American Crafts Studio Blog

Button Week Challenge!

Happy Friday everyone! We've got a fabulous winner to announce from last week's World Wide Web Week Challenge.  Congratulations to Allison Romero!  What a great layout and awesome story how you met your online buddies.

This week's prize pack is full of the buttons that you've seen us use this week... one pack of each single and multi-color!

1. The layout or card must be posted to an online gallery or blog with American Crafts in your supply list.

2.  You must leave a comment on this blog post with a link to your layout online.  You also must fill in your email address when posting your comment on this blog post.

3. Layouts and links must be posted by midnight PST on Thursday, August 5th.

Here's one more great example from Design Team member Shannon...
Supplies: 12 x 12 Cardstock white (71273)- AC Cardstock, Dear Lizzy Pounce Phrases (43378)- Minimarks Rub-ons,  Dear Lizzy Fancy (42706) - Remarks Sticker Sheets,  Dear Lizzy Flicker (42704) - Remarks Sticker Sheets, Dear Lizzy Glitter Buttons (85505) - Elements, Glitter Buttons Primaries (85420)- Elements, Glue Runner Dots (61713) - This to That, Dear Lizzy Berry Yellow (53037) - Thickers, Niki Riki Brown (53038) - Thickers

The color of the glitter brads pop so nicely against the white cardstock for a happy look.

Can't wait to see what you come up with for this week's challenge.  Have a great weekend, everyone!

Button Frame

Check out this fun button idea from talented Design Team member Melanie...
Supplies: Primaries ( 85435 )- Elements, Pastels  (85436) - Elements, Tropicals (85437) - Elements, Brights (85436) - Elements, Fruit Accents (42548) - Remarks

Melanie says: "I've had this Ribba shadow frame from Ikea kicking around forever, ( originally for another project that never saw the light of day, lol) and decided to use this favourite photo of my son that I had printed out for a previous layout.  I decided on a rainbow colour pattern (ROYGB, missing the violet, which I didn't have)  button frame to play off of the b&w photo. I used glue dots to adhere them, added a simple, but perfect sentiment from one of the Remarks sticker books, and a sticker heart in place of one of the red buttons."

This is such a happy little frame!  I think it would be a perfect gift and could easily be customized for a special occasion.  Use a baby photo with our Baby button variety packs or a wedding photo along with the Elegant buttons.

Postmarked Wednesday

Button week continues with today's edition of Postmarked Wednesday!  Here are some great card ideas from Design Team members Susan and Mary Jo!
Supplies: Hannah & Henry stickers black (42541) - Remarks: Books, 12x12 Cardstock White (71081) - AC Cardstock, 12x12 Cardstock Leaf (71052) - AC Cardstock, 12x12 Cardstock Blush (71014) - AC Cardstock, 12x12 Cardstock Sunflower (71038) - AC Cardstock, 12x12 Cardstock Scarlet (71030) - AC Cardstock, 12x12 Robins Egg (71063) - AC Cardstock, Beehive Brunch (35091) - Dear Lizzy, Dragonfly Dance paper (35097) - Dear Lizzy, Springhouse Crocheted Flowers (77237) - Dear Lizzy, Pastels Buttons (85436) - Elements, Earth Tones Buttons (85440) - Elements, Tropicals Buttons (85437) - Elements, Brights Buttons (85438) - Elements
Susan says: "Use Buttons to "connect" a paper punched pennant banner - and also try accenting the centers of crocheted flowers with a single button!"
Too cute!  I love the use of the little banner on a card... great way to add your message!
Supplies: Ocean (71423) - Glitter Cardstock, 12x12 Cardstock White (71081) – AC Cardstock,  Giddy Grasshopper (35104) – Dear Lizzy, Dragonfly Dance (35097) – Dear Lizzy, Beehive Brunch (35091) – Dear Lizzy,  Dear Lizzy Glitter Buttons (85505) – Elements, Frolic Accents (42705) – Remarks Sticker Sheets, Pounce Phrases (43378) – Minimarks Rub On Sheets

Mary Jo says: "Buttons are a great way to embellish cards and layouts. They add just the right amount of dimension to give your project that extra touch and they’re very versatile. My favorite technique is to substitute or overlay buttons as part of another element, like the buttons as bicycle wheels."

