Crafting for a Cause

Since volunteering to be one of the newest blog authors for Scrapbook Royalty, I've spent a significant amount of time looking at old posts and marvelling at all the money raised for a number of charities.

So I'm announcing today...

I HAVE BEEN INSPIRED!!!!

I've literally just sent an email to a few of my friends to discuss what we want to do, when, and what cause we want to focus on.

I hope to one day soon send out details for a Charity Wings affiliated event in Chicago!  

Click here to learn how you can host your own Charity Wings affiliated event.

Latin Webzine

As if I wasn't busy enough, I've also been lucky enough to be invited to host a column in the web-based magazine, Latin Webzine.

My first post (with accompanying blog) will be up soon, and I'll be sure to share a link to it once it's posted.  Here's a little teaser on the step-by-step project that will be showcased this month - paper tamales!

I'm really excited to take on the challenge of showcasing Latino-centered scrapbooking projects.  As a Latina scrapbooker, I often have to create my own embellishments to add that special touch to a culturally/ethnically specific page or project.

So sign up to subscribe to the magazine - it's free!

Scrapbook Royalty Blog

I'm super excited to share some news!!!

I have happily joined the Scrapbook Royalty/Charity Wings family by volunteering to become one of their blog authors.

This California-based non-profit organizes crops for charity across the United States. Scrapbook Royalty is supported by generous individual donations, corporate sponsors, and a 100% volunteer staff and committee of devoted scrapbookers.

Those who know me personally know that my 9-to-5 job is based in the field of public service.  Outside of my direct scrapbooking for clients, I spend most of my time rallying volunteers for various events that I may or may not coordinate.  So, clearly, this is a perfect match for me!

As a Chicago-based blog author, I hope to eventually coordinate some events and/or giveaways so join the blog to get the latest updates.  I'll do my best to double post here.

Check out my first posting!

Kid-friendly Halloween card

It's been awhile since I posted any new projects, and I do apologize for that!  One of my favorite holidays is coming - Halloween.  Now that everyone's kids are back in school, I know that you are just itching for some off-school fun, right?

I'm surrounded by many adorable little people amongst my family and friends, and I'm proud to say that I have more godkids than most people will have.  Six and counting :)

So I started to think about how many of my godkids are busy doing homework and praying for some fun time.  For many of them, that means the TV or computer.  Though that is great in moderation, I know that as the weather gets colder, their parents are going to start going crazy for new indoor activities.

That's why I decided to think through some easy card-making options that kids of almost any age can do!

Another camping delight

To my extreme pleasure, the mini scrapbook I made for Emma at camp was a huge hit.  I recently got to see what she did with it and was beyond impressed.  I was not only happy that she actually received it, but I also loved to see how we now both had a piece in the look of the book.  It's now something we both helped make.

I loved her reaction so much....that I knew I had to do a similar book for another friend's daughter who had recently gone to her first sleep away camp.  Knowing she would eventually get home sick, I wanted to help occupy her little mind.  This book is very similar to Emma's book, but it's a little different of course.

Here are some quick pics...I promise to crop them later!

Hope she likes it!

Ballet camp surprise

I am lucky to have befriended my friend's teenage daughter.  She is the cutest little thing and is very serious about her dancing.  She was actually asked to take part in a month-long camp and is amongst the youngest (if not THE youngest) members in the camp.

Her mom told me she journals her dance training experiences.  I assumed it was about the actual experience of it all, but I soon learned that it was about the technique.  She jots down what she's learned, what she was told to do differently, and any routines that she wants to remember.

This beautiful girl is only 13 and already has incredibly disciplined, great study habits.

So I wanted to send her a little something to jot down the fun moments.  I decided to make her a min-album from supplies I have in my workroom (I've vowed not to buy a single scrapbooking supply this month except tape as needed).  So far so good on that goal!

Here is my quick little book for my little dancer, Emma....

I had to split her name into the two syllables for the front and back cover because my pre-cut letters were too big for the cover.  I hope she gets it!  LOL!

Can't wait to send this out tomorrow.

How to scrapbook photobooth guestbooks

A while ago now, a friend of mine asked me to make a scrapbook/guestbook for a photobooth at her daughter's Bat Mitzvah party.  I wasn't quite sure how I was going to do this as the size of the photostrips and their layout can be pretty limiting.  On top of that, I had to add a journalling block for guests to leave notes.

After playing around for quite some time, I've learned how to plan out the layouts so that each two page spread is different than the others.  Here are some examples from a wedding album I just did.  The color scheme was orange and white and the look was to be a modern/clean finish.

I honestly was perplexed at how I could justify the invoice when I thought I was going to be limited to flat orange and flat white papers because nothing could be too girly.

After searching through multiple stores and playing with embossing folders and die cuts, I was able to create some pretty options.

This is what started with:

I didn't use everything here, but it was good to see that I had collected some fun options.  The specific color of the orange was difficult to match and I found myself layering oranges to add a little depth and texture at times.

Here are some of my favorite layouts from the album.  These layouts are pre-made and I assemble the album on-site (hence no photos or notes).  Long strips mat the photo strips and the square strips mat the guests' notes.

I loved this leaf die cute....It was perfect for a clean, non-girly embellishment!

I have to learn how to take better photos, but I found this really cool textured orange background paper.  It has embossed orange swirls that matched the burnt orange embossing powder I had for the kissing couple stamp.

I can't even begin to take credit for this background.  A friend of mine once helped me with a large album and we were running out of fun layout options until she came up with this!  Each of the orange stripes are actual cut out strips of different colored orange paper and then glued to a flat white page.  It really helps to add a little texture to the page and the look is super cool.

I reused the super cool orange embossed swirly paper in a new way.  Using a nesting die cut of circles, I created new white swirls.  Makes it look like bubbles!

Even though I wasn't asked to help preserve the invitations, programs or menus, I knew they would start and finish up the album beautifully.  The invites had these pretty orange branches with leaves (much like the die cut used in the image above).  I'm pretty sure this pretty full leaf die cut will be used for future projects!