Crate Paper

February CP Creative Weekly :: Collage

 

 

A layout can be a source of tremendous opportunity for the delivery of collage. We touched on this very topic yesterday, and are continuing with it today. Though, this time, think about the varied ways in which you might go about the subject on your own scrapbook pages. Are you a simple scrapper that works exclusively with just a few sheets of paper and one or two embellishments? Or, are you more the layered type that can't step away from outputting collage, after collage, after collage? Both styles leave open the door to combining an assortment of elements, it's just a matter of figuring out what works for you! 

 Michiko Kato

My version of collage is to establish various papers and embeliishments on top of paper, freely, and to make art from it - in doing so, I leave ample opportunities for having fun, and forgo all rules! Well, almost all of them - one idea that might help you in going the direction of collage is to create with a single, unifying color. I went with a bit of sunshine, Yellow! :)

 

Latonia Grant

I looked up the definition of collage before starting my layout and I immediately thought of a grouping of something. When I finally sat down to create the layout, it was around my daughters birthday and I just had so many thoughts "flying" around in my mind about her, and the young lady she's becoming. I was stuck for a while trying to decide on what I wanted to create, though I hit upon the idea of "thoughts" and "flying". So, I cut several butterflies from the Paper Heart & Farmhouse collections and kept within the same color family. I then grouped them together to represent the many thoughts that fly across my mind.

 

Piradee Talvana

With the focus of "Collages" this week, I had a fun time creating my layout - experimenting with different textures. For me, when I think of collages, I tend to think of a project that has a mix of textures and elements. And to replicate that feeling, I couldn't resist including a bit of lace, a few misted doilies, some shiny buttons, dimensional chipboard, and a couple of random drops of mist, here and there.

February CP Creative Weekly :: Collage

 

 

In moving ahead with our first presentation of "CP Creative Weekly", today's collage-centered designs go from simple, to expert, in a matter of seconds. There's something for everyone! 

Claudia Shadler 

"I gotta say, I googled "collage" to see what popped up, and there are many versions of it, including mine. I chose the simple route. The page features Paper Heart's patterned paper and chipboard. I'm obsessed with the collection and having difficulty letting it go. I plan to hoard the rest! Because I desired for the page to include lots of color, I chose to go with a circle (pie chart) collage made from slices of patterned paper. I love the way it turned out! Plus, February is a special month for my hubby and me because it's our anniversary month. The page is simple and clean, just the way I like it!"

 

Anabelle O'Malley

"When I began to think about what I was going to do to focus on collage, the words 'shabby chic" sprung to mind. I decided to create a shabby background for a set of cards. To do this, I used several sheets of Random's patterned paper, including pinks and greys. I tore squares from them in different shapes and sizes, and then adhered them to a sheet of cardstock, layering pieces as I went. After I had all my pieces in order, I brushed on some gesso. This 'whitewashed' the papers, but still allowed the patterns and colors to show through a bit. Once dry, I cut the cardstock into 3" x 5" panels. Finally, the fun began! I embellished each card with a punched border of Vintage paper, and I used the border stickers, phrase stickers, chipboard accents, buttons and stand-outs as needed. Doilies and a few gems finished the cards off and further added to the shabby chic look! The collage background is the perfect base for the cards, and I'd consider using the technique again."

 

Stephanie Dagan

"Before the subject of collage presented itself, I hadn't heard of the technique before. I immediately was taken by surprise when I looked it up! I took to it quickly because it opens up a whole new area of creative opportunities. So, for me, collage invoked immediately, an accumulation of small pieces of paper in many colors and pattern styles. For my layout then, I chose a dozen of Crate Paper's patterned papers and accent cards and placed them throughout the background. In unifying them, I did some sewing and applied torn strips of washi tape in differing locations. I then added ribbon and crocheted flowers. Unlike a few of the girls here, I dared not to paint because it scares me a little, and also, I didn't want to impede upon the idea of collage from the perspective of patchwork."

Don't forget to check our previous post's giveaway before you leave! Details are listed at the very end and you still have plenty of time to participate. See you tomorrow!

February CP Creative Weekly :: Collage + Giveaway

 

 

 

Crate Paper is a BIG fan of exploring and implimenting up-to-date scrapbook/project ideas, and we often hope that you'll be inspired by them in a BIG way! This last year, we delivered an endless count of creative prospects via "how-to's" and "sample sharing", along with the occasional"self-guided" challenge. We figure though, that it's time to shake things up a bit, bring about a couple of new inspiring features that will allow us to continue the process of exploring, something we simply can't get enough of...

