Search Results for: blog what is shabby chic

Creating a “Shabby Chic” Garden

A few weeks ago I confessed that I knew little about the design concept: “Shabby Chic.” (See my blog: “What is Shabby Chic?”) Since then, not only have I taken a crash course in the popular decorating style (I’m almost done completely transforming my home—what can I say, it’s addicting), I also learned there are ways to take the “Shabby Chic” theme outdoors to create a “Shabby Chic” garden. Some successful “Shabby Chic” gardeners call it an extension of their home decor… and the techniques are just as easy. You simply follow the same rules outdoors as you do indoors. … Continue reading →

Preparing for Crops

  Weekend scrapbooking crops are the perfect venue to learn new techniques, get inspiration from fellow scrappers and experiment with new tools.  The organized get-togethers are exciting and informative, but they can also be intimidating for newbies. Depending on how large of a crop you attend, you could be looking at scrapbooking with hundreds of other memory book builders.  In order to keep the event running smoothly, there are typically quite a few rules to consider.  When I attended my first crop the following ditty circulated around the ballroom.  It was discovered on Scrapbook.com and speaks to the unwritten rules … Continue reading →

Keeping Scrapbook Layouts Affordable

Scrapbook fans no longer have the excuse of limited funds to explain boring layouts. These days all you need to create eye-popping page designs that look like a million bucks is a computer and printer. The boom in technology has led to a slew of websites offering free scrapbooking embellishments. If you are working with a strict budget and can’t afford to run out and purchase new scrapbook elements for each new layout, let the Internet be your assistant. Sites, such as ScrapbookScrapbook offer hundreds of free scrapbook embellishments, including clip art. You don’t have to spend a dime to … Continue reading →

Look Good On Any Budget

I love clothes. However, my wardrobe has been looking rather shabby and not at all chic for quite some time. The reason? I have not had much time or money available for clothes shopping over the past couple of years. This afternoon while I was looking through my drawers for something to wear, I realized that there are probably ways that I can freshen up my wardrobe even with a very limited budget. Sure enough, there are tons of tips online for how you can look great for less. Here are a few that I intend to try. If you … Continue reading →

No Excuses

Lately I have been lamenting my lack of creativity. The lazy days of summer have bled into my layouts. Not only are my page designs uninspired, but they also seem static and boring. In talking to my friend about a less than stellar layout I made featuring photos I took on the Fourth of July, I blamed my stale layouts on my lack of money. I went on and on about how my pages could look so much better if I only had more cash to purchase fancy embellishments and paper. Guess what? She wasn’t having any of it. Rather, … Continue reading →

Are You Ready to Go Digital?

It’s going to take more than a few free kits to get my mom to experiment with digital scrapbooking. To say that my mother is set in her ways is a severe understatement. The woman wouldn’t even make a sample layout despite the hundreds of digital scrapbooking freebies that are available on the Internet. I, on the other hand, am all about free. This summer I have been taking a crash course in digital scrapbooking. My main objective is to see how many scrapbooking items I can accumulate without having to spend a penny in the process. As I mentioned … Continue reading →

Free is Good

When the household budget gets really tight, the first thing that is placed on the chopping block is my scrapbooking hobby. I completely understand the decision, as food, insurance and my young daughter’s extracurricular activities take priority over photos and fancy embellishments. What’s more, when there is a freeze on funds for family hobbies it forces me to be more creative with my scrapbooking. Fortunately for me and thousands of other cash-strapped scrappers, there are a dozens of websites that offer free scrapbooking supplies. I am not a huge fan of digital scrapbooking, but when times are tough I often … Continue reading →

Super Sunday Tailgating Fun

Super Bowl Sunday doesn’t kick off until next month, but if you live in Wisconsin or Illinois, then the big game is less than 24 hours away. Tomorrow the Green Bay Packers square off against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship game. Final preparations are underway at Soldier Field for what many are calling one of the biggest games in franchise history. I happen to live in Wisconsin, and whereas I am not a die-hard football fan, there is no escaping the hype surrounding Sunday’s humongo game. Tailgating parties are taking place from church parking lots to hotel lobbies. … Continue reading →

Using Leftovers

I hate wasting leftovers. Whether it’s two-day-old meatloaf or two-year-old scrapbook stickers, I rather use leftovers rather than toss them out. This time of year it is not unusual for scrappers to do inventory on their materials. I spend at least a week trying to make use of all my leftover supplies, so I don’t start the New Year purchasing items I don’t need. Once I figure out what and how much I have, I set about using as much as possible to embellish layouts. However, I try to find unique ways to spice up my leftovers, so they don’t … Continue reading →

Save on Paper

I am a sucker for beautiful patterned scrapbook paper. Though, given how much a single sheet of fancy paper sells for these days, I often stick with basic, plain paper and try to jazz up my layouts with stickers and die cuts. Still, I willingly admit to drooling over the latest and greatest scrapbook paper designs, and I have a hard time resisting the temptation to buy, buy, buy. Fortunately, there are ways to save on scrapbook paper and still create amazing layouts. Start by doing an inventory of your scrapbook supplies. Assess what you have in your stash and … Continue reading →