Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Layout Tuesday: Happy Halloween!

Good morning, and welcome to Layout Tuesday at Creations Galore! 


I've had some small black and white photos sitting around from Halloween a few years back. I had always planned to create a mini album with all the photos, but, as we all know, life happens. With the holiday tomorrow, there's no better time than now to create something with them! The bright colors that compose the Haunted Manor collection from Doodlebug bring life to these photos and was a perfect choice for this layout! 



The Haunted Manor collection includes a 12 x 12 page of cardstock die cuts. This addition made embellishing the layout easy!


Most of my scrapbook pages are created using a sketch as inspiration. However, for this page, I began arranging the small photos on the page, and cut patterned papers from the collection to fill in the spaces. It was a fun puzzle, trying to complete a solid square from all the components. 


How cute are these ghosts? The collection has a selection of mini dimensional stickers to choose from - pumpkins, ghosts, and spiders!


To finish the page, I added accents and journaling with a white gelly roll pen and black pigment marker. You could recreate this look by adding journaling, names, or dates to your pictures with photo editing software before printing. 


You can find more from the Haunted Manor Collection in our online store by clicking this link
Thanks for stopping by the blog today. We hope you have a happy and safe Halloween!

SUPPLIES:


Monday, October 29, 2012

This Week's Make N Takes

Happy Monday followers! It's a new week, and we're offering three new, gorgeous cards for you to create. Each card is only $2 and includes all the tools and materials needed to create it. Just bring along your own adhesive. This is perfect for beginner to advanced card makers... It's self paced with step-by-step instructions, someone is on hand to demonstrate if needed, and it always includes new products and techniques for everyone to try! 

Stop into Creations Galore any time during store hours... The Make N Take station is always open! We just ask for you to come in at least an hour before close. For more information, feel free to give us a call at (920) 983-0033 or visit us here. No need to reserve a spot... Just head on in at YOUR OWN CONVENIENCE. How neat is that?!

This week's cards will be available Monday, October 29th - Saturday, November 3rd.

Card One: Never Stop Dancing

 

SUPPLIES Cardstock: Paper Cut. Patterned Paper: We R Memory Keepers. Stamps: Penny Black. Inks: Memento (Tuxedo Black), Prismacolor Pencils. Punch: EK Success Large Round Corner.

Card Two: Christmas Tree


SUPPLIES Cardstock: Paper Cut. Stamps: A Muse, Peachy Keen. Inks: Marvy (Red), Memento (Tuxedo Black).

Card Three: You're A Hoot


SUPPLIES Cardstock: American Crafts, Paper Cut. Stamps: Market Street Stamps. Inks: Versamark Watermark, Ranger Embossing Powder (Clear), Memento (Rich Cocoa, Bamboo Leaves).

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Paper of the Week: Open Sleigh


Thank you for joining us today. At Creations Galore, we have so much paper, we're not sure you'll ever see it all. That's why we've dedicated one day a week to bringing you one of our favorites, giving you the opportunity to say, "Wow, they have that?" Today, we're showcasing Open Sleigh, a 12 x 12 inches double sided paper from BasicGrey's Aspen Frost Collection. 


The Aspen Frost Collection has bright colors and fun patterns, but also includes realistic and warm images, like the birch wood on Open Sleigh. Let's look at a few more products available from this great winter collection:







Follow this link to shop this collection online, or visit us at 3164 Coronet Way, Green Bay, WI. We'd love for you to visit!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Class Spotlight: Beautiful Backgrounds


Join us tomorrow at 10:00 AM for the Beautiful Backgrounds Class. You'll learn a wide variety of embossing, resist, and stamping techniques. Discover uses for inks, vellum, and glossy papers, while creating 5 gorgeous cards with envelopes! 

All materials, except adhesive, are included. Class cost: $20

All students must pre-register. To do so, give Nicole, your class instructor, a call at (920) 983-0033 or sign up online by clicking this link.






Monday, October 22, 2012

This Week's Make N Takes

Happy Monday followers! It's a new week, and we're offering three new, gorgeous cards for you to create. Each card is only $2 and includes all the tools and materials needed to create it. Just bring along your own adhesive. This is perfect for beginner to advanced card makers... It's self paced with step-by-step instructions, someone is on hand to demonstrate if needed, and it always includes new products and techniques for everyone to try! 

