What a month!

It's the last day of February and we've had a wonderful time celebrating the first issue of Scraps of Color E:spire Magazine, Black history Month and all things Love and Valentine's Day-related! There have been some fabulous layouts, cards, and projects featured throughout the month and I hope you've drawn some inspiration from them. If you have not already, spend some time browsing the premier issue of the magazine.

I thought I'd finish out the month by sharing a layout of my husband and me on a recent trip. Travel is one of the things we enjoy most. There are TONS of places remaining on our "must-see" list and we're slowly, but surely checking them off!



I love this photo of us and wanted to use it to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The journaling tells a little bit of our story and was super easy to create. All of the elements (except the bling flourish) are from a coordinated scrapbook kit.




My tip for you is to go with what works! You may notice that the majority of my layouts contain computer journaling. It’s not that I don’t like my handwriting and see the beauty of using your own handwriting – not at all. It’s just that, over time I’ve come to realize that I am a lazy writer. I just don’t like to write by hand.


I journal so much more and get so many more details down when I’m tapping on a keyboard than when I simply put pen to paper. And isn’t that why we do what we do – to capture our stories? So, I’ve embraced my computer and learned to love that it helps me bring my pictures to life!

Happy Crafting!
Moanica

I Love Freebies

I am loving the feedback we are getting about the premiere issue of Scraps of Color E:spire. The issue is filled with awesome information and tons of ideas. What I love even more are the freebies, as a digi scrapper I LOVE freebies! In this case, these freebies are not just for digital scrapbookers, paper scrapbookers can use Shellina's template as a sketch; elements from Aysha's kit can be printed out and used on layouts; and my digi sticker would make a great page element or title, try printing it on cardstock or vellum. If you haven't already grabbed your freebies, check out page 20 and download them today.  Here is a digi layout I made to document my Valentine's Day. I used both Shellina's Love Layout template and Aysha's Sealed with a Kiss digital kit. Hope you like it.

Handle with Care by Camille: Template - Shellina Guthrie (Love Layout); Patterned Paper and Elements - Aysha Livingston (Sealed with a Kiss) both downloaded from Scraps of Color E:Spire.

Camille

Winner and a NEW Giveaway!

Woohoo! We have a winner of this fun and fabulous kit from Apron Strings!  And the winner is Gemiel!  Yay!  Just for leaving a comment and being a subscriber to the SOC Magazine, Gemiel will receive this FAB Kit!  (Gemiel please email me your shipping address and your SOC subscriber email address for confirmation.)  Congratulations!

And now for another fun giveaway!  Someone is going to win this great kit filled with 8 patterned papers, coordinating flowers, buttons, bling, stickers and alphas!  Ohhhhh!  All you need to do is:

• Be sure you are a subscriber!  Only subscribers can enter to win!  Subscribe at right...it's FREE!
• Visit our Facebook Fan Page and share a recent LOVELY creation.  Did you know you can upload photos to the Scraps of Color Facebook Fan Page?  Well you can and we want to see your creations of LOVE.  What did you make for Valentine's Day? Cards, candies, mini albums, fun layouts???  Well, we want to see it.  Upload your LOVE creations to the Facebook Fan Page and you are entered.  Each LOVE creation will get you an entry!

Photos must be uploaded by Monday, February 28, 2011, 11:59pm eastern to be eligible to win!  Winners will be chosen via random number generator based on number of submissions.


Woohoo!  Now get busy and start sharing!


Classygirl!

Writing Us Into History

Happy President's Day Everyone:

As we begin to wrap up the month of February, I'm reminded of all the things that make this month, pardon the pun, so lovely. Of course there is Groundhog's Day, Valentine's Day, American Heart Association Awareness, President's Day, Mardi Gras, and more. What I'm most reminded about the month (as well as previous years gone by) of February is the contributions African Americans have made to better conditions here and abroad. Somehow, each contribution has managed to achieve the same effect whether it was the speeches Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. delivered, the traffic light Garret Morgan created or the way Vivien Thomas adapted a surgical procedures to oxygenate blood to allow blue babies life beyond the primary stages of adolescence. Well, their contributions managed to bring us closer together--making this world appear a little smaller than before.

