One of the best parts of going to CHA is seeing all of the beautiful new supplies in person! Here are just a few of the things I loved best. (Warning: this post is just a BIT image heavy. I tried to narrow down, but there are way too many pretty things!)


One of my first stops was the Pebbles booth, which was chock-full of new stuff. These little pink clothespins are from the baby girl line, but could work for any project:


And the adorable Pebbles buttons are back in new colors. My favorite is that teal!

The American Crafts booth was hopping this season. I didn’t get too many photos of the product, but the entire Amy Tan line is to die for! Check out this fantastic embroidery from the booth:




American Crafts also came out with a fall/Halloween line, Nightfall, that contains my most favorite washi tape ever. Don’t you agree?



I also loved this apple sticker from the same line, and the fun apple paper:



Crate Paper has three fun new releases, but my favorite is (ironically!), the Christmas line, Peppermint.  How cute are these Elements cutouts?


October Afternoon never disappoints me, and this show was no exception. The Sidewalks line is super fun and summery. I adore the banners on these chipboard stickers.


Not to mention this floral patterned paper!


And these cute pennant stickers!


Jillibean soup has a fantastic new fall line out, called Apple-Cheddar Soup.


And I fell completely in love with these Bella Blvd pink alphas!



And last but not least, I’m completely in love with Lily Bee’s Head over Heels line. Can you tell it matches me?

There you have it—some CHA highlights! I hope you found some new things you love and inspiration to save those pennies for the new goodies!

Journaling—a scrapbooker’s constant companion.

Like many of you, I sometimes struggle with my journaling. What kind of content do I want to include? Do I want to focus on the events of the day or the emotions they evoke? Should I write a lot or keep it short and sweet? And that’s not even including the stylistic quandaries, like the great “pen versus typed journaling” debate, and the age old question of “where the heck am I supposed to put all this writing??”



For this layout, I wanted to record the events of this day, as well as give some insight as to how I felt about them. Even though I have more photos and stories from this event to share, I decided to narrow the focus of this layout to make it more manageable. Your title can also be a powerful part of your journaling, not to be underestimated. To focus the attention on the fact that my civil wedding is not the same date as my religious wedding (to make a long story short, we didn’t find out about pre-registering until it was too late!), I used the date of the civil wedding as the title for this layout.

For the rest of the journaling, I considered using my typewriter, but since time was short, I decided to go with my tried and true journaling method: writing it out with pen. Yes, there’s more room for mistakes, and yes, my handwriting isn’t always perfect, but I like to think it’s all part of the charm!

Instead of adding wedding themed embellishments, I used generic flower images and brads to evoke a romantic feel on my layout. After many years of attempting ribbon flowers, I was thrilled to have one successful result!



I hope you enjoyed this little insight into my journaling habits, and I hope it inspires YOU to try something brave and different with YOUR journaling!

A few months ago, I attended the Craft & Hobby Association trade show in Los Angeles for the first time. One of the things I loved about being at the show was how much easier it is to spot trends when you’re literally walking into them!  One color in particular, which has not made a huge dent in my scrapping stash, seemed to be everywhere—purple.

Since the show, I’ve noticed lots of pretty purple products (try saying that ten times fast!) that are available for scrapbookers, and I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites today.



First, I love the elegant colors and homey patterns of Lily Bee’s Picket Fence line. Porch Swing and Fresh Air are two of the new Lily Bee papers that use a soft, grapey shade of purple.


And the coordinating label stickers bring in the purple and mix it in with other pastel and jewel-toned colors.


Ella Friend Jenni Hufford created a gorgeous layout with the Picket Fence line:



Pink Paislee’s Soiree line is fun and energetic, and uses a brighter, lighter shade of purple.

The embellishments in the line use purple in an unusual way, adding bright yellow and aqua hues to the mix!



Kaisercraft was also getting in on the action with their Magic Happens line:

 
Purple is popping up everywhere, but if it’s not a go-to color for you, it can be tricky to figure out how to use it. 

One surefire way to conquer a new color is to work with a black and white photo.  Black and white photos don’t compete with the colors of patterned paper and embellishments, so are an excellent match for a trickier color like purple.   When it comes to accents, I find that neutral color embellishments, in shades like black, white, and cream, add a subtle but elegant counterpoint to the rich shade of purple. 

