Take a look at some challenge layouts…

Boomer takes center stage in this layout by Brenda.  She did this one for the Fishbones Challenge:

Barb did this one for the 12-hour sketch challenge:

In addition to our Crop challenges, we also have the monthly challenges.  Becky did this one for the April Showers bring May Flowers Challenge:

There’s so much to see and do on the Forum…go check it out!

Reminder:  Sign up for the July Sketch Class before the Crop is over and pay only 10 bucks!!!!  Save $5!!!!  Previous sketch classes are on sale, too.  Go here to see the great deals:  http://www.inspiredtoscrap.net/2012/05/14/crop-specials

See you Monday!!!

Deal #1-Sign up for the July class before the crop ends and save $5!!!
Cost- $15 NOW only $10-limited time!!!
July 2012- Sketch Class We will be focusing on sketches using photos that are 4 inches and larger this class (Lots of 4×6 photos and also 4×4′s and 4 inch circles). This will allow you to order your photos without worrying about editing them smaller or cropping them much later! If you love the smaller photos, you can always change it up and add a few in place of the regular sized photos. We will also have MORE double page sketches this class! We will be presenting brand new sketches, samples and some tips and techniques along the way! SBC+ templates will be available for digi scrappers!

Deal #2- We have a SALE on some of our past classes! I will email the class pdf’s to you within 24 hours of your purchase (probably much quicker!)

January 2012- All-Star Sketch Class
Cost- Was-$10 Now only $5!!

November 1-30- “Fast, Flat and Fabulous!”
Cost- Was-$10 Now only $5!!

August 2011-”More Sketches” Was-$10 Now only-$5!

June 2011-”Inspired by Sketches-3″ Was- $10 Now only-$5!

April 2011- Scrap Your Stash! Was-$10 Now only- $5!

February 2011- Inspired by Sketches 2 Was-$10 Now only-$5

December 8-22 : 15/15 – 15 Days of Journaling Inspiration – Was-$10 Now only $5!

October 15-29 : 15/15 Inspired by Sketches – Was-$10 Now only-$5

Weekend Warriors- Inspired by Borders (Aug. 2010) Was-$5 Now only $3!

15/15 – 15 Days of Inspiration -(Sept. 2010) Was-$10 Now only $5!!

October 8-10 : Weekend Warriors- Card Inspiration
Was $5 Now only $3!!

I cut 1/2″ strips.

I then turned the paper just once and cut more 1/2″ strips.  These obviously will be shorter than the 12″ strips you just cut.

I then cut a card front and put adhesive over the front of it.  I started putting strips down.  First the 12″ strip and then the shorter strip.  Match it up as best as you can.  This diagonal paper is not a perfect diagonal, so I just went with it.

Fill up the whole card front with the strips.

Trim all of the pieces off.

There you go!  A chevron card front!

Finish creating your card!

What do you think?  Handmade chevron!  Have fun!  Look for some diagonal paper and enjoy a fun technique! 

The process looked fairly simple…just punch some medallions, slide them under the presser foot of my sewing machine, and have at it.  But…that just didn’t work.  You need to leave a few stitches between the medallions, and my machine just wasn’t having any part of “sewing on air”.

I needed something to sew on that could be easily torn away.  I tried tissue paper.  Didn’t work.  The tissue was easy to sew on, but tearing it away from the stitching and medallions was not easy. 

The answer…vellum.  I cut some strips out of some scraps and started sewing away.

After I had sewn all the medallions I wanted, I flipped the strip over, folded the vellum back across the stitching liine and creased it good.

Then I started to tear away the vellum very carefully.

So there you have it…a DIY stitched garland.  Try stitching on vellum to make things easier!!

Hope you get to try it soon!

Bright primary colors make Judy’s layout stand out:

Here’s a Homecoming layout by Elaine:

It’s a-me…Mario!!!  What a fun layout, Joyce!

More bright colors…this time from Brenda:

Everyone did such a great job in the April Sketch Class, and it’s so much fun to look at the layouts in the Gallery!!  Now, it’s time to look forward to May!!

Several Forum Challenges are just waiting for you to join in! 

The middle of the month (May 14th, to be exact) will bring us a week-long, fun-filled Crop…complete with challenges, contests and new twists on old favorites!!! 

Stacey’s looking for a new Design Team Coordinator.  My term is almost up and it’s time for someone else to step in!  Details are in the previous blog post.

Have a good weekend everyone!  See you Monday!! 

Term- Will run for 6 months (June 2012-November 2012)

Benefits-
You will receive free classes during your term as well as one free class after your term. You will be recognized as a Design Team Coordinator on the website. You will also receive TWO scrapbooking packages during the term.

Duties-
Please make sure you are able to agree to do the following:
1. Post AT LEAST 10 posts daily including replies and beginning new posts (more if you can). Also, please try to leave comments in the gallery a couple of times a week.
2. Create at least 2 how-to’s during each class (we have two classes planned during the term).
3. Create NEW layouts/projects for classes and challenges (amount varies depending on whether we were working on a class or not but be sure you are able to complete several layouts a month.) More samples might be requested during crops or for challenges but these don’t always have to be brand new. We are all about inspiring people to scrapbook and get more pages done. If this is too much for you, please do not accept!
4. Actively promote I2S classes and kits on your blog, Facebook, forums and/or other appropriate places. Your main two jobs are to help promote I2S and help foster a creative and positive scrappy environment.
5. Post to the blog approximately once a week on your assigned day.
6. Communicate with guest designers as needed. You will also be in charge of setting up several guest bloggers.

To apply, please send an email to Stacey {at} inspiredtoscrap.net with the following-
1. Your name, address and email
2. Your Inspired to Scrap username (please join the forum if you haven’t already)
3. Three layout samples
4. A sample challenge that you might like to post if you were on the team.
5. Any ideas you have for potential tutorials you might like to do.
6. A link to your blog (or gallery) if you have one.

DT Coordinator will be announced on May 21st!! Thanks and we look forward to getting to know you!

Here’s her wonderful sketch:


Here’s my take on the sketch:

This sketch was so much fun to work with! I know you’re going to love it-I can’t wait to see your creations. Be sure to link your layout in the thread on the forum here to be entered to win a set of the brand new Tim Holtz Limited Edition Spring Distress inks! Please be sure to enter by midnight, May 31, 2012!

Happy Scrappin’!
Von

But FIRST, I wanted to announce that we will be having a CROP May 14-20th! More details to come, but we will have challenges, prizes (including a brand new Slice courtesy of Crop Chocolate) and a class special! I hope you will join us for this fun and motivational crop!!!

Put it on your calendar and meet us on the forum.

Now onto a few member layouts:
Love this two pager by Daiva-

Here’s a cute spring page by Anne-

Love the earth tones on this one by Angela-

And I can’t resist adding this cutie by Deborah!

I hope these ladies can inspire you to hit the scrapbook supplies and get some pages completed! Have a great weekend!

I used glue dots to adhere the toothpicks to the card front, then placed the pennant stickers on.  Couldn’t be much simpler than that, could it?

Need a larger flag?  Use a bamboo skewer and cut your own flag out of some pretty patterned paper! Add flowers, brads, bling…whatever you’ve got…to dress them up.

I punched two holes in the pennant and threaded the bamboo skewer through it.  It’s a great way to perk up a birthday bouquet!

Hope to see you flying some flags on a card, layout, or in a bouquet!  Have a great week, y’all!!

Lu