Coordinates Collections

March Blog Hop Challenge

Happy Monday crafters! Please forgive the late post, it's been a crazy couple of weeks!

I'm sure you're all eager to know what this month's challenge will be. Well, it's a very hot trend in scrapbooking, you seen it everywhere, maybe already love doing it...

Stitching!!!

Weather you're an expert with the sewing machine or can't sew to save your life (like me!), you'll love the unique accent that a few stitches add to your pages!  

For my page, I used a Making Memories ruler with holes as a guide and stitched away using floss. Yes, it is time consuming but I actually did it while watching TV and didn't mind taking the extra minutes to add a unique border to my layout.

Do you recognize the cute papers and embellies? They're from the fun Sweet 'N Sassy kit. I think the hand stitching really complemented these papers well...

Now it's your turn to grab some needle and thread (or floss) and add some stitches to your layouts! 
 
 

1. Create a layout that includes machine or hand stitching.
2. Post your layout on your personal blog or in the CC Gallery. The title of your post should be “Coordinates Collections March Blog Hop Challenge.” 
3. Come back here and use Mister Linky at the end of this post to add the URL link to your layout.  In order to qualify for the prize, you must post your project by 11pm EST March 30^th. Be sure to link to your actual Blog Hop project POST, not just to your blog.
4. During the Blog Hop, visit the blogs/galleries then head to the CC Blog Hop forum! Take some time to praise your fellow scrappers, discuss anything new you might have learned and provide each other with valuable feedback.
5. One lucky participant will be randomly selected to win a $20 Gift Certificate to the CC Store!  Winner will be announced on the CC Blog on March 31st.

 

 

 
 
 

 

In Like a Lion, It's Time for March 3 Sketches

Is it really already March? As much as I have loved all the snow this winter, I think I am just about ready for green grass, sunny skies, and being outside without freezing. Perhaps that's why the layouts for my March 3 Sketches feature summer vacation pictures. The bright and playful patterns of the Party Time kit were just the inspiration I needed to pull out some old vacation pics (that and the fact that I am a couple of years behind!). In a few short months, my family's annual trek to the Jersey shore will be here (and by then, I will probably have had it with the heat and humidity).

Before checking out the March sketches, let me congratulate pink (Ruth) for winning February 3 Sketches! Ruth made some last-minute entries and her efforts paid off! Please e-mail Jamie by 3/15 to claim your prize. Thanks to all who participated. I especially loved all the cards.

Here's some inspiration for March!

One Page

The primary colors of the Party Time kit are so perfect for boardwalk and theme park pictures. All the colors blend together and make the page fun. What do you think of my clever way to use the bingo chip? It just so happened that one of the numbers matched the date of this event! And the game piece was another great take on the theme. And you will surely fall in love with the Maya Road pleated ribbon; it's been awhile since I've embraced ribbon on my pages. This stuff is so different. Love the flair!

Two Page

Just like it's been ages since I've truly played with ribbon on my pages, it's probably been just as long since I've used paint and foam stamps. Remember them? I have so many in my stash but they have been neglected for years. The Jenni Bowlin paint dabber in this kit brought my letters back to life. And dabbers are so much better than foam brushes! I'll probably use the paint on the mini book that came with this kit, too.

Journaling is a must for me on pages, so I'm always excited to see journaling pieces in the kits. Love the big circles that come with this kit but with so much going on in this two-pager using the whole circle would have been too much. So just cut it in half!

And don't be afraid to pack your pages with pictures! I really wanted to capture a night on the boardwalk with my siblings, parents, niece, and nephews. I certainly didn't use all the pics but I wanted to use enough to tell the story. I'm happy with the result.

Card

Sometimes cards just need to be simple. Little things like stamping and gems can do the trick. I just used some cardstock scraps here from last month's Blue Skies kit, my new Fiskars stamps (love them!), and Prima bling.

Contest rules: each month we will post three sketches — a 1-page layout; a 2-page layout; and a card. You may create as many projects as you wish using one, two, or all three of the sketches for the month. You don't need to create your entries with a CC kit; anything in your stash is OK.

When you have created your layout(s)/card from the sketches, you MUST:

•  Upload it to the 3 Sketches section of the CC Gallery under Contests and Challenges by the last day of the month.
•  Include "March sketch" in the title.
•  Provide a URL link of that project from the 3 Sketches section of the gallery into the thread for that sketch on the Message Board; posting the project image in the Message Board thread only does not meet the rules and won't be counted as an entry (you need not include the image in the thread; just a URL is required).

One lucky winner will receive a fun prize from CC! You must e-mail Jamie within two weeks of winner announcement in order to claim your prize.

I can't wait to see what sketch-inspired pages and cards you create this month. Have fun!

