Articles by Abby

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A fun, fast gift!

November 2, 2011 by Abby | No comments

Now that the Halloween festivities are over, it’s time to think Christmas! Looking for a really special gift that’s also fast to create? I LOVE the new 6×6 trays from 7gypsies!

I made both of these trays in an afternoon–the small size makes them so fast and easy to put together! Honestly, the hardest part was deciding which papers and embellishments I wanted to use. After that, assembling them was a piece of cake!

Here are a few tricks I used along the way:

The large opening is perfect for a 4″ x 6″ photo; however, you will have to crop it down ever-so-slightly to make it fit properly in the space. I stamped a sentiment on cardstock (using Technique Tuesday stamps), added a couple of 7gypsies metal studs, and adhered the entire thing over my photo using Pop Dots to elevate it off my photo.

The other openings are approximately 2″ x 2″ each, so I cut patterned papers to size and adhered them to the openings. You could also put small photos in those spaces. Next, I included a few easy embellishments–a metal clip and ticket, a pre-made flower embellishment (I used an old flower from my stash, but any flower would do, or a cute paper rosette!), and a banner flag. Another thing I love about these trays is that they have a bit of a ledge, so you can put little trinkets on them, like my 7gypsies apothecary bottle with a strip of paper on the inside. I just used Glue Dots to hold it in place!

You can see that by simply changing the theme of the papers and embellishments (and photos!) used, I got a whole different look on my second tray. The quote in the top right space is a sticker, adhered with Pop Dots to give a bit of dimension. The paw prints are die-cuts I had, but you could also use stamps or stickers instead. I printed the sentiment along the bottom on my computer, trimmed it, and adhered it right to the edge of the tray. When creating your tray, you want to use a strong adhesive, such as a permanent tape runner or Wonder Tape. For bulky embellishments, Glue Dots work great, too.

These trays are designed to stand up on a table or counter or displayed on an easel. If you want to hang them on the wall, you could glue picture hangers on the back, or hot glue a ribbon to the top.

I made both of these trays for my home, but I can think of so many people I could make trays for as gifts–parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, you name it! You can make a tray in any theme imaginable (travel, pet, baby, wedding, family, sports, school), too. They’re so versatile!

Want to see even more ideas using the small trays and the larger trays? Click here!

Make a few trays for gifts this holiday season–I promise, they’re just as much fun to make as they are to give!

 

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A very special handmade card!

July 18, 2011 by Abby | 16 comments

I love getting handmade cards from family and friends! Because I, too, am a card-maker, I can appreciate all the thought and effort that goes into making a one-of-a-kind card for someone you care about. I’ve received lots of handmade cards in the past, but little did I know that last weekend, I was going to receive a SUPER special handmade card that is in a category all its own!

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Top 10 for summer creativity!

June 2, 2011 by Abby | 3 comments

Summer is officially underway! It’s been a long winter and a cold and wet spring here in Minnesota, so I’m really looking forward to a few months of sun, warmth, and fun activities outside. And of course, I’m planning to document all of those fun activities and memories in my scrapbook!

So, in honor of the official start to summer, here are 10 things I love for summer creativity!

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ScrapFest 2011…four months to go and counting!

May 17, 2011 by Abby | 2 comments

Where will YOU be September 16th-18th? In Minnesota, attending ScrapFest 2011, I hope!

That’s right–the BIGGEST scrapbooking event in the country is just four months away. Everyone here at the Archiver’s corporate office is already hard at work to make sure this year’s event–our 9th annual–is the best one yet!

If you’ve never been to ScrapFest, you’re truly missing out on a fabulous weekend of creativity, Make & Takes, workshops, crops, shopping, and a whole lot more.

Don’t believe me? Click here to watch our NEW ScrapFest commercial and see for yourself. We can’t wait to see you in September!

(P.S. Remember, there’s still time to enter our Create-it Workshop by You Contest and win a trip to ScrapFest!)

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Win a trip to ScrapFest!

May 9, 2011 by Abby | No comments

Have you ever been to ScrapFest? If you haven’t, you’re missing out! Just imagine three solid days of scrapbooking, card-making, paper-crafting, shopping, and having a blast with thousands of people who love the same things you do, all inside the biggest mall in the country–the Mall of America!

I typically work in the registration area at ScrapFest and get to meet so many great people who come from all over for this event. Groups of ladies drive or fly up to Minnesota from far-away states like California, Texas, and Georgia, and we even have international travelers coming from as far as Australia and England. It’s so cool to see people come together, all for the love of scrapbooking and creativity!

Sounds like fun, right? Want to join us? Enter our Create-it Workshop by You Contest and you could win a trip to ScrapFest 2011!

That’s right! For the very first time, one lucky person will win an all-expense paid trip to ScrapFest and get the opportunity to teach their very own workshop, too! Simply design a project, make a video of you teaching that project (and upload it to You Tube), and send in an official entry form. We’ll choose one person to teach their workshop–along with our other 60+ Create-it Workshops–at ScrapFest. Hurry though, because all entries must be in by May 23rd!

So, if you’ve always wanted to attend ScrapFest, this is your shot to come for free. Click here for the full details. I can’t wait to see your project and to hopefully meet you in person this September at the Mall of America!

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Make your own guest book!

April 13, 2011 by Abby | No comments

Wedding season is underway! Lots of people get married in the spring and the summer (my cousin is one of them this year!), and Archiver’s has lots of terrific ideas for handmade save-the-date cards, wedding invitations, and a whole lot more!