BIG news then, starting today, we're initiating "CP Creative Weekly", a five-day marathon of design team projects based on a topic/technique that takes to highlighting an ongoing crafty trend. The feature will publish every month and will include a small reflective write-up from the contributing designers. Also, as a fun addition, each week will host a giveaway as well!! The very last day, Lucky Friday, a winner will be randomly chosen from the day's comment pile.  The winner will then be announced the following Monday. Stay tuned for further details - you don't want to miss out!

This week, "COLLAGE" is the focus, and and who better to get us started than our collage expert, Kaori Watanabe? Here's her unique take on the subject...

Kaori Watanabe

"Collage is a natural part of my work. It must always be there for me. It's like free wind that moves throughout while I'm scrapbooking. With collage, I prefer to use vintage ephemera, numbers, and letters. I always feel like there is a palpable rhythm born when I use vintage ephemera w/Crate's product. "

 

Roree Rumph

"Collages are so fun to create. It can be so much easier (at least for me) to work within small spaces than to fill up a full-size layout. For my collage, I knew right away that I wanted to use a frame that I had for my project. I made up twelve 2" squares to fill in the frame by choosing patterns that worked well together, then I went to work sewing and decorating them. The Paper Heart Chipboard Accents were perfect for this! They were just the right size for my squares, and they added tons of dimension and color. I decided to keep with the Valentine theme of February, because I like to have a little love around my home all year long."

 

In establishing "CP Creative Weekly", we're greatly interested in hearing your feedback as to the kinds of techniques/ideas that currently interest you - in exchange for your input, Crate Paper will kindly giveaway a prize package that'll announce next Monday. Have a wonderful day everyone! 

Crate Color Challenge - Winner! (Part 2)

Hey everyone! It's Tara, again. I'm so excited to be back today mainly in part because I'm announcing 2 more winners from our Color Challenge this month! Due to a slight mix-up in the office I realized that I didn't received all of the color-entries and to be perfectly fair I felt these two projects were worthy of recognition as challenge winners! 

Congrats to Gladys Chia! 

I think this card is simply beautiful and perfect for Valentines Day! The colors are stunning too! 

 

and Congrats to: Amber E.!

 

We loved Amber's sweet layout and I loved the garland of locks and keys - it pairs perfectly with the title of her layout too! 

Thank you for joining me today for a part 2 of my Color Challenge! Have a lovely crafty weekend everyone! ~ Tara

A Crate Story w/Piradee Talvanna

 

 

Excitedly, starting today, Crate Paper is introducing a brand new series of trend-motivated blog features. Each is designed specifically to help you keep pace with the latest and greatest ideas in both the scrapbooking and crafting world using our gear. One such trend making headway right now, is everyday storytelling! "Project Life" is a sure example of this, as is our latest release, Storyteller. We love the idea of preserving the small moments, along with the big, using methods that are scrapbook friendly and fun for all. So, we went ahead and designed a new tutorial feature called "A Crate Story". In capturing the everyday, our designers will share their own take on the subject by showing you personalized projects that go beyond the bounds of the multi-pocket page. Each project will be slightly different, though still noticiably "Crate Paper", and will include a follow-up tutorial w/an occasional surprise giveaway!

Our very first "A Crate Story" tutorial is from our CP Gal, Piradee Talvanna:

Ever find yourself wondering what you did a few weeks ago, what exactly your friend said that was so so funny, or the name of that new local band playing at the bar that you just love? Well I do, and it's these little details that I just can't seem to remember at times (still trying to figure out the name of that band).  And therefore, in telling my everyday story, I thought I would share a little something to help me capture those spontaneous moments without ever having to worry about forgetting them again :)

 

In introducing the today's project, here's a peek at the inside of the album. It's a set of "Days of the Week" index cards created using the Random Collection and self-made "Day of the Week" page tabs. The cards serve to collect small post-it notes written throughout the week  (I'm trying to make it a habit this year to write down the little details, including the when, where, who, what, and why). 

 

In taking a closer look at both the Monday and Tuesday cards, they should give you a general idea of how each page is crafted and set-up. Notice the "open" space for storing post-it notes.

 

In introducing this next card, I want to share my creative process in putting it all together. Starting with grabbing all the goodies from the Random Collection, I first cut "the days of the week" tabs and coordinating file folder using the silhouette machine (days of the week tabs are from Loni Stevens designs and the file folder is Silhouette designs).

