sei lifestyle

Valentine's Mailbox

2012-02-01T07:00:00.001-07:00

Jennifer made this adorable Valentine box using the Promise Me papers and embellishments. She has such a cute idea of how to use it. She explains...

"This was created with my 7 year old daughter in mind. I thought it would be fun to set up a little mailbox for 'love notes' between us and a great way to encourage her to expand her writing skills. I used lots of paper and stickers on this project to transform a dollar store purchase into something really special. And the Sweet Talk perforated sheet made for cute little 'letters'!"

Isn't it great that she found this mailbox at the dollar store? We are always impressed with what Jennifer can create with inexpensive items like frames, cereal boxes, gift bags, CD cases...

What are your Valentine's traditions? Do you do something sweet for your kids, like Jennifer?

SEI February Desktop Calendar

2012-01-31T17:00:00.000-07:00

Have you started your valentine's day projects yet? We know that lovey holiday isn't for the whole month, so enjoy a delicious and simply happy wallpaper all 29 days!

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ipod 640 x 960 ipad 1024 x 1024

As always let us know if you have any questions and thanks for using them!

Gift Wrap Trim

2012-01-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the way an ordinary gift is presented, makes it extraordinary! Emily has a beautiful way to trim any gift, using paper punched from the lovely Promise Me collection.

"To make a paper garland trim: Punch starburst circles from patterned paper and then feed them through the presser foot on your sewing machine, making sure to leave a small amount of thread between punched shapes; wrap around gift."

"Don't be afraid to combine textures of lace, trims and patterned paper trim to a simple gift to make it soft and feminine."

Sweater Baby

2012-01-30T07:00:00.001-07:00

Amy used some really cool techniques on her layout today. It has tons of texture and dimension. Lucky for us, she is going to explain how to create this look.

"Born the day after Christmas--our little guy is no stranger to sweaters! And this wonderful photo of him in my favorite of all of his sweaters inspired both the title and design of this layout."

"To begin this layout I tore strips of this maroon paper from the Silver Valley Collection to accent my background paper with and create a 'sweater' feel. To get this beautiful white edge on my tear I turn the side of the paper I will be using face up and I tear towards my body in a long continuous motion. Then I used some stitching to add some texture and to secure the torn layers to my background."

"Next I spread a block of white acrylic paint over my background with a palette knife to establish the foundation for my page design, while toning done the pattern a bit and adding a snowy effect to the page that would help my Silver Valley die cut clusters to tie in perfectly."

"I cut the circle stickers from the Silver Valley sticker sheet in half to create the fun border to the left of my photo and bring a more juvenile feel to my layout. Then I added my title--I like to use two different alphas because of the contrast it adds. Finally I added a little jute bow, the metal filigree charm--with the back side facing up--and my tag with the date of my photo for a little extra charm."

Love Scrapbook Layout

2012-01-28T07:00:00.001-07:00

For this layout Kim used papers from Holiday Cheer, Homestead and Silver Valley. She said, "I love the yellows and golden hues of Homestead and although I only use bits and pieces of patterned paper in my layouts, this was a great way to show the many colors and patterns in these collections."

"I wanted to utilize the White Elegance alpha stickers in a new way by laying them next to the photo in the same direction as the banners." Why not try switching it up, like Kim, and place your title vertically on your next layout?

Winter 2011

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Melissa used the Spooks alphabet stickers for this layout. Somehow they don't look so spooky on this wintery scrapbook page. She also made her own embellishments! We'll let her share all the details...

"I took some pictures of my family earlier in the month of December and this is one of my favorites of my sister and her husband. I changed the photo to black and white and used the papers from 'Silver Valley' to accompany it. The muted silvers and blues went so well with the photo."

"I used a variety of circle punches to scatter across the left hand side - it is super simple to create your own customized embellishments by punching out various size circles and layering them on top of each other! Use dimensional dots to adhere them for a special pop on your layout!"

Club SEI Valentine's Wreath

2012-01-26T10:46:00.002-07:00

Do you have any Valentine's decorations up? If you don't have a wreath yet, try this great alternate idea from Club SEI.

Use Promise Me papers and embellishments to create a floral wreath. We used some of the contents of the Club February kit to decorate our wreath. We used the wreath base from the Club SEI November kit.

This wreath is perfect for Valentine's or anytime!

Snow Scrapbook Layout

2012-01-25T07:00:00.001-07:00

What's the weather like where you live? Anyone have snow? If you do, don't forget to take your camera out with you before it melts away. Patty captured this great photo of her son playing in the snow. She scrapbooked it using the Silver Valley collection, perfect for all sorts of wintery layouts.

Patty did a wonderful job of layering and combining patterns. If you are struggling with this, check out this post we created a while back on how to combine patterns.

Carefully selected embellishments, like sundries, page elements, and stickers grouped together add the perfect finishing touch.

Love Album

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Emily used the Promise Me collection to create this album with dividers. It could be used for journaling or filling with memorabilia. We always enjoy Emily's helpful tips...

"To make a heart border with the sheer heart die cuts. Adhere the hearts upon one another, then trim the remaining pieces from the edge."

"The shimmery paper is the perfect delicate background to layer other patterned papers on."

"Make simple titles for your dividers so that they don't distract from the GORGEOUS prints of this collection."

"Create feminine touches with lace, string and bold haberdasheries like buttons!"

"Create your own flowers by rolling lace trim into a rose!"

"Experiment with the negative cut outs of a punch....add pearls and other patterned paper to make it stand out!"

What a beautiful way to record a love story!

COOL Kids

2012-01-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

We are enjoying some long wished-for snow here in Utah. Anyone else? Some of our favorite scrapbook layouts include the cool, monochromatic colors of the winter season. Lori's "cool kids" is no exception. She used the soft blue papers of the Silver Valley collection to create a wintery feel for this layout.

Although the layout is mostly soft blue, notice the little red border around the edge that helps tie in the red text from the photo. Also, the hints of black add a great contrast without overpowering the softer colors.

She used homemade tags cut out of the papers as a base for her photos.

Little details like a hand-cut snowflake and stitching make the layout beautiful and complete.

Happy Monday, Everyone! Hope your week is grand.

One-Sentence Journal

2012-01-21T07:00:00.002-07:00

Amy does a great job telling about her project, "I've made this one-sentence journal as a part of my 2012 Happiness Project. I think that the 'One-Sentence Journal' can be just as therapeutic as a regular journal but not quite as time consuming so its a good fit for me :)"

"To make my journal I used corrugated cardboard as the base and covered it with my very favorite piece of foiled paper from the Sunny Day Paper Pack. I left the spine unaltered for a fun upcycled look. The stitching around the edges of the cover helps to secure my papers to the cardboard base while adding a nice finishing touch. I added the word 'journal' to the front using the Chocolate Milk Puff Alphas and then accented the cover with a sprinkle of leaves and flowers to add some dimension. Finally I used the back side a metal charm from the Moonrise Filigree pack to make the 'keyhole' inspired accent to finish off my cover--I loved the way the tarnished gold finish looked with the foiling on the paper."

"I brought some more of the of the fun patterns from this paper collection into my journal by finishing the insides of the cover with a coordinating striped paper and using them to make my monthly dividers."

"My journal pages are made with a customizable template which is available as a free download at Karenika.com. What I love most about these pages is that they have a fun colored block that can be used to clip a photo to in Photoshop--or I've chosen to print them out without a photo and add a little bit of art to this area each day with the leftovers on my scrap table."

"To bind my journal I set eyelets in my spine and punched holes that corresponded into all of my pages and dividers. Then I used just to tie them all together. Again this adds to the upcycled feel of the journal and provides a way to hold everything together as well!"

"I'm so excited for 2012 so that I can use my journal to do a little bit of creating and reflecting each day!"

Art Studio Picks: Pia

2012-01-20T17:23:00.000-07:00

Things i love...especially right now:

SOUP
warms the heart and soul....(and is good for many days in many ways)

BEAUTIFUL QUILTS (warms the feet and sole):
RANDOM VINTAGE (inspired our catalog cover which I love so much I want a poster of it! - great job Mandi & Maria)
SEI COVER
and CLEAN GRAPHIC QUILT (even better in my favorite colors)

THINGS I WANT TO MAKE (cause I can't afford to buy them):
MIRROR
TILE

OLIVE GREEN:
in a SOFT COMBO with light coral and gray
or BOLD COMBO with fruit punch and yellow
and in these necklaces from 31 bits. They do good around the globe...love it! (Maybe I could make some myself too?)

MID-CENTURY MODERN/SCANDINAVIAN (maybe because that's what I am)... whether original, re-production, or old made new:
MID CENTURY ORIGINAL
RE-DONE DRESSER
MID CENTURY NEW ROOM

and always, always, always...
CHARLEY HARPER (never get enough, can look at his illustrations for days and days and days...simply brilliant!)
SERENGETTI AND BITTERN BIRDS

Club SEI February Garland

2012-01-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

February's Club SEI kit features the lovely Promise Me collection. The layouts in this scrapbooking kit are amazing! Did you know that club members can also go to the Club SEI website for alternate project ideas?

