- What blog post (from this blog please from the last month or two stands out in your mind the most?  Why did it stick in your head, and did it inspire you to create something?

Tomorrow, Heidi shares the projects from the class she is teaching today.  I, for one, wish I was AT her class today, but at least we get all the details tomorrow.  :)

Go create.

~Alyssa~

Here is what you will need:

A sheet of cardstock (I used Winter White)

Assorted Mists

A Brad

Stencils or a die-cutting machine

1. Mist cardstock randomly.

2. Choose the area you want to use for your flower, and trace flower stencil on the back.  In the center of the flower, trace a circle.  (note: My flower stencil measures 5′ across and the circle measures 3-1/4″ across)

3. Cut out both the flower and the circle.

4. Spiral cut your center flower, and then fold your spiral in half length-wise.

5. Roll your spiral into a flower center.

6. Take the scalloped edge, and wrap it around in a circle, folding a bit as needed.

7. Glue edge to scrap cardstock.  Add flower to the center.

8. Add a brad for the flower center.

9. Turn flower upside down and mist with a dark spray, allowing the mist to “ink” the edges of the petals.

10. Wrap petals up and scrunch until you love it.

11. Let dry.

~Alyssa~

P.S.- You have until Sunday night to leave a comment a both “Font Challenge” posts for your chance to win!

This week marks the beginning of summer vacation for my two daughters. It also marks the beginning of a precious two month period that I get to spend with them, basking in the warm Alabama weather, making the most of this time when they are still young. I have found that the pictures that I take throughout this time, are ones that keep me going during the dreary winter months. I take so many photos because of being able to spend all day with my children and by the end of the summer I usually have 100s of pictures for my memory albums.

Having never been much of a “theme” scrapper, however, I don’t always want to scrap all these photos in a generic summer way. Here are a few of the ways that I keep the summer photos fresh in my scrapbooks, while including my girls in the process!

1. Have your children write down what feelings they feel when they look at the developed picture, or how they felt during that picture. This can be your journaling for that page.

2. Have your children take some of the photos, so that you get a view from their perspective! (I buy a pack of disposable cameras from a party store at the beginning of the summer… these are theirs to use.)

3. Print duplicates of your pictures, and when you sit down to make a layout, have them make one alongside you – for their own miniature scrapbook of the summer. (This is great for children who are asked to share about their summer during their first week of the next school year!)

4. During summer travels, pick up souvenirs (ie, napkins, luggage tags, sand) for your creations. These free little pieces of ephemera are a great way to jazz up your layouts. (I love to mod podge them in a collage on the front of mini albums I create about these travels.)

5. Have your children take pictures of YOU doing things with them. It is so easy to stay behind the camera, but in years to come – those kids are going to want to remember you being there (and not just behind the lens) also. This is a great way to later create a BOM as well, making sure that you have some recent photos of yourself! (During the school year in my house, pictures don’t get taken as often with the kids being gone all day, so it is really difficult to remember to get a picture of either myself or my husband.)

6. Last but not least, take pictures of the little things. The lemonade glass sitting on the lemonade stand, the chalk drawings in the driveway, the barefeet dipping in the pool. These small details make the big picture even more beautiful. I am working on a project right now, in which I took many different close-ups of  “the big picture” I was seeing in front of me, and then I took one big shot. This is turning into an amazing memory, a mini album that I will share with you in a couple of weeks after completing it.

Nothing says summer like palettes  full of blue skies and waters, sunshine and warmth, and the greens of outdoor bliss. My favorite Couture Cardstock color collections, for showcasing the brilliant hues in summertime photos, are Rainy Day Monochromatic, Silk Road Monochromatic, and Spring Valley Monochromatic. For the layout below, I also used Alabaster Columns for the background.

I hope that you are able to use some of these tips, I know that they aren’t new, but it is always good to get a reminder! Enjoy the summer, and don’t forget to bring your camera. Everywhere! You! Go! (lol, no pressure though.)

xx Heidi

1. What type of blog posts do you most enjoy?  (Tutorials, layouts, cards, altered items, sketches, product info, etc)
2. What collections or colors would you like to see more of on our blog?
3. What is your favorite thing about Couture Cardstock?

Tomorrow, I have a fun (and little) sketch for you!  :)

~Alyssa~

Betsy Veldman  http://scrapbookgirl.typepad.com/

Jessica Witty http://jesswitty.blogspot.com/

Kim Hughes http://paperhugs.typepad.com/

Kim Kesti http://kimberlykesti.typepad.com/

Maren Benedict http://zanynotcrazy.blogspot.com/

Teri Anderson http://terisplace.wordpress.com/

Tomorrow Broni is back with another amazing card to show you!

~Alyssa~

This month, our team is partnering with Prima Marketing for a blog swap and product exchange!  We are SO excited to have a chance to work with Prima’s exceptional products.  The best part is, we have some to give away to you!  One lucky reader will win the assortment of Prima products and Couture Cardstock pictured here:

This prize pack includes:

2 Sheets each of: 12×12   (Total of 46 Sheets)
Marlene
Olivia
Katherine
Versailles
Eiffel Tower
Foot Print
Ticket Booth
Drizzle
Lineal
White Linen
Sugar Cookie
Tuilleres
Meadow
Oregano
Old Rake
Porcelain
Blushing
Midnight
Black Pearl
Cumberbun
Dusty Rose
Devotion

2 Sheets each of 8.5×11 (Total of 4 Sheets)
One Sheet Wonder
Detail Blending Paper

Prima Product ( 1 package each)

Camilla Flamenco flowers
Voila Felt Ribbons
Lilliput Roses in Marshmallow
Fiesta Flowers in Water Lilty
Say it in Pearls
Innoscence Collection Flowers
Andorra Gray Flowers
De Vines Felt Stems
Calcutta Mini
Donna Downey Foam Stamp

Here’s what you have to do to be entered to win:  Head to our store and create your own collection.  It’s easy, just pick out 12 colors you would love to see in a collection together and list their names in a comment on this post.  Don’t forget to give your collection a name!  Every submitted collection will be entered to win this prize pack.

The fine print: Winners outside the US and Canada will be responsible for their own shipping costs.  Entries MUST be in the form of comments on this post and be received by April 30th at 11:59 pm EST.  One entry per person, please.

http://disneydarling07.blogspot.com/2010/03/couture-cardstock-challenge-march-31th.html

Kelly, be sure to contact us at http://www.couturecardstock.com/contacts/ to provide us your shipping address and choices for your 10 free sheets!

That wraps up our March contest!  I hope you all had a great time, thanks for playing along! Tomorrow we will announce the winner of the 291 sheets “Giving it all away” contest!   Stay tuned.

http://galevarland.blogspot.com/2010/03/multiple-challenges-couple-of-cards.html

Kelly, please be sure to contact us via the Couture Cardstock contact form  http://www.couturecardstock.com/contacts/ to provide us your shipping address and choices for your 10 free sheets!

Janis, please be sure to contact us via the Couture Cardstock contact form  http://www.couturecardstock.com/contacts/ to provide us your shipping address and choices for your 16 free sheets!