Page Maps

Seems Page Maps are the new trend, and we've been scrapping to a lot of them on the Scrapbooks-Plus Design Team in recent weeks. I will be the designer of the month in December, so the members are busy creating with the kit that I put together to mark the beginning of winter and the Christmas holidays.

All weekend, I have been working on Christmas gifts that I am making (nearly all my gifts this year will be hand made since I hate shopping - unless it is for scrapbook supplies!). But in addition to taking the dogs out for a woodland run in Lucketts, attending the C-League Champoinship football game on Saturday and making gift albums from old 78 record storage albums, I whipped up my first page map this weekend.

If you want to get started early on the December DT challenge, put your thinking caps on for the pics you'll choose for this map.

Skyline Drive and the Absolute Beauty of Autumn

"...with the smell of the woods, and the wind in the trees, they will forget the rush and strain of all the other long weeks of the year, and for a short time at least, the days will be good for their hearts and for their souls." Franklin Roosevelt said this of Skyline Drive and the Shenandoah in 1936. I used his quote on this layout featuring my son Zach and our adventure last weekend on Skyline Drive. The layout features SEI Monrovia papers and flowers by Prima (my new favorite manufacturer). I've added just a few of the photos from our Sunday drive. My friend Carol Wingert asked for a little Virginia autumn - since she doesn't get much of it out in Phoenix - so I thought I'd share some of those photos I sent to her with the rest of you!

Here's Zach and I at one of the lookout points. Some nice man took a photo of the two of us.

The chaotic Blue Ridge Skyline.

A gorgeous sugar maple.

Sassafras along the side of the road. While I was taking this picture (and not paying much attention to much else) a small bear crossed the road right in front of us. I wasn't quick enough to get his picture though!

The Massanutten. Notice the difference in the formations of these mountain - more even and organized than those of the Blue Ridge.

Another Maple...I love their colors best!! Stay tuned, I have more lovely autumn layouts in the works!!

Spooktacular!

Ready for Spooky? Ready for Halloween? I don't know about you, but Halloween is one holiday that I am definitely behind in scrapping. This week's make-and-take is this clever little mini book to help you journal all your Halloween memories. The layout is all Basic Grey. All the paper you need is at Scrapbooks-Plus except for the purple "screech" paper. For that we had to substitute cardstock (although the paper should be in next week). Also the witch sticker on the right page will be available next week when we feature a Halloween design using the Eerie Sticker elements. (So save the spot on your layout and come by next week for a "BOO" experience).

Correction - Pumpkin make-and-take and Basic Grey Layout is today!

There was a problem with the inventory needed for Misty's Make and Take layout, so TODAY, October 7, is the Basic Grey layout featured at Scrapbooks-Plus. So head on over today while they last!

Indian Summer and Pumpkins

Don't use all of those Indian Summer Stickers elements up just yet! If you came by Scrapbooks-Plus and did the Wednesday make and take, you most likely bought those Sticker Elements from Basic Grey's Indian Summer line. (If they were sold out when you got there, don't worry - there will be more in stock just in time for this next make and take).

Basic Grey has published these great one-page layout instructions featuring all of their newest papers. I have created a make-and-take element featured on a second page that I have designed to match. This Wednesday Misty has this really cute "Kiss the Cook" layout planned for our Wednesday Make and Take crowd. Next week on October 14, you'll find a Pumpkin element with a pumpkin layout to match! The make-and-take is a chipboard cut pumpkin (Accu-cut) that is hand-rubbed with gold wax (I did the rubbing!). You'll cover the element with Martha Stewart Fire Opal Glitter and top the stem with a burgundy organza bow. (and for those like Lydia who don't like glitter in her books, skip the glitter - the golden waxed chipboard will work beautifully without it!). The rest of the layout can be made right in the store - you'll just need some brown ink to color those to spell the title.

So save those element stickers - or pick up some more - and enjoy your Indian Summer in the pumpkin patch!