Scrap Big

Get into the Groove with Kolette Hall

I don't play an instrument. I took piano lessons for years when I was young but complained so much that my mom finally gave in and let me quit. Of course, now I wish I hadn't and although I have very few regrets in my life, this probably tops the short list.

However, in spite of the fact that I was like just about every teenager who doesn’t want to practice an instrument, I still love music.  I was in choirs in junior high and high school but I wouldn’t say I am all that talented as a singer.  But I still love music.  

You don’t have to be a master of something, or even remotely talented at it, to appreciate and enjoy it.  My husband and I love iTunes, free downloadable mp3s and we like to watch what is new on the charts. Whether it is early morning instrumental, soft and easy in the evening or rockin’ out while I’m working or running, music is all a part of our lives.

Along with loving to listen to it, music is easy to be inspired by.  That’s the point of those songwriters – they know how to say things.  So, since they are already working so hard to pen just the right phrase, why not use their words in our scrapbooking?

 That is how my new workshop “Life Tunes” was born – a way to merge scrapbooking and music together into one.  “Life Tunes” was originally a part of our year-long workshop from 2009 called “A Life Well Crafted” but so many people who weren’t able to take the class all year wanted the layouts from the months that they missed that we decided to offer it as its own workshop.  Whether you joined us for “A Life Well Crafted” or not, this class is four weeks packed with 12 different layouts plus a pre-workshop album and title page handout.  Whoa!  That’s a lot for just four little weeks!

We’ll be using the BoBunny 9x9 chipboard album and pages but you will see how easy it is to use your own supplies to make your pages any size you want.  Plus, just like all of my workshops, you will get TONS of original artwork (designed by me) for your layouts using a different song as inspiration for each layout.

Join me as we get our groove on in Life Tunes!

 

Thanks for your comments!  The winner for the seat in Life Tunes is Sarah MacKenzie!

Sarah MacKenzie said: David Gray's White Ladder brings me back to when my husband and I first started dating. He had the CD and I loved it, and we played it a lot then and still do on occasion.

Let's get it started!

Have you started a scrapbooking project and just can't seem to finish it? At the CHA show in Anaheim, I attended Stacy's Finish Line Scrapbooking class, which you'll have the opportunity to take soon at BPS (you heard it here first)! During class, she played some of her favorite tunes to get everyone motivated.  It worked!  It created a positive energy in the room as everyone worked hard to finish their scrapbooks.

Music is so powerful. It has the power to motivate, to make you happy, and it can bring tears to your eyes.  Music, like scrapbooking, evokes memories!  So it’s only natural that we combine the two. Kolette Hall’s workshop: Life Tunes offers you the perfect opportunity to incorporate music into your scrapbooking. 

Life Tunes was part of our 2009 year-long workshop, “A Life Well Crafted”, and there was so much positive feedback that we have decided to build a new workshop around the Life Tunes album!

 
The challenge for this week is to think about the music that inspires your life.   Tell us about one of your favorite songs and the memories it brings.  We will be giving away one seat in Life Tunes on Wednesday, February 24th, during Kolette’s guest blog.   This four week class starts March 4th.

Life Tunes features 12 step-by-step handouts that will inspire you and motivate you to live the very best life possible. Each handout will offer a layout inspired by music that we know will enrich your life and inspire creativity. In true Kolette fashion, there are TONS of custom templates for you to include in your album. Below is a sneak peek of the classroom and all the handouts you’ll receive!

As I was writing this, so many songs went through my head that gave me some great ideas.  For example, my son Owen was talking about how the song Sweet Escape (he has the KidZ Bop version) reminded him of Tom and Jerry, now wouldn’t that be a cute page? 

Join May Flaum for a Hybrid Scrapbooking Adventure

Today May shares with us her philosophy and methods for incorporating hybrid scrapbooking into your life and gives us a sneak peak into her new BPS class, Adventures in Scrapbooking: Go Hybrid.

