For our Wednesday giveaway, we at Ella invited April Foster from Studio Calico to share how she gets her inspiration. Get ready to get inspired by this talented guest blogger!

June 28, 2007 was an important day for us at Studio Calico.  It was the day we, at Studio Calico, launched our first kit, BILLBOARD.  That kit began as many thereafter, with a piece of inspiration from outside the scrapbooking industry.  I believe it was an ad from Blueprint Magazine.  That torn out page is long gone now, but our aspirations at Studio Calico are not.  You see, one of our goals at Studio Calico is and will likely forever be, to deliver inspiration.  After all, our tag line is "Inspiration, Delivered."  How can we possibly deliver inspiration to our customers if we aren't first inspired ourselves?

Another goal has been to provide unique kits using the latest and greatest products, but afford customers the means to use the products in a variety of ways so it doesn't look like the end result of their work all came from the same set of products.  One way we do this is to combine products from lots of different manufacturers.  At times, we've ordered from up to 27 manufacturers, all for one monthly kit!  Also, we like to provide innovative products that challenge scrapbookers to use products outside their comfort zone, or from a style they may not have first been attracted to.  Somehow, seeing a product as part of a whole makes it easier to adopt as your own style than sitting on a shelf all by its lonesome.

Another important date at Studio Calico is January 28, 2008.  That date marked the launch of our first Studio Calico branded stamp (produced in coordination with Fontwerks).  Later that year, we began producing stamps under our own label, and had another co-branding stint with Tinkering Ink when we produced FabRips with our October kit.  But, it wasn't until the January 2009 kit that we really dug our heels into exclusive products.  That kit was inspired by the illustrations in the children's book, "The Incredible Book-Eating Boy" by Oliver Jeffers.

We designed three papers that were featured in the January kit, entitled BIBLIOGRAPHY:

For the layout below, made with the BIBLIOGRAPHY kit, I took inspiration directly from the layout of the book-page featured above:

Since, this kit, over a year has passed, and our members are still talking about this kit.  Even later that year, Lisa Truesdell, used the book as inspiration for a layout she made with Studio Calico's August kit, OVER THE RAINBOW.

I find that some of the most beloved kits are ones that are designed from an inspiration piece.  Another kit that has had similar popularity is February's BAKERS DOZEN kit.  Despite a large increase in quantity, this kit sold out in less than 2 hours.

This kit was inspired by an image I found on the Creature Comforts blog
(side note: this blog is on my RSS feed, so I get EVERYTHING Ez posts.  It's currently my favorite blog outside the scrapbooking industry and was even mentioned on the Today show.  I love those moments when I know about something that's mentioned on TV...just makes me feel so smart!)

I found this image several months before February's kit was designed, saved it, and knew I would use it at some point.  Those doily banners just called out to me.

Which is perhaps the reason they were so literally translated on these papers:

Which were a part of this kit:

Notice how the inspiration piece has strong orange, yellow, and pink tones, but it also has a touch of turquoise, so I definitely wanted to add that.  Another thing I like to do with kits is combine old product with new.  By old, I sometimes mean realllllllllllllllllly old....like a vintage item.  But, I also like to look for products that have been out for awhile that could use a breath of fresh air when combined with new products.  In the BAKER'S DOZEN kit, I included the Simplicity paper by Fancy Pants that was released over a year ago. Scrapbooking years are like dog years, so that paper is ancient!  But, when combined with brand new releases, it's instantly new and exciting again....oh, and very usable!

This layout by Maggie Holmes represents the kit quite well:

Although this post has highlighted kits constructed using an inspiration source, many times our monthly kits are driven by the newest and best products on the market.  I see something (or one of our wonderful design team members sees something) I just HAVE TO HAVE.  Ever had a moment like that?  Then, I'll plan a kit with those items in mind.

Whatever the basis of inspiration, we're committed to staying true to our beliefs and values that are tried and true. 

We'd be happy to hear from you! To enter our little contest, leave a comment in this post with a suggestion for Studio Calico and you will be entered to WIN THE PATCHWORK KIT shown below. (Contest closes at Midnight Thursday, March 11 MST.) If you have any other comments or suggestions, email April at info@studiocalico.com or visit the Studio Calico blog.

 

Hello everyone, Stephenie Hamen here.

When Wendy asked me to blog, I was so excited to be coming here to Ella and sharing. Then, as I am sitting here, tasked with blogging about ways to get inspired at the end of a long day, I quickly became terrified!

I realized that at the end of a long day, I often find myself stuck to the couch, enjoying mind-numbing entertainment on TV. So, with this in mind, I set about the task of writing this post. This meant on a random Tuesday night, peeling my couch potato butt up and moving it into creative mode. It was seriously the best exercise I could have done for myself and my creativity.

