Christmas Party Crop–Thursday 8th December at 7pm

Our Christmas Party Crop takes place on Thursday December 8th 2011 from 7pm to 11pm at the Whitehall Parish Centre, Dublin 9 and all tickets are sold out!

It's our final Crop of the year and promises to be a great night for all. For the ticket price of €30.00 you'll get a Scrapbook Workshop where we'll create three scrapbook layouts (if there's time, of course) with the new MME Lost & Found Christmas Collection Pack, then Michelle La Grue will show everyone how to create a beautiful home decor project using Christmas papers (bring your own favourites or we have loads of new Collections to purchase in the shop!) and a string of indoor fairy lights (white). Then there'll be loads of prizes and challenges too. Mix all that up with plenty of Christmas tunes and it's sure to be a great night.

Here's what you'll need to bring along:

For Michelles project:

• a variety of border punches
• a hole punch (spring type - there'll be one to share on the night)
• any range of papers
• matching journalling tags or embellishments
• matching alphabet letters
• scissors, wet glue
• and finally a string of 15 white lights

For Annamarie's Workshop:
Layout 1: Two 4" x 6" portrait photos with no border
Layout 2: Two 4" x 6" portrait photos and two 4" x 6" landscape photos with white borders
Layout 3: Two 4" x 6" landscape photos with no border

You’ll also need to bring:

• A rosette die (if you have one - otherwise you can make the rosette by hand with a border punch and glue)
• Craft knife, trimmer, foam pads, scissors, paper distresser and small piece of sandpaper
• A large red button or silver gems/silver star shape for putting in the middle of a paper bow

Don't forget to bring along your own drink of choice (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) and a plate of food and we'll bring the mince pies, soft drinks and tea and coffee.

Looking forward to seeing you all in festive mood next week,
Annamarie

Here’s what we did at our November Workshop!

Many thanks to everyone who attended our November Workshop last Thursday, we hope you enjoyed the class.  We used the new Basic Grey Picadilly Collection of papers, stickers and diecuts to create two layouts and a greeting card.  Here’s a peek at what we made:

A small number of kits are still available from the Workshop costing €12.50 so if you’d like one they’re now available ONLINE and include full instructions.
Don’t forget, bookings are now open for our Christmas Party Workshop on Thursday 8th December 2011 from 7pm to 11pm in Whitehall Parish Centre.  Tickets are available to purchase ONLINE now and cost €30.00.  It promises to be a fun night with a Scrapbook Workshop, a Home Décor Workshop and crafty and not so crafty prizes! 
Hope to see you there!

Dublin Scrapbooking Workshop–Thursday November 17th at 7pm

Hi everyone,

Just announcing details of our November Workshop at Whitehall Parish Centre this Thursday November 17th 2011 from 7pm to 10pm. For the month that's in it, we'll be hopefully brightening up the dark evening by using the new Basic Grey Picadilly Collection of papers and embellishments.

The kit (seen below) includes: 6 sheets of Basic Grey Picadilly 12" x 12" double sided papers, 1 sheet of BG Picadilly Elements Stickers and 1 pack of Basic Grey Picadilly Petals.

This month, we’re creating two layouts:

The first layout is open themed, with a blue colour scheme so it would suit photos with blues, reds and yellows in them. I used two 4” x 6” portrait format photos with white borders in this layout. I chose pictures of a little boy wearing a blue babygro against a blue background for this layout.

The second layout is again open themed with a green and red colour scheme so it would suit photos with greens, reds and blues in them. For this layout I used a 4” x 6” landscape format photo (no border) but you could use two 4” x 6” landscape format photos instead. I chose a close up photo of a little girl wearing green and sitting on a red slide for this layout.

You’ll also need to bring the following:
A paper trimmer
Glue
Foam Pads
A 1.5” circle punch
Green Ink (I used Versa Tea Leaves)
A white gel pen and a thin black felt tip pen
a small piece of sandpaper or a sanding tool
Red alphabet stickers (I used Basic Grey Jovial stickers) to add a title. It’s a great chance to use up those alpha stickers you have hanging around so bring along a selection of browns, blues, greens, yellow or black too.

Workshop places cost €25.00 and can be booked online HERE or paid for on the night. If available, spare kits can be purchased online about a week after the Workshop.
If you'd like to attend the Workshop just email workshops@thescrapbookstore.ie or telephone 086-8441159.

Hope to see you there,
Annamarie

Finished photos of our October Workshop with Prima Printery!

