DESIGN TEAM CALL!

Sketches: Creatively Yours announces

a Design Team Call!

Closing Date is January 30, 2012

All scrappers, all over the world, are welcome to apply!

[Current S: CY DT members are asked to wait one term before reapplying. TY so much! ]

How to Apply: 
NOTE: No previous DT experience is necessary! 

• Send a short bio about your life and scrapbooking.
•  Mention any other DTs you currently serve on. 
•  Include a link to your Blog.
•  Attach a small picture (headshot if possible) of yourself.
• Send us one LAYOUT or CARD (any size) that you feel best represents your recent work and expresses your talent as a scrapbooker or cardmaker.  Use your creativity and PLAY! 
• Specify whether you want to be considered for the S:CY Layout Team or the S:CY Card Team.
• Send your creation and information to: peteali@eastlink.ca as an email attachment, NO LARGER than 1 mb please.

IMPORTANT~ Please include your name in the file you attach.

  *Successful applicants will be notified by February 5th, 9 PM (AST) by email. :o) 

Design Team Members' Basic Responsibilities: 

*I send out an email very early (1 month before due dates***)  with sketches designated for each week of the next month. 
*DT members choose 2 or 3 sketches (YES: YOU CHOOSE) of the 4-5 sketches sent to you for the whole month. You complete the 2-3 you have chosen and send the creations to me by the noted due dates. They are due back on Wednesdays by midnight AST. I will post a sketch and the matching DT creations at S: CY on the designated Fridays.  Of those 4-5 sketch choices, one will be a card sketch, designed by our Senior Designer, Ann Seleshanko. 
(Please Note: Supply lists for your creations are not necessary unless digital elements are included. Then they must be listed.)
*Comment on the work of your fellow DT members and anyone who provides us with a link to THEIR work. :o) 
*Display our "I Design for" Blinkie on your blog and wherever else permitted.
*Tell others about S: CY and invite visitors to the site.
*Term is 6 months: March 1, 2012- August 31, 2012
(*** Except for March, where the turn-around time will be shorter. That month, since the DT members will just have been notified of their  positions on Feb 5th,  the sketches will be received 3 weeks before the first March due date rather than 4 weeks before.)

BENEFITS for our DESIGNERS: 

• You'll receive a "Proud Designer for..." blinkie to display.
• You will be able to choose 2-3 of the 4-5 sketches provided EVERY MONTH. No "ASSIGNMENTS!!" 
• Your work and your Blog link will receive excellent exposure on our beautiful Sketch Blog when we do our weekly posts. 
• There will be a "Designer Q & A Spotlight" feature done on each designer on the team. This means more exposure for you and your work! (Participation is optional.) 
• We have interesting and talented Guest Designers EVERY MONTH! Having your work featured alongside theirs will be a positive experience. 
• You'll have convenient access to a private DT-only Blog site where communication with the Design Team will take place. 
• I'll provide you with a well-written letter of reference should you ever need one with regard to your time as a DT Member at S: CY. There is no time limit to this benefit, and I will do it as many times as requested.   

Since we are not affiliated with a store we cannot send out kits or other incentives to our Designers.   
Questions? Please feel free to contact Ali MacDonald, peteali@eastlink.ca
Thanks for visiting our friendly Sketch Blog, and applying for our DT positions.

~

Just wanted to share today...

Good morning all, It's going to be a GREAT day! Today I received the following email and wanted to share it with you all...

"Hi Ali, I stumbled onto your old blog today where there was a sketch I liked....this is what I made using your design.

http://vikkisstampingcreations.blogspot.com/2011/12/creatively-yours-sketch.html

Regards,

 Vikki"

This was a sketch by my good friend, and our S: CY Founder, Noella Arsenault! Vikki's email made my day, and I was thrilled to be able to tell her we have an S:CY  DT call going out soon, and to be on the alert for it if she's interested in applying. 

Tell all your friends. S: CY is a no-stress environment and we have a wonderful array of interesting and talented Guest Designers lined up until June, so be sure to apply when you see the call! Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!! 

~

Favourite Products!!