Looking for a fun twist on the traditional wedding guest book? Here’s a neat idea:

Enlarge a few photos of the happy couple, mat them, and adhere them to the center of a few sheets of 12×12 cardstock (one photo per sheet). White or black cardstock always looks elegant, or use cardstock to match the wedding colors. Guests can use a pen or marker to write around the photo–there’s even a cool white pen for writing on dark cardstock. Afterward, slide the pages into a scrapbook for an instant keepsake. It’s so much cuter and more special than a traditional guest book. Plus, it’s so easy to create!

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The details matter!

April 6, 2011 by Abby | 1 comment

When my grandfather passed away, my mom gave me a few old photos that belonged to him. Most were of him and my grandmother, but there was one photo in the pile that really stuck out:

I have absolutely no idea why my grandfather had this photo. It’s very clearly of a high school football team, but my grandfather didn’t play football and even if he had, he graduated several years before this photo was taken. As far as anyone in my family knows, he didn’t coach, either. So, it’s a mystery!

This is why it’s so important to write down the details behind your photos. Someday your grandchildren will be looking through your scrapbooks and they’ll want to know who is in the photos and why they were taken. You are the only person who knows the stories and memories behind your photos, so it’s up to you to make sure those details never get lost or forgotten!

Don’t know where to start? Here are a few tips:

1. Start with the basics–who, what, where, when, why. Write down who is in the photo, what the photo is of, where it was taken, when it was taken, and why it was taken. At the very least, make sure you cover the who and the when!

2. If there is a special story to accompany your photos, write it down! Without the story, the photo doesn’t have the same meaning and no one would ever know the reason it was taken. Don’t rely on your memory, either, because that can fade over time. I graduated from high school 12 years ago, and when I look through my photos from that time, already there are some details I’m forgetting! Write down the story now, while it’s still fresh in your mind.

3. Include your handwriting! I know that most people don’t like their own handwriting, but I think it’s important to include at least a little bit of it in your scrapbooks–it makes them so much more personal. Your grandkids will think it’s cool to see someday, too! If you don’t want to hand-write all of your journaling, use your home computer to type out the details and print onto acid-free cardstock.

4. Use an archival-safe pen. Don’t just write with any pen–use a pen that’s specially designed to stand the test of time, without fading. Archiver’s has a bunch of styles to choose from, both in stores and online at the Annex.

5. If you’re organizing your photos in photo albums, or using pocket pages along with your scrapbook pages, write the story down on a 4″ x 6″ piece of cardstock and slide that into one of the pockets.

I promise you, spending a few minutes to record the stories behind your photos is worth it. Your kids, your grandkids, and your grandkids’ kids will thank you for it!

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Technique alert!

March 23, 2011 by Abby | 4 comments

Coloring in stamped images with colored pencils or Copic markers is great, but sometimes I want to add even more color and pattern to my image, or I don’t feel like coloring. No problem–I just stamp on patterned paper instead! I love this technique because it’s so easy and you can get so many different looks by simply changing the patterned paper you use.  Just look at the cool results on this adorable frame!

Stop into any Archiver’s store today through Sunday (March 27th) and learn how to do this fun technique during our FREE Demo Weekend! While you’re in the store, make sure you check out all of the new stamps and 6×6 patterned paper pads (perfect for this technique), too. Happy stamping!

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Pick of the Week: Ditto!

March 18, 2011 by Abby | 10 comments

I don’t know about you, but I’m always in search of products that will help me scrapbook my memories faster. That’s why I’m loving the new Ditto line from Hampton Arts!

This collection of products is designed to help you do just that–scrapbook faster and with little to no designing required! Start with a binder (either 8 1/2 x 11 or 8×8) and a pack of insert pages. Each pack contains almost 100 pages, with different styles in each pack (photo pockets, calendar pages, cool half-pages, and more). You can even mix 8×8 pages in your 8 1/2 x 11 binder. Then, you simply add in your photos where you want, jot down a few notes, and add a few simple embellishments, like coordinating photo pockets and envelopes, stamps, tags, or sticky notes. Throw in various memorabilia like tickets, receipts, etc., too. Remember, no planning–just stick stuff down as you go and that’s it!

It’s like having a personal planner/calendar and scrapbook, all-in-one. Ditto scrapbooks are awesome for documenting your daily life, a special trip, or those memories that you want to record, but don’t want to make a full 12×12 layout for. Use it to document a child’s first year, the process of building a house, planning a wedding, give it to your child to document their high school or college memories, and much more. There are seriously so many options!

Check out these fantastic samples created by Hampton Arts!




Cool, right? Get to Archiver’s to see the entire Ditto line for yourself. A full album sample for you to flip through is coming soon to each store, too!

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Scrap-lift Monday: Title inspiration

February 21, 2011 by Abby | 2 comments

Magazines–of all kinds–are a great source of inspiration for scrapbooking. Not only can you find great ideas for page layouts and color combinations, but you can also find page title ideas, too. The catchy article headers and cool typography can easily be translated to scrapbook pages!

While flipping through the pages of a cooking magazine, I found this page:

I thought the filmstrip border was fun and realized I could easily replicate the idea using a QuicKutz border die and some American Crafts Thickers!

In the same magazine, I discovered a few other pages that could work for scrapbook layouts, too.

This headline obviously works great for house-related pages.

I liked the mix of fonts–this look could easily be created using assorted letter stickers or die-cuts. With a huge assortment both in stores and online at Archivers Annex, you’re sure to find something similar to any font you see in a magazine.

So, the next time you’re stumped for title ideas, just grab a few magazines and you’re sure to find some great ideas!

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