On my layout, “No Matter What,” I let my photo and message take the starring role front and center.


I embellished the layout with neutral elements, like the Studio Calico Notions flowers and Pink Paislee pleated ribbon in cream.  I added white gel pen and white Thickers to contrast with the purple, and the kraft background grounded the layout. 


For another take on scrapbooking with purple, you can take a cue from Pink Paislee’s Soiree line and match a brighter, more saturated purple shade with bright primary colors.

On my layout, “The Things We Carry,” I used a brighter shade of purple to create a layout with a lighter feeling. The kraft works here again to ground the layout, while the pale blue provides contrast to the purple without competing.




So there you have it! Enough guidance to get you through the aisles of purple at CHA  this year.  Whether you’re scrapbooking grapes or plums or Barney the purple Dinosaur, I hope this article helps you tackle the purple in your life!

The weeks have flown by, and we are now on our last week of the Home Décor blog series. Today’s post profiles an amazingly talented woman and scrapbooker, Maggie Holmes.  Maggie creates beautiful layouts, and applies her signature style to her home décor. In fact, it was an image of Maggie’s home that first led me to notice the many correlations between scrapbooking and home décor.

 
Maggie answered some questions about her home décor and scrapbooking life:

1. How would you describe your scrapbooking style?

I would definitely say my style is collage based and eclectic. Another word that would describe my style is colorful! I have always loved color and pattern. Mixing and matching is what I do best and I love to combine lots of different things on my layouts -- different product lines, unexpected colors, layers, and lots of dimension!

2. What is your creative process for decorating? Is it similar or different to your process for scrapbooking?

My process for decorating is very similar to my scrapbooking process. I like to start with a neutral background and then I layer on top of that. I use lots of bright colors and fun patterns as accents. As in my scrapbooking style I also mix and match within my home. For example, I love to put old vintage items or items that are more frilly and feminine on top of a modern sleek white table. You will also rarely see me purchase a whole matching line of something (like bedding).... Rather, I will buy bits and pieces from here and there to make a more eclectic look that feels like it has been added to over the years.

3. How do you transfer design concepts in scrapbooking to home décor?

I don't know that I do this consciously, but I think that my design concepts definitely transfer back and forth between my home décor and my scrapbooking. For example, I will use small bits of an accent color and scatter it in a few different places throughout a room or on a scrapbook page to make sure it all ties in. I am also not afraid of mixing patterns (even if they don't seem like they "go" together) but I do it in small doses so that it doesn't overpower a room or scrapbook page.

4. Are there any items you’re coveting in home décor? How about scrapbooking?

I am definitely wanting a new couch! The one we have is not my first choice but it is definitely super comfy so it is hard to give up! I would love something a little more sleek and more grey in color tone. My dream is to have white couches but that would probably not work well with all of our kiddos! Maybe someday when we have a separate and more formal living room so I would know it wouldn't get used as much! :) And while we are on the subject of white, Z Gallerie has some amazing white dining chairs that would be soooo cool! Again not very practical but I just love how white looks with all of the bright colors in my home. In scrapbooking the one thing I have had my eyes on for a long time but just haven't bought yet is a Silhouette machine. They look so fun and amazing! It's definitely one of those things that I don't "need" but would be a lot of fun to play with!!

Here are some layouts that show off Maggie’s fun, fresh style:





And if you like her scrapbook layouts, check out Maggie’s amazing home décor:

How beautiful are those frames and the pops of pink?


Love the lime green touches here.


More color, and beautiful details.



I love the “H” collection!


How gorgeous was that? Thank you, Maggie, for sharing your gorgeous house with us!

A little bit about Maggie
I am a photographer, scrapbooker, workshop leader, mom and wife. We have 4 kiddos that we adore and another one on the way!! I can't wait! I love to be creative while at the same time preserving our memories and recording the stories of my family. One of my biggest focuses recently is teaching my online photography workshops. I love seeing my students grow & progress so much in just a few short weeks! It is really rewarding & lots of fun! Design teams that I am currently on include Studio Calico, American Crafts, Girls' Paperie, the Creating Keepsakes Dream Team and Making Memories. I feel extremely blessed every day that I get paid to do what I love!! How could I be so lucky?