Hope everyone is having fun getting ready for the Holiday Season no matter where you are! 
Since the S: CY Team takes December off to recognize the need for and accomodate family time, we planned ahead. I had the DT send me lists of their favourite products and items related to scrappin'!! 
So, today, I am posting  categorized lists of the DT faves complete with links, so you can check out the things the S:CY DT really likes! Enjoy!

Adhesives:

Glue dots (Ali) 
Ribbon Glue by Making Memories (Ali) 

Memory Tape Runner XL Permanent by Thermo O Web (Patchi) 

Sticky Dimensional Stickers By Sticky Thumb (Patchi) 

Ribbon Adhesive by GlueArts (Patchi)  

Pop Up Glue Dots and the 3M Scotch ATG gun (Ann)  

   

     Page Protectors:

     Memory Book Page Protectors by C Line Productions Inc:  "These are the ONLY type of page protectors that I use. They're well-made, sturdy, and are top-loading. Work superbly in my 3-ring albums! I buy them in packs of 50." 


     Albums:

    We R Memory Keepers (WRMK) Albums are the best on the market. Here's why I truly believe this to be so... Ali's article. 

D  Distressing Tools:
     Craft mat : Maggi says that this is "An essential tool to protect your desk top surface.  I get ink, paint, alcohol ink, glue, you name it on mine and it comes right off!"

     Heidi Swapp Edge Distresser: Michelle likes this tool  "because I love to distress a lot of my scrap projects!!!"

     Prima’s Ingveld Bohme rasper: Maggi says "I love this tool, it is such a great distressing tool, I find that I’m not using my Distrezz-it-all very much anymore."

     Alcohol ink Distresser Tool by Tim Holtz: "Great for applying all kinds of inks!!" says Michelle.

       CTMH Sponge Daubers: I find this is an amazingly helpful little tool-  keeps your fingers a lot more clean when distressing paper edges or sponging with ink! They come in a pack of three.   

       Zutter Distrezz-it All Machine: As Cheryl says: "Distressing is so much easier now!" 


     Tools in General: 
     The Purple Cow 2 in 1 paper cutter  is Ann's fave trimmer.
       My fave trimmer is the Euro Trimmer you can see here. 
     Fiskars punches. Heather admits that  "I've had to stop even looking at these because I have a basket full and no room for more! Clip It Up needs a punch shelving system!"  


      Patchi tells us that "Most of my favorite tools are by We R Memory Keepers"
     Her "most favorite" are:

- Sew easy stitch piercer
- brad setter
- Magnetic mat & ruler  

       Vagabond – Maggi reports that this is "a pricey tool but I dearly love it because I don’t have to stand up and jam a platform into something like the Cuttlebug while simultaneously trying to hold the Cuttlebug down and turn a crank. That was  a PITA that I can do with out.  Love that the Vagabond is electric." 


      Making Memories Tool Kit II: Cheryl tells us that "I love to use my tools to set eyelets." 


       Cuttlebug: As Michelle says: "I love to use this to emboss so many things!!"  


      As a CTMH Consultant, I have a list of tools from CTMH that have saved my sanity. Here they are~
     CTMH Micro-tip scissors 
     CTMH Rub and Remove Eraser 
     CTMH Bone Folder 
      
      My number one tool, which is a huge help for anyone experiencing numbness or not-so-nimble fingertips... is the CM Multi-Purpose Tool. I have been using this tool for years.... I have replaced the original but it is a GODSEND, LMTY! 
      
       Ranger Heat gun – Maggi says "I love this heat gun because it is quiet and doesn’t have such a strong wind coming out to blow your stuff all over the place!!  I’ve burner thru 3 of the Marvy ones that Michael’s sells, that’s a lousy product if you ask me!!" 
      Magnetic mat:  A note from Maggi: "This is the greatest product I have bought in quite a while.  I didn’t know such a thing existed until recently.  It allows me to completely design my LO without glueing down anything.  I can then pick up the LO and prop it up somewhere and get a good look at it to see if everything is as I want it to be.  I really can’t say enough about this fabulous product!!!  I am not sure but they may be out of production but I did see them for sale at various internet stores."


     Lettering: 
     Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type:  I have noticed that there are many colours available... the link will take you to a closeup of the green ones. 

