Welcome Lea France–One of our New vendors!

We are always seeking out new and different vendors that we can invite to Scrapbook USA Expo! I am thrilled that we have a number of new vendors that will be exhibiting with us this March!
Please give them a welcome and make sure to stop in each and every booth to learn more about their product.
Lea France is one of the new vendors coming this year and I am REALLY excited about her product. You can bet she will be demonstrating the tips and tricks behind her unique product!

Carine, Owner of Lea France brings a unique and creative style of photo framing using her own templates and techniques.

I absolutely love these layouts that I found on her website. You might notice the underlying theme of “summer fun” (someone is sick of snow, wink~wink)

I love the concept of putting together a collage like these and framing them for a time then sliding them into your albums.

Visit Lea France online to see more of her product and ideas plus stop by Lea France at the show! Carine will be demonstrating her templates for 12X12 layouts plus her 6X6 templates and other fun products!!
See you all in just 3 weeks!

Cards & Tags for Guys

When the opportunity popped up on the ScrapbookUSA Expo design team to use Basic Grey to make cards and tags for men and boys, I snagged it.  It is HARD to make cards for men, but I've always thought Basic Grey nails it with their masculine collections.  And having the right ingredients sure makes the rest of the job easier!

This first card uses the new Hipster collection -- SO cool.  I also ran a line of washi tape across the front to anchor that metal frame.

And this gift tag could really be used for any age guy.  I used the Kneehighs & Bowties collection.  I love the stickers that come with this collection -- layering them onto the basic tag shape made this project super easy.

Less than a month until ScrapbookUSA Expo!  Hope to see you there!

Scrapbook USA Show Card Contest

Hey Hey Hey!!! Time is getting close! Can you believe it?
Scrapbook USA is just around the corner!! Everyone at my house is getting pretty darn excited! Boxes and packages are beginning to arrive which only means one thing~ time is getting short!!
Today, let’s talk another show contest! I know everyone is planning on donating cards to our Care With Cards program, right?? So, go ahead and enter your FAVORITE one into our Show Card Contest before donating it.

Here is the scoop:
Theme: “Thinking of You”
When: Friday March 22nd ONLY! Turn your entry into the stage by 7:00 pm. Attach a small sticky note to the back with your name on it
Winners will be announced between 8-8:30 pm Friday night
One entry per person – just enter your FAVORITE one!
Judging: Cards will be judged on use of theme, creativity and general appeal
Cards will NOT be returned to you! They will all be donated to Operation Write Home
Please check Operation Write Home’s web site for guidelines on cards. There are restrictions on cards they can use for our soldiers. They also have an incredible card gallery for ideas!

Good Luck to EVERYONE and THANK YOU for donating to Care With Cards!!

Check out the other show contests:
Digital Layout Contest
Layout/Sketch Contest 

Five-Fold Card

Today’s Scrapbook USA Expo segment on My Craft Channel features a fun and super easy Five-Fold Card.


You can watch the video version or follow my tutorial below.
I love My Mind’s Eye product for this card because their cardstock is really thick so it is nice and sturdy plus their 2-sided paper is fantastic. Both sides are always equally as nice as the other.



Today I am using My Mind’s Eye’s brand new “Collectable” series. (I love every last piece of this line!)
Start out with a sheet of cardstock 8X12
You will need to score it on the long side at 4 inches and again at 8 inches.

Then turn it and on the short side score it at 2 inches and again at 6 inches.


Then you will want to make 4 cuts (free hand or with a cutter, either way.) Cut on the score line and end
when you hit the cross score.



Now you have 4 flaps. Completely cut off the top 2 (as seen below) then on the bottom 2 flaps you will want to cut off 1/2 so they are now shorter. Fold them in to check their size. you don’t want them to overlap just meet up with each other.



Next you will make a diagonal cut. I am not good with scissors so I lined up the top corner with the bottom corner and used my trimmer but I am sure free hand works well too.

‘
Almost done, Use some embellishments to jazz up the inside. You could add a gift card envelope to one size or put a wallet size photo in if you wanted.



Now, just fold it up….



…add an embellishment and ribbon and there you go.



Super cute! Plus lot’s of different fun things that can be done with this card!

Show Layout/Sketch Contest

This year at The Original Scrapbook USA we are going to "Party Like It's 1999"!! This party is 13 years in the making! I know there are many of you who have been to every Scrapbook USA show or at least have come every year. Absolutely Amazing!

I know there is a lot of talent at our show so don't be afraid to show it off! We will have a few "scrap" contests going on during the show and I am THRILLED to let you know that our Layout Contest will be held both days and will be sponsored by:

Now let's talk details!

