SEI November Desktop Calendar

In a continuing effort to keep up with technology, we have added THREE new sizes to our wallpapers! We now have an even bigger size along with two brand new styles-Ipad and Iphone! Hooray! Each is uniquely designed to fit your favorite I formats. We hope you enjoy!

1024 x 768   1280 x 1024   1600 x 1200   1900 x 1200   2650 x 1440
ipod 640 x 960    ipad 1024 x 1024

As always, Let us know if you have any questions. And don't forget that tomorrow, November 1st, is the last day to enter the link party!

Oh the Drama

Audrey used the Silver Valley collection for this layout. Surprised? She explains, "The reds and browns and blues are perfect for boy pages! And these colors also go well with kraft." So, there you have it. Silver Valley isn't just for winter.

"I stamped a whole lot of phrases onto kraft paper and added them to the perforated squares that come in this collection." What a fun and creative way to incorporate your journaling throughout the layout.

Those expressions are priceless! Thank you for sharing this layout and a year full of wonderful projects, Audrey. We send our best wishes and will make sure to keep in touch with you through your blog Audrey's Reflection.

3rd Thursday: Holiday Cheer

Club SEI's November papercrafting kit is all about holiday decorating and gift giving! You can learn how to make paper trees, gift boxes (never buy those boring white ones again) garlands, mini cards and so much more! Click here to see the entire contents.

We also posted about the November kit earlier this month, if you want to see some goodie shots and how the original wreath is designed. If you aren't a club member, you can still sign-up and receive it.

Jessica created a card holder! This would be great to do with your little children-you can trace their hands as the pattern for the leaves. She hot glued clothespins to pop up some of the pieces and to hold the cards. Be sure to alternate the directions of the clothes pins so there is room for everything.

Mandi's includes the click'n'print this month (a free download every club member gets) and is an advent calendar. Write a holiday activity on the back of each number and pick them out every day. Each number holder is a punched out circle with three score folds on the inside.


What wreath is your favorite? Do you like to create wreaths every year?

Holding On

The symbolism Lori used for her layout is very meaningful. We love how up-beat she is about the ups and downs of life. Rather than make a gloomy layout focusing on the rough times, she created a happy layout using the A Fair Day collection.

Here's what she said about it, "I used the roller coaster/ride theme to symbolize how my husband and I have been through so much lately - and our life has certainly been a roller coaster but he is still the one I want sitting beside me... kind of mushy I know - but it was a really good correlation of our 'now'."

These details are the icing on the cake. We especially like this grouping of splatters and pearls. Lovely job, Lori! We are looking forward to another year of your creations!

***REMEMBER: There are only 7 days left to participate in the link party. You can link up any project using SEI product or create something for the challenge. Everyone who links will be entered into a giveaway for a $25 shopsei.com gift card!

Pumpkin Fun

Halloween is less than a week away! There are so many fun traditions that lead up to the big day. One of our favorites is carving pumpkins.

Julie's layout shows off how fun this can be with little ones. She used the Homestead and Spooks collections combined for this traditional orange and black color combo.

She added details by combining elements from the sticker sheet and borders. A button, some baker's twine and misting complete the page.

The black glittery title pops off the page, accented by the row of pumpkins trimmed from the borders. Another lovely layout by Julie! We are sad to say this is her last creation for the SEI Design Team. Keep in touch with her by checking her blog Starting Now... We'll miss you, Julie!

Hay There Cutie! + Winner

Audrey never fails to impress! Today she has a stunning autumn layout to share. It's always fun to hear the designer explain their own project so we'll leave the rest up to her...

"This Homestead line is truly one of my favorites. The colors are just so different, yet so beautiful together. When I saw this purple plaid printed paper, it reminded me of this jacket that my daughter had, so the photo and papers went great together!"

"I stamped the background a bit with a textured stamp and stitched around the outside. For the muslin and burlap, I first treated these fabrics with a liquid fabric stiffner, then let them dry. They are very easy to cut when they are dry."

"I used some dies and my Big Shot for the journaling area and the scalloped piece on top. For the flower, I just twisted a piece of muslin and glued it, then misted it with spray inks to match."

Thank you, Audrey!

...And the winner of the giveaway from Friday is...

#36, juscorcw

Congrats! Please e-mail us your mailing address at seiblog{at}shopsei{dot}com to claim your prize.

Thankful Hanging Decor & Giveaway

As soon as I pulled out the Homestead collection this project came to mind. Then came the challenge of getting it just the way I wanted it.

I first printed leaves on the 6x6 paper.

Then I cut them out. I then used a piece of cardboard to mount the top part.

I used a hole punch and punched the holes for the ribbons. I attached them first so I wouldn't have put holes the main top piece.

