I am just thrilled to be heading out to Anaheim this weekend to go to CHA. I love connecting with friends in the industry and seeing the new product releases + all the awesome booths. One other thing I enjoy is to look for emergin trends on the show floor. As part of my preparation I have been viewing the pre-release images and I see emerging trends. I am sharing my short list of what trends I will be looking for. Some of these are brand new, some are slowly growing. What trends do you see?

Patchwork

Handmade by Lily Bee

Game On, Websters Pages

She Art, Pink Paislee

Strawberries

Pretty Party, Crate Paper

Eye Charts (this is a huge home decor trend)

Maya Road

Subway Art

Be You, Fancy Pants

This list could keep going.

• airmail
• luggage Tags/tickets
• chevron pattern
• kite tails
• union flag
• mason jars.....

What do you see?? What do you want to see as a trend?

It’s that time of year again, when the Craft and Hobby Association holds their winter show for industry professionals, and Ella will be there staying up to date all the latest buzz.

 

I’ve been watching the sneak peeks closely over at Scrapbook Update, and I already have a few early favorites that I can’t wait to check out in person. Here are just a few things I’m eager to scope out:

 

1. New goodies from Jenni Bowlin Studios, particularly the chalkboard easel and the hexagon stickers.

 

2. Buttercup by Lily Bee

I’ve only seen a teensy peek of this line, but the colors sing to me (they are, after all, Ella colors!), and I can’t wait to see the rest!

 

3. Button Market from Bella Blvd

I’m a sucker for fun buttons! Here are a couple of my must-haves from the new Bella Blvd button collection:

 

 

Interested in knowing what all the upcoming trends will be? Check out my personal blog, Noodle Soup, for some early predictions.

 

Which of the new releases are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!

It is true, I am a scrapbook product junkie and I needed a fix, so I thought why not include all Ella peeps in the process. Feast your eyes with me at fabulous holiday products that made me swoon.

1. October Afternoon's holiday line is adorable!!
2. and the cigar box from Jenni Bowlin is just waiting to be embellished
3. these Christmas strips from Elle's Studio, are ideal for adding a note to your layout or as a gift tag
4. I want all the colors of Doodlebug's Doodle twine in my Christmas stocking!
5. These brads from Crate Paper could be used for any project, holiday or not

That is my fix, what products are you excited about? What are you asking for this Christmas??

If we’re talking about adding color to your scrapbook pages, patterned paper is often the very first thing that comes to mind! Of course as simple as it seems, the trick is making sure you use the right colors (and quantities) to compliment your photographs. Today I’m going to share five tricks to making colorful patterned papers work for your scrapbook pages.




1. The single-color burst
Sometimes a single color can really be the most powerful, effective statement to use in a scrapbook layout. In this layout (using the new papers from Authentique) I played up the beautiful blues by die cutting flowers, using strips of paper, and of course the bold floral background paper as well.



2. Punched, die cut, or strips
One of the best things about patterned paper is that it can be anything you want. Torn, whole, punched, cut, layered, transformed into something special – it can be ANYTHING. In my layout above you can see I used small bits of patterned paper punched out to add pop and a flash of color to my page. Patterned paper can become flowers, shapes, even used like ribbon if cut into thin strips. The possibilities are endless.





3. Bold patterns and colors
Bold patterns and colors are often the hardest to use. Depending on your photos, I often suggest either starting with a cardstock base to provide balance, or some neutral or otherwise calm solid so that you do not overwhelm the photos and story. Fellow Ella friend Keshet Shenkar has advice to share:

"I like to use a neutral paper as a base, and then a brightly colored patterned paper to add a pop of color. In my layout above, 'So Pumped,' I used the yellow Cosmo Cricket paper as my background, matted over a sheet of woodgrain paper to provide some depth. The warm, neutral colors of the woodgrain and yellow papers provide a place for the eye to rest on the layout. On the other hand, the KI Memories calendar paper is a bright, forest green that adds vibrancy and youthfulness to the layout. By using the neutral paper in as a background with smaller doses of bright color, the layout doesn’t feel too busy and the bright colors stand out."

