Photo Expressions

Back To School Command Center

What a great project idea from Fiskars- Get ahead on getting yourself organized for the school year.

Back to School Command Center

 

Difficulty rating: Beginner

Designer: Katrina Simeck

Mornings are so hectic in my house – it’s always a mad scramble for backpacks, books, lunches, and paperwork. I’ve often used a “command center” to help organize our lives. This back-to-school command center creates a place for paperwork to land – ensuring that you’re never digging through piles of paper in the wee hours!

Instructions

1. I started with a posterboard covered with kraft paper. You could also use a corkboard, or even just a blank space on the wall.

2. To create pockets for each category, I covered manila folders with cardstock. The Fiskars Notebook punch gives a school-themed edge to each pocket.

Each pocket measures approximately 12 inch x 9 inch.

3. Use Fiskars border punches to create a border to ground the “title” of each pocket. In this example, I used the Scalloped Sentiments border punch, and the new In Stitches border punch, then added a title with cardstock letters.

4. The new limited edition An Apple a Day squeeze punch is perfect for adding back-to-school details! I used the punch once on red cardstock, then again on green cardstock to create a realistic looking apple design.

5. Slip important paperwork into each pocket, and enjoy a little more peace in your mornings!

 

Punch techniques for your cards and scrapbooks

Mat Accents with Scalloped Circle Punches

Design by Valerie Salmon

Valerie used scalloped circles punched from patterned paper to sweeten her delicious cupcake design. She mounted her cupcakes onto cardstock circles and matted both onto her scalloped punches to turn the shapes cut from patterned paper into standout accents.

Create a Punched Polka-Dot Background

Design by Michelle Rubin

On thisscrapbook page, Michelle created an original polka-dot background with multi-colored punched circles. She helped her colour scheme stand out by grouping the circles into blocks of color and placing them in a pattern around the page before adding her grouped-together photos, journaling, and title.

Use Punches to Highlight Special Photos

Design by Erin Clarkson

Erin added interest to this vacation-theme scrapbook page by circle-punching her two favorite photos and adding them to a more linear photo collage. She attached the punched images with adhesive foam to make them stand out from the rest of her page.

Add Punched Decorative Edges to a Page

Design by Leah Fung

Leah used multiple border punch designs to add fun decorative edges to her page. For an extra-special detail, she placed different cardstock colors side-by-side and punched the same border through each of them, unifying the design.

Create a Scalloped Border from Circle Punches

Design by Valerie Salmon

Valerie turned punched circles into a scalloped border by securing them beneath patterned paper. She further embellished her border by layering circle-punched pieces of floral patterned paper matted with orange paper on top of two scallops.

 

New Photo Albums and Scrapbook Albums.

Lots and lots of new photo albums and scrapbooks are in the store.  The entire album section has been redone and you will find great selections for your photo and scrapbook needs.  Here are some of the new albums in store. Remember, even if you are a scrapbooker, you still have permission to do a photo album.  It is very freeing and you get to enjoy your photos a lot sooner.

4x6 single photo, and 4x6 2up (2 photos to a page), and 5x7 single

holds 500 photos!

fits 85 pages! 2.5" ring!

 

 

 

 

Remind me what is on sale this week

If you are trying to remember what is on sale for the week, you can always go to our website, click on either scrapbooking or photography across the top, and the drop down menu appears, click on current specials, and that will bring you to the current specials.

This week's current specials are great

Monday August 22nd - Wed August 31st

  

End of Summer Sale

 

Ribbon - Buy One Meter Get One FREE or buy one ribbon package get  another one free, or buy one ribbon roll get another one free. (free applies to lesser priced item)  (plus club) 

 

 

 

Clearance Sale- Look for the yellow labels!

Look for the yellow labels in the clearance section (up to 90% savings), and the yellow labels throughout the store.  Pick a sale item and get another one with an equal or lesser sale tag FREE!!!! Amazing savings. No further discounts apply.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Club Member sale  

 

Double and a half Member Bonus!  

Save two and a half times your membership discount.  Save 25% on all regular priced instock scrapbooking items. Your choice! 

 

 25%!!!!! 

2 new Lifestyle Craft (QuicKutz) releases are in

Both of these releases are fabulous.  Yay, I think they are back! The first one is Tropical Splash.  Great for travel photos, beach and pool photos, party photos and so much more.