 

To get started, I cut the base for the Wenesday card from CP's "Denim" patterned paper. I chose a matching Random accent card to go with it and then went about placing everything together; only gluing things down when I was pretty much sure where everything would go.

 

Again, then comes all the embellishments, color comparisons, mixing and matching of elements, and trying to figure out where everything should go before actually adhering it down. Sometimes, to help with the process of sticker placement, I use clear sticker sheets to assist in finding the best location for it.

 

Also when working with sticker elements, sometimes I find myself reaching for the baby powder; especially when I prefer to "pop up" the sticker. First, I position the foam dot'(s) onto the backside of the sticker. Then, before peeling the paper from the other end of the pop-dot'(s), I sprinkle a smidgen of baby powder onto the backside of the sticker. This is to avoid the "unwanted" areas from sticking to the paper later on.

 

Once I have all the elements glued down exactly where I want them, I then remove all the access details with either a cutter, or craft knife.

 

And lastly, when it comes to using brads, I tend to cut off the metal pieces before adhering or popping them up on my projects (especially if there's a lot of layering). It saves from having to poke through one's paper/page to create a hole for brad placement.

 

And there you have it, my Wednesday card...

 

Here are two more cards from the album - I kept the design simple and left extra room for post-it notes...

 

And there you have it, a little something to help me keep track of my daily adventures...Thanks everyone for stopping by!

Crate Color Challenge - Winner!

Hi friends! It's Tara here this morning to announce our February Color Challenge winner! I'll tell you a little secret: this color combination was my favorite so far! So, it really didn't surprise us that we received so many entries and sweet comments about this color palette! We were greeted with everything from traditional scrapbook layouts to cards, a few altered projects and even a Project Life page (our first ever!) - we loved seeing such a wide variety of submissions. Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate, I really do love seeing how each person interprets these color palettes! 

The winner for the February Color Challenge is: 

Vanessa Menhorn

 

We loved Vanessa's layered lollipop flowers and the cute embellished flower pot! I think this would be such a sweet Valentines Day project - be sure to bookmark this for next year! Congrats Vanessa! 

I'll share a few more of our favorites from this challenge!

Scrap Artist: Audrey 

 

Scrap Artist: Johanna

 

Scrap Artist: Flo

 

Scrap Artist: Trine

 

Scrap Artist: Kim 

 

Thank you all again for joining me in Crate's February Color Challenge and a very big thank you to everyone who contributed their wonderful projects! Don't forget to pop in next month for an all new color combination - it's already in the works. Happy Wednesday to you! 

 

Tiny Valentine Tags w/Claudia Shadler

Claudia here with a quick and simple tutorial for you to enjoy this lovely Valentine's Day! Lately, I've been on this "tag making" kick, so when the beautiful Paper Heart stash arrived from Crate Paper, I immediately gravitated towards it and put together some pretty tags! I have to say, that I love the color combo and fun designs of this latest collection. It made creating the tags an all day adventure that I'll never forget - and amazingly, the tags were not all that hard to make! Also, the possibilities were endless - Never could one go wrong! 

 

On the supply list - Marvy Mega Giga Tag Punch & 2" Circle Punch, Martha Stewart Heart Punch, Stapler, Twine, Bazzill White Cardstock, and Paper Heart Patterned Paper

 

Punch out as many tags and patterned paper as you like, the more different the patterned paper you use, the more variations you've the option to create. I'm particularly fond of the red and blue combo. 

 

Trim your punched pattern paper circle in half to arrange your combos. For me, this is the fun part - arranging  color combos and designs. Once you've made your selections, adhere circle halves onto a full circle for a secure, solid hold. Add some twine, staples and a heart on top the circle once you've adhered it onto the tag. 

 

 

The end result is a cute tag that is ready to be shared -  Use it as card decor, or as a label atop a gift!

 

Here's a couple of more tags I made to show the different variations one can come up with. On a few, I liked the idea of letting the hearts dangle via twine. They're really quick and simple to produce, and yet, you've still something extra cute and fun to give away!

I hope to have inspired you to try out a your very own set of tags! Not only are they well suited for Valentine's Day and the labeling of treat bags, they're great for everyday projects too! Once again, the possibilities are endless! 

 

 

There are an abundance of Paper Heart Collection Kits awaiting homes today, but first, thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! Your support this last week is greatly appreciated! Spreading the scrapbook love is what's it's all about in the grand scheme of things when we host events like this. Hopefully, you gained an idea or two along the way to help make crafting this season a lot easier, and more fun! Are you ready to find out the winners of last week's five giveaways? Congratulations to the following FIVE WINNERS....

