MEET OUR JUNE BLOG MEMBER OF THE MONTH SUSAN SLOMSKI !!!

Congratulations to our June Scrapbook Place Blog Member of the Month Susan Slomski AKA Sue in CT . Many of you may know her but how much do you really know about her???? Sue joined Scrapbook Place on Feb. 29, 2012.   She resides in Naugatuck, CT, with her wonderful and loving husband Gerald, he is better known as Jerry to others.  Sue and her husband will be married six years this December.  Sue and Jerry have 5 beautiful children,  She has three from a previous marriage and he has two but they consider all 5 of them as "OUR" Children.  Talk about a family gathering they also have twelve grandchildren isn't that just awesome.  There were to be fifteen but two passed before birth and one after, this is sad for them but they know their grand babies are always in their hearts and they will see them again one day.  Sue has Fur-babies, she has three dogs, Buster had to be put down in March and she misses him so.  She also has four cats.   All of the cats were or/and still are wild and only one lives in the house  and isn't allowed out, the mother of this one is an indoor/outdoor cat , Sue wishes she could keep her in too but alas it is not happening.  The other two live in a make-shift house in Sue's garden complete with heat and a electric bowl for water in the winter, you are a great fur-baby mom Sue. One of these cats she can pet when she lets her but the other she still has never touched, even after 4 years. None of the four can she pick up (not even the house cat) or get to come to her when called.  Sue shared that she has met actors and singers when she has had a book signed or had backstage passes to an event and she never really met any other than Jane Fonda (who by the way she does not like and she told her so) LOL so funny Sue.  Sue shared that she thinks her jobs were nothing interesting, she worked in factories when they were  in CT and then went into corporate accounting.  Her favorite job however was  when she worked on a lobster boat  back when she was in her late 30's. She told me it was extremely hard work, and very physical, but there was nothing like the Long Island Sound as your work space.  She also said too that there was  the battle with the weather but all in all, she loved that boat job. Nowadays, she has the time to watch one of her grandchildren, a grandson named, Damien every day (and some weekends) while his parents work. She shared that is about all she can handle now (an active soon-to-be 2 year old).  Oh no not the terrible two's LOL.  Some random things about Sue are, she thinks New Mexico is the most beautiful state but her heart really belongs to Arizona. She so wanted to live there in the southern part but that wasn't meant to be. However she has visited there several times.  Sue also has property in NC (a farm) and she and Jerry plan on moving there when he can retire from his work (4 more years). Sue loves to garden and shoot photography along with her paper-crafting. She told me that once she saw a tornado and didn't even know it (She was in TX coming home from one of her trips to AZ) so she pulled off the side of the road and took pictures of what she thought was a dust storm until the pain from the blown dust was too much so she got back in and drove through it.  It wasn't until that night or the next day did she learn it was a tornado and it had killed several people. (she shared that she never knew when they are big and you're that close to it, you don't see it as a tornado, you only see the bottom part and the dirt blowing.) Luckily when she saw it, it was coming from a field and crossing the road she was on to go into another field so there were no houses or flying debris in it or she might not be here. I think we shall call her Dorothy as she could have been off to see the wizard.  I am so glad she is with us to share this story.  Sue has been having some health issues and has not done any scrapbooking since last year but hopes to be better soon to make some wonderful goodies again.

Paint Chip Inspiration

I have a very messy desk today, so I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't pull anything out of, well, anywhere, without using what's already on my desk. So what did I find first but four large paint chips. I decided to keep them as strips and make the card above. Bim, bam boom. I was done and had leftover strips so I made the bookmarks below.

 I used a punch for the butterfly topper, and I used the tiny butterflies that were punched out to mismatch each bookmark. The stamp is from a Stampin Up set. The projects took less than ten minutes in all!
What can you use with paint chips? If you don't have any, I believe all the sales people are helping other customers in the garden center, so now's your chance to grab a few (handfuls)!
And as always, crafters, have fun!

Pretty Down to Earth!

Good ole Karma!!!

Throwback Thursday Featuring Pammie Lehto

Who would have thought this sweet little three-year-old with those fabulous curls would grow up to be a card maker, scrapper, artist and digital image designer?! Her parents probably had a clue, as Pammie's interests today include quilting, rubber stamping, Cricut cutting, Tea Rose gardening, veggie gardening, machine sewing, embroidery and watercolor painting.
Here is a card she made a couple years ago...

...and a card Carolyn,one of our Scrapbook Place Yahoo group members, made with a digital image she designed:

Pammie is a design artist for Squigglefly, where you can find more of her digital images for sale.
Way to go Pammie for chasing your dreams!!

Follow a recipe challenge

Now that you have done a Build a Sketch card, how about using a recipe for your card?
The following six ingredients must be on your card:

1 printed paper background
2 stamped images - sentiments extra
3 buttons
You may put more but not less. We all tend to add something to a recipe when we cook; icing on a cake, extra cheese on a casserole, you get what I mean.