I guess I should explain.

See, after a long day of work, I come home with the strong intentions of spending time with the kids, reading books, saying prayers, and tucking them into bed, then heading downstairs to the basement to my sanctuary of a craft room (aka the furnace/water heater room) and playing. I usually get as far as the kitchen before turning back and landing on the couch, honestly saying once "How I Met Your Mother" is over I will head downstairs. Needless to say that rarely happens anymore.

I accepted this challenge with open arms in an effort to reignite my mid-week crafting and embrace the chance get my "groove on" if you will.

Here is what I found worked for me:

1. Light.
I need a lot of light. If it is dark or dim, it doesn't work. I have one single overhead bulb - yes the kind out of old movies in the interrogation rooms of Chicago police stations - which is clearly not going to spark any creative juices. I added a floor lamp and two desk lamps that work for me. I am a fan of the Ott Lights - they provide really bright light and give you great color.

2. Music.
I truly believe in the power of music in my life. I have playlists for everything! I have a playlist for walking (when it isn't 10 below and 3 feet of snow on the ground), for my kids, and even for this year. Yes, you heard me right - I have a 2010 playlist. My life deserves the same kind of soundtrack as a big blockbuster movie, so I made one. I highly recommend it - it is really fun when the right song plays at the right moment... it actually feels a little movie-ish... So, I created a playlist for creating. Fun, up-tempo, happy music that makes me smile and helps me to see the world in a better light.

3. Snacks and bevs.
Yes. There. I said it. I craft better with a bowl full of yummy goodness and a cup full of something tasty. I am a huge proponent of Pirate's Booty, mixed nuts, and M&M's, as well as iced tea, Pellegrino, iced Chai, and coffee. Smells and tastes that make me comfy and happy. Aromas that speak to me and spur my senses often help me to feel more creative.

4. Pictures.
I do crafting beyond scrapbooking, but when it comes down to it, scrapbooking is where my heart is and where my family's memories live. Pictures are what inspire me the most. After a long day, there is nothing better, in my opinion, that flipping through photos and remembering the moments that make up my life. I find it peaceful and truly inspirational. When I scrap, I let the pictures guide the way. They are where I start. If an event or set of pictures are not speaking to me that day, I do not scrap them. Crafting is meant to be fun, freeing, and creative - not, and I repeat NOT, stressful or anxiety driven. If I am not feeling it, I am not scrapping it. For me, pictures of even the most basic moments can awaken my love of crafting and just the right picture will start a frenzy of scrapping that will last into the wee hours of the morning if I am not careful!

5. Stuff.
What I mean by stuff is this - patterned papers that make your heart leap for joy. Embellies that have you gasping, just a bit, when you see them in the store. Fabrics that make you want to run home and craft that very second. That is the stuff that we use - our mediums - to create our works. It can also be what fuels us when our inspiration tank is running low. Grab that paper or rub-on you have been saving for "just the right project." You know the one I am talking about. Yes - that one. Use it. Today. I am just as guilty of buying things and then judging projects in terms of worthiness of that item. What are we saving these things for?!!?!? We bought them to use them, so in an intentional moment, let us unite together and grab them and create! If our 30th birthday or 15th high school reunion isn't enough to use them for, what is?

After taking my own advice, which is all this is - I do not, on any level, claim to be the secret keeper to the mojo we all search for - I created. And created. And created some more. On random weeknights. And you know what, it made me want to do it again and again and again. It made me a happier person overall. It made me feel more complete as "me." It took what I feel on those odd weekends here and there where I make time to craft with friends and brought it into everyday life, which, as a crafter, it should be.

Here is one layout that I made after going through pictures and just being inspired. They are just some simple ones of my son, Jacob, around the time he turned 4. We didn't go for studio portraits this year, so I took some out on our front porch. Nothing fancy - just Jake being Jake. His eyes and smile were all the inspiration I needed to get crafting this night...

Sometimes all it takes is the Black Eyed Peas, a bright light, and the right picture to get inspired… at least for me anyway!

Happy scrapping and thanks for having me here at Ella! come by my blog and say hello sometime.

 

 

The sketch for week 2 of our sketch challenge features three photos:  one 4 x 6 and two 3 x 4s. I often like to make layouts that feature one prominent photograph with other smaller detail photos.  I also like to mix-up sizes and orientations. So, for example you'll notice that one of the photographs is a different orientation from the other two.

