Hope all of the mothers out there had a wonderful Mother's Day! Today, we have a new challenge for you, and this time it's a sketch challenge:Make a card or scrapbook layout (any size) using the sketch below as inspiration. Link your project in the comments for this post or email us a photo of your project to info@ourpaperplace.com to win a $10 gift card to the shop. Challenge starts today, and ends Sunday, May 20th at 11:59 pm.  Here's the sketch we're working with today. You can follow the sketch exactly, or you can take inspiration from some aspect(s) of it and use it more as a starting point for your layout or card.
 Here's my layout - I followed the sketch pretty closely in terms of layout. I used tags instead of one large piece of paper for the background element and I moved the title to cover part of the photo. I only had journaling on the bottom half of the page instead of spread across the top and bottom. I kept a small embellishment in the top right-hand corner, but added in more details with a stamp, brad, ink splatters and label sticker.
 Above is Jeanne's interpretation of the sketch. I love the simplicity to this layout. So simple, yet so fun.
 Last but not least, here is Sarah's layout based on the sketch. The washi tape on this layout looks like a wonderful touch.
For those that plan to participate, we hope you have fun with this challenge! We look forward to seeing all of your wonderful projects using this sketch. Remember to add in a link to your project photo in the comments section of this post or email a picture of your project to the shop directly for your chance to win a $10 gift card to Our Paper Place.
...and as always, happy creating!
Hi Crafters! Just wanted to pop in a share a little bit about embossing powders.
Heat embossing is easy to do and requires only a few things to get started. While you can buy many different colors of embossing powder, try starting with white, black, and clear. If you have any watercolor paints or ink pads, you can color your own patterns after embossing with the clear powder. You will need a heat gun, embossing ink (some type of sticky ink- I happen to like Versamark watermark ink), embossing powder and a stamp to get started.
 I made a few (very rushed samples) last night, so the embossing isn't perfect. I just wanted to show a few different types of embossing powders and how they look in person on a few different types of paper.
 Black embossing powder on white cardstock, black cardstock, and vellum.
Blue opaque embossing powder (Wave Zing! embossing powder by American Crafts) on the same three papers: white and black cardstock and vellum. I love the look of the Zing! powders on most papers, but especially on black cardstock as it is super bright and truly is oqaque.
This is a clear embossing powder on the same three papers: white and black cardstock and vellum. It looks almost the same as the black powder on the black paper. I like the clear powder especially for using Distress inks to color over an image. I will often emboss an image in clear powder and then go over the paper with Distress inks to create my own backgrounds. The embossed image will resist the ink, and the original paper color will show through the embossed area.
 This is silver embossing powder (Stampendous). It looks very metallic once heated and dried. Melting it is a little tricky as it turns two colors while melting. It just takes slightly more time to melt and a little more attention to detail as you are heating it. It didn't look as nice on the vellum - the powder spread a little more than the other colors on the vellum and closed up many of the lines in the heart pattern.
Hope this inspires you to try heat embossing as it truly leaves beautiful results on your projects!
...and as always, happy creating!
Thank you to all that were able to make it this weekend to our annual National Scrapbook Day celebration! We had a fantastic turn out, and we truly appreciate each and every one of our customers.
As most of you know, we had a NSD promo going on all weekend for a raffle prize valued at over $100! We'd love to give you all the loot, but alas, we can only have one winner.
*drum roll, please.*
((Sarah: This video was shot late Sunday night after all of the fun festivities this past weekend! I apologize that I look like an ugly, sweaty hag, hehe.))
Congratulations to...Feel free to contact us via phone or email to claim your prize!Thank you again to everyone that participated in our promotion this weekend! There will definitely be more fun deals and raffle drawings in the future.NEXT HUGE EVENT: THE SUMMER CARNIVAL. Stay tuned for more details....and as always, happy creating!
Off to the high seas and a happy (inter)national scrapbook weekend!
Hi, friends. It's Sarah bloggin' today. Hope all of you had a fantastic, warm weekend.
As promised, we're here to announce a winner for the punch challenge that Mary issued last week. She challenged you to get out those punches and use them on a project.
We had TWO fabulous entries into the challenge.
((NOTE: Feel free to click on the images for a larger view of the projects.))
 Above, one of our awesome customers, Ann, shared a beautiful layout where she used a circle punch to create her very own background design. How creative and clever! Plus, the stitching adds a unique touch to her project. For more details on this particular layout and a brief how to, check out her blog.