She also came up with some other great ideas for you to try!

• Center of a Flower
• Ice Cream on Top of a Cone
• Balloons
• Hot Air Balloon
• Red Buttons as Apples on a Tree
• Cluster of Buttons as the Top of a Tree
• Cluster of Buttons in Your Choice of Shapes
• Red Buttons as a Cluster of Cherries
• Eyes on a Doodled Animal or Sticker
• Substitute for the Letter O in a Word Title

Perfect ideas!  I especially love the ice cream idea... buttons would make great scoops.  Thanks for sharing with us today, ladies!

Kim's Button Purse

Design Team member Kim W. blew me away with her project this month!  Check out her amazing idea for using up your buttons...

Supplies: Tickled Tulip Fabric Finish Paper (35082) - Dear Lizzy, Firefly Festival Fabric Finish Paper (35085) - Dear Lizzy, Apricot Afternoon Fabric Finish Paper (35093) - Dear Lizzy, Magnolia Morning Fabric Finish Paper (35098) - Dear Lizzy, Snapdragon Soiree Fabric Finish Paper (35103) - Dear Lizzy, Dear Lizzy Crochet Flowers (77237) - House Shapes, Glitter buttons Pastels (85421) - Elements,  Glitter buttons Dear Lizzy (85505) - Elements,  Glitter buttons Baby Girl (85427) - Elements,  Glitter buttons Elegant (85429) - Elements, Dear Lizzy Leafy (89289) - Ribbon, Dear Lizzy Lovely (89290) - Ribbon, Blue Skies Seventh Heaven (87644) - Ribbon

Kim says: "When I was given the button assignment, I decided to try & think outside of the box for this one. I really wanted to steer away from traditional scrapbooking uses for the buttons & look at other crafty ideas. My love of sewing & fashion influenced the project I settled on, I hope you find it inspirational.

This purse was made from Fabric Finish paper from the Dear Lizzy line...yup really it is! I cut & stitched the different panels just as you would do with regular fabric. The wooden handles were from a local craft store.

Before I attached the inner canvas lining, I stitched a variety of the Glitter buttons to the Firefly Festival Fabric panels adding dimension & a bit of glam.

See there is a little pocket inside too for my Iphone :o)
I used 1.5" ribbon & rose trim as the perfect finish for the top of the purse.
The little hanging charm is also simply: buttons threaded double onto twine, then attached with a hook, it could also double as a key chain. I was surprised after giving buttons some thought, that there are a multitude of cute ideas I had never even tried."

This looks incredible and absolutely adorable!  I love Kim's idea for making the hanging chain... too cool!  Wouldn't you love a button purse just like this?

Buttons Week

Button button, who's got the button?  We do!
American Crafts Buttons feature two varieties – solid and transparent glitter. Buttons are available in single color and themed multi-color packs.  You're sure to want them all... especially after you see the fun creations the Design Team came up with this week!

Check out this gorgeous layout from Design Team member Piradee featuring AC Buttons...
Supplies: 12 x 12 Cardstock White (71259) - AC Cardstock, 12x12 Cardstock Chestnut (71048) - AC Cardstock, Orchid Paper (35033) - I Do, Calla Lillies Paper (35054) - I Do, Dahlias Paper (35044) - I Do, I Do Buttons (85502) - Elements, Copper Buttons (85449) - Elements, I Do Printed Chipboards Accents (77230) - House Shapes, Emerald Evergalde (53021) - Thickers, Mini Heart You Font Chest Alpha Rub-Ons (43346) - Mini Marks

Piradee says: "What could be better than sitting in a lush green garden but with the comfort of your bed and with a cool breeze blowing by and the small fresh cut grass! Yeap, caught dear hubby hidding away on the balcony of our bangalow when we were Bali, but then again, I can't really say much as I just got back from a spa session myself.  And also having some fun with these gorgeous papers from the I Do collection and those mettalic butons, which I discovered this before, cause I'm just so in love with these colors now."