Sketch designs by Linda Dias.

 

 

Blog Hop Challenge Winner and Blog Spolight

Thank you sooooo much to all who played along this month's Blog Hop Challenge. It was fun to see all of your lifts and interpretations of different projects in our gallery. You all did an awesome job but this month's winner is...

Heather Robertson!

 
I just love these beautiful and fun photos and how she placed them. And don't you just love that cute little banner and her punched border with twine? Pure perfection!

Thanks so much for playing along Heather! Be sure to email Jamie within 7 days to claim your prize at Jamie@coordinatescollections.com  

I also spent some time browsing your blogs this month and Annita's blog really caught my attention. Annita's love of paper crafts is evident in the beautiful cards and layouts she creates. She also has a fun baby countdown marker to keep track of the baby she's expecting, how sweet is that?! Please pay her a visit and leave her some love, I'm sure she'd appreciate that!

Thanks so much for stopping by our blog today! Have a great rest of the week!

 

 

Sarah's PCC and a Flower Tutorial

First, I get to announce that Amybug is the winner of last week's Monday Challenge (posting tutorials).  Congrats, Amybug!  Be sure to email jamie@coordinatescollections.com by March 7 to claim your prize.

Alright, on to month 1 of PCC.  My original plan was to do one 8x8 spread each month, but when I started pulling pictures for January, I just couldn't limit myself.  I decided I wanted to capture lots of random images from the month and still be able to get some embellishments in, so I ended up with two 8x8 spreads, and that's my plan going forward.

I decided I wanted to use the 4x6 titles for each month, and my opening page is going to feature one big picture.  This one's a 4x6 photo.  I ended up using mostly the Echo Park Life Is Good line for January, because the background on that first page reminded me of snow flakes.

So, as promised, below are my collage measurements.  Note that my photos are a tiny bit smaller, since I have white borders around them.  Also, if you start scaling stuff in photoshop, the borders between the photos are actually not all the same.  You know, if things like that bother you.  :)

I intentionally left "open" areas for journaling and embellishment.  

Just so you don't think I'm crazy, for page 4 (below), there's a half inch strip running down the right side of the page.  But when they printed it at Costco, they actually printed it at 8.5 inches wide, so I had half inch strips on both the left and right, and then I decided I liked it better on the left.

And now, a quick and easy flower tutorial.  This is based on one I made at CHA at the Maya Road booth.

First, I punched a circle out of black (because it matched my background) cardstock, and covered it with adhesive.

I used one strip of the pleated ribbon - I think it was 16-18" long, and snip every pleat to just short of the thread holding it together...

Don't forget to do the "bottom" pleats, too.

Next, wrap it around itself.  When we did this at Maya Road, we used a silkier ribbon and wrapped it really tight ... not around anything.  For this one, I was planning to put a brad or something in the center, so I wanted it a little looser in the center, so I wrapped it around this pen.

Then, carefully transfer the bundle to the cardstock, and press it down.

Mash it around and stick it down.  You can see for this one, I was planning to have a gap in the center, but when I started mashing it around, the center filled in nicely.  I did eventually end up putting a brad in the center, but you could go either way.

Monday's Challenge: Share & Learn

Happy Valentine's Day!  Hope everyone is being showered with love today.  I am enjoying a relaxing beach vacation (it's summer in India).  I'll send some sunshine your way!

(Jolaine's Vintage-Print Flowers Tutorial)

This week's Monday's Challenge is a challenge for you to share a tutorial with us.  It can be a tutorial you made yourself and posted on your blog, or a tutorial you post directly on the CC Message Board.  You can also share a tutorial you found on a different blog or site, as long as it is not a competitor with CC.  Please refer to the Tutorial Forum Rules.  Links to competing sites will be deleted.

Tutorials should be posted or linked to in the Tutorial Forum on the CC Message Board.  You can do a tutorial about anything related to scrapbooking - making your own embellishments, using photo editing software, taking pictures, layout construction, mini albums, utilizing tools, etc.

I know you have a lot of great knowledge and I'm looking forward to what tips and techniques are shared this week.

Any eligible tutorial posted in the forum by February 20th will be entered to win a prize from CC - which means you can enter more than once.  I'll allow up to 5 entries per person.  Winner will be announced on February 22nd on the CC Blog and will have 14 days to email Jamie@coordinatescollections.com to claim her prize.

February Blog Hop Challenge

Happy Saturday everyone! Today I bring you another installment of our monthly blog hop challenge. It doesn't get any easier than this...

Scraplift!!!

I invite you to pour yourself some coffee or tea and relax while browsing our wonderful Gallery. I'm sure you'll find lots of inspiration. Once you find the perfect layout for your photos or paper, don't resist the temptation, go ahead and scraplift! No need to feel guilty!  