4. Mix it all up!
Keshet has another great idea to share:

"Don’t be afraid to mix up your patterns for an eclectic feel! On this layout, 'Candle,' I used lots of strips and punched squares of patterned papers. Even thought the papers are very different from one another, and range from pastels to black, by using them in small amounts they don’t compete with each other and create a cohesive layout."

5. ultimate mood enhancer
Color can say a lot of things and sets the tone of your layout. With patterned paper, you can take that one step further and set the mood through design. Whimsical or elegant, playful dots of color or graphic circles – the amount of designs and color palettes available is stunning. Take advantage of this to let your paper do some of the work for you.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these ideas – and that you look to patterned paper the next time you want to add a pop of color, dash of fun, and bit of something special to your scrapbook page.

Have you seen the redesigned ezine yet? It is pretty dang amazing. One of the recent articles is all about misting- if you are like me, a bit behind with this trend, then check it out. It is written impeccably by Ella friend Jennifer Larsen, and after reading it you will fill like you know all you need to about misting.

A favrotie misting technique is this one by Jenni Hufford


"One fun way to incorporate journaling into design is to use misting.  Yes misting! For this layout, Jenni didn’t leave any space for journaling in her column of photos and accents.   So misted her background cardstock in three spots and added her words on top—a very natural look that blends nicely with the rest of her design."

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!

Congratulations to Carol Strine, our February winner in the 8 is Enough contest, sponsored by Ella and Studio Calico! We loved Carol's diverse mix of products, the variation between single pages and spreads, and the fact that all of her layouts are multi-photo pages—something our readers ask for quite frequently!




Here are Carol's chosen supplies:



1.) Alphabet Clear Stamps (Martha Stewart)
2.) One Package Rub-On Transfers (K.I. Memories, Juicy Summer)
3.) Journaling Stencil (Target)
4.) One package Alphabet Stickers (Chatter Box, Brown)
5.) One sheet green floral paper (Making Memories, Neutrals)
6.) One sheet printed cardstock (K.I. Memories, Friendship)
7.) One sheet black floral Paper (Making Memories, 5th Avenue)
8.) One sheet starburst paper, double sided (K.I. Memories, Pop Culture)



Carol says, "My first layout is a double page fisherman spread. The added supplies I used were kraft cardstock, blue cardstock and white cardstock, stamping ink, adhesive foam and a journaling pen."


"My second layout is called The Dedication. The added supplies I used were black cardstock, ivory cardstock, black stamping ink, adhesive foam and a journaling pen. I scanned the dedication page from my son's report and added it to the bottom of the layout."


"The third layout is called The Inner Harbor. The added supplies I used were pink cardstock, white cardstock, blue stamping ink and journaling pens. I used scraps of patterned paper to create a banner at the top of the page. I also used my journaling pens to draw a double-lined border and doodle flourishes around the layout."


"The fourth layout is called So Happy Together. The added supplies I used were kraft cardstock, white cardstock, staples, black stamping ink and a journaling pen."

Carol's conclusion: "I thoroughly enjoy these challenges, and have tried the Eight is Enough challenge twice! I have found after doing a few limited supply layouts that the hardest part of the entire process is selecting 8 supplies that can be used in various ways. But after that, it's a breeze."

Carol has won...

A complete monthly kit from Studio Calico and a $15 gift certificate to Ella Publishing Co.

Now it's Your Turn

We hereby challenge you to come up with your own list of eight items from your stash of supplies and to stretch your list into four great layouts. (Absolutely no shopping allowed.) Make sure you include a mix of papers, accents, tools, and alphabets—whether stamps, die-cuts, or stickers. You can only use the items on your list, but cardstock, fonts, and standard tools (such as trimmers, journaling pens, or a sewing machine) are freebies.

When you’re done, e-mail us pictures of all four of your layouts (each sized to 800 pixels tall maximum), plus a picture of your eight original supplies, and an explanation of how you stretched each layout. We'll pick just ONE MORE WINNER, at the end of March. All entries must be received by March 21, 2011. (Previously submitted entries are still in the running.) E-mail questions and entries to submissions@ellapublishing.com, with “Eight is Enough” in the subject line.