I love how Piradee tied the twine into a bow behind the button.  I never would have thought of that little touch and it looks awesome.

Stay tuned for a super cool project tomorrow from Kim Watson!

Prize Winners

Phew! We've been so busy making final preparations for CHA next week. We're thrilled about the positive responses to the new lines we revealed. Thank you! As promised, we've randomly selected winners who will receive a selection of products from each of the new collections. Congratulations to the following winners!

Dear Lizzy Enchanted winner
Laurie
  "Love it, love it, love it!! So thankful you and Elizabeth have teamed up, such great ideas she has, a true talent."

City Park winner
Mahlin
  "Loving the colors and that sunny-font went straight into my heart for sure!

Boo! winner
Granny Charlotte
   "Love the colors. Would make awesome Halloween pages and cards. TFS"

Dear Lizzy Christmas winner
Olivia
   "Beautiful creations & collection. My favourites are the silver flourishes paper, the sparkling thickers & the pearl brads :)"

Love winner
Anita A.
   "So cute! Love the blue and red! and those Thickers are ADORABLE!!"

Please email us with your addresses ladies.

World Wide Web Week Challenge!

It's Friday and you know what that means... time to announce a winner from last week's Foam Tabs Week Challenge!  Let's have a round of applause for Nancy D. and her fabulous layout!
Congratulations and thanks to everyone for playing along!  This week we've got a prize pack containing the Travel and Everyday Album Kits... these are the perfect tools for getting those photos scrapped.

Here's your challenge, should you chose to accept it...
1. The layout or card must be posted to an online gallery or blog with American Crafts in your supply list.

2.  You must leave a comment on this blog post with a link to your layout online.  You also must fill in your email address when posting your comment on this blog post.

3. Layouts and links must be posted by midnight PST on Thursday, July 29th.

I've created one more layout to share for World Wide Web Week.  I used the homepage of one of my favorite websites, Design Sponge, as inspiration for the design of my page...

Supplies: Feelin' Alright (34984) - Blue Skies, 12x12 Cardstock Cherry (71026) - AC Cardstock, 12x12 Cardstock White (71081) - AC Cardstock, 12x12 Cardstock Black (71082) - AC Cardstock, 12x12 Lagoon (71066) - AC Cardstock, Flurry (42140) - Remarks: Dimensional, Maddox (42614) - Remarks: Sheets, Mini Black Brads (8471) - Elements

When I'm stuck on getting a layout started, I love turning to well designed pieces... and websites make great blueprints! I took the basic layout of the Design Sponge page and used it to help me place my paper onto my page.  Give it a try next time you need a jumpstart.
Hope you've enjoyed World Wide Web Week!  Can't wait to see your entries for this week's challenge!

My Bloggie

We hope that you're all enjoying World Wide Web Week!  We've got another great dose of inspiration to share today from Design Team member Moon...

Supplies: Kraft (71464)- AC Cardstock, Lake View Court (35060)- Abode paper, Response (35028)- Letterbox paper, Letterbox jewel brads (85495)-Elements, Apartment (53013)- Glossy Chipboard, Crocheted Flowers (77237)- House Shapes

Moon says: "I discovered my snipping tool and was able to get a snapshot of my latest blog entry to use as my photo for my layout. I love how the different American Crafts' lines of products all work together (Abode, Dear Lizzy and Letterbox). Thanks for looking!"