Here's one of the alternate project ideas for February. Use some of the sheer love die-cut accents, sundries, and envelopes that come in the kit to create an envelope garland. Wouldn't it be fun to fill each envelope with a special note & treat for your each of your kids or special someone?

To make the dimensional petals on the last envelope, we folded the hearts in half. If you would like to learn more about Club SEI or sign up go to www.clubsei.com.

Wonder

2012-01-18T07:00:00.001-07:00

Kim had fun showing the versatility of the papers in this scrapbook layout. She used Homestead, Holiday Cheer, and Promise Me papers. She also used the Silver Valley alphabet stickers.

Kim recommends typing and printing a little journaling. Then cutting the journaling strips like flags and attaching them so they slightly bow out from the page.

For the "O" Kim layered some of the Promise Me stickers and added a little baker's twine for added dimension.

January Memory Book

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Melissa created this memory book using a preservation album with Holiday Cheer and Silver Valley papers and embellishments. It is a great way to keep up on scrapbooking. Write your journaling right after it happens, attach photos as soon as they are printed, record thoughts in the moment...

Melissa describes how she made it, "For the cover of this little mini book, I cut out a block of the woodgrain pattern paper to fit the front. I mixed together gesso and water and then splattered it onto the front. After letting this dry, I adhered the block onto the front of the mini album. I used one of the die cut shapes from 'Silver Valley' and typed my journaling onto it. I placed this on the front and then used a couple of other small tags layered behind it. I fussy cut out some shapes from another pattern paper and placed them in random places across the front. I finished it off by using some buttons and faux pearls to further embellish it. I will be using this small album in the month of January to record the memories of the first month of the new year!"

Calm

2012-01-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

Pearl did an amazing job of making this layout reflect the feeling of the title, photo, and journaling. Doesn't it all work together beautifully to evoke the feeling of calm?

"I learned an important lesson this year, 'enjoy the calm'. This layout is a reflection of this lesson and something I will remember through all that I do in 2012. I decided to mix and match collections to create my own pattern paper. By very simply cutting around the Homestead design and putting it on the Silver Valley cardstock, I made my very own pattern paper. Another favorite part of the layout are the dimensional hearts creating texture and shadows on the layout but still remaining a clean and calm look."

What good advice! We can probably all enjoy the calm a little more.

Giveaway Winner + 10% Off

2012-01-16T08:19:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Martin Luther King, Junior! Hope you are all enjoying an extra day off. This day is about to become even better for one lucky reader. The winner of the Promise Me giveaway, as selected by random.org is...

Lucky number 13, Lynn Sevillana (who entered the giveaway on Friday the 13th).

Congratulations, Lynn! Please send your mailing address to seiblog{at}shopsei{dot}com to claim your prize.

Thanks everyone who took the time to leave a comment for Jeanie. Don't forget she made everyone winners by offering 10% at her shop, The Paper Nut.

Remember to enter "10PERCENT" at checkout.

Caramels + GIVEAWAY

2012-01-13T08:38:00.001-07:00

You may be done with candy making until next Christmas (or maybe you’re vowing never to do it again), but it may just be the perfect creative venture for Valentine’s Day. There are quite a few basic caramel recipes out there, but let me share you mine along with some tips learned from A LOT of personal mistakes. For the past three Christmases I have undergone a caramel-making frenzy, and I’m confident in saying I have made every feasible mistake. It can be frustrating to read caramel recipes that make it sound so easy. Let me ease the minds of any of you who have never made caramels, or who have tried and failed, by saying, “You’re not an idiot: it is hard!” Or rather, it’s easy to make a mistake. The trick is to know what the possible mistakes are so you can avoid them. In this post I’m including an attached recipe document because it’s way too wordy for the blog! I hope this helps rather than confuses you. Download the recipe here.

I've shown a packaging idea here using a tag from my print-it-yourself The Paper Nut Valentine's as well as some fun bits of paper and die-cut accents from the Promise Me collection.

Thanks for perusing my posts this week! As a thank you I'm offering a 10% off any purchase from my shop. Enter "10PERCENT" at checkout.

Thank you so much, Jeanie! Those caramels look delicious. We love how you used the sheer die-cut accents with the bead to make a little gift tag bobble. Really, all of your ideas were fabulous!

Readers, would you like to get your hands on some of those sheer die-cut accents and pretty pink Promise Me papers? All you need to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment on this post. Tell us what you would create with the products if you won. The giveaway will end Sunday and we will announce the winner Monday.

Easy Flag Banner

2012-01-12T07:00:00.001-07:00

I’m sure you’ve seen a lot of these banners flapping around lately. They're trendy for good reason: They are easy to make, use up those piles of what-am-I-going-to-make-with-this-cute-fabric scraps, and add a fun flare to your décor. They are particularly popular in children’s rooms. Both of my daughters needed something fun to hang above their beds, but I am highly opposed to hanging anything heavy like a picture frame or shelf (and, with 9-foot ceilings, blank walls are not an option). These flags are also perfect because you can match them with the fabric from a bedding set.

The look of my younger girl’s room revolves around a quilt her grandma made for her (from the famed Heather Ross Mendocino line). I still had scraps of the beloved fabric and this was the perfect way to accent the quilt elsewhere in the room. My older daughter’s bed sports Target’s owl bedding set. The sheets of this set came it a matching bag. When the seems were opened up on this little bag and the fabric laid flat, it was plenty to cut out a triangle for one of the squares. I mixed this with some coordinating fabrics and, voila!

This project is pretty self-explanatory, but here are some tidbits of info on how I made mine. Make a pattern for the triangles with a piece of paper, allowing extra width on the sides (but no the top) for the seam allowance. Sew right sides together (I used a cheap natural-colored quilters cotton on the back since it won’t be visible). Trim the tip close to the seam so when you turn it right side out you get a nice sharp point. Use your scissors to poke the flag tip to a nice point. Iron the now right-side-out flags flat. Now, use a full package of double-wide bias tape to string the flags together. Start with the middle flag and match it in the center of the bias tape (find this by folding the whole length of the bias tape in half). Lay the bias tape open and line the top of the flag up with the center seam of the bias tape. Pin all the back sides of the flags in place to the back side of the bias tape. Sew just the back sides, then fold it shut and stitch all the layers together. I like to use a wider stitch at the point to make wobbles in my sewing less obvious. You can add pretty ribbons or whatever you like to finish off the ends and hang it where you please. Enjoy!

Make Your Own Taggy Blanket

2012-01-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite gift to give at baby showers. So easy. I also have a passion for ribbon and this is a great excuse for buying lots of different kinds (or using up bits you have saved).

How to: Pick two coordinating fabrics for the front and back (make sure they are cut exactly the same size). Soft "minky" fabrics are my favorite, but only use them on one side (it slinks around and is difficult to sew on). Use something stiffer like cordurouy or flannel on the other. I also like to use polka dot prints because it makes topstitching the quilting lines easier.

Step 1) Lay one side flat with the right side facing up. Lay ribbons around the sides until they are evenly spaced. Fold the ribbons in half, lining up their two raw bottom edges with the edge of the fabric so that the loops are facing IN. Pin in place

Step 2) Stitch down the ribbons using a regular straight stitch (as opposed to a basting stitch; you want the reinforced stitching to keep the ribbons secure for future abuse from children).

Step 3) Cut a piece of quilt batting so it is one inch shorter on all sides than the fabric. Baste it to the WRONG side of the second piece of fabric (the one without the ribbons) so that it won’t scootch around when you turn it right side out.

Step 4) Stitch right sides of fabric together. Be extra careful that the ribbons are laying flat inside. Leave a gap large enough for your hand to reach through.

Step 5) Turn the blankie right side out. Smooth the batting so it’s flat. Stitch the end closed, turning the seam in so it aligns with the rest.

Step 6) Decide how many top stitch lines you want to make. You can use a row of polka dots or other patterns to follow or mark a line with pins or chalk. Topstitch to make the blanket quilted. Now remove the basting stitches you added to hold the batting in place. You’re all done!

Mini Pillow Project

2012-01-10T07:00:00.006-07:00

This is a great project for a lot of purposes: 1) Your favorite tee has finally gotten a hole in it, but you just can’t bear to part ways (not to mention it’s now super-soft). 2) You have an odd scrap of fabric or unfinished square of quilt (ahem: one you finally realized you’re never going to finish) 3) You're wondering, "What on earth am I going to get for my sister for her birthday?!"

These little pillows are so easy, inexpensive, and versatile (even a guy would love pillow made from an old tee...just don't chop up his fave without telling him). Plus they're a welcome addition to your own décor (unlike many homemade items that end up taking up more space than they are worth).

