KT Craft Talk

During the lazy days of summer

2008-07-19T04:57:00.001-04:00

you can find a lot of things to do. Not only spending time on the beach or at the pool, there are days of bad weather that can be spent other ways.

Take the opportunity to visit thrift shops, bargain shops, garage sales and other places. You will find lots of stuff to use on your scrapbooking pages, things to alter or for other crafty hobbies.

I love garage sales and flea markets - I have found they often have laces, trimmings, ribbons and buttons from old ladies' treasure chests! And some nice jewelry, too. If they are broken you can take them apart and use medallions or charms or even chains for your creations. A whole bunch of silk flowers for just a few cents...

When visiting older relatives, ask them if they would like to contribute to your treasures - it might be their trash!

Soon you'll have tons of lovely embellishments for your pages - and the best of all, it's for free or just a few cents. That leaves you with more money to spend on papers, chipboards, thickers and other necessary stuff!

Summer greeting from
Elisabeth

"Let's Play Cards"- Week 3

2008-07-16T04:21:00.001-04:00

This week the Design Team created a Female Birthday Card using the sketch provided by 3boymom/Jan and a Hello Card using real or faux stitching. We challenge you to join us in creating these cards over at the forum. So hop on over and show us your creativity!

Sketch:

DT's Female Birthday cards using sketch:

Barb

Elisabeth

Dawn

Vicki

Brittany

and Here are the DT's Hello cards:

Barb

Elisabeth

Dawn

Vicki

Brittany

Happy Scrapping!!

July's Member of the Month

2008-07-11T10:51:00.001-04:00

Msg board username - SherylD

Name & Family - My name is Sheryl D. and I have been married for 11 years to my fabulous husband. We have two boys aged nine and six who provide lots of photo opportunities and are the light of my life, even though they also drive me to distraction.

How I found the msg. board - I have shopped at KT Crafts pretty much since I started scrapbooking, and although I had seen the reference to a message board, I didn't venture onto it until I saw the Spring competition advertised earlier this year. When I did take a closer look, I decided that sharing my stuff didn't have to mean pursuing publication (not that I had submitted a whole lot!) and that posting on a gallery and participating on the message board could be very inspirational. I really love the little glimpses into other people's way of life too!

How or why I got into scrapbooking - Hmmm! I have photo albums going back years that contain all sorts of bits and pieces besides photos, but I suppose that the main push to start came after I started researching my family history. I started genealogy as my Year 2000 project, and I had soon collected lots of data, and in some cases photos, but it was all a bit inaccessible. I wrote some articles to try to make it more interesting, but I was stuck with what else I could do. Then one day in 2003 I was browsing through a discount bookshop and came across a book called "Scrapbook Storytelling" by Joanna Campbell Slan. Talk about an eye opener! I suppose you could say I have never looked back - scrapbooking simply ticks so many boxes for me.

How my style has changed since I began scrapbooking - Well, when I started lots of pretty florals and fibres, with lots of die cuts border and photo corner stickers. More often than not there was a high degree of symmetry, too. I like to think that things have changed a bit! I also had a great fondness for dimensional stickers, though I was rarely able to bring myself to use them. In the beginning, too, my journaling was almost always done on the computer.

My scrapbooking style now - I suppose I would like to think of my style as eclectic, but it probably isn't! I am not afraid to try new things - I would never have used acrylic paint on a layout before seeing the kind of result that can be achieved on the KT gallery, and I have experiemented with stamping and other techinques. I am also much quicker to simply alter something to fit in with a project rather than go out and buy more - I'll emboss or paint or ink alphas, for example. I like to dabble with lots of styles, though I suppose I like the results best when my layouts are quite clean, led by strong photos and great papers with a cardstock background. I would hate to end up with albums of layouts that all look exactly the same, which is one of the reasons I like challenges and page kits so much - they push me to maybe do things a little differently.

What it would take to keep me from scrapbooking - Well, obviously there are several things outside my control which would prevent me from scrapbooking: death, debilitating injury or being marooned on desert island to name three. I don't think much short of that would stop me completely - I enjoy the process too much. After all, I get to buy nice things, plan projects and play with glue and sparkly bits. I am thinking of going back to work soon after ten years as a SAHM, and that will certainly cut back the time I have available for scrapbooking, but as I always have something ticking away at the back of my mind it may just make the time I have more effective. I can't believe that I would ever choose to live with no creative outlet at all, and scrapbooking really is the complete package - as well as opening up the opportunity to connect with people around the world and be part of a great community!