 

The second release is more of their fabulous Nesting Dies called Possibilities.  You get value here like no other company with tons of nesting dies in each package. These are go to staples. There are some great samples too from the Lifestyle site.

Multi Photo Scrapbook pages

From Scrapbooks Etc.

Creatively Crop Scrapbook Page Photos

Design by Erin Clarkson

Add an extra photo by turning it into a scrapbooking accent. Crop the photo into a different shape using a punch. Then, prop it up with adhesive foam.

 

Group Scrapbook Photos in Columns

Design by Jamie Waters

Arrange photos in whimsical columns to capture the chaos of one day. Leave a white border around each photo for distinction. (You can order photos with a white border at Photo Express)

Display Photos in a Grid

Design by Cathy Blackstone

Create a grid-format scrapbook page using 12 photos, a title, journaling, and several embellishments. To crop the photos uniformly, use a square punch. Flip the punch over so you can see exactly where you're cutting.

Scrapbook 40 Photos in One Page

Design by Sarah Klemish

Arrange a large group of photos in image-editing software, then print as one sheet for easy scrapbooking. Keep papers and embellishments simple as not to overwhelm small photos.

Neatly Organize Large and Supporting Shots

Design by Candi Gershon

Place two large photos at the top of a scrapbook page, then line the edges with smaller shots.

Balance a Scrapbook Page with a Collage

Design by Vicki Boutin

Ground a large photo by double-matting it with coordinating patterned paper. Then, to keep the multiphoto page balanced, group supporting shots in a collage.

Crop Photos in Rectangles

Design by Jennifer Perks

Crop photos into thin rectangles to fit multiple shots on one page. Tight cropping also helps keep focus on your subjects.

Design a Photo Strip

Design by Vicki Boutin

Put a creative spin on a photo strip by starting with one large photo. Mat the large photo on a different color  cardstock to give it even more distinction.

Scrapbook Photos in a Cluster

Design by Ann Costen

Arrange a cluster of photos in rows for a streamlined look. Place the cluster slightly off-center to make room for journaling and a title.

Accent Supporting Photos on a Scrapbook Page

Design by Pam Callaghan

Use horizontal strips of patterned paper to ground a row of supporting photos. It's a great way to spotlight smaller photos on a multiphoto page.

Create a Multiphoto Grid Scrapbook Page

Design by Laina Lamb

Organize a multiphoto scrapbook page in a grid to keep it tidy. Crop a photo to the size of four small grid blocks to create a striking focal point.

Overlap Multiple Scrapbook Photos

Design by Irma Gabbard

Overlap photos to create a large focal point and ground scrapbook page elements.

 

Craft Decorations for a Grownup Birthday Party

Scrapbooks etc and Vicki Boutin have some great ideas for the next Grownup Birthday Party that you host.  You can take these ideas and change the papers and colours to be whatever look or theme you need be.

Handcraft Pretty Party Invitations

This cleverly designed party invitation is like unwrapping a gift. The invitation pulls out from a jacket and holds all the details of the party inside. Remember, the bulkier the invitation gets the more likely it will require extra postage. Check with the postal service before sending.

Hang a Handmade Party Banner

Welcome birthday party guests with a crafty birthday banner. Use die cuts to save money and quickly create uniform-size shapes and accents. (Die Cut Banner available in the Photo Express Accucut Center)

 

Design a Guest Book

Place a guest book next to the party entrance for guests to write in as they enter. Allow space for photos taken of the guests during the party to be included later.

Craft Cute Place Cards

You can use a place card like this one for seat assignments, but they also come in handy for organizing the party setup. Use them to designate different areas for the gifts, cards, cakes, or to label food items.

Design a Pretty Cake-Box Favor

Use a cake-box template (or come in and use the one at Photo Express' Die cut Center) to create a cute party favor for guests. Place them together on a cake stand for a quick decor accent.

 

Whip Up Quick Party Favors

Create party favours in no time. Wrap patterned paper around a chocolate bar, then layer die cuts, paper strips, and other accents on top.

 

New In Store

The Magic of Oz from Graphic 45

Echo Park's Victoria Garden

Fantastic mini calendar stickers for great projects (great Christmas gift ideas) from SRM

Here is a gorgeous example from the SRM blog by Nina B.