What you’ll need:
1) Two equal-size pieces of fabric (front and back), any size (or shape)
2) pillow fill
3) thread (for a machine or embroidery thread)
4) trim (optional)

A sewing machine is also optional! My sister made my daughter this adorable pillow with an old favorite tee by whip-stitching it together with a scrap of home décor fabric.

I made this fun-shaped pillow for my sister for Christmas using a piece of one of my favorite fabrics (from Heather Ross’s now very hard to find Far Far Away line). This fabric was expensive and I didn’t want to waste a bit of it, so making a little pillow was a perfect solution. This fabric was quite thin and delicate, a problem I solved by first sewing the front panel to a swatch of white fleece. The next step: sew right-sides of the front and back panels together leaving an opening on the bottom big enough for your hand. Turn it inside out and stuff it silly with fluff. Fold the edges of the open seem closed, following the hem of the rest of the pillow, then stitch it closed. You may have to do this by hand because fitting the now plump pillow under the sewing machine is no longer an option. For this reason, make the open end the bottom so it’s won’t show as often.

Guest Blogger: Jeanie Nelson, Founder of The Paper Nut

2012-01-09T07:00:00.001-07:00

Please welcome our guest blogger for the week, Jeanie Nelson. She is a business owner and an all around creative gal. She has a bunch of great ideas to share this week so be sure to check back each day. There will be a giveaway Friday too! Here she is...

I am a designer and mother living in Spokane Valley. In 2008 I launched my own art and stationery line, The Paper Nut (visit my website, etsy page, or blog). As a professional graphic designer, I’ve worked for a number of designer firms and have a BFA in graphic design from Brigham Young University. I also interned at Kate Spade (my original intent was eventually pursue fashion…but I fell in love with graphics instead). I left 9-5 work at firms so I could become an at-home mom, which was a great excuse to switch over to the kind of design I prefer. My work is a spin off of mid-century art and design, with a lot of influence from textiles, folk art, and the work of my contemporaries.

My business has grown slowly (I haven’t spent a penny on advertising). I’ve spent a lot of energy wishing I had more time to spend on The Paper Nut (I’m a committed full-time mom of two little girls). However, I now recognize this slow-paced beginning as an enlightening foundation for my career, setting a course that is far more meaningful than it would have been.

Right now I’m focused on giclée art prints, but I’m working on putting out more greeting cards, expanding my wholesale clientele, and doing commissioned work for larger companies (wrapping paper, packaging design, etc). While I never want to go back to working for a traditional design firm, I still love creating and branding collateral for private clients.

For today’s post, I thought it might be fun to answer a question I often hear in relation to my art: What is giclée?

The word “Giclée” was created in the early 1990’s to describe fine art digital prints made on ink-jet printers. It’s a wonderful new medium for many artists who want to make exact replicas of their work with no set-up charges (you can print 1 or 100 and the cost per piece is the same). I love the inkjet process because I can print on thick, texture art paper and achieve eye-popping color saturation akin to the neon poster paints of silkscreening. This medium, along with the wonderful world of Etsy, has made it possible for The Paper Nut to even exist. I have had virtually no money to invest, but I am able to roll my business along like a little snowball and let it build off its own momentum. Above are a few of my current giclée pieces.

CHA Sneak Peek: Desert Springs

2012-01-07T07:00:00.002-07:00

Here's our last CHA preview...

Thank you for all your kind comments. We hope you are as excited about our new collections as we are! Also, come back Monday to meet our guest blogger.

CHA Sneak Peek: Vanilla Sunshine

2012-01-06T07:00:00.002-07:00

Here is our second sneak peek. There is one more tomorrow!

CHA Sneak Peek: Field Notes

2012-01-05T08:26:00.000-07:00

Surprise! Today is the first of our CHA sneak peeks. We are excited to introduce...

Check back tomorrow and Saturday for more!

SEI January Desktop Calendar

2012-01-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

Hello 2012! How are your resolutions going? Our resolution for the year is to keep bringing you awesome projects and freebies and fabulous design team members. Sound good? Yes, we thought so.

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ipod 640 x 960 ipad 1024 x 1024

Also of note....Promise Me is being featured at Paper Crafter's Corner! Go and vote for it so it can feel as pretty as it looks, please? Thanks guys!

Happy Times Mini Book

2012-01-04T07:00:00.001-07:00

Why not begin the new year by creating a mini book highlighting happy times from 2011, like Kim? She made this album for her son using the Homestead and Silver Valley collections.

Kim explains how she made it, "First I created the title in photoshop and cut it out for the cover along with the words Happy times. I used a strip of paper smaller than the book to add scrap papers too that I punched with my square punch, they added just a little color. For a little more detail I also added one of the rub ons behind it. It's something easy that I can add all my son's photo's too from 2011. All of your strips don't have to be the same size throughout the book, it's a good way to use the smaller strips of paper leftover from other projects."

CD Calendar

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

Calandars are a great, practical gift, especially for those with birthdays in January. This CD calendar Jennifer made is great because the CD case holds the pages and serves as a stand. What a great way to create a little calendar for your workspace!

"In my family, after Christmas I need to be thinking about the January birthdays right around the corner. A handmade calendar is a thoughtful, useful gift. And for someone who's new to scrap booking, it's a great beginner project. The 6x6 paper pads from SEI are perfect for this project, as there is very little waste!"

Her January page uses the Holiday Cheer collection and November is Homestead.

If you would like to make one, check out the free CD Calendar template Jennifer used from this site.

His & Hers Java Jackets Gift

2012-01-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Looking for a fun handmade gift idea? What about a pair of his and hers java jackets? Emily made an adorable pair of snow people for these java jackets using paper and stickers from the Holiday Cheer collection. She will explain how to do it...

"Un-assemble a java jacket and use it to trace the shape a on a strip of patterned paper and trim. To make sure the trimmed paper fits the sleeve perfectly, score the folds of the original sleeve onto the patterned paper, then adhere to the cardboard java jacket."

"Add small areas of glitter to create a 'snowy' effect! Adding glitter in small areas making sure that you don't over-power other elements of your project!"

I Vow to Travel More

2012-01-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

This layout was created by Pearl. Here's what she had to say, "I make a lot of vows this time of year. Mostly around what I want to do and what I want to do less of. This layout is about my vow to travel more this year."

"A favorite technique of mine is to include an envelope to tuck in notes and extra pictures whenever I want to keep a clean design to the layout. To spice up the earthy colors from the layout, I carefully cut out the metallic gold Homestead design and adhered it to the layout. What are your vows and resolutions for the new year?"

Invite & Thank You

2011-12-31T07:00:00.001-07:00

Jennifer combined papers from the Silver Valley and White Elegance collections to created this formal New Year's Party invite. She also used the Silver Valley collection to create a "Thank You" card.

"The beautiful papers included in the SEI Silver Valley collection are perfect for an elegant invitation to a New Year's Eve party. What better way to catch your guests' attention than with a formal appearance and eye catching embellishments. And the black ribbon reminds me of the tie on a man's tuxedo!"

Happy New Year!

New Year's Invite & Favor Box

2011-12-30T07:00:00.001-07:00

What are your New Year's plans? Anyone hosting a New Year's Party? Patricia Kumfer (we're going to start calling her Patty, cause we're tight like that) made a lovely New Year's party invite and favor for her guests.

"This little box I filled with mints and a post it note that has a wish on it for my friend or family member. Instead of thinking of resoulutions I wanted to wish my party guests things like 'Have a great Year'. The invite has '2012' all over it and I stamped snow flakes covered with glitter to add a little touch of sparkle."

Patty's unique-shaped box is adorned with a bow. She made it by cutting and folding Silver Valley paper like ribbon.

Reflect

2011-12-29T07:00:00.001-07:00

Pearl definitely has a talent for combining paper collections in creative and beautiful ways. In this layout she used Silver Valley, Holiday Cheer, Homestead, and White Elegance.

"It's hard not to reflect on the year around the holiday time and that's what I did with this layout. To create a frame for the photo strip, I sewed folded white tissue paper streamer to the paper. To create the ornament streamer, I sewed small punched circles and to store all the journaling and 'reflections', I created a pocket and journaling strips."

Snowman

2011-12-28T07:00:00.001-07:00

We love to hear the story behind a photo. Isn't that what scrapbooking is all about? Here's Patricia's story. "Last years snowman was made by my son. He wanted no help. I thought it was so cute how he claimed his independence. lol. I wanted this page to be all about him and boy it up a little."

"The Holiday Cheer collection is perfect for those bright cheery pages or a fun grunge look as well. I started with printing out the tile with my printer. I then used a bar-code font and printed it out large enough where I could punch out circles. After putting the layout together my finishing touch was the Holiday Cheer die-cut mittens that I finished with twine."

