sassafras

bits of beauty....

hello and welcome to a new week...

i didn't keep up on posting last week... i entered the kitchen and that was the last to be seen or heard of me for a few days =) it was a whirlwind of prepping, cooking, and baking for the holidays. it was all worth it! we had a glorious weekend! the highlight being a thanksgiving morning "BEACH AND BRUNCH". it was an epic event! we found the perfect little cove, hiked down, and enjoyed a scrumptious quiche, blueberry coffee cake, and mimosa's under a perfect blue sky. the waves were extra big that day...

 

back to work today.... which is exciting, because work = new product! we are in the midst of production for lots of new 2010 goodies!

i have a few bits of beauty for you to enjoy this morning. i love the combo of colors on today's mix of found pieces. 

 

jen jockish made this darling wee album. 

 

 

perusing thru scrapbook.com's gallery is an inspiration must! type sassafras in the search option and the results will show you what hundreds of TALENTED scrapbookers have done. it's a beautiful sight!

little grasshopper is the creator behind this amazing mix of classic sassafras patterns, beads, glitter, gems, felties, sparkles and more! 

 

Jana E used bits and pieces of sweet marmalade to create this "goofy" yet so darling project.

 

Liz mixed bits of "amplify" with "my dearest" for this lovely, elegant collage.

 

coming this week....

are you crafting? it's that time of year.... the christmas spirit is in the air. have you hand crafted decorations, christmas cards, and christmas gifts that you would like to share? i would love to see your ideas, and share them here on the blog for all christmas crafters to see.

learn more about one of our design team girls....

and stay tuned for last week and this weeks blinkie winners... =)

happy monday, and hope you enjoy the last day of November!

rebecca

nice to meet you....

today we have the pleasure of getting to know another sassafras pal. kathleen glossop is a scrap-a-holic and sass-a-holic. a dual diagnosis easily cured by LOTS of scrapbooking.

 

kathleen tells us how she juggles her multiple roles in life...

"I’m a stay-at-home-mummy to 2 ½ yr old Clay, and wife of 8 years to Jason. Only having the one kiddie I try to keep him busy and involved with activities most days, swimming, Mothers Group, playdates. Scrapping is a daily occurrence (watch out if I don’t get my fix! Lol), and Clay loves to draw & stamp, so if I have too much housework to do when he’s asleep I can generally get a bit in once he’s awake"

while her little guy is getting his zzzzzzz's mommy kathleen is turning his memories into art! 

 

 

love the use of the chipboard sheet "leftovers"...

 

tell us kathleen are you inspired by a certain style of scrapbooking, or do you feel like you just sit down and "do your own thing".  what technique have you found yourself using the most in the past couple of weeks?

"I’m inspired by bright, bold, busy pages, and I love small details, the kind of layouts that make me look again and again and find something new every time. I like to think I do my “own thing”, I usually get inspired by something in a layout/art piece, then end up going off on a completely different tangent. As for a technique….lately it’s been masking & doodling" =)

one of kathleen's favorite inspirations spots is right here at scrapbooker larissa albernaz's blog. her altered journals are a great example of awesome inspiration.

 

or here at vivian bonders blog. kathleen says "I love her journals, they’re so gorgeous, so detailed, they get my head buzzing with ideas."

 

this piece is a kathleen pick, full of color and collage inspiration...

 

FYI.... kathleen's top 3 movies...

• pirates of the caribbean
• ice age
• fast and the furious

 

 

do you look at these projects, feel inspired to sit down right now and start scrapbooking, but have a hard time getting into a routine? here's a kathleen tip...

"Messanger, lol. I don’t go to crops nowadays, but highly recommend them for anyone starting out, they’re a lot of fun, you’re surrounded by a room full of scrappers, out of the house, no kiddies!?? Perfect….unless you have waaaaaay too much stuff like me, lol. In which case I set up online crops with a friend or 2 over Messanger/Skype, if I set a time & day then I find I HAVE to sit down, no excuses"

thank you kathleen for spending time sharing what sparks your creativity! i'm sure you have inspired today's readers who also share your passion. 

thanks for joining in friends, 

rebecca =)

happy friday tune....

instructions for today's blog,

1. push play

2. whistle along

3. smile

happy friday everyone. it's been a busy week, a really good busy week. lots of secret goodies being produced for the next super year of sassafras. it makes me giddy thinking about all the new.