"Let's Play Cards"- Round 2

2008-07-09T04:20:00.002-04:00

Your challenge from the DT this week is to create two cards...one Friendship Card using the provided sketch and one Gatefold Anniversary card.

This weeks sketch comes from our very own Jan (3boymom on the forums).

Friendship cards

Barb

Vicki

Brittany

Dawn

Elisabeth

Anniversary cards:

Barb

Vicki

Brittany

Dawn

Elisabeth

Happy Scrapping!!

July 2nd- "Let's Play Cards"- Round 1

2008-07-02T04:44:00.002-04:00

The DT challenges you to create two cards using the sketches provided by our own Maya/Jorunn. One must be a male birthday card and the other a thank you card. You may use either sketch for either card, but must use both sketches.

Here are the Design Team's creations using sketch #1:

Barb:

Brittany:

Dawn:

Elisabeth:

Vicki:

Using Sketch #2:

Barb:

Brittany:

Dawn:

Elisabeth:

Vicki:

Happy Scrapping!

Week 4 ~ June 25 "Summer School" Challenge

2008-06-25T07:59:00.000-04:00

Week 4 - June 25 "Summer School" Use the "Technique of the Month" and create a LO/project. Add some flowers too!

Barb's Card...
Vicki's Layout...
Brittany's card...
Dawn's Card

June 18 "Alternate Route" Week #3

2008-06-18T07:06:00.000-04:00

Take the alternate route this week and alter something! Anything of your choice.

Barb's beautiful creation....

Dawn's cute alteration...
Brittany's super cute project...
Vicki's fun basket... Elisabeth's lovely creations!

Junes' Member of the Month!

2008-06-15T10:05:00.001-04:00

Well, its time to introduce our "member of the month" at KT Craft. This month I had the pleasure of interviewing, Jan, known to us as 3boymom on the forum. Her creative ability is apparent when you take a trip through her gallery! And now, meet Jan!

When was your first introduction to scrapping and how did it come about?

My friend invited me to a Creative Memories party in 1998. I had some great Sea World photos from a trip we had just taken. Well, I left the party thinking there had to be more to this hobby than paper triangles! :) I found a Creating Keepsakes magazine at a bookstore not too long after that and on those pages I found the "more" I was looking for.

Name 3 things that are a source of inspiration for you when creating a project.

1) Idea Books

2) Online Galleries

3) Pottery Barn Catalogs (and Target mailings too!)

You have a wonderful talent for making the most awesome cards! How do you do this?
Thanks so much! I like the small scale of cards and because I can use girlie colors, flowers and lace; things that I cant use when scrapping photos of my 3 boys! I also like the fact that I can ususally get a card done in one sitting. I don't have a lot of dedicated craft time, so anytime I can get a project done in 20-30 minutes, it's a bonus!

What favorite tools do you use on most projects that you wouldn't be without?
My 3 favorite tools would be punches, my sewing machine and Duck adhesive.
My 3 favorite products would be ribbon, American Crafts Thickers and Hambly Transparencies.

Pretend you are the CEO of a huge manufacturing company. What would you name your company and what would you manufacture?

I would love to have a company called, "Clearly Yours". I would manufacture transparencies and make them more affordable! (look out Hambly!) LOL. I would love to sell a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. I would love some modeled after the KI Lace Cardstock. Each would include an idea sheet and suggestions on how to attach it to your project

Thanks, Jan for sharing your thoughts with us! We hope some day "Cleary Yours" comes to fruition for you!!

One of Jan's fabulously creative cards!

Stop and Smell the Flowers

2008-06-11T06:52:00.000-04:00

Week 2 - June 11 "Stop and Smell the Flowers" Flowers are blooming everywhere at KT this month! Create a layout/project using lots of flowers.

Here are the DT projects for this week.

Barb's Layout:

Vicki's Layout

Dawn's Layout

Elisabeth's Layout

Brittany's Layout

"Road Trip"

2008-06-04T06:57:00.004-04:00

Take a tour through the KT gallery and find a LO to scraplift. Get permission from the owner and then get creative!

Here's what the DT members have created!

Here is Christine's (kissyj) Preschool Pals layout that Barb lifted:

Here's what Barb came up with:

Vicki's LO lift. Orginal by: Rose White Space Challenge LO

Here is Vicki's lift of Rose's LO.

Here's the LO Dawn lifted. Orginal by: Jana

Dawn's LO lift:

Brittany lifted Kissyj's Max LO.

And, here is Brittany's creation...

This LO by Jessica (wintermoon)

interpreted by Elisabeth

"Ink a Sketch"

2008-06-01T22:00:00.001-04:00

This week's challenge is the last of another great month of challenges at KT Crafts.