 I am not a high tech girl. I don’t long for an iphone, nor am I excited about the releases of new tech products in general. I like things to be simple and uncomplicated, but I also like to bring in new and fun things sometimes. This isn’t just for my life in general, but scrapbooking specifically as well. Just over 5 years ago I was fighting to understand digital scrapbooking. I was failing and floundering big time and the #1 reason was that there wasn’t anybody around to tell me how I could do it the easy way. How I could just take the information I needed about the stuff I wanted to do and make it work for me. In other words, how to do hybrid scrapbooking. 

 

Today I enjoy incorporating hybrid scrapbooking (digital elements printed out for my paper projects) in my life and I love all I can do with it. One of my biggest secrets is that more than half of the things I do are done simply in Microsoft Word. Photoshop elements is great (and I use it for specific things), but sometimes Word gets the job done faster & easier for me. In my new class at Big Picture Adventures in Scrapbooking: Go Hybrid, I will walk you through my hybrid world. From brushes & stamps to digital frames to papers – we cover all the basics and more. In fact – you can join in and enjoy even if you don’t have Photoshop or Elements. Working with Microsoft Word you can participate in class every week.

 

Here is a screen shot of a layout I created starting with Word. It’s going to sound too simple – but for this page I simply inserted digital supplies (paper by Jen Allyson, word art by Jodie McNally, heart word art by Sande Krieger, and flourishes by Lynn Grieveson) and a few photos, layered them, and printed onto cardstock. Making all of my digital elements didn’t take more than 15 minutes tops, and I even had space to print out extra titles and things to save for future pages.

 

Here is my finished layout. As you can see I just added papers and embellishments as I normally would – your hybrid pieces can blend right in! (Supplies: Core’dinations cardstock, Dear Lizzy patterned paper and cherry accent, Jenni Bowlin butterfly, Making memories metal embellishment and flower ribbon, Tim Holtz distress ink, Fiskars punch, Webster’s pages number stickers) 

 

The real key to learning how to incorporate some digital elements into your traditional scrapbooking is taking it one step at a time, and learning the simple basic steps that start any hybrid creation – from simply printing journaling to adding a decorative frame to your photos to layering and creating more complex looking creations. It’s all a lot of fun!  In this new Big Picture workshop Adventures in Scrapbooking: Go Hybrid that starts February 25th, we will work through presentations, examples, exclusive downloads, and there will be plenty of interaction.  I hope that you’ll join me!

If you have any questions about class, or for more information please feel free to contact me at [email protected] and visit my blog www.mayflaum.wordpress.com for more posts about class, hybrid scrapbooking, and more.

Happy Crafting!

 
PS – I just found out we have a Bamboo Craft by Wacom to give away to one student signed up in this class. How cool is that?

Thanks everyone for your responses to Monday’s blog.  It’s exciting to read how you are using technology to enhance, not complicate, your scrapbooking journey.  We hope that you will join us for May’s class. 

Our winner for the free seat in May’s class Adventures in Scrapbooking: Go Hybrid is: Evalyn

Evalyn said: I use my internet connection to take classes at BPS (love them all!), I take photos with my digital camera, use iPhoto and LR to view, edit, and print my photos, and use Flickr and my blog to share them. I shop for scrapbooking supplies, both paper and digital, online. I use my computer to design digital layouts and print journaling for paper layouts. I can't imagine NOT using technology in scrapbooking.

Break out the Computer we're going to Scrapbook

Remember when we would take film into a store and wait a few days and see what developed.  Depending on your age you might not have any idea what I am talking about, if so be happy and enjoy your youth!   For the rest of us, including me, do you remember the joy of opening that envelope and seeing how those pictures turned out?   It’s funny how much we do digitally that we take for granted, we take photos digitally, we print them out at home, and maybe even send e-cards to friends and family.  (It’s ok … I won’t tell anyone.) 

But there is still joy in breaking out the scissors and touching the textured paper.  I still get excited when I hold prints in my hands, even though I’ve seen them hundreds of times before on the screen.   There’s just something about real versus virtual that is well “real, tangible, touchable and slightly exotic.”   If you consider yourself a traditional scrapbooker chances are you cross over into the digital world more than you realize and if you are a digital scrapbooker I’m just guessing you print things out from time to time. 