also took time out to trace my girls hands on patterned paper, cut them out, attach some feet and call it a turkey. do you remember doing that in elementary school? today we will be attaching feathers to add a little extra flair to our turkeys. i'll post pics next week.

walked to the weekly thursday evening farmers market last night. had a warm cozy cup of chai, and purchased veggies for next week's festivities. a local apple vendor recommended 4 varieties of apples for my apple pie. i've never mixed apples in an apple pie...... she said it's the only way to go...... sounds delightful. i'm thinking apple pie, vanilla ice cream, and hot caramel sauce....if there was a smiley face licking it's lips available on the keyboard i would insert here.

spent some time getting completely and pleasantly lost in blog world.... 

resurrection fern

ittikid childrens clothing love this for our girlies =)

 

a site full of beautiful images fryd + design, read about it on another fave decor8

i apologize for not knowing where i saw this, but love this layout!

fun project posted at 2 peas by jen jockish

Copyright Two Peas in a Bucket.com

did you notice both of todays projects use paper whimsies??? does that remind you of something?

OH YEAH.... you could be the lucky winner of an assortment of free paper whimsies.

i closed my eyes and pointed at the screen and landed on...

"There are a million and one things I am thankful for. The one thing that comes to mind right away...My mom. Only weeks after losing her only sister to cancer, my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. 37 daily radiation treatments and 14 chemo treatments and she's still here with us. I have been so thankful to still have her here with us. And I cherish every moment I have with her"

jen a package is on it's way!

for our weekly blinkie winner.... this girl has a gallery of sassafras blinkies....jill oriente congrats!

let's meet again on monday for another SASSAFRAS PAL SPOTLIGHT!

have a fantastic weekend friends!

rebecca =)

COUNTING my blessings....

i like having a holiday that is centered around being thankful. i wish there were weekly holidays to encourage us to stop and say THANK YOU! 

i am so thankful to be a mommy! so thankful to know the deepest feeling of love i could ever ever imagine...

 

 

i am thankful to be in love... for the rest of my life...

despite some rough challenges we have faced, working together every single day, parenting together, i am so eternally grateful for this man! he has my whole heart...

thankful to be part of this creative adventure....

thankful for a sweet sweet extra super sweet pal...

i have a couple of friends that i just know are lifer's....this girls is one of them. hayley pal is one of the most generous, biggest heart, solid friends you could ever imagine. if you know her, you just know... YUP, that's our hayley pal....

 

LOTS AND LOTS of blessings to be counted! speaking of counting... these projects using the numbered paper whimsies are INSPIRING!

this one from the gallery at freehand scraps....

 

 

from 2 p's garden girl, tracy miller....

 

and a beauty from one of our DT super's tracie hudson

 

 

no matter what country you live in or what holiday you celebrate tell me what you are thankful for today, by the end of the week i'll pick a winner for FREE paper whimsies =)

thanks for checking in today, 

=)

rebecca

Recipe time....

calling all THANKSGIVING lovers!! i've been thinking, dreaming, planning, drooling over, and hunting for the perfect recipes for a 5 course gourmet thanksgiving feast! i love it! i love everything about a festive feast. from the prep work to setting the table, to eating all the tasty morsels we worked so hard to cook. i can pass the baton when it comes to the clean up.... not much to love there. do you have any AMAZING recipes to share??

i have been wondering, what holidays are there around the world that are just as exciting, but exclusive to your country? please share. i would love to learn more about international traditions!

so speaking of recipes, here is a simple dish that our family loves. i was in pasta mode last week....because... i ran a 10k on saturday. so naturally i had to think about what food i would eat before and after the race. which truth be told is pretty high on my list of motivations to run =)

i'm not the best recipe sharer because i don't measure anything. BUT this is super easy, healthy, and delicious. also makes great leftovers for next days lunch. you can just add each ingredient till your tastebuds are happy.

start by cooking your favorite pasta. i love the whole grain option.

 

add as much as you like of the following ingredients:

PESTO, GOAT CHEESE, FRESH SPINACH LEAVES..............