This week, and in the weeks that follow I will also present an 8.5 x 11 version of the sketch. For this week's sketch, I chose to adapt the design in the portrait orientation. I cropped the photos so that the white space surrounding the trio of photos is maintained. You could however adapt the sketch in the landscape orientation and keep the main photo in the 4 x 6 size. You would lose that cushion of white space from the original sketch, but I think it would make a great adaptation!

 
In the layout that I made based off of this sketch I actually substituted the 4 x 6 with a 3.5 x 5. I wanted a lot of white space on this layout because part of the inspiration for making the layout was to document one of our family's fall traditions. (Mmm, yummy pumpkin scones.  Say, is it fall yet?) But the other was to pay a little homage to one of my favorite (but sadly no longer in business) scrapbooking companies. As I said last week, I like to keep my sketches very simple. I almost never sketch the background elements or the embellishments into my designs. So while the sketch for this layout is very basic I did layer a lot of patterned papers to create the backdrop for my photos (patterned paper is my favorite scrapbooking supply). And in order to make sure my photos stood out I matted them on white cardstock (you can also have them printed with a white border from the photo printer, but I'm sure you all already knew that).
 

 
Feel free to alter or change this sketch to fit your needs. Or, if you want to use it just as it is, that's great too!  There is no wrong or right when using sketches. They are meant to be starting points for your creativity. Keep up the good work this week; I loved seeing all your submissions from last week.
 
Just leave me a comment with a link to your layout, and we'll pick three winners by Thursday, January 28, who will each receive a coupon code for a free eBook. Winners will be posted on Friday or Saturday (January 28-29). If you don't have a blog, just post your layout to our Flickr group. Everyone who participates this week will also get an entry into our Grand Prize drawing five weeks from
now. For every week you post a layout, you get one more entry in the
drawing.

WE'RE READY TO ANNOUNCE OUR GRAND PRIZE!!!

After all the entries from every week of the contest have been gathered, we'll draw one random winner who will receive a Cricut Expression (MSRP around $300)! Important note: grand prize winner will pay shipping, whether domestic or international. If grand prize winner chooses to decline the prize, we'll pick another random winner to win the Cricut Expression. And we'll expect the winner to create a project or two with the Cricut to be featured on our blog.

Note: The three winning layouts for week 1 will be posted later today or tomorrow (Saturday), because the whole Ella staff is busy at CHA! Each weekly winner will get a coupon code for a free eBook.

My husband and I have started a bi-weekly date night, during which he invariably pulls out his Blackberry and snaps a shot of us. I thought it would be fun to put together a mini book to document all our dates. I created four templates, each with a different marriage quote at the bottom. (My favourite is "I have gaps, you have gaps. We fill each others' gaps." from the movie Rocky.)

Since every date is different, I picked out a bunch of different papers from my scrap pile to use as the background for each page. (Boy, was THAT satisfying to clear 20 pieces out of my scrap drawer!) A quick title, a few binder rings and I'm done!

A few notes:
- The photo size is really small, but for a Blackberry photo is was big enough for me. If you think you will have nicer shots, just put a 4X6 on the facing page, and perhaps use the 2.5X2.5 spot for some ephemera. This could be the business card of the restaurant, movie tickets, or receipts.( I think I'm going to put an envelope on the back page for my ephemera.) You could also use that space for an embellishment or punch.
- This photo is pretty crappy quality, right? Do I care? No! Our two big heads are in the picture, and that's all that matters. Our my kids aren't going to care 20 years ago about the quality of the photo. They'll just want to see Mom and Dad on a date.
-One more thing I plan to attach is a list of ideas for future dates. That way whenever we're told about a good restaurant, or a good show, we can add it to the list.

Supplies: Chipboard (DCWV), Patterned Paper (Collage Press, October Afternoon), Letters (Collage Press, Harmonie, Jenni Bowlin Studios), Stickers (Making Memories)

To see more of guest bloger Lisa Kisch's work, visit her blog!

Angie asked me to share a super quick tutorial for how to make a mini flip calendar for 2010! The last day of 2009 is the perfect day to share, right? I created one for her featuring elephants of all shapes and sizes (see it below), and then she created one for a friend of hers featuring the romantic leading men of their favorite Jane Austen films (see it here).



This desk calendar is simple and easy to make. It makes a great gift. Here are some instructions:

1. Find a simple calendar template online. Here is the one I used, by Erica Hernandez. Gather some photos (I found mine on Etsy.com), and drag and drop them into the templates in Photoshop. Print them on matte or semi-gloss photo paper, or print the blank templates first and then add the photos. I printed three 3 x 6 calendar pages per 8.5 x 11 sheet of photo paper.