Here's a beautiful and fun page created by DT member Marielle. She's truly gifted and knows just how to bring to life those fun and sweet boy photos.

 

 
I'm a girlie girl and boy pages don't exactly come easy to me so I decided to channel Marielle's fun style and this is my take on it.

 

 
 
As you can see, you probably will need to tweak a few things to make the design fit your photos and papers, and that's how you make it your own!

Here's how to play:

1. Create a layout inspired by anyone in our CC Gallery.
2. Post your layout on your personal blog or in the CC Gallery. The title of your post should be “Coordinates Collections February Blog Hop Challenge.”  Remember to add a link or photo of the layout that inspired your design.
3. Come back here and use Mister Linky at the end of this post to add the URL link to your layout.  In order to qualify for the prize, you must post your project by 11pm EST February 20^th. Be sure to link to your actual Blog Hop project POST, not just to your blog.
4. During the week, visit the blogs/galleries then head to the CC Blog Hop forum! Take some time to praise your fellow scrappers, discuss anything new you might have learned and provide each other with valuable feedback.

A lucky participant will be randomly selected to win a $25 Gift Certificate to the CC Store! The winning layout will be posted on the CC Blog on February 23rd.  Have fun everyone!

 

 

 

February 3 Sketches

Hey CCers! Thanks so much to all of you who participated in the January 3 Sketches Challenge. So many contributions, so many different takes — very impressive. And kudos to all who made multiple submissions. The random winner for January goes to newbie ggutierrez224. Congrats and please e-mail Jamie by 2/15 to claim your prize. 

I'm also announcing the winner of last week's Monday's Challenge, Spread the Word.  Congrats to Jes! Again, please e-mail Jamie by 2/15 to claim your prize. 

I hope you all saved some energy for February! I've been eager to share my sketches and samples. Drum roll!

One Page

I used this sketch to highlight one of my husband's recent 5K races. The bright, fun colors of February's Blue Skies kit really make the event pop off the page. I mixed and matched the Echo Park Little Boy stripes and stars patterns with the American Crafts City Park collection. The kit elements/add-ons helped add a whimsical feel, especially the Jillibean corrugated arrow, Prima pearls, and Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type, which are on sale for $1.00. And the American Crafts Stitched Thickers in this kit are amazing — love the leather feel and outlined look (looks like some black and white ones are in the store and also on sale). Perfect for a masculine page!

Two Page

 
I'm sure you all know by now that I favor multi-photo layouts — so have fun with this one and you can always change the size and number of pics to your liking. Here, I enjoyed telling the story of opening Christmas gifts at my in-laws through pictures with this double layout (this is year 2008 BTW!). I mixed this up using Echo Park Christmas Time papers/alphas with some retired Pink Paislee Mistle Toe die-cuts from my stash and Artisan Elements. I distressed it all over the place with two different Ranger Inks and added a repeated stamp from Recollections. 

Card

I took a new route with the card sketch by going with a unique size — one that fits in a No. 10 envy. It came together very quickly using some scraps from Blue Skies (cardstock, American Crafts paper, Echo Park paper, Jillibean corrugated flowers) and the Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type was a great way to add my sentiment.

Contest rules: each month we will post three sketches — a 1-page layout; a 2-page layout; and a card. You may create as many projects as you wish using one, two, or all three of the sketches for the month.

When you have created your layout(s)/card from the sketches, you MUST:

•  Upload it to the 3 Sketches section of the CC Gallery under Contests and Challenges by the last day of the month.
•  Include "(month) sketch" in the title.
•  Provide a URL link of that project from the 3 Sketches section of the gallery into the thread for that sketch on the Message Board; posting the project image in the Message Board thread only does not meet the rules and won't be counted as an entry (you need not include the image in the thread; just a URL is required).

One lucky winner will receive a fun prize from CC! You must e-mail Jamie within two weeks of winner announcement in order to claim your prize.

I can't wait to see what sketch-inspired pages and cards you create this month. Have fun!

Sketch designs by Linda Dias.

 

January Blog Hop Challenge Winner and Blog Spotlight

A big thank you to all of you who participated in our January Blog Hop Challenge! We hope you enjoyed creating with circles;I sure enjoyed looking at everyone's projects! It's always fun to see how everyone interprets the challenges.

This month's randomly selected winner is... Adele!

Isn't her layout absolutely stunning?! I just love the darling photos and the grey and red color combo is simply divine! Please check out Adele's posting for more details. Congrats Adele, you did a fabulous job, remember to contact Jamie at Jamie@coordinatescollections.com  within 7 days to claim your prize!

I also wanted to invite you to check out Mayra's blog, In My Spare Time Craft, to see some beautiful and inspiring projects and layouts. Congrats to you too Mayra, your blog is beautiful!!!!!!!

