Scrap Shotz Snap Shotz: December 2008

Anonymous

To all of you checking in on this very special day we want to extend a very Merry Christmas from all the team here at Scrap Shotz! We hope you have a wonderful day and continue to enjoy a beautiful holiday season ! Be sure to check in to the forums and share your holiday stories with us when you can, and also be sure to come back as we gear up for a new year with exciting things to come!
Happy Holidays Everyone!

Jess

Well the DT all got together to post a nice easy challenge for everyone in this busy month of December! Check out the challenge here!

This layout caught my eye... Nicole joined our clan recently and I am very excited abotu her first gallery post! It's a gorgeous take on the DT Challenge...hopefully the first of many fabulous things to come!

Love the layout...this little guy just melts my heart...what a cutie!

Virginia

Today is a frigid and blustery Friday in Calgary! To enhance the Christmas spirit and spread some warmth and good cheer, here are a few last minute ideas for Christmas - I hope you enjoy them!

Sometimes I find it hard to wrap a stunning gift - they say you don't get a second chance for a first impression. So this year, I have searched for ideas of stunning and (the all important) easy gift wrapping ideas. This is perhaps my favorite blog of gift wrapping ideas. Check it out here. (Please note that it may take a few minutes for it to load. It is chock full of amazing ideas - so grab a coffee and sit for a bit!)

And what about this? Cricut and Slice (and even Cuttlebug) girls, consider adorning your gift like this! I adore it!

If you still need to pick up a few gifts, consider For the Hard to Impress person (source: Chatelaine), purchasing vouchers for experience packages available across Canada, ranging from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Go here for more details.

Or for the Film Affecionado (source: Chatelaine), check out the amazing catalogue of DVDs available. Choose from the classics, recent releases and hard-to-find titles. Click here for further information.

I hope these few ideas warm up your day! I am off to bake some butter tarts with my little one! Have a wonderful day! Don't forget to leave me a comment about what you think of these ideas!

Jess

This week many of us participated in a Got Sketch Mini class. I found it on the Got Sketch Blog and joined right away...it was a free class!!!

What a great inspiration!

I noticed a couple of layouts in our gallery that were inspired by one of Janna Wilson's sketches...check them out!

This one is from carebear...

And another version of the sketch from Julie...

If you didn't have a chance to get in this free class...be sure to watch for the next class offering...you won't be disappointed!

Anonymous

I don't know about you, but I have quite a difficult time scrapping Christmas photos. I have an embarrassing little amount of holiday layouts in my albums. It's not that I don't have the pictures...quite the opposite in fact - I have an overwhelming amount actually. Unfortunately most of those photos are of pretty poor quality. From composition to color, they are just not user-friendly. However, Christmas is such a special time of year, it does need to be documented. I was beginning to feel guilty of my lack of holiday cheer in my scrapbooks, so I finally decided to do something about it. My solution...a Christmas mini-book. My mini is based on how my kids celebrated Christmas last year and some of the traditions that we hold dear to our heart as a family. I chose papers and embellishments from the Love Elsie 'Noel' line. I wanted something that was busy, bright, and fun...just like my children at Christmas. Here is the cover and a few of the pages within the album.

I still have some finishing touches to do, but the album is well on it's way and so is my guilt. If I never scrap another Christmas photo again, which I'm sure won't happen, at least my kids have a glimpse of what Christmas was like when they were little. If you have any holiday albums completed, I'd love to see them - post in the SSZ gallery if you have a chance. I have plans to do another Christmas mini based on special ornaments in the family and you may just spark an idea or two for me!!

Jess

Well I'm feeling a bit emotional today so it's gonna be a long one! I was really struck buy this layout of Stephanie's in our gallery this week. Not just by the design and color, but by all the things it brought to mind.

Things like how many photos just like this one never get documented with any details, and some without names or dates...

Things like how many things we take for granted when our friends and loved ones are still here to chat with...

Things that we never talk about, and things left unsaid...questions we never asked and answers we never got...

It makes me want to grab a notebook and start writing down everything I can think of to ask my Mom...things to talk about...photos to take, and photos to get details about...so much to do and so little time...

Thanks for listening...here's the layout that inspired my deep thoughts tonight...

Nonie

The DT has changed things up a bit this month for the challenge. We chose a layout sketch and a card sketch and decided to see how we each interpreted them. The results are absolutely stunning.

And to top it off, everyone who participates in the challenge will be entered in a draw to win a $20 GC to Scrap Shotz!! Why not give it a try. You never know. Check out the Design Team Challenge forum for the sketches and the gorgeous DT work.

Here are a few DT creations to get you in the scrapping mood.

Amber did this gorgeous layout using some elements from the August Scrap Shotz Kit Take 2

And Jess did this beautiful card using this month's Scrap Shotz Kit "Frosty Holidays"

Virginia

December is here...and my girls cannot be happier! LOL Although we have had an unusually warm "winter" thus far, I am definitely starting to feel the spirit of Christmas in the air. Yes, the stores have all the usual Christmas fixins’ and carols are playing on the radio but what makes it Christmas for me is thinking about what special little gift I can make for my special friends and family.

Do you ever feel the "need" to create and/or find the perfect gift for that special someone? I know I do! And this year, I am going to give myself permission to accept some help to create that extra-special gift. So let me share some of my latest finds, ok?

For my brother, I am putting together a recipe book of all our childhood favorites. Some printable cards can be found here.

For my girls' bedroom doors, we are making these luscious ribbon wreaths. Instructions can be found here.

For my husband, my girls each make something special for him. This year, they are making these cute notebooks. It is easy enough for little hands but puts the stamp of "SPECIAL" all over it. The girls will draw some pictures in the books and add some photos and when he travels, he will have them close by.

For my daughter, neices and my daughters' close friends, my daughters and I are spending a day making these unique pieces. Aren't they the perfect finishing touch to any outfit? Click here for the instructions.

For the music affecionado in my group, I am going to burn a CD of their favorites. Rather than putting the CD in a regular jewel box, I am going to make these. Does this not win the Most Creative Wrapping Award?

There is a Diva in every crowd. These are sure to be a winner! I know I'll be whipping up a few of these too! And what a better way to use your punches and paper scraps!

For the grandparents or the person that has absolutely everything, I know they will go ga-ga over these delicious photo cubes! Thank you Martha!

What is gift giving if you can't give yourself a little something something? *wink* *wink* Well I am going to make myself a few of these! I love lists and these are irresistable!

So what do you think? I hope I have inspired you to think outside the norm and spend some quality time with your friends and/or children to create some of these easy to make gifts so that you too can have a Pseudo-Martha Christmas!

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think, ok?

Nonie

so you know what that means... it's REVEAL DAY for the Creative Team!!!!

This month's kit Frosty Holidays features some beautiful papers from SEI and some very fresh and funky embellishments from Prima, Maya Road, Ranger and Making Memories.

"Frosty Holidays" features a gorgeous assortment of products from 5 different manufacturers!! We start with 8 beautiful papers from the SEI Alpine Frost Line, and 8 bazzill cardstock in Java, Cream Puff, Pomegranate and Malted Milk. Then we have glittery alphas from Making Memories, along with their mocha pebble brads. From Prima we've added an elegant Felt Gate embellishment. From Maya Road comes the package of rich velvet blossoms, and a package of "Frosty Treats". We've finished it off with one of the brand new Ranger Stickles, in Ruby Red.

You can check out all the beautiful creations by the very talented Creative Team in the gallery.

But here are just a few to wet your appetite...

Amber