Thursday, December 20, 2007

Member Spotlight: Sandy Kidwell



This next member is one of our newest. We are so excited to have her as part of the group. She is a fantastic paper piecer and makes such fantastic, diverse layouts. When you see her work, you too will agree.




Sandy Kidwell


Sandy is 47 years old and currently lives in Covington, Kentucky. She also grew up there. She has been married to her wonderful husband, John, for almost 30 years. She has two fantastic daughters. Jennifer is 25 years old and graduated from Pharmacy school in June. She is working as a Pharmacist for a large retail chain. Elizabeth is 18 and in her first year of college. She is working toward a degree in Elementary Education and recently got engaged. She is also working part-time as a Pharmacy Tech. She also has a son, John, who was killed in a car accident at the tender age of 17. Sandy states that he was a bright and energetic young man with a zest for life. This is what she had to say about her family. "My greatest accomplishment is my family. I am so proud of my husband and children and all of their accomplishments. But I am most proud of the kind, loving, compassionate people they are." Outside of home life, Sandy works as a Youth and Children's Director.


Sandy has been scrapbooking for the last 7.5 years. It all started when her oldest daughter was graduating from high school and she wanted to give her a gift from the heart. A friend suggested scrapbooking and she has been hooked ever since. She is not exactly sure how to describe her style. She loves accents and embellishments. She is not a fan of clutter on a page. She loves clean and simple lines. Her specialty is paper piecing. She loves to see what she can create with paper and then the sense of accomplishment she gets afterward. She loves this hobby because of the creative outlet is offers. She can get lost for hours in her scrapbook room. Such a great escape. Her five must haves are her Fiskars paper trimmer, Cutter Bee scissors, a variety of awesome papers, foam tape and scrappy glue. She went one step further and listed her favorite embellishments. They would have to be ribbon (lots of it-she states that she is obsessed!), Prima flowers, charms, brads and buttons. Oh ya, did she mention ribbon-YES! Her favorite scrap snack is pretzels and peanut butter. She gets inspiration from her surroundings and paper. She loves to look at all of the patterns and textures that paper has to offer. Sandy started selling on Ebay to support her scrapbooking habit. She has to have the newest and latest things. "Hi, my name is Sandy! I'm a Scrapaholic!" Too funny!


Her favorite season is Spring. She loves to see everything come to life after a long drab winter. Her favorite holiday is Christmas because, "it is the birthday of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and the gift of salvation he brought to the world." Sandy's favorite food is constantly changing. She does not have a favorite type of food but rather favorite foods. Currently it is Penn Stations Chicken Teriyaki. She loves all types of music (except for rap) however she would have to say that Christian Contemporary is her favorite. K-Love is her favorite station. She has 3 golden retrievers. Alex is 15 years old (wow!) and Tucker and Tanner are 4-month old puppies. We would love to see pictures of these adorable little guys! Sandy has always wanted to go to Hawaii if she could go anywhere. She has heard that they have white sandy beaches and crystal clear water (they do!).
She wanted to let us know that scrapbooking is her passion. She is delighted and excited to be a member of the PFOP design team. We are also so elated about having her with us. Her work brings a whole new dimention to the team. To check out her current auctions, click here!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

TUESDAY'S TIPS

This tip may help your scrapbooking in a round about way ;-)....I received this in an email and thought it was pretty funny!
#1. Three Little Words That Work
The three little words are: 'Hold On, Please...' Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off (instead of hanging-up immediately) would make each telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt. Then when you eventually hear the phone company's busy tone, you know it's time to go back and hang up.
#2. When no one is on the other end
This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone to determine the best time of day for a 'real' sales person to call back and get someone at home. What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times, as quickly as possible This confuses the machine and it kicks your number out of their system.
#3. Junk Mail Help
When you get 'ads' enclosed with your phone or utility bill, return these 'ads' with your payment. This allows the company the opportunity to throw their own junk mail away. When you get those 'pre-approved' letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and such, do not throw away the return envelope. Most of these come with postage-paid return envelopes, right? Why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes. If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send. You can even send the envelope back empty if you want. It still costs them 37 cents. Let's help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits, and that's why they need to increase postage costs again You get the idea !If enough people follow these tips, it will work.

I hope no one is offended, but I found these to be funny.

Happy Scrapping
Tammy

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Member Spotlight: Jennifer Bruce

Our next member makes fantastic, fun tins for any occasion. I just love to see what she comes up with next. We are so excited to find out more about her.