This is a "SKETCH" contest so you must use the sketch below for your template AND follow the theme of "Give Me A Reason to Celebrate". I can't wait to see all the unique and creative things that can be done with one sketch!

RULES (just a few of them):

Attendees can enter this contest 1 time each day but each layout can only be entered once

Must be 2 page layouts

No photos can be placed in the layout - leave blank place markers for your photos

You must be present to win

All Layouts will be judged on:

Creativity

Appeal of Color combinations

Creative use of the Theme

Use of Template

Judging will be done by The Scrapbook USA Expo Design Team and Fancy Pants

Friday Deadline:

Layouts must be turned in at the stage by 4:30

Layouts will be displayed around stage between 5:00-5:30

Winners will be announced between 5:30-6:00

Saturday Deadline:

Layouts must be turned in at the stage by 12:30

Layouts will be displayed at the stage between 1:00-1:30

Winners will be announced between 1:30-2:00



PRIZES!

Fancy Pants Designs is offering some FANTASTIC prizes for our winners!!

Friday:

 First prize:  Brown Brag book, Hopscotch Collection kit, Brag Pad & Buttons

2^nd & 3^rd prizes:  Be You Brag Book Combo Kit; Summer Soul Brag Book Combo Kit

Saturday:

 First prize:  Black Brag Book, The Good Life papers, Brag Pad, Buttons, Sticker Fundamentals, Tape Stickers, Life Stencil Cards.

2^nd & 3^rd prizes:  Childish Things Brag Book Combo Kit; Wave Searcher Brag Book Combo Kit

Here are photos of a few of the prizes!

Be You Brag Book Combo Kit

Black Brag Book

Summer Soul Brag Book Combo Kit

Wave Searcher Combo Kit

These are AWESOME prizes and look like they will be a lot of fun for the upcoming summer months!!

A BIG SHOUT OUT to Fancy Pants for sponsoring our Layout/Sketch Contest!

If you LOVE using sketches, check out more fun options from http://www.nutsaboutsketches.blogspot.com/

Learn more about other show contests:

Digital Layout Contest

Card Contest

Cards with Basic Grey's Kneehighs & Bowties!

I love the little strips Basic Grey includes at the bottom of their 12x12 papers -- perfectly usable little bits of paper with pretty patterns using otherwise useless little bits of paper.  Did that make any sense?

This month I got to work with some of Basic Grey's brand new collection -- Kneehighs and Bowties, with an eye towards cards and gifts for kids.  I decided for my first post to make a couple of cards using the little border strips, just to add a few more ideas of what you can do with them.

My first card shows an old favorite for little scraps -- turn them into something bigger!  To create the star on this card, I glued the strips to a piece of scrap cardstock, then cut a star out of it.  The layers of the strip create a lot of texture and interest on the card.  These great letter stickers are by Basic Grey, too.

This pretty card would be perfect for any little girly girl.  I first created the card base, then layered on the border strips to create the V pattern.  Add a few embellishments (the label and flag are stickers from the paper pack), and it's all sorts of adorable!
So don't throw away those cute little border strips!  There are so many fun things you can do with them. :)

Staci Potter's Scrapbook USA Tradition!

Hi Scrapbook USA Expo friends, I’m Staci Potter and I blog over at The Potters – Place where you can see what we are creating, DIY-ing, and doing at our place.

For the past 7 years 11 of my dearest friends and I have attended the Scrapbook USA Spring Show.   We have a BLAST!!!  We load up our car with our scrapbook stuff and an overnight bag bright and early Friday morning and head out for two days.  The first year we just shopped.  The next year we started taking our scrapbook stuff to scrap the night away. 

The following year we got "super smart" and did the VIP thing.  I’m sure you are thinking, “Why would I pay money to scrapbook and shop?”  Well, we have felt like the VIP is the way to go because we don’t have to stand in line!  Waiting in line and trying to find a table big enough for 12 of us is no fun.  With the VIP we are the first to get in {15 minutes early to get settled in before everyone else comes in}, get awesome treats, vouchers for food, GREAT swag bags, and electricity! 

I personally love to walk, and walk, and walk around making sure I see everything I need to see and ensure I don’t miss out on any deals.  Others in my group love to scrapbook the day and night away.  I have a hard time focusing with all the BLING around so I shop and do very little scrapbooking.  I save up for the next year's expo from the second I leave so it is guilt-free shopping!!!  I try to go prepared with ideas of what I need and don’t need so I truly get more bang for my buck.  Expo is an excellet way to stock up on great  products at great prices.  I love the atmosphere.  They have contests, music, classes, food, and make-and-takes all day long. If you are looking for a great getaway for a day or two and love to scrapbook, Expo is a must.  They also have other items like clothing, bags, and home decor that you must see.