Isn't it cool how she used the barcode font to make those textured circles? Love it!

Thank You Cards

2011-12-27T07:00:00.001-07:00

Jennifer has a great idea! "When I'm busy creating holiday cards, I make sure to make a few thank you cards as I go along. It's a great way to use up scraps and when the time comes, you are ready to send out your thank you cards with no extra effort!"

It may be too late to make your "thank you" cards as you create your holiday cards. However, it's not too late to send them. So, don't forget.

"I love that you can mix and match SEI products to create a winter themed card that doesn't instantly say 'Christmas'. These papers are so versatile!"

Thank you cards don't have to be extravagant. Just use some pretty papers, stamps, punches, ribbon and a few embellishments.

Kim's Holiday Layouts

2011-12-26T11:07:00.000-07:00

We hope you had a wonderful day yesterday and Santa brought you something special. Now you have all those photos, are you ready for some scrapbooking ideas? Don't worry Kim is here to give you two!

"This first one is a simple project using the banner shapes that I love to use. It was a combination of all the collections, silver valley, holiday cheer and a few from the homestead collection. I made the little presents from using my square punch and hand cutting the little ribbons."

...........................................................................

"The second is called 'Sprinkles'. I used a photo of my son eating a donut! This layout was made mostly using the holiday cheer collection. I placed all the little die cut accents around the photo. The title was made using the silver valley sticker letters cut out of white card-stock."

Altered Photo Album

2011-12-23T15:31:00.000-07:00

Amy used the Holiday Cheer collection to alter a preservation album. This 4 x 6 size is great for holding photos or recipe cards.

"I started with one of the SEI Preservation albums--which are perfect for altering. I covered the outside covers with this beautiful foiled paper and then chose a coordinating paper to cover the insides of my front and back covers. I chose a few diecuts from the Holdiay Cheer Diecut Pack and arranged them on the front cover using foam squares to create a pop-up effect. I accented my diecuts with numbers for this year from the Silver Valley Collection and added the pearl pebbles for a nice finishing touch. And finally I added a hand-drawn loop-da-loop border around the edge of the front cover for a splash of fun!"

Club SEI January 2011 - Let's Doodle 101

2011-12-22T08:00:00.013-07:00

Hand written design is very in right now. Or may have never left...who knows these days. The good news is, we are here to help your doodling skills along! Yes, even if you think you're bad at stick figures. Cause guess what?

via roadkillshirts

Now, doodling is featured in our January Club SEI kit in that fab kraft journal-and we want you to doodle! If you are terrified to even start, let's start with some inspiration and tips to get you going.

Typography is a great place to start. Letters, words, fonts, whatever you want to call them. Next time you are writing a note to yourself, draw the letters pretty. Your grocery list? Make it super fancy. And a bonus is you'll be extra excited about buying that toilet paper. Try it. Every individual alphabet letter you write is now an opportunity to experiment.

specials / live love / school / tacos

Chalkboards are a great way to practice-they tend to be forgiving and you can erase. Plus they just look super cool. It keeps you loose as well-dare you to make a perfectly straight line without any ruler help. Can't? Good. You'll just have to let it be curvy and imperfect. Have fun with that mess! Don't wear black and draw on a chalkboard though...thank us later.

sunshine / jolly / balloon / amazing

Elements of what you write can be fun to add into your doodles. The first image has little rain drops coming out of it. Jolly has some holly doodled and that balloon shape really adds to its quote. Or you can make what you're writing the center of attention by surrounding it with pretty little doodles. Notice these all have color? Don't be afraid of that, either! Grab your kids watercolors, colored pencils, highlighters, colored pens, whatever you've got around. Color can be a great way to add emphasis and interest to what you're creating.

recipe / magic / doodles

Cross the line. You heard us-this is one place where it is not only acceptable, but down right encouraged. Two pages! Make it big, bold and totally you.

can toppers

And a last little bit...have fun. Be silly. Don't judge yourself too harsly. It's your journal so create it just how you want it! And if you haven't signed up for your January Club SEI kit and still want to, click that link. We'll make sure it gets to you.

Yummy!

2011-12-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

We love the look of craft paper with bright color punches on top. That is exactly what Melissa did with this Holiday Cheer layout.

One of our favorite parts of this layout is the layered section with all of those great borders sewn on.

Melissa explains how she did it, "For this layout, I used a variety of punches to create the layered part on the right side. I placed the photo to the left of all of the punched papers and then stitched down some random rows of paper. My title was placed on the journaling card and then used some dimensional dots to adhere on top of the rows of paper. I tucked a couple of trees up behind the title block and scattered some little embellishments around it."

Snow & Noel Holiday Cards

2011-12-19T07:00:00.002-07:00

Today Amy is going to show us how to make unique holiday cards. If you have a lot of extra supplies and don't want all of your cards exactly the same, this is a great idea!

Amy says,"My SNOW card utilizes paper from the Holiday Cheer Collection, leftover alphas from my stash and a few of the tags from the Holiday Cheer tag collection. This card features a bright and cheery color scheme, dimensional color blocks with individual scenes created inside of them and a baker's twine and button wrap to finish things off."

"My NOEL card uses papers and accents from the Silver Valley Collection. The foil paper and the glitter-accented sticker add a beautiful glow to the card that I just love. I used a good mixture of light and dark colors and small and medium prints to create a sense of balance and some contrast. Then I added a length of leftover ribbon--which I v-cut and some stitching for added charm and dimension."

So, there you have it. If you want to make unique cards, use different paper collections. Thanks, Amy.

Merry Card

2011-12-17T07:00:00.001-07:00

Only one week until Christmas eve! If you are planning to send out Christmas cards but haven't done it yet, you'd better hurry. Maybe Melissa's Silver Valley card idea is just what you have been waiting for.

This is how she did it, "I punched out a bunch of stars with two different size punches and randomly sprinkled them across my card. I then used my sewing machine to stitch them all down. I placed a sticker in the middle of the card and layered the word "Merry" on top. I used a epoxy on top of my alphabet stickers to give it a glossy look!"

The stitching really makes this card feel made with love, don't you think? We will give you two more card ideas on Monday. If you don't have your cards sent by then you are probably going to be out of luck!

Art Studio Picks: Jessica

2011-12-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

I love to look at blogs for inspiration! There are so many creative people out there. I always am finding a new favorite blog. Here a few I visit often (probably too often)

Party Hat / Snowman Box / Green Purse

These are the colors that I am obsessed with this season –rusty orange, rich golden yellow & deep teal blue. I look for these colors in everything apparel, home décor & scrapbooking.

Orange Handbag / Teal Shoes / Yellow Coat

We are finishing our basement this year so my brain is thinking about our family room down there. I am thinking of a sofa covered in soft grey men’s suiting. I have to have zebra print in there somewhere. I trying to talk my husband into a damask wall stencil or wallpaper on one wall. I love the look of these big drum shade lights and lastly I want to add a touch of bling with a chrome coffee table or side table.

Wall Stencil / Zebra / Gray Sofa / Drum Shade Light / Chrome Table

Wrapping Ideas from Club SEI

2011-12-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

Do you enjoy wrapping gifts? What is your favorite way to wrap a holiday gift? We love craft paper. All of these gift ideas from Club SEI use craft paper and a little white sparkle. The contrast is beautiful and unexpected.

The supplies came from the Club SEI December scrapbooking kit. Isn't it awesome that club provides alternate projects? This idea would work great for someone too busy wrapping gifts and celebrating to scrapbook this month.

Layer a thick ribbon or paper cut into a strip with something unexpected like a sparkly chipboard key.

Cut fun shapes out using a paper punch and sew them together. Wrap the thread around the gift.

Spice up a plain tag with a word cut from a cutting machine and randomly grouped embellishments.

Layering is key! Use tags, tickets, torn paper, ribbons, sparkly chipboard... The embellishments from the December Club SEI kit were specially selected to layer perfectly together to create beautiful layouts or packages.

Christmas Joy

2011-12-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

Today Lori is spreading some Christmas joy with this fun layout made using the Holiday Cheer collection. What is your favorite part about it?

Lori found a creative use for the die-cut ornaments. She strung them along a piece of baker's twine.

The doily and white paint droplets give the layout a snowy feel.

Layering the ornaments creates great dimension.

Holiday Photo Card

2011-12-13T07:00:00.002-07:00

Have you sent out cards yet? Our favorite kind have photos, of course! Jennifer used one of the unique patterned papers from the Silver Valley paper pad as the base for her holiday card. She added snowflakes cut with a paper punch, photo corners, and a big beautiful ribbon.

Jennifer says, "This year, instead of spending a lot of money on professional photos, I decided to take a snapshot of my daughter and our dog in the front yard. After a little photo editing and special effects, I think it captures the season perfectly! It will be a great surprise for family and friends when they open the card to see these two cuties smiling back at them!"

