Crate Paper

Crate Petite: A Memorable Mother's Day Gift - Marie Lottermoser

 

Behind every classic Mother's Day Gift is a special bond that is beautifully reflected in the two mini albums you're about to discover from CP Gal, Marie Lottermoser. Made simply from Crate Paper's array of journaling cards, each will surely bring about happiness and unforgettable memories on Mother's Day. Have a look!

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Mother's Day is coming fast around the corner, and this year I'm using Maggie Holmes new Styleboard collection to make mini albums for gifts. You can never go wrong making something homemade for mom, and paired with sweet, feminine papers, these little books are sure to be a hit!

I have two albums ideas to share with you, both of them made with journaling cards. A tiny brag book for a grandmother that she can slip right into her purse and pull out to show off her grandkids, and another sweet pink mini album to display the newest member of the family.

I started out by gathering all of my 3" x 4" cards together for the brag book. The colors and designs blend so well together that half of the work was already done for me.

I joined the cards together accordion style using washi tape on the side of the cards I didn't want to show. Once all of the cards were connected, I gathered the ends together to form a little book.

To make the cover, I cut a piece of patterned paper down to 4" x 6.25". I scored a .25" section in the center to form a spine for my book so when it was put together it would lay relatively flat.

All that was left to do was to place the inside pages into the jacket, and adhere the end papers to the cover with double stick tape. One of the great things about using journaling cards for this is they are nice and sturdy and hold their shape.

I finished the book off by adding in photos of the grandkids and some pictures from around the house. The next best thing other than visiting in person is having some photos to carry with you.

Then I moved on to the baby album. This time, I used 4" x 6" journaling cards and made things even simpler by just using a ring through the upper corner to hold everything together. I added in the 4" x 6" overlays from the Styleboard collection so once again, everything already worked beautifully together.

No mini album would be complete without tags, pockets and pull-outs to add some fun!

And there you have it – two full mini albums from one set of journaling cards. I hope you are inspired to make a homemade gift for mom this year!

Pretty Things: Pink, Emerald & Gold Clipboard - Naomi Atkins

Today's installment of Pretty Things introduces colorful patchwork and a beautiful redo of an affordable clipboard using April's full proof theme, 'Pink, Emerald & Gold' - brought to light by CP Gal Naomi Atkins' vintage-motivated photography style.

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Hello Everyone - Naomi Atkins here with two projects for you today. When I saw this month's assignment requesting emerald, gold and pink, I did a little happy dance. I love gold..anything gold..and I use it as much as I can. I recently hosted a gold themed birthday party for my little girl - that's how much I love it! 

In contemplating the color palette, I decided to create a layout and also, a super cute decor project to hang in my studio. My photography studio is very shabby chic and is a direct reflection of my photography style that regularily includes handmade/vintage items from various stash-aways held dear and near to my heart. To balance out my vintage obsession, I thought it a great idea to make a simple petite clipboard with space for fresh photos and minor adornments. 

A month or two ago, I happened upon an ordinary clipboard in Target's '$1' aisle. Immediately, I saw possible potential for the board and an altered project waiting to be discovered! To help me transform the board, I turned to Crate Paper's Oh Darling and Styleboard collections.

Even though the clipboard was already 'green', I knew I was going to decoupage paper over it to match my room's decor style. To start the process, I pulled out Martha Stewart Antiquing Decoupage and glitter paint. I then decoupaged the paper directly on top the clipboard giving it ample time to dry before adding another layer of gold glitter paint.

After ensuring that all areas of the board were sealed and fully dried, I added a strip of the Maggie Holmes' decorative tape to the right edge. As a backdrop, I positioned five frames filled with patterned paper from top to bottom and accented each one with an embellishment or two. I reserved space in the center because I knew that eventually, I would 'clip' on a new photo.

 

In the end, I really liked the way the clipboard looked both with a photo and without - I intend to use it both ways! I added a beach photo to the board since I'm in the mood for Summer! A black and white photo would work just as well. I'm totally happy with my $1 Clipboard!

The second project is a quilter's dream! I've been wanting to scrapbook this photo I took of my daughter. She's wrapped in a quilt that took me nearly two years to make and was my first major quilting endeavor. Isn't it gorgeous?!

I transferred the same lovely patchwork to my layout. I put together a patchwork-style banner made using my favorite technique, sewing, and paper cut-outs from Oh Darling, Styleboard and more. I even included stickers and various pieces from the Styleboard ephemera pack!  