May Flaum is teaching Adventures in Scrapbooking: Go Hybrid starting February 25th. This class is for you!   Whatever your comfort level scrapbooking in the digital world, May will show you tips and techniques to fully use the digital tools you have to make your scrapbooking experience more creative, colorful and fun!   

We are happy to have a special giveaway for this class.  One lucky student will win a Wacom Bamboo Craft tablet.  Creative types have used these tablets for years.   The Bamboo Craft uses both a pen and Multi-Touch input to navigate and work on your scrapbooking projects. The pressure sensitive pen lets you create your own art, edit photos, and use your own handwriting.  

So, I know you’re ready to sign up but… you’re waiting for the challenge.  Yes, we are giving away one seat in May’s Adventures in Scrapbooking: Go Hybrid.   For your chance to win the free seat please tell us how you use technology in your scrapbooking (taking BPS classes counts) and what you’d most like to learn from May’s workshop.    The winner will be announced this Wednesday February 17th, in the introduction of May’s guest blog.

Help for Haiti

EDITED:

We’re so thankful for our wonderful community! Over the weekend we exceeded our goal, and raised $1315 for “Help with Haiti”. BPS will be matching $1000 and will be sending $2315 to the Red Cross Haiti and Development fund.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this worthwhile cause. We have randomly selected a winner to receive a $50 BPS gift certificate for her contribution:

Maegan B was the 22^nd person to contribute! Congratulations!

Thank you all for your generosity!
Kayce, Stacy & The BPS Team

 

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It's been one month since the catastrophic earthquake occurred in Haiti. There is still a desperate and ongoing need for help and we'd like to pitch in.

Big Picture Scrapbooking will match every dollar that is donated by our members this weekend (up to $1000). With our combined efforts, we can easily give $2000 to The Red Cross, directly to the Haiti Relief and Development fund.

 

Every dollar counts, so please click the link below to contribute whatever you can. Anyone who donates will be entered to win a $50 BPS gift certificate.

Thank you! Together we can do great things.
Stacy, Kayce and the BPS team.

Sweet! Valentines Day is almost here

Thank you for all your heartfelt responses.  Our Valentines Day winners are:

Altered Inspirations Winner 

Els said: Of course I love my hubby almost 29 years and my kids but even I love my brothers and sisters a lot because we be there for each other in good and thats makes it special in bad times. Taking care and try to cheer each other up. Feeling when someone need special treatment or a bouquet of flowers.

Inside my Heart Winner

Heather said: My love is my husband. He's not taller than me when I'm in heels and he doesn't love to dance (my two for sures when I was single) but he IS so many things I never knew I wanted or needed. He's a do-it-yourselfer, he can fix almost anything, he loves to save money, he doesn't think I'm cheap, he gets me out of "my box" when I think there's no way, he knows just the moment when he should pick up and do the dishes, he encourages my scrapbooking because there's no way he'd ever do it, he makes me laugh, he loves to play with our kids, and he's an amazing cook, he thinks I'm beautiful and makes sure I know. Best of all he loves me and inspires me to be the best wife, mother, and friend.

10 Reasons Why Winner

Lynne said: Ok, so I pressed send before I said why - sorry! LOL! I love my husband because he is so understanding and supportive of me. And my kids just make me laugh and love life

Winners - Please log into your classroom and get started.   Thanks again for all the great responses.  I look forward to seeing your projects from these classes in the gallery.  

I can almost taste the chocolate now.  Not the dinky little hearts from the corner drug store but that small gold box from Godiva. You know, the kind that the kids don't like.  I especially like the dark chocolate with raspberry.   Yummy...

Now that I have shared my Valentine’s chocolate fantasy with you, tell me about what thoughts Valentines Day brings to your mind?   Is it candy and flowers, a special dinner with your sweetheart, heart shaped cookies for your puppy or maybe helping your kids write those Valentines with the superheroes or princesses for their classmates.

Below are some pictures of our sweethearts

   
 

If you’re hoping to be a little more creative this year and show your love with something personal and unique, we can help.  BPS offers some heartwarming self-paced classes you can do right now to create meaningful gifts straight from your heart.   

