October's Winner is...

Melanie here with this month's winner! We had several awesome layouts, but of course there can be only one winner! So this month's winner is....

Carol {Iownan}!



She used Wendy's kit Back to School for her fabulous layout - perfect for those cute photos. Thanks so much everyone for playing along and be sure to come back for next month's template and another chance to win!

Manic Monday - 10/24

Hey all- check out these cute word strips- Just Sayin' Halloween- on sale for just $2.00 today! These will go great with most Halloween kits and even better with Wendy's kit Boo Bash! Pick them up now! Have a great Monday!

Saturday Tip/Trick: Family History

Hi everyone ... Amy here to chat a bit about something that I love - family history! Many people seem to struggle with capturing their families history on their scrapbook pages yet it seems to be something that a lot of scrapbookers want to do. As family history and genealogy happen to be topics that I am semi-obsessed with, I thought we could talk a little about the resources that I've found out on the web that might be able to help you begin to think about capturing your family history in scrapbook pages.

Obtaining the Facts and Details:

One of the most critical steps in creating pages about your familiy history is to obtain all of the factual information that will help you to identify your ancestors and the details of their lives. There are quite a few genealogy sites on the web but here are a couple that I've spent time at and can definitely recommend:

1. Ancestry - There is so much information packed into this site that I definitely recommend you check it out. You can search for information, begin to create family trees, and connect with others also searching for information. They also have a fantastic learning center that can walk you through how the site works, how to find specific types of information and more.

2. Family Search - This site is newer to me but I've really enjoyed exploring their site. Their website states that they are the largest genealogy organization in the world. The site is a service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is a great deal of information there if you spend a little time there.

Thinking about the Scrapbook Album Design:

Once you begin to collect some data and find some family photographs, you'll want to begin thinking about putting them together in either a physical scrapbook or a digital scrapbook. I've decided on a digital scrapbook that I can print down the road for other family members. I also like this option because I am planning to create some pages about our family history that are more about my thoughts and feelings. Those aren't pages I'll want in an album that I'm sharing with other family members. However, if you are creating this album primarily for you and your children, a physical scrapbook might be something to think about.

There are a lot of resources out there that can help you as you begin to think about your heritage album and how you want to design it. I've listed just a few options below for you to check out as you start working on your scrapbook.

1. The Paperclipping Roundtable podcast did a recent show all about this very topic - you can find that particular episode here. It was a fantastic show that gave me a lot to think about! 
2. Family History Album Class 1 at Jessica Sprague's site - this is a self-paced class that will help you create a 20 page album about your family. There are templates, a digital kit, journaling prompts & more included in the cost of the class (around $45). 
3. Family History Simplified is a self paced class over at Big Picture Scrapbooking that is just $10 and looks fantastic!
4. An article at ancestry.com that might be helpful - The Legacy of Heritage Scrapbooks

And last, but not least, don't forget to check out the My History kit and the other items in the collection over in the WM [Squared] Designs shop!  It is an amazing family history/genealogy kit!

 

 

 

I thought I'd share a couple of my own heritage pages (both created with goodies from WM [Squared] Designs to give you an idea of how fantastic it can be to scrap about your family's history! The possibilities are endless ...

 

Have fun searching out more information about your family and creating new scrapbook pages to celebrate your family history!

Great Escape - New York!!

Happy Day!! TGIF!!! Today I am continuing the add-on process for my Great Escape Kit!! This time we're going to New York!! I visited New York City two years ago, and it's an amazing city!! And while the majority of the add on does revolve around NYC, there are also a few items that will help you scrap your other NY State memories!And if you haven't grabbed that kit, you can do it now! I've included a coupon to purchase it for 30% off. I hope you love it as much as I do!

Great Escape - New York


Elements


Papers

Grab the Kit: HERE


Great Escape - New York - Word Art Bits

Grab the WA Bits: HERE


Great Escape - New York - Alpha

Grab the Alpha: HERE

Here are some amazing LO's made by my fabulous CT & Guests!

Happy Scrapping!

Manic Monday: It's a BOO Bash!

