Scrap Big

giving...

I've been thinking about giving this week!

Why?

Well, first of all,I've  been working on our Big Wig Bash -- a fun crop filled with some great make-and-take style handouts and other goodies, all from BPS and Key Lime Crops as our August gift to help you celebrate the end of summer! It's free and it's fun -- so register if you haven't already! 

Second, I've been working with Kolette Hall this week on her upcoming class called Giving Well 2008 (still in 2 Hours or Less).  Kolette organized a gift-giving project class last year with such success that she's designed a fabulous all-new version of the class.  Registration will be open soon, but it's so much fun I just had to give my blog readers the inside scoop!

And third, because I've got an issue of Mini-Albums in an Evening, this wonderful new special issue from Simple Scrapbooks, to give away!  If you're still on the fence about this issue, don't let it get away from you, seriously.  There are some nice sample projects here for you to check out.  I've had so much fun reading your comments and have lots of great ideas -- this just proves once again that in scrapbooking, mini really is BIG!  Congratulations to Bethany E.!  Random.org's integer generator picked her entry, so she's going to get some cute buttons and a magazine, too!  Here's her comment (and Bethany E., please email admin @ bigpicture scrapbooking.com (without the spaces) and note that you won my blog giveaway so that I can send you your magazine and button -- I'll need your address!) 

I want to make a mini album about my daughter's upcoming 3rd birthday!

The magazine looks fab!

Posted by: Bethany E. | August 01, 2008 at 08:59 PM

Mini is BIG!

I love to make mini-albums -- while layouts are great, of course, my favorite projects are usually mini-albums that tell a special little story.  Since I am such a mini-album fan, I'm excited to tell you about the newest special issue of Simple Scrapbooks: Mini-Albums in an Evening.

Now, this issue was made for people like me:  the projects are beautifully designed yet easy to accomplish.  The book is organized in to sections based on mini-album size (which is, I think, a totally smart and cute way to help us find what we want).  I could go on and on about the projects, but I've decided to tell you about the three projects that I want to make when I'm done blogging:

First, in the Bitty Minis section, I just love the Keychain Keepsake album designed by Megan Hoeppner. She's used a little locket-style keychain by Doodlebug Designs to make an adorable little mini-album.  I've looked at these keychains before, but didn't realize that I could do so much more than just insert a couple of pictures.  (Check this album out on page 12!)

Next, in the Mid-Size Minis section, I am very excited about making a Halloween Costume Highlights album.  This super sweet album, designed by Judith Mara, is so very much what I've been envisioning since, well, last Halloween.  Now, though, I've got a great new plan to make it happen!  My papers will be different, but this album has inspired me and sparked my creativity so that this Halloween, I can enjoy the memories of earlier costumes while wondering if we'll have enough treats for our trick-or-treaters. (See pages 44 and 45.)

Finally, in the Mega Minis section, I've got my eye on Elizabeth Dillow's Family Numbers Defined Album.  Using lots of scraps of numbered paper, number stamps, and number embellishments, this album has filled me with a ton of new ideas for enumerating the milestones (big and small) in my life:  from how we've managed to fit just one more cat into our household this week (and now I'm sure there's no more room!) to how much our lives have changed in the last ten years; from our cell phone numbers to our street number.  (Flip to pages 100 and 101.)

You'll notice I've given you page numbers, because I want you to go to your bookstore, local scrapbook store, or the magazine section of your favorite big-box store and pick this issue up.  If you'd rather save on gas (and who wouldn't these days?), then please visit Simple Scrapbooks directly and the issue will come straight to you!  I want you to pick this magazine up because I have so many new ideas from reading it -- and I know you will too.  I love magazines that inspire me to create, not just copy  (after all, that's what Big Picture Scrapbooking is all about!) -- and this one has given me a fabulous creativity boost! 

I'm so excited about this magazine that I just have to share it -- so please tell me what kind of mini-album YOU want to make.  One lucky poster will win my random drawing and get a copy of the special issue along with her very own "Mini is BIG" button for her jacket or bag! I'll get random.org to help me pick a winner on Monday evening, so post your comment before 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 4, 2008!