Jennifer Bruce


Our next member to spotlight is Jennifer Bruce. She is 36 years old and currently lives in Bluffton, South Carolina. She grew up in Northern Ohio on Lake Erie. She has 3 absolutely wonderful kids! Leighanna is 18 and currently in college studying to be a Forensic Scientist, Jordan is 11 and wants to be in the Army, a rock band and be a professional skateboarder, and Joshua is 9 and just loves being himself and living for today. She also has a fiance named Donnie who is the love of her life. She has been engaged for 2 years and hopes to set a date really soon. We can't wait to hear all about it when the time comes! She currently is a stay at home mom however she has a degree in Nursing.


She has been scrapbooking since 1999. She describes her style as very pink and feminine. Her style is the Jennifer style-just being herself. She loves to scrapbook because she can take an idea and create somethig beautiful. It also helps pass the day. Her top five scrapbook must haves are tons of paper, things to alter (tins, Sarabinders, etc.), tons of flowers, charms, and ribbons and lace. She felt that it was not fair that we could only choose 5. If given the choice, we would all say everything, right!? Jennifer does not snack while creatiing (probably a really good idea) however she does love to snack on Cocoa Puffs or Fruit Loops at nigth while watching TV. Jennifer started selling on Ebay out of the suggestions of others. They told her that she could make a fortune at her creations. She said that she is still waiting however she has had great success so far. Just seeing something at the craft store such as a pretty ribbon with inspire her to create. An idea will just pop into her head.


Her favorite season is Spring becuase she just loves the smell of fresh cut grass and all of the pretty things starting to bloom and grow. She loves Christmas as her favorite holiday becuase her kids get so excited. She loves Chinese food. She loves Honey Chicken with white rice and Crab Rangoons. Yummmm! That just makes me hungry thinking about it. She loves all types of music, especially the older stuff when she was a kid. Jennifer has a Peekapoo and a princess named Jill. She is also babysitting her daughters cockatiel named Sweet Pea for the next 4 years while she is away at college. She plans on getting her back when she is finished with school. If Jennifer could go anywhere in the world she would love to visit Australia.


Jennifer also mentions that she loves being part of PFOP. We too love having her as part of the group. She brings so many great creations and suggestions to the group. Her altered creations are a must see. Check them out on Ebay here!




Wednesday, December 12, 2007

"Dear Santa," Featured layout by Amber -ahalversen


Amber has created the most amazing layout!

Amber is always true to her personal style and this layout is no exception. It has the most adorable hand pieced tree, and sleigh, and of course, Amber's trademark bears. My favorite has to be Santa's list. I just love the little details and the handwriting it so perfect.

Click here to go directly to the auction listing! There are so many amazing details Amber has photographed and posted in the auction that really are must see to appreciate how much time and effort has gone into this beautiful layout.




Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Tuesday's Tips

For today's tip we have some tips from PFOP members regarding SANDING! I have never tried it before, but now must give it a go!

First this is what Camille said:
I have recently rediscovered using sandpaper or a metal file to trim the edges of my paper when doing acrylic albums and chipboard. I love the finished look.
Secondly Kristi added:
You can also use it effectively on tins.
And third, Cindy offered:
Sandpaper can also be folded and used directly on photos to create a distress frame.

To me, this sounds like an inexpensive technique that can quickly add dimension and texture to our projects. Please add any additional tips you might like to share that will help us with sanding.

Happy Scrapping & thanks girls!!
Tammy

Friday, December 7, 2007

Member Spotlight: Mandy Bridgeforth



Our next member to be spotlighted was right there at the beginning of QPSA and now PFOP. Her work is clean and simple with a fantastic eye for color. Her paperbag albums are made with the highest quality. We are thrilled to get to know her better.

Mandy Bridgeforth


Mandy is 31 years old and currently lives in Nampa, Idaho, which is a suburb of the capital city of Idaho. She grew up in Southeastern Idaho in the smaller town of Rexburg. She has been married for almost 6 years to her husband Tony. They will be celebrating their anniversary on February 15th. They met in Boise while Mandy was attending Boise State . He was born and raised in the Bronx and moved to Pocatello , ID for school. After he graduated from Idaho State he moved to Boise to find a job. Mandy moved to Boise about a year later and they met through friends at church. They had their first baby about 14 months after they got married and then had twins about 19 months after that. Julius is now 4 ½ and Braeden and Bronwyn just turned 3. They have kept them very busy – but they love it! They recently found out that they are expecting again…July 15th! It is another set of twins!! We are so excited for them and can attest to how cute their kids are. This summer, Mandy made the decision to stay at home with her kids. She has a degree in Respiratory Therapy and was working in that field before making the leap. She also has an Associates in Environmental Science and graduated from the Utah College of Massage Therapy. She is one educated person!


