Hooray!  You were invited to a wedding! Now you just need to create the perfect congratulations card for the newly wed couple. Something elegant, but classic. Simple, right?

If just thinking about this ties a knot in your stomach then I’m here to help! This card is elegant and classic, best of all it is super simple!

Elegant and classic wedding congratulations card. 5x7

Tips and Tricks

Start with a 5×7 card base. You can adjust for alternate sizes, but 5×7 has a lot of impact and will be a similar size to most other wedding cards.

A black and white colour scheme is timeless and classic. Cut the background pattern 1/4 inch smaller than the card base (6-3/4 x 4-3/4) to leave a nice border around the edge.

Silver glitter paper and silver sparkles add a bit of shine to the card.  For fun you can easily substitute the wedding colour for any of the silver embellishments.

The black with white polka dots background was made by lining up strips of Washi tape.

The flowers are paper flowers attached with glue dots.

Details of wedding congratulations card.

Now that you have a plan for the wedding card you just have to figure out what you’re going to wear! Happy scrappin’!

Do you find Father’s Day a tough day to find inspiration for? This year I wanted to create something that my husband would really love and find useful.

I thought that a photo book would be a great idea. He is always flying to events and people are curious about his fast and sleek little airplane. I made this book like a small little brag book for him to keep in his airplane so he can pull it out and show off photos from his adventures.

I was inspired to create this book by a pin I saw on Pinterest, but it was NOT a photo book project. I saw a picture of a clock that had different types of airplanes on it instead of numbers. Suddenly, I knew I needed to make a photo book! Isn’t it funny the way we can be inspired sometimes?

I started with a simple cloth Pioneer album... unfortunately all I had was red!

To prepare for painting, I taped off areas I didn't want paint with regular Scotch tape.

I mixed multiple colours of blue paint in a piece of product packaging... less clean up!

I painted the entire album with multiple shades of blue.

When the paint was dry I added a bit of shine with some Glitz Stickles.

Finally I added metal hardware, lettering and a few photos!

Details of the gears and clock face from Tim Holtz.

I’m posting this project in the Father’s Day Pinterest Challenge at ArtfulAdventuresZone.com

For more fantastic Father’s Day inspiration check out the Challenge entries!

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Happy scrapping!

Sparkles, bling, and pink, what could be better than that?! When I saw a gorgeous blinged up clipboard on Pinterest I knew that I needed to create one for myself.

You can see my pin on Pinterest HERE!  The original blog post is HERE!

I was inspired to create my beautiful new clipboard when I heard that Young House Love was having their Spring Pinterest Challenge. I have made a few recipes I’ve found through Pinterest and I’ve used Pinterest for scrapbooking inspiration but I haven’t made made very many crafty projects… but that sure hasn’t stopped me from pinning them!

Pinterest Challenge by Young House Love

Here’s how to make a FABULOUS blinged up clip board.

Step 1. Start with a blank clipboard. I used one that is 12.5 inches wide, so it will be great to display a scrapbook layout. If you can find a clipboard with a removable clip it will be easier to decorate the board.

Step 2. Prepare the board. I used Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue to glue the Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic paper to the board. Use Washi tape to fill in any areas not covered by the paper.

Do you LOVE Washi tape? Want some ideas for using it?  There’s a FREE scrapinar Friday, May 17 all about it! Click here to view more details about Washi Wahoo Too. (Affiliate link)

The scrapinar is actually the sequel to an amazing class by Monica Bradford of ScrapInspired.com. Click here to view more details about Washi Tape Wahoo! (Affiliate link)  This class was so inspiring I’ve purchased over 25 rolls of Washi tape since I took it… I’m putting Washi on EVERYTHING!

Step 3. Gather an assortment of sparkle and bling! I used brads (I either bent back the ends or I trimmed them off with my metal snips.) pearls, sparkles, ribbon charms, buttons and anything else shiny I could find!

Step 4. Begin gluing on the bling. Use layers, and different sizes of sparkle. I used a hot glue gun to adhere all of the bling. Be careful! Hot glue is VERY hot! (TIP: Put the glue on the large item, and use tweezers to add small pieces of bling to save your fingers!)

Step 5. Enjoy!

Isn’t it adorable?!  I’m loving it and I will use it to display my newly created layouts in my scrapbook room.

If you love this project you should check out how I blinged up my scrapbook easel HERE.

If you are inspired by this clipboard you should check out the inspiration on this Made For Mom’s Mother’s Day Blog Hop!

Thanks for visiting, I invite you to sign up for the Scrapbook Wonderland mailing list.

Happy crafting!

Scrapbooking is Dead! (or is it?)

Scrapbooking is Dead.

Scrapbooking is Obsolete.

Scrapbooking is Over.

I’ve heard this declaration a few times.  It makes me very defensive. I LOVE scrapbooking! How dare anyone suggest that my favourite pastime is dead!

The skeptics look at the ‘facts’ as they see them, and predict the demise of this amazing hobby. Discontinued magazines, closures of  local scrapbooking stores and bankruptcy of manufacturers are cited as ‘proof’ that this industry is barely limping along.

I propose a different explanation.

Things have changed!

The economy has changed. Scrapbooking was at its peak in 2006. When the economy was booming people had money to spend on hobbies and crafts. Now people have tightened their purse strings and there is less money to spend on non-essentials.

Smartphones have arrived. People are now in a state of constant connection with the world via the internet. The more time we spend on the internet the more comfortable we become using it for all aspects of our lives, from banking and connecting with our friends to shopping to online education. Our world feels smaller and more accessible and we are taking full advantage of it.

Scrapbooking has changed. As the economy and technology have changed so has scrapbooking. Scrapbooking is still as relevant as ever and now it is more accessible than ever before.

3 Reasons Why Scrapbooking is NOT Dead!

1.  Scrapbooking is versatile. Scrapbooking is different than it was 10 years ago. The very definition of what scrapbooking is has changed with the times too. If you make 12×12 albums, that’s scrapbooking.  If you make a mini albums, that’s scrapbooking. If you create digital layouts on a computer, that’s scrapbooking.  If you make digital photo books that is also scrapbooking. When you open up your definition of scrapbooking it is easy to see how it can fit into your life.  The great thing about scrapbooking is how easy it is to make scrapbooking work for YOU!

2.  Scrapbooking has embraced technology. No matter what style of scrapbooker you are, you can find it online now. Supplies can be easily ordered online. Classes have moved online too. You can attend virtual scrapbooking crops or ‘scrapinars’. Scrapbooking is available online at all price points, ability levels and styles. By embracing technology scrapbooking traded in the ‘video store’ model for the ‘iTunes store’ model and proved that it was adaptable to the new marketplace.

3.  The goal of scrapbookers has NOT changed. Scrapbookers still want to preserve and share our memories.

So what do you think? Is scrapbooking dead?  Stacy Julian, Becky Higgins and Rhonna Farrer, three dynamic scrapbooking icons, weigh in with their opinion in this video.

View it here: http://studio5.ksl.com/index.php?nid=71&sid=22979182

What’s your opinion?  Is scrapbooking dead? I’d love to hear your opinion in the comments.

Let your creativity shine!

Alice Boll.