Quick! Run screaming to the ScrapMatters store to grab WM[squared]'s BOO BASH for a frighteningly good deal!

Its price is cut in half (AAAAAHHH!!!) for today only, so go straight there... don't stop to loiter at any deserted houses, or answer (or make! LOL) any creepy phonecalls! BOO!

CT Spotlight - Ophelia!

Name: Ophelia





Favorite WM[squared] Kit: It's a tie between School Days and Back to School.
Why do you Scrap? First, to preserve my memories and second, because it's my therapy from my technical work life. I love to get lost in a layout as I'm putting it together.
How do you describe your scrapping style? I tend to cluster but I have tried all styles.
Favorite LO at the moment: My favorite layout right now is Scary Pumpkin just because I love the large blended photo and the halloween theme. I'm all excited for halloween this year :o)

Random Fact about you: i love hot tea with half&half and sugar. Apparently, I'm weird for drinking my tea that way lol
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? England! I would love to visit all the places that I've read about in Tudor history. I have a slight love affair with that era and will read any book about that time, especially during King Henry VIII and his wives and Queen Elizabeth I.

Clearance Sale!!! 172 Items 50% off!!

Ok, as promised, i have A LOT of items (172 to be exact) up for grabs for ScrapMatters' Fall Clearance & Retirement sale!

These items include: Date Stamps, Alphas, CU, MaK, Collabs, Full kits and more!!!

Here is the list:

• B.F.F
• B.F.F - Alpha
• B.F.F - Bonus Alpha
• Back To School
• Back To School - Alpha
• Back To School Stamps
• Back To School: Bundle
• Back To School: Extras
• Be Inspired - Becca A & Wendy
• Be Inspired - Heather T.
• Be Inspired - Jewelle
• Be Inspired - Megan - Templates
• Be Inspired - Melissa R
• Be Inspired - Melody - Templates
• Be Inspired - Niki - Templates
• Be Inspired - Tanya - Templates
• Be Inspired: Bundle
• Be Inspired: Bundle V.2
• Believe
• Believe - Extras
• Believe - Templates
• C is for Cat
• C is for Cat - Alpha
• Candy Cane Alpha
• Christmas in Paradise
• Cupcake Love
• Cupcake Love - Alpha
• Cupcake Love: Bundle
• D is for Dog
• D is for Dog - Alpha
• Day By Day - V.1 - Templates
• Day By Day - V.2 - Templates
• Day By Day - V.3 - Templates
• Day By Day - V.4 Templates
• Decorative Overlays - V.4
• Decorative Overlays V.1
• Decorative Overlays V.5
• Decorative Overlays Value Pack
• Extinct
• Extinct - Alpha
• Fabulously Negative V.1
• Fabulously Negative V.2
• Family Matters
• Family Matters - Bonus Alpha
• Family Matters - Bundle
• Family Matters - Extras
• Family Matters Siggy's
• Feeling Fall
• Feeling Fall - Alpha
• Furry Friend Combo
• Get A Move On
• Go Green
• Happy Easter
• Happy Easter - Bonus Alpha
• Happy Easter - Word Art Extras
• Happy Easter: Bundle
• Heart & Home - Alpha
• Heart & Home - Extras
• Heart & Home - Papers
• Holiday Cheer: Bundle
• iNSD 2011 Collab Template Pack
• iNSD Collab Template Pack
• It's a Boy Thing
• It's a Boy Thing - WA
• It's a Girl Thing
• It's a Girl Thing - Alpha
• It's a Girl Thing - WA
• It's Gonna Be A Happy New Year
• It's Gonna Be A Happy New Year - Alpha
• It's Midnight - Mini
• Journal It - CU
• Just Sayin' - Christmas
• Just Sayin - Mr & Mrs
• Just Sayin' - Thanksgiving
• Just Sayin - Valentines Day
• Just the Basics: Alpha Bundle
• Just The Basics: Black Alpha
• Just the Basics: Rainbow Alpha
• Just The Basics: White Alpha
• Journal It - CU
• Lakeside: Bonus Alpha
• Lakeside: Bundle
• Lakeside: Extras
• Let It Snow
• Let It Snow - Alpha
• Let them Eat Cake - Bundle
• Love Potion #9
• Love Potion #9: Bundle
• Love Potion #9: Extra Alphas
• Messy Stamped Alpha
• Month By Month - V.1
• Month By Month - V.2
• Month By Month - V.2 - Alpha
• Month By Month - V.2 - Elements
• Month By Month - V.2 - Papers
• Month By Month: Pregnancy
• Mr & Mrs - Bundle
• Mr & Mrs - Collab Kit
• My Hero
• My Hero - Alpha
• One Thousand & One Nights
• One Thousand & One Nights - Alpha I
• One Thousand & One Nights - Alpha II
• Peace, Love & Flip Flops
• Peace, Love & Flip Flops - Alpha
• Peace, Love & Flip Flops - Bundle
• Peace, Love & Flip Flops - WA Bits
• Photo Masks - V.1
• Pretty In Pink - Alpha
• Rainbows & Butterflies - Alpha
• Rainbows & Butterflies - Bundle
• Rainbows & Butterflies - The Kit
• Rainbows & Butterflies - WA
• Rainbows and butterflies - Siggys I
• Rainbows and butterflies - Siggys II
• Ringing in The New Year - WA
• Rock Star - The Alphas
• Rock Star - The Extras
• Rock Star - The Papers
• Rock Star - The Word Art Bits
• Rough & Tough
• Rough & Tough - Alpha
• Santa Baby
• Santa Baby Alpha
• Santa Baby Bonus Alpha
• Shabby Chic
• Shabby Chic - Alpha
• Simply Dated - V.15
• Simply Dated - V.14
• Simply Dated - V.2
• Splashing Around
• Splashing Around - Alpha
• Splashing Around - WA Bits
• Spray Dots
• Spring Is Here
• Stars & Stripes Forever
• Summer Sunshine - Alphas
• Summer Sunshine - Extras
• Summer Sunshine - Papers
• Sweet Love - Alphas
• Sweet Love - Extras
• Sweet Love - Patterns
• Sweet Love - Solids
• Teen Grunge
• Teen Grunge - Alpha
• Tropical Paradise
• Tropical Paradise
• Tropical Paradise - Alpha
• Tropical Paradise - Alpha
• Tropical Paradise - BA
• Tropical Paradise - BA
• Tropical Paradise - Bonus Alpha II
• Tropical Paradise - WAE
• Tropical Paradise - WAE
• Tropical Paradise: Bundle
• Tropical Paradise: Bundle
• Turkeys & Stuffing
• Vintage Christmas: Bundle
• Vintage Spring
• Vintage Spring - Bonus Alpha
• Vintage Spring - Bonus Alpha II
• Vintage Summer
• Vintage Summer - Bonus Alpha
• Vintage Summer - WA Extras
• Vintage Summer Bundle
• Viva Fiesta
• Viva Fiesta - Alpha
• Yankee Doodle
• Yankee Doodle - Alpha
• Yankee Doodle - BA
• Yankee Doodle - Bundle
• Yankee Doodle - WA

Scary CU!

Hello & welcome to another fun Friday! This week I have some overlays and some fun stamps! These patterns are super fun & can be mixed and matched for more customization! It's all up to you!

As with all my CU items, they can be used for personal use also, and credit is never required. If you want to give credit, I appreciate it, but if you don't, that's fine too! For the layered .psd's, I also include .tiff files & .pngs for those without Photoshop!

All Hallows Eve Overlays - V.3:

Grab the Overlays: HERE!

All Hallows Eve - CU Stamps:

Grab the Overlays: HERE!

Dia de los Muertos - Stamps:

Grab the Stamps: HERE!


Happy Designing!

It's a Fall Cleaning Sale, Y'all!!

I have gone through my shop and I'm retiring over 100 items!!! Grab 'em while you can!! I'll be back Friday with a list of all the goodies that'll be gone forever!!


See ya Friday!!

Manic Monday 10/10

It's another Manic Monday at ScrapMatters.  Today only, you can get Fall Shapes - CU by WM[Squared]  Designs for 50% off!! 

 Hurry and pick these up today while they are 50% off!!