Just Me

I enjoyed making this card and I made it from the above recipe using only Stampin Up products.
Dies/punches used are Labels Collection die and the Pansy punch.

1 polka dot background paper, Daffodil Delight
2 stamped images, I used three, Pool Party
3 buttons, Soft Suede

Now here is more inspiration from our Design Team volunteers, simplicity becomes very beautiful using recipe!

 Virginia M.

 Kathy B.

Linda W.

See how easy it is?
Now its your turn.  But remember, all six elements must be on your project to be eligible to win this Stamps of Life cling stamp.

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Tutorial Tuesday - Spinning Swing Card

I love cards in motion. I love easel cards that stand up and tri-fold shutter cards that have so much dimension. I love swing cards, but I absolutely adore SPINNING Swing cards. I made a YouTube video tutorial on how to measure, fold, cut and create this unique card.  It's easier than you think!

I can see a red, white & blue theme for the fourth of July, or a sparkly snowflake for this winter (okay, no talk about cold weather months). It makes a great presentation when mailed as the recipient pulls the card out of the envelope.
Here's a Halloween card using the same technique:

Have fun trying your hand at this extraordinary card!

Turn, turn, turn!

Now it's your turn!

Winner of Scribbles by Sandy Designs Images

Were we right? Wasn't the easel card design simple to create and lovely to present? We hope you liked the simple tutorial and were inspired to create! Now for our prize winner annoncement:

 

This beautiful easel card was created by Virginia, our winner of the May 1 Easel Card challenge. Virginia's prize is three free digis of her choice from Scribbles by Sandy. Congratulations, Virginia!
Love your use of butterfly diecuts to really make your card pop with the beauty of Spring!
Did you check out the challenge that runs from May 15th until the 30th? It's a Recipe Challenge: use 1 designer/patterned paper, 2 images & 3 buttons on your project.  Link up HERE for your chance to win!! And as always, crafters, have FUN!!

Believe in Me

Who can you help this week?

Throwback Thursday

Pat here with a Throwback Thursday post. Pictured above is my gram when she was 19 years old. In October, she will celebrate her 104th birthday!! When she turned 101, I created a canvas inspired by her zest for life. It was one of my first mixed media canvases, and I discovered a passion for this art medium.



Every year for Christmas, I have made her a birthday card for each and every member of the family. I write each name in giant letters on each envelope (her eyes aren't as good as they were) and then sort them in calendar order. She still remembers dates so she knows when to pull a card out, knowing that whther she can read the name on the envie or not, it will be the correct one.

Two things you should take with you from this post:

1-Always try something NEW--a product, a fold, a technique, an artform. You never know when PASSION will bloom inside your creative soul!

2-There are lots of homebound grandmas and others who would love to send their family members a birthday card. Giving them the assortment of cards like I have done for my Gram may be the BEST PRESENT they ever receive!

Don't forget we have a new CHALLENGE that runs until May 14th. Make an easel card and link up with us for your chance to win some amazing digital images from Scribbles Designs.

One More Week Left

Did your muse desert you?  Looking for more inspiration for our Easel Card Challenge?  We have what you need! Check out Carol's easel card using Carl's Pad from Scribbles Designs. That shaped card makes the perfect background for Carl to wish someone a happy birthday.

Next up is Kathy with two cute cards of "Tropical Fish 3" also from Scribbles Designs. She uses some of my favorite colors.

Here's a card made by Linda that uses "Puppy in Bowl." Love this image!

Easel cards are so fun and easy to make. Why don't you try one today? Don't forget to link up with us HERE. Scribbles Designs is our guest sponsor and One random participant will win three digital images of their choice from Scribbles Designs. You can use any image you wish!

MEET OUR MAY BLOG MEMBER OF THE MONTH SHIRLEY BURKETT !!!