Thanks to everyone who came along to our October Workshop last night. We used the fabulous new Prima Printery Collection of papers, Prima Bretton Vines and Prima Say It In Crystals to create these beautiful layouts. If you didn’t manage to get both layouts finished I have emailed everyone who attended with close up photos of the finished layouts so you can finish them off at home.

Thanks to the lovely Tracy for her beautiful cakes, they were delish and we were well and truly spoiled!

If you fancy coming along to our next Workshop on November 17th in Whitehall Parish Centre you can find all the details on the forum www.scrapbooking.ie or on the blog closer to the time.

This weekend, we’re opening bookings for our December Christmas Party Workshop. It’s going to be a fun party night at Whitehall Parish Centre on Thursday December 8th from 7pm to 11pm packed with prizes, layouts and Christmas home décor ideas. Places will be limited and will have to be booked and paid for in advance. If you’re not already signed up for our newsletter, sign up now HERE and you’ll receive all the details of our upcoming events.

 

Thanks to our Guest Designer/Tutor ... Michelle La Grue!

Many thanks to our Guest Designer/Tutor Michelle La Grue for teaching our September 2011 Workshop. Michelle treated everyone to a beautiful layout and card made using the new My Minds Eye Lost & Found 2 Collection of papers, stickers and diecuts. Here's a look at the finished layout and card:

We'd really recommend you check out Michelle's blog www.whatsseldomiswonderful.blogspot.com and be prepared to be inspired by her amazing creations ... and energy! I was so impressed with her latest project that I just had to share it here with you ... WOW! It's made using the MME 12 Days of Christmas papers and Spellbinders Stars Nestabilities and we think it's AMAZING!!!

Our next Workshop is Thursday October 27th 2011 from 7pm to 10pm at Whitehall Parish Centre. Here's a look at the kit:

Bookings are now being taken and you can email us on workshops@thescrapbookstore.ie or BOOK ONLINE NOW. Workshops are suitable for all levels, including beginners. You'll need basic crafting tools to take part and full details of the Workshop will be posted here about a week before the Workshop date.

Hope to see you there,

Come along to our September 29th 2011 Workshop & Crop–Sneak Peeks!

Hi again,

We hope you'll be able to join us for the start of another season of Workshops at the Whitehall Parish Centre, Dublin 9 next Thursday 29th September 2011 from 7pm to 10pm.

This month TheScrapbookStore.ie is delighted to be joined by our guest tutor, Michelle La Grue, who will be teaching a fantastic class using the new My Minds Eye, Lost and Found 2 Collection. The Workshop involves creating a stunning card and a beautiful 12" x 12" scrapbook layout.

Here are a few sneaky peeks:

The Workshop Fee is €25.00 and includes a full kit, tuition and refreshments. The kit includes four sheets of double sided paper, a cardstock diecut title, a sheet of label stickers, twine and a toothpick.

To complete the Workshop you'll also need to bring along the following items:

• One 6" x 4" portrait Black & White photograph. The title on the layout is "Dream Big" so bring along a photo to suit the colours of the papers/embellishments and the title!
• Tim Holtz Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink
• Foam Pads
• Double Sided tape
• Glue Dots
• Scissors
• Paper Trimmer
• Corner Rounder (we have one to share also)
• Leaf punch (we have one to share also)

The Workshop is suitable for beginners or experienced cardmakers and scrapbookers/papercrafters.

To book your place just email workshops@thescrapbookstore.ie or post your name below.

Hope to see you there,
Annamarie

Finished Layouts from the June Workshop and July Crop News!

Hi everyone,

Thanks to everyone who came along to our June Workshop.  As promised here are the finished layouts:

If you missed the Workshop, we have a few spare kits available in the store!  So don’t delay as stock is extremely limited!  Click here to BUY ONLINE!  The kits come with full step by step instructions and photos of the layouts and are so easy to follow.  If you have some butterfly stamps, punches or dies you could use them to create extra embellishments on the layouts.

And now for news of our July Crop.  We won’t be teaching a Workshop this month, instead we’re having a fun packed challenge night on Thursday July 28th from 7pm to 10pm in Whitehall Parish Centre.  Crop spaces cost €10.00.  The challenges will include:

• Layout and Cards Scrap Challenge
• A Super Sketch Challenge
• Tag Card Challenge
• and a few other fun challenges

We’ll be posting further details of what’s involved in the challenges and a list of everything you’ll need to bring later in the month.  All of the details will also be included in our July Newsletter so if you haven’t already signed up you can sign up online now!

