A new monthly challenge at Shel Belle Scraps

Sometimes conversations with friends spark great ideas. I was chatting with a good friend the other day about how I need to get started now on my Christmas gifts. I make a calendar each year for my grandmother; the past couple of years, the calendar hasn't quite been completed in time for gift-opening on Christmas Eve. My goal this year is to have it done, printed, wrapped, and underneath the tree for her to open that night. I'd like to create a calendar for my parents, and maybe one for my brother and sister-in-law too.

I also realized that there are entire sets of pictures that I need to get around to scrapping (vacations, study abroad, weddings, graduations, new additions, everyday moments, etc.).

I realized that this was a great opportunity to offer a challenge on my blog, too. So I've decided to host challenges each month here. Hopefully these challenges will help you scrap more pictures and preserve more memories for your loved ones. I'll be starting out with a layout challenge and will be adding new challenges in the months ahead. The cool part is that your layout(s) can meet a challenge requirement both here and at Stuff to Scrap. For example, you might create a layout using my products that meets the requirements of the font challenge, or the recipe challenge, or the scraplift challenge, or the WOW challenge, etc.

Here's what you need to do for October's challenge:

1. Create a layout using my products. Eligible products include kits, templates, paper packs, element packs, and alphas. You may use any of my current or retired products (including freebies).
2. Post your layout to my gallery at Stuff to Scrap.
3. Comment on this post with a link to your layout.  Each layout earns one entry.
4. At the beginning of next month, I will choose one person at random who will receive a $5.00 coupon to my store.

I'll be adding new challenges in the months ahead as well as adding new twists to them. If you've got any suggestions about what you'd like to see, please let me know.

Now...get scrapping! :)

Friday night speed scrap (9/30)

Christie Dawn is hosting a speed scrap this Friday night in the forum and chat room at Stuff to Scrap. Check out the flyer below for more information and head over to the forum to check in.



For participating, you get an add-on to her kit Potions & Spells.

A little more than 48 hours remaining

There are only a little more than 48 hours remaining to get a great deal on my newest kit, Take a Hike. It's 50% until midnight MT this Friday. It's a good size kit, too: 14 papers, 46 elements, and 3 full alphas. All for just $2.50!

Here's the really cool part: If you buy the kit and create a quick page (QP) with it, you could get a bunch of QPs free. Why? Because this kit is the featured kit for the QP Exchange at Stuff to Scrap this month. Want to see some of the QPs you could get? Head on over to the forum to see the great layouts members have created (and don't forget to head to the store to pick it up at a great price).

New classes at Stuff to Scrap

Stuff to Scrap is adding a number of new features to their forums, including classes.

One class that's being offered is a class where you'll learn about journaling about you.

Another class that is being offered is called "Tell Your Travel." It's a four-week, self-paced class.

Head on over to the forum to check out the classes!

Save the date

Have you ever wanted to have a meet the designers and forum members of Stuff to Scrap in real life? Save the date: April 27-28, 2012. Stuff to Scrap will be having its first ever Scrapalicious Digi-Retreat that weekend in Schaumburg, Illinois that weekend and it promises to be a good time.

You can read more about the retreat here or click on the image below to be taken to the retreat area of the forum. You can get answers to your questions, chat with other participants, learn more about the sponsors, get a list of fun things to do in Chicagoland, and find a roommate.

$2.00 Tuesday (9/27)

Tomorrow is Tuesday and that means you can pick up some great deals at Stuff to Scrap. I've put my Serenity kit and the accompanying quick pages on sale tomorrow. Head on over to pick up these great deals! (Images are linked.)

Speed Scrap Monday (9/19)

Adriana's Cafe is hosting a Speed Scrap this Monday Sept. 19th. Check out the flyer for more information or head to the forum.

The participation prize will be her latest release My Stars Stacked Papers.

Take a Hike

Howdy!