Holiday Village

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Putting up a Christmas village is a fun tradition. If you don't own a village, how about making one? Emily made a lovely, inexpensive village using paper and embellishments from the Silver Valley collection. Here are her tips for a DIY Christmas village:

"Using double-sided paper like SEI's is a great way to versatile way to snaz up your project, especially in the roof lines. Just flip it over to the coordinating pattern!"

"Find new ways to use buttons and pearls, other than on cards or layouts. The translucent buttons from the Sundries are used as stars on the trees, while the pearls are used as ornaments."

Thanks for this creative and inspiring idea, Emily. How about the rest of you, is putting up a holiday village one of your traditions?

12th Day: Cute Treats

2011-12-10T14:00:00.005-07:00

Here are three ideas to dress up a simple treat for giving:
1. Re-use packaging. We used the plastic container our buttons come in.
2. Dress up a plain bag with ribbons, embellishments and tags. This works great for plain paper bags too.
3. Give a candy bar some personality. We turned our candybar into a snowman by wrapping it in white paper and accenting it with stickers from the make your own snowman sticker sheet.

It's the last day of our 12 holiday gift ideas. Have you enjoyed it? Would you like us to continue this tradition next year? Do you think you will use any of our ideas? To see all the ideas from this year and the last few years go here.

11th Day: Candy Cone

2011-12-10T07:00:00.001-07:00

It's getting closer! Only two weeks until Christmas eve. Hopefully all you have left are a few little gifts for neighbors, friends, and teachers. So, for the 11th and 12th days we are going to give you some ideas of how to give treats in a special way.

If you would like to make a "candy cone" like Melissa, here are her instructions:

"To create this little cone, I cut a block of pattern paper that was double sided to 8" x 8". I rolled it into the shape I wanted and hot glued it together. I fussy cut out the little snowman and punched out a piece of blue paper. I glued the blue circle onto the front of the cone and then used dimensional dots on the back of my snowman for a little depth. I wrapped some twine around the snowmen's neck to mimic a scarf. I punched two holes on either side of the cone and used some twine as the 'handle'. Lastly, I placed some faux pearls on the cone."

"Fill it up with candy, and give it to a lucky someone! This would be perfect to make for the kids - you could place it on their door knobs! It could also make cute little gifts for teachers or for the kid's friends at school."

Check back later for our last gift idea!

10th Day: Journal

2011-12-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a useful gift idea from Kim that can be made using mostly paper. The icy Silver Valley papers she picked for this project make it feel very elegant.

"I made a little mini journal using the silver valley collection. I loved the elegant whites and frosty finishes of the papers in this collection."

"I made a little folded envelope to put the journal in and wrapped it with ribbon, tags and little leaf tag that I made. The journal cover was made using a generic snowflake gift tag, a hand punched snowflake, and a simple button from the collection. All stacked to form the three dimensional snowflake. The journal was bound using twine."

Tomorrow is the last day of our 12 gift ideas!

9th Day: 2012 Wall Calendar

2011-12-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

The stickers Pearl used for her gift idea are from the Silver Valley collection. But, would you believe the paper is from the Spooks collection? Look closely. It's the haunted house paper! She just punch the area that's gray with little white stars.

"Handmade gifts are great but it's not always easy to mass produce them for all of your friends. Here, I created a fun and simple calendar that also serves as wall art and a picture frame."

"To create this calendar, I printed out the 2012 calendar, punched hearts of different sizes, cut a business card holder pocket and sewed them all to the page. I then finished it off with the 2012 stickers and slipped in a picture of my friend and I to personalize it."

8th Day: Fast and Easy Notebook

2011-12-08T22:12:00.003-07:00

We have an extra special gift idea for the 8th day because it includes a tutorial! This notebook, created by Lori, can be adapted to whatever you want... a journal, slide photos instead of the notepad and send like cards, list making (groceries, etc.) or insert a gift card instead of a paper pad.

If you love it so much you can't bear to give it way, use the side pockets to hide your gift receipts, insert some loose pages for everyone in the family write their Christmas list, or use it for your gift buying list.

We'll let Lori explain the rest. "Here is my book I made. I thought you may like some quick and easy instruction on how to put one of these together. I used the adorable Holiday Cheer collection... these papers are perfect for making these adorable little books!!

This can be made easily and quickly with just a single sheet of double sided cardstock, a paper pad and a few embellishments. You may want to tweak the sizing depending on what size paper pad you have and its thickness. I have based the following on using a 4 x 6 paper pad that are about ¼ “ thick. I have purchased these in bulk from my local office supply store, but it is also a great size to hold photo’s too!

1. The first thing to remember is to leave the small manufacturers strip on the bottom of the cardstock (don’t worry we won’t see it!)... it will make the assembly of the cover much easier.

2. Cut 2.5” off of the side of your paper... making it 9.5” x 12.5” in size.

3. With the inside of the book pattern facing up we now need to score the paper for the folds. Go along the two sides and bottom and score ½” all around to make it easier to fold. You do not score the top.

4. Now score a horizontal line across the center of the page (to divide top and bottom)... 6 and 1/8” down from the top (you need a generous 6 inch score here). In the end it will look better for it to be folded up and be a bit shorter than too long... you will see what I mean once we get this assembled.

5. The last score is for the cover to fold in half (front and back). Score 2 vertical lines at 4 and 5/8” and at 5” in from the left edge of the paper. You should end up with a little more than a ¼” space between the two lines. Your sheet of cardstock should look like this when you're done.

6. The next step is not necessary but it makes it easier and a nicer finished product and that is to “V” cut the corners for less bulk later on.

7. Fold outside edges in fold top to bottom and side to side and then open back up.

8. Once your edges are folded in you may want to adhere your bottom fold down with adhesive... but the bottom fold is the only one that is glued down.

9. Using only the top section only - place adhesive on the TOP of the two SIDE FOLDS ONLY... you are running the adhesive on the front pattern of your paper (again fold at the score and run the adhesive on the top of the folded part).

10. Along the top section only run adhesive down the ¼” centre section in the middle that you just scored. Be careful to stay in between the scored lines.

11. Fold bottom up to meet top making sure all edges are folded inside.

12. You should now have your sides and centered all secure and together, with an opening at the top. Slide the last page of your paper pad into the opening at the top (mine is cardboard) and fold cover over.

13. Decorate at desired. I used some bakers twine to wrap around the book and then wrap around a button to close it.

I would love to see what you can do with this tutorial. Please make sure to leave us a link in the comments... I can't wait to see all of the ideas!

Thanks for letting me share!"

7th Day: Recipe Cards

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Amy used leftover scraps and embellishments from the Silver Valley collection to create this recipe card set. Give them blank or with a few of your favorites written on them.

Amy presented her gift tied with a pretty bow.

If you'd like to create your own, cut patterned papers for your base. Then print cards using this free printable Amy found at Crafting a Green World. Complete the cards with stitching and embellishments.

6th Day: Ornaments

2011-12-07T13:00:00.001-07:00

Giving homemade ornaments can be a special holiday tradition. Make meaningful ornaments and save them for years to come. Ornaments can also make a fun accent on a plate of goodies or wrapped gift.

Each of these unique ornaments were made using the Silver Valley collection.

5th Day: Thank You Card Kit

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Blank cards make great gifts. Emily's gift idea is not just a stack of plain cards, it's a complete homemade card kit, using the Silver Valley collection. It includes two sizes of blank cards, envelopes, patterned paper strips, and embellishments, all together in a decorative tin.

Here are some tips from Emily:

• Make sure that you don't adhere the kit label to the lid, otherwise the recipient will have to ruin it to open the kit. The label slides right off in the example.

• When buying kits, people buy them because they generally do not have those supplies at home. To make a fun-filled kit, trim patterned paper strips to the appropriate size and border punch edges so the recipient can add them to their cards.
• Use old package labeling for new products. The tin that holds this set together used to hold chipboard embellishments. The acetate sheets that the card embellishments are adhered to is from some old product packaging too.

• 6" x 6" paper pad is perfect for making these small envelopes.
• Since the tin is small, re-size your cut file so that the envelopes fit inside the tin.

• Make your own embellishments by adhering foam tape to the cardstock stickers and placing them on an acetate sheet. You can also use mount the cardstock stickers to punched patterned paper circles and affix them with foam tape to an acetate sheet.
• Pre-stamped "Thanks" tags in coordinating colors are essential for easy thank you card making.
• Use clothes pin to hold small trinkets together.
• Gather extra buttons to add to kit that coordinate to your kit's colors.

If you are enjoying our gift ideas this week, leave a comment. We love to hear from you!

4th Day: Snow globes

2011-12-06T13:00:00.002-07:00

Do you like snow globes? Did you know you can make your own? Some stores sell globes with space in the center to slide in a photo. We used one of these for our first snow globe. We just slipped one of the tags from the Holiday Cheer collection inside. The back of this tag says, "you shake it, you break it". Fitting, huh?

