The Sampler Kit Club

Oh My Goodness

Hi everyone, Nancy here today.  Can you believe this is the last day of January?  Where, oh where, does the time go?  

If you are like me, you can't wait to see what the design team has in store for February.  But, until then, I have another project using the Ready, Set, Go kit.

I can't believe that this was the sixth project, fifth 12x12 layout, I made with the kit.  It was so packed full of yummy goodies.  I did throw in a few flowers from my stash this time.

I just loved the wooden alphabet in this kit, and this time I used spray ink to color them.

Well, gotta run!

Hugs.

Nancy

 

challenges

All around the paper crafting internet, you see and read about "challenges." Even right here  on our very own blog, we have two monthly challenges to play along with. But, what are challenges? Do I not have enough challenges in my daily grind? Paper crafting should be fun, not challenging, right?

 

With out over thinking this too much, I think “challenge” is the wrong word. Upon occasion prizes are offered to participants or winners of a challenge, but I feel the word inspirations is more suitable. Looking at the content of the challenge ( whether it is a sketch, color palette, list of supplies or other criteria) is simply a way to help organize our at times unmanageable craft stashes, ideas and/or huge piles of photos. A stepping stone if you will.

 

This month I took advantage of a couple challenges found around the internet and a great stash of goodies from January's and February's kits from The Sampler.

 

Over at the green frog studio, I encountered  a weekly sketch the blog author posts every wednesday it seems. It was a very simple sketch but got my mojo flowing and a layout quickly pumped out that I’ve been meaning to work on.

 

To be perfectly honest, sketch challenges are my favorite. You can take a simple idea for a layout or card and really make it your own. I get a lot of layouts and cards done when i can just sit down with some sketch inspiration and my kits!

 

At the online store and community, I found another kind of challenge taken from an inspiration photo found on pinterest.  (yes, I just added the word pinterest in my computer’s dictionary…) This was a really fun challenge because it had great techniques posted in the video, was very open to allow me to get creative, yet it still served as a guide to create a unique layout.

 

In my opinion, monthly kits and challenges are the absolute perfect fit. They take so much of the stress out of paper crafting. The designing and creativity is still rests in your hands, but  the kit and the challenge let you get right to work with an concept and box of goodies! I'm not going to say all of my projects are created this way, but a good challenge will certainly get me out of a funk.

 

Keep an eye out for The Sampler’s TWO monthly challenges. Get inspiration for card making on the 10^th and layout inspiration on the 20^th of every month!

 

Getting TO Know Shaunna

Today I want to introduce you to Shaunna Farral - a member of the 2012 Sampler Design Team.

My name is Shaunna Farral, "The Rooskie" to my core group of friends.  I grew up in a small town in Ohio, but currently I live in Fort Worth, TX, with my hubby and 3 kids - Courtney (13), Brodyn (11) and Kellan (1), along with our Mini Aussie, Alex, and two orange kitties, Fluffy and Fat (yes, Fat, he's 27+ lbs at this point!).  I've been papercrafting since 2005, starting with scrapbooking and altered projects, and cards more recently.  I also like to cook and crochet, I play lots of video games, I'm kind of a tech geek/nerd, and I dabble in Photoshop and web design from time to time.  My style is pretty "trendy" and eclectic; I like clean lines and bright colors and fun themes and I tend to try to work with a variety of styles and think outside the box when it comes to my crafting, and I'm always open to trying something new! I'm an avid cardmaker, a really easy-going, friendly person and enjoy inspiring others and being inspired by others.  I'm very thankful to be working with The Sampler and their talented team of ladies for 2012!

You can visit Shaunna at her blog Shaunnarooskie.com for fabulous inspiration. 

Happy Friday!

How did it get to be Friday already? This week flew by! 

I'm so excited for the weekend. This Sunday and Monday I will be at CHA, and I'll be back to share some of my photos and favorite finds! 

Today I want to share a new layout, one I made with a photo of my husband and our nephew. 

I love framing my layouts, and the white edging is one of my favorites. I used the vellum to tone down the background paper and focus the eye on the hearts and photo.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend of scrapping!!