This year, the founder of Scraps of Color E:spire Magazine, Tiare Smith, has been added to the long list of contributors. She has not only created SOC E:spire Magazine, Tiare has made the world of African American scrappers, card makers, and altered artists that much smaller and brought each of us a closer. A year ago, I had no idea as many African Americans shared the love of paper crafting as I do. I am so happy to know I can log-on or e-mail a fellow blogger or call a friend to discuss techniques, upcoming conventions and/or classes and know that the topic is far from being foreign. Thanks Tiare, for writing us all into history.

I achieve this effect by using SU cardstock, Hero Art flower & background stamps, SU classic inks, SU sentiment stamp, embossing powder, pearl spritz, Tim Holtz distressing ink, Glossy Accents, and pearls.

Peace & Blessings,

Lorie

Daddy's Love

Hello SOC Fans!!

WOW!! Did you all check out the e-zine? Didn't the Creative Team rock it out!! Yes, they did! I really loved it! Awesome job Ms. Tiare and thanks for putting such a talented group together :) .

Well, with this being "Love Month," sharing our love for Life & History, I decided to create a layout of my hubby & son. Okay my hubby LOVES da Bears! True blue FAN even when their having a bad season. (Thanks Jay Cutler) LOL. This past summer we took a trip to Chicago, one of the places to go is Solider Field.

Can you see the excitement on his face? Thrilled is a understatement, if you ask ME! My son Stormy shares his father's love also. I have to tell you when they lost both Stormy and Daddy cried. Yes, they did like babies, honey. Stormy loves his daddy and wants to be just like him.

I know a Father's love is very important. I lost my daddy when I was 12 years old. My father was an outstanding artist. I like to think that's where my love of art comes from.  My children are blessed to have such an awesome daddy that loves them dearly.

So what special love do you have? Are your children in love with their daddy? Okay ladies tell poppa to let you scrap and share some love with the kiddies today!

Have an awesome weekend,
Chalese
xoxo

Like & love

One think I cherish most about the relationship I have with my husband it the fact that we like each other! For us, that is more important than love. Don't get me wrong, I am in love with the man too, but with Like, there is a sense of friendship and companionship I admire. To this day, 12 years into our relationship, we still say we Like and then Love each other! So I wanted to share some old pictures of us through the years in this layout....quite appropriate for this month! I used the free Love Page Template and Let me count the Way digit kit from digital diva, Shellina Guthrie offered in the Scraps of Color magazine. You can go here to download and make your own-but be sure to share what you create with us!!!

When I was making this particular layout, I kept in mind the colors I was going for. Since most of the pictures had a variety of colors, I chose to make them all black and white, so I could keep the red's and pinks consistent. Colors don't clash and the photos still remain the main focal point. I try to remember this when doing multiple photo layouts. And you can too!

Hope you all have a wonderful like & love filled month! Be sure to check out and subscribe to our magazine. It is full of inspiration that will ignite your creative spirit!

Remember to give yourself some LOVE too...

February is the shortest month of the year but it's really packed with so much. We all know that February is Black History Month and it's known as the month for Love & Romance. But here's another reason to Love February, it's also American Heart Month.

Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the US and is the major cause of disability. The most common heart disease in the US is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack. A healthy diet and lifestyle are the best weapons you have to fight heart disease. A little scrapbooking or any creativity is helpful too. Remember that it's your overall pattern of the choices you make in your life that counts.

So while remembering our great men and women throughout our history and when you're showering your family and special friends with Love this month, don't forget to shower yourself with some Love too. Remember the best gift you can give to your family & special friends is being there. So by taking care of you, you will be there for them.