By the way, mini-album fans, if you share my love for mini-albums, I hope you'll be joining me in our upcoming mini-album class, taught by the fabulous Lisa Damrosch.  You don't want to miss six weeks of BIG mini-album fun! I've borrowed her fun pic of the buttons from her blog -- check it out!

Winner at last!

I'm so happy to announce the winner of the random drawing for Amy Sorensen's awesome Write Now class -- especially because announcing the winner means that I am online again.  I've been without internet and telephone for about 24 hours and, well, cannot believe I survived!

So, without further ado, the winner (courtesy of random.org's random integer generator) is Leslie E!  Leslie, please email kayce @ bigpicturescrapbooking. com (without the spaces, of course) to claim your spot.  Here's her comment, too:

I could really benefit from this class. What really appeals to me is to have journaling with impact, the kind of writing that makes me say "I wish I could write like that". And, that you could actually do that in 10 minutes? Wow! Hope to win because I am in Have More Fun class right now and didn't think I should sign up for both classes at the same time, but hey, to win a spot, then I could do it!

Posted by: Leslie E | July 29, 2008 at 06:30 PM

Teacher Feature: Amy Sorensen

I'm so happy to introduce you to Amy Sorensen!

Amy (here with her adorable son) is  Big Picture Scrapbooking's amazing journaling teacher. Amy's blog is one of my favorites:  she's such a great writer and I admire her talents.  Even for those of us who work with words all day long, it can be hard to put them together on a scrapbook page...I think perhaps we fear saying the wrong thing, so it's tempting to put the journaling off until the end.  I encourage you, though, to stop thinking of journaling at the end of the process -- and Amy Sorensen can help you embrace writing for your albums.  If you have ever struggled with your journaling....what to say, how to say it, how to not tear your hair out putting it together...then look no further, my pencil-breaking friends!  Amy has a gift with words, and a gift for sharing her secrets so clearly. 

 

We just brought Amy Sorensen's awesome  Write Now: A Speedy Journaling Workshop back for the summer.  This workshop is perfect any time of year, but I think that summertime is when we are looking for ways to quickly capture the best words for our summer pages, isn't it?  After all, we want to make our pages and then get back out in the sunshine!  Well, Amy can help all of us spend more time living and less time worrying about what to say.  I promise you that you'll never again be tempted to skip the journaling on your layouts.  In Write Now, Amy focuses on quick writing -- so tell me in the comments what appeals to you after you read the class description --  and I will pick a random lucky winner to join the class for FREE. 

Class is just underway, and registration ends Wednesday, July 30th, so I'll close the comments on Tuesday, July 29th, at 8:00 PDT and post a winner!   I encourage you to read the class description for Write Now right now!

p.s. My favorite part?  the daily writing prompts! 

Winner!!!

Thank you all so much for your kind words and helpful comments on the site redesign!  We appreciate all of you for your feedback and helpful suggestions -- please know that we take them into account as we want our site to work the way you want it to.  I hope to respond to some of your suggestions soon -- and (even better) to point some of you to exactly what you are looking for as it's in the works!

I am excited to announce our lucky winner, too.... the number generator at random.org helped me out immensely tonight....so, Jamie, congratulations!!  Please email kayce@ big picture scrapbooking.com (without the spaces, of course) to claim your $25 gift certificate.  And keep watching, everyone, for more random giveaways -- including one that starts in... oh, I'd say 5 minutes!  :)

And here's the winning comment!

The changes look great!  I love the new videos and I cannot wait dig deeper into digital.  :)

Posted by: Jamie | July 16, 2008 at 11:16 AM

 

Announcing....

a brand new look and a brand new partnership!

We've been working very hard to bring you some fun new changes, so please spend some time checking out the new look of BigPictureScrapbooking.com -- we've introduced some new features and redesigned our site to make our website experience better for you! 

As you're looking around, you'll see our brand-new Digital Studio, where we're launching an exciting new partnership with our friends at Shutterfly.com.  You'll see some digi kits, some tutorials, and much more to come!  I do hope you'll take the time to fill out our survey, too -- we are eager to create a site that gives you what you seek.  Please give us some feedback!

