Cord Scrapbook Studio

Thankful in November - Guest Post

Cord Scrapbook Studio welcomes Jill Yegerlehner of Jillibean Soup for today's guest post!

You know November is a great month to remember all those little things that we can be thankful for. Several friends on Facebook are sharing a "thankful thought" each day in November. I was thinking--what a great thing to put to paper.

If you didn't know, Jillibean Soup core colors are reds, browns and greens. In fact I say "Brown is our Black". If you took a look around our house, you'd see that I love Fall and Fall colors. This is probably why I've incorporated so many of them into our lines!

I went back through the archives to find some of my favorite thankful layouts. Here's a few to share...

"So Thank-ful" Layout by Aly Dosdall

"XO Thanksgiving" Layout by Aphra Boyler

"Thankful for You" Card by Julie Bonner

"Gourd Times" Layout by Summer Fullerton

"So Grateful" Layout by Melanie Blackburn

Guess what... I have a Country Pumpkin Chowder Collection Pack to give away, so YOU too can make some thankful memories! Leave a comment below and we'll draw a winner Monday, November 12th!

Thanks for letting me guest-post!

UPDATE: Giveaway closed.
Congratulations, Pam Sohan! You are the random.org-selected winner of the Country Pumpkin Chowder Collection Pack! Please email [email protected] to claim your prize!

Sketch of the Week: DIY

Once you've got a working knowledge of sketches and how to effectively use them for your cards and layouts, don't be afraid to branch out and create your own blueprints for design! Think of it as a way of mapping out the plans for your project--in advance!

This week, Design Team member Lori Roop shares with us a project created based on a card sketch she designed...

First, the sketch. Drawn on either a scrap piece of paper or in a notebook you keep for future reference--the sketch just kind of helps you get your thoughts down on paper. That way, as you dive into your project and you really get "in the groove", you're not slowed down by designing--or often redesigning--the basic layout/structure of your project. Instead, you can just start pulling patterns and elements that fit the concept and have "fun" with the artistic side of papercrafting!

Lori's fun & eclectic birthday card was created using materials from her stash and a variety of patterns and elements from My Mind's Eye's "On the Sunny Side" collection!

Supplies Used:
    MME On the Sunny Side Paper: Happy Go Lucky, In Bloom
    MME On the Sunny Side Die-Cut Accessories Sheet
    Imaginisce Hello Cupcake "Happy Birthday" Stamp
    Black Ink
    Other: Ribbon & Lace, Buttons, Floss
    Machine Stitching

This week, we challenge you to create a project of your own based on a sketch that YOU create! Post a photo of your sketch with your completed project (card or layout) on our Facebook page and who knows--you just might be entered to win a prize!

Have a super-sketchy week!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

I'm pleased to announce that the winner of last week's Mister Misty Huey Giveaway is Elizabeth Keck from Indianapolis! I'm sure you'll be pleased/relieved to know we don't actually have any chicken dinner for you, BUT... you've won three bottles from Mister Huey's Basic Collection!! Congratulations!

Happy spritzing!

Let the Voting Begin!

Due to various Facebook rules & restrictions regarding contests, we've moved the voting process for our Design Team to a different site. You can access the entries here.

Vote for your favorite layouts, cards and altered projects and help us choose the Design Team members you feel would best represent our stores! Vote for as few or as many entries as you choose, fill in the form at the bottom (for verification purposes) and you're done!

YOUR votes will make up a percentage of each applicant's overall score. Our Design Team sponsors will be voting as well--and I can't wait to tally the results!

Voting will be available through 11:59pm Friday, February 10th. Winners will be contacted Monday the 13th and we hope to announce the team Wednesday, February 15th!

We Want YOU!

Are you enthusiastic about scrapbooking?
Passionate about papercrafting?

Well, I'm happy to say... we are too! And we're looking for a few individuals to help us share this love for the creative arts with the scrapbooking community! Sound like fun? Read on for the official...

Inaugural Design Team Call!