The "Go Red" card was made with leftover papers from one of our sponsors: Apron Strings Dec. 2010 All Year Cheer Card Kit. You can check out the contents on page 12 of our Premiere issue of SOC E:spire magazine or you can visit the site at www.apronstringsdesigns.com. I made the "Go Red" sentiment and heart using MS Word since I didn't have a stamp sentiment for this. I printed it on patterned paper from the kit and cut it out, I also added a couple of different hearts and the Red Dress pin.

Go Red For Life Card by Tena Ellison. Supplies Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants; Cardstock: Bazzill; Twill Ribbon: Creative Impressions; Punch: Fiskars; Embroidery Thread & Wooden Heart: Hobby Lobby; Clear Stamp: Autumn Leaves; Ink: Ranger.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Celebrate LOVE!  Happy Valentine's Day Everyone from the ENTIRE SOC Creative Team!

What a GORGEOUS day we are going to have here in Georgia.  It'll be in the 60's and sunny, a great day for taking a stroll for your heart, hand in hand with your sweetie or simply by yourself, for yourself.  

It's also a great day to create and to share LOVE with important people in your life.  Today, I'll celebrate my dh.  Yesterday, he took me out for a wonderful, romantic dinner for two.  Today, I'll return the favor.  However, dinner will be at home complete with rose petals and candlelight and his favorite homemade dessert.  Today, will be just a little extra special.  I'll top it off with a handmade card just for him!  I cannot think of a better way to celebrate someone I love than with homemade, handmade goodies!

I made this card for him.  It expresses how I feel about our love, our relationship.  It's LOVE 24/7, 365 no doubt.  Not a day goes by that I don't feel extra loved by him or love for him.  Valentine's Day is simply one of those days in the 365!

This card was inspired by Aysha's card seen here.  I scraplifted some of her ideas and what a great way to let someone know how much you LOVE their creativity!  I LOVED that Aysha hand cut her hearts and I did the same.  Like Aysha, I chose to stamp my background to make it unique.  I also, crumpled my hearts to give them dimension and texture and match the shabby chic look of the patterned papers.  The bow was inspired by the many beautiful cards that have been posted in the SOC gallery!

I really like how it turned out...especially since I don't typically stamp and when I do, I'm never satisfied. However, this time, I thought..."not too bad!"

So for today, take a moment to say, "I LOVE YOU!" Scraplift a bit of creativity and share a bit of YOUR LOVE!

Happy Valentine's Day!

"Phenomenal Women"

This is a month of celebration and love. Each and every one of our "Sheores" deserves recognition. In our world of paper and adhesive I'd like to place the spotlight for just a moment on our most recent phenomenal achievement and that is the accomplishment attained by our own Tiare "Classygirl" Smith.

As the Founding Editorial Director, for Scraps of Color Scrapbook Magazine, Tiare was able to bring one of her dreams to fruition with the launch of Scraps of Color E:Spire.

Don't you just luv, luv, luv the pages of creations and inspiration she was able to collect in order to provide motivation and inspiration for us? And, what a month to deliver a publication that supports our efforts to document events on the pages that we create in honor of our individual, family and community events. We create phenomenal pages to document both the monumental achievements of our people and the small private moments that nourish our souls!Personally, I cannot imagine any activity more rewarding than the ability to showcase our photographs and our memories in our own, unique style. I guess that's why Tiare took such care to ensure that no matter what your "scrap of choice" preference may be, your creative juices would be tantalized and supported. As someone who has not jumped into the digital arena yet, I am in awe of the information beginning on page 19, in the Digi Den.

Until I'm able to hone these particular skills, please enjoy a few of the pages that I created in this mini- book that highlights photos of my mother and her favorite relatives in their "hey day". These photos are from the 30's so I took care to use materials that would lend authenticity to that era. Any paper can be aged with the use of a fine sand paper and Ranger Distress Inks. Layer torn scrapbook paper to add interest and dimension. Remain ever vigilant to grab vintage buttons and lace from treasures found at garage sales and flea markets.

Enjoy your day, your family, your memories and your hours honing your craft!

Oh, How I Love You!

