Scrapbook News + Review August Issue has released!

Come on over to Scrapbook News + Review and check out the latest issue! Well over 300 layouts, cards, altered items, and more! Don't forget - by subscribing, you not only get the current issue, but also all the back issues!

SNR September Issue Altered/Home Dec Calls for Submissions

Scrapbook News + Review is looking for your altered and home decor creations. September's Issue will feature things to alter for your kids' rooms and Back to School.

In particular, we are looking for:

Artful Rooms – things you have altered for use in your kids' rooms – all ages from baby to teen, boys and girls!

Options – our Options item this month will be message boards. Chalkboards, bulletin boards, memo boards – whatever you use to keep yourself and your household organized.

Seasonal – Back to School. Teacher gifts, frames, comp books – show us the things you've altered for the back to school season.

Wearables – We're looking for the things you've made from your paper crafting supplies that can be worn. Jewelry, totes, barrettes – anything goes! While there's no specific theme, we're hoping to see some backpack tags, school colors, and other items your kids (or you!) will be wearing when they return to school.

ATC Alley – We'd love to see your latest and greatest ATC cards.

The Details:
-Projects due by Aug 23rd.
-Must include complete supply list
-Must be 650 pixels on longest side
-Please include contact info
- Projects may be previously seen. If chosen, we respectfully request they be removed from any blogs or galleries. An 'Out for Publication' sign will be provided upon request.

Send submissions to: jfranklin@scrapbooknewsandreview.com

Contrary to popular belief...

I have NOT fallen off the face of the earth. Feels like it though, huh? Just been insanely busy for some reason. And what should one do when they're so busy they can't think straight? Of COURSE...do a major re-do of the crafting workroom. Yea. I'm out of my mind, lol! And my house is now a complete maze as I have made little piles of product everywhere while I organize everything I removed from the room and now have to figure out how to get back IN the room. Soooo not doing anything for my creative spirit, lol! Just about everything I've done in the past few weeks is off limits for the blog until after publication but I've been busy!

Now that the August issue of Scrapbook News + Review is up, I can share some of the projects I had in the July issue. Here are a few of my cards (there were more of my cards in the issue but I'm trying to figure out where I filed them on my computer, lol) :

This one is simple, using Bo Bunny papers, some Prima flowers, some Queen & Co felt, and a velvet brad.

Again, a very simple card - Prima papers and flowers, and some Target $1 spot adhesive pearls! Ooh - and this could even be considered hybrid (lol) - the words are computer generated!

This one was for a technique article on using glitter. Zsiage papers and chipboard letters, Prima flowers and loads of glitter! The article gives a quick tutorial on each of the techniques I used for making this card glittery (yea, it made my hair and house glittery as well...) Wondering why I scattered pink flowers in front with the teal ones? That's what the small flowers on the card looked like before I glittered!

I guess I really was all about the easy cards this issue! This one features Fancy Pants paper and a bunch of their stickers layered on. I even used a border sticker to add a quick embellishment to a candle to match. Cardstock stickers won't really stick to candles so I just made about a 1/2 inch overlap in the back and stuck a short straight pin in to hold it in place!

For this card I used one of my favorite quick and easy techniques. By simply cutting a chunk of paper into even strips and then lining them up with a little space between them, you retain the pattern and give it a whole new look! Love these papers from Stemma! Oh - and the candle WAS a burgundy thing that's been sitting around my house for years and years. I wanted to use it because the candle holder just looked kinda cool with the card but the burgundy just clashed. So that's white alcohol ink (Jacquard Pinata Ink) toning it down! Please note I have NO idea what would happen if I tried burning it with those inks on it. The round design makes it (in my mind, at least) an un-burnable (my invented word for the day, lol) candle anyways sooooo...I guess I'm just saying if you try this at home I'm not responsible for any sparks, fires, etc.! ;)


There were some really great cards in the July issue! If you missed it, don't despair! Subscribing now gives you access not only to the August issue, but also every back issue we've done! So that's FIVE issues now!

Don't forget the giveaway for my upcoming Blogoversary here!

And the countdown begins...