We spend the night, as a group, at a local hotel.  We stay up way too late laughing the night away.  When we finally get going the next day we head on back to Expo to do it all over again.  Two days of fun and bargains.

If you are thinking, “should I or shouldn’t I go” - GO!  It is so worth it and you'll have a great time.  I start looking forward to the next Expo the second the current one ends!  See you on March 22nd.

Show Digi Layout Contest by Scrap Matters

Scrapbook USA is less than 5 weeks away! There are a number of contests that will be going on and a few of them will require some “advanced planning”.

The first contest is a call to all Digi Scrapper’s and is sponsored by Scrap Matters. This contest will be held once on Friday and once on Saturday. Here are the rules:

*2 page layouts only

*You MUST use product from Scrap Matters (their designers have free product all the time).You can use product from other companies as long as Scrap Matters is represented.

*The Theme is Party Animal – you can interpret any you like (ie. birthday parties, girls' nights out, graduation parties, holiday parties, heck - even some wild and crazy animal photos)

*All layouts must be submitted to the Scrap Matters booth by 4:00 on Friday and 2:00 on Saturday.

*Judging will be done by Scrap Matters designers with assistance from The Scrapbook USA Expo Design Team.

*Winners will be announced on Friday at 5:00 and Saturday at 3:00.

PRIZES!
1st - $75 value in coupons to Scrap Matters 2nd - $50 value in coupons to Scrap Matters 3rd - $25 value in coupons to Scrap Matters
Bring it on!
Check out all the fun product at Scrap Matters!

Other show contests going on:
Card Contest
Traditional/Layout Contest

Pin Wheel Cards Using My Mind's Eye as seen on My Craft Channel

Happy Monday!

Today on My Craft Channel my episode is a tutorial called "Pinwheel Cards". I really LOVE this technique and I am sure you will love it too.

You can visit My Craft Channel to watch the video plux  check out the photos and details are below.

This card is SUPER easy plus is perfect for any season and can be made with just a few leftover scraps.

I used the brand new "Collectable" collection from My Mind's Eye. This is a great collection with TONS of coordinating papers and embellishments. It is perfect for spring and summer as well as many different occasions. I am doint a "Thank You" card today but this line would work for almost any occasion.

Check out the complete collection at My Mind's Eye's site.

To begin this card you will need two 4.5 inch squares to use for your pinwheel template. You will not see them in the end so any scraps will work. You will also need:

eight 1 3/4 inch squares
eignt 1 5/8 inch squares
These squares need to coordinate. Layer them with one another.

Next, Layer your 2 square scraps as shown above.

Begin the process of layering your squares around your template. It is just like a puzzle. You will need to do some tucking as you work your way around so make sure you are aware of where you are putting your adhesive.

Once you are done it should look like the above photo.

Finally, add an embellishment to the middle and place your pin-wheel onto your card.

There you have it....A Pinwheel card!

Have fun!!

Joan’s Cards–More Photos

Joan has been teaching at Scrapbook USA for a few shows now and each and every time she teaches I see a stream of happy ladies leaving her classes. She is a wonderful teacher and a gem of a lady!
Joan is somewhat known for putting together great card classes and she is not disappointing with her card class coming up next month!

Here are some additional photos of each card you will be making in this 5 technique card class.
Sign up for Joan’s card class or get more info at on our website. This class is priced at $22.50 for 1 week. Next Thursday the price goes up to $25.

My Craft Channel Smash Book/Treasure Book Class Added

Another FANTASTIC class has been added to our line-up for Spring 2013!

My Craft Channel is delivering up another incredible class! If you have been dreaming “SMASH BOOK” you will want to join Sherry from My Craft Channel for this class!

I can’t add all the fantastic photos to our class sign up page so I want to do this project a bit more justice with some additional photos.

This class will be taught Saturday March 23rd from 4:00-5:30. The cost is $44.99 but during the first week of sign-ups it will be 10% off which puts the price at $40.49.

Visit our website for a nice LONG list of all the goodies you will receive with this class as well as for sign-up info. You will be using product from the likes of MME, K & Company, Making Memories and Melissa Frances.

I have gotten to know Sherry over the past couple of weeks and I am super excited to have her teaching at the show.

Also check out Sherry’s Friday class, she is teaching a beautiful Crochet Wall Hanging that you won’t want to miss!

In between classes you can find Sherry in the My Craft Channel booth or for all of you “ALL NIGHTER’S” Sherry will be hosting the ALL NIGHT CROP which  is sure to be AMAZING!