 

FRIDAY

I love the LOVE stitching on Sasha's layout! The bitty box of goodies is gorgeous! And Rahel's layout and mini are beautiful! Gotta love Crate Paper :) Posted by: jackie | February 10, 2012 at 04:14 PM

 

THURSDAY

Lots of special people, but the number one in my life is my best friend, my husband. He was in a very serious accident late last year and it just made realize even more how important he is in my life. The happy ending to the that chapter is that is is now just about fully recovered from the accident and life is "normal" again. Posted by: KellyO | February 09, 2012 at 11:07 AM

 

WEDNESDAY

I always visit here daily for inspiration and ideas. The CP designers are some of the most talented scrappers I've ever seen. All of the above projects are gorgeous! Posted by: Lisa C. | February 08, 2012 at 12:13 PM

 

TUESDAY

AMAZING GOODIES!!!! I'm loving all the inspiration (as usual) here! For me, I'd have to say this year stands out. My kids and I (they are 10, 6, & 3) have been making Valentines for their classes for a few weeks now. it's fun now that they are all old enough to participate and they all love to craft! We've made hand stamped/colored Valentines,and crayons using heart molds and old broken crayons. Then we put them in clear bags with a pack of nerd candies. It’s been a great experience! Posted by: Heather I. | February 07, 2012 at 06:48 AM

 

MONDAY

I can't remember if it was for valentines day or not (the holiday is not celebrated big time here), but I have a sweet memory from when I was about 10. I was in a school choir and we all took turns to get up and change the words which were projected onto the wall, and on the last choir practice of term I got up to change the words, and when I got back to my seat there was a box of chocolates on it, from a boy in my class. I felt very embarrassed but also chuffed! I'd completely forgotten about that until you asked! Thanks for the chance to win paper heart, I've been wailingly desperately for it to come back into stock here. I want it to craft a mobile of loving memories. P.s. Love the coupon cards! Posted by: Jennifer grace | February 06, 2012 at 03:45 PM

 ~

We're about to "set the table" with our final showing of Valentine projects! Included on the menu is a bountiful array of Valentine treats from CP designers Tara Anderson, Anabelle O'Malley and Christine Middlecamp. 

 

Crate Paper DT Coordinator :: Christine Middlecamp

We rarely think of our collections as being tied to their color palletes, so when someone like Christine comes along and throws in a wild card like cobalt blue & deep emerald green, we're thrilled to see the outcome of the new combination! Isn't this wall hanging totally fun?! 

 

"Youth and Valentine's Day don't present a whole lot of memories for me, but I have to say that I'd been a HUGE fan of constructing overly embellished Valentine Boxes as a kid! I remember thinking that it had to be over-the-top and thee best box in class - and honestly,it wasn't the Valentine notes that excited me the most, either, it was the box! I could of swore my peers thought I was a little off center for the needless enthusiam, too. Looking back, it all make sense now - I love crafting like you wouldn't believe! I love all the pretty stuff that goes with it, too. ;)" 

 

 

Crate Paper Designer :: Anabelle O'Malley

What is it about the empty space of punched shapes that catches our eye so much? Is it because they add depth to a project? We're guessing that's probably the case, but even better is that they make the best "frames" for embellishment presentation! Anabelle filled her's with PH chipboard pieces, and then used the punched circles to further decorate her layout - cute idea!

 

"One of my favorite memories about Valentine's Day was a tradition we had at school. For a dollar, you could purchase carnations to give to your friends. You'd receive a form on which to add a note and they would be delivered on February 14th. It was so exciting to come in and find several carnations on my desk from friends. And the fact that the teachers would send some, too, ensured that no chid would come into the room to find an empty desk. I think of this tradition every time I see a pink or red carnation."

 

 

Crate Paper Designer/Contributer :: Tara Anderson

As noted by Tara - "I made placecards for my Valentine's Day Dinner party! Not only does each heart have an initial on the front, I've also sewn a pocket onto the back using lace and tucked in a little "lovenote". I have this idea to ask each family member to write something they love about each person at the table and tuck the note into that person's heart!"

 

"My favorite Valentine's Day memory...I have to say I REALLY loved decorating my little Valentines box for our class party at school every year. When it came to class projectz like designing boxes, I might have been known to get a little competitive which may have resulted in cutting out hundreds of paper hearts and using a gluestick to apste them every where. I'm almost positive Ms.Lee would still remember me and my fascination with red paper hearts!"

