Crate Paper

2015 Memories: Closing Album Page

I can't believe that 2015 is almost over! This past month I've done a lot of reflecting and thinking. There's a lot I want to change for next year, but there's also a ton that I want to stay the same. While looking at some older photos I decided that it would be fun to create a closing page for my 2015 album while I was at it. This past year I've transitioned to a 6x8 pocket page album. I'm loving the smaller size. It's just so handy and doable. So that means that I'm dealing with a smaller size scrapbook page as well.

I went through my photos and choose one photo from each month and printed it out in a collage in Photoshop. I sized it to span the width of my page, so in this case, six inches. To allow room for journaling but unwilling to change my design I decided to create a flap with my photo and journal underneath.

I created a little tag grid at the bottom of the page. The vertical tag is attached to the underside of the flap, white the horizontal tag is on the 6x8 page. This gives me something to hold on to to lift up the flap... but when it's closed it just looks like part of the design. Messy stamping of every month of the year carry on underneath the photo to add depth.

Because I used a photo collage I tried to keep my embellishing fairly simple. That meant a little die-cut word and a sparkly title. Just enough. I think it'd be really fun to include a page like this at the end/start of every album... or maybe even every month!

-Marcy

2015 Memories: Mini Album

 

Hello everyone! 

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and you were able to enjoy your loved ones.

For this last week of the year, the theme is 2015 MEMORIES.

I immediately wanted to create a mini album to offer the best pictures of the year.

 

 

 

I chose a square, transparent (4.1" x 4.1") cover, 

which allows the content to show through its front page. Some pages measure 3" x 4".

I gathered my favorite paper - all kinds of  Crate Paper embellishments - 

and I just added buffers and journaling printed from the computer.

 

 

Since this is a collection of memories from 2015, I cut the paper calendar from the

SWEET LIFE paper (from the SHINE collection) shaped card I inserted before each photo.

 

 

I mixed all the collections. Here the LOVE word is from the CONFETTI collection.

 

 

I filed the pages with different sheets of stickers.

 

 

I then used a few rub-ons from the Notes and Things collection--one of my favorite Crate Paper collections!

 

 

 Here I pasted a vellum from the WONDER collection on a white sheet and I added stickers.

 

 

 

 

I cut the pineapple with a die in a fall of golden glitter paper collection from

CRAFT MARKET.

 

 

 

And for a fun effect, I added a transparent golden label from the POOLSIDE collection

 

 

I love mixing different collections!

 

 

The frame was cut from the TREASURES paper from the SHINE collection.

 

 

Do you have this new vellum from the HELLO LOVE collection with golden hearts?

I love it!

 

 

I love using rub-ons as embellishments!

 

 

The September page showcases pieces from the Confetti collection.

 

 

This mini is small but very thick. There are still several pages to discover.

Let's keep going! ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The small HELLO is also a rub-on.

I love the effect on this paper.

 

 

November includes a picture of me with my friend.

The small frame is a nice 12x12 board chipboard from the SHINE collection.

 

 

 

Here is the end of this mini album.

I hope it will give you ideas to save your favorite photos this upcoming year.

 

 

 

2015 Memories: Sweet Memories Layout

One of my most favorite memories of 2015 is of watching my daughter develop a new skill, that of playing the clarinet.

I have loved watching her learn and even struggle.  She's learned that it takes practice and hard work in order to grow and progress, and it has been a joy to watch her spread her wings and fly.

I chose to use the sweet, Kiss Kiss collection to celebrate this tender experience, as I love the soft, pale colors used, the hearts of course, which are a great way for me to express my love for her, and the sentiments, that always seem to say just what's in my heart.

It's been such a joy to create and share this sweet memory with you.  Happy 2016!

Melissa

 

Fun with Foil Week: A Festive Layout

Hello and welcome to the blog today! This week, we are sharing projects that have fun with foil. I used my Heidi Swapp Minc and a few American Crafts Minc tags to create this layout about holiday cookie baking.

I also pulled out the foiled Thickers from the Hello Love collection, these are so fun and went perfectly with the rest of the foil accents on my page.

I used green foil with this 'hello' tag and stapled it to a piece of patterned paper. I wanted to incorporate red and green to go along with the Christmas theme.

This gold heart tag was perfect with a Crate Paper 'falala' piece to create an embellishment for the top of the layout, along with the red gold foiled piece next to it.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today, we hope you are having a great Holiday season!

-Jen

Gift Giving: Cute Packaging

I like to keep my packaging simple, but also pretty. I'm of the mind set that the packaging can be a part of the gift as well. I mean it is the first thing the recipient sees right? Why shouldn't it be pretty! I had an odd-shaped gift to wrap so I chose to use a cloth bag instead of a box. It's simple enough to sew one up with some small pieces of unbleached cotton.