During the month of May, the Design Team worked with sketches done specifically for them by Cherie of Sketches R' Us. Cherie provided us with 5 amazing sketches that she designed. We had fun choosing and creating our LOs from her sketches. She is so taleneted! Thank you, Cherie!

So, our challenge to you, is...choose and lift one of the 5 sketches created for KT by Cherie of Sketches R' Us and use stamps on your project somewhere. You can find the sketches here...
http://www.ktcraftsmembers.com/viewtopic.php?p=33464#33464

Stamp of Approval Challenge

2008-05-24T08:17:00.000-04:00

Create a card using stamps and any other supplies and send it to a friend.

To see what the design team and other members have done for this challenge, visit the forum to see: http://www.ktcraftsmembers.com/viewtopic.php?t=2635

Take Stock...Cardstock Challenge

2008-05-17T13:39:00.001-04:00

Make a layout using cardstock as your only paper, adding stamps and embellishments to finish your page. You may choose the size.

Visit our message board to see what the DT and other members have come up with for this challenge!!

http://ktcraftsmembers.com/viewtopic.php?t=2529

Meet Jana - a KT Crafty member!

2008-05-14T05:19:00.000-04:00

I had a lovely conversation with Jana the other day. She is a most wonderful person with a twinkle in her eye!

Please tell me, who is Jana?

Hmmm...that's tough. Really I didn't know who I was up until about a year ago but now I know a couple things I'd say makes me ME. Jana is a good person who likes to laugh and have fun and it sometimes has gotten me into trouble. I am also very religious and spiritual and consider myself to be a child of God.

When and how did you start scrapbooking? And why?

I started scrapbooking because all the cool kids were doing it! Just kidding. I was about 17 or so and my sister-in-law had me and my mom and sister join us at a neighbor's home for a Creative Memories party. It was fun and I decided I could enjoy it. So I just kept scrapbooking and now I do it because I love it more and it keeps me close to my sisters.

Do you have any favorite manufacturers?

Yes of course, everyone knows I love Crate Paper Designs and lately I've become quite partial to Fancy Pants (which is sad to say I had never heard of until I came to KT)

Mention five scrappy things you cannot live without!

Hmmm...only 5! :) 1. A ruler, I can't cut a straight line to save my life, 2. my circle cutter (I love the coluzzle) for the same reason I need the ruler, I could never cut a circle. 3. My Zig journaling pen, it's what I journal everything with. 4. Colorbox pigment ink pads also known as cat eyes to some people! I ink everything. 5. and my click and stick photo tabs.

Do you have a favorite technique that you use often?

No not really. I am not such a techy girl. I just ink everything. My theory is if in doubt ink it you'll like it better.

Can you tell us a secret about yourself?

Well I have many deep, dark secrets but probably none I should share! I'm pretty much a what you see is what you get kind of gal! I'm not great at keeping secrets. And the times I have it always gets me in trouble.

What do you do when you're not scrapping on your sparetime?

Sparetime? What the heck is that? Well I've become quite an e-bay junky lately, so I sell and browse there A LOT! I also love to go for walks, play with my baby and shop for shoes.

Thank you, Jana, for a nice chat with you!

If you want to get to know Jana even better, join us at our Forum!

Where in the world?

2008-05-08T19:56:00.000-04:00

We're traveling again at KT Crafts! Some of the DT members are taking a trip around the world. Can you guess, "Where in the world" they are? Check out the game forum on the KT message board.

A to Z Album Contest is under way also! The prize up for grabs is a copy of the new book, Pagemaps, by Becky Fleck! This is a hot item and hard to find. Come, join the fun, and make your A to Z album along with the rest of us!

Stamp Your Foot Challenge

2008-05-07T06:18:00.008-04:00

Get out those stamps and let's Stamp Your Foot -- well not your foot, but a LO that has at least one dimension that is a foot!

Create a 12 x 12 or 6 x 12 LO using 2 or more different stamps.

Here is what the DT did for your viewing pleasure:

Elisabeth:

Vicki:

Dawn:

Brittany:

Barb:

Have fun, and there will be an RAK at the end of the month with a drawing from everyone who participates in the challenges in May -- the more times you participate, the better your chances of winning!!

Give me a lift!

2008-04-30T09:48:00.005-04:00

last week of our amazing April Challenges.

"GIVE ME A LIFT"! - Find a LO on a blog (anywhere - does not have to be a member here) or in OUR gallery and lift it. Please ask permission and give the person credit!

The DT had a blast with this one!