Stop into Creations Galore any time during store hours... The Make N Take station is always open! We just ask for you to come in at least an hour before close. For more information, feel free to give us a call at (920) 983-0033 or visit us here. No need to reserve a spot... Just head on in at YOUR OWN CONVENIENCE. How neat is that?!

This week's cards will be available Monday, October 22nd - Saturday, October 27th.


Card One: Dance 


SUPPLIES Cardstock, Platinum Vellum: Paper Cut. Glitter Paper: American Crafts. Stamps: Inkadinkado. Ink: StazOn (Jet Black). Vellum Adhesive: MyStik.


Card Two: Holiday Birds


SUPPLIES Cardstock: Paper Cut. Stamps: Northwoods, A Muse. Inks: Versamark Watermark, Ranger Embossing Powder (Gold), StazOn (Jet Black). 

Card Three: Thank You


SUPPLIES Cardstock: Paper Cut. Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny. Stamps: Peachy Keen Stamps. Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black).

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Class Spotlight: Scrapbook Design


Another session of Scrapbook Design will be starting next week, and we want to make sure you don't miss out on this great class! 

The curriculum starts at the very beginning! In these classes you will learn about the emotional value of scrapbooking along with the basics on how to plan and prepare for a scrapbook project. Learn about color theory, layout design, journaling, and embellishments! These classes present the foundation for beginners while exposing advanced students to view scrapbooking in a whole new light. By the time you have completed the entire course you will be well versed in how to develop strong layout designs. The Scrapbook Design workbook will be a valuable reference tool as you continue your scrapbooking journey.

The core Scrapbook Design curriculum provides each student with:

A 4-part education series for every level.
A chance to get acquainted with tools of the trade.
The opportunity to learn successful color selection & layout design theory.
An appreciation for the importance of journaling, hand lettering and titles in design.
New techniques for matting photos, getting stickers out of the collections, and giving new life to punches. 
A certificate of completion upon finishing the entire course.

One fee of $45 covers 4 separate 2-hour classes!  
Class includes (for the 4-week duration of class):

Scrapbook Design Workbook
Unlimited use of our Crop Room*
15% off store purchases*
All the scrapbook knowledge you can take in
One-on-One time with the instructor to create pages and projects unique to you
Use of our punches, die cutting machines, paper cutters, and tools
Graduate certificate upon completion

To register, call Nicole, Certified Scrapbook Design Instructor, at (920) 983-0033 or register online here. We're so excited to spread the love of scrapbooking with you! Sign up today.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Paper of the Week: Tennis Love

Happy Friday, Bloggers! It's our monthly Midnight Crop today at Creations Galore, and the store is full  of card makers, scrapbookers, and altered book makers. It's also the day to debut our newest Paper of the Week! 

Creations Galore has 10,000 square feet of paper crafting supplies; therefore, you're bound to miss something when you come by. That's why we've dedicated every Friday to the love of paper. This week we're showing off I Love Tennis, the 12x12 paper from Karen Foster. 

I Love Tennis 12x12 Paper

And let's not forget some coordinating products: 

Green Tennis Collage 12x12 Paper

Tennis Stripe 12x12 Paper
Thanks for stopping by the blog today, and don't forget to stop into the store at 3164 Coronet Way in Green Bay, Wisconsin soon!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Essential Scrapbooking Tools

Hi! It's Nicole, the Creative Genius of Creations Galore, here to share some of my favorite scrapbooking products! Another session of Scrapbook Design is about to start, and I'm getting excited to share the love of scrapbooking with some new students. In the first class, each student will get to try out tools and supplies, determining which is the best for them. Are you new to scrapbooking? We'd love for you to join us for class... Until then, let's look at some of the basic tools that scrapbookers rely on to create their layouts.
Cutterpede Straight Edge Trimmer

1. A good paper trimmer is a must have! You'll want a reliable trimmer that will create clean, straight lines. If you're working with 12" x 12" cardstock and papers, you'll want a trimmer that can cut 12" or larger pieces. For at home, I love working with the Large Base Guillotine from Tonic Studios. It has a safety paper clam that makes crisp straight lines. They even have a a smaller, more portable version that still cuts 12" x 12" materials and saves on space! For crops, I prefer the very lightweight, slim Cutterpede Straight Edge Trimmer from EK Success. It cuts full 12" x 12" papers but has an extended measuring guide that extends to 15". The clear top allows you to see right where you're cutting, perfect for cropping photos. The replaceable sling knife blade can easily be replaced with a scoring blade or other creative blades to alter the looks of your paper. No more crooked lines from decorative scissors!

