Personalized Birthday Card

What is better than giving a customized card?! I absolutely think the key to making something special is to make it personal. The beauty of making cards (or any project) from scratch is being able to really personalize it to make it just as special as the person you are giving it to!

For example, I created this card with my son’s birthday in mind… he turns 14 next week, and I recently bought some ballon paper at Michaels (the balloons have a thermal gloss treatment on them which I loved by Imaginisce), and knew I wanted to use it for this project. I also was inspired the recent June 2011 The Stamps Of Life set “daises2garden” sentiments: “wishing you…” “a happy birthday”.

(Inside of card)

Details are so important in personalization!

How I personalized this card: I stamped the TSOL sentiment onto a Studio G Ditto label sticker, used a bit of twine from a Paper Lovelies kit, and some AC Thickers to personalize it with his nickname, Bay. I also used a Simple Stories stickers sheet to put “14″ on several balloons (and the inside sentiment as well) for his age. The small flag accents (by his name and on the inside of the card) add a bit of fun and were from another Simple Stories sticker sheet, which all coordinated great!

Now, all I need to do is write a personal message to my boy and I have created a keepsake for him. I know in my heart that it means much more than anything I could buy in the card aisle. It is always fun to see what he says about the cards I make, and they get put into my Project Life album as memorabilia, too.

Giveaway this weekend!

Make a card this weekend for someone special. Share it with us on our Flickr gallery group and each card uploaded will be one entry to win a new The Stamps Of Life animals4prints stamp set. Want an extra chance to win? Make your card using any TSOL stamp set and you’ll get a bonus entry!

HOW TO ENTER: Upload your card to our Flickr gallery group here, specify in the image comments during upload on Flickr if you used a TSOL set for the bonus entry (optional), and then leave a comment on this post after you upload so I can get in touch with you if you win. **Contest ends Monday, June 27th at Noon Mountain Time. Winner will be posted here on the blog on Monday night and must contact me within 7 days to claim their prize. US Residents only.**

Good luck!

Happy Creating! - Terri

Welcome to a brand new Create Scrapbooks project series called “My Gratitude Project”. On the live show today Terri & Jana shared the concept and introduced the series with free design files. The design files are FREE for this project in celebration of Create Scrapbooks one year anniversary this year… Thank YOU for your support of the Create Scrapbooks Live Show this past year!

There are several different ways you can participate in this project. You can simply print what you want to use out of the design files. Cover designs are made to slip right into a 4×6″ photo album (vertical orientation), or you can use any of these files on scrapbook layouts, cards, mixed media, or other types of journals and art projects.

The .pdf file with blue title/cover page image, journaling title images, and tab/page elements

This is a series, so there will be several files coming your way in the next few months to finish this project – have fun and remind yourself how GOOD life is!

Click on image to download all these FREE designer files!

**Click here to download the 4×6″ cover/title page, 8.5×11″ printable titles/journaling starters and other embellishment elements together in a .zip file. There are blue and green covers included in this bundle of files. There are instructions/tips on how to use and print these on the 8.5×11 .pdf file. The covers are ready to print on a small 4×6″ sheet of cardstock or in a 4×6″ photo printer with photo paper.

There are more tips discussed on the live show, so make sure you watch the recording if you missed seeing it live today here (chat is recorded as well). To be notified of the latest files and live project happenings: “like” us on Facebook, follow us on twitter, or subscribe to our newsletter.

**NOTE: These files are for personal use only and were created by professional graphic designer Terri Bradford & founder of CreateScrapbooks.com. Feel free to use these files and share your creations using them on our Facebook wall here.  This project is best shared… share the love and tweet/share on facebook. Enjoy!

• Watch the 11/12/10 Live Show (click to watch recording)
• Watch the 11/12/10 After-Show bonus chat (click to watch recording)
• Check out the photos from the show on our Facebook page here
• VIsit SVGCuts.com or email Mary and Leo at info@svgcuts.com and tell them you liked seeing them on the live show – Also visit their newest site PumpkinCartCrafts.com for your favorite supplies and to purchase SCAL
• You can also get some free SVG files on their blog here (and free gift offers, too!)

TWO winners were randomly chosen to win an SVGCuts gift card or Sure Cuts A Lot Software LIVE on this show… a surprise from Mary & Leo… congrat’s to the winners – and thanks Leo & Mary for the giveaway!

