Archive for Saturday’s Sharing

Creative Pursuits – Why I Scrapbook and Write

Freelance Writer, Editor, Blogger. Writer for Women’s Memoirs on the net. Does the “ScrapMoirs” twice a month.

Enjoys scrapbooking and other creative arts. Primary site “Creative Pursuits” promotes all creative arts including scrapbooking, card making, writing, photography, quilting, needlecrafts, culinary arts, all are welcome. Contests and prizes.

Who is this wonderwoman? Well… we would like to introduce BettyAnn Schmidt!

BettyAnn has taken advantage of our new “get featured” section on Creative Crafts and Stickers. We had a chance to quickly touch base and asked BettyAnn to tell us about her crafting passions.

Here is what she shared!

I discovered scrapbooking in 1999 and was immediately hooked. My focus was, and is, preserving my family’s history. My ancestors, parents, and my children’s and grandchildren’s. That focus led to a genealogy search for my ancestors, which information I gathered and began putting in my scrapbooks. These sit on my shelves alongside my children’s and grandchildren’s albums, my Christmas scrapbooks, Vacation albums, and my “Me” scrapbook. Other shelves on the same wall hold all of my tools and products, and my big work table sits within a hand’s reach. My “Scrap Den” I call it.

With the huge shift to digital photography, and now digital scrapping, I’ve added a new dimension to creating my albums. I do both digital and paper, and sometimes the combination of hybrid. I’ve taken a boatload of classes on creating scrapbooks, from organizing and storage of products to designing pages.

With a background in writing and journalism and a prior editorial position, I believe in and teach storytelling in scrapbooks. Not all pages require paragraphs of writing, but important stories for your children and children’s children must, in my opinion, be preserved. Especially important to me are the stories of my struggles in life, the values that guided me, my beliefs and morals. I want the children to know where their roots were planted and how deep they went.

My blog is an evolving Journey. Initially began as just a chronicle of my everyday life and views, then to sole focus on scrapbooking, it now bears the title “Creative Pursuits,” welcoming crafters and artists of various persuasions. I love placing links on my blog to my followers’ sites and helping to create a network of women on a common theme.

I also write for Women’s Memoirs online, and my bi-monthly articles teach how to combine scrapbooking with memoir. My articles fall under the topic of “ScrapMoirs.”

Scrapbooking remains, however, my primary focus, and I’m currently running an “All Aboard – Why I Scrapbook” contest on the site. It’s easy to enter, and prizes of gift certificates to online scrapbook retailers will be awarded. All that’s required is leaving the comment on why you scrapbook and clicking my “follow” button.

BettyAnn, thank you SO much for sharing with us on CCAS. We loved featuring you and hope you will come back and share with us often.

Here are some other places that you can find CCAS and BettyAnn. CCAS on Twitter. Betiann on Twitter.

Why are reborn dolls so collectible

Baby reborn dollsare being made more than they have ever been and as the popularity rises, more and more of us are trying to make them. This has a knock on effect since more fans are also becoming collectors too. But what is it that makes them so desirable that can see them fetch upwards of 5000 dollars?

If you have never heard about these newborn dolls before then you are in for a right surprise. They are considered by some people as being creepy but this is due to their appearance. They really do appear like an actual baby and there is no wonder some people are put of by this. However, this is surely a testament to the artists skill. Each to their own!

To start with, reborn dollsare considered by most as being cherishable, adorable and have an innocence about them like that of a real baby. This makes them unique compred to other collectors items and can usually warm someone’s heart to great lengths. This of course will sometimes lead to impulse purchase especially from people who have only recently come across them. What is more important however is the fact that this can also end up with the reborn doll creator getting a loyal fan following.

Next, many people appreciate the talent and dedication that it requires to create a beautiful reborn doll. Its not just a case of dismantling it and reconstructing it again. Delicate layers of special paint are built up to make realistic skin tones and veins while the entire head can be fiddly and awkward at first. Depending on the paints, such as Genesis Heat Set paints, individual pieces may need cooking or they will have to dry which will make the whole task quite laboured as well, so it can take many many hours to make a newborn baby from scratch.

Thirdly, is the fact that as these collectors items are crafted by hand by these artists they will be unique. Some people will take custom reborn baby orders where you can create your requirements or they can even create a newborn from a photograph. You will often have to pay more for this, but you can request pretty much anything you like, such as pacifiers, heart beat and breathing simulators.