She started scrapbooking as soon as she returned home from an LDS mission to Pittsburgh , PA in 1998. She has two huge binders full of scrapbooked pics of exotic Pennsylvania ….;-) The thing that enticed her into scrapbooking was her love of photography. She took a black and white photography class in college and LOVED it! She hope to take more classes in the future so she can learn more about how to take great pictures. For her own scrapbooks she enjoys simples with clean lines. She also likes at least three pictures on a page. For Ebay she likes to spice things up a little but still maintain focus on the pictures. She also likes to distress and mess things up a bit. She has always enjoyed using her hands to create things. She loves to combine colors and patterns to end up with something unique. When asked what her top five must have scrapbooking things are she mentioned fabri-tac, crop-a-dile, glue dots, Cricut, and lots of buttons. Her favorite scrap snack is Diet Pepsi, Kettle Chips and chocolate. She also mentioned that Cam's carmel popcorn is also pretty good. She started selling on Ebay because her family encouraged her to do it and boy are we glad of that! Her biggest inspiration is paper. She loves to buy it and THEN decide what to do with it.



Her favorite season is fall. The cool weather, the smell of earthy decay, sweaters, crunchy leaves, getting ready for the holidays – she finds fall very romantic and nostalgic. She loves anything that she does not have to cook and loves anything type of music--especially fun stuff from the 60's. She currently has a cat, Fiona, and a litter of six kittens. Anyone want one!? One day she would love to go to Italy.


We just love having Mandy as part of PFOP. She has been a fantastic member with such original creations. To check out her auctions on Ebay click here!

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Christmas Paper Bag Album by Mandy!

Mandy (Mandbrid) has created the most amazing Christmas themed paper bag album. Mandy has a real knack for putting together great colors. Her albums are very distinctive in look and style. From her perfectly inked papers to her interactive flaps and folds, and handmade paper flowers, Mandy's albums always look incredible.



Made from three STURDY paper bags which have been folded and bound with eyelets and lots of pretty ribbon. The patterned paper is from the Basic Grey line. the album ties closed with a silky green ribbon.






There are eleven removable tags inside. Great for tucking in extra pictures or writing down special memories. The album also includes 19 photo mats, providing lots of room for photos and journaling!






Click here to see the whole album!

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Tuesday's Tip!

Our poor Tammy is out sick today and so she asked me to post a tip for her. While reading the scrapbook discussion boards, someone posted a helpful thread that she ran across somewhere. I thought that I would share it with you.

Scrapbooking as an Art Form: Ten Principles of Design & Composition

A scrapbook is more than a photo album with a few cute stickers. It's a visual recording of your life and loves. A way to communicate with generations to come.It's also the basis of a multi-billion dollar industry - and it's an art form all in itself.Here are ten basic design principles to guide your own creativity and lend natural balance and flow to your scrapbook pages.

1. Designate your focal point, first thing, by choosing your layout's main photograph. Ask yourself, "Where do I want the viewer's attention to be drawn first?" Then you can choose your supplementary, supporting photographs, if appropriate.

2. Group accents and small embellishments in groups of three or five. Aesthetically, we are drawn to groupings that contain an odd number of items.

3. Place related accents close in proximity so the eye processes them as one unit.

4. Create a triangle on the page, placing photos or embellishments at each of the triangle's three points. Our eyes like that, too.

5. Create sections in multiples of two. Two sections or four sections are more aesthetically pleasing to our eyes than 3 or 5 sections.

6. Apply the "Rule of Thirds." Think of your page as a grid, divided into thirds horizontally and vertically. Place your focal point on one of the convergences of these lines.

7. Maintain balance with the size of your elements. Consider both the size and complexity of your page elements as you distribute them in your layout.

8. Achieve a natural sense of flow by placing the photographs so that the eyes of your subjects turn toward the center of the page - or toward your focal point.


9. Use repetition. Repeat shapes, textures, sizes, colors, or other attributes.

10. Sketch your favorite layouts in books and scrapbooking magazines. Try to determine which design principles are at work to create such visual appeal and work to incorporate those principles into your own layouts.

The first rule of art, of course, is not to be bound by rules. Now that you know the basics of what our eyes are naturally attracted to, see what kind of beauty you can create.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Check out this great gingerbread album!

Bernadette - be4cookin - Has designed the cutest Gingerbread Man Album. Her original design is nine inches tall and six and a half inches across the widest area and is shaped like a gingerbread man cookie. The front cover has the cutest hand drawn face and 'icing' all around the outer edge. The papers and embellishments coordinate great throughout the entire album.


There are a lot of three dimensional embellishments including flowers, charms, ribbon and fabric. Here are a few of my favorite pictures, but if you want to see the entire album, click here.



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