I hope you all have been having a great week and not missing home décor goodness to badly!  If you’re new to this blog series, we’re profiling women who have mad skills in the scrappy department and beautiful décor in their homes.  These images are inspiring me to use design principles I learned in scrapbooking in home décor, and I hope they do the same for you!
Today I’m so excited to introduce you to April Foster who is the owner of Studio Calico, a fabulous kit club—and a gorgeous new farmhouse!


I asked April to give us the scoop on her home décor and scrapbooking life:

1. How would you describe your scrapbooking style?

 

My scrapbooking style has definitely evolved over the years.  Originally, I was very minimalist and had very little journaling.  Now, my layouts definitely still have a simple structure,  but I add some detail, layers, stitching and definitely more journaling.  I also try to make my journaling more meaningful, but I’ll be the first to admit my sensitive side needs some work!

2. What is your creative process for decorating? Is it similar or different to your process for scrapbooking?

 

a.       When decorating, I usually collect lots of bits and pieces that I like, then start grouping them together.  I also have a notebook that I collect magazine clippings.  It’s divided into two sections: (1) inspirational images, whether it’s a color scheme, window treatment, overall feel that I like and (2) items that can be purchased with direct sources and prices listed.  Then, when putting together my space, I look over my notebook and make sure the items I want would work with some of the inspirational images I’ve saved, so the overall feel of my house remains consistent. 

b.      This is similar to my scrapbooking process as I definitely group items together before beginning to create.  Usually the items are from a kit or a kit + one or two items from my stash, so that’s easy to do!

 

3. How do you transfer design concepts in scrapbooking to home décor?

 

I think I transfer concepts the opposite direction more often.  I might see something, like a pennant banner in home décor that inspires me.  I’ll never forget spotting that on an etsy shop, creating a layout by cutting triangles, then having that trend pop up everywhere.  It was a home décor trend first, that definitely found its way to scrapbooking. 

4. Are there any items you’re coveting in home décor? How about scrapbooking?

 

a.       There’s always items I covet in home décor!  I’m anxiously waiting to tell my husband I want him to build me some shelves in our living room to house a collection of white pieces (urns/vases/trays/books/etc) on our back wall.  That wall is missing something and he needs a project (not!).

b.      As for scrapbooking, I am always anxious to see the latest and greatest as well.  That’s what keeps me inspired and always at-the-ready to create new kits.

Here are some layouts that display April’s clean and classy style:




And take a look at April’s streamlined look in her home:





I love April’s use of neutrals and classic prints, both in scrapbooking and home décor!
Thank you April for sharing your beautiful work with us!

We hope you had a good time watching all the CHA sneaks rolling in!  While at CHA, I loved seeing all of the home décor projects designers had created with scrappy supplies.  Which brings us to today’s topic—more on home décor and scrapbooking!

Today, we’re sitting down with the queen of vintage chic, Becky Novacek, to find out how she marries her home décor and scrapbook skills!

We asked Becky to tell us more about her home décor and scrappy skills:

1. How would you describe your scrapbooking style?

Very imperfect, homespun, usually simple. Always focused on the photo/s and a brief thought that is usually directed to my family or friends.

2. What is your creative process for decorating? Is it similar or different to your process for scrapbooking?

Absolutely! I start with a basic idea of what I want the finished product to look/feel like. Colors and textures are a big part of my process. But I guess when it comes down to it, it's all about the feeling or vibe.

3. How do you transfer design concepts in scrapbooking to home décor?

 I think color and texture are huge, but I think another big part of it is expression and personal style. Allowing your personal style to come through, whether it be a little worn and well loved, or clean and simple, it can be expressed in crafting, scrapbooking, home decor and your wardrobe. For me, there are definite common threads throughout.

4. Are there any items you’re coveting in home décor? How about scrapbooking?

Right now, I'm coveting a new farmhouse sink for my kitchen. Countertops too. But, I've learned that pacing myself with home improvements is very important! I am loving the new JBS products. I have a little box of goodies waiting for me and I can't wait to dive in!