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If you're a winner of a Paper Heart Collection Kit, please contact us with your information at cpblog@cratepaper.com. Boxes are expected to ship shortly! Congrats again! 

There is still a full 24 hours to finish up those Valentine projects, so grab yourself some Paper Heart, and get craften'! On behalf of Crate Paper, Happy Valentine's Day!

 

 

It's been a week of captivating, heart-filled creations here at the Crate Paper blog, and with only the weekend remaining to participate in the event's giveaway category, now's your last chance to leave those last minute comments! Before rushing away though, come check out what's in order for today's final oh-so-delightful presentation! Also, there's an additional two "surprise projects" on Monday following the announcement of this week's winners! Woot Woot! Wait, did we just say that?! It's Friday, why not have some fun, right?! 

 

Crate Paper Designer :: Sasha Farina

Sasha had this to say about her layout - "I'm absolutely in love with Paper Heart's color palette and thought it might be fun to play them up while creating my layout! Pink, yellow, and teal also happen to be one of my favorite color combo's at the moment. They're just so fresh and happy!"

 

 

Crate Paper Designer :: Suzanne Sergi

This bitty box of candies would be a charming gift to give this Valentine's Day. It's of the perfect size for leaving treats in - maybe set it outside your cube at work and wait to see how long it takes to empty. After it's contents have totally disappeared, you still have a lovely box to keep and display at the office.

 

"My favorite Valentine memory is finding paper hearts all over our room. They would be on our closet door, on our bed, on the floor, and even in our dresser drawers! We didn't have much money growing up, but it never ceased to amaze me how special my Mother made each holiday. For that, I will always be forever grateful."

 

 

Crate Paper Designer :: Rahel Menig

Rahel chipped in an extra set of projects this week. The first is a layout with hidden journaling, tucked away ever-so-cleverly behind the photo set-up. The second is a mini album with glue splatter & glitter! Too cool! Love that idea! 

 ~

We'd like to kindly thank are team of designers for all their help this week! Orchestrating an event like this takes a bundle of creative energy and exterior resources, but in the end, it's always worth it! We sincerely hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did, and will return on Monday to find out who our lucky winners are! Have a great weekend friends!

 

 

 

We're so very close to the end with only two more chances for you to win one of the five Paper Heart collection kits up for grabs this week. Today's requirement is that you tell us about the people most important in your life, whether it's a spouse, grandmother or child. We'd love to hear what makes them so important to you and if you've arranged plans for them on Valentines. Afterall, the "love" holiday isn't just for the lucky couples out there, it's reach goes far beyond the bounds of just two people. Love is everywhere and all of us experience it in some form or another. Share it. The winner will be announced on Monday.

 

Crate Paper Designer :: Jaime Warren

Paper Heart is accomodated by many hues, but you're not required to use all of them if you don't feel like it. Jaime's taken only the red and pink elements from the Paper Heart collection to create her layout, a more traditional color palette for this time of year. The layout is sweeter than ever.

 

"I remember making Valentine's Day holders in Kindergarten for the big day! We made them out of paper plates, doilies and glitter. I clearly remember the pink and red glitter we had used, too. So pretty! I have loved Valentine's Day ever since!"

 

 

Crate Paper Designer :: Charlene Cundy

This pocket album of "loving memories" from Charlene Cundy is exquisite beyond words. Page after page, there are suprises tucked away beneath layers of embellishments and papers. You can't help but want to look through it to see what's next!

 

"My favorite Valentine's memory was when my husband and I built our new house and my husband surprised me with the new furniture of our entryway. You see, we pretty much spent all our money on building the house, so I expected the entryway to be bare for a while. He bought me a set of queen anne chairs, a table, and a beautiful curio cabinet. He placed a red rose on one of the chairs, too! It was such a wonderful surprise and perfect Valentine's Day!"

 

 

Crate Paper Designer :: Latonia Grant

A layout can still be soft and pretty with distressed edging. As an addition, it lends texture to the overall page. 

 

"My favorite Valentine's Day childhood memory is of my father giving both my sister and I a teddy bear and chocolates every year while growing up. He'd also take it upon himself to remind us that he was the only man that could give us chocolates! =)"

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Day four of the event has reached an end! Giveaway details are listed above this time, incase you missed them. I doubt you did though :) Thank-you for keeping us company today - and only SIX days left until Valentine's Day!