Creative Imaginations Blog

Creating with Pizzazzill

I have always been a collector of memories.  Photographs line the walls of our home, and my cedar chest is filled with bits and pieces of memorabilia scanning my life. 

It was during my last year in high school that I started collecting photos, newspaper clippings and bits and pieces of my life as a high school senior.  These items were lovingly pasted into a scrapbook using construction paper, stickers and rubber cement.  Although much has changed since those days, one thing hasn’t.  I still enjoy keeping memories in a scrapbook album.

I would have to say that my style is somewhat “clean and simple.”  I love to create pages where the photos take center stage with the page elements lightly accentuating the photos.  Journaling on a page is very important to me.  It is so much more than a who, what, where and when process.  Every photo has a story to tell, and I enjoy putting some of those more amusing stories in words.  It is such fun to look back at the pages created years ago and read those stories again.

Creating with cardstock comes easily for me.  I love the thick and heavy feel of it, and when textured cardstock made its appearance a few years ago, I was in heaven.  It just seemed so much nicer than flat cardstock.  When I first saw Pizzazzill, it was love at first sight.  I now had the thick, heavy, textured feel of cardstock, but with fun, lively prints in a variety of colors.  The new Pizzazzill chipboard pieces are a great addition to the line.  Whether covering the letters or tag pieces or using them blank, they are perfect for scrapbook pages, cards or altered pieces.

-Patty Lennon

Counting Down

Ever since I was a kid, I have loved back to school shopping.  I loved being able to pick out my notebooks, my pens, and my pencils and a new bag to put it all in….and I would make sure that everything mixed and matched, so I could be color-coordinated.  I still get that same sense of excitement when it comes to paper products, only these days I’m excited about scrapbooking, and purchasing scrapbook supplies – and I don’t even have to wait until school starts!  Brigid is already counting down the days, and I had to capture her excitement over new school supplies in this page “Counting Down”.   

I love mixing and matching products for my pages, and CI makes it so easy to find embellishments and even cardstock to match their papers.  With the Pizzazzill line, CI takes all the guesswork out of color-coordinating your cardstock to your patterned paper collections.  You are sure to find a shade of Pizzazzill to match, so you can spend your time creating your pages and preserving those memories instead of struggling to find the perfect match. 

To celebrate the end of the summer, and the excitement of back to school, I created this mini album out of a simple plastic pencil case, Pizzazzill cardstock to embellish the case and to create the album to fit inside, and Renae’s House “Sami” collection patterned papers and embellishments.  You can purchase pencil cases inexpensively anywhere, and it is so easy to put together a mini album in an afternoon to preserve the memories of what you did on your summer vacation! 

I had the kids pick out their favorite summer photos for this project, and had them tell me why they were special, so it is really their memories of what we did this summer that I am collecting in this mini album.  My girls love to scrapbook with me, and I use our craft time to encourage them to tell their own stories, and they will often dictate the journaling for their pages to me, so I can print it on the computer.  My older daughter will then copy what I printed in her own handwriting right on the scrapbook page – talk about priceless!  Not only do I have a record of her thoughts and feelings about a particular trip or event, but I’ve got it her own handwriting too.  Sharing those memories with my children is why I scrapbook.  The closeness and enjoyment we get out of having a shared hobby makes it even more special, and I look forward to many years of scrapping with my daughters!

-Linda Auclair

Pizzazzill makes it easy to Scrapbook

Why I scrapbook? There are so many reasons why I scrapbook and love to create. Throughout my life, I’ve always explored some form of creative outlet. While I was growing up, music was my art of choice and what I used to develop my creativity. I even graduated college as a Music Major. After college, I took a different direction and eventually worked for an advertising agency where I discovered my love for design. While I was pregnant with my daughter in 2001, I was invited to a Creative Memories party and my new hobby took off from there. I feel in love with the idea of keeping record of all of the events and moments in my life. With my expanding family in mind, I began to document everything. Eventually, I began to realize how relaxing and therapeutic scrapbooking and journaling were for me. In my daily life as a stay at home mom, scrapbooking and photography are my two obsessions that keep my brain sharp and that allow me to meet so many wonderful new people. Not a day goes by that I do not do something that is craft related whether it is scrapping at home, taking photos, or playing with Photoshop.