Instead of a traditional name tag I use one of the gold chipboard letters from Maggie's Shine collection. I layered some tags beneath it and some other smaller items on the top of it and threaded them all through the string of the bag. Playing around with all the little bits and arranging them just so is the funnest part for me.

 

I adore all the little details peeking out. The perfect little bag for gift giving!

Gift Giving: A Pretty Picture Frame

Hi everyone!

 

Today I'm sharing a small gift I made for a friend who is very dear to me.

This will give you an idea of a gift you can give for Christmas.

I hope this will give you ideas and inspiration!

Homemade gifts are the most precious.

 

 

I found a 4 "x 6" frame in my office, which I hadn't used yet. I wanted a simple gift but one that was also original.

 

 

To dress up the bottom of the frame, I cut two tags from the paper, LOTS OF LOVE.

I placed the piece in the middle of the frame and I stuck my photo that I made. I then added a nice wooden arrow from the same collection

and I slipped a few gold sequins in the shape of hearts. 

My friend will be able to shake the framework to move the hearts.

I think it gives a nice touch to the frame.

 

 

And to continue in the spirit of the "homemade," I wrapped a gift in a 12 "x 12" piece of paper.

This is SMITTEN paper on which I added cutouts of paper and a die-cut set

with a clothespin. I then decorated by adding chipboard zebra and tassel from the SHINE 

 collection.

 

 

 

 

 

Have you planned some homemade gifts for Christmas?

Thank you for your visit. See you soon!

 

Gift Giving Week

I have always loved receiving small packages.  As a little girl I remember then containing the most enchanting gifts...special gifts, gifts that I felt were treasures.  I still love small packages, but not necessarily receiving them, but giving them and making their presentation extra special.

I've created a trio of gift pockets today, that are just the right size for tickets, gift cards, gift certificates, jewelry, and other small items.

I love using non-traditional colors for Christmas, and have selected pinks, whites, and blues from the Shine collection.  I also used my favorite pocket die, a must have for gift-giving lovers like myself :). Using your dies for gift giving is a fun way to make your gifts very unique and quite inexpensively as well.

After each pocket was assembled, I added die cuts from the Shine Ephemera collection, cardstock stickers, gold thickers, etc., to the front of each pocket.

I added a couple tiny bottle brush trees to further the Christmas theme, adding stars from the Shine collection as toppers, and plenty of glittered accents to dress up each pocket.

Enjoy your last few days of holiday crafting!

Melissa

Crate Paper Design Call 2016

It's about that time again! We're thrilled to announce our 2016 Design Team call. If you've ever been interested in joining our team, now is the time! We're looking for talented, committed, creative designers who love our products. Our designers are expected to create 3-4 projects per month and post their masterpieces to social media. Ready to apply? Email [email protected] with the following info:

1. One paragraph introducing yourself. Tell us when you started scrapbooking and how you would define your personal style. What do you love about Crate Paper? Are you on any other design teams? Include your name and hometown! Please help us get an idea of who you are as a crafter and your experience in the industry.
2. A link to your gallery, blog or portfolio. Be sure to include samples of your various creative projects. We'd love to see a variety of what you have to offer!
3. Photos. Please include at least 2 scrapbook pages, 1 card, and 1 other type of project that highlights your style.

 

The deadline to send applications is Thursday, December 31, 2015. The new team will be notified via email and the new team will be notified in January 2016. International applications will be considered.

Questions? Email [email protected]. Good luck!

A Pair of Holiday Cards by Jen

Hi there! Today on the blog I am sharing a few quick Christmas cards using an older collection - Bundled Up. If you are like me and haven't sent out your cards yet, these ideas will work perfectly to whip up a few quick ones! I am trying to keep it simple this year and do just that.

I started out with a white cardstock card base and added a piece of patterned paper with a bold red stripe. After adding my sentiment and chipboard snowflake, I embellished the card with punched vellum snowflakes and a few enamel dots.

For this card, I used the same white cardstock and patterned paper card base. I then added the chipboard banner and "winter", stitching through it with white thread.

I also embellished this card with some vellum snowflakes and enamel dots, as well as a wooden brad from the collection.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today, have a great one!

- Jen

Cards Week

I'm not the best cardmaker. But I do like to keep some on hand, ready to give. I dipped into a little bit of the Shine collection as well as the love-themed collection for this one. I like creating clusters of layers when I make cards, so I played around with a variety of items on a manila tag. I started with a die-cut (with the white back showing instead of the "A side". I then proceeded to just add things that I loved that I could tuck in. The rosette sticker I used had a different sentiment on it. I took that one off, stamped a new one on a piece of paper and cut it out.

 

Easy to customize for sure! I gravitate towards cards that aren't too specific... and I think this one is totally ready for giving no matter what the occasion!

Marcy