     Glitz Tiny Alphas:   Another fave of mine... "These even come in a 'grunge look.'"      Close up view.  

      Ann loves tiny Letters like these from My Little Shoebox. 

.     Adorn-it Tiny Black Alpha Stickers: Cheryl reveals that These always get me out of a bind when I have no more space for a title."


       Embellies:
      Michelle tells us that she thinks that "October Afternoon's Little Flags  embellishments are so adorable!"


      I have a love affair going on with these CTMH Opaques, in both Pearl and Licorice!  
   
      Inks, Paint, Markers and Mists: 
      Tim Holtz Distress Ink, in Black Soot  is Cheryl's fave. As she puts it: "Got to ink it up dark!" 

  Prima’s Ingveld Bohme chalk inks:  On this topic, Maggi says that  "these inks are a lot like Color Box Cat’s Eye inks but they have a nice handle that you can hold onto and most important, the ink pads do not shred and fall off like the Cat's Eye inks do.  Love, love, love these!!!" 


  CTMH Inks:  The best inks, hands-down, IMHO are those by Close to My Heart. The design of the ink pad is amazing and lends itself so well to both stamping and scrapbooking projects! And there are sixty, yes--- 60 (!!) colours available.  

  Glimmer Glam Glitter Paint and Mist  by Tattered Angels: "I love to add paint & mist to my projects" says Michelle.

  White and Black Gesso: Cheryl adds that "both make a great base when you are painting."

  Copic markers are what Ann swears by for all her card-colouring needs! 

  American Crafts Slickwriters Quick-dry ink and a durable acrylic tip makes this the ideal marker for writing on any surface, including photos, stickers, ribbon, vellum, metal and glass.  (I use these often for many purposes, not the least of which is writing on the back of photos!!) 


Stamps:
Ann votes for Kraftin' Kimmie stamps! She loves their designs. 


Kits:

Scrapdango kits: Heather says "I've been a subscriber for about a year but a message board member for longer than that. The owner, puts together super fun, really PACKED kits each month (you can choose from either a masculine or feminine version, depending on your style). I just love the crops and challenges over there, too!" 

Scraps of Darkness Kits  "Every month is like Christmas for me when I open my newest kit and find all the latest products matched so perfectly together" says Cheryl.

Papers:

  Studio Calico papers: Heather tells us that she is in love with the SC papers!  "Seriously... any SC papers, but especially the Memoir line. I used to look at papers with prints like this and have no clue what to do with them, but watching so many of their designers as time goes on, I find that I now tend to scrap in a similar manner to them when I use only 1-2 photos (which, okay, doesn't happen THAT often). Those girls rock!"

 Close To My Heart's Fall/Winter lines like the Sonoma collection, the Elemental collection and the Typeset collection  are a few of my faves.

 Organization: 
  The Scraprack:  "Best tool I ever bought was the Scraprack! I can find anything I need to scrap within 30 seconds!"


  Clip It Up: Heather tells us that "I love organization. If I have something packed away in a drawer, I'm never going to use it. I love how the CIU lets me arrange things, as if I had my own little store to shop from." 
   
 Patchi reports that she loves "Kaisercraft's "Beyond The Page Collection". They are really sturdy and can be decorated in many different ways. I have the paper and ribbon organizers, but I left them as-is for now." (Patchi)

 Classes: 

 Karen Russell's Photographer's Workshop: Heather says: "I know it's not a scrapping supply per se, but how often do you scrap without photos? Before this class, I always took sub-par pictures in Auto mode. Never again!" 

 Lain Ehmann’s classes such as Layout a Day, which is also called LOAD, are sooo inspiring!! Ali and Ann both did LOAD last February and are signed up for this coming session too!


 Freebie classes like those available at Big Picture Classes can be fun and informative. Keep an eye out as they regularly feature new and inspiring offerings at ZERO cost! What a deal!


 General Inspiration:  


 Pinterest was cited by several Design Team members including Renee, Ali, and Heather as a source of major inspiration! As Heather put it.... "Okay, so it's not really a scrapping supply, but it is definitely my biggest source of inspiration for all things crafty and creative!" 