  

            

top off with grilled chicken if you like, and there you have a SIMPLE pasta dish.

how about a RECIPE for cuteness....

this little mini book is a cinch to make, fun to decorate, and a great way to journal what you are thankful for this holiday season. maybe make a few for the guests at your thanksgiving table. *works well with any mix of sassafras paper*

1. start with a 12x4 inch strip of patterned paper. fold every inch along the 4 inch side until you have a 1x4 inch concertina.
   
2. using double sided tape adhere folds together.
   
3. use double sided tape to adhere a variety of 5 patterns cut into 4x4 inch squares to concertina to make the pages of your book.
   
4. fold 2.5x4 inch piece of patterned paper in half to create a 1.25x4 inch book bind. adhesive the 4 inch edges and adhere to bind of mini book.
   
5. choose a chipboard letter that reminds you of something you are thankful for to decorate the front of your mini album.
   
6. felties and in-a-stitch buttons highly recommended to decorate your cover. 
   
7. cut scallops from patterned paper die cut trims. staple scallops to three of the mini album pages.

 

what have you been making lately? share your favorite crafty or scrumptious recipe.... 

posted by rebecca =)

 

1

we have a WINNER!!

i planned to have the mini album "HOW TO" posted today, but keep your scissors and glue close by... monday we will start the week out with this fun project.

in todays news we have a BLINKIE WINNER... not just a winner a SUPER winner...

caught in a creative craft freeze? she'll save the day with heroic inspiration. 

 

have a few sassafras classics you have been holding onto? let this wonder power of a scrapbooker lead the way to a new idea...

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO.... DIANA....aka scrappy wonder woman!

i'll meet you back here on monday for some sweet crafty time. have a great weekend everyone!

posted by rebecca

meet lucy...

my first acquaintance with lucy edson was right here on our blog. i saw a project that had been posted by sandy, and i REALLY REALLY wanted to have it on display in our CHA booth. so i contacted lucy, she graciously sent her project in for our display. i had the privilege of meeting lucy this summer during the CHA show. she has continued to amaze me with her sassafras projects! so enjoy getting to know lucy and learning a little bit about her creative world...

she's like many of you- super talented scrapbooker and MOM. 

i asked lucy,

how often do you scrapbook in a week? how often do you wish you could scrapbook in a week??

her reply?

"I actually do something creative - scrapbooking, painting, sewing almost every day - every day you can create is a good day. :) I would like to scrap every day but know that I need a couple of days off a week to recharge and keep up with the housework.....hehehe."  

i felt challenged by that response. WOW. something creative every day? i definitely do housework everyday! thanks lucy for that response. it's motivating. i need to spend a little more personal time during the week being creative! crafting with the kids, crafting for myself, journaling, trying a new craft...

what has lucy been listening to this week?

I Run To You - Lady Antebellum

 

Please Don't Leave Me - Pink

 

Second Chance - Shinedown 

i looooove how her pictures work so well with the project. she has a great way of layering, stitching, using LOTS of products, and still KEEPING the focal point on the picture.

 

 

here is an example of a mixed media project lucy made. she used paper whimsies, brads, in-a-stitch blossoms, stamping, right on top of a painting! very cool idea. 

 

lucy, what is your favorite technique this week?

 "Masking, misting - then handstitching the outlines of the mask - I love this because the stitching contrasts so wonderfully with the graphic lines of the masking. I like to mask simple shapes that are easy to outline and really pop on your page."

 

and here is an EXQUISITE example of these techniques in action....

 

will you share with everyone what is inspiring you this week?

"I love Wyanne's paintings incorporating patterned paper into the girls - so whimsical and inspiring!"

see more of this artist wyanne thompson

 

 

and...

"These photos and color boards are amazing - full of inspiration!" 

from snippet and ink

one more question Lucy...

 if you could pick one theme to scrapbook for a solid week, what would it be this week, and why?

"Working with color inspirations - like color boards to explore a color scheme in detail - varing the the contrasts and hue. I love color!"

 

thank you lucy for sharing a peek into your creative world, and for being a sassafras pal =)

i'm on the look out for more designers to spotlight! so please share your projects, your passions, your tips, your tricks........ and watch here for more features of artist JUST LIKE YOU!

Inspiration from the south of France

Céline Navarro joined the Sassafras design team earlier this year. we were all THRILLED to have this very very lovely girl join the DT. her talents have been displayed in our tradeshow booths over the past few years. Every time WOWING us with her unique eclectic mix of techniques. She includes so many styles of products in her projects, bringing them together with superb outcomes. 