So it’s Valentine’s Day weekend. For some that means it’s all about chocolate, flowers, and getting lovey dovey with your sweetie. Of course all of that is nice, but for me it is a time to endulge in creating with colors and embellishments that are not typical for me, like the reds & pinks, and the hearts and cupcakes. Mmmm cupcakes.

Are you doing anything romantic this Valentine's Weekend or are you making it a scrappy one like me? Well, however you spend your weekend, I hope you enjoy it!

This is a Valentine’s Day card that I recently made, I rubber stamped the background to create my own patterned paper, and instead of die-cutting the heart, I cut it out the old-fashioned way...by hand. *Gasp!*

Celebrate Your Love Of Family Through History

Anyone that knows me, knows how much I love history. As an artist, I found it easier to tell my stories through my art and my ability to craft. Mixed media, card making, scrapbooking ... it all tells a story of who we are, who the artist or crafter is.

In the art world and in the paper crafting world I've noticed a strong and sustaining trend towards vintage. Steampunk is hot right now ... but for me, as a woman of color - those themes that are so celebrated and made into cardstock and other scrapbook ephemera by some of the big names - do not reach out and grab me.

What DOES reach out and grab me, and wraps itself around my heart, are pictures of my own family. My Grandparents who were landowners and business owners in an age of racial disharmony. My Great-Aunts, who were all seamstresses by trade or by necessity, who were as stylish as the women on the big screens of their day. Women who used what they had to keep a proper home, to take care of their families ... skills that seem to be so forgotten today.

These are the people in my life that "grab me", that I think about when I see Vintage and Steampunk ... and you know what? I find a way to incorporate their memories into my memory keeping.

Go through those vintage photos and incorporate them into the background ... make your own papers out of those old photos! I've learned as an artist not to wait for someone to create something for me - to create it myself.

You can also do this in your scrapbooking. Take this month, Black History Month and celebrate not JUST history ... but your OWN history. If you check out the Premiere SOC E:Spire Ezine, you will see how I used painted tags on page 46, to highlight history ... and I give you other tips on how you can use painted history tags to highlight your own family events.

Win this Wonderful Kit from Apron Strings

Ahhhh...it's time to spread some more LOVE!  And we LOVE Apron Strings and we know you will too!  Apron Strings is a great monthly kit club offering a variety of kits, fun add ons and great sales!

We want you to experience the joy and creative options you can find in an Apron Strings Kit. You could win this wonderful kit from Apron Strings and all you need to do is:

1. Make sure you have subscribed to Scraps of Color Scrapbook Magazine (right side bar).  Our contests are open to subscribers only and EVERY scrapper, stamper and altered artists should subscribe...afterall it's FREE!
2. Visit the Apron Strings Web Site here and check out their kits and goodies.
3. Come back here and leave a comment telling us what is your favorite kit or embellishment found on the Apron Strings site.  That's it and you are entered to win!  Easy peasy!  Entry must be received by Monday, February 14, 2011 11:59pm est to be eligible.

While here be sure to check out pages 8-12 of the Feb/Mar 2011 Issue for great layout and card ideas using Apron String Kits!

Please note: We will have several giveaways this month.  All prizes will be mailed at month end.  Winners are chosen by random number generator.  Due to shipping costs giveaways open to US/Canada residents only.

EnJOY!

Classygirl

Get Published in our April/May 2011 Issue!

Submit your work for your chance to be published in the premiere issue of Scraps of Color Magazine!

We want to see your layouts, cards and other paper crafting projects.  Submit your work to our current page call and you may be published in the upcoming April/May 2011 issue of Scraps of Color!

You may submit one or more projects to each of the calls below.  We are currently looking for:

Mother's Day:  Projects featuring a yourself as a mother, your mother or other special woman in your life.   Showcase the special relationships you share. 

Easter: Submit projects about Easter: churchgoing, Easter dinner, egg hunt, egg coloring, bunnies and baskets.  We want to see your Easter creations!

