purple Onion, and Cocoa Daisy Design Teams. I also have been blessed in being published in various magazines; Memory Makers, Scrapbook Trends, Artful Blogger and various other idea books.

Ronda had a chance to enjoy the Brook collection while finishing up some design work for the Cocoa Daisy Kit Club - check out her blocking on the layout above..notice how each of the pieces fit so nicely together even though they're of different angles - the stitching makes it look like a miniature quilt!

Stephanie Howell

Growing up with a ridiculously artistic mother, Stephanie tried and abandoned many crafts in frustration before she finally stumbled onto scrapbooking and fell in love. She made a few scrapbooks (in the loostest sense of the term) when she was in college, but truly became obsessed when she was pregnant with her first daughter. Scrapbooking is her therapy and has gotten her through six (soon seven!) of her husband's overseas deployments.

Stephanie has been published in Creating Keepsakes, Simple Scrpabooks, Scrapbook and Cards Today, Scrapbooks Etc., Memory Makers and Scrapbook Trends magazines. She designs for Lily Bee, Jenni Bowlin and Studio Calico.

Stephanie lives in Georgia and is married to Jimmy, who is a Major in the Army. She is also a stay-at-home mom to Harper Elizabeth, who is nearly four, and Sadie Caroline, who is two. In her spare time, she loves antiquing, reading and watching reality tv (her dirty little secret). She dreams of learning to sew, embroider, knit, quilt and cook (well). But most of all, she loves just being together as a family, and she relishes those moments...as they are few and far between.

Look what landed on the cover of Ella Publishing, a popular online ezine!! Our dearest Stephanie Howell, congratulations to you for making cover! It's Brooks first official cover premier - we couldn't be more excited over here! Yah!!

Shawn Webster

My name is Shawn Webster. I live in Virginia with my soldier and two kiddos (Adam is 8, and Madelyn is 2). I have been married to my hubby John for 9 years and going strong. I'm originally from PA but have been moving around with the military for awhile now. I have scrapbooking for almost 9 years and also enjoy making cards and other paper projects. Speaking of paper, this is my passion. I love the colors, patterns and textures and can never get enough of it. Just call me a paper hoarder. I admit it lovingly! Currently, I'm enjoying becoming a better "picture taker". I just can't call myself a photographer yet. I also enjoy a good book and I'm a total movie junkie.

Just having arrived yesterday, Shawna came up with a brilliant idea for creating your own die-cut paper using some of your favorite pattern papers (Crate Paper included!!). She suggests using a shaped mini album chipboard page as a template. Simply set it on top of your paper, trace around it and cut tracing out. She used this technique with our "Branch" pattern paper above (beneath the photo).

We'd like to kindly thank today's designers for their contributions. We'll return on Friday with a very popular kit club and our next SGND! Could it be you? Quite possibly. Remember, in order to take part in our SGND contest, you have to submit your CP projects to us - if you haven't already, do so by tomorrow so that we can check out your work - you just might WIN $50 in CP product!