Barb:

Lifted from Heidi Trejo at Paper Made Memories Blog

Brittany:

From Nicole's blog: Nap's Scraps

By Elisabeth

from KT Crafts member Beth M - Treasured

By Vicki:

from a sketch at sketches r us

By Kristy:

from SJ at her Little Musings blog

By Dawn:

from KT Krafts member BethM - Cherish

So go blog hopping and lift a layout and post it HERE

Happy lifting!!!

Just Around the Corner!

2008-04-28T22:12:00.002-04:00

Wow, May is just around the corner! The Design Team at KT has been busy planning some great challenges and a brand new contest! Each week in May we will be posting a different challenge to show off your creativity. We will also be giving away a couple of the new Pagemaps books by Becky Fleck for our May A To Z Contest. So stop by the forum at the beginning of May and check out what we have planned!

Are you ready to put on the Glitz?

2008-04-16T14:06:00.001-04:00

Are you ready to put on the Glitz?
-We are talking about all things glittery!
Just think about those jewels, glitter, stickles and other shinny things you have sitting in your stash!

Create a layour or project that really shines and post it in our gallery!

Check out our message board for more information

By DT member Dawn

Member Spotlight!

2008-04-10T09:03:00.002-04:00

This month it is my privilage of introducing our latest Member Spotlight!!

Kristy Lee

First, I must offer my apologies. This should have been done last month, but because I could not get my stuff together it just did not happen! So thanks Kristy for being patient with me!

How did you get into scrapbooking?

Let's see....I remember it clearly. My intro to scrapbooking was half a life time ago. Okay, not really HALF of my life ago, but 12 or 13 years ago. (Shoot, let's go with half of my life....I'll be 26 again please!) I clearly remember my first scrapbook party which was at my neighbors home who was a CM consultant. I remember the 3 camping photos I brought to scrap and how much fun it was to get those babies on a page and to actually journal about what we did. SO much better than photos piling up in shoeboxes, never to see the light of day again. Really that was all it took was realizing that there was a whole new world out there in creativity that I could tap into, cause heaven only knows, I was a tad tired of painting wooden tulips and bunnies and ghosts and things of the sort. I was happy to have a new creative outlet....something that my family could enjoy, more than me making a mess with paint!

What are your greatest achievements in reguards to scrapbooking?

Honestly my greatest achievement in regards to scrapbooking is seeing how much my children, my Tessa especially, LOVE to see how I see them. They love to be the superstars in whatever project I'm working on. They love to come into my scrapbook studio and see their cute little faces hanging on my walls, and you know what? Seeing the joy in their faces is more important to me than any of the "professional" accomplishments that I've made. It's those moments that matter. (Although I'll be honest, I love getting a paycheck too! LOL!)

What inspires you?

I find inspiration EVER-Y-WHERE around me. In the faces of my children, in the patterns of their clothing, in the smell of the air, in advertisements, in the sweet things my husband says. Honestly, just take a look around....inspiration is positively all over. It's just figuring out how to tap into it to work for you creatively. For me....give me my scrapbook room, my Caffeine Free Diet Coke, a little bit of chocolate and my ipod and I'm good to go!

Tell us Three fun facts about yourself?

I have half a million children. I mean, 5 children. They are the light of my world. My oldest is 13 and my youngest is 9 months. I personally never thought I'd have 5 children. The plan was always 4 by 30, but it's amazing how life experiences can change and sometimes you get more than you anticipated, and what a joy and blessing some of those un-anticipated things in life can be!

I'm the youngest of four children. I have three older brothers. Now you'd think that I grew up a spoiled little "girly-girly" princess, but now way, no how. My torture began at a young age when being subject to my brothers ideas of "babysitting", which consisted of playing jail and tying me up to something and leaving me there to "play prisoner" while they did what they wanted. Now don't worry about calling child services, it wasn't like that. We still had fun, but I was no princess, for sure. I can belch with the rest of them!

When I grow up I'm going to go to Cosmotology School. I don't know why I didn't just do it after high school. I think I was scared of the costs that would be involved. I grew up in a very, oh what's the word...not dirt poor, but pretty close to, family. We were happy, but I think we always had the mentality that you grew up, got a job and worked to pay the bills. I'm sad that I didn't see back then the potential that everyone has in life and just go for it....the school thing. One day I still plan to do it, but for now, I'm enjoying my SAHM life very much and love experiencing the small moments with my kids each day. I may be a granny by the time I go, but I'll be the hottest granny with multi colored hair and trendy doo's out there. My grandkids will be able to reap the benefits of my schooling at least.

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now. This does not have to be scrapbook related!

