{capture the moment}

Senior DT Challenge: 2009 Photo Finish Cards

We decided to revisit another popular theme from last year for this month's Senior Design Team Challenge!  The challenge was to create a Christmas/Holiday card that incorporates photos (you can see last year's projects HERE). Pretty much everyone slips a photo inside their holiday cards before they are inserted into the envelope, but why not see inspiration for really unique, beautiful ways to incorporate them into the card design itself?

Click Heather Nichols' complete project HERE.

See Becky Oehlers' complete project HERE.

See Lisa Johnson's complete project HERE.

 

See Michelle Wooderson's complete project HERE.

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See Lauren Meader's complete project HERE.

See Anabelle O'Malley's complete project HERE.

I hope one of these projects inspires you to take your photo cards to the next level this year!  It's amazing HOW many things you can do to incorporate photos without using a boring 4x6!   Enjoy and happy stamping!!!

Happy Tuesday!

I apologize for the silence over here on the blog.  Things have been a bit busy around here and I haven't had a single spare moment!  I thought I would stop in and share a few random tidbits wit you that you might find of interest!

-I just got back from a short trip to Cincinnati for the PTI Annual Planning Meeting with Julie & Jane!  We've planned out all of the exciting things that we will be bringing to the table in 2010.  Let's just say it is going to be an AMAZING year!

 
-I've been struggling to keep up with grocery shopping and meal planning the last few months and stumbled upon an AWESOME resource that you may be interested in!  The Six O'Clock Scramble sends me a full week-long menu plan AND grocery list every Wednesday.  They are all SUPER healthy family meals and usually only take 15-30 minutes to prepare.  This resource they have created has made my life so much easier!

-I bet you've been wondering about the Honorable Mentions from the October Guest Star Stamper Contest?  I have a bit of work to get caught up on in the next few days, but I hope to post the winners and Top Trios on Thursday or Friday!  So keep your eye out!

-Have you ever visited the Simply Hue blog before?  It is one of my favorite places to go when I need some color inspiration!  If you've never been, be sure to check it out!

-Did you see Debbie Olson's latest project made with the new Giga Guide Lines?  It is so different from anything else I have seen made with this set and I am just head over heels in love with it!!!!

-I've been seeing a lot of Take Note projects popping up here and there.  Have you made anything yet that you have posted online?  I would love to see it!  Please leave your link in the comment section so I can take a peek!

Well, I am going to sign off for now!  I've got a very busy day with an Awards Ceremony at the school to attend this morning, grocery shopping (with my Six O'Clock Scramble list in tow!), haircuts for the boys after school and schedules & acceptance letters to type up tonight in my office after the kids are all tucked in their beds!  Phew!  Almost makes me tired just thinking about it! 

I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday!  Make time to stamp something today!

Notepad Cover Download

Hello, all!  I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend thus far!  We pre-purchased tickets a few weeks ago to take the kids down to the Nashville IMAX theater for the opening of Where the Wild Things are yesterday.  I loved the book as a child myself so I was very much looking forward to it!  The movie ended up being not quite we expected and actually pretty disappointing.  Have any of you seen it yet?  What id you think of it?

There have been quite a few requests/questions about the notepad cover I did for THIS POST from last week, using our new exclusive notepads.  I put together a free download for all of you to utilize in making your own versions of the notepad covers...

Download Notepad Pocket Cover Template (double)

Download Notepad Pocket Cover Template (single)

You'll notice that it has a built-in curved pocket flap.  You just fold it over to the inside of the the cover and adhere it along the bottom edge.  Super easy.  These templates are actual size, so you can just print and go if you wish.

There are two versions of the download, one for a double notepad, like I showed in my original post, and one for a single notepad.  I would love see what you create with this template is you put it to use!

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!!!

 

P.S. For those of you that have inquired as to when our popular Take Note stamp set will be back in stock, it should only be about a two week wait!  Thanks for your excitement about this new product!

More October Release Inspiration!

Our Distinguished Guest Designer, Anabelle O'Malley has been busy over at her blog this week!  She has been posting projects using the new October release products everyday for the last three days.  If you haven't taken a peek recently and want more inspiration for the new stamps you have coming your way, be sure to check her out!

A few of my favorite things...

"The morning after" is always one of my favorite times of the big release week.  When I get up, I make myself a cup of tea and hop on the forum to see everyone's reaction to the new products released the night before.  And this is also when I take a look at all the Design Team galleries.  Have I ever mentioned that I get to work with the best designers in the business?  Really, they're just the cream of the crop. They make magic with our products and I get SO incredibly inspired every time I see their latest creations! 

In fact, their galleries were looking SO good this month, I thought I would share a few of my favorite projects, just in case you happened to miss them!

 
Betsy Veldman made the most incredible gift packaging using Vintage Ornaments for some 3D tags to adorn the new Around Town Tote!

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I love the way Michelle Wooderson used Giga Guide Lines along the spine of her card, plus the grosgrain ribbon stamped with the snowflakes from 2009 Holiday Tag Collection is to die for!

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Melissa Phillips created these darling little tags using the gingerbread man from Holiday Button Bits.  I love the way she slipped them into the embossed glassine bags!  Such a special touch!

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Niki Estes used Flower Soft for snow under the little snowman from Holiday Tree.  I love the way her scalloped border made from Holiday Vintage Prints paper accents her color scheme!  Such a fantastic execution!

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Lisa Johnson made such an artistic statement with the little clusters of snowflakes stamped around this Holiday Tree.  Love the bling added to their centers too!

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Lauren Meader used the beautiful mistletoe tag from 2009 Holiday Tag Colelction as the focal point for one of her versions of Cash or Charge #2.  (Did you know you get THREE templates for the price of one with the Cash or Charge Collection...such a bargain!)  I loved the way she used Background Basics: Retro as a border through the center of the front.  The Copic coloring really echos the leaves of the mistletoe so well!

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Heather Nichols paired so many of my favorite things to make these beautiful little cards!  2009 Holiday Tag Collection was used for the focal point, then she used papers from In Bloom, Bitty Dots & Green Tea Leaves and Polka Dot Basics II stamp set to create the patchwork strip down the side.  The little hint of Text Style II is a perfect compliment too!

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Geny Cassady perfected the art of layered images with her card here.  Giga Guide Lines on top of patterned paper from Holiday Cheer and even over Text Style II.  Love the artistic, stylish look this created!

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Debbie Olson worked her magic with Vintage Ornaments.  She rally highlights how beautiful the patterns in Holiday Cheer can work together too!  Love the richness of this project!

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Dawn McVey used one of her signature bright & bold color combinations with Holiday Button Bits.  the single border from Polka Dot Basics II is an awesome look that I look forward to trying myself!  I love how simple this project is, perfect for mass producing but maintaining a high level of style!

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Becky Oehlers created colorful snowdrifts for this little Holiday Tree out of Bitty Dot Basics papers.  I love the way she layered the sentiment with the ribbon, button & twine too!

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I hope you enjoyed all of these as much as I did!  Have fun getting started on all those holiday projects you have been planning!