Congratulations to our May Scrapbook Place Blog Member of the Month Shirley Burkett. Many of you may know her but how much do you really know about her???? Shirley joined Scrapbook Place on May 29, 2011. She resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, who is fourteen years her senior and " Her Angel and Life Saver in All Ways" Shirley and her husband have been together, since 1995. They were married on December 13th (Friday) 2002, she told him " If we survive this day, we will make it work!" Shirley was a single mother raising a beautiful daughter Patricia, when she met her wonderful husband. By the time Shirley reached age 56, she not only was enjoying her three beautiful grandchildren, she also inherited three step-daughters and nine step-grandchildren (one deceased) and five step-great-grandchildren. Included in this large family also are Furbabies, she had a grey tabby cat but sad news here, she just passed away this month. Rest in peace furbaby. Her Tabby was with her for almost 16 years, Shirley enjoyed raising her and having her around for all those years. Also in the family is a little black and white male furbaby dog, whose father was Shirley's too, but furbabys father was tragically killed by a bear and furbaby's mother belonged to a neighbor and she too died after sadly being struck by a car, so this poor little baby has been a very big part of her life as well, he will be six years old in October and his name is Chance. Shirley is celebrating her birthday this month May 1st HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHIRLEY!!!!  She loves children and animals and knows both are wonders from God and cherishes her time with all of them. Shirley shared that she had two major accomplishment's in her life so far and both are unique, her first accomplishment and most enjoyable one was raising her family and blending and building a solid trusting foundation for all of them, nurturing them with love, patience and understanding and being there for them when needed and her second major accomplishment is that after being out of school for twenty years, she chose to go back to school and she achieved her GED! Now that is quite an achievement!!! Congrat's Shirley!!!  Shirley has been an avid scrapbooker for almost twelve years now and has been making cards for past last five years. She blames her love and obsession with scrapbooking on her enabling sister who needed people to come to a scrapbooking party she was hostessing to sell items. Upon arrival to the party and seeing all the items for sale she still did not know if this was her cup of tea, but within a couple of months and a few lumps of sugar and lots of cream, she was hooked and spending all her money on her new found hobby. Shirley is sharing that she is learning more and more each day about the craft of paper art and feels that she is still far behind others in her creativity and artwork but she really enjoys seeing all the wonderful work of others and knowing that it will someday enhance and help her to grow! When Shirley is not scrapbooking or cardmaking she can be found working on one of her other interests, quilting, crocheting, knitting, embroidering, cross stitching or perhaps working in one of her flower gardens. Some of her job related experiences include, her working at one time behind a desk in a beauty school she attended. One day in walked Linebacker James Ham and Fullback Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers and for once in her life she was speechless. She said she felt like a dunce and that she is such a diehard Steelers Fan but she was just at a loss for words. She has really had some neat jobs in her lifetime too. One such job was working in a bike cycle factory for high end bikes. Shirley decaled bike frames before they were put on the bikes and she built wheels for the bikes and the shocks for the front end of the bike. At one time she was also an inspector there checking as the bike frames came off the paint line from the ovens. Wow, talk about an interesting job that's way cool Shirley! Some other interesting work she did was sitting with the handicapped and the elderly, and also working at a daycare. She was a Fire-fighter and a EMT until she had to resign due to health reasons. She misses it so much as she really enjoyed helping others. Now she is a avid scrapbooker for life and loving every minute of it.

Time for Yourself

Love Yourself This Week!

Build - A - Sketch April winner

Congratulations Virginia, you have been randomly chosen as the winner of the Build - A - Sketch challenge.

Here is Virginia's entry

There is a new challenge going on right now, Anything goes as an Ease(l) card with a prize of three digital images from our sponsor Scribbles Designs. Challenge runs from May 1 to May 14. OK ladies, who is going to be first?
Winner will be chosen by a random drawing.

Ease(l) Into the New Challenge

Welcome to another crafting challenge at Your Scrapbook Place. Don't let the name of the blog scare you away. We are all kinds of crafting crazy here, and to prove it, we offer you an ANYTHING GOES AS AN EASEL CARD challenge.
Once I discovered how EASY it was to create an EASEL card, I can't stop making them. They are one of my go-to card designs. So, to make it EASY for you, too, I have included at the end of this blog post what I like to call "IKEA directions"--in other words, a tutorial almost entirely made up of pictures instead of words.
First, let's introduce you to this month's guest sponsor, Scribbles Designs:
"Looking for a unique image or sentiment? Well then! Head on over to Scribbles Designs and check out Sandy's world of her funky imagination and quirky characters. Sandy has loved art, drawing, water coloring and doodling for many years... and with the digital image world she can now share it with all of you. Brrr (Penguin) was her first main character and her other quirky images followed not long after. We hope you enjoy the endearing images available in the store and add Sandy's images to your digital stamp collections. 

Scribbles Designs gave the DT some very cute images to play with. Virginia, last month's challenge winner, got to play with "Tropical Fish 2."  She printed the image three times in two different sizes to give her easel card lots of dimension.  Love her seaweed.

Next up is a card from Holley. She used "Puppy In Bowl." Aren't those doggie embellishments too cute, and I love the lace she used to border her card.

I used "Carl’s Pad" on my easel card, fussy-cutting the image and letting just the very tip of the top of my image overrun the bottom of my card face. I bought the sentiment "My Pad" from Scribbles Designs and cut it in two parts. Here's my card (kind of) closed:

And standing open:

Now that you have inspiration to spark your creativity, here are the details:
This new challenge runs from May 1st until May 14th.
One random participant will win three digital images of their choice from Scribbles Designs.

And now, as promised, here's my "Ikea" tutorial for an easel card:

And finally, embellish to your heart's content!  Have fun and let's see your creation! Just link up your easel card below.
Come back tomorrow when we announce the winner of our April 15 Build-a-Sketch challenge.

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