That's all from me today ladies! Have a wonderful weekend!

 

 
 

 

Monday's Challenge: Journaling with Lists

 Happy Monday everyone! I am super excited for today. Want to know why?

1 - My office is closed for MLK Day. 

2 - It's my birthday! The big 2-6.

3 - It's Journaling Challenge Monday.

4 - I really like lists, and that's what we're focusing on this month.

 Lists are a great way to journal. Mostly because there are just ENDLESS topics to choose from. Top Ten lists, things you love/hate, goals, favorites, etc. All are wonderful topics for LISTS. I'm going to give you a few ideas for creating your journaling with lists, and then it's your turn.

Numbered Lists

This is probably the most popular form of listing. Numbering makes everything seem neat + tidy. A numbered list can make your journaling really feel more cohesive, even if it's scattered throughout your layout, like in my example below.

I got to work with the Amish Quilt kit this month, and I was totally inspired by one of the little cardstock stickers that said, "10 things I love!"  Perfect way to kick off a list-inspired layout. I used a few different stickers (one for each family member) and ran down a few quick character traits that I loved about each of them. Quick, simple, lovely.

A numbered list is also a great way to use up some number thickers/stickers! I always seem to have leftovers of those. And not enough a's. But that's neither here nor there.

So, now that we've done a neat + tidy list layout, how about one that's . . . not so neat + tidy. I definitely wanted to do a "resolutions" layout this year, but my list here takes a more free-form style. Keep in mind that just because it's a list, it doesn't HAVE to be in a linear, one-right-after-the-other format.

It's also a fun excuse to use a mix of letter stickers + handwriting. Or typing! Or stamps!  Fun fun fun.

 

Last, but not least, you all know how I feel about mini-books. I. Am. Obsessed. I used the super cute blackboard album that was included in the Amish Quilt kit (another style is coming in the Songbirds kit next month!) to bang out a sweet little album all about the reasons I love my kid.

Whoa! Just checked, and these little blackboard books are on sale for $2!! What a total steal.

I actually probably needed about a gazillion pages to list ALL the reasons, but I settled for just four.

 

In a total departure from the resolutions layout, I stuck to a pretty specific pattern with this book. One line of journaling on the left, starting with, "I love . . ." followed by a full page photo, trimmed to fit the book. Ah, simplicity.

 

The Challenge: Create a layout or other project using list journaling.

The rules:

• Upload the challenge project to the ‘Contests and Challenges' section of the CC Gallery in the Monday's Challenges folder by Sunday, January 23rd at midnight PST.
• Include the name of the Challenge in your title.
• Post a URL LINK of the project into the thread for the Monday Challenge for that week on the Message Board

 You MUST upload to the Monday's Challenges section in the Gallery AND provide a URL LINK on the Message Board for your entry to be valid. Posting the project image in the Message Board thread only does not meet the rules, and won't be counted as an entry. Challenge projects do not need to use a CC Monthly kit.  The winner will be announced on Tuesday, January 24th on the CC Blog and CC Message Board.

Have fun!

 

January Blog Hop Challenge

Welcome to a new edition of the blog hop challenge! Now that the holidays are behind us and life is (hopefully) slowing down, I encourage you to take some time to play along. This month's challenge is...

Circles!!!

Circles add visual interest to your pages and there are sooo many possibilities, I'm sure you will enjoy designing with this challenge in mind. Weather you choose to cut your background, your photos, or add a circle as a decorative element (think doilies... hint, hint!), just have fun with it! 

Here's a page I created using the Amish Quilt kit. (If you didn't order this one, run to get it, it's FABULOUS!!!) I wanted the circle to ground my cut-out photo so the result is quiet subtle.

 
 
I used a couple of addons from the CC store, like the chip pieces ,  Bette paper, and the Prima pearls with swirls. The butterfly stamp is from last November's Just Dessert kit addon and the envelope and alphas are from my stash. 

Here's how to play:

1. Create a layout that includes with circle element(s).
2. Post your layout on your personal blog or in the CC Gallery. The title of your post should be “Coordinates Collections January Blog Hop Challenge.”
3. Come back here and use Mister Linky at the end of this post to add the URL link to your layout.  Remember in order to qualify for the prize, you must post your project by 11pm EST January 20^th. Be sure to link to your actual Blog Hop project POST, not just to your blog.
4. During the week, visit the blogs/galleries then head to the CC Blog Hop forum! Take some time to praise your fellow scrappers, discuss anything new you might have learned and provide each other with valuable feedback.

A lucky participant will be randomly selected to win a $25 Gift Certificate to the CC Store! The winning layout will be posted on the CC Blog on January 22nd.  Have fun everyone!