 To the right is our second entry! This beauty was created by April. What a fantastic design! ...and of course, we loved how she used both her scallop and circle punches! Fore more details and more of April's work, visit her blog here.
Thank you to both gals for playing along with us! ...but as promised, we need to announce a winner.
*drum roll please* Ann and April We appreciate both of you for taking the time to submit your creations with the shop, so both of you are winners! Please contact the shop via our contact form on our website to claim your prize.For those of you who missed out on this challenge, no fret! We've got another one coming your way in the near future that will have another awesome giveaway....and as always, happy creating!
 Hi Crafters!
It's Mary, dropping in with a quick tag share. Tags are fun to make when you're feeling creative, but don't have a ton of time to work on a project. You can get your creative fix, and create something fun on a smaller scale (and you can use the tags later on cards or layouts).
Just a few of the supplies that I used are shown to the right.
I used heat embossing, distress inks, and a few stickers.
First, I used the Wild Honey Distress ink to ink the entire tag using a blending tool. Next, I stamped the Radiant Banner Cling Stamp (Hero Arts) using Versamark Watermark ink onto the tag. I heat embossed the stamped image with clear embossing powder.
 I wanted the yellow/orange color to show through the embossed area of the stamp. I made sure to stamp only the top part of the stamp on the tag, leaving the banner part off of my tag since I wanted the tag to give the impression of a sun. I went over the entire tag with Barn Door Distress Ink, adding more and more color to make the red very bright. I used a paper towel to lightly wipe off the embossed areas (which resist the ink) and was left with a brilliant sunrise/sunset looking image.
 To dress up my tag, I added a sentiment from the Jillibean Soup label stickers (Soup Labels) from the Game Day Chili collection. I chose "Be amazingly awesome today" and then added in a few butterfly stickers from Studio Calico. The butterflies are normally a woodgrain/graph print, but I had used them as a mask in an earlier project, so mine are green (Leaf Green Mister Huey's spray mist).
 After staring at my tag for a few minutes, I decided it was too flat, so I cut a pop dot in half and raised one of the smaller butterflies up. It was a slight change, but I think the tag looks much better with just the one alteration.
Hope everyone enjoyed the quick look at this tag.
You can alter tags in so many ways and add more embellishments or different sentiments to fit your creative needs. Pick up a box of manila or white shipping tags at your local craft store, and spend a few minutes making something creative. Tags are a great way to jump start your creativity!
Don't forget: you still have until Sunday at 8pm to complete a layout using punches and add it to our comments section (or email the store the link/picture). The winner will be announced Monday morning and will win a $10 gift card from Our Paper Place.
Looking forward to seeing all those great layouts.
...and as always, happy creating!
Hello crafters! This is Mary, finally back with that challenge I mentioned in the previous post. Sarah and I each made samples for this particular challenge, and we hope you'll play along too!
Ready to hear about this challenge?
This week we're encouraging you to pull out your paper punches and make good use of them. They are tools that most of us have, and often times end up sitting in a basket or a drawer for a while in between uses.
Submit a layout (any size and it can be a single layout or a two-page spread) that showcases your punches. You can use your punches on the background, as embellishments, as borders, etc. This challenge is definitely wide open to possibilities. We just want to see how creative you can be with those punches.
Post a link of your layout to this post, so that we'll be able to check it out!
The challenge will be open starting now, and will close Sunday (4/29/12) at 8 pm. Any entries received after 8 pm will not be entered. Winner will be announced here on the blog on Monday, April 30th, and will win a $10 gift card to Our Paper Place.
And now for the samples:  Sarah created this lovely layout featuring her circle punch. I love how she punched circles out of the background, and layered patterned paper behind the punched out circles. A fun way to display just a tiny bit of a favorite patterned paper, or to add in a nice pop of color to your layout.
 I created this layout featuring some of the many places I have visited here in the Golden State. I used my Silhouette to cut out the state of California, and then used three different sized circle punches to punch out my various photos. Some of the photos are raised up on foam dots for added dimension.
 Here's one more sample I created. This on shows a great way to use up lots of scraps in your scrap basket. I punched out a bunch of small hearts from a variety of patterned papers. I then started in one corner and worked my way across and down, attaching each heart with a glue dot (mini).
I hope this has inspired you to pull out your paper punches and play along with us. We look forward to seeing all of your wonderful layouts.
...and as always, happy creating!
 close up of sentiment Hi everyone! This is Mary, dropping in with a quick card share. It's a very simple card, but rather striking in person.