Honey Bee Scissors
2. In addition to your paper trimmer, you'll want a sharp pair of scissors. I carry the Honey Bee Scissors with me everywhere! It cuts ribbon without fraying the ends, has comfort grip handles and a safety cover, the non-stick blades cut stickers, foam risers and tape with ease, and the pointed tip is perfect for cutting in small areas and tight corners.

MyStik Permanent
Adhesive
3. Adhesives. There are so many different adhesives out there that I could do a separate post devoted to them! I would recommend finding both a wet and dry adhesive to use, as they serve different purposes. Dry adhesives provide mess-free results and are easy to use. My personal favorite is the MyStik Permanent Adhesive. It truly is permanent, and I've never had problems with the adhesive roll getting stuck in their precision wheel. It has an adjustable grip, giving me personalized comfort. You can personalize it with photos or patterned paper, making it easy to find at crops. And my favorite feature? You can mix and match any of the MyStik refills (permanent, vellum, and repositionable) in the dispenser you originally bought!

Glossy Accents
Wet adhesives are great for adhering small die cuts, ribbons, and other embellishments. For small die cut letters, I pull out the Quickie Glue Pen. Because it writes like a ballpoint pen, it eliminates the hassle of shaking and squeezing. You can write on the smallest of paper pieces and rhinestones, as well as draw or write anything, sprinkle with glitter, and achieve spectacular effects! For ribbons and metal embellishments, I use Glossy Accents. A 3-Dimensional Medium, Glossy Accents turns any sticker, paper piece, or stamped image into an epoxy sticker. But it can be used as an adhesive too! If you're a fan of Tim Holtz, you're sure to have seen him use this to adhere ribbons, metal embellishments, and buttons!

With adhesive, comes adhesive remover! Let's face it: There will be times where we will want to move a photo we've already glued to the paper, we'll accidentally transfer too much of a rub on, and we'll squeeze more glue than was needed. For these moments, I run to my Adhesive Remover and Un-Du. The Adhesive Remover from EK Success is an affordable tool at only $1.99, and with a quick rub easily removes rub ons and excess adhesive. Un-Du is an acid free and photo safe sticker, tape, and label remover. It also works great for removing grease, tar, gum, and candle wax. It's a must have in the scrap room!

ZIG Writer - Black
4. To preserve your thoughts, journaling, and memories for years to come, use only archival markers and pens designed specifically for use in your scrapbooks. Archival markers will not fade or change color over time. They also won't bleed if they come in contact with moisture. These markers come in a wide variety of colors and tip styles; therefore, the hardest part comes in choosing just one! Have fun with your journaling markers and pens, even experiment with calligraphy. When starting out, I recommend the ZIG Writer in Black. It dries fast and has a dual tip that is sure to be perfect for any style of lettering.

Heavy Duty Circle Punch
5. As a beginner, it's easy to become overwhelmed by all the unique shape cutting tools and punches available. Therefore, I recommend starting with tools that create basic geometric shapes, such as circles and squares. Look out for nesting shapes, punches, or a circle cutting tool that cuts a variety of sizes. You may also want to invest in a Corner Adorner to round the corners of your photos, mats, and papers. I suggest the Rounder Punch from EK Success. Having a basic hole punch on hand is nice as well. I prefer a 1/8 inch size to assist in adding brads, eyelets, and ribbons to my layouts.

With just a few basic tools, you'll be able to make a variety of layouts! Don't feel you need to purchase every tool on the market to begin scrapbooking. Grab your photos, some paper, and a tool or two, and begin the journey of preserving your precious memories!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Recently Added To Our Online Store

We're always adding products to our online store... Here are just a few of the categories that were updated this week. Click the link above each picture to be taken to that section. How about a little special today? Enter "OCTSPECIAL" in the notes section of your order form to take 15% off your entire order! {Code expires 10/31/12}

England Paper & Embellishments