Gift albums

With Mother's Day and senior graduations quickly approaching, are you in search of a special and unique gift idea? Consider creating a mini album for your loved one. Teresa Collins has released a new line of 6 x 12" album components that you can completely customize for your special someone. Simply choose a style of chipboard covers, add the specially sized page protectors, then bind your completed album with a Zutter Binder. (If you don't have a Zutter Binder, stop by our crop room and use ours--so easy and fun!) We promise you'll end up with a keepsake you may not want to part with. If you use the Teresa Collins papers, there are many journaling prompts to help you tell your family story in a way that will speak to future generations. Here's one we created. In addition to the Teresa Collins papers, we also used the beautiful vintage lines from Graphic 45 and some from Karen Russell for Creative Imaginations.

Scrap and $ave

We've got more ideas for stretching your papercrafting dollars. And this one is FREE!!

Artist Trading Cards

Did you know here at Bloomin Scrapbooks, we have a FREE Artist Trading Card swap once each month? It's a great chance to get together with fellow scrapbookers and card makers to create and trade these one-of-kind handmade cards. Each month we have a theme and it's always so much fun to see how everyone makes the theme their own. ATCs are a great way to try new techniques without fear of "messing up" an entire layout; it's also a great way to gather ideas and learn new techniques from others. Because they are the size of a playing card, they are easily created using your leftover scraps and can literally cost nothing to make! Upcoming dates and themes are:

May 5, 6-8 p.m. "Your Choice" (i.e. use your own theme!)

June 2, 6-8 p.m. "Masculine/men"

Here are some examples from past swaps here at Bloomin' Scrapbooks:

Cassidy Young:

Lori Clendening:

Leslie Miller:

Sharon Follendorf:

Debbie Ridlen:
Linda Connolly:

Upcoming Classes

Scenic Route Layouts
Sat, April 18 10am-1pm
In this class we'll create 4 two-page layouts using a kit from the Scenic Route "Grafton" paper collection. You'll leave with extra chipboard embellishments and stickers. A great class for beginners. Kits are available if you cannot attend the class.

Chipboard and Acrylic album

Sat, May 9 10am-1pm

We'll use lots of Tinkering Ink products to create a mini album featuring both chipboard and acrylic pages. Just like in the class above, you'll have plenty of extras to take home including a sheet of matching die cut letters, felt shapes and rub-ons.

Scrap and $ave

We're starting a new feature here on our blog, "Scrap and Save". With uncertain economic times, we are all more concerned with spending our money wisely, including our scrappin' dollars. Each week we'll give you ideas to stretch your creativity as well as your crafting budget. If you've got ideas to share with fellow scrapbookers and stampers, please email us or post a comment below.

Saving Idea #1--Come to a Crop

An easy way to stretch your scrapping budget is to attend scheduled crops here at the store or bring a friend and come crop in our workroom during non-class times. Not only will you enjoy the fellowship of other crafters, but you'll have access to all our fun tools. Think of the savings in cutting your own custom title from our die cut machine vs. purchasing pre-cut letter stickers. Not only is it economical, but will also coordinate perfectly with your pages! Or try some of our workroom rubber stamps on a special card project. We also have a large collection of punches available for your use. Use our Revolution machine to cut a die cut shape from scrap cardstock, then customize it with stamps, inking or even glitter. Maybe you've been saving for a special scrapbook tool... if it's available in our workroom, it's also a great opportunity to try before you buy! Be sure to check this quarter's newletter for our crop schedule.

Saving Idea #2--Use your Scraps

Many of us save our leftover scrap papers but if you're like me, sometimes I forget they're there! Next time you're scrapbooking or cardmaking, challenge yourself to use your scraps in a creative way on your project. The layout below uses scraps to create a flower embellishment as well as a coordinating photo mat. And using your scraps also frees up room in your scrapbooking space for when you do decide to purchase new items!