The countdown to CHA, that is! In exactly a week I will be arriving in Chicago (I'll be driving so leaving VERY early next Friday morning) for a few days of pure bliss! I've been to a lot of these shows but this will be my first NOT going as a buyer but as a member of the press (I'll be going with Scrapbook News + Review). I don't know yet what to expect from this new role but I'm definitely so excited to see all the new goodies, catch up with old friends, and just be in a totally creative atmosphere for a few days!

And speaking of Scrapbook News + Review, we are looking for submissions for our August issue! You can find the main calls here. Several of the departments have separate calls now as well, including mine! Have I mentioned yet that I'll be coordinating the newly re-vamped "Altered Art and Home Dec" section? :) I'm so excited about the future plans for this section! And I'd love to see your work for it! Here is what we're looking for:

Artful Rooms - We're looking for items you have altered for your kitchen - utensil holders, spice racks, kitchen art, altered cookie sheets and cutting boards...anything you can put in your kitchen!

Options - Time to see how you keep your household on time! We're looking for a wide variety of altered clocks - any style - what makes YOU tick?

Seasonal - We're looking for items altered with summer or beach themes.

Wearables - We'd love to see anything made with scrapping supplies that can be worn (totes/purses count) - jewelry, shoes (would love to see some flip flops!), etc.

ATC's - Show us your favorite ATC's for a new ATC gallery feature!

Call Guidelines Please submit your projects with the following guidelines: - Of any size - No restrictions on whether it has been posted to an online gallery, blog, etc., but we respectfully request that you take them down when requested for publication. Submit to jfranklin@scrapbooknewsandreview.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Deadline: July 31, 2008

I hope to see some of your work!!!

In the meantime, I'll leave you with one of the projects I had in the June issue - an altered wooden gift bag I made for my dad. I'm so in love with Basic Grey's Archaic line! I also used leather trim on this and clipped off the backs of some brads to just glue them on. The chipboard letters are 1.5" Prim & Proper font from Zsiage hammered with the Tim Holtz texture hammer then inked and swiped with gold and covered in Glossy Accents. Click on the picture to see the mega version and the details!


Let me know if you'll be at CHA too! I'd love to be on the lookout for you! :)

Scrapbook News + Review calls and news!

Are you tired of me yet today? LOL! I know this is the third post today and I promise the last (although I have one set up for tomorrow morning...) but I just wanted to share some of the happenings over at Scrapbook News + Review. First of all, if you haven't checked this new e-zine out yet, you're totally missing out! I am working with some amazing talent and each issue gets better and better (and if you subscribe, you get all back issues as well so you won't miss a thing!). I've just taken over the Altered and Home Dec section and coming in August will be having some really cool changes to the section. I'll be posting the calls for that issue shortly (trying to get the July issue calls closed first!). In the meantime, we're always looking for talented paper artists - scrapbookers, stampers, altered artist, cardmakers, send them in!

July calls:

Call Guidelines

Please submit your pages with the following guidelines:

• Pages only (unless specified) -- no altered projects, mini albums or home decor
• Of any size
• Can be traditional, hybrid or digital (please specify)
• No restrictions on whether it has been posted to an online gallery, blog, etc., but we respectfully request that you take them down when requested for publication.

Submit to subs@scrapbooknewsandreview.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Deadline: June 30, 2008

Call Descriptions

By Style

In each issue of Scrapbook News & Review, we'll feature scrapbook pages by style and skill level. As a chance to see as many styles and genres as possible, for this call only, we will not restrict the amount of submissions per scrapbooker. In fact, we would prefer to see at least 3 to 5 layouts per scrapbooker in order to give us an idea of how well defined your style is.

We're currently looking for pages and projects of any size or subject. It must be a clearly defined style, i.e. clean and simple, modern and graphic, shabby chic, classic, freestyle, eclectic, etc. Please include the style category you feel best describes your work.

Military

We're looking for pages and projects of any size that reflect and honor our soldiers. Whether a veteran or on active duty, we want layouts that showcase everything from uniforms and training camps to life on base and in foreign countries.

American ME

Or Canadian, or French or Dutch. Patriotism is alive and well and Scrapbook News & Review. Show us how deep your roots grow! We're looking for pages that reflect your national heritage, culture, and traditions.

No Place Like Home

Ah, home sweet home. Tell us all about yours. We're looking for layouts that reflect your hometown, your birthplace or even where you�d love to live someday! Show us how much you love your home!