Finally, dollies have been one of the most sought after collector items of all time and it is no difference here; Newborn dolls will maintain the trend and are likely to become one of the most popular types ever.

 

weScrap Next Designer Contest

Starting March 18th thru April 15th, 2010 we will be holding a WeScrap’s Next Designer Contest! We are looking at bringing on 3 new design team members to join our team! You must be able to participate in our 4-week contest if you submit an application. Challenges and other details will be posted on March 18th.

Applications are due March 17th.

*International applicants are welcome!

SIGN UPS: weScrap Next Designer Contest Thread

(1) Send a Scrapbook/artist resume & biography, as well as your full name, weScrap forum username, email address & full contact information with your submissions to allison.wescrap@gmail.com with”weScrap DT Call” in the subject line.

(2) Please include a link to your blog. Having an active blog is a mandatory part of this position.

(3) Please tell us of any scrapbook design teams you are currently on. You are required to only be on no more than 2 other manufacturer/kit teams and 2 other challenge/sketch teams while you hold your weScrap iTeam position.

(4) Please include the answers to the following questions:
-Why do you think you would make a great iTeam member?
What is your best attribute or skill?
-What is the attribute or skill that is a challenge to you?
-Do you feel that you can give inspiration, encouragement & techniques in the forum on a daily basis? How might you achieve this?
*Share any other information you feel is important for us to know about you.

If chosen as a weScrap iTeam member you will be responsible for the following:

1. You will be required to create Layouts, Cards, Altered items, Mini Albums anything that showcases the bi-monthly kits provided to you.

2. All DT members are required to be a registered member of our forum and post as much as possible each day. Starting threads and answering thread are a must as well as leaving praise in the gallery for our members and your fellow DT.

3. iTeam members are responsible for helping create & hosting forum challenges for our crops and providing new tips/techniques. You will be responsible for a few daily posts per month, newsletter assignments and creating work to be loading into our growing resource area.

4. Promote the weScrap site on your blog by posting any weScrap contests, news, announcements, projects, kit sneak peaks, kit reveals, etc. is mandatory.

5. DT members are to promote weScrap.com where ever and whenever allowed without breaking rules on other sites. An iTeam blinkie will be provided and required in your signatures on our forum and again anywhere without breaking rules on other sites. Updating and showcasing items on your blog.

6. Communication with your fellow iTeam members, Co-Presidents and Vice-President is essential to a great team & fantastic site. You will have access to the secure iTeam private forum.

7. This is a 6 month commitment; DT duties will start up on May 1, 2010. You will have immediate access to the DT forum as soon as you are notified of your new position so that you can get to know the other members and learn all about your responsibilities.

8. iTeam members will receive a discount in the weScrap store during their contracted time and free shipping if shipped with your bi-monthly kit items.

9. You will receive one free kit every other month to create with. Kits are packed with great products and fun things to create with.

****PLEASE NOTE**** This contest is also open to all members of the weScrap forum who would like to play along and NOT try out for the iTeam. There will be prizes available along the way.

I really hope to have alot of the blog fans either try out for the iTeam or just join us for the challenges, games and prizes that will be up for grabs.

~Tara~

“Bring on Spring!” Blog Hop – MARCH 6th

As part of the WeScrap Inspiration Team, we have all decided that with all the months of snow and ice that we’d “Bring on Spring!” a little early this year! Hop along with the entire WeScrap iTeam to see what each of the iTeam has created!

Here’s our blog hop rotation for today:
Creative Crafts and Stickers **You are here**

Sarah Nolan

Michelle Galloway

Calia Yang

Laura Gilhuly
Tara Thynne
Jacquelin Green

Jen Benoit
Avina Lim
Guest iTeam, Teresa Hord
Allison Cope

Not only do we have some fabulous projects to share today but you also have a chance to win a PRIZE! By leaving a comment on EACH iTeam member’s blog today, you have a chance to win $100 worth of scrappy goodies! Yup… that’s $100 of scrappy goodness for your stash! You have until Wednesday March 10th to leave your comments for a chance. Good luck!

I wanted to share with you how I altered the funky Bo Bunny Acrylic Letters that came with the lastest weScrap Kit. The new kit is now available to purchase: Late Nights

I grabbed my alcohol inks because I just love the look it makes on acrylic.

1. Place a couple drops of your chosen color(s) onto a small piece of felt. make sure to use felt because it works the best. I ran out of mt squares but I found a great felt flower in my stash that worked quite well.