Spring had Sprung: Flowers are in Bloom!  Share your garden, floral layouts!
Cinco de Mayo: Celebrate liberty!  Show how you celebrate Cinco de May!

Your Scrap Space: Big room, small space.  We want to see your fun, creative scrap room or space.  Where do you create?  Share your photos or your creative space and you might be featured on our blog or in the magazine.
Crop Happenings:  Having a charity crop?  Let us know.  We just might share it with our readers!  Had a fun scrappy gathering?  Met up with some scrappy pals?  Share your photos and we might feature you in an upcoming issue.

Our Voices: We want to hear from you.  Do you have questions or comments about Scraps of Color Scrapook Magazine.  Are you excited about the current issue or upcoming issues, blog features etc?  Have you been inspired by one of our Creative Team Members?  Share your work and/words and you might be featured on our blog or in the magazine.
Sketch Inspired Layouts: Let this sketch inspire your next creation.  Submit your creation and it might just be featured in the April/May 2011 Issue.    

Submissions are due by February 28, 2010! 

Be sure to follow our submission guidelines listed here:

• Submissions must be never before published items whether in print or online.
• Submissions must be a high quality photo, or scan(scan preferred).  If photographed, please photograph with a light or white colored background. (See the current issue for examples). 
• Save as 200dpi, 
• By submitting your creations for possible publication you agree to the terms as provided here. 
• Include the call subject in your email subject
• Email each submission separately to: classygirl at mac dot com
• Submission must include:  project title, your name and supplies list.  Pay particular attention to the supply formatting. 
• Submissions that do not STRICTLY follow the guidelines will not be considered.
• All submissions will be entered to win a prize pack from our sponsors.  All published artists will also receive our highly coveted, "I've Been Published" SOC Button to display on your blogs, web sites and/or signature lines. 

SAMPLE SUBMISSION.

Definitely Not Routine by Tena Ellison.  Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Patterned Paper: Basic Grey; Rub ons: Fancy Pants; Pearl Flourish: Prima; Vellum: The Paper Studio; Font: JI-Cutins.

I love...

...receiving gifts!  I love when those gifts are well selected.  I love gifts that we can use over and over.  I love when those gifts inspire me to use old scrap supplies...don't YOU LOVE WHERE THIS IS GOING???

For Christmas last year (yeah, 'cause it's ALREADY FEBRUARY!!!!) my sister and brother-in-law gave my littlest boy the beautiful gift of reading.  Not only did they buy two well known and loved stories...he received the special anniversary editions.  You know those "if you write in THESE or tear THESE Imma SHANK YOU!" books!  Last year was the NINETIETH birthday of Raggedy Ann so Keanohn was blessed to receive a collection of stories about her and her male counterpart, as well as Paddington Bear short stories.  Our Christmas tradition is to go to my parents' house EARLY that morning in our pajamas to exchange gifts.  We then go home to get gussied up before returning that afternoon to celebrate with our extended family.  That's how my baby came to have his books from his aunt and uncle before we even ate breakfast on Christmas morning!  While Daddy cooked grits for us, we snuggled in bed together and I read to him the stories that I read myself when I was slightly older than him!

Reading TWOgether by Keandra Perkins-Willis Patterned Paper: Graphic 45 and
Theresa Collins; Alphabet Stickers:American Crafts; Stickers: Heidi Swapp and Pebbles;Digital Images:JustSomethingIMade.com; Raggedy Ann and Andy: Handmade-kiwithekreator.etsy.com

 Because this is an activity that allows Kea and I to have some " KEA" time (I HAFTA do a page with that title!) I thought the Raggedy Ann and Andy illustration from the book's table of contents was perfect!  And because the Raggedies are so old, I thought a vintage look was appropriate.  You know I am SOO not the queen of vintage so I've had this paper lying around (LITERALLY!) for a year and a half (someone actually sent it to me to CHALLENGE me to use it...FAIL!!!).  I love when we get older papers INTO our albums rather than gathering dust on the shelf!  EVERYTHING else I used to kreate this page was just lying around, BEGGING to be used!!!  I challenge you during this month of love and warm fuzzies to scrap about something YOU love!  But really think outside the box: if you wanna scrap about that pecan candy in your cabinet SO BE IT!  Just give the future generation another piece of info about what YOU LOVED!!!