I trimmed up the edges and sewed the banner to my layout. I kept the background paper simple because I liked the look of the washed out wood with the snow. I added a few embellishments to the upper left corner and a doily sprinkled with glitter.

I was happy to see the quilted banner had mimicked my quilt pattern and colors. Almost always, my layouts are inspired by the photo'(s) they contain. Since most of my photography has a vintage feel, finding matching CP supplies is rarely an issue.

Whether a quilter or paper craft artist, I highly recommend a dollar aisle pit stop - it's the perfect excuse to give this color combination a try and to find a home for all your favorite Crate Paper supplies!

Stationery Style: Paper Doll Cards & Homemade Notepads - Jina Jean

I've been in love with Crate Paper since I dropped in with Emma's Shoppe in 2011. The collection was super cute and inspired me to create fancy, feminine projects. And, oh my gosh, this season I found it's sister collection, Oh Darling! Both bring back memories from my childhood. When I was a young girl, I spent a lot of time playing with my dolls, including Barbie and my favorite, paper dolls. I especially loved the process of making a doll from paper and scissors. Do you remember those days? I really liked the pages of pretty girls and their cute dresses and accessories.

Thinking about those paper dolls inspired me to create "paper doll" cards for today's Stationery Style using Crate Paper's Oh Darling collection. The collection reminds me of my darling and dazzling girlhood. Not surprisingly, I dipped into the paper doll patterned paper, Little Lady, right away with it's pretty girls, cute dresses and various accessories. 

There was a second must-try item that caught my eye from the Oh Darling collection; beautiful satin bow garland! I pulled the cute bows from the garland, and placed one next to each girl. What better than bows to accent sweet cards such as these? 

Maybe you already noticed, but these cards are slightly different from most - Yes, there is more to be shared! The following cards look similar to a notepad....

I prepared three different papers per card; white cardstock, vellum and matching patterned paper. I layered and stitched them together along the top edge to convey a notepad appearance.

Between the top and bottom papers, the vellum and journaling tags are a blank space for notes. The tag and additional layers are a bonus and lend a decorative edge to the interior.

Again, this assortment of adorable cards was inspired by my memorable childhood, and my love of pretty paper dolls. I felt a great deal of happiness while creating them, just as I had when I played with my paper dolls a long, long time ago. Oh Darling is a super cute collection and catered well to my project. The cards are graciously crafted inside and out!

Nerd Love: Two Expert Crate Paper Layouts - Corrie Jones

 For the most part, we're a 'nerd' family. Well, I guess my teenager would disagree as she is very cool at the moment - though, she hasn't always been. Truth be told, we all LOVE to read. We love technology. Dad and the girls are BIG video game players. We watch documentaries. All of us are mathematically inclined and get a kick out of a good science experiment. Yep, we are a nerdy family. Even one of my old high school friends once described our hang-out crew as "cool nerds". Is there really such a thing?!

One thing we're really nerdy about is our phones - almost to the point of obsession. My teenager knows every trick there is on the iPhone and can score me every 'app' my heart desires. My dear husband has turned his cool iPhone into a financial/business powerhouse!

I took these pics of the two of them, both on their phones, during 'family' time one Sunday night. I'm sure they were both googling something vastly important that simply couldn't wait until later. Ha! So much like father, like daughter. On most occasions, I'm easily annoyed by the  constant phone time, and sometimes, I'll put my foot down and shout "No more!" On this night, I wasn't particularly bothered - they were enjoying themselves and I thought it kind of entertaining.

I used an abundance of pieces from the Boy's Rule collection. I don't really have any boys around here, except for the hubby. Still, the collection beautifully compliments differing themes, including my girls. Everyone loves blue and red, and the Chalkboard Thickers are a lot of fun!

I thought the little digi wood veneer guy was indicative of technology and that the patterned paper pulled it all together!

My hubby and daughter aren't the only nerds in the house - my youngest is a self-proclaimed 'nerd'. One thing she loves to do is read. Just this last year in first grade, her reading took off and already, she is reading chapter books. It's a wonderful thing to behold!

Lately, I've been taking a lot of photos of her reading in her cozy chair, or on the couch. It's where I find her when I have my camera in hand during the afternoon hours. Right now, she is reading the Box Car Children series.

Because I preferred a more feminine color palette for this page, I used the Oh Darling collection. The pink matches perfectly with the pink in my daughter's sweatshirt. The soft green is a nice touch as well!

And, of course, I included on the layout her favorite girlie patterns and embellishments like bows and flowers. 

