Sneak Peek #1: Echo Park Paper Photo Freedom Volume 2 (FOTM)

"Disneyland" by Melanie Call

"The Photo Freedom Volume 2 Collection is a hip, urban day-to-day collection that helps you document your weekly activities within the Photo Freedom system. Hot, trending patterns and colors fill this fabulous collection." -- Echo Park Paper blog

Melanie Uses That Ruler!

Wow...it's almost back to school time! One school supply that I use for scrapbooking is the ruler. I love my clear 12 inch ruler (having it clear is a must for me). I use it for aligning photos, papers, and definitely my alphas. Here's how I like to make my titles....

1. Align alphabet stickers along top edge of ruler.

2. Place ruler over your layout. This allows you the flexibility of arranging your title without actually adhering it yet.

3.  Once you have it where you like it...simply press down on the top of your alphabet and then gently remove your ruler. Yay...it's straight and exactly where you want it.

School supplies are for grown ups too :)

- Melanie

The ScrapRoom Sketch: August (and a Winner!)

Feeling like getting a little scrappy today?  Well, why not?  We've got a great sketch and a great prize to motivate you!  Tammy has another versatile sketch to help you get more pages done - check it out!

August Sketch by Tammy Harp

"Tuckered Out" by Tammy Harp

"Summer Smiles" by Jennifer Moore

"I Heart Summer" by Melanie Call

"Halo Burger" by Theresa Sovacool

Whether you follow the sketch exactly or just let it guide you with paper placement... we want to see what you've created!  And if you do?  You've got a shot at $10 to spend at our TSR Store.

This month, our winner is kissmevodka with this layout documenting the truly important things in life... among them, time with friends.  *love*

"BFF" by kissmevodka

Congratulations, kissmevodka! Please email Tammy at admin@scrap-room.com with your name, address, and the name of the contest you won. She'll get your prize to you right away. Happy shopping!

- Theresa/Savi

P.S.  Don't forgot to link up your layout in the comments below!

July ScrapRoom Sketch... You Know You Want To

Not much for a subliminal message, is it?  LOL  But seriously, this sketch is completely awesome and I made a page in less than hour with it (which is like a miracle for me, just so you know).  If you want to get more pages done (and who doesn't), check out this sketch:

July ScrapRoom Sketch by Tammy Harp

"2nd Grade Swagger" by Jennifer Moore

"Video Game Ninja" by Theresa Sovacool

"Happy Easter" by Melanie Call

"Hello Freaks" by Tammy Harp

Okay, seriously... this sketch is your friend!  Take three blocks of color and just add some photos (or maybe just one), a title, and a little sprinkle of embellishments, and you've got it.  And if you just take one your TSR kits... you've got three different patterned papers and the sprinkle of embellishments already.  Yep, just another way we make it easy to get more pages done!

Once you've got *your* page done, link it up in our comment section below, and one lucky someone will win some TSR cash... and this month, our winner is Rebecca Geile with this totally hilarious look at everyday life in the Geile household... pants optional!

"Dressed for Success" by Rebecca Geile

Congratulations, Rebecca! Please email Tammy at admin@scrap-room.com with your name, address, and the name of the contest you won. She'll get your prize to you right away. Happy shopping!

- Theresa/Savi

P.S.  Don't forgot to link up your layout in the comments below! 

Sneak Peek #5: WRMK Happy Campers (FOTM)

"Family Vacation" by Melanie Call

"The Happy Campers collection takes a whimsical and fun approach to camping with icons reminiscent of hiking, star gazing, camp fires, and who couldn’t resist – s’mores. Look for an earthy color pallet mixing various shades of brown with a light touch of green and aqua. This collection also features a variety of textures that would be seen during outdoor adventures such as wood grain, constellations, wild flowers, trails, and more." -- WRMK blog

Sneak Peek #1: BasicGrey Hipster (FOTM)

