Scrap Pink at the Manhattan Scrapbooking Meetup was such a delight. Yesterday a HUGE group of scrapbook enthusiasts came together to crop all day and well into the night at the Manhattan Scrapbooking Meetup Scrap Pink event. And it was so much fun! A huge thanks to Cheryl and the entire group for allowing us to participate.

We brought a selection of our product to show for the very first time. And everyone was so patient through set up glitches and software hassles. But the feedback was great and all their purchases included a 5% donation to Scrap Pink. Thank you to everyone who helped support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Breast Cancer Foundation. And thank you to the entire group for being part of such an important event. 

For those of you unfamiliar with the Manhattan Scrapbooking Meetup group, you MUST MUST check out their crop events. They are a wonderful group from all over the NYC area. Everyone was so friendly and excited about their art work. And from what they displayed, their work was phenomenal. If you are just starting a new hobby or an avid scrapbooker, this is such wonderful place.  

Congratulations to all the winners of the door prizes. We hope to see you everyone at their next crop and in PortraitBug classes when we open our door.

hey everyone!

this weekend all over the country (and presumably the world!!) scrapbookers will be getting together with their favorite scrapping communities to scrap for a cause.  this weekend is scrap pink! scrapboook stores, online communities, and local crop groups all over america are sponsoring crops and taking donations for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Breast Cancer Foundation.

this is a great opportunity for all of us who share our passion for memory art to join together to support a cause that is so important to all women all over the world.

portraitbug is very excited to be participating in the Manhattan Scrapbooking Meetup Group’s scrap pink event.  we can’t wait to meet everyone in the group and to support such an important event.  we will be sponsoring some of the giveaways during the event as well as setting up a small shop for any general supplies anyone may need (i’m working on a discount code too!) we can’t wait to see everyone there!

if you are attending tomorrow event with the Mnhattan Meetup Group at “Cheryl’s Office” and would like to make an online order – please write that you’d like to pick up your order in the comments of your order and email us so we can pull your order right away and refund your shipping!

we hope that whatever you are doing this weekend you take a moment to read about the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® foundation and if you can’t participate in an event but would like to donate contact your local scrapbook store or a participating online group.  to make donations through the Manhattan Meetup Group join them at meetup.com!

have a great weekend!

When I started scrapbooking, back in the day (ha!), I did it to document the major events in my life. My marriage, my daugther’s birth, my first house. But these days, I find that I scrap mostly for the creative release it provides. The fact that I simultaneously get to preserve my family’s most cherished photos/memories is an added bonus. The only problem I’ve run into is the ‘journaling’ part. Sometimes I have nothing more to say than “how cute is she!” or “i love you”. Other times, I feel like just the date would suffice. Then there are the few times when I can write an entire novel of juicy information that I know I’ll want to read again years down the road.

One thing that used to stop me from journaling was the fact that I hated my handwriting. I can do it if I write my journaling in pencil first, neatly and slowly, and then go over it in pen. I also print out my journaling from time to time, but my favorite tool to use now is my typewriter. I actually find that it makes me journal a whole lot more that I used to just because I love the way it looks.

I also find that it helps to plan the location of my journaling in the initial design process. Sometimes, I’ll get to the end of a layout and then realize that there’s no where left to journal. I usually end up adding a couple strips of paper with just the basic info. If I plan it in ahead of time, I have more of a chance of actually including some meaningful writing.

Now, I’m working on branching out from just the who, what, when, where + emotion = journaling equation and delve deeper into the little details. I try to think of the little things, like the way my daughter whispers to sneak to into my bed in the middle of the night, or the face she makes when she’s confused, the smell of the air after it rains or the way a certain song makes my heart ache.

When I actually do have something very important to journal about, I usually prefer to keep it private. I also tend to get very long winded when you get me started, which is often difficult to fit onto one layout. To solve that problem, I usually include some sort of hidden journaling. I like to tuck a small slip of paper or a cute journaling tag behind a photo so it can be removed and read in the future. I also like to write on the back of the layout when hidden journaling isn’t possible.