Why Pizzazzill makes scrapbooking easy? You really have to love a product that is so versatile. Cardstock and chipboard have always been two staples in my craft room and the patterned cardstock really adds that extra something to a project. The varieties of colors that are available make it very easy to match any project you are working on. The blank chipboard shapes are definitely my favorite Pizzazzill product. I’ve used the tags on so many different projects and I think they are perfect to create mini-albums!

Define your scrapbooking style: I consider my style to be clean but eclectic because I love to experiment with new techniques and products. As a scrapper, I am always influenced by the beautiful patterns in papers. You can bet that when I get a stack of paper that my first thought is how I can dissect and chop it up to create a project.

Good luck to all of you entering the Pizzazzill contest! It has been exciting seeing all of your creations in the gallery!

- Diane DiTullio

Scrap Book Lifestyle

A few weeks ago Scrapbook Lifestyle called me up and asked if I would be interested in filming for their online webisodes. If any of you know me, then you know i am not at all shy and love to have the chance to spread my passion for this industry on film or infront of a class any day! It didn't take much to get me to agree. We filmed at  Ever After Scrapbook Store in Carlsbad, since that is where I first started teaching in this industry years ago. It seemed like the perfect place to document where i am in my journey. It is amazing how a few hours of filming is edited into 7 minutes...and I must say the camera isn't to forgiving about the aging process.  Good thing I feel young!

Click here to see the webisode »»

- Marah Johnson

Pizzazzill: Perfect for card making!

I was first introduced to scrapbooking when I was a senior in high school. My final English Exam was to complete a scrapbook that I had worked on for the entire year. Little did I know that it was the start of something truly special. I dabbled in scrapbooking until about two years ago and that is when this obsession of mine really began. I have three small children and scrapbooking was something that I could do for me.  Yes, it is about my children but seriously I scrapbook for myself. I have always loved creating. As a child I would amuse myself for hours with a box of crayons and a stack of paper. Creating just makes me happy. I feel so blessed to have found something that I love so much.

My style is all over the place. I love change and I thrive on it.  My favorite colors are constantly changing as well as my style. No two layouts will ever look the same. I love to challenge myself to try new things. I love to use supplies in ways that they are not intended to be used. I love to be different! I guess you could call me a bit of a scrapbook rebel.  I love every style and I suppose that is why I can't bring myself to settle on just one particular style. For me it is just how I am feeling at the moment. I just kind of go with the flow.

Pizzazzill is such an amazing product. My favorite thing to do with Pizzazzill is to make cards. It is perfect for card making. The different prints are wonderful and add that little extra touch to a simple card. I have to admit I wasn't much of a cardstock girl before I started working with Pizzazzill. I used to prefer to just use patterned paper and that is why the different prints are so much more my style. I want my layouts and cards to really POP and that is why Pizzazzill is the perfect choice for me. When I go to make a card now my Pizzazzill stash is the first thing I go through.

Click here for Project Instructions for Oceanside Layout »»

- Tammy Kay

Chat tonight at A Million Memories

Join Cheryl Mezzetti tonight as she hosts an online chat at A Million Memories at 9pm est.  Cheryl will be sharing her tips for creating her altered projects, chatting about some of the new releases from CHA Summer as well as giving away some fun prizes. 

You could be the next Creative Imaginations Guest Designer!

Creative Imaginations and Scrap Happy KT are proud to announce the Studio Basics 101/Signature Collection Contest.

Design a layout, altered item or card using either Studio Basics and/or Signature papers from Creative Imaginations. Finished piece must incorporate 80% product from Studio basics and/or Signature. All entries must be uploaded to the Scrap Happy KT contest gallery titled "Creative Imaginations Summer Contest." Contest ends September 10, 2007

Creative Imaginations has been generous enough to allow 3 lucky winners! One grand prize winner will receive: $100 in Creative Imaginations products and be invited to join Creative Imaginations as their Guest Designer for the month of November! Two runners up will receive: $50 in product.