"Awesome" by Melanie Call

"With childhood behind you, it’s time to step out into that great big world and find your own unique identity. You want to stand out as true individual—as a Hipster. And this is just the collection to show your true swagger. Hipster will pack your creative wardrobe with rad retro prints, groovy geometrics, flower-power florals, and muted earth tones." -- BasicGrey blog

Making Cards with a Layout Sketch

Did you see the great sketch Tammy created for National Scrapbook Day??? Even though it was designed for layouts...it is a perfect sketch for cards too. I used the left over bits from my May kit and made 3 Mother's Day Cards using the sketch. Now don't fret that it's past Mother's Day because you can make Birthday, Hello, or Thank You cards (or be really prepared for next year with Mother's Day cards) using your May kit and the NSD sketch.

Awesome NSD sketch:

My three cards based on the sketch:

Try using a layout sketch for next card!

- Melanie

The May ScrapRoom Sketch... and Winners!

You've been eyeing the sketch on the sidebar for a few days now, I'm sure.  I now declare this sketch challenge officially "open"!  This sketch is brought to you by TerryB., our Message Board Moderator, and as usual, the DT rocked the challenge:

May ScrapRoom Sketch by Terry Boyer

"Spread a Little Sunshine Wherever You Go!" by Brenda Carpenter

"We Love This Place" by Theresa Sovacool

"Splash 'n Slide!" by Melanie Call

One photo or two, right-side-up or spun upside-down, however you want to use this sketch is fine with us!   Give it a try for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to The ScrapRoom Store.  Just link up your take on our sketch in the comments below. 

And speaking of winners...  

The March Sketch Challenge winner is Cynthia B. with this layout which documents a surprising, "awwwww"-inspiring moment aboard a cruise ship.  Love the colors of this one (and the adorable little towel animals)!

"Towel Animals Gone Wild" by Cynthia B.

Our National Scrapbooking Day winner is Rebecca Geile with this tone-on-tone celebration of her husband's birthday.  Love all those circle embellies and layers (and the dinner)!

"Birthday Fun" by Rebecca Geile

Congratulations, ladies! Please email Tammy at admin@scrap-room.com with your real name, address, and the name of the contest you won. She'll get your prize to you right away. Happy shopping! Don't forget to link up your sketch layout for your chance to win a shopping spree next month. Good luck, and have fun with it!

- Theresa/Savi

Sneak Peek #2: Little Yellow Bicycle Fern & Forest (FOTM)

(Sorry this sneak peek is late. We were having a little "technical difficulties" with the blog. We should be back on schedule now!)

by TSR Designer, Melanie Call

"These two whimsical collections combine natural elements with fun, fanciful designs, for capturing the adventures of your favorite boys and girls!" -- Little Yellow Bicycle blog

Extra Embellishments?

What do you do with your extra embellishments from each month's kit???? Do you use every last one or maybe save a few for the "perfect" layout :) ????

I like to use most of mine because I know TSR will have more fabulous embellishments the next month. BUT there are a few I do hoard save for future projects.

I like to keep my saved embellishments in Making Memories plastic mason jars. I keep them in the cute little bags and just toss them in. I love how it is clear so I can see what I need. You can tell I am saving my wooden elements and enamel dots (LOVE them)...they are a perfect touch to add to many projects!

When I was creating an Anniversary card for my grandparents...I knew the cute wood veneer birds (Sept 2012 kit) would be perfect for the two love birds!

If you are a hoarder saver like me...don't forget to actually use those treasured embellishments!

- Melanie

The ScrapRoom Sketch for April... and Our March Winner!

Hey, can you cut a sort of squarish shape?  Like, maybe not even a square, but maybe just a rectangle because you got distracted by somebody yelling about a big white priority mail box that just landed on your porch?  (Yes, those kits are shipping soon!)  Either way... a square... a rectangle... or even just something sort of like that gets you *this close* to having our sketch done this month.  And if you feel like piling on the details and layers?  You can do that, too.  Enjoy - we did!