I love how scrapbook products can help to encompass a memorable story. Not only do they make for beautiful adornments, but serve to set a story's mood as well. Thanks so much for looking!

CP Adorn: Vellum Garland & Chore Chart - Ginny Hughes

Once again, vellum is in the spotlight! The soft and airy material is one we've been producing for quite some time using an array of shapes and colors - our favorite batch right now is Maggie Holmes' Styleboard Die-Cut Vellum Shapes. It's packed with eighty-eight pieces of modish, dainty designs meant to compliment any project, including today's layout & chore board from CP Gal, Ginny Hughes.

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Vellum! Can you tell that I love vellum? I'm so happy to see it making a comeback. I think it adds just the right touch to a layout or other kind of project - subtle, but still packs a punch!

In introducing the subject, I crafted a special vellum line-up! It conveys a sense of happiness and whimsy. The layout itself is about my three-year-old and her love of playing with her 'stuffy'.

The simplicity is in the details - I used a series of vellum die-cuts to create three cascading, horizontal lines across the bottom of the layout which showcases like garland - perfect for my sweet girl!

I mostly stuck with vellum in making the garland, but it would look just as great with a little patterned paper thrown in. The key to pulling off this technique is to grab an assortment of punches and punch away!

Knowing that I wanted three rows across the entire bottom, I randomly adhered the vellum to the page. I used temporary adhesive to hold them in place while stitching across them with my sewing machine. *Avoid using permanent adhesive in combination with sewing - it'll gum up your needle!

I always try to include at least a small amount of journaling on my layouts. I tend to use a typewriter to create my journaling because I'm not a big fan of my handwriting! I love the little journaling spots from Styleboard. I simply stick them to a larger piece of paper and then run it through the typewriter - makes it so much easier!

Next was the fun part - adding all the other fun embellishments!

For the next project, I made a chore chart for my older daughter's bedroom. She is the type of child who loves lists and enjoys checking things off as she gets them done. She might of just got that from me ;) And who says a chore chart can't be pretty? The vellum die-cut, 'today', is one of my favorite designs, so I anticipate seeing it displayed on a daily basis.  I used a regular shadow box with a glass frame to house my chart. You can use a dry erase marker and then wipe it off when you need to make a new list - super easy!

I love the added sparkle that the sequin butterflies give to this project. If she ever wishes to change the background, it's as easy as switching out the paper. The possibilities are endless!

Crate Petite: Momma's Boy Mini Album - Stephanie Buice

As soon as I saw our assignment choices, I knew right away that I wanted to make a mini album on behalf of this month's 'Crate Petite'. I've been itching to gather pieces from here and there throughout my Crate goodies and pull them together somehow - this was finally my opportunity.

Because my pieces were from an assortment of various Crate Paper collections, I wanted to lease a small base for my album to help unify them. I used one piece of 12" x 12" cardstock cut into three strips that measure a total of 4" x 6". The six inch length was a little too big for me, so I trimmed them all down to 4" x 5". I folded each piece in half, placed them together and sewed down along the crease - it was pretty easy.

The 4" x 5" size was the perfect fit! It allowed me to use the journaling cards with varying layers. I wanted this mini album to be personal - one that to someone else might seem like pretty pictures, but really is a story from my heart. This mini is filled with little snippets of my son that could brighten up any day. I used lots of journaling cards and this particular one left the perfect space for me to add a bit of my own journaling.

On these pages, I started the mini with a favorite picture - us holding hands when he was almost six weeks old. This picture reminds me that although he's super tiny, him and his little hands are one of the biggest and best parts of my world. How could that not make me smile?! I added some patterned paper from the Love Notes collection and a doily under the picture to tie it in with the page above. I kept it simple by allowing the picture to tell the story.

When I look at this picture there is no denying who this boy's mommy is. As he has gotten older, he resembles my husband a little more, but still looks very much like me. Not only in his looks, but in the little things he does, I see myself. This can be very humbling at times, but there is no doubt that he's definitely 'my kiddo'. This journaling card from the Boys Rule collection helped me to tell my story. I used patterned paper as the base and added other elements on top. The paper tape from the Styleboard collection found it's way onto many of my pages - it, too, helps pull it all together.

I love the journaling cards and emphera pieces from each of the collections. For these pages, I started going through them and pulling out pieces that I knew I wanted to use. I worked almost exclusively with the Styleboard collection. I mixed patterned paper and journaling cards just underneath the photos. Then, I sewed here and there, and embellished the pages with stickers and a badge from Love Notes.