The card base is made from a piece of patterned paper from the new Story Teller collection from Crate Paper (it is an orange wood grain pattern called Yesterday).
I took the new Studio Calico Huey's Masks (the chevron mask) and misted over the patterned paper using Mister Huey's in Overdue (red) and Calico Shine (clear sparkle). After it dried, I adhered a piece of yellow ribbon (something I no longer have the packaging to) and a piece of red baker's twine to the front of the card, about an inch from the bottom.
I stamped the medal stamp with Versamark watermark ink and heat embossed the image with Mustard Zing! embossing powder from American Crafts. The medal stamp (and greeting) are from an older Studio Calico/Hero Arts set called You Are the Best. After the embossing cooled, I stamped the sentiment using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I cut out the image and then adhered it to the card using foam dots.
The great thing about a card like this is that you can send it to someone as is for a simple card, or dress it up as much as you like since there is plenty of space for other embellishment.
Hope you enjoyed the card.
Remember to look for a fun challenge coming later this week here on the blog. There will be a prize for one lucky participant.
...and as always, happy creating!
If you haven't already heard, the shop will be hosting its very first summer carnival! It will be an all day event, and all ages (that includes children) are more than welcome to join us for a day of fun. There will be make and takes, carnival games, prizes, giveaways, and delicious carnival food, so make sure to save the date on July 21st! This will be an event that you don't want to miss!
...and as always, happy creating!
 Hello! This is Mary, dropping in with another card share. Today I'll show you how to use those Distress Inks to create a vivid sunset card.
You will need some supplies to get started:
*Distress Inks (Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey and Ban Door - or any combination you like to create a variegated scene + Vintage Photo for the paper edges)
*Foam applicator tool & foam pieces
*White cardstock base (cut to 4.25" x 11" and then scored and folded in half o form a card 4.25" x 5.5")
*White cardstock (smooth paper) piece cut to 3.25" x 4.5"
*Stamp (I used a bare tree stamp from Inkadinkado)
*Black embossing powder ( I like Zing! by American Crafts)
*Heating tool
*Tsukineko Versamark watermark ink (or embossing ink of choice)
*patterned paper to match your Distress Inks
*button
*Dry adhesive
*Glossy Accents or other quick dry wet glue
First, take your stamp and stamp on the small white cardstock piece using the Versamark ink. Cover the stamped image with your black embossing powder. Shake off excess powder (and pour it back into your jar).
Melt the embossing powder with your heat tool - it should have a glossy shine once it is melted. Let it sit for a few seconds to cool - if you touch it right after heating it will burn you.
Take your foam applicator tool and press it into the first ink (scattered straw) to pick up some color. Starting off of your paper (I use a craft sheet to protect my table) move in a circular motion and pull the ink color onto the paper. This may take a bit of practice. If you use the circular motion, you will end up with smooth color coverage on your project. Cover the entire paper with the Scattered Straw Distress Ink.
 Take your second color (Mustard Seed - and a clean foam piece) and add a line about halfway down the paper with the Mustard Seed ink. You still want to work in a circular motion and start off the edge of the page. Continue adding your color in a band until it is as wide as you like and as dark. You can go back in to the top section with the Scattered Straw color and blend the two colors a little bit to make the layers look more continuous.
Repeat this step with the remaining two colors (Wild Honey and Barn Door) with bands underneath the Mustard Seed. After each color, you can go back in with the previous color to blend the lines. The Barn Door (red color) should only show at the very base of the tree stamp and then continue down the rest of the card.
 Cut your patterned papers to the following dimensions:Yellow: 3.5" x 4.75"
Orange: 3.75" x 5"
Red: 4" x 5.25"
Take your Vintage Photo Distress Ink and apply to the edges of all three of your papers. You can also distress the edges of your stamped image, but that is your choice.
Adhere the stamped image to the yellow paper, the yellow paper to the orange paper and the orange paper to the red paper.This will be the front of your card.
 Take your button and run a piece of the twine through the holes. Tie a bow on the front, leaving a tail on either side of the button. Run a thin line of dry adhesive on the back of the red paper, and fold the twine around the back of the card to stick on the adhesive. Repeat on the other side of the card. I also added a dot of glossy accents underneath the button to hold it in place and a dot on top of the bow to hold that together.
Adhere your matted stack to the front of your card and you are finished! I think this would look fabulous with a palm tree silhouette stamp for a beautiful tropical card.
Hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
...and as always, happy creating!
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