The second snow globe isn't really a snow globe. It's a little scene we cut from paper and placed inside a dome-shaped glass with snow to mimick a snow globe. The outside is accented with ribbon. No messy water to deal with here.

Making snow globes is a fun kid's project too. They will enjoy making them to give to friends. Find instructions here of how to make a snowglobe from a jar.

3rd Day: Gift Bag

2011-12-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Gift bags, like cards, are something that can get overlooked when giving a gift. Make a gift more unique by personalizing the gift bag, like Jennifer. You could also dress up a bunch of gift bags and give them as a gift.

Jennifer explains how she did it, "I took a 24 cent clearance gift bag and turned it into something special! I used my Silhouette Digital Cutter to cut the candy and border shapes from SEI paper. The final touches were to add glitter, a tag and a bright pink ribbon!"

Later today we will show you the perfect gift to put in the gift bag.

2nd Day: Home Decor

2011-12-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

There are so many great repurposing ideas out there! A great way to use repurposed items is for home decor projects. We did this by using a pie tin as the base for this home decor gift.

First, we found some items to repurpose... a pie tin with a scalloped edge, some pretty lace, and cinnamon sticks. Then we layered them with papers and embellishments from the Silver Valley collection to create a custom piece of home decor art. This gift would be great Christmas or housewarming gift for any friend or family member.

1st Day: Sled + Card

2011-12-05T10:30:00.000-07:00

It's the first day of our 12 Days of Christmas ideas! We will be sharing 2 gift ideas each day this week. Patricia is kicking it off with this sweet sled holding her gift and a coordinating card made with SEI's Silver Valley papers.

Patricia said, "I found this cute little sled in the craft store the other day and thought it would be perfect for a gift. I used a plastic paper sized bag and put shredded paper in it with a present {but you could put anything in the bag: cookies, candy, lotions}. I finished it was some ribbon and a perfect tag using the Silver Valley Collection. No present could go without a matching card."

Sometimes we forget about the card or leave it until the last minute. Why not make it special instead? Spend a little time coordinating the card with the gift, like Patricia.

11 more ideas to come...

Jennifer's Holiday Planner

2011-12-03T14:00:00.001-07:00

As promised, here is another holiday planner idea. Jennifer created this notebook herself. She explains, "This notebook was made by die cutting cereal boxes and covering them with SEI paper!" Pretty cool, huh?

Jennifer's planner is "a small size to fit into a pocket or purse to keep all of your holiday gift ideas and plans in one place."

Next week we will share our 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas! (Really it's only 6 days but we are still going to give you 12 fabulous ideas.)

Pearl's Holiday Planner

2011-12-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

It's the first weekend in December already! Maybe some of you are on the ball and have all of your Christmas shopping done, parties planned, to-do lists made... We don't! So this idea from Pearl is just what we need. In fact, we have 2 holiday planners to share today! Pearl used Holiday Cheer and White Elegance for hers. Jennifer used Holiday Cheer too but they are both completely different. First, here's Pearl's:

This is what she said about it, "It's always a little hard to keep it all together around these holiday months. This year, I tried something new, instead of post-it notes slipped in a memo book here or stuck on my phone over there, I decided to create a little organizer for carrying around. Inside there's a November and December calendar, a lists of various to-do's, a place to collect coupons and slip in anything else such as receipts from gift purchases, etc. To create the organizer, I sewed three 5 1/2 x 8 sheet protectors together. The third sheet protector was sewn in half. I then slit the pockets for coupon and receipt storage."

Check back later today for Jennifer's version!

Be Grateful Wall Hanging

2011-12-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

Amy has a fun home decor project that is perfect for using your leftover scrapbooking supplies. You can apply this to a Christmas wall hanging as well, just swap out the colors and embellishments.

Amy has a few tips. First, use leftover stickers to spell out your message. Then spray tumble dye over your stickers. Remove the stickers to reveal your message.

Second, use leftover scrapbooking supplies. Amy used Homestead die-cuts and Moonrise metal accents.

Last, repurpose items from your home. Amy used an embroidery hoop, burlap, berry branch, and jewelry. Look around your home. Do you have any extra holiday accents laying around that need repurposed?

Check back for our annual 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas soon!

SEI December Desktop Calendar

2011-11-30T10:00:00.004-07:00

Can you believe this is the last wallpaper of 2011? Wow. Thanks for using these all year and your great feedback. Are you using them and are they bringing you all kinds of joy? In other words, would you like to see this tradition in 2012? Let us know!

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

Happiest of holidays to you all!

Advent Calendar

2011-11-29T13:00:00.001-07:00

We are featuring Emily twice today because we just had to show you this adorable advent calendar she created, using the Holiday Cheer collection. We knew you would love it and want to create your own. So, we wanted you to have a couple days to do it before the big countdown begins!

Before you start your own advent, read Emily's tips and tricks below...

"Die cut the envelopes in various sizes. By doing so you will create greater visual interest."

"Since there is a lot going on here, repeat design techniques that you like such as border punching panel edges, notching strips of patterned paper and using the same ribbon in different colors to create unity."

"Place elements and embellishments asymmetrically! It creates a strong focal point."

If you already have an advent, what is it like? What do you like about it?

Pshaaa Layout

2011-11-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

Emily created this "Pshaaa Layout" with papers and embellishments from the Homestead collection. We love how she mixed in other found items... lace, twine, notebook paper, a vintage tag...

Here are some tips from Emily. "To add some dimension ink some of the fall foliage leaves and string them to create a small banner."

"Layer your paper so small snippets of color pop through."

"Vintage items are perfect for a fall pallette. Use them on your projects."

Thankful for Simple Pleasures

2011-11-28T11:05:00.002-07:00

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Pearl created this mini book, using the Homestead collection, to document some of life's simple pleasures. We hope you made time to think about what you are thankful for this weekend. If not, maybe this will inspire you.

Pearl describes the inspiration for her book. "I made an album of a road trip my boyfriend and I took to celebrate his birthday. In it, I have photos of what we were thankful for from the trip... all the simple pleasures of each other's company, the fresh air, bright blue skies, and charming home away from home."

"SEI pattern papers have this great thick quality to them making sturdy mini album pages and a cover. Some interesting things to note in the mini is how it is made up of just 4 pieces of paper scored and sewed together using a sewing machine. The design is just as interesting because the cover is actually a tri-fold so there is a flap that flips over the front cover and when the flap is opened, it reveals staggered pages. Lastly, a long piece of twine is wrapped around the album several times and securered to a button to keep the bulky pages of the book enclosed in a neat little package." So that's how you do it. Now you can make your own!

Fall Wine

2011-11-27T09:30:00.003-07:00

Please welcome Lori Mancini to the design team again. We are thrilled to have her for another year! The layout she is sharing today uses the Homestead collection, with the exception of a little baker's twine and that a awesome stamp. Would you believe she made it using wine corks? Brilliant!

Lori tells us a little about the story behind the layout. "Where I live here in Southern Ontario I am fortunate to be only a very short drive away from the Niagara Region of Ontario where some of the best Wineries in the world are located. In the fall season when the grapes are harvested and the new wines are introduced it is such a wonderful experience visiting the winery's and experiences the fall colours during our travels and at the Winery's themselves."

"I wanted to document this activity that has quickly become one of our most favourite things to do during a Sunday afternoon."

Here you can see how Lori let the tree rub-on overlap her photo. What a great way to use rub-ons!

To add dimension, Lori created her own embellishment by folding paper like a fan. She also used foam spacers to attach part of her title.

Thank you, Lori! We are looking forward to another great year with you on our design team!

Autumn Beauties & Cuties

2011-11-25T18:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome Amy Kingsford to our 2012 design team! For her first feature, she has two autumn layouts she created using the Homestead collection. Each layout is unique, but both have some great techniques.

FADING BEAUTY

Amy added fabrics to this layout for something organic and to add dimension. They work beautifully with the Homestead collection. We especially love that unexpected pop of aqua.

PUMPKIN KINGS

Amy used steel wool to sand some of the foil off the paper. What a cool effect! She also tiled strips of velvet paper and patterned paper to create a frame around the photos.

Thanks for stopping by. Happy shopping!

Club December Kit

2011-11-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We hope you are spending your day with family eating plenty of good food, especially pie. Yum!

Remember a few weeks ago when we showed some of the new products in the Club SEI December 2011 kit? Pretty cool, huh? Would you like to see what club members can create with those amazing products?

If you love these scrapbook layouts as much as we do, you can sign up to join the club here. Remember all of the benefits we talked about last week? Yep. You will get them all!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Thoughtful Little Goodies

2011-11-23T07:00:00.006-07:00

Everyone likes to be remembered. Jennifer has some thoughtful projects that are a great little way to let someone know they are loved. Create them for teachers, neighbors, co-workers...anyone!