If you LOVE to be inspired by other artists, maybe with a slightly different style than your own, keep your eye on this girl. Her blog is ALIVE with new projects, new teaching schedules, and inspiration galore....

check out the green frog studio to soak up more of the Céline style you see here.

projects, tres jolie, so beautiful...

Céline used this design, accented with these felties. Perfect combo for a "mom and me" photo.

 

 

love this example of silly monsters at any age...

 

a little glitter makes the paper whimsies blossoms SHINE....

 

cut out circles? SO COOL! 

 

monsters love glitter too...

 

 

would you like to have céline inspiration just show up on in your mailbox? LUCKY YOU, you can sign up for this french fabuleux publication right here entreARTistesmagazine.  every publication is packed with amazing, inspiring artists from around the world!

love how céline took this intricate patterned paper from "sweet marmalade" and with a few simple additions had this lovely project......   

 

and here we have a B-SIDE from amplify...

 

i hope that you are feeling inspired by something new, something FUN you picked out of one of céline's projects. she is a sweet girl, and i am delighted to share her work! 

i would LOVE to know what your FAVORITE technique is right now?? what do you find yourself using, or doing to every single project because you love it so much? are you stamping, crinkling, glittering?? share your tips for everyone to be INSPIRED!

and the WINNERS are.....

BIG day for announcing winners. two weeks slipped by without a blinkie winner.... fear not..... we have searched and seen that blinkies are still a BLINKING. so thank you!! thank you for sharing your sassafras love on your very own blogs. it makes us smile =)

we also promised a label tulip kit to one lucky reader and comment leaver. this is your lucky day.

BUT, before winners are announced i have a few sneak peeks of what you will find this week.... RIGHT HERE.... in the blog land of sassafras.

hoping for inspiration from the sassafras design team?  this week you will see what one of our FRENCH girlies has been up to. GUARANTEED INSPIRATION! she has been on a scrapbook whirlwind! 10 pages on saturday alone- IMPRESSIVE! especially considering she runs a magazine, and travels all over the place teaching her fab techniques. check back for more of this.....

 

Coming this week, a HOW TO for this adorable mini book. 

 

also FEATURED this week, a super duper TALENTED freelance designer.....

 

OK, now for the moment you have been waiting for..... 3 LUCKY GIRLS....

a big thank you for participating in our ongoing blinkie contest to...

CHRISTY ARTHUR who says "starbucks on a rainy day brightens my day!"

and

"I so love to use the fancy edging of Sassafras's papers" says JOAN UMANO

JESSICA is the winner of the label tulip kit! her favorite fall tradition?

My favorite fall tradition is...well, my birthday is October 26th and I love
that my family goes along with the fact that I am eternally 28. :) OK, so
really my favorite tradition is taking the kids apple picking and then they make apple sauce with my Dad.  

congrats ladies! a box of goodies will be on your doorstep soooo soon. EVERYONE tune in tomorrow for INSPIRATION GALORE! 

going to Paris?

Or do you need a GREAT reason to quickly book a November trip to the city of Romance? Or city of crepes, depending on who you're with =) This is an opportunity that you won't want to miss! lilibee lives on the beautiful coast of France. She will be headed into Paris on November 19th for two days of teaching spectacular Leila style classes. Have you been searching for a class that will leave you feeling like a new and improved scrapbook artist? PERFECT, sign up with temple du scrap for a guaranteed to be fabulous class.

here is a sneak of the November 19th class,

 

Learn new techniques to add more DETAILS and DIMENSION to your projects. Leila is AMAZING with her cut outs and pop off the page additions....

 

 

TWO DAY'S are better than ONE DAY......... 

 

While your in Paris say BONJOUR to this darling company, stinkerbutt. Do you remember our sea full of friendly bobbing whales? Awhile ago we licensed this design to be used by French designers for their children's bedding and accessories collection. If you have a little stinker butt of your own check out these wee bits of joy....

 

 

If you already have your trip planned, enjoy! and send us pictures =)

everyone else.... still time for a weekend rendezvous with lilibee and sassafras!

visit on monday for blinkie and label tulip WINNERS to be announced.

au revoir....