And here's her awesome journaling from the page:

STARTED IN NOVEMBER 2005
100% NATURAL
NO FILLERS ADDED
THERE'S NO SUGAR COATING
THERE ARE NO ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS
TO MAKE IT ALL TASTE BETTER
STORIES ABOUT ME
STORIES ABOUT THE CRAZY CRAP MY KIDS DO
ACCOMPANIED BY PHOTOGRAPHS
SOMETIMES
A PLACE TO SHARE SCRAPBOOK PAGES
A PLACE TO SHARE PHOTO ALBUMS
DISCOVERING NEW FRIENDS
AND REALIZING THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE
OUT THERE THAT THINKS MOTHERHOOD
IS DOWN RIGHT HARD
BUT SO WORTH IT

I absolutely love Moon's journaling.  It's completely real and sums up her blog perfectly.  Do you feel the same way?  Have you ever thought to create a page about your blog for your scrapbook?  Be sure to include journaling about why you blog, just like Moon did!

Postmarked Wednesday

Happy Postmarked Wednesday!  Design Team member Paige created these two adorable cards for World Wide Web Week... check out her awesome creativity!
Supplies: 12 x 12 Cardstock Cotton Candy (71461) – AC Cardstock, 12 x 12 Cardstock Vanilla (71041) – AC Cardstock, Dear Lizzy Leafy Ribbon (89289) – Ribbon, Bubblegum By the Yard (42970) – Thickers, Ladybug Patchwork (42973) – Thickers, Hay Emerald (53022) – Thickers, Taffy Vera (42931) – Thickers, Sunflower Vera (42932) – Thickers, Primaries, Pastels, Tropicals, and Brights Mini Jewel Brads (85270, 85271, 85272, 85273) - Elements, Medium Jewel Brads (85285, 85286, 85287, 85288) - Elements, Large Jewel Brads (85300, 85301, 85302, 85303) - Elements, Pearl Brads (85315, 85316, 85317, 85318) - Elements, Mini Glitter Brads (85330, 85331, 85332, 85333) - Elements, Medium Glitter Brads (85345, 85346, 85347, 85348) - Elements, Mini Brads (85375, 85376, 85377, 85378) - Elements, Medium Brads (85390, 85391, 85392, 85393) - Elements, Glitter Buttons (85420, 85421, 85422, 85423) - Elements, Round Buttons (85435, 85436, 85437, 85438) - Elements

Paige says: "I love all of the shorthand typing that’s being used in the digital world these days. Especially in G-Chat in Gmail when you type them because when you scroll your mouse over them they move - for example “<3” turns into a heart and “:)” turns into a smiley face! I thought it’d be fun to bring some of those symbols and signs to life in a couple of cards."

Paige did a great job with the theme of the cards and turning the products into emoticons.  These would be perfect cards to give to a teenager... you know this is exactly the kind of language they're speaking!

Tweet Tweet

Are you on Twitter?  It's a fun social media outlet where you "tweet" and share updates in 140 characters or less.  It's a lot of fun! 

Design Team member Amy recently went on vacation and tweeted along the way.  Check out her fun page using those little updates...
Supplies: Creamy Coconut Paper (35107) - Heatwave, Lucky Lime Paper (35106) - Heatwave, Bodacious Banana (35110) - Heatwave, Flutter (42702) - Remarks, Perch Accents (43377) - MiniMarks, Lullaby Charcoal (42957) - Thickers, Parcel Accents (43368) - MiniMarks, Patchwork Ladybug (42973) - Thickers, Delight Leaf (43060) - Thickers

Amy says: "Thought this would be a clever way to record the tweets from our quick trip to Europe, so I started out by printing them up on notebook paper. I chose Courier font to try and make it look as though I used a typerwriter. Though it would have been nice to coordinate tweets with photos, I didn't have enough to match them up. So I used just random photos throughout our trip and added fun embellishments."

I love this idea and it's a great way to include journaling from a trip!  It's cool how Amy included little photos to match up with the tweets as well.

Want to check out American Crafts on Twitter?  Just click right here for our updates and to follow us.