Jennifer used papers and embellishments from the Homestead collection for this card. She accented it with a stamp, ribbon, and fancy flourish.

For this creative idea, Jennifer made a goodie bag that looks like an owl. To make the bag topper she cut the shape of the owl's head, eyes, and beak and layered them together.

She made the feathered belly by cutting rows of scalloped papers from the Homestead collection, layering them, cutting them into an oval shape, and attaching them to her bag of treats.

Thanks for these thoughtful ideas!

Autumn Card & Placecards

2011-11-22T07:00:00.002-07:00

Have you noticed a change in our newer paperpads? Instead of using the exact same patterns from the collection, the paperpads now include some unique patterns that coordinate with each collection. Melissa used some of the unique papers from the Homestead paperpad to create this little card.

By cutting out a foil leaf from the welcome home paper and adding a little stitching, Melissa included some contrasting textures.

These placecards are just in time for a quick Thanksgiving idea. It's nice to know where you are supposed to sit at the table, especially if there are a lot of guests. Placecards are a good way to make sure you have enough seats for everyone and spouses can sit together.

Club Kit Winner

2011-11-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

The winner of the November Paper-crafting kit from Club SEI is...

#43 as selected by random.org, which is Cindy deRosier!

Congratulations, Cindy! Please send your mailing address to seiblog{at}shopsei{dot}com so we can send off your club kit.

Pillow Box + GIVEAWAY!

2011-11-18T07:00:00.001-07:00

Ready for the last gift idea from Club SEI? This one comes with a free template you can download here. Club members got this template in their November 2009 kit.

DIRECTIONS:
Use the instructions on the template that came with your November 2009 club kit or find the pattern here to cut & assemble. Embellish with felt decorative elements, scraps of paper, chiplets & ribbons.

For a unique way to embellish your pillow box, try crepe paper. This metallic crepe came in a club kit.

Did you notice we used flower embellishments on this box? They work perfectly for our holiday themed box when paired with the snowflake themed paper.

We hope you enjoyed all the gift wrapping ideas we shared from Club SEI this week. Maybe they will encourage you to try something new this holiday season.

GIVEAWAY!
Speaking of trying something new, would you like to try out a Club SEI kit? Enter to win the November paper-crafting kit with all the trimmings. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post telling us which Club SEI benefit you like best. You have until Sunday, November 20th at 11:59 pm.

Here are some ideas to get you started...
• SEI product delivered to your home each month
• All kits include detailed, color instructions
• Free gift for joining
• Join 2 kits and receive 10% off each or all 3 & receive 20% off each kit
• 10% discount on purchases at www.shopsei.com
• Exclusive member only area at www.clubsei.com
• Free coordinated downloads & cutting files
• Free exclusive paper line after one year subscription
• No contracts, membership dues or cancel fees
• Kit previews available monthly with add on and skip options

Box in a Bag

2011-11-17T10:19:00.000-07:00

Today we have a super creative gift wrapping idea from one of the Club SEI open houses! We call it a box in a bag because you start by making a box for the bottom. Then wrap paper around it to create a bag.

This unique-shaped bag can be adapted to fit different sizes of gifts. Use embellishments to personalize it for anyone on your list.

DIRECTIONS:
1. Cut a 4 1/2” x 4 1/2” piece of paper

2. Score it as shown in the diagram above
3. Fold on the 1 inch score lines
4. Fold & adhere the corners in to make a box
5. Cut a 5 1/2” x 11” piece of paper
6. Place adhesive along the bottom & up one side of the back
7. Lay box along the bottom edge of the 5 1/2” x 10” piece (start half way on one side of the box)
8. Wrap the 5 1/2” x 10” piece around the box
9. Adhere the side to the other side
10. Cut a 11” x 1” piece of paper
11. Adhere it around the bag even with the bottom
12. Punch out 2 circles, fold them in half
13. Attach circles to the top of the bag & punch a hole through them
14. Fill your bag & tie it together with ribbon
15. Embellish as desired

Check back tomorrow for a free template and giveaway!

Squish Container

2011-11-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Every fall Club SEI hosts an open house at our outlet. It is always a blast with delicious food, make-n-takes, giveways, demos and more! Here are photos from a few years ago. This squish container is an idea shared at an open house.

DIRECTIONS:
1. Cut a 4” x 6” piece of paper for the small one (5 x 7 for medium or 8 x 10 for the large)
2. Apply adhesive to one of the 4” ends
3. Roll the paper into a tube, over lapping 1/2”
4. Apply adhesive to one end of the tube and press the edges together
5. Fill with goodies or gift
6. Apply adhesive and press the edges of the other end the opposite direction than the other end of tube
7. Embellish as desired

These are so fun to fill with goodies and give to friends or co-workers. It makes a simple gift a little more special.

Door Hanger with Template

2011-11-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

It's day two of our week-long gift wrapping series inspired by Club SEI. Today we are going to give you a taste of something that came in a previous club kit.

The November 2009 kit had this door hanger template with it. The awesome thing about templates is you can re-use them over and over again! So, if you are a club member, hopefully you still have this template and have used it for all kinds of occasions.

DIRECTIONS:
Use the instructions on template that came with your November 2009 club kit or find the pattern here to cut & assemble. Embellish with felt decorative elements, scraps of paper, chiplets & ribbons.

This door hanger is great for neighbor gifts. Put goodies in it and leave it on their door knob. How fun would it be to come home to one of these? What would you use this template for?

Easy Gift Bag from Club SEI

2011-11-14T07:00:00.002-07:00

It's an extra special week on the blog! Each day we will feature a new gift wrapping idea. All of the ideas were inspired by Club SEI. So, at the end of the week we will be giving away a club kit. Don't miss it!

To kick things off, we are going to teach you how to make a basic gift bag, inspired by a past club kit project. Making your own gift bag can save you money. Use the concept in any size you want for a custom fit. Gift bags are perfect for odd-shaped items. All you need it two pieces of paper, some ribbon, and embellishments.

DIRECTIONS:
1. Score in 1 1/2” on the bottom & sides of (2) 12” x 12” pieces of paper (one for the front of the bag and one for the back)

2. Cut along one side of each of the 1 1/2” squares in the lower corners of each sheet (as shown in the diagram above)
3. Use decorative scissors along the top edge of each sheet
4. Nest the two halves inside one another to form a bag & secure with adhesive
5. Punch holes & thread ribbon to make a handle
6. Embellish as desired

Remember to check back for more gift wrapping ideas!

Table Napkin Decor

2011-11-12T07:00:00.001-07:00

Emily mixed all kinds of papers, accents, and fibers to create this decor for Thanksgiving table napkins. Several are from the Homestead collection. Don't they look so fun to create? She has some tips for anyone who wants to give it a try.

"Use up your scraps to make smaller projects like Table Napkin decor for the holidays. The project lends itself to a smaller scale and by working within a collection, no matter what paper you mix together, it'll coordinate."

"On each table napkin decor piece, write down something you're thankful for."

"Fibers add dimension and texture! Any type you have works, even string!"

"Creating focal points sometimes is as easy as layering your fun elements in one area, the eye is drawn there naturally!"

"Modeling paste creates a vintage, weathered look. Try a little and build it upon itself to draw interest and contrast in your project."

"Asymmetry makes your projects stand out, experiment with moving elements off center for a fun new look!"

Art Studio Picks: Sarah

2011-11-11T10:00:00.010-07:00

I am so excited to share some of my favorite things right now. I have known about this for a while, but it took me a while to just sit down and do it. Thank goodness for deadlines! I recommend it to you. It is so fun to really take some time a find out what is currently inspiring you. Here are mine:

sarah's photography / children / mom & baby / family / wedding photos

#1 Photography. Photography is one thing I love! As a photographer, it is a big part of my life. Not only is it a constant push for me to be creative, but I also love the creativity of others. There is nothing like capturing a perfect moment in time.

nursery / maternity / floor / shirt / skirt / rug tutorial

#2 Chevron & Stripes. Yes, please! Wear it, decorate with it, craft with it. Where ever it is, I will probably like it.

utensils / chair / mason jar vase / table runner

#3 Texture and little something Elegant. Whether it is an old tin can with some lace or burlap and glitter, both sound perfect to me. The unexpected contrast is something wonderful. Did you see yesterday's post about the new items for the December club kit? Right up my alley.

bedroom / frames / window

#4 Pop with Coral. I especially love it against the blues; bright blue, slate, navy, really any will do. This rich coral is so great. There is enough pink to keep it feminine, enough orange to stay neutral.

illustration / cookies / tree / stockings

#5 The Holidays. I love Christmas and Thanksgiving. When it comes to Christmas, I am a hopeless romantic. I am in love with the season. It is a season where you can be an idealist, a sentimental dreamer, imaginative and fanciful. Lights, decorations, music, gift-giving, scents, and all eight reindeer, I want it all. (Don't worry, I have tried to be polite to my other co-workers. I have only played Christmas music one day so far. There was snow on the ground. I couldn't help it.)

