Creating Keepsakes "Fast and Fresh Scrapbooks" special issue

Back by popular demand! Creating Keepsakes magazine is re-releasing one of their popular special issues: Fast & Fresh Scrapbooks. 

Whether you just got back from a trip and are itching to get those photos into an album or want to make a gift for a loved one, the useful ideas in Fast & Fresh Scrapbooks will help you scrapbook all of those photos in no time. Featuring 100's of time- and budget-saving tips, product highlights, journaling solutions, design shortcuts, and more, the inspiring ideas in this issue will help you scrapbook more of your photos into beautiful albums quickly and easily.

Here are the links to the print and digital issues, the bonus content, and a little sneak peek:

Fast & Fresh (print)
Fast & Fresh (digital issue) 

Fast & Fresh bonus content

Fast & Fresh “Sneak Peek”

I'm giving away a copy of this special issue to one lucky blog reader!!  To be entered to win, simply leave a comment here before the end of the day on Tuesday, December 23rd.  I'll announce the winner shortly after that. 

Head on over to these blogs on the blog hop for more chances to win!

Autumn Baldwin
Kim Watson
Jing-Jing Nickel
Jana Morton
Gretchen McElveen
Laina Lamb

My Mind's Eye -- Hanukkah projects

As I mentioned yesterday, I had the great pleasure of guest designing for My Mind's Eye and creating some Hanukkah layouts and a card.  I thought I would share my projects here before Hanukkah ends this weekend.

A very special part of our Hanukkah celebration is lighting the menorah.  I created a layout showcasing candle-lighting pictures from last Hanukkah.  I used the stunning Lost & Found 3 - Oliver collection.  The gorgeous blues and golds are absolutely perfect for Hanukkah photos.

Supplies: Lost & Found 3 - Oliver: patterned paper, chipboard elements, enamel dots, decorative buttons, decorative brads.

I created the rays using a mix of the lovely Oliver patterned papers, then I cut out Jewish stars and raised them with pop dots.  This popped up shapes technique was inspired by a gorgeous layout by Emily Spahn ('JustEm') that I first saw in the Club CK gallery.

Our Hanukkah celebration wouldn’t be complete without some lively rounds of dreidel.  It’s basically a spinning top game where the participants play to win “gelt” (chocolate coins).  Because it's never too early to teach our kids how to gamble, right?  Kidding. ;-)

As you can see from this layout, when we don’t have enough gelt on hand, we simply substitute Hershey’s kisses.  I used the doily stickers to represent the round-and-round spinning motion of the dreidel. 

Supplies: Lost & Found 3 - Oliver: patterned paper, stickers (doilies), enamel dots, decorative buttons, decorative brads, adornements (lace).

I also got to play with the beautiful My Mind's Eye Winter Wonderland collection.  This collection isn’t just for Christmas!  I used the papers to make this Hanukkah card.

Supplies: Winter Wonderland: patterned paper and twine, Lost & Found 3 - Oliver: enamel dots and decorative buttons.

Thank you, MME, for having me as your guest! 

My Mind's Eye -- Guest Designer

I'm honored to be the Guest Designer for My Mind's Eye today!! I've always loved MME, so this was a big thrill for me!  I wrote a Hanukkah blog post and created a couple Hanukkah layouts and a card for MME using their gorgeous products.  I'll be posting my projects here in the next couple of days, but in the meantime, here's a little sneak:

Head on over to the MME blog and check it all out! 

Hanukkah Layout

I've been very busy with Hanukkah preparations and celebrations, so I apologize for the delay in announcing the giveaway winner of the Creating Keepsakes Scrapbooking Babies and Toddlers special issue.  I used a random number generator to choose the winner, and it is . . . Virginia L.  Congrats Virginia!! I will contact you to get your mailing info.

Since we're celebrating Hanukkah this week, it's a good time to share a Hanukkah page I created for Creating Keepsakes magazine.  This is a "clean and simple" page that I did for the Fast Pages article (pages that can be done in 45 minutes or less).

As seen in the November/December 2012 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.  Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher.

I used Webster's Pages patterned papers, trim and alphabet stickers, plus my old faithful Thickers.  I handcut and glittered the Stars of David.

To all my Jewish friends and blog readers, I wish you and your family a very Happy Hanukkah!