This Saturday Only! 35% OFF SOC T's and Accessories!!!

February is the month of LOVE and we want to share a bit of LOVE with you!  We want to say, "Thanks for all of your constant LOVE and support!"  You make every effort worth it!

Therefore, this Saturday only get 35% off your SOC Apparel and/or Accessory Orders!  Just enter code: FEBLUV11  

Show your SOC Pride!


Click here to place your order Saturday, February 5, 2011!


Spread the LOVE!  Tell a friend!

Be My Valentine...

Don't you just love Valentine's Day? I do too. It is such a fun time to express your love to the ones you feel deeply for. Our Premiere Issue is filled with so many “Love” layouts and cards, digital and traditional-And sure to inspire you to create for the Love’s in your life. I created this little 8 x 8 layout using a photo of my Little Loves...:) Though shown below on an easel, I think that this layout will end up adhered to a frame and made into an 8 x 8 magnet. I love that versatile option with layouts.

When I started this layout, I didn't know where it would take me, but the end result was so rewarding.



Be My Valentine Layout by Karen Jiles. Supplies- Patterned Paper and Die Cuts: My Mind's Eye; Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Bling: Recollections; Ink: Vintage Photo Distress Ink; Label Die Cut: Grand Calibur.

Tip 1: Create some of your own embellishments to coordinate with your layout. I created my own decorative pebbles by adhering scrapbook paper to the bottom of clear gems. After drying, I applied the gems to my layout. I used them as the centers of 2 of my flowers.

Tip 2: Make full use of your scrapbook paper. My Mind's Eye offers individual sheets of scrapbook paper that have the company's name on a decorative strip along one side of their patterned paper. It is decorative, so why not use it. In my layout, I trimmed the decorative strip off of my patterned paper and made it apart of my layout. One strip was used under the large bloom and I also used a hint of another slightly above the XOXOXO title.

I thoroughly enjoyed creating this layout, but the most fun was creating my own coordinating pebbles. Do you create your own embellishments for your layouts? Please share.

Thanks for stopping by today!
Karen

It's a month of love and history!

Happy February Crafters!

We've got quite the month planned here at SOC.  This month we celebrate LOVE and HISTORY!

Love by Tiare Smith. Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics;
Patterned Papers and dies: Cosmo Cricket; Flower: unknown

We have released the premiere issue of Scraps of Color Scrapbook Magazine and we made HISTORY by providing the first scrapbook magazine honoring the talents of creative women of color!  Yay!  It is a work of the heart, a work of LOVE!  And we happily share that work with you.  If you haven't downloaded your FREE copy yet you can easily do so by clicking of the magazine cover in the right hand sidebar.

This issue is filled with inspiration, page after page.  With Valentine's Day quickly approaching you'll find great ideas for your Valentine's Day Cards on page 56 and beautiful layout and more card ideas to help you celebrate LOVE on page 74 and be sure to turn to page 70 for fun ideas to celebrate history and page 64 for great tips for scrapbooking your heritage!  Whatever you need, we've got it all!

Nothing is Worth More..by Tiare Smith.
Supplies: Digi Kit 2 Peas.

And I cannot let the day go by without mentioning the fact that February is also Go Red for Women's Hearth Health Month!  Many companies encourage their employees to wear red on this Friday, February 4, 2011, in honor of women's heart health.  So pull out your red and participate!  And while you are online visit the Go Red for Women web page and learn more about your heart health and make plans to incorporate more healthy ways of living into your life!

Have a Happy, Healthy, Love-filled day!  I've shared a couple of LOVELY layouts that I hope will inspire you to celebrate and scrapbook LOVE!  


Hey and for a bit more LOVE inspiration see my LOVE layout on page 18 in the Fab Lane!

EnJOY!

Classygirl!