Amy

one last layout...

hi there!  shaunna here :)

just stopping by real quick with one last AMAZING layout i created with The Sampler's January kit before we wrap up the month.  i have had this layout done for a week, and i have been so excited to be able to share it with you as a part of my Thursday post.  drumroll, please...

okay, so i'm a little proud of myself on this one... i really love the way all the different elements from this kit come together to make a page like this one!  i'm pleased to add it to my "Book of Me".

i used my own purple glitter to cover the wood letters, and a few purple rhinestones from my stash to finish it off.

a side note on the purple hair:  it is no more.  the day i finished this page, i went and had my hair redone - it is now brown with red and blonde highlights and lowlights.  i thought later, "would it have been creepy to have him snip a lock of the purple, and put it on this page" ?!?  but alas, too little too late on that one!

there are also three pictures in the calendar pocket behind the main photo.  pictures of getting the purple put in for the first time and what it looked like right after.  i'll admit, it was fun for a little while :)

here's a detail shot from a crazy angle, just to be on the up and up (lol!):

well, that's all for me for this week!  i hope you enjoy this page as much as i do!  if you haven't been over to Scrapbooking Supplies R Us lately, to grab your January kit or check out what else they have, you should definitely fill your time waiting for the February kit release shopping around the store.  speaking of the February kit... just a couple more days!  stay tuned for that :)

peace, love & stickers -

shaunna "Rooskie" :)

More fun with the January kit!

I have just loved this kit so much.  It is full of so many goodies.  Today, I wanted to share my favorite layout I created using it.  This is a layout of my littlest screaming his head off, and I just love how it turned out!

I know it shouldn't, but it just makes me smile.  My favorite part of this layout is definitely the cluster of stars under the picture. 

It turned out to be one of my favorite layouts ever.  If you don't have your January kit yet, you should really head over to Scrapbook Supplies R Us and grab one before they're gone.  I can't say enough fabulous things about it!

Don't forget that there's a card challenge and sketch challenge going on right now.  You can read more about the card challenge here, and the sketch challenge here.  Upload your projects to The Sampler Flikr group for a chance to win some goodies!

Hope you're having a great Wednesday!

Amy

Happy Tuesday

Hi everyone!  Nancy here again with a few more fun projects I made with my January kit, Ready, Set, Go!

The little jar was so cute.  I still have the second jar that may be perfect to fill with hearts for Valentines.

Be sure to check out this months kit and all the other goodies at the Scrapbooking Supplies r Us store.  And don't forget the sketch and card challenges.

Hugs.

Nancy

 

Come Join the Sketch Challenge!

The Sampler's January Sketch Challenge is ON!

Grab your kit, favorite supplies or stash that needs to be used up and this sketch:

and create something fun!

Here is the layout I made: 

Now, go have fun creating, and I can't wait to see your creations in the Flickr gallery!

You have until February 19th!!

 Hope you are having a wonderful Saturday.

--Amy

Getting TO Know Nancy

Today I want to introduce you to another member of the 2012 Sampler Design Team - Nancy Keslin:

Hello everyone.  Nancy here, aka homesclscrapper.  I am a wife of 18 years and stay at home, homeschooling mom of three not so little ones. Between school, swim, and scouts I stay really busy and have plenty of photos to scrap.  Paper crafts are a way for me to escape and find some me time.  Besides scrapping I love reading, cooking, and all types of other crafts.

You can visit Nancy at her blog - HomesCool In My Little Corner - to see her amazing creations! 

January Sketch Challenge

It's a new year and a new challenge from The Sampler.  Are you ready to play along with our sketch challenge?  Take a look:

Such a fabulous sketch!  Now lets see what the Design Team created:

Holly

 

Nancy

 

Amy C

 

Now it's your turn to work with the sketch and there's a prize involved.  Simply create a LO following this sketch and upload it to The Sampler FLICKR Group.  You have until February 19th at 11:59 PM eastern to enter.  No purchase is necessary to play along.  A random winner will be selected to win a prize from The Sampler. 

Good Luck!!!!