April Sketch by Tammy Harp

"Swing Fun" by Melanie Call

"Church Egg Hunt" by Jennifer Moore

"Torrey Pines Sunrise" by Theresa Sovacool

Whether you follow the sketch exactly or flip it around... whether you use one photo or more... we want to see how you've been inspired by the sketch this month!  Give it a try for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to The ScrapRoom Store.  Just link up your take on our sketch in the comments below. 

And speaking of The ScrapRoom Store, we have a lucky winner again this month!

The March Sketch Challenge winner was randomly chosen to be Michele with this fun layout capturing that moment her son finally conquered two wheels.  That's a big moment for lots of kids - way to be in the right place with your camera, Michele!  *big love*

"2 Wheels" by Michele

Congratulations, Michele! Please email Tammy at admin@scrap-room.com with your real name, address, and the name of the contest you won. She'll get your prize to you right away. Happy shopping! Don't forget to link up your sketch layout for your chance to win a shopping spree next month. Good luck, and have fun with it!

- Theresa/Savi

Sneak Peek #1: Crate Paper Maggie Holmes (FOTM)

"Loved" by Melanie Call

"We are so excited to have collaborated with Maggie to bring her style and Crate Paper's together. She has a vintage, eclectic and oh so very cute style that we know you are going to fall in LOVE with. Maggie is an amazing scrapbooker and photographer that shines through in all of her beautiful layouts and projects. We are so thrilled to welcome Maggie into the CP family and hope that you enjoy her new collection" -- Crate Paper Blog

How Melanie Created Her Layout

I loved this month's Dear Lizzy line...especially the "Love You" paper. Here is a little step by step on how I created my layout this month.

Step 1: Gather all the lovely goodies up.

Step 2: I liked how I laid out my pattern paper in the picture above. So I copied this and created my background. I did cut the "Love You" paper out horizontally so you could read the words.

Step 3: I start arranging the pattern paper pieces onto the heart pattern paper. I did want one word of "punched out" journaling card to stand out. So I placed a piece of the striped pattern paper behind the word "heart".  I also added some chevron arrows along the right side of the layout.

Step 4: Then I placed my photo on top of the pattern paper pieces (I forgot to take a picture of this). Next came time to use all the lovely embellishments included in the FOTM and embellishment kits.

Washi, chipboard butterfly, enamel dot

Chipboard arrows

Fabric tag and chipboard heart

Step 5: My finished layout:

I hope you liked this little step by step on how I created my layout!

- Melanie

The March ScrapRoom Sketch... and February's Winner!

Another new month brings us another new sketch by Tammy!  As you can see, we think this sketch is wonderfully versatile:

March Sketch by Tammy Harp

"Fun In the Sun" by Brenda Carpenter

"You Are Loved" by Jennifer Moore

"Boys & Mom" by Melanie Call

"Lightning Storm" by Theresa Sovacool

Whether you follow the sketch exactly or just let it guide your photo placement... whether you layer on patterned papers or keep it simple ... we want to see how you've been inspired by the sketch this month!  Give it a try for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to The ScrapRoom Store.  Just link up your take on our sketch in the comments below. 

And speaking of The ScrapRoom Store, we have a lucky winner again this month!

The February Sketch Challenge winner was randomly chosen to be Trish Alexander with this luscious, masculine layout... that makes me giggle every time I look at it!  What a priceless photo, and the pop of red is spot-on. 

Congratulations, Trish! Please email Tammy at admin@scrap-room.com with your real name, address, and the name of the contest you won. She'll get your prize to you right away. Happy shopping! Don't forget to link up your sketch layout for your chance to win a shopping spree next month. Good luck, and have fun with it!

- Theresa/Savi

Sneak Peek #5: My Mind's Eye Collectable (FOTM)

"Seven Months" by Melanie Call

"Fresh, joyful, and vibrant, these products will have you feeling happy! Comprised of oranges,blues,greens, and yellows...this color scheme is perfect for any project." -- MME Blog