It’s a process, but I hope to make journaling as important a part of my scrapbooking as the photos are. One layout at a time!

I will confess, I am a supply hoarder.

Sometimes, I feel like shopping is a scrapbooking activity all unto itself. Organizing certainly is. And here I am, surrounded by all this gorgeous stuff and I don’t want to use it! I have paper that is “too pretty” to cut into and ribbon that I’m hoarding for a “special occasion” and adorable embellishments that I just like to look at!

Now, beyond the fact that it’s ridiculous to have this much stuff, I have recently come across several things that I was “saving” and now no longer like. How silly! So, I’ve now adopted a “use it or lose it” philosophy. Here’s what that looks like:

1. I like to play along with the challenges from How Much Is Too Much. This blog challenges you to use up a ton of stuff on each layout.

2. I organize and purge at least once every three months. I usually donate my excess supplies to local scrapbooking friends. But, hospitals and schools are also always appreciative of donations. And going through my supplies reminds me of what I already own, which helps me (1) use it and (2) not buy a duplicate.

3. If I love it, I use it right away. Instead of waiting for the perfect project, I use that “must have” item immediately! That way, it goes into my scrapbooks and becomes a part of my memories rather than a dust collector.

4. I keep my supplies out in the open. I’ll admit that this is not an easy task in my apartment, but I know myself. If I see it, I’ll use it. If I don’t, I won’t. Hidden storage looks really nice, but those boxes never get opened around here.

All of these changes mean that I’m scrapping more often, more quickly, and having more fun with it! Here’s a recent page I created…

I really love the way it turned out. Those swirls and roses are the border to a beautiful piece of Prima paper. But, I never would have cut up that paper without my “use it or lose it” philosophy.

Try it for yourself!

the work our design team did this month with some of our opening product lines are so amazing.  portraitbug is extremely lucky to have such a talented group!  every month we will highlight the gallery designs on our blog so that those of you not around nyc can check out their work and see how to use the many many products available in our online store.

if you are around stop in and see them in real life and get directions and complete supply lists to try out a new technique and create your own art!

(oh, and we are also going to be putting together some diy kits to offer our online customers!!)

and now… julie’s amazing work this month!!

• Cardstock: Bazill • Paint: Winsor&Newton • Glimmer Mist: Tattered Angels (Jazz Blue) • Chipboard: American Crafts • Pens: Zig, Uniball Signo • Ink: Ranger • Miscellaneous: paper, fiber, and ribbon scraps • Cardstock: Bazzill • Paint: Winsor&Newton watercolors, gesso by Golden • Glimmer Mist: Tattered Angels (Jazz Blue) • Rub-ons: Jenni Bowlin (R0136 – Frames – Black) • Pen: Sakura Pigma Micron • Alphabet Stickers: Making Memories (Tiny Alphas: Black on White) • Cardstock: Canson • Pens: Zig and Uniball Signo • Patterned Paper: Basic Grey • Album (base of party banner): Kaiser • Stickers: Adornit Carolee’s Creations (Tiny Etched Natural) • Patterned Paper: Dream Street (Foliage), Basic Grey. Kaiser • Ink: Ranger Distress Ink • Cardstock: Bazzill • Miscellaneous: ribbons • Patterned Paper: Dream Street (Rue-All Dolled Up, Enchanted-Fairy Garden), Kaiser (Vagabond P188) • Rhinestone Frame: Kaiser (SB1632) • Journaling Spaces: Jenni Bowlin Die-Cut Mini Label Papers • Letter Stickers: Jenni Bowlin (SK236), Adornit Carolee’s Creations (Tiny Etched Natural) • Pens: Sakura Pigma Micron, Uniball Signo • Rub-ons: Jenni Bowlin (RO143) • Embroidery Floss: DMC • Adhesives: ATG and FabriTac