That's right folks--we're putting together our first-ever Design Team and we're searching for designers (both local and long distance) able & willing to commit to a six month Design Team term starting this February!

In exchange for completed, monthly assignments, Design Team members will receive FREE product, a FREE Photo Club Rewards Membership for one year, and an everyday discount on all of your scrapbooking purchases! Plus, we'll post a photo & bio and a link to your personal blog right here on the Scrapbook Studio blog!

Monthly requirements include 1 layout, 1 card, and either an additional layout or an altered project per month, as assigned. Design Team members will also be providing content for our weekly Sketch of the Week blog series and participating in Social Media (blog hops, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

We're looking for individuals that love what they do, can't wait to share it, and are friendly, enthusiastic and commited! We want YOU!

If you're interested, please click on the appropriate application below and submit with completed entries to the email address indicated on the form.

Local Design Team Application

Long Distance Design Team Application

Deadline to enter is Tuesday, January 31st! Design Team members will be chosen based on a combination of YOUR VOTES and a judges panel consisting of some of the industry's top manufacturers! Winners will be announced Wednesday, February 8th!

Good luck to everyone! We can't wait to see the entries coming in and all of your creative talents at work! Have a wonderful weekend!

Christmas Mini Album Kit GIVEAWAY

8 days til' Christmas and I'm feelin' a bit spontaneous. (There may--or may not--have been something in my eggnog!) Anyhoo... I've got TWO fabulous Christmas Mini Accordion Album project kits from Bo Bunny featuring their Father Christmas collection and on Monday, I'd like to announce TWO winners!

Here's what you'll receive (instructions included!)

(Please excuse the poor photograph! Given my spontaneity, I didn't have much choice except to grab my phone to take the picture! Camera Phone + Poor Lighting = the photo above. Oh well!) 

To win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post sharing a favorite Christmas memory or tradition from years past! One comment/entry per person, please.  For a second entry, simply "like" our Facebook page and share the link you see on our Wall featuring this giveaway with your fellow FB scrappers! Easy peasy!

Winners will be announced via email (if one is provided) and names will be posted here on the blog. Prizes must be picked up in the store.

Have a fabulous weekend!

A Very Simple Christmas

This time of year, following all of your favorite papercrafting blogs can certainly feel like sensory overload! In a good way! There is just SO MUCH out there--cards, ornaments, home decor pieces, mini albums & pages--you name it! But at the risk of said overload, I have to ask... have you been following the Simple Stories blog?

Last week they introduced a 14-page Holiday Gift & Home Decor Guide complete with SIXTEEN different ideas for crafting the holidays--simply. You can read more about the FREE pdf download and the projects within here.

This week, Simple Stories has teamed up with Maya Road for a Countdown to Christmas Blog Event you won't want to miss!

Now through December 24th, Simple Stories & Maya Road will be sharing inspiring ideas and fabulous projects to help you create your own Countdown to Christmas album using products and materials from their collections. Visit the Simple Stories blog every day for each new post AND a chance to win a 25 Days of Christmas Collection Pack!

So while there's a lot out there in the crafting blog-o-sphere to whet your creative appetite, a visit to the Simple Stories & Maya Road blogs at some point during your web travels might not be a bad idea! And while I'm enabling you to become an avid inspiration addict blog reader like I am... where else should you be checking every day?! Hmmmm?!

RIGHT HERE! On December 1st we started our 12 Days of Holiday Wish List Giveaways and we'll keep it up through the 12th! Each day we'll announce one winner from each store and if you're the winner and you contact your local store on the day your name is posted, you'll win a 30% discount off any ONE regular priced item from your list (some restrictions apply).

Today we've got three winners to congratulate!

Amy Ryczko
Susan Robinson
Shirley Medjesky

Your 2011 Holiday Wish List will remain on file in stores through Christmas Eve so you can send in your loved ones for a little assistance/direction! In the meantime, if you have not yet turned in a Wish List and would like to do so, you can either pick up a copy in stores or download one here.

Happy Scrappin'!