Hope to see you there,

Annamarie

Our Dublin Workshop–Thursday 23rd June 2011

Counting down to our June Workshop this Thursday June 23rd at Whitehall Parish Centre, Dublin 9.  This month we’re using the Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden Collection to create two beautiful layouts.

To take part in the Workshop you’ll need to bring along the following:

• A good scissors (we'll be doing what they call "fussycutting" )
• A paper distresser (or you can use the edge of a scissors)
• Distress Ink (Antique Linen and blue if you have some)
• A paper trimmer
• Adhesive for paper and buttons
• Butterfly/dragonfly stamps or butterfly/dragonfly punches if you have some

Photos:

• Three 4" x 6" portrait format photos with white edges for layout 1
• Two 4" x 6" portrait or landscape format photos with white edges for layout 2

Workshop places cost €25.00 and include kit, tuition and home baking.  Crop spaces are also available at €10.00.

To book your place email us at workshops@thescrapbookstore.ie or telephone/text Annamarie at 086-2065346.

Hope to see you there!

Annamarie

May Workshop thanks and finished layouts!

Huge thanks to everyone who came along to our May Workshop at the Whitehall Parish Centre, Dublin last Thursday 26th May.  It was another full house and everyone’s completed layouts were absolutely stunning. 

This month we created two layouts using the new Pink Paislee Hometown Summer Collection of papers, chipboard and alphabets.  We chose to use photos of Summertime in the garden with the kids  for the demo layout, but on the night everyone chose their own theme and title.  Here are photos of the completed layouts:

Our next outing in Whitehall is on Thursday June 23rd from 7pm to 10pm and we’re staying on the Pink Paislee trip!  We’ll be creating another two layouts using the new Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden Collection.  Why not join us for an evening of crafty fun, chat and home baking?  You can book your place by emailing workshops@thescrapbookstore.ie or telephoning/texting 086-2065346.

Hope to see you there,

Annamarie

May 26th Workshop–Sneak Peeks!

Counting down to our monthly Workshop in Whitehall Parish Centre, Dublin 9 this Thursday May 26th 2011.  This month we’re creating two beautiful 12” x 12” layouts using the fantastic new Pink Paislee Hometown Summer Collection.  It’s a bumper €15.00 worth of kit this month with Bazzill Cardstock, five sheets of Pink Paislee Hometown Summer double sided paper, a pack of Hometown Summer Chipboard Pops stickers and a pack of Pink Paislee Lemon Cushies.

Here’s a few sneak peeks:

To take part in the Workshop you'll need to bring

• a scissors,
• paper trimmer,
• adhesive for sticking paper,
• and black or brown ink (I used Antique Linen Distress Ink).  

For the first layout you'll need:

• One 4" x 6" photo and one 3" x 4" photo, printed with white borders, both portrait format. 
• For the 2nd layout you'll need: two 4" x 6" portrait format photos and one 4" x 6" landscape format photo. 

As always, the photos can be added later if you don't have suitable ones on the night.

The colours are bright reds, greens and yellows and will suit a Summer or Summer Holiday theme.  The layouts are open themed as you'll have a sheet of alphabet Cushies stickers to decide on your own title on the night.

Workshop places cost €25.00 and include a kit, tuition, homebaking, tea & coffee.  Crop spaces cost €10.00 if you would like to attend and work on your own projects.  You can book a workshop place or a crop space by emailing workshops@thescrapbookstore.ie, by texting 086-2065346.

Hope to see you there,

Annamarie

Sneak Peeks of our April Workshop!

If you’re interested in taking part in our April Workshop, here’s what you need to know ……

We’ll be creating an open themed scrapbook layout using papers and embellishments from the new Basic Grey Curio Collection. The Workshop costs €25.00, is suitable for papercrafters of all levels and all materials are supplied. While the papers are beautifully detailed with a vintage feel, they are also suitable for modern photos. So bring along a few of your favourite photos and get scrappin’!

Our monthly Workshops are stand-alone modules so you can just come along any month you choose and take part. Mark the date in your diary, Whitehall Parish Centre, Dublin 9, Thursday 28th April 2011 from 7pm to 10pm.

Here’s what you’ll need to bring:

Essentials

• A paper trimmer and scissors
• Adhesive for sticking paper to paper
• Strong double-sided tape for making the box flower
• Photographs: We used two 4” x 6” portrait format photos with white borders but you could use two 4” x 6” landscape format photos or alternatively a larger photo, not exceeding 8” x 6” ,portrait style. Photos can be colour (if they match the papers) or black and white, they can be modern or vintage as the theme of the layout is open.