2. Cover the back of your calendar pages with cardstock or patterned papers. I adhered the calendar pages to some Basic Grey papers BEFORE trimming them. That saved time by combining the two steps of trimming both separately into one quick step of trimming both at the same time. (And it looks neater.)

3. Create front and back covers with chipboard covered in cardstock or patterned papers. My calendar pages are 3 x 6, so I used a 6 x 6 piece of chipboard and cut it in half.

4. Bind your calendar pages and covers with a Uni-bind or other binding machine. You can also use a hole-punch and binder rings, or a large binder clip.

5. Add some number stickers and embellishments to the front cover. Adhere some ribbon to the back cover and tie it in a knot around the front cover. This can also be used as a way to stand the calendar up on a desk. Just untie the knot in the front, flip the front cover over, and the tie the ribbon loosely backward around the front cover easel-style.

When we spotted these adorable Christmas layouts by Valerie Mangan (one of our favorite new discoveries through our submissions page!), we couldn't resist sharing them with you. The fresh color palettes, fun takes on the topics, cool product combinations, and great design approaches really put us in the Christmas spirit. And it proves that three layouts can do a fine job of capturing the highlights of an eventful December.

Here's what Valerie had to say:
"When scrapbooking holiday photos, I’ve always tended to do the big overview 2-page layouts. This year, I decided to focus on a few specific moments. I’m so glad I did because these three layouts truly reflect the spirit of the Christmas we had in 2008."



"I was actually inspired to make this layout when I saw the gold chipboard 'Believe.' I knew I had these great pictures from our annual Santa visit and the word 'believe' was what came to mind every time I looked at them. I couldn’t resist making a layout around this embellishment and telling the story behind of our visit with Santa last year. (Kind of long so it’s hidden on a tabbed card behind the photos). We are in the peak years of Santa-belief in our house. I know they are fleeting, and we might only have 2 or 3 left, if we’re lucky. This layout will always help us recall these special years, and 2008 in particular."



"My son’s reaction to the arrival of his new Curious George toy was so joyful that I knew I would need to document it in a significant way.  I knew the photo on the right would speak for itself so I kept the journaling to a single line. This layout will always remind me of my son being that age where Christmas is pure magic and it will remind all of us of the day Christopher and George became best friends."



"For me, seeing my kids happy and smiling during the holidays is the best part.  I really wanted to capture a collection of the ‘smiley’ photos together in simple, playful layout.  The candy colors of this Basic Grey collection (Eskimo Kisses) really helped me stick to the plan. These were happy times. This layout will always remind us of that."

To see more darling designs from this talented scrapbooker, check out her blog, Paper and Cookies. There are mouth-watering paper creations galore, but that's not all. We sure wouldn't mind partaking of her baking talents, if we were anywhere near her neighborhood! Baking cookies, making cards...that's what the holidays are all about, and you'll fiind plenty of both on Valerie's blog!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Lain and I are both members of the Write. Click. Scrapbook. inspiration collective, and it's been a blast connecting with all of the talent and creativity of the 32 awesome members of the group over the past year. In fact, we even put together an amazing eBook all together, which goes on sale TOMORROW! (The Super Spreads article from our latest eZine gives you a little sneak peek.)

Well, the powers that be over at Write. Click. Scrapbook. put together a fun Secret Santa exchange among the group members, and you are going to LOVE the incredibly thoughtful gift that I received:

Come on! Isn't that sweet? A little handmade flip calendar, filled with pictures of something meaningful to the recipient...what could be better? And you know, I suspect mine came from miss Aly Dosdall.

Just had to share!

Well, not EVERYWHERE, but we've been spotted in some pretty cool places around the web the past week or so. Not only are we getting some great buzz, many of these blog posts include a coupon for Margie Romney Aslett's Vintage Hip Christmas Crafts. Haven't scooped up a copy yet? Grab it now!

• A Matter of Memories
• I'm Just a Girl
• Craft Gossip
• Craftig
• Kiss and Tell Scrapbooking
• Craftblips
• Paper Passion Pixels
• Confessions of a Cropaholic
• Fiskateers
• Craftypod
• ...and more to come!

(pssst... several of these sites are also offering a drawing for a free copy of the eBook! Check 'em out before it's too late!)

Today at Ella we are THRILLED (beyond thrilled, actually, but we couldn't think of a word for that -- uber-thrilled?) to have talented digital scrapbook designer Liz Tamanaha of Paislee Press as a guest blogger! Liz has created a super-quick, super-easy, super-cute project that's suitable for any level of digital skill, from non-existent to extra-sassy! Read on for more fun...

Are your favorite moments and memories scattered all over the place?

Why not gather them up and put them in a mini-album?