Textiles

If you tend to reach for soft embellishments such as fabric, ribbon, felt and trim, we want to see your layouts! Show us the creative ways you use textiles on your pages.

Monochromatic Pages

Choose a color and complete a page using a monochromatic scheme with that color. It may be a simple approach but we bet the results are spectacular!

Retro Shapes & Pages

It's retro baby! Retro chic that is. We're dying to see your pages that showcase things from the past � tie-dyed shirts, poodle skirts, old cars, you name it, we want to see it. Add some fun retro shapes and you have magic in the waiting.

Style Departure

If you have a style and stick to it, we dare you to try something new. With Style Departure, we want two pages -- one that shows your usual style in action and one that is dramatically different from your typical status quo.

Altered Art, Mini Books & Home Decor

Mini Albums

American/Canadian/French Me/Etc, Military or Designers Choice

Altered Art/Home Decor

Designers Choice

I hope everyone will submit - can't wait to see all the fabulous projects you come up with!! I'll catch you up with the latest calls for August in another couple of weeks, including the first calls for the revamped Altered/Home Dec section (yea, I'm a little excited about the plans I've made for this!)!

Window Frame Clock - working with sketches in altered items!

This is a clock I made from a scrapbook layout sketch for the first issue of Scrapbook News + Review. A lot of sketches really lend themselves well to altered items, whether you use pictures or not. For this one, I happened to use pictures, but I could have just as easily made each of the blocks just a coordinating piece of patterned paper, a quote, whatever works for the piece.

I started with an unfinished window frame from Walnut Hollow. It actually changed color a couple of times and got crackled before I ended up with what I was looking for. The window frames will fit a 12x12 piece of paper behind it exactly but I decided to use a piece of acrylic for the backing. Then I used a 6x6 piece of the same acrylic on the front of the frame to add my clockworks stuff to.

To add the clockworks itself (also from Walnut Hollow), I had to drill through both acrylic pieces and the window frame. With a large hole. This was NOT easy (if you've got someone handy with tools who knows of the proper drill bit to use, ASK THEM for help!!) and I definitely have to put the PSA out there to wear eye protection!! In retrospect, it would have probably been easier to use a blade and taken the time to carve out the holes that way (except in the wood frame - that took a drill just fine). Other tips - make sure you use a piece of scrap wood behind the acrylic when you drill. I also used a couple of pieces of masking tape in an "x" over the drill hole as a guide and also to help keep the acrylic from splintering as badly and flying everywhere. Kind of. Pretty sure a different drill bit would have helped, but I used what I had.

From there it was easy sailing. I used tiny screws to attach the back piece of acrylic. I made guide holes for the screws using my trusty Forster hand drill (see the bottom of this post for more info on this handy tool!). The hand drill and it's tiny hole went through the acrylic beautifully. I then matted each of the photos on coordinating pieces of patterned paper from My Mind's Eye and edged everything with a copper leafing pen (Krylon) and arranged them according to the sketch. I also edged the 6x6" piece of acrylic and used the leafing pen to color my clock hands and stamp the word Memories onto another piece of edged paper from MME.

I set up the center 6x6" acrylic piece and used the clockworks to secure it into place (with some more adhesive behind that piece of pattered paper as well, just to be sure it wouldn't turn since the clockworks is like a big screw). I used some old decorative brads from Making Memories with the prongs clipped off as my clock "numbers" and set them by turning the clock hands to find the right placement. I love the way it looks against my gold walls in my living room!!

Tried to photograph it from underneath to show the way it's layered with the 6x6" center piece on top of the frame and the larger piece beneath it.




So has anyone else tried altering using sketches? Try it! There are tons of gorgeous sketches out there. Round sketches (see Becky Fleck's Page Maps) are great for regular round clocks. 8.5"x11" ones are great for clipboards. Remember the elements shown in the sketch aren't necessarily what you have to use for your project. Replace pictures with patterned papers or embellishments. Replace journaling with a quote, or some other element that will make up the right size.

The very first thing I ever had requested for publication was actually an altered wooden gift bag done from a sketch for the newly released Scrapbook Blueprints 2! You can actually see my project in the preview PDF there on the website. As you can see there, I replaced the top three photos with flowers and the journaling at the bottom with a quote tile!

I'd love to see what you've all done with altering based on sketches! Link me up if you've done one or do one in the future!!