Be sure to check out the CI summer contest message board for lots of fun and support. Creative Imaginations current Guest Designer Tammy Gray, will be sharing on the board about her experience as a Guest designer! Also be sure to check out Scrap Happy KT for a 20% savings on Studio Basics and Signature product.

Good Luck!

Great Pizzazzill Projects

When I started scrapbooking 10 years ago, I had three little kids at home – so in a way, it kept me off the evening news! It started out as a way for me to capture every detail I could about my family, but then I realized just how therapeutic it really was.
 
I love the look of shabby & vintage but I almost always work within a grid. Shabby/Neat is how I would define my style. And may I suggest a good book about scrapbook style? hehe...

I love working with Pizzazzill! It just makes paper crafting so easy because of the quality of the Bazzill cardstock mixed with patterns with great coordinating colors. It matches with so many projects and provides a cross between cardstock and patterned paper.
Check out the Clutch Purse Project Instructions »»

When I started working with the Magic Collection, I knew at once the Sunbeam Dot Pizzazzill Cardstock would go great! I also think many of the black and white Pizzazzill patterns would work as well.
Here are the project instructions to put this cute purse together »»

Don't forget to enter the Summer Pizzazzil Sweepstakes! There's great prizes to be won. Click here for more details »» Good Luck!

- Kitty Foster

$1000 Pizzazzill Sweepstakes!!!

Since we’ve been on the topic this month about mixing and matching Pizzazzill with your favorite lines from Creative Imaginations, we thought it might be fun to challenge you in an exciting contest... I’m so excited to announce the Pizzazzill Summer Sweepstakes!

We thought it might be fun to challenge you in an exciting contest…of course no contest is complete without FABULOUS prize opportunities. We are going to make this one worth your time and talent, because we are offering the winner over $1,000 in Pizzazzill, Bare•Elements and Scrapbook Supplies. The best part is…you can enter more than once…you can upload one project a day from now until August 31st.  So you can have multiple opportunities to win.  In addition to the $1000 Grand Prize…we will be giving 5 runner-ups a Pizzazzill gift basket worth $100. So get your creative juices flowing and start creating!  Pizzazzill can be found at many local scrapbook stores, online scrapbook stores, or directly from Creative Imaginations.

Now’s your chance to submit your Pizzazzill paper craft or scrapbook page for you chance to win. It’s fun, fast & easy to enter!

For all the details about this great Pizzazzill Summer Sweepstakes click here»»

- Samantha Walker

Creative Imaginations Guest Designer for August

Tammy Gray writes: Being the Guest Designer for Creative Imaginations this month is an amazing experience.  I love the wide range of products that Creative Imaginations offers and it was a dream come true to be able to work with so many of them.  The hardest part of my experience was having restraint and sticking to just some of the lines.  I am grateful for this opportunity to create with each of these inspiring products.

CI: What are your  favorite CI products thus far? 
Tammy Gray: I love so many of them that it is a hard choice, it seems that the Narratives collections have become a staple for me.  I love the die cut papers, especially the notebook ones. 


CI: How do you define her scrapbook style?
Tammy Gray: I have a whimsical artistic style that uses bright colors and photos with high contrast.  My style is highly influenced by my life in Florida (tropical scenes and styles) and our trips to Maui.


CI: How long have you been scrapbooking? 
Tammy Gray:  I have been scrapbooking for one year.  I started scrapping in June of 2006. Before that, I made jewelry and photo gift cards. I have been interested in art and art supplies my entire life. For Christmas of 2005 I finally got my first digital camera. In 2006 I got Photoshop Elements 4. That was the beginning of my journey into the wonderful world of Scrapbooking. 

CI: What inspires you to scrapbook and paper craft?
Tammy Gray:  While I often do scrap extraordinary images of nature, most of my pieces celebrate the love I have for my family and pets. I appreciate innocence, holiness, clarity and beauty.  Scrapping allows me to share my perspectives concerning the important things of life with my family and friends and allows me to express how important they are to me.