2. Lightly dab the felt onto your acrylic until to reach a look that you are happy with.

3. Next, grab your favorite stamp and some solvent ink. I always use StazOn ink when working with acrylics. This kind of ink dries well and doesn’t smudge. Let dry for a couple minutes.

4. Make sure to adhere your acrylic using a clear, liquid adhesive. I used Zip Dry on my project as well as Ranger Glossy Accent.

To see the finished project…. just continue hopping along the Blog Hop. It has been posted on my blog!

Now…. find out what **Sarah** has created to inspire you today!

Have Fun!

~Tara~

CCAS & weScrap Blog Hop

Please come and join us this weekend for some fun and prizes!

~Tara~

Sharing Saturday ~ January 23rd

It’s time to share some goodies that are happening around the web.

I have started a Book Club over at Let’s Capture These Memories. If you love to read and hang out with a bunch of great girls then head on over and join us at the LCOM Book Club. There will be prizes along the way for all members. First up was a $25.00 gift card for Chapters!! For more info and to sign up click here: LCOM Book Club

Allyhas started up a new Challenge blog with Nicole Nowosad called, Creative Prompts 4U.

They are having a DT Call right now. Here is the info:

Creative Prompts 4u is a new challenge blog with tons of inspiration to share!

We are seeking individuals who are passionate about creating and inspiring others. If you are not afraid to think outside of the box, let loose and have fun getting creative with your projects — WE WANT YOU!
Design Team Requirements: Creative Prompts 4u is seeking 2-4 designers who are interested in working with a team to create a variety of projects such as layouts, cards, &/or altered art.

There is a 6 month time commitment effective Feb 1, 2010 through July 31, 2010.

Design Team members must have an active blog and are willing to promote Creative Prompts 4u on any online galleries/forums you participate.

Responsibilities: Assist with the creation of challenges for the blog.

You will create projects based on challenges created by all individuals on the Design Team.

Send in your “assignments” in a timely manner. 

If you are interested in being part of our new blog, please send us the following by January 24, 2010 12:00 noon EST to creativeprompts4u@hotmail.com.

Please include: * A copy of “scrapbook” resume or brief bio about yourself, your full name, address, phone number.

* A link/address to your blog & any online galleries you have

* Please share 2 layouts & 1 card which you feel shows your style of scrapbooking/cardmaking

* Please tell us why you would be a great addition to our new Design Team

This call is open to all countries.

**Hurry the call ends tomorrow**

I love how Basic Grey always waits until the last minute to post sneak peeks of their lines. I spied them on Kelly Gore’s blog. Here are the latest, yummy lines form Basic Grey:

I may be buying alot of BG this time around. How about you??

Do you want to see some more sneak peaks on the blog?? Let me know what you are looking for and I’ll try and find it for you.

Don’t forget:

FYI: weScrap is going through and update and maintenance this weekend. Please keep checking in as we will be up and online soon. We miss all our members.

**Do you have something that you would like to see posted here on Sharing Saturdays?? Please send me an email with the info. If I post it you will earn a ballot for the monthly prize draw!

Speaking of prizes…… it’s time to reveal the winner of the of the weScrap Limited Edition Christmas Kit!!

I used random.org to choose the winner and it chose….

Gayle Taylor
December 13th, 2009 at 7:28 pm   edit

I have been around a while and admire all of the kits. As for suggestions, I really love to read about new techniques on blogs. I would love to see more old and new techniques that will show me fun ways to apply the product.

Gayle
Abilene, TX

Congrats!! Please email me your address and I will have Sarah send out your prize. Email Tara

~Tara~

Avina’s Entry

Don’t miss this month’s challenge. Send us a copy of your work and it will be featured on our site. In addition, you will be entered into our monthly drawing for our free giveaway graciously donated by WeScrap.

That being said, I really want to share with you a layout that has been sent to me for the Broken Title Monthly Challenge.

The following layout was submitted by Avina. I am instantly drawn to the wonderful flourish masking and the dirty look of the page.

Avina has earned a ballot for the monthly draw. Wanna chance to win too? Just send me a layout based on any challenge posted this month, use a featured font on a card or layout, send me a link to your favorite font or a tip. You can send them to me here: Email Tara.

Do You Want a Chance to Win a Cricut??

Join us next week at weScrap for your chance to win a Cricut as we host another online crop. There will be lots of other prizes to be had as well.

~Tara~