I HAVE NO IDEA. You know it's funny the circle that I see most professional designers go through. You get hooked on scrapbooking, you see what the potential is, you CRAVE being on a design team, you make that team, you want to be published, you achieve that goal, you go like wild fire for about 12 - 18 months when you have major burn out and think that you hate doing it. Then you re-prioritize, get back to the basics, find the fun in doing it again, and go like wild fire yet again. I've been through this cycle several times, but bottom line is I love it. I love creating and even when I'm in down times, I know in the back of my mind that my passion will never go away completely. I've been blessed with my own paper lines, manufacturer teams and being a part of wonderful communities like this one and I'm sure in 5 years I'll STILL love it. I don't know who I will be with in 5 years, although I don't ever see me parting ways with WRMK as they are my very favorite company out there, and I've been given amazing opportunities with them that I am sure I will continue to develop.

We are thrilled to have Kristy as a part of our community!

Spring into Scrap Dimensia!

2008-04-10T09:02:00.000-04:00

Ok it is that time to "SPRING INTO SCRAP DIMENSIA"! - Looks like That smell of spring is starting to be in the air! There is a certain spring in everyone's step so why not add a little spring to your layouts!

Lets give some dimension and use those pop dots on a spring/Easter Layout or project!

Upload by Wednesday, April 16th to be elgible for the drawing at the end of the month!

Lets Get Punchy!!!!

2008-04-02T11:02:00.001-04:00

This week each member of the DT created a card using punches!
Check them out HERE

This week we challenge you to put your punches to work! Create ANYTHING you like using your punches! Post it in the gallery and link here to be entered in the drawing for a RAK from me!

At the end of the month I will draw a name from those who participated in the challenges. (you get one entrie for each challenge you participate in) The more participation in each of the challenges the more I will add to the RAK!!!!

Deadline to be entered into the drawing: April 8th at Midnight EST

So go Get Punchy!!!

Meet the Queen!

2008-03-25T19:19:00.003-04:00

Jana, has been crowned, "Queen of the Crop" at KT Crafts! We held our "Spring Fling" crop last weekend and Jana was chosen as our "Queen of the Crop" winner because of her great overall participation.

She will receive this lovely crown by snail mail within a week!

After receiving it, she must take a picture of herself with it on and post it in the Chatterbox thread. Also, with that picture, she will create a card, LO, or project to be displayed on the site til the next crop at which time she will surrender her crown to the new crop Queen! A blinkie has been added to her siggy line also. And who knows what little perks may pop up here and there til the next crop comes along!

Hail to Queen Jana!

Another Successful Crop!

2008-03-16T13:12:00.002-04:00

Spring Fling Crop!

Yesterday we had our "Spring Fling" crop at KT. I must say that it was a success! We had some issues with the forum, but thankfully, it was after the crop was over. We started out on Friday evening with our pre-crop, "Spring Fling...Just Around The Corner". What a great time! I really love the evening pre-crop. The members that aren't able to be on during the day always find time to stop by for the evening events. We had some fun games, challenges, and classes. Then, Saturday, we repeated the fun with BINGO, a "Pot of Gold" hunt, which by the way, is still going on, and classes, challenges, and games. There are 10 gold coins hidden throughout our site for the members to find. The first to locate all 10 and PM me, is the winner of a great prize!

Known for our "dangling of the carrot" we have saved a few more surprises for today!

Contest and Crop

2008-03-10T18:36:00.007-04:00

wow.. It has been a bit since we blogged and it needs a little attention! :)

We have a crop coming up this weekend. It will be HUGH!!! It will start Friday night with a little warm up and continue all day on Saturday! There may be a little surprise on Sunday as well! Please come and check it out! We would love to have you join us!

Spring Fling Crop

and now for our contest this month!

Spring Has Sprung! (at least we hope it will be springing soon!)

AT KT Crafts we are in the mood for Spring! So we want to see your best Spring layout!

To make it a little more interesting we also want to see embossing on the layout somewhere! It can be dry or heat embossing!!

So here are the rules:
1. Create a project that shows us SPRING.
2. Include embossing on the layout somewhere!
3. Only one submission entry per participant. Must be 8x8 or larger and 2 pagers are counted as one submission.
4. Please include journaling, detail pictures and a supply list.
5. Participant may not have won a monthly contest at KT Crafts within the past 6 months.
6. Entries will be judged on creative use of theme and materials used.

Deadline is March 24 at midnight EST
Winner will be announced by March 28th

Submit entries ktcraftsdt@hotmail.com

Please keep submission size between 400-500K.

Winner receives a $20 GC for the KT Craft Store!

So go Springing into your craft areas and get to work! We can not wait to see what you come up with!

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