Now, I could talk on and on about how much crazy fun we've had putting this together, but I want you to go check it out for yourself.  When you're done, please come back to the blog and tell me what you like best and/or what you want us to expand.  I'll pick one random lucky winner from the comments for a $25 gift certificate that can be used anywhere on our site.  Have fun exploring, and come back to comment by 5:00 p.m. Pacific time on Sunday, July 27th to be eligible for the giveaway!

Have fun checking out our new site design and new features!  We hope you LOVE what you find!  (Now... we're going to take some much-needed naps, right, team? LOL!)

52 Card Pick Up winner!

I've enjoyed reading your responses, ladies, so thanks for playing my supply search game. I'd like to encourage all of you to seriously consider investing in those products with a technique class -- Tena will help you to see those supplies in a new light!

So, our winning entry, courtesy of random.org's number generator:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

6
Timestamp: 2008-06-22 02:14:13 UTC

That means that Lay Hoon wins a place in 52 Card Pick Up! congratulations! Please email kayce@bigpicturescrapbooking.com to be added to class! And here's her comment:

I have 28 of the supplies listed. Yes...i would like to know how to use the bleach pen.

Posted by: Lay Hoon | June 20, 2008 at 09:32 PM

Happy Saturday night -- and remember, registration for 52 Card Pick Up closes tomorrow!

52 Card Pick Up!

Have you checked out 52 Card Pick Up?

This amazing class is taught by our Tena Sprenger -- many of you know her from the Reading Room and Handmade Book of the Month Club. In 52 Card Pick Up, you will pick up 52 different scrapbook techniques over the course of the summer, and try each one out on a technique card -- so you'll build yourself a fabulous little collection of technique examples and recipes! This class was very popular last summer, so we brought it back this year -- class started yesterday, and the students will get their first technique handouts on Monday -- so I'd love for you to check it out and I'd really love to give away one seat in class!

Here's what I want you to do: go to Tena's class description and find her supply list. Check out the list and count up how many of those items you already have....and let's face it -- if you have embossing powder or glaze medium or alcohol inks that you used for one specific project and haven't used again, then you should really consider enrolling in a technique class like this one that will show you lots of new ways to use what you already own!

So, to enter my giveaway, tell me in the comments how many of the items on the supply list you already own, and tell me which one (or ones) you'd really like to learn to use! I'll enjoy reading your responses and will pick a random winner on Saturday, June 21, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. PDT -- so you've got just under 24 hours from this posting to check the list against your stash!

Have fun and see you here tomorrow night!

and the lucky Friday the 13th winner is...

Gretchyn!! Congratulations on winning my low-tech random drawing -- you have a seat in the June Handmade Book of the Month class! Please contact kayce@bigpicturescrapbooking.com to be placed in Tena's class and enjoy! And thanks to all of you who played, too, and had a name in the bowl -- keep an eye on our blog for more giveaways, too!

1. What is this month's handmade book style? This months handmade book style is a childhood memories album with stitched and glued signature block 2. What does Tena recommend you use to cover your book? shopping bags, wallpaper, wrapping paper. Also -- butcher paper or brown shopping bags that have been stamped and painted on.

Posted by: Gretchyn | June 12, 2008 at 05:28 AM

edited to add: I just checked out Gretchyn's blog -- and Gretchyn has seen Lyle Lovett nine times? That is just so incredibly cool....if I had a pony, I'd ride him on my boat.

Handmade Books and more!

Have you checked out Tena Sprenger's Handmade Book of the Month Club? Our technique-savvy Tena has been creating a new book every month -- and you can join in anytime you want! I would love for you to try out the June book of the month -- so I'm giving away one seat in class! Just leave me a note in the comments section and tell me this:
1. What is this month's handmade book style?
2. What does Tena recommend you use to cover your book?

I'll choose a random winner on Friday, June 13, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. PST!

While you're checking out classes, be sure to check out Tena's 52 Card Pick Up workshop -- where Tena will share 52 cool techniques with you! This class was an artful blast last summer, so we are thrilled to bring back summer school with Tena! Just think: some of your techniques could be used in your handmade books and other paper-crafting projects!

Have fun!