Bring these also if you have them (we will have some to share on the day):

• A decorative border/edger punch e.g. Martha Stewart Doily Lace or Martha Stewart Deep Edge Flower but any decorative border/edger punch will do
• A scalloped circle punch (3” or 2.5”) and a plain circle punch (2.5” or 2”)
• A paper piercer or needle to make a hole for the brad
• You may like to ink the edges of the paper, if so, bring along some Ranger Distress Ink in Walnut Stain.

Hope you can make it and if you have any questions just email Annamarie at workshops@thescrapbookstore.ie

Looking forward to meeting you this month!

A great night at our March Workshop!

Thanks to everyone who came along to our March Workshop last Thursday in Whitehall Parish Centre.  It was another full house and I hope you all enjoyed yourselves.  We used the new Cosmo Cricket Salt Air Collection of papers, chipboard and buttons to create the two layouts with a summer/swimming pool theme.

As promised, here are the finished layouts just in case you didn’t get them finished on the night.

We have two of the new Cosmo Collections in stock at the moment.  The Salt Air Collection and the gorgeous Social Club Collection.  There are 12” x 12” papercrafting kits, 6” x 6” paper pads, buttons, Butterflies & Doilies die cuts and chipboard available.  See all of our new products here.

The date of our April Workshop is to be confirmed.  With the Easter celebrations, the Centre may be closed for a few days but I hope to have news of the date by Monday.

We have a limited number of class kits available from the February and March Workshops and they are on sale now at TheScrapbookStore.ie here.

Our February Workshops in Athlone & Dublin!

Counting down the days until our February Workshop in Whitehall Parish Centre, Dublin 9 on Thursday 17th February 2011 from 7pm to 9pm and again until our Athlone Workshop (venue to be confirmed) on Sunday 27th February from 12pm to 5pm.

This month we're creating a double layout using the new My Minds Eye Fine and Dandy Collections and for added variety you get a choice of our boy or girl paper set. Here are the layouts:

The Workshop is suitable for intermediate or advanced scrapbookers. You will be provided with all of the materials necessary (papers, cardstock and stickers) to complete the layouts but you will need to bring some basics:

Paper Trimmer

Scissors

Craft Knife and Cutting Mat

Foam Dots

Adhesive for gluing paper

Distress Ink (Antique Linen works best)

Tweezers

Black fine tip felt pen

OPTIONAL: If you have some large alphabet letters to suit the colours in the papers bring them along to create a bold title.

Photos: For the girl Layout 1 - Two 4" x 6" portrait format photos with white border, for Layout 2 - One 4" x 6" portrait format photo plus three credit card sized photos all with white borders.

Photos: for the boy Layout 1 - One 4" x 6" landscape format photo with white border, for Layout 2 - Three 4" x 6" portrait format photos with white borders.

If you'd like to book a place at either Workshop, workshop places cost €25.00 and include Kit, refreshments and tuition. Crop only spaces are available at the Dublin Workshop and cost €10.00 where you can come along to shop, crop and work on your own projects.

Bookings can be made ONLINE or by telephone/text on 086-2065346.

Hope to see you there,

Annamarie

Whitehall Parish Centre "Inspiration Evening"

To ease you all into the New Year, we're holding our monthly crop in Whitehall Parish Centre next Thursday January 20th 2011 at 7.00pm.

Instead of a class, we're holding ..... at the risk of sounding a little like Hyacinth Bucket ;-) .... an Inspiration Evening featuring a layout by the extremely talented Michelle! 

The idea is as follows:

• Bring along your own crafty tools plus;
• some favourite paper combinations from your own crafty stash and;
• use Michelle's layout as inspiration to create your own masterpiece. 

Michelle will be on hand during the night to assist you with questions and it's an ideal opportunity to use some of those gorgeous papers you've been storing up.  As the background sheet is white, it will match most papers in your stash.

You can of course purchase the papers Michelle used in her layout.  They're from the Crate Paper Doll Collection and you will also need 1 sheet of Bazzill Cardstock with an Edge, Flower Shape in White to complete the layout.  We have plenty of the Bazzill in the shop.

 

Here's what Michelle used in her layout:

• 1 sheet of Bazzill Cardstock with an Edge - Flower White
• I cardstock title from the Crate Paper Doll Collection, Title Stickers pack
• 1 pack of Silver Rhinestones/Gems
• Quarter sheet of green cardstock
• Small amount of white Tulle
• Half sheet of various Crate Paper Doll Collection papers
• Half yard of grosgrain ribbon – pink
• Pink thread
• Spare cardboard to provide stablility
• To make into a wall hanging – 2 eyelets and piece of ribbon or you could keep it as a layout.