Here’s a project that represent Becky’s signature style:

And check out how that style appears in Becky’s beautiful home:

She was always drawn to paper and photos, so when Becky Novacek was first exposed to scrapbooking, she was hooked. In 2004, life changed and paper crafts became much more than a hobby, it became a daily creative endeavor. Although life has changed yet again, and now photography plays an important role in her life, she still finds time to scrapbook and play with paper. Becky has been published in BHG Scrapbooks Etc, Creating Keepsakes, Scrapbook Trends, Memory Makers, Cards, Legacy, Somerset and back in the day, Autumn Leaves Books. Currently, Becky serves on the design teams for Jenni Bowlin Studios and Fiskars. And she co-authored Picture Perfect: 129 expert tips for shooting stellar portraits with fellow photographers Elisha Snow and Kelly Noel.



Becky lives in Fremont, Nebraska with her husband Tom. They have 4 grown, married children and 8 grandchildren. She enjoys photography, paper crafts, flea marketing, reading, lunching with friends and spending Sunday afternoons in the summer around the pool with her whole family.
 

Week 1: Stephanie Howell

Week 2: Lori Mancini

Welcome to Ella Publishings CHA reports- Today is Keshet Shenkar

1. Girl's Paperie crepe paper flowers (Jubilee). I love how sweet and feminine these are!
 

2. GCD mustache wands. These are fantastic because they can help you get funny photos to scrap!
 

3. American Crafts Peachy Keen Details. The typewriter with pearls made me swoon!
 

4. Pink Paislee Daily Junque embellishments. The chalkboard stickers, two-tone twine, and felt flowers are an eclectic, fun mix. I love how the chalkboard stickers can be used for home decor and parties, not just scrapping!
 

5. My little Shoebox Sew Cute stickers. I adore the colors on this sheet and the fun, modern take on a vintage theme.

Favorite Project: These donuts made of ribbon were to die for! They were accompanies by candy boxes, cupcakes, and a red velvet cake, all made out of ribbon.

Welcome to back to our second week of home décor love at Ella Publishing! In this blog series, we’re speaking to five talented scrappers who have translated their scrapping skills to the walls and floors of their homes.
Today, we’re welcoming scrapbooking maven Lori Mancini!

We asked Lori some questions about her scrapping and decorating style:

1. How would you describe your scrapbooking style?

I always find this so hard to answer. My style has changed so many times over the years but currently I would say clean with lots of layers, dimension, and a twist of fun. Over the last few years most of my layouts are created with white (or neutral) cardstock as my background base. I love how everything just pops off of the page and the final look is so crisp and clean. To bring out my "creative" side I love to add a touch of whimsy, interest and dimension with chalks and mists on the background and by paper rolling and layering for added dimension. I try to apply just enough of both to give it visual interest but not too much as it takes away from the clean look. Another trend I realize I always do is border my pages...I find for me it anchors the page - especially for posting to online galleries...and of course I always, always add a touch of sewing to finish off every page.

2. What is your creative process for decorating? Is it similar/different to your process for scrapbooking?

We just finished a major redecorating of our living/dining room and once I started to think about it I realized that the way I decorated this space is very similar to the approach I take to creating my layouts. The rooms have been very dark for such a long time and I have always thought I love deep rich colors on my walls (because as a person I love color so I assumed this was the way to decorate!) Each room in our home at one time was painted a deep rich color. It scared me when I was drawn to a light, very neutral color scheme this time around, but what I realized was that I wanted my furniture and accessories to "pop" in the room and for the room to have a main focal point...much the same way as I like my photo's and embellishments to "pop" off my neutral backgrounds when scrapbooking. It was a shift in my thinking and sort of a "yes I've got it" moment for me! Instead of having the walls and the color being the focal point of the room (where a deep rich color was the first thing you noticed), your eye now gets a visual chance to look around the room without competing for attention.

For me this is similar to using pattern paper as a background...I have never been happy or could achieve a look that I like with a pattern paper background. I love how others make it happen...but it is not me - similar to how I love the look of, say, French country decorating - but it isn't for my living spaces. With a clean canvas to start off with I began with my focal point, in this case it was our newly redone fireplace, and started placing the furniture around it - again similar to how I start with a photo and place my items around it to compliment it in unique ways.