Inspire yourself and your sweetheart with a book designed for them

 Altered Inspiration

Erin Trimble has created a quick, meaningful gift for Valentines Day - taking a book you love and personalizing it to make it more meaningful for your sweetie.  Altering a book is the perfect solution when you don't have a ton of time but still want to give something personal.  In Altered Inspiration you'll also learn some fun techniques that you can add to your scrapbooking repertoire.

Identify the feelings that matter most and focus on making them an ongoing part of your life together

Inside My Heart

Mark and Cami Young walk you through the process of combining your love of scrapbooking with the love in your marriage.  The result - a mini "movie" album that lives inside a DVD case! Individual circular pages will celebrate your relationship and serve as a reminder of the emotionally packed moments that have mattered most in your marriage.

Tell your special someone the 10 reasons why you love them

 10 Reasons Why

Join Kolette Hall as she teaches you to embrace the beauty of handwritten notes and shows you how to create a personal and reflective two-page layout recording why you love someone in 10 Reasons Why. 

This week’s challenge is to post a comment simply telling us about who you love and why by this Wednesday, February 10th @ 10 a.m. PST.  We will pick one winner for each class and announce the winners Wednesday evening so you have a few days to get your project completed in time for the big day. 

We look forward to hearing about your loved ones. Have a Happy Valentines Day!  

Making Happy Memories – WINNERS!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Compendium “Making Happy Memories” contest! The good people at Compendium were thoroughly impressed with all the layouts in the gallery, and had a very difficult time selecting a winner! In fact, they ended up selecting FOUR winners!

Drum-roll please…

Runner-Up: Austin & Papa
Created by: Cherri :) 

 Runner-Up: We Love 2 Play
Created by: lwestphal

Runner-Up: Summer 09
Created by: Amy Stackhouse

First Place: Tickle & Tackle
Created by: briefus

All four winners will be receiving a complete Tickle Monster kit from Compendium! Congratulations! 

Plus, as a special “thank you” to everyone who participated, Big Picture Scrapbooking will be sending everyone who entered a layout in the “Making Happy Memoires” contest a package of Happy Mail!

Random Thoughts about the "Scrapbooking Industry"

 

I had the pleasure of attending CHA for the first time last week with BPS founders Stacy and Kayce and our managing editor Brandi.  CHA is the Craft and Hobby Association's big trade show and education event.  I must say I was overwhelmed by the amount of cool stuff just for scrapbooking; tools, paper, embellishments.  If you can imagine it, it was there!  If you want to see some photos of this cool stuff, please check out Stacy Julian’s blog or the blogs of our BPS teachers like Tami Morrison, May Flaum, Karen Grunberg, Georgana Hall, Claudine Hellmuth or Wendy Smedley who were frantically taking pictures throughout the show. 

 

I was very exited to meet in person many of the BPS teachers and even more excited to meet some of our students. Like Marta who considers herself Stacy’s biggest fan and Shelia who has taken many, many, (did I say many) BPS classes. 

 But I must say, I was most impressed by what I heard at the show.  “ I come here because I love the people.”  “I’m in this business because I want to support other women. “   “I love seeing all my friends.”  

Of course, there were lots of comments on the “cool stuff” but the main vibe was the sense of community. As a former corporate marketing gal, I must say this was the thing that surprised me the most.  I’m so blessed to now be part of this community and thank you for welcoming me. 

I have no challenge for this week but I do have a gift.

20% off All Self-Paced Classes this week*

Use Promo Code: livebig

Coupon expires Friday (2/5) at 10pm PST

Thank you for being a loyal part of the BPS community!

*Disclaimer: This coupon code only applies to new purchases, and is not applicable towards previous purchases. Coupon can be used towards Self-Paced classes; coupon does not apply towards Workshops or Gift Certificates. Good for one time use, per student. Expires February 5th, 2010 at 10pm PST.Cannot be combined with any other offer. Coupon must be entered in the "Promo Code" box during checkout; discount will be applied immediately.Other terms and restrictions may apply.