   For inspiration and ideas related to fonts, I recommend Dafont.

Craft Gossip is an amazing source of inspiring ideas that you can quickly scroll through. The links are provided and will take you right to the original posts. I subscribe to this daily and receive it in my email. There is also a Scrapbooking specific one- see column on the left, visible when you click on the main link.


Another source of scrapbooking inspiration and NEWS is Scrapbook Update, which is edited by Nancy Nally.  Also, be on the lookout for their weekly "Noteworthy" posts. They'll help keep you abreast of what's happening in the busy scrappy world!  


I have yet another source of inspiration! Angie at Scrapscene will help you stay up to date and inspired. You'll know about contests and challenges-- Read about who earned a spot on the Design Teams you've seen advertised-- Follow awesome "speedlinks" to creative eye candy every Saturday-- PLUS read posts about REAL scrap studios and spaces!! You'll find all this and MORE at Scrapscene-- you will NOT be disappointed! 


Scrap Sketches by Moma - This is an amazing source of beautiful sketches that you can use in your creative scrappy endeavours! "Moma" (Monika) has been a guest at S: CY in the past and we LOVE her work! 


Sisterhood of Scrap (SOS) is a fun and friendly Forum not affiliated with a store where you can make a ton of like-minded scrappy friends, receive TLC if you need it, share support, and most of all, participate in INSPIRING, fun challenges!! There are prizes and RAKS too :)  EVERYONE is welcomed and valued at SOS. 


Well, you now have a list of our DTs faves and recommendations from everything from paper to sketches, to fonts. Enjoy the surfing! 


Hope everyone is having a blast getting ready for the Christmas Season, if this is something you celebrate. We are eagerly looking forward to a wonderful family time and will have an extra service dog staying with us for 3 weeks. So exciting! 


Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! 

~ and the whole S:CY Team

Sketch #23-11

Welcome to S:CY Everyone!
We have a brand new 12x12" layout Sketch for you to enjoy.
Again, I worked at creating a multi-photo layout sketch for you. It's one that features space specifically for 2 slender pics... maybe ones that you've cropped smaller to pinpoint some aspect of each photo... There's also room for a larger "focus" photo where the eye can rest. That pic can be smaller than 4x6, as seen in the Sketch. The journaling area here is shaped, allowing for more creative license in that area as well. The accents suggested here are florals, but anything goes, it's up to you!
Lets talk about titles... Do you like fun ones? "Plays" on words? Maybe headline style, eye-catching titles? One word "attention-grabbers?" How about deciding on size: Big & long?? Smaller, mini-sized or somewhere in the middle?? Will your title be sideways, border-grazing,  or right-across-the-top as far as its' placement goes?
A title "area" is not suggested on this sketch.... I have purposefully left it up to you.
As you can see, this sketch provides LOTS of options. We'd love to hear what you think of this week's Sketch and we're excited to see what you'll create with it!

Sketch #23-11 created by
 S: CY Team Leader Ali MacDonald

We have a selection of DT members' layouts for you to enjoy, of course! Each one uses Sketch #23-11 as inspiration.
The DT Members' layouts span the seasons but I have noticed some fun colour palettes that are carried through several of them. We have a summer-y palette... an autumn-style one and a Christmas-y coloured one, too!
How fun is this? It was totally RANDOM!
Let's have a go at sharing that inspiration, now, and have a peek at what they all came up with!

"First Swim Meet" layout created by
 S: CY Design Team Member Heather Bridges Topich

Journaling reads: "You were SO excited- you finally got your hand marked for the 4th meet of the summer. You had your cap on from pretty much the moment we got to the pool... even though you would have to wait through 27 other events. You only had to stop twice on your lap- a huge accomplishment! Coaches Kevin and Jenny were so thrilled. You finally got to play with the big kids! SO proud of you, Bella!"

"HOW many did you have?" layout created by
 S: CY Design Team Member Patchi Moussatche

"Joy" layout created by
 S: CY Design Team Member Jennifer Cassista

"Merry" layout created by
S:CY Design Team Member Rita Barakat

"My boy" layout created by
 S: CY Design Team Member Renee Hagler
 [Notes~ Renee mentioned that "This is Pink Paislee paper and embellishment ("Old school" collection.  My absolute fave for boy layouts.  Classically cool.)" She also told me that the bling came from her stash.]