3. How do you transfer design concepts in scrapbooking to home décor?

It’s funny, I never realized how similar these two processes are for me until I was asked to contribute to this article. Again, the timing was perfect for me and I was intrigued that the way I was decorating my room was very similar to how I design my page. I took the fireplace as my focal point and then placed the furniture in the room so that it still complimented my focal point. Placing the furniture in a cluster in the middle of the room anchored the pieces together like a cluster of embellishments on the page. Placing an area rug in the room and making sure each piece of furniture in the grouping was on the rug anchored the cluster and gave me a grouping -- much like I like my embellishments to all touch something to anchor them to the page (to avoid the dreaded sticker sneeze syndrome of scrapbooking LOL!). I then layered decorative pieces for the final touches of the room, i.e. the pillows, trays on the ottoman, etc., again very similar to how I decorate my pages. I approached decorating this room with the same design principles that I often use on my layouts. The rules of symmetry, balance, with a splash of fun were definitely on my mind when I thought of accessories. Less is more and my clean approach to scrapbooking certainly showed up in this room as well as other rooms in my home.

You could say that I think of my home as an entire scrapbook - each room represents a page that on its own tells story or has a purpose, but it all "fits" together and has a cohesive look. At one time I looked at a room individually while decorating, now I look at how it flows with the rest of the house, like how an album flows and fits as you turn the pages.

I find it funny and amusing that at one time a few years ago I could not create one layout without having some sort of sparkle or bling on it. I was nicknamed "the queen of bling" by some scrapping friends on a design team I was on...and I have realized that although it does not show up on my pages quite as much as it did at one time - I truly believe it is because I surround myself with it at every opportunity in my home. With crystal lamps and chandeliers, oversized mirrors, and sparkly fireplace rock showing up throughout my home I just think my fix for all things sparkly has taken on a bigger role in my life...so I will still hold on to my nickname for now!

4. Are there any items you’re coveting in home décor? How about scrapbooking?

What do I covet for my home... hmm this is a real hard question for me to answer. My husband and I own a cabinet shop that builds and designs custom kitchens. I deal daily with unbelievably beautiful homes that are professionally decorated and large enough to fit 3 of my homes in. I take photos of these gorgeous homes and certainly go into "Wow" mode... but in all honesty I love my home and even if I won the lottery I would not move tomorrow. We have lived here now for 10 years and have been working on it since the day we moved in. Certainly there are trends and there will always be something that needs upgrading but in all honesty there is nothing I would change at this moment. Our styles have definitely changed since we first moved in - we both like the modern simplistic look to decorating, "the less is more" approach has caught on in the industry and certainly in our home. We deal quite often with decorators in our business and I have learned that it is much easier than most think to achieve a look they want. Start with a good foundation, and change the look up with accessories - much like we start with a foundation of our layouts and obtain a certain look with placement and our choice of embellishments.

For the longest time I coveted a dream scrap space and it was my biggest wish and dream was to create a studio of my dreams for many years. It finally did come true early last year after my old room was destroyed by a flood. My scrap space is my "go to" space in my home. I have surrounded myself with all things that I love in there and it is my space where I create, I do all my thinking here, it is my Testosterone free zone! I love my room and I've often said if I could fit a fridge and a mattress there really would be no need for any other room in the house for me LOL!

Ironically the last and only room left to do in our home is indeed our kitchen! My husband and I are not quite on the same page for design ideas here! Our options are similar to a scrapbooker at CHA - so much to choose from and we want it all!! This will be our last major project in our home - and it is a little overwhelming and a lot of decisions to make...so we will wait...and in the meantime just enjoy the now.

As for scrapbooking and what do I covet - well right now that is easy to answer - nothing really. My studio is overflowing with supplies - but I regularly go through it and I am know donating my unused items to one of the prominent cancer treatment hospitals in Ontario for patients to use. It is overflowing at the seams, since currently and I am fortunate to be sent products to design with monthly from my various design teams that keep me well supplied with stuff to play with. However... talk to me in a couple of weeks after all of the items are shipping from CHA winter and I am sure to have a few things on my list of "thing to "covet"!