Although the pictures on these two pictures are a near perfect match, I still preferred to use the same papers and colors to tie it all together. I added my picture on top the papers and then the 'happy' sticker and 'boy' letter Thickers as my page title. I stapled the Thickers down to give them a more masculine feel.

I know that pink is traditionally not a boy color, but I like the softness that it lends to my photos. In this top page, my son was about one year and it was his first time using crayons. We had such a fun time and he loved it. I loved giving him a new way to express himself. Looking at these pictures 'now', the pink does look a little girly, but I'll just tell him it's because he's momma's boy. 

This is a more recent picture of my little guy. At this point in his sweet life, he likes to rock in his chair with his bear, sing songs and tell me stories. It's usually how we start our day and one of my new faves! When I was picking out embellishments to use, I set aside these triangle studs - I like how they're soft, but yet, still edgy. They really help to add dimension to an otherwise flat last page of my book.

This was such a simple album to put together - so much so, that it can be created by any level of scrapbooker. Since I usually shy away from making mini books, I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly this one came together. Because the pages are attached, my only struggle near the end was when I was trying to figure how to photograph them. I opted to prop them up on a white board and captured them as shown. It's a definite must-try mini album filled with lots of love!

Pretty Things: Pink, Emerald & Green Layouts - Megan Klauer

A color challenge is always a great way to jump start creativity. I started by pulling all things pink, emerald, and gold together into a fun pile on my desk. I simply sifted through as I started my designs and blended those colors with my white and cream neutrals I used as a base.

My niece shown in the photos had wore a turquoise colored blouse which complimented the emerald color just perfectly.

I used one of the gold cut outs and cork embellishments to layer and add a bit more dimension to the ribbon piece.

The glittery frames easily add yet another touch of gold to my design as well as a great place to add my journaling!

This page ended up being a very simple design. I found that most all of the word bits from the 'Inspiration' paper in Maggie's Styleboard collection said just what I wanted to say on my page. So, I simply cut out that portion of the paper and used it as a focal point next to my two horizontal photos.

I tend to create a flow with embellishments on most my layouts. It's something I don't always intend on doing, but somehow, it's just how things end up. I feel like sometimes it's my "go to" design without me even realizing it. Do any of you find yourself doing this sort of thing?

This time the flow was created using circles; the record pieces, vellum pieces, as well as pieces I punched using a few different circle punches.

A few finishing touches on my pages included the gold label stickers, the gold rub-ons (which go on like butter), and the decorative tape.

I used the decorative tape as a way to slightly clean up some messy stitching thanks to my sewing machine going a bit wacky.

As a whole, the two pages turned out beautifully, as did the color combination of pink, gold and emerald. It's a classic color palette that lends itself to many memorable occasions. Do give it a try!

American Crafts Purchases Bazzill Basics

We're thrilled to announce that our parent company, American Crafts, purchased Bazzill Basics yesterday afternoon. The change in ownership is effective immediately.

Retailers and consumers familiar with Bazzill should expect a seamless transition. American Crafts will continue to offer the Bazzill papers alongside it's existing line up of colorful cardstock.

We're sharing the news release that was distributed this morning so that you can read through the full text!

American Crafts purchases Bazzill Basics

OREM, UT – April 2, 2014 - Working to further its goal of providing a wide variety of quality craft products to retailers and consumers alike, American Crafts has acquired Bazzill Basics Paper, a leading supplier of high-quality cardstock. The change in ownership is effective immediately.

The Bazzill brand is synonymous with premium cardstock of the highest quality. Available in hundreds of colors and many textures, it’s a beloved mainstay in the crafting industry.

Doug Jones, who started Bazzill in Arizona with his wife Marti in 1999, named it after his grandfather.

“Bazzill has a long history in the craft industry due in large part to its passionate customers,” said Jones. “And as bittersweet as it is to move on to other ventures, we’re excited that American Crafts will be able to step in and ensure the brand continues. They’ve got a great track record of staying true to the brands they’ve purchased, and we expect they’ll do the same with Bazzill.”

Jeff Mitchell, president of American Crafts, describes the purchase as positive for the company, retailers and consumers. “Adding this great brand to the products American Crafts makes and distributes will increase Bazzill’s use and strengthen overall opportunities for Bazzill and American Crafts,” said Mitchell. “Our hats are off to Doug and his team and all they’ve done to build such a strong name in our industry.”