"Miss Priss: Tootsie" layout created by
 S: CY Team Leader Ali MacDonald
[Notes- I used the BasicGrey "Pyrus" collection for this layout
and reversed the sketch left to right.]

"My Brother, My Hero" layout created by
 S: CY Senior Designer Ann Seleshanko  

This week marks the end of November here at S: CY. Thank You to Carla Robinson, our November Guest Designer. We love your style and what you created with the sketches this month, and hope you come back to "Guest" with us another time! A hearty "Thanks" to you, Carla!

**Don't forget to pop over to Sisterhood of Scrap, a Forum that Carla owns/manages. There, you will find friendly scrappin' folks waiting to welcome you to a community that is both supportive AND creative! Lots going on there, so  be sure to check it out. ALL are welcome at SOS.  :o)**

The end of November also means that we end our current year here. Hard to believe, but 2011 is complete for us now... the S: CY Admin and Design Teams will take the month of December off from Sketches and creations on the Blog. We'll be back; in full force -- in January 2012!
I promise that I WILL be writing up a blog post or two, though, in the month of December, so be sure to keep us on your radar! One S:CY Blog post will be all about our Design Team Members' scrappy-favourites, so STAY TUNED.
Remember to be CREATIVE this season... it's such great stress management in a busy time, and so much fun, too!
See you soon!!          
~

Card Sketch #9

Hello everyone!
Welcome to Sketches: Creatively Yours!
Today we have a new Card Sketch for you from Ann, our Senior Designer.
The sketch boasts space for blocks of patterned paper with a central embellie- a graceful oval shape is suggested.

As you will see, our Design Team had many different interpretations and came up with some beautiful cards using this Sketch. Let's have a look!

Card Sketch #9 created by
 S:CY Senior Designer Ann Seleshanko 

First, we have the pleasure of sharing an interpretation of this card sketch from our November Guest Designer, Carla Robinson.

"Holiday Greetings" card created by
S: CY November Guest Designer, Carla Robinson
 [Notes: Carla told me that she received the darling snowman
 image that she used on her card from a stamped image swap. She added that "the paper is Bo Bunny 'Winter Joy.'  I inked all the papers with Pinecone  
(brown) ink. Sentiment is by Stampin' Up."]
] 

"Thinking of You" card created by
 S: CY Card Crew 
Design Team Member Lindy Rabenstine

"Thankful for You" card created by
 S: CY Card Crew
 Design Team Member Michelle Hodges
[Notes: For this festive Thanksgiving card, Michelle told me that she used the colourful Bella Blvd. "One Fall Day" collection. She said: "I fussy cut the pumpkin and leaf. I added some black and blue bling to the flowers and a orange bling to the title strip. Very fun sketch!!"]

"It's Been Forever" card created by
 S: CY Design Team Member Renee Hagler
[Notes: Renee used Tinkering Ink patterned paper, a digital stamp by Mo's Digital pencil, markers by Copic, cardstock by Recollections and Prism, and a rubber stamp by Michael's for her card creation.]

"Merry & Bright" Christmas Card created by
 S: CY Senior Designer Ann Seleshanko 
[Notes: Ann used Bazill cardstock, Imaginisce paper, a Kraftin' Kimmie stamp, her Copic markers, Baker's twine and Tim Holtz Distress ink to create this card.]

"Happy Birthday" card created by
S: CY Team Leader Ali MacDonald
 [Notes: I used the "Curio" collection by BasicGrey for this card. The card's base is Close To My Heart cardstock in "Terracotta." The ink used on CS and pp edges is CTMH's "Chocolate" and the greeting is stamped in CTMH's "Desert Sand."]

Thanks for coming to visit us, everyone. Hope you've enjoyed the card variety represented here today!

Thanks to Ann for the beautiful and versatile Card Sketch, and a big Thanks to our November Guest Designer Carla Robinson for the card she created this week! A warm TY to the the S: CY Design Team for once again sharing your talents with us here. You make me feel so proud!


