Welcome to card making month here on the Ella Blog!

I’m so excited to share a few projects in the category of “Birthday Card Ideas”. 

Cardmaking has long been a favorite part of paper crafting for me.  Creating birthday cards is no exception.  Festive patterned paper, paper cakes, candles, ribbons and sentiments make each and every birthday card a small canvas of creativity!

Here are a few cardmaking tips for you:

• Ribbon can add a wonderful dimension and touch of softness to any card.
• Use pop dots or foam squares for die cuts and paper embellishments to add just a little dimension to your card.
• Have a sticker that you’d like to turn into a die cut?  No problem! Sprinkle a little baby powder on the back to lose the ‘sticky’, add a foam square and adhere to your birthday card.

 

• Try using a ‘tent fold’ for your card to make tying ribbon a little easier.
• Stitching on your cards is a great way to add that last special detail.

• Try incorporating techniques from your scrapbook layouts, onto your cards, on a smaller scale.  For example, I used this banner on a smaller scrapbook layout and then incorporated another into my cards.

Thank you so much for dropping by!

Happy Creating!  Mary Jo

Hello Ella Fans!
Welcome to digital scrapbooking month! Angie and Wendy have so many creative and inspiring things lined up for you, and you won’t want to miss a minute!


I’m excited to have the opportunity to share with you one of my favorite companies, Pretty Little Studio.  Located in sunny, South Carolina, Pretty Little Studio is known for their lovely vintage scrapbook products, including flashcards, whimsical patterned papers, journaling cards, bunting flags, number tags and calendars in traditional paper form and many in digital format. Melissa, the owner of Pretty Little Studio, has such an eye for detail and color combinations. She recently released the Clowning Around Collection with bright, cheerful colors and adorable graphics, perfect for those birthday cards and parties we’re always planning!

The collection is available in digital and paper format. You can see the entire collection by clicking HERE.

I’m also very excited to share with you a few examples that I’ve created with this new line.

Pretty Little Studio’s digital papers can be printed and used for your favorite hybrid projects,or you can create adorable birthday layouts digitally. Whichever you choose, you’re sure to love this new line as much as I have. It’s just so happy!



As a special treat, Melissa from Pretty Little Studio is giving away a free Summer Bunting Garland!  The Summer Bunting Garland is ready to hang on your digital layouts, cards and projects! You can download a free version of the Garland HERE.

And, we’re not done!  
Today Only!  All Digital Products at Pretty Little Studio are 30% Off!  Hurry!  This sale is only for today!

AND one lucky person will win this digital set. Leave a comment below to be entered to win. Giveaway closes in 48 hours August 5 10:00 am MST.

***Giveaway winner is c.ting***
For more about Ella's Digital Scrapbooking month go here, or click on the banner.

Inspiration is everywhere! We're all inspired by a variety of ideas, but for me, few compare to the Ella eBooks. Each book is so creatively designed with unique and thoughtfully written content, amazing colorful projects and inspiration that you can refer to again and again in multiple categories.



Scrapbooking the Everyday is one of my favorite Ella eBooks. As I flipped through the pages the first time, I was instantly inspired by this layout.

The block design is perfect for maximizing space on your layout and adding several photos. It's probably no surprise that I had a few hundred photos from our recent trip to Disney World and wanted to create a layout that would incorporate several at once. I incorporated the block design and love the result! I'm planning to create a full album, repeating this design on each page, so the album will flow easily with so many photos. If you haven't had a chance to browse Scrapbooking the Everyday, don't miss it! You're sure to be inspired! =) Mary Jo

Day 12

Thanks to our friends at Adorn It for sponsoring this awesome giveaway. Displaying photos around our homes is something scrapbookers love to do. These canvas prints are beautiful and so hip. Read about how to order your own here.

Check out what friend Mary Jo did with her mad skills and Adorn It has generously offered to provide one lucky Ella reader their own custom 11" x 14" canvas. To enter the giveaway leave a comment.

(Comments close in 24 hours on December 24 at 11:00 am MST )

MaryJo says: "If you’re looking for a new, creative way to showcase your photos in style, I highly recommend the Adorn It Photo Canvas.  

"My house is full is photos, framed, pinned to creative boards, even stuck on the refrigerator with magnets.  I’m always looking for a new way to display my favorites.  And, I may just fill my house with canvas prints!

"Adorn It has created an incredibly simple process for you to create your own canvas.  Choose your favorite photo, enhance it with photo editing software (optional) and upload it to the Adorn It site.  Choose the size, customizable options and then stalk the mailman – it’s that easy!

"I chose a recent photo of my daughter letting the world know that she just turned four.  Using Photoshop, I created four colored blocks and the title “FOUR” to enhance the photo.  I ordered an 11x14 canvas and when it arrived at my door, I was stunned.  The quality, texture and color are beyond compare.  It is truly a gift I will treasure for a lifetime."

See how easy it can be here.