 

Here is another clever use from the SRM blog, look at the June sticker on the circle embellishment

and a cute desktop calendar

and a great fun card.  To see more designs and instructions visit the SRM blog

We also have the mini tubes in, here are a few samples from the SRM blog using the mini tubes and the calendar stickers and other stickers from SRM. These tubes are so great for a little gift idea, party favours, just because...

Have you started thinking about your Christmas cards? SRM makes it so quick and easy

Karen Foster Ballet Kit, so cute for your little dancers

The SMASH Pen is in stock for those of you who are wanting to use your own composition books and scrapbooking supplies you own to create the "Smash" books. It's a pen on one end and a glue stick on the other! Very clever.

 

 

Kids Favourite Banana Bread (Adults too!)

I made Banana bread again last night (my family loves this recipe so much that I have to double it to make 4, and it only lasts 2 days tops!). I have this recipe from a Clean Eating Cookbook (love these!!!) so it is even a healthy version.  Thought I'd share it with you.

Kids’ Favorite Banana Bread

From The Eat-Clean Diet for Family & Kids

 This recipe makes 2 loafs and they will be gone instantly!  Very very yummy. (It also has tons of nutrition in it, but you don’t have to tell your family that lol!)

 Ingredients

4 ripe bananas

1 1/4 c whole wheat flour (or unbleached all purpose)

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp baking powder

½ tsp sea salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

pinch each cardamom and nutmeg

1 tsp best quality vanilla

2 large egg whites

¼ cup agave nectar (avail at Costco now!)

¼ cup safflower oil (I use whatever I have)

½ cup sweet carrot puree (I add 1 grated carrot)

¼ cup unsweetened applesauce

 Preparation

1. preheat oven to 350. Prepare 2 loaf pans with a light coating of oil or parchment paper (I use parchment paper as then there is no clean up!)
2. In medium-sized bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Set aside
3. in another bowl mash bananas until soft.  Combine all wet ingredients with the bananas. Add to dry ingredients and stir until mixture is lumpy but barely blended.
4. pour batter into loaf pans (the loafs aren’t super high, but are very dense).
5. Bake for 50-55 min or until cracked and golden brown on top. Remove from oven and set on a wire rack to cool.

 

 

Raising Small Souls

 A friend of mine sent me this video and told me to grab my tissue box.  I suggest you do the same!  A great reminder how everyone one of us is created unique and have our own special talents.

     

 

The Best Day Of Your Life

“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift of life is yours; it is an amazing journey; and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. ”

Dan Zadra -

Businessman, inspirational writer

A Miracle

“You can move through life seeing nothing as a miracle, or seeing everything as a miracle.”

Albert Einstein (1879-1955);
theoretical physicist, philosopher, Nobel Prize winner

Card Ideas for Paper Crafters

 

With 84 sketches and 288 amazing projects in it, with sections that highlight horizontal cards, vertical cards, square cards, and even shaped cards, you are sure to find inspiration in this go to book. It’s populated with the best of the 2,500+ submissions they received (the most popular sketch received almost 80 submissions alone!), and you’ll find that boost you need to use your scraps, a particular embellishment, or stack of card bases that are 5″ square.

Rock Star

Do you have a budding musician in your house? Or how about a Teenager? The new Rock Star line is sure to please.

 

Words to the Rescue 2! Happy Harvest

With overwhelming reader response to the first Words to the Rescue, author Steve Fadie inspires tongue tied writers once again with Words to the Rescue 2. A perfect companion to the first book, Words to the Rescue 2 continues the style and wit of the original, with sixteen chapters and over 1000 all-new messages.

What’s new?

• Words for popular holidays
• “Personality Picks” bonus section puts dozens of positive character traits at your fingertips
• More subcategories to help you find what you need quickly

Inside, you’ll find messages for:

Appreciation, Baby, Birthday, Care/Concern, Cancer Support, Christmas, Congratulations, Encouragement, Easter, Employee Appreciation, Father’s Day, Get Well, Mother’s Day, Military Appreciation, New Year, Pregnancy, Retirement, Romance & Fun, Pet Loss, Sympathy, Teacher Appreciation, Thank You, Thanksgiving, Thinking of You, Valentine’s Day, Weight Loss, Wedding Thanks

If you liked Words to the Rescue, you’ll love Words to the Rescue 2… a practical desk resource you don’t want to be without.

Imaginesce always has such cute lines and Happy Harvest is no exception!