:HAPPY NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY:

I hope you ALL have a chance to do something crafty today!

:GIVEAWAY WINNER: At Home with Handmade Books by Erin Zamrzla

Congrats, daydreamincolor!!

Well, daydreamer...it looks like you're going to be learning how to make some books!! Please watch your inbox for further details on how to claim your copy of At Home with Handmade Books.

Don't miss out on more great giveaways coming soon! If you haven't already, sign up for updates to the AMOM blog by email subscription or your favorite blog reader through the links in the left sidebar. Maybe Random.org will make your number lucky next time!

:WORD ART: Mother's Day Word Art Pack

Just in time for the upcoming holiday, I have a new word art pack available for download at MyMemories.com.

Mother's Day Word Art Pack

Check out this and all my other word art packs available through MyMemories,Scrapbook Boutique and PrintMaster.

While these designs are in available in several formats for use with any digital software program, if you are looking for an easy and affordable digital scrapbooking software, you should definitely give My Memories Suite a look. It is great for digital scrapbookers of all levels or even traditional scrapbookers that are looking to supplement their paper crafting in order to complete more layouts and/or be able to craft even when away from home and supplies.

My Memories Suite is currently the #1 rated digital scrapbooking software on the market.

Read more about all the great features of My Memories Suite here.

GET $10 OFF!!

My Memories Suite already has a great price, but I have a $10.00 OFF coupon code for you to try it for yourself! Simply copy and paste the code STMMMS74998 at checkout to receive you discount.

:WORD ART: Great Teachers Quote Word Art Freebie

UPDATE: I was notified that some were having issues with downloading this particular freebie at youpublish and something does not seem to be quite 'right' with it. However, I can't really decipher the problem and I don't want any of you to miss this freebie if you like it, so I have created another download link at box.net. Please go here to download through box.net. Sorry for any inconvenience.

I know that my daughter is quite lucky to have a teacher that falls into the final catagory of Ward's winning quote and we certainly count our blessings for that every day.

I hope you can find a use for this word are freebie. I believe that I am going to print it off on some nice paper and let Kaitlin use it to make a card for her teacher yet this week.

Enjoy!

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

Be sure to check out my other word art downloads to make sure you haven't missed any.

:LAYOUT: One Dancing Princess

Kaitlin's dance recital is coming up soon. This year, she took both tap and dance team class, so will actually be performing in two different weekend performances.

Here's a layout looking back at Kaitlin's very first dance recital for her first ballet class.

Isn't she cute!?

THREE THINGS TO TRY:
1. Convert photos that have clashing colors or lighting circumstances to black and white to minimize the contrast.
2. Use a patterned paper strip spanning a two-page spread to unify the pages in your design.
3. Include lots of photos economically by creating collages of 4 photos on one 4x6 print.

(Click for a larger view.)

Journaling:
Kaitlin’s 1st dance recital / 5-16-2009

Supplies:
Adhesive: Duck
Patterned Paper: Making Memories
Lace Paper (butterflies): KI Memories
Journaling Spot: Making Memories
Letter Stickers: Little Yellow Bicycle
Gems: ZVA
Ink: Colorbox
Scallop Trimmer: Fiskars
Photo Corner Punch: EK Success
Pen: Zig

:REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: At Home with Handmade Books by Erin Zamrzla [CONTEST CLOSED]

The subtitle of Erin Zamrzla's new book, At Home with Handmade Books, is a very appropriate summary of its contents: 28 Extraordinary Bookbinding Project Made from Ordinary and Repurposed Materials.

I immediately fell in love with the clean and simple design of the book itself, which included amazing photographs of the projects included in the book.

There is also a clean and simple quality to the ingenious creations of the book...with a range from adorably cute to stunningly beautiful.

The first six sections of the book, comprised of about 50 pages, focus on specific types of handmade books including accordion, flutter, four-hole binding (includes numerous variations), Yamoto binding, account, and ledger.

Each section includes 2-8 examples.

Some of my favorites included a "Read & Write Bookmark Book" and giving the covers of old hardcover children's books new life in creating a custom journal with a four-hole binding technique.

And I won't even tell you the uber-creative ways in which she uses tube sock, sponges, seed packets and pillowcases to create one-of-a-kind books. You'll just have to get the book and find out for yourself!

As a scrapbooker, I know that those of you that enjoy making mini books would just EAT UP some of the ideas and album concepts that Erin shares in this book.

Even I, who does not venture into mini book creation very often, found numerous ideas that I can't wait to incorporate into my layouts. The Japanese bookbinding methods are so beautiful that they would add a whole new level of elegance to a layout not to mention that adapting some of these techniques would be a great way to include additional photos and or hidden journaling on standard layouts.

After the sections highlighting the projects, Erin is sure to give the reader everything they need in order to recreate the beautiful projects and more for themselves.

She starts with a section discussing all the basic tools and materials required or recommended for basic bookbinding.

Then, she moves into bookbinding basics with a glossary of terms and step-by-step instructions in both word and corresponding illustrations of all the basic stitching techniques including Japanese four-hole, noble, hemp-leaf, tortoise-shell, improvised Japanese four-hole, Yamato, account book and ledger.

Finally, the last section of the book includes step-by-step instructions (again in both word and corresponding illustrations) of each and every one of the 28 projects included at the beginning of the book.

Zamrzla essentially takes techniques that might initially look complicated and makes one eager to give this elegant form of bookbinding a try!

You can watch Erin completing one of the simpler projects in the following YouTube videos.






If you'd like to see a little more for yourself, you can view a select number of pages of the book on the publisher's website here.

GIVEAWAY:
I do have one copy of At Home with Handmade Books to give away to one lucky AMOM reader. All you have to do is leave a comment by 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 5th, 2011.

Random.org will choose and I will announce the winner on Friday.

GOOD LUCK!!

:BE INSPIRED: Creativity Prompts - May 2011

Hello, all...here's the May 2011 edition of Be Inspired Creativity Prompts!

As always, it include several pages of scrapbooking ideas including prompts take from the calendar, design, color schemes, sketches and more!

If you're so inclined, please feel free to email me a pic of any projects you create inspired by these prompts and you might just find yourself featured on the AMOM blog!

Happy scrapping!

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

PLEASE SHARE:
If you like the free monthly Be Inspired Creativity Prompts download, please share it with others. That's all the thanks I need.

I have created a Be Inspired Creativity Prompts button that you can use, too! Just visit the ABOUT page and copy the code underneath second button and paste it into your own blog, website or forum signature. I greatly appreciate you helping to spread the inspiration!

Don't miss out on more great scrapbooking inspiration! Sign up for updates to the AMOM blog by email subscription or your favorite blog reader through the links in the right sidebar.