I know what you're thinking: Who has the time, especially around the holidays? This album is such a breeze to put together, you can complete it in a matter of hours, even in the midst of the busy holiday season. That's right! If I (a.k.a. The Slowest Scrapbooker Ever) can pull this off, YOU most definitely can, too! It's a simple mini-album with a whole lot of heart: A collection of your favorite photos of the year and why you are thankful for these moments, in three easy steps:

1. Pick 10-12 of your favorite photos from this year.

2. Jot down why you are thankful for the moment or memory that the photo depicts.

3. Put the photo and the corresponding journaling side-by-side in the album.

Your top ten moments of the year are now all gathered in one place. Mission accomplished! (For more photos of the album I created, go here.)

This is as close to an "All About Me" book as I'm ever going to get! I'm thinking of doing one of these every year around Thanksgiving time. It'll be neat a few years from now to look through this collection of thankful moments and see how things have changed (or remained the same).

To make this project even easier for you, here is the journaling template I created to make the album. (Note: The template is available as both a .png and a layered .psd file so you can customize it to your heart's content!)

If you're new to digital scrapbooking and Photoshop, never fear! Check out the tutorial below. Go grab the free journaling template and come back here to follow along as I walk you through the basics of how to create your first journaling page in Photoshop. You'll be pleasantly surprised to discover how easy and fun it is! (Note: This tutorial will work with Photoshop and most recent versions of Photoshop Elements. Don't have PSE? You can download a free trial version here!)

HOW TO USE THE JOURNALING TEMPLATE: A PHOTOSHOP TUTORIAL

1. Open the Quick Page.
Open the quick page in Photoshop (File > open > navigate to where you saved paislee-iamthankful-white.png, select it, and click OPEN. Mac users: simply drag the paislee-iamthankful-white.png icon and drop it onto the Photoshop icon found on your navigation bar).

Your screen should look something like this now:

2. Add Your Text
Select your text tool.

Click on the file and drag your mouse to create your text box. Once you get the shape/size you want, release your mouse button.

Once you release your mouse, you will see a blinking line (that is your text cursor). Begin typing. Use the text tools at the top of the navigation bar to change text properties (font, size, color, etc.).

3. Customizing Text Color with the Eyedropper Function.
Here's what the page looks like so far with my journaling. It looks fine, but I think it would look better with a bit of color. I'm going to make the date and the first sentence red to match the heart. You can get exact color matches very easily in Photoshop using the eyedropper tool (this is one of my very favorite functions in Photoshop!).

HIGHLIGHT the text you want to color, then click on the Color Swatch Box at the top of the navigation bar. A color pop-up window will appear, and your mouse icon should now look like an eyedropper. Click on the heart and the color will change to red, as easy as that!

Click OK to confirm the color change. Your journal box should look something like this now. And your page is done! If this is your very first Photoshop creation, CONGRATULATIONS! There's just one last step...

4. Last Step: Saving the Layout
To save the layout, I recommend saving several versions: One as a .psd file (with the layers) so that you can go back and modify the layout, and a flattened .jpg version (a high-res file for printing, and a low-res file for posting online).

Saving the file as an editable .psd file:
FILE > SAVE AS > name of file.psd (make sure the file extension is .psd!)

Saving the layout for print:
1. Flatten your layout file: LAYERS > FLATTEN
2. Save the file as a high-resolution .jpg file: FILE > SAVE AS > name of file.jpg (quality = 10)
3. Save the file as a low-resolution .jpg file: FILE > SAVE AS > name of file.jpg (quality = 3)

For more information on saving files and file formats, check out this article in the October issue of Scrapbook Ellaments.

A couple of weeks ago, Lain posted an illuminating tutorial on this blog called "How to create 4 cards in 20 minutes and keep your sanity." Alert reader Hillary Chybinski tried the system and sent her adorable results in to our Submissions email. And as far as we can tell, insanity was successfully avoided. Wanna peek?

"Okay, these took me a little longer than 20 minutes," Hillary said, "but what a GREAT inspirational idea to use up some stash." (Speaking of using up your stash, check out Hillary's blog today for a fun Christmas album inspired by Stacy Julian.)

Have you been inspired by something you've read about in an Ella eBook, in our Scrapbook Ellaments eZine, or on this blog? Please, share your results with us by emailing pictures of your project to submissions@ellapublishing.com, with "Ella Inspirations" in the subject line. We'd love to feature your work on our blog or perhaps in our eZine. But, above all, it just really makes us happy to hear from you.

And don't forget that we have two open calls right now for our Scrapbook Ellaments January issue. Read all about them here, and then submit your layouts for a chance to be published—and receive a free eBook if you're chosen.

Have a great (and grateful) week!