Note: Interested in our past winners? Here are the links: Alexa Gill, Marie Pilgrim, Sara Benzkofer, Shelly Jaquet, Jennifer Alfonso, and Leah Allen. And check out former Ella Friend Barb Wong, who is trying the "8 is Enough" challenge herself, and posting the results on her blog.

Welcome to the final installment of "In Stitches," where we're sharing the various ways Ella friends Brenda Johnston, Jennifer Larson, and I add stitching to our projects. Click on any of the images below for a larger view.

Faux Stitching

Faux stitching gives the look & appearance of real stitches. The simplest way to achieve this look is to simply draw the stitches in with a pen. Here are a few examples of how to achieve the sewn look without actually sewing:

Paper piercer + pen
This project features faux stitching around the edges. I simply drew the stitch lines around the perimeter of the cards, and then poked a hole in each end of each line. Instant stitches! (This technique also adds a subtle texture.)

Pen stitching
On these cards, Brenda did a variation on the straight ‘faux’ stitch. “Faux stitching is a great technique when you are short on time. Instead of the traditional straight stitch look, try adding a dot or two in-between each straight stitch. It adds a little something different and is eye-catching.

Quilter’s wheel & paint
This technique utilizes a tool from another hobby – a needlecrafter’s tracing wheel. Simply dip the wheel into a little acrylic paint and roll it onto the project. The wheel makes a neat, uniform line of dots. You can pierce them or not.




Other Tools:
As I mentioned previously, there are a lot of products that will help you add stitching to a project. Relatively new to the stitching scene is this tool from We Are Memory Keepers. It combines the pattern making ability of the stitch guides with the ease of the tracing wheel.


Don’t forget the multitude of stamps, rub ons, stickers and other faux stitched products out there. There is something for everyone!

With so many options for all skill levels, we hope we’ve inspired you to add some stitching to your projects, today!

Welcome to day two of "In Stitches," where we're sharing the various ways Ella friends Brenda Johnston, Jennifer Larson, and I add stitching to our projects. Click on any of the images below for a larger view.

Hand Stitching

Hand stitching on a layout is an ideal way to add texture to a project. The nature of embroidery floss makes this kind of stitching a little more dimensional. In addition, you can hand stitch with a variety of materials, including ribbon and bakers’ twine. With hand sitching you have more control over where the stitches go, allowing you to accent specific shapes & details.

On Brenda’s “May page – we see the impact a little hand stitching can add:.


Brenda says, “Add stitching to your embellishments to make them pop! I stitched through only half of the sun rays, I thought all of them might be overkill. The hot air balloon is a cardstock sticker from Echo Park. I love the bright colors! I first adhered it to a piece of thin computer paper, then cut it out. I thought this would make it easier to stitch through--the back was pretty sticky and I didn't want it to be hard to push a needle through. I then adhered the embellishment with dimensional adhesive--if I hadn't the embellishment wouldn't have laid flat in most places and would have looked sloppy. “



I love how Brenda combines stitching and ribbon in a clever way on this layout:



“Go one step beyond the straight stitch and add a lot of interest to a layout,” comments Brenda. “Adding an "x" stitch over a piece of pom pom ribbon adds a fun element that is sure to attract the eye. I used a contrasting color of thread to make this visual stand out. “



Stitch templates
Stitch templates take the worry out of hand stitching. The translucent plastic cards have holes punched at even intervals in various stitching patterns. Simply line the desired pattern up on your project, pierce the holes with the guide and you are ready to stitch. Jennifer used this technique for her page “Me 2011“:


Jennifer says, “One of the easiest ways to stitch is to use stitching templates. Some of my favorites are the Bazzill stitching templates, especially the flourishes. On this page, I sneaked a few flourishes in around the title and the photo to add some spunk to this page about my spunky kid.”

Freehand Stitching
Making your own custom stitch patterns is simple. For this project I drew the steam swirls from the coffee cup logo onto the project, then went back with a paper piercer to punch the stitch holes. I erased the pencil lines after I stitched with coffee-colored floss. To keep the stitching bold, I used all of the strands in the floss bundle. (You can decrease the number of strands when you need less dimension.)