Retailers and consumers familiar with Bazzill should expect a seamless transition. The administration of current and previous orders and accounts has been transferred to American Crafts. Shipping will be processed through the Bazzill warehouse in Arizona until further notice.

Orders can be submitted by calling American Crafts at (801) 226- 0747, faxing orders to (801) 226-5086 or using Bazzill’s wholesale site at http://shopbazzill.com/

American Crafts has created innovative scrapbooking products since the early 1990s. The company has established itself as a leader in the scrapbooking and crafting industry by providing stylish, high-quality products and responsive customer service. In addition to patterned paper, American Crafts produces Thickers, AC Cardstock, Pow! glitter paper, Cutup Trimmers, albums, unique pens and markers, Premium Ribbon, and other embellishments that always rank as customers’ favorites. The company releases products under the popular American Crafts, Crate Paper, Heidi Swapp, Imaginisce, Pebbles, Pink Paislee, Project Life, and Studio Calico brands.

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Stationary Style: Customizable Notepads & Pencils - Ashley Marcu

Personal correspondence is as stylish as ever, and is a great way to show how much you care about that special someone in your life. Crate Paper delivers a great mix of products for the everyday card maker and stationary connoisseur. From paper to embellishments, we got you covered - as you'll soon see with the help of Crate Paper's new blog feature, Stationary Style.  Inside our first installment: The Notepad & Pencil, redone for quick jot-downs and more.

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 I love keeping little notebooks around the house. I keep track of grocery lists, to-dos, ideas and more. Customizing these notebooks is pretty and practical. Let's get started and I'll show you how fun they are to make - plus, a few pencils to match!

I like a smaller sized notebook - mine measures 4" x 6". I started with a piece of cardstock that  was cut to 4" x 8.25". I scored and folded the cardstock lengthwise at the 4" x 4.5" mark.

Next, I embellished the front using products from Oh Darling and Styleboard. The positive words and the cheerful images were combined to make list-keeping a little more joyful and less of a chore. You could also use products to coordinate with your decor or the style of your home.

The inside is simple and organized. I trimmed down lined paper and added some patterned paper at the top. This was stapled to the back cover of the notebook and then covered with a cork sticker from Styleboard. The other side is filled with a few sticky notes and an arrow cork sticker to match.

My favorite part of this project presentation is the pencils! Two long strips of Gold Foil Kraft Tape from the Styleboard collection fit perfectly! You could stop there and have a super trendy writing tool, but I decided to add a little more fun with a die-cut feather attached with twine. I added some strong adhesive under the feather so it won't slip while I'm taking notes.

With a small notebook and a coordinating pencil, you have the perfect addition to your home or you can pass it along as a gift! What a wonderful present this would be for a friend, co-worker or teacher! Let's explore a couple more style options...

For this notebook I went a little more graphic, but kept it girly with the pretty flower covered in glitter.

Letter stickers can be added to personalize the notebook even further with what it will be used for, or even someone's name. I couldn't resist making another pencil with a coordinating feather to complete this gift.

Let's not forget about the boys! My son loves to write down his inventions, draw pictures, write stories and wish lists. I used Boy's Rule to make him a notebook that he'll know is all his! I even personalized it with his first initial and his very own customized pencil.

Creating lists and writing down to-do's can be a lot more fun in something customized and handmade. I hope you've been inspired today to make a notebook of your very own! Happy Crafting!

Crate Petite: April Challenge Invitation

 

April Challenge Invitation

We started off the week with a brand new feature, Crate Petite. Now we're kindly inviting you to join in on the fun! For the month of April, we're asking our fans to create a Crate Paper project that is petite, cute and sweet. It can be anything you like, but it must showcase 75% Crate Paper product. All project types are eligible as long as they're pint-sized: cards, layouts, mini albums, tags and altered goods. Deadline for submission is Saturday, April 19, 2014. Please email your entry to cpblog@cratepaper.com. 

Merit & Prize

The winner is selected based on quality and technique presentation and will be announced on Monday, April 28, 2014. The prize is an assortment of products from the Oh Darling and Styleboard collections. 

*Please, only one project per participant {unless a card or other small project}. Project must be newly created for the challenge. Late entries will not be accepted.

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Yesterday, Stephanie Bryan introduced a birthday surprise mini layout box filled with photos of her daughter and embellishments from the Oh Darling and Styleboard collections. In addition to the box, Stephanie crafted a second project: a special gift arrangement containing rainbow shredded paper and three presents—each garnished with Oh Darling Chipboard pieces. It's but another example of pint-sized love. 

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