SVG Files – Sure Cuts a Lot

To start off the show we had two live guests:

Nanci from Premier Scrapbook Designs showed us her November card and layout kits & Corrie from Sweet Peach Crop Shop showed us her Sweet Featured Kit and some December sneak peeks.

Jana then showed us how she bound the transparency/overlay mini-album featuring Hambly overlays with Japanese tape that she started creating last week on the live show.

We also had a great GIVEAWAY sponsored by the wonderful SVGCuts.com (Sure Cuts A Lot software SVG files to cut using  your Cricut): Vivan F. was the live show winner… thanks to all who participated!

Terri then showed off the awesome kit clubs (papercrafting and scrapbooking monthly clubs) for November! She featured several different clubs: Sweet Peach Crop Shop, Little Red Scrapbook, Scrappy Chics, Paper Lovelies, Paper Posies… check out ScrapClubs for all their content lists and information more in detail.

• VIsit our sponsor SVGCuts.com to say thank you for the awesome gift card giveaway (For free SVG files: visit their blog and join their newsletter!)
• See all of the show photos here in our facebook photo album and the finished projects here.
• Purchase and view more information about SCAL (Sure Cuts A Lot software for the Cricut) here.
• Watch the recording of this episode of the 11/5/10 live show here (a window will pop-up and the show with the chat recorded will start automatically)
• Check out all the COOL KIT CLUBS that were featured on this live show here at http://scrapclubs.com

Follow us on twitter for the latest show notifications: http://twitter.com/CScrapbooks. RSVP here on Facebook or get more details on our upcoming events. Next week we’ll have more SVGCuts.com projects to show that Jana and Terri created. If you have any SCAL projects, get them ready to show live!

Jana started creating a transparency/overlay mini-album featuring Hambly overlays. (Unfortunately, the there was a problem with the recording, so there is no link to watch this show – so sorry!)

The good news: there will be a part II of this album THIS WEEK – LIVE Friday, November 5th at Noon Eastern. You will be able to see Jana finish this album with embellishments and binding it together. RSVP here on Facebook or get more details on our upcoming events.

Here’s a recap of what happened on the live show: Jana started out with various Hambly products and cut down the overlays into 4×6 pages to start the mini-album.

She then used Ranger Alcohol Inks in various colors and techniques (including: swiping using the felt applicator from Ranger, and directly dropping the ink onto the overlays) to create cool effects. Join us next week for part II on this mini-album (it will be recorded unless there is another tech glitch – thanks for your patience).

We also had a great GIVEAWAY sponsored by the wonderful SVGCuts.com (Sure Cuts A Lot software SVG files to cut using  your Cricut): Jenn M. was the live show winner… we’ll have another gift card THIS week to give away on the live show, so join us!

• VIsit our sponsor SVGCuts.com to say thank you for the awesome gift card giveaway (For free SVG files: visit their blog and join their newsletter!)
• See all of the show photos here in our facebook photo album and the finished projects here.
• Purchase and view more information about SCAL (Sure Cuts A Lot software for the Cricut) here.

Follow us on twitter for the latest show notifications: http://twitter.com/CScrapbooks

• Watch the recorded version of the show here.
• See all of the show photos here in our facebook photo album.

Links and information in reference from this show on 10/1/10:

World Cardmaking Day (PaperCrafts magazine) – check out who is participating this weekend, more information, and share the cardmaking love with other papercrafters!

If you are looking for great places to send homemade cards for great causes please consider sending to:

Operation Write Home – support our troops that are deployed with handmade cards, donations and words of encouragement. Check their website for full details and specifications on what types of cards to send, where to send them, and restrictions.

Crew Buchanan - Terri has been following the Buchanan family and their son Crew’s battle with Cancer for about 2 years now. Terri worked closely with Maegan (mom and founder/former owner of Little Red Scrapbook Co kit club) for years before Crew was born, and knows just what an AMAZING family the Buchanan’s are… and we at Create Scrapbooks would love to have support and love be sent to them to lift them all up!

Cards would be GREATLY appreciated to send to their family (donations as well are appreciated). Crew is 2 years old, an amazing fighter, and loves Disney (especially Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story).