Jennifer offers some great tips for freehand stitching: “Get a foam pad from a craft store, plus a paper piercer (a push pin would work too). Lightly hand draw a line in pencil--curved, straight, etc.--then punch holes about every quarter inch (closer will destroy the paper). Erase the light pencil lines, then thread a needle with floss--I use three strands of DMC--and do either a running or backstitch. Other types of embroidery stitches can be done; here's a helpful free stitching guide and here's another one.

The French Knot
French knots are a great dimensional, hand-stitched accent. They can replace a brad, serve as a small page accent and provide texture. On the card on the left, I stitched green French knots on the branches to simulate buds. On the right I used metallic floss to make ‘French knot rain’ for this shower card:


French knots are easy and add a lot of impact. A great tutorial can be found here.

Tune in to our "In Stitches" series again tomorrow (Saturday), when we'll share how to get the look of stitching without the needle and thread.

Hi all! Val here to talk to you today about a technique that is near & dear to me & the Ella friends: stitching. For me, stitching on my projects, whether it’s by machine, by hand or drawn in with a pen, is my signature. I can use as much or as little product as I like, but once the stitching gets added, the project is uniquely mine.

I know the idea of sewing on pages can be intimidating, especially if you don’t consider yourself a sewer. Since there are a variety of methods to get stitching onto a page, this versatile technique is do-able for everyone at every skill level. For the next three days, we’ll take a peek at the various ways I and Ella friends Brenda Johnston & Jennifer Larson add stitching to our projects.

Machine Sewing

Machine stitching is by far, the fastest way to sew on your projects. It is precise and fairly low profile, depending on the thickness of thread you use. The lines created with machine stitching are extremely effective for framing areas on your projects, outlining elements and adding movement across a project. Even with only the straight and zigzag stitches, used at varying lengths, you can achieve a multitude of looks.

I love to stitch through whatever I can. I also love how stitching through a product can transform it. Here, I sewed through the wood veneer flowers in order to unify the element, secure them to the page and mimic the curved blue lines printed on the paper. (NOTE: click all images to see a larger view.)



A side bonus of machine sewing is that it acts as a permanent adhesive. Sewing on your pages will allow you to cut down on the need for large amounts of adhesive. Here’s an example of a project where the adhesive on the letter stickers failed. I remedied the problem with a line of stitching right through the type. I love the added dimension from the curled letters and the movement from the stitched lines. (These letters are never coming off now!) The same color stitching frames out the page. The curvy stitch lines are a great compliment to the linear design of the patterned paper and letters.



It doesn’t all have to be straight or zigzag with machine sewing. You can do a more ‘freestyle’ form of machine sewing (also called free motion/embroidery sewing) if you lower the feed dogs of your machine. If your machine has this option, the manual will guide you through the process. Once you are in free motion sewing mode, the possibilities are endless.

On this page, I mimicked free motion sewing by sewing the background circles. I actually traced a plate with pencil and stitched on my line. Then I erased whatever pencil lines were still visible after sewing. A quick note of advice: when sewing in a circle or curve, slow down. You will have more control.



On this page, I added spiral stitching on my handmade embellishments. The intentionally haphazard lines lend a playful feel:




Some good things to know about machine sewing:
1. If you are new to your machine, make sure you follow the threading directions. Even a slight deviation can cause major issues with your stitches.

2. Try not to sew through adhesive. Especially any kind of glue dot. This is a sure fire way to gunk up the works and destroy the needle. For best results, dot the project with a light adhesive to tack down the parts you want to sew – trying to avoid the areas where you plan to stitch.

3. There are no paper-specific needles. I usually use a needle designed to sew through cotton and I like to keep a bunch on hand. Your manual should have a chart to help you choose. Brenda adds this great advice: “. . . keep a needle reserved for your paper projects. Paper will dull your needle and is best to not use it again on fabric. These days I don't have time for fabric projects, so I just leave my "paper needle" in my machine at all times! (Me, too Brenda!)

4. If you are not sure you will be able to stitch through a thicker material (chipboard, plastic, etc) proceed slowly with a few test stitches.

5. Keep some clear tape handy to secure loose stitches on the back of your project.
 

Tune in again tomorrow, when we'll talk about the different ways to hand stitch, and Saturday too, where we'll share how to get the LOOK of stitching without the needle and thread.