Have you missed me? I've been so busy lately that I feel like all I've been posting is notices for upcoming speed scraps. Sorry about that--life got really chaotic in mid-August and is only now beginning to settle down. I'll be bringing you more interesting posts over the course of the next few weeks--promise.

I'm really excited to show off my newest kit, Take a Hike. This color palette sat on my hard drive for a while; I knew I wanted to do something with a boy-ish or rugged feel to it but wasn't sure of a more specific direction. I shared the palette with my CT and Isabella suggested a hiking-themed kit. She mentioned she had lots of photos taken while out for a hike but no kit to go with them. I was really inspired by her suggestion. There's some good news about this kit...keep reading!

My CT has been busy with life and scrapping--look at what they've created with this kit. They did a great job showing how versatile it really is--it can be used for more than just hiking photos.

The kit includes 14 papers (nine patterned, five solid), five cardstocks, 46 unique elements, and three full alphas (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and punctuation).

And here's where it gets really good: It's normally $5.00 but for the month of September you can pick it up for just $2.50. Why? Because it's the featured kit for this month's Quick Page Exchange (QPE)! Buy the kit and create a QP (or two or three) with it. You earn forum points toward a Stuff to Scrap gift certificate and after the month is over, you'll receive all the QPs created for the month FREE.

Head on over to the store and pick it up today. I can't wait to see what you create!

Speed Scrap Monday (9/12)

Nicole of Digi-Designs by Nicole is hosting a speed scrap in the forum and chat room on Monday. Check out the flyer below for more information or head on over to the forum.

 

For participating, you get an add-on to her kit, Made Beautiful, that will be released Monday.

Speed Scrap Thursday (9/8)

Scrap N Pieces is hosting a speed scrap this Thursday in the forum and chat room at Stuff to Scrap. Check out the flyer below for more information or head on over to the forum.

For participating, you get a great back-to-school mini kit.

Speed Scrap Tuesday (9/6)

Queen Bee scraps is hosting a speed scrap on Tuesday September 6 at 9:00am EST.

Here is what you get for posting your layout at the end of the speed scrap.

It's a Circus!

Yes, it's a circus this month at Stuff to Scrap. This month's build a kits are circus and carnival themed and feature all sorts of fun stuff for you--perfect for your pictures of trips to the circus, carnival, or fair.

I designed a versatile alpha for you this month. It includes a total of 26 circles (13 each in two sizes) that you can mix, match and layer as you want. There are three patterned circles and 10 solid-colored circles. The letters, numbers, and punctuation are done in silver glitter; uppercase and lowercase letters are included.

There's a lot to choose from--29 products in all. Buy three or more, enter the code SEPTBAK_BUY3_SAVEHALF at checkout and you'll save 50%. Click on the flyer below to see all of the great build a kit products this month. Happy shopping!

School Time

Fall means a lot of things, including a return to school for people of all ages. This month, the Stuff to Scrap designers created a mega collab kit, School Time, to help you scrap all those school photos you have. The kit is huge and really cute. It includes 119 papers, 154 elements, and 2 full alphas. Look at what you get (image linked to store).

 

We also designed a set of 31 BB pages (4x6 size). You can purchase them separately or, with a single transaction purchase of $10 or more, you can get them FREE.

Don't forget--there's a big Labor Day sale going on now until Monday--35% off the entire store!

Labor Day sale at Stuff to Scrap

It's Friday and that means the weekend is upon us! If you live in the United States, you're probably looking forward to the nice long Labor Day weekend. (I know I am.) To celebrate the Labor Day weekend, Stuff to Scrap is having a Labor Day sale--the entire store is 35% off starting today until midnight MT on Monday, September 5. There are TONS of great new products in store (including some from me--more about those later today).

We're also hosting a few additional Labor Day challenges this weekend including a speed scrap, a slow speed scrap (instructions will be given out over two days), an inspirational challenge, and a store scavenger hunt. There are prizes and coupons for participating. More information on all of that can be found in the forum.

Click on the flyer below to be taken to the store where you can check out all the great new products the designers have for you.