Here are some layouts that represent Lori’s stunning style:

And check out Lori’s clean and simple look in her home décor:

 

Hi everyone my name is Lori Mancini and I live in beautiful Southern Ontario Canada with my husband Dan and our two handsome teenage son's Blake and Jared. When I’m not scrapbooking until the wee hours of the morning I enjoy spending time with family and friends and keep busy running our Custom Cabinetry business with my husband. Life sure can get hectic sometimes but I thrive on adventure and chaos and this hobby is just what I need to wind down and remind me of what is important. I am a "Scatter-Brained" blonde who loves to read blogs by the hour, take photos by the hundreds, and find inspiration in everything around me. I enjoy the lazy days of summer, Starbuck's pretzels, and cheering my kids on in whatever it is they're doing. In the winter you will find me hibernating in my scrap room with fuzzy slippers and a cup of tea, or camped out in front of the TV watching Grey's Anatomy or The Biggest Loser. I am honored to have had my work published in and on the cover of Canadian Scrapbooker, Scrapbook & Cards Today, Scrapbook Trends and Scrapbook M.M. magazines. I currently design for My Scrapbook Nook and SEI and love everything about this industry and what it has provided me.

 

Scrapbooking and home décor—two things you may not think of as being connected, but truly are! Whether you’re a scrapbook maven trying to get your house to look reasonably put together or a decorating diva trying to transfer your skills to paper, this blog series will be for you!

Over the next four Fridays, we will be profiling women who have achieved the (in my mind) amazing feat of creating beautiful layouts and beautiful homes. Each designer will share a bit about what makes her tick and the connections between her creative process in scrapbooking and in decorating. While I don’t have a home of my own quite yet (daydream sessions on local real estate websites notwithstanding), I’m soaking up the inspiration for later!

Before we get started with our first guest, here’s some brief clues that with scrapbooking and home décor, sometimes great minds really do think alike! Check out these trends that span the scrappy world and home design:

Damask is an old classic, and this yellow shade makes it fun and modern. This beautiful chair from Target looks suspiciously like this gorgeous paper from October Afternoon’s Thrift Shop line!



Sewing icons are a wonderful take on vintage chic, especially these jet black renditions found both in 3D at Pottery Barn and rub-on form through Hambly Studios.

Here are some layouts that represent Stephanie’s beautiful style:

 

Stephanie carries the same “simple, with heart” style into her home décor:

 

 

Growing up with a ridiculously artistic mother, Stephanie tried and abandoned many crafts in frustration before she finally stumbled onto scrapbooking and fell in love. She made a few scrapbooks (in the loosest sense of the term) when she was in college, but truly became obsessed when she was pregnant with her first daughter. Scrapbooking is her therapy and has gotten her through six of her husband’s overseas deployments.Stephanie has been published in Creating Keepsakes, Simple Scrapbooks, Scrapbook and Cards Today, Scrapbooks Etc., Memory Makers and Scrapbook Trends magazines. She designs for Jenni Bowlin Studio and Studio Calico and loves blogging.

Stephanie lives in Savannah and is married to Jimmy, who is a Major in the army. She is also a stay-at-home mom to Harper Elizabeth, who is four, Sadie Caroline, who is two, and Lucy Claire and Catherine Bennett, who are three weeks old.

Day 11

The holidays are all about family, right? So, today we've teamed up with Ancestry.com for today's awesome giveaway!

Don't know much about Ancestry.com?

Anyone can sign up for a Free Trial of an Ancestry.com US Deluxe Membership and start searching for ancestors. You'll be amazed at how much information you can find and how quickly. Ella Friend Keshet tried out the Ancestry.com Custom Family Tree Poster service, and we're going to give one away too!

Here are Keshet's thoughts:

"Working on this project meant so much to me. When I first started, I looked at the small family tree and figured 'this should be easy!' I quickly learned how much I didn’t know—the many family members who I didn’t even know a name for, and the many many more relatives I only had a name for, and no other information.

"In the process of researching to fill out the holes I found numerous family names that had been passed down through generations and then forgotten, and even learned that I’m related to a very famous rabbi in Jewish history!

"As I used my grandmother’s historical records to trace the family tree down to the present day, I was stunned by how many branches of the tree ended in the devastation of the Holocaust. It made me feel a greater responsibility to live up to my family’s legacy, especially because so few of us are left. 

"This project also made me proud to be a scrapbooker---to be leaving a history of myself for the generations after me. I plan to keep the poster and add to it by hand as I learn more information about my family."

Leave a comment sharing the oldest Ancestor's name that you know (even if it's just a great-grandfather), and we'll pick one random winner who will get to order a family-history tree poster of her own! (Note: Winner must complete and order poster by December 31, 2010.)

Comments close Thursday, December 23 at 10:00 a.m. MST

Bonus: here's one more offer from Ancestry.com for everyone!