Sketch of the Week: Baby's First Christmas

Back in October, Vicki from our Indianapolis (Nora) store welcomed another new grandbaby into her family.  So really it comes as no suprise that the adorable little bundle of Christmas joy named Elli would become the subject for Vicki's sketch/layout this week!

What a sweet little elf-- and I'm totally lovin' those tights!

The sketch Vicki used comes from Scrapbook Generation's Sketch Support. I know I probably sound like a broken record here, but these gals have really got it goin' on! Not only have they published NINE different scrapbooking sketch books, but there are two card-making sketch books and a high-powered, sketch-laden website you can reference, too!

This particular sketch happens to be one of the printable sketches that you can download/share for personal use at home. These have the full instructions included so they're perfect for printing out to add to your sketch binder or to take to crops! Vicki pulled this one from the One Page Sketches section and you'll notice that it's Sketch #5.

  
The patterned papers VIcki used come from Echo Park's Season's Greetings collection. Using the Silhouette Cameo and the downloadable designs you can access from their "store" (using the machine's software), she cut out the coordinating title and patterned embellishments!

You'll find Vicki's layout, a copy of the sketch and a full supply list in stores along with the complete selection of Scrapbook Generation's sketch books! I don't know about you, but I've got a few of these on my Christmas list!

Speaking of which... we've got THREE Holiday Wish List Giveaway winners to announce here on the blog today!

Jennifer Moore
Caroll Hemmerle
Becky Adams

Congratulations, ladies! Please be sure to contact your local Cord Scrapbook Studio TODAY to claim your 30% discount off ONE regular-priced scrapbooking item from your list!

We'll be back tomorrow with more winners! Have a fabulous week, everyone!

12 Days of December

There's a lot of holiday "schtuff" floating around the blogosphere in the first twelve days of December, that's for sure! Tons of fresh ideas for gift-giving, home decor and general papercrafting goodness can be found at just about every turn! Here's a couple highlights!

Tim Holtz's "12 Tags of Christmas"
 
This series of posts is an annual holiday tradition for Tim Holtz fans and this year it's even better! Not only does Tim walk you through each step of the creation process, outlining not only the products he uses but the techniques for applying them, at the end of each post you'll find a TON of links/images posted of people's take on the tag! So it's like Tim Holtz inspiration x 50.

You can follow the "12 Tags of Christmas" on the Tim Holtz Blog or by following Mario on Twitter.

Pink Paislee's "Winter Wonderland Event"

A different idea for every day featuring the latest-and-greatest line from their catalog--Snow Day. Free printables (sometimes patterned paper, sometimes patterned embellishments, all times cute) and a chance to win a Top Secret Prize Pack each day makes this one series definitely worth following on the Pink Paislee blog!

And then there's our Holiday Wish List Discount Giveaway going on which reminds me... we've got two more winners to publish! Woohoo!!

Hope Spriggs
Kathy Walters

Congratulations, ladies! You'll want to make sure you contact your local Cord Scrapbook Studio TODAY to claim your 30% discount off ONE item from your list! We'll continue to draw names every day from now until Monday, December 12th, so if you're still hanging on to a Wish List at home, you'll want to be sure to get that turned in ASAP!

Featured Class: Zentangle 2

As papercrafters, we're constantly seeking out new trends, new techniques, and new ways to add a little arts-and-crafts to our everyday memory keeping. Enter Zentangle... a new generation of creative doodling!

Next Thursday, December 8th at the Graceland Store, Guest Instructor Diana Matthews will be back with "Zentangle 2 - Ten More Tangles!" You'll learn ten new "tangles" for use with ATC's, cards and scrapbooking! Just bring a black fine tip pen if you have one and prepare to get your doodle on!

Class takes place from 6:00-7:30pm and is just $15.

In other news, I believe we've got TWO MORE Holiday Wish List Discount Giveaway Winners to announce, don't we?!

Sharon Gerty
Tami Chambers

Congratulations ladies! You'll need to either STOP BY or CALL your local Scrapbook Studio TODAY to claim your 30% discount off ONE scrapbooking item from your list!

Hope you're having a fabulous weekend!