You can send cards for Crew (please put in 2 envelopes, one with just his name on the outside, and the other addressed to me so I can send them together): Terri Bradford 1882 E 104th Ave #338 Thornton, CO 80233

(Thank you all in advance for your time, support, donations and love! – Terri)

Guests, kit clubs & sponsors that were featured on the 10/1/10 show:

• Sweet Peach Crop Shop http://sweetpeachcropshop.com
• Nanci Evans: Premier Scrapbook Designs Owner http://premierscrapbookdesigns.com
• The Stamps of Life by Stephanie Barnard: http://thestampsoflife.com
• Paper Lovelies Kit Club: http://paperlovelies.com
• Little Red Scrapbook Kit Club: http://littleredscrapbook.com
• Terri Bradford: ScrapClubs.com Owner/CS host, http://scrapclubs.com (see all the kit club info there about the featured kits!)

Special Premier Scrapbook Designs Promotion mentioned on the live show:

• In honor of World Card Making Day, Premier Scrapbook Designs would like to help you get a head start on the holiday card making season. PSD Owner, Nanci, is excited to offer you double the fun with our Buy One Card Kit at regular price & receive a Second Card Kit at 50% off! PSD card kits are perfect for those special occasions and they make great holiday gifts too. All kits come pre-cut, pre-designed making it super easy and fun for you to assemble. Sign up today to become a Kit Club Member by visiting www.PremierScrapbookDesigns.com and you can join in on the excitment. *Enter HALFOFFKIT during checkout to redeem this offer.

CREATE SCRAPBOOKS GIVEAWAY for October and Cardmaking Day celebration!

Create and send a CARD for Operation Write Home or Crew Buchanan this weekend, take a photo of your creation, upload it to our forum HERE to be entered. One entry per card… make and send as many as you’d like, but make sure to post each card separately in our forum to get an entry to the giveaway. Let’s rally together and get LOTS of cards created and sent!

The winner is…

“Comment left on:

August 20, 2010 at 10:47 am

Lezlye says:

Premier scrapbook designs, and The stamps of life. Really loving the men outdoor theme kit! I have liked you on FB too!”

**Lezlye: Please EMAIL ME (terri@createscrapbooks.com) with your mailing address within 48 hours to claim your box of goodies!**

If this prize goes unclaimed after 48 hours I will redraw.

Thanks to EVERYONE who entered and left comments & feedback. We appreciate you!

• Watch the recorded version of the show here.
• See the show photos in our facebook photo album here.
• Purchase June’s Sweet Peach Crop Shop kit here.

On the August 20, 2010 live show Terri was joined by 2 kit club owner guests, we chatted about August (and a sneak peek of September) kits, CS giveaways, and then did an informal crop.

• Watch the recorded version of the show here.
• See all of the show photos here in our facebook photo album.

Guests, kit clubs, sponsors, and links that were featured on this show:

• Corrie Jones: Sweet Peach Crop Shop Owner http://sweetpeachcropshop.com
• Nanci Evans: Premier Scrapbook Designs Owner http://premierscrapbookdesigns.com
• The Stamps of Life by Stephanie Barnard: http://thestampsoflife.com
• Lisa Falduto: Paper Fashions Boutique Owner, http://paperfashionsboutique.com
• Paper Lovelies Kit Club: http://paperlovelies.com
• ScrapScription Kit Club: http://scrapscription.com
• Terri Bradford: ScrapClubs.com Owner/CS host, http://scrapclubs.com (see all the kit club info there about the featured kits!)

Check them out and let them know that you heard about them from the Create Scrapbooks show!

Don’t forget to enter our GOODIE BOX GIVEAWAY this weekend – click here to enter!

… AND, for extra chances to WIN:

• follow us on twitter (CScrapbooks) for an extra entry
• join our newsletter list (no spam… just great papercrafting and show notifications!) for another bonus entry…
• become a fan and “like” our facebook fan page here for yet another entry!
• Make sure you leave separate comments here (below) for each extra entry and tell us what you did for the entry.
• Deadline for entry is Sunday August 22nd at midnight EST. US entries only please.

The winner will be announced on Monday morning 8/23/10 here on our blog. You will need to claim your prize if you are the winner by emailing me at terri@createscrapbooks.com. GOOD LUCK!

Tiffany Smith won our NSD Blog Hop prize: A

Congrat’s to Tiffany and thank you all for your wonderful comments and participation. We appreciate you stopping by and sharing in the creative love!