Thanks again for letting me share with you!

Club SEI December 2011 - What's New?

2011-11-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

What’s new in the December Scrapbooking kit? This month we have some great new embellishments included in the kit. They really lend themselves well to layering together and adding a whole lot of cheer to your layouts.

Featuring cork stickers accented with silver foil (they add great texture), glitter chipboards that are completely covered with silver glitter, a printed sheer foliage sheet that looks like freshly fallen snow, and large glue dots to cover with silver glitter that add that perfect spot of bling. You even have a tube of silver glitter to play with.

Make sure you sign up for your December Scrapbooking kit! You will want to play with all these great embellishments and the beautiful papers.

Thanksgiving Brunch

2011-11-09T07:00:00.001-07:00

Thanksgiving is two weeks from tomorrow. Yay! If you are lucky enough ;) to be hosting this year, you may want to send out some invites to make sure everyone knows when to show up. No one wants to eat a cold turkey, right?

Patricia explains how she made her invite, using the Homestead collection. "Here I made a pocket folder invitation where you can slide the invite out from the top. I used a small office tag with a clothes pin to let my guest know what I would like them to bring 'pumpkin pie'. Finished the invite with some twine and leaves."

She is so smart to have leave a place to write food assignments. Attaching it with the clothespin helps draw attention to it. Is anyone else starting to make Thanksgiving preparations?

Versatile Scrapbook Layouts

2011-11-08T07:00:00.001-07:00

Welcome Kim Stewart to our 2012 design team! She has two layout ideas to share today. The first is great for Halloween photos but could work for anytime. The second layout has a fall theme but could also be adapted to fit any theme.

BUMBLEBEE

The layered banner on this page is a great way to use paper scraps. Kim used papers from several collections to cut her banner pieces, including Spooks and Homestead.

She created her spooky title using cardstock stickers from the Spooks collection. They are overlapping a little and mounted on paper.

GRATEFUL

One unique thing Kim did to create this layout is use paint chips. She cut the chips into frames and placed little crops of paper behind them, like mini works of art.

Kim used a fun idea for the die-cut leaves on this page. She cut vein shapes out of them. Then she mounted them on paper so the pattern would show through.

We hope the ideas Kim shared today will encourage you try something new on your next layout!

Simple Anytime Cards

2011-11-07T07:00:00.003-07:00

Welcome Pearl Lui to our 2012 design team! For her first feature, we are showing off two cards she designed using the Homestead collection. We are going to leave the descriptions up to her...

THANKFUL FOR YOU

"I made a simple card using the fall foliage die-cut leaves. I absolutely love the clean yet crinkly shapes of the leaves, so to play off of them, I created a homespun design using strips of scrap paper to create a banner. To echo the banner shape and organic feel of the card, I also created a simple banner with the handwritten sentiment of 'thankful for you'. This is a super easy, fun, and great way to use up scraps!"

I LOVE YOU

"I made a red envelope as a gift to one of my friend's newborn's 100th day celebration. In the Chinese culture, whenever there is a new born celebration, a red envelop is always in order. They're most popular during the Chinese New Year celebration when married adults hand them out to children of family and friends."

"Here I used a single strip of 4"x 11.5" pattern paper. The Homestead Cedar Chest is perfect with its naturally red and gold tones. I scored the paper every 3 inches, with the last rectangle's width to be only 2.5". I snipped a little from the top of that last rectangle and sewed it down. I decorated it a little more using scraps of coordinating pattern papers, closed it up, put it in a clear envelope, and just like that, a homemade red envelope."

Fall Picture Frame

2011-11-05T07:00:00.002-06:00

Welcome Jennifer Holmes to our 2012 design team! For her first feature, she created this picture frame using the Homestead collection.

Jennifer covered her frame base with paper and sticker strips. The final touches are a smaller frame cut from the paper and a piece of ric-rac.

Jennifer created her own tag to embellish the frame. She stamped a piece of paper with pretty swirls and a "Welcome Fall" sentiment. Then she added a sticker border and finished it with ribbon and a button.

Fall Photo Layout

2011-11-04T07:00:00.001-06:00

Welcome Melissa Mann to our 2012 design team! Melissa created this 8.5 x 11 fall layout using papers and embellishments from the Homestead collection.

One of our favorite things about this layout is the way she used scraps of paper. They bring a lot of different colors and textures into the layout. What a smart way to use scraps!

To make a traditional font more quirky, Melissa turned the "o"s sideways and combined it with letters from a puff sticker sheet.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Thanksgiving Feast Invite

2011-11-03T07:00:00.003-06:00

Welcome Emily Branch to our 2012 design team! Today she is sharing an invitation to her thanksgiving feast. She designed it using paper and embellishments from the Homestead collection, accented with a little twine and vellum.

Emily's tips for the perfect invite are... "Don't just decorate a piece of paper invite, go beyond the simplicity! Try something new- Design an open-enveloped sleeve, slip the invite inside and hand deliver to your recipients to make them feel more welcome at your holiday gathering."

"Layered elements add dimension. To make them stand out, especially the fabulous embossed leaves, ink them with chalk to bring out the raised areas."

"Sometimes simple is more--white paper and vellum can make even the simplest rub on or strip of patterned paper pop!"

If you are designing invites for your holiday feast, you'd better get busy. There are only 3 weeks until Thanksgiving!

Silhouette Advent Calendar + Winner

2011-11-02T22:41:00.003-06:00

You guys! Have you seen the new Silhouette Advent Calendars? Oh my coolness. The amazing folks over at Silhouette sent us one to play with, and we are in love!

Sometimes it's nice to just have traditional Christmas colors, no? We used some of our favorite Holiday Cheer papers along with Silver Valley stickers for the numbers. Those little circles that back the numbers? Cut outs from the boxes themselves! You see, the calendar comes with a free download card for all these drawers, AND just as many super cute gift boxes that fit in the slots as well. They were so straight forward and easy to do. Of course whenever you're using this cutting machine, it's that way anyway! Our machine gets some serious loving. We think this advent calendar would be great for lots of other uses, too! Jewelry holder, craft supplies drawers, desk organizer, etc. Don't just think Christmas. This will have a purpose all year round.

And here's a little secret for you guys...Silhouette is giving you this fabulous little package for $29.99 with the promo code SEI! That's $10 off! Wow. Hurry now, this is good only through November 11th. That way you have time to make it and get ready for all your adventing, right?

And don't forget the winner for our October challenge! As selected by random.org is #2...
JODI RELEFORD!

Congratulations, Jodi. Please send us an e-mail at seiblog{at}shopsei{dot}com to claim your $25 gift card.

Thanks everyone who participated in our link parties and challenges.

Fall Fun Layouts

2011-11-02T12:00:00.001-06:00

It's November! That means we can finally show off the projects our 2012 design team has been working so hard on. First up, please welcome Patricia Kumfer! She created two fall layouts using papers and embellishments from the Homestead collection.

I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE...

Patricia said, "Every time I do a layout of my son I can't beleive how big he is getting. I wanted to use a bunch of tags for this layout and I loved embellishing all of them with stamps and inked leaves."

We love Patricia's unique collection of leaves...die-cut leaves with ink, stamped leaves. The way she arranged them on her layout really shows them off as a collection.

YOU LOVE TO...

"This picture of my son couldn't of been more perfect for this layout using the homestead collection. I am love with the leaves from this collection. There are endless possibilities to make them unique."

Patricia is right! The leaves are very versatile. We have already shown examples of misting, stitching, inking, and drawing on them.

The Homestead perforated sheet is a great place to turn for journaling inspiration. It includes all kinds of quotes and fall phrases. Patricia used it for journaling on both layouts.

Thanks for sharing, Patricia! We are looking forward to welcoming all of our 2012 design team members and their projects throughout the month.

Link Party with Giveaway

2011-11-01T07:00:00.002-06:00

Today is the last day to enter the link party! All projects that include SEI product are welcome. As a bonus we are offering a $25 gift card to www.shopsei.com to one lucky linker. It is the perfect time to show off your creation for our October sketch challenge. The party ends November 1st at 11:59 pm MST. The winner will be announced tomorrow.

The rules are...
1. Link to any project(s) that includes at least one SEI product by clicking on the button at the bottom of this post.
2. Link back to us by adding this button to the bottom of your blog post.

3. Make it a party by checking out each other's projects.

This will be the last time we offer a link party and challenge for now.

SEI November Desktop Calendar

2011-10-31T14:45:00.002-06:00

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

2011-10-28T07:00:00.001-06:00

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

2011-10-27T15:53:00.001-06:00

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

2011-10-26T07:00:00.002-06:00

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

2011-10-25T07:00:00.001-06:00

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

2011-10-24T14:00:00.001-06:00

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.