Now for the question: "What will YOU create with this sketch??!"


Don't forget to pop over to Sisterhood of Scrap,  where you will find friendly scrappin' folks waiting to welcome you to a community that is both supportive AND creative! Lots going on there, so  be sure to check it out. ALL are welcome at SOS.  :o)


Here is some special information for our readers and followers:
Be sure to try out any of the S: CY Sketches... and leave a link in our "Comments" Section, below... because... Guess what?? We'll be using the link(s) you share to visit your Blogs and Galleries, leave some love and take note of what we see and love for very near-future S:CY DT and Guest Designer opportunities here at S: CY!


So... don't be shy about sharing! Here is our link: http://www.creativelyyourssketches.blogspot.com/


Tell all your friends!   All are welcome to come and play!!
Just be sure to indicate the sketch you have used and when you do that, please link back to the Sketch right here at S: CY.

See you soon! Thanks for popping in! 

~

Remembrance Day 2011

November 11, 2011... Here in Canada it is Remembrance Day.  This is a day when we show "remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace" (Veterans Affairs Canada). We are thankful to them all, and especially to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in protecting our country and what we stand for.  
THANK YOU.

The Guard of Honour (a member from the Royal Canadian Navy at left and from the Royal Canadian Air Force at right) at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Remembrance Day, 2010

Welcome to Sketches: Creatively Yours, everyone!
Today we have a new sketch to share... Hope you like it!

Sketch #22-11 created by
 S:CY Team Leader Ali MacDonald

 

"First Swim Meet" layout created by
 S: CY Design Team Member 
Heather Bridges Topich

Journaling reads: "You had some trepidation at first. Okay, you really did NOT want to do swim team. You spent much of the first practice NOT in the pool. So, we took it slower, letting you work your way up to doing laps in the pool. Miss Jenny kept encouraging you, and you became more willing to just dive in. I think you were excited to wear your team swimsuit and cap, and you did exactly as you were told when you were in the clerk of course. You paused a few times in your 25 free that first night, but YOU FINISHED IT after not thinking that you could. We were so proud. You amaze me, Zachary. Great job, little swimmer!" [Note~ Zachary is Heather's eldest child. I asked! ;) ]



"Howl-o-ween" layout created by
 S: CY Design Team Member Cheryl Casas
Cheryl created this LO using a Scraps of Darkness Kit.



Christmas layout created by
 S: CY Design Team Member Maggi Harding

"Summer Hike: Fairmont" layout created by
 S: CY  Senior Designer Ann Seleshanko

"Sand Dollar" layout created by
S: CY Team Leader Ali MacDonald

Journaling reads: Daniel, in grade four, your school’s teachers helped their classes do a study of different aspects of Grand Pré, the National Historic Site. Your class was tasked with exploring the Tidal Mud Flats so vital to that area. The creature you were asked to focus on was the Blue Mussell. You drew it, too, and talked about its’ special features. Your class did a montage of a tidal mud flat on the wall, complete with the students’ drawings and 3-D representations of some of the creatures found in a Tidal Mud Flat. You can see it in the background of this photo. Here you’re holding one of the papier-maché Sand Dollars made by your class. This exploration was such an amazing way to learn about and explore a topic! You also had a class trip to the Historic Site in late spring.

~Daniel, Grade 4, Spring 2010

Thank You, S: CY  DT members so very much for the varied and interesting interpretations of this new Sketch... Makes me really happy to see all that you've created with a sketch and some embellies, plus your wonderful memories!!


Come back and see us next week for some more 
S: CY goodness!

Remember: We have some extra special info for our readers and followers! Be sure to try out any of our Sketches...and leave us a link in our "Comments" Section, below... because... Guess what?? We'll be using the link(s) you share to visit your Blogs and Galleries, leave some love and take note of what we see and love for very near-future S:CY DT and Guest Designer opportunities here at S: CY!

So... don't be shy about sharing! Here is our link:http://www.creativelyyourssketches.blogspot.com/
Tell all your friends! 

Just be sure to indicate the sketch you have used and when you do that, please link back to the Sketch right here at S: CY.


See you soon! Thanks for popping in!