• Cardstock: Bazzill • Pens: Sakura Pigma Micron, Zig Writer, Uniball Signo • Bling: Kaiser (SB700) • Fragments: Tim Holtz (adhered with Glossy Accents by Ranger) • Alcohol Inks: Ranger • Thickers: American Crafts • Journaling Shape: Making Memories

i’m one of those people who always takes photos, but doesn’t always have the time to scrapbook them. one of my favorite things to do when i am not feeling particularly creative (or find that i’m too busy to scrap) is do a quick “month in review” page. they are super simple, totally fun and give my scrapbooks a cohesive flow.

to create this layout, i simply printed out my favorite pictures from january on one 4×6 photo, journaled underneath with my typewriter, and added my title and embellishment.

now i feel like my memories are preserved, my photos are put to use, and i had a fun creative moment…without throwing my schedule out of whack!

products used: label love by kristina contes (yellow dotted paper), jenni bowlin rub ons,ek success bookwork alphabet, cricut going places cartridge with woodgrain paper, american crafts thickers (asterisk) and typewriter.

this month has been full of challenges with the store, fixing the web bugs, etc… so i thought it would be good to use those challenges to inspire creativity! for september i gave our design team the prompt “scrapbooking challenges” for them to interpret as they wished and they came up with some amazing advice and work which you’ll see in their blog posts this week.

scrapbooking your biggest challenge, or the challenges you encounter while scrapbooking, or even just getting to the scrapbooking part can be the challenge… whatever it is, try something new and get a little creative.

i hope that you all join us each month for our blog inspiration posts and try out some of the techniques and prompts with us!

This coupon will be called the construction woes coupon. Use the code: 10OFF at checkout. From now until the end of the month our blog readers can take 10% off every item in the store on purchases of $20 or more. 

A quick update on the actual store. We have not been posting construction updates since construction has come a screeching halt. Our landlord has not provided electricity in our store for over a month. And our contractor cannot continue to build without juice. Our plan was to be open September 1st. Then September 15th. And now we just want the electric back in place so we can keep the build process going. As soon as electricity is restored we should be open in a couple weeks. The products are in stock, the furniture is waiting for walls and floors, and the frames are waiting to be hung. Thank you to everyone who is excited about our actual grand opening! We appreciate the support and encouragement.

In the meantime we are trying to iron out the glitches of our online. We have worked out most of the major issues and hope your shopping experience is smooth and easy. The coupon code 10OFF can be entered on step 2 of checkout before you make payment. 

Keep your fingers crossed for electrical current at 2466 Broadway! Once the landlord brings back service we will announce our grand opening and that means parties, classes, and MORE GIVEAWAYS.

good morning.

it’s time to giveaway the grand prize…

one lucky subscriber will win a huge prize pack sponsored by:

• Maya Road
• Dream Street
• Cosmo Cricket
• Tattered Angels
• Riff Raff Designs

here are some of the goodies…

+ a tattered angels glimmer mist set and screen

+ the ActionSampler from Lomo

+ some more thrown in!

so…. our winner is!

Janet Duncan from Brooklyn, N

congrats!! and thank you to all of our subscribers for joining us. we hope that you will keep reading and keeping up-to-date with us. we can’t wait to open and hope to see all of you in person as well! our online store is up and running and we are taking orders at http://store.portraitbug.com. please check it out we are always adding new product!

we hope to have more solid information about when we will be opening our doors very soon!

sorry i’m late!

had to rush this morning but now i’m back to announce that…

#18 is our winner!!

What a beautiful book!

Comment by Amy A. — September 9, 2008 @ 3:36 pm

congrats!!

hey everyone… we have a STORE UPDATE! coming in just a bit for you.  unfortunately we will not be making our target open date of sept. 15th, BUT we are hoping that we will be open by the end of the month.  but we’ll update you on what’s happening, and show you some construction photos…

and of course the grand prize!! {see you in just a few!!}