I then attached the top piece to the cardboard. I took each leaf and decorated with a picture of each child.

Angie

Thank you for sharing your talents with us this week, Angie! It was fun to learn about you and get some great autumn project ideas as well.

Want to win some of the SEI goodies Angie used this week? To enter the giveaway leave a comment telling us which day was your favorite on the blog this week. The giveaway ends Sunday, October 23rd at 11:59 pm MST. Check back Monday to see if you are the winner.

Favorite Sayings for Titles or Journaling

Ever get in pinch for a title or journaling on a layout? Sometimes when I do, I hop over to Pinterest and get some great ideas. Here are few to help you.

from here

from here

from here

Angie

Angie's Favorite Blogs

When I need some inspiration for scrapbooking and life in general these are my "go to" blogs.

Great blog to help you pack a fun lunch for your kids.

This blog had some fun color palettes to help get you motivated scrap (or redecorate).

The are FREE tutorials on here for Photoshop Elements.

This is a great site for scrappy ideas and tips.

Angie

Autumn Scrapbook Layouts

I loved working with the beautiful Homestead collection! This line is full of beautiful, rich fall colors! I love the diecut leaves they just add so much to your page. I first used one of the chalk inks to distress the edges. Then I took a marker and highlighted the leaf creases. I also used the cute little journaling piece that is on the back of the rubons package for my title.

I wanted to use several sheets of the paper so I layered them. I then took the leaves to help make my title pop out a little.

Angie

My Kids' Favorite Pizza Casserole

Pizza Casserole

1 16oz box of Rotini noodles
1 lb. of hamburger
1 jar of pizza sauce
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese
pepperoni cut in to fours

First brown hamburger. While hamburger is browning cook noodles according to box. Drain noodles and combine 1 cup cheese, all the sauces, hamburger, and as much pepperoni as you want. Mix together and put into a 13 x 9 dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. I also like to put pepperoni on top. Cook at 350 for 45 minutes.

This is my go to recipe for a quick meal. You can also make this head of time and put in the oven the next day. Also I have split the casserole into 2 8x8 pans and froze one of them.

Angie

Guest Blogger, Angie Gutshall

Everyone give a warm welcome to next week's guest, Angie Gutshall! We are happy to have her visiting from her blog, My Little Blessings. Please stop by each day next week for something new and inspiring. There will be a giveaway next Friday too!

Hello My name is Angie Gutshall. I'm a stay at home mom of 4 blessings: Faith 6, Ty 5, and Noah 3, and Hannah 1. I live in James Creek Pa with my wonderful husband of 11 years, Brian. I have been scrapbooking for 6 years, since my first baby was born. I wanted to capture her memories and fell in love with scrapbooking since then and I never want to stop. I enjoy capturing moments and preserving them into my own style of scrapbooking. I prefer traditional scrapbooking so I can use my hands, my own ideas, and create my own layouts. I feel I have more of a creative outlet this way. I like to hand stitch on layouts. Another favorite is playing with mist/paint on layouts. I prefer to handwrite my journaling so my kids can know how personal it is.

I'm so excited to a guest this week for SEI and I can't wait to show some of my projects later this week.

You can find me here.

5 of my favorite things:
1. Chai Tea
2. A great pair of jeans
3. quiet time in the morning reading my Bible
4. seeing my kids smile
5. family time together

Angie

Club SEI November Kit

There are so many exciting goodies in the November Club SEI Papercrafting Kit! You have got to love these adorable gift wrapping ideas and decorative Christmas trees. If you aren't already a club member, sign up now to receive this kit.

Today we are going to give you three tips on using the wreath base included in the kit...
1. Staple each paper loop for faster and easier assembly.
2. Hot glue works best to attach the loops to the base.

3. Don't try to tie the metallic crepe paper into a bow. Instead, cut several pieces of crepe and attached them together. We used four pieces; one for the bow loops, one folded in half for the center of the bow, and two for the tails.

Remember we now offer a card-making kit, just in time for the holidays. You can find out more details or sign-up for the kit here. The instructions include plenty of ideas and techniques card-makers will love.

Autumn Wreath

We thought we'd switch it up a bit today with a fall wreath created by Audrey. The die-cuts from the Homestead collection work perfectly for autumn decorations. For example sew them on a string to make a garland, sprinkle them on a table to accent your centerpiece, or make a wreath, like Audrey! She explains how to do it...

"I inked the embossed surfaces and edges of the leaves from the Die Cut pack and then crumpled them a bit to give them some dimension."

"Then I hot glued them to a grape vine wreath and hang the wreath with a piece of burlap. Simple and beautiful!"

Don't forget to decorate for fall!