You will also need the following tools:

• Scissors
• Paper Trimmer
• Tweezers
• Glue dots
• Foam pads
• Pink ink pad or if using your own papers bring a co-ordinating ink pad to suit your papers
• White paint to edge photo
• Border punch – Michelle used Martha Stewarts doily lace (but it is not working properly so it cannot be used at the class SORRY!) so bring along another fancy border punch.
• Sewing needle or mini paper stitching machine
• Circle punches (small and medium)
• Leaf punches if available

If you'd like to book a place at our Inspiration Evening please email workshops@thescrapbookstore.ie.  Places cost €10.00 and include tea, coffee, home baking and as always, a warm welcome and great company!

How to ... A coloured heart with white text - Perfect for Love cards & Valentines!

If, like me, you're a fan of white journalling but never seem to have the right white rub-on or sticker then this tutorial is for you.

If, like me, you know someone who got engaged over the Christmas period you can use this technique to create a beautiful Engagement card!

I used the technique to create this gorgeous coloured heart to use as a centrepiece for an Engagement card (with different wording of course).  The beauty of creating this heart (or you could make a flower, star etc.) is that once you've done it and saved it to your pc you can change the colour and text very easily and adapt it for use in lots of projects.

To Create the Card I used:

• The new Pink Paislee Sweetness Collection (available now at TheScrapbookStore.ie) for the background (Yellow), foreground (Blue with roses), accordian flower, and the individual flower on the edge of the heart was cut from the blue with roses sheet.
• The Martha Stewart Flower Bed Deep Edger Punch to create the accordian flower.
• A piece of Bazzill Grosgrain Ribbon

To Create the Heart you'll need:

• A piece of white cardstock
• A computer with colour printer
• Software e.g. Photoshop CS or Photoshop Elements

Note: I also used some shading and overlay effects on this heart but the following tutorial is for a simple coloured heart without effects.  If you know your way around Photoshop and would like to know how I got the effects on the heart just drop me an email to workshops@thescrapbookstore.ie and I'll send you back the instructions.

Step 1

• Decide on the size of card you'll use e.g. I'm using an A5 (210mm x 148mm) size card in landscape format.  
• To fit on this size card, the heart can be no taller than 148mm or slightly less if you want it to fit perfectly.
• So I've gone into Photoshop and created a new document and made it 148mm x 148mm as I like my hearts roughly the same width and height, and I've made the resolution 300dpi as I'll be printing it out!

Your screen should now look like this:

Step 2 - Drawing the Heart

Now we're ready to draw our heart!

• Select the "Custom Shape Tool" from the side menu.  Once you've done this the Custom Shape Menu will appear at the top of the screen.

• Click on the drop down arrow to the right of the word "Shape" at the top of the screen and you'll see a drop down listing of all the shapes available.

• Click on the Heart shape and your cursor will turn into a cross. 
• Using the mouse, bring the cross to the point where you want your heart to start being drawn.  Tip: if you want the heart to fill the whole box then position your cursor about 1mm from the top left hand corner.
• Press the left button on your mouse and drag the cursor down and across the page, the heart will be drawn as you do this.  Once you hold the button as you're dragging, the heart will continue to be drawn, once you let go of the button the heart will be complete.

• You can now use the "Move Tool" to move the heart around the box so it's positioned exactly where you want it.
• If the heart isn't the correct size, you can adjust it by clicking and dragging any of the small boxes around the heart (holding the shift key as you're doing this keeps the heart from becoming distorted)
• You should also notice the "Layers" palette on the right hand column of the screen.  It now shows a new layer with a heart shape and beside the shape it shows a colour swatch (the default colour is black).
• To change the colour of your heart simply double click in the colour swatch box and pick your colour using the colour picker or by dialling in an RGB reference or # number.  For our red heart we used a #number of b23038

Step 3 - Creating the Text

• To create the text, select the Text Tool from the left hand column, change the font to one of your choice (we used Fontdinerdotcom Sparkly font at 72pt size - available FREE at www.fontdiner.com).
• Make sure the text colour is set to WHITE and type in your words.
• Once you've typed in the words, you can use to the Move Tool to move the text block to position it correctly in the heart if necessary.

Step 4 - Save and Print

• Now, simply save the document and print it out onto White Bazzill or similar and cut it out with a  scissors.