The Graduate

It's hard to believe that it's been 8 years since my son, Sean graduated from high school...it was the "millenium year"...2000...wow, do you all remember that year? It seems so long ago...wondering if our cars would start, if the electricity would stay on, if our computers would self destruct, lol...

So much has happened since 2000...my son now has two beautiful sons of his own, but when I look back at photos like this, I still remember my "little boy" as he grew into a (very tall) man.

I just love scrapbooking!! The fact that I could pull this photo out of my collection of photos and reminisce...ahhhhhh...

I just can't believe it took me 8 years to find the perfect paper and the perfect layout for this photo. Again, I entered this layout in a challenge at http://www.scrapbookdeals4u.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1827&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=0. I love the sketches they choose. I just found this site a few weeks ago and really like it.

The paper I used in this layout was from the LOADS of paper I received as the 3rd place winner of a layout contest at the SD Scrapbook Expo. The embellishments are actually from a Quick Quotes class I took while I was there. I really like the Quick Quotes products and paper selections. You can find them at http://shopquickquotes.com/.

Enjoy!

As always...Scrap frugally,

Lori McCausland, Frugal Scrapper

Frugally made "Acrylic" Album

Okay, fellow scrappers...I felt it was time to start adding some real Frugal Scrapping projects to the blog...

Projects that showcase how this "Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire" got her name...

For this "Acrylic" Album I used:

• the outside packaging for something I bought (not sure what it was anymore)
• The border from an old sticker sheet
• The backing from a legal size tablet
• Scrap paper from my stash
• Alphabet rubber stamps
• Eyelets from my stash
• A sizzix diecut (tag)

I cut the "acrylic" down to size 3 1/2" by 4". Then I cut the backing from the tablet (chipboard) for three pages. The page height is 4". I made each page a different width, one each 2 1/2", 3", 3 1/2" wide. I adhered a different patterned paper scrap to the front of each page and adhered white scrap paper to the back (for journaling/doodling). After cutting out tags, I folded them in half to make "tabs" for the pages. These were adhered with the eyelets. I used my stamps to stamp one word on each "tab", "ME" "AND" "YOU". (this could also be hand written with gel pens, etc)

The album was bound with the bind-it-all (I consider this a "frugal" purchase on a cost per use basis...I use this tool ALL THE TIME). If you don't have a bind-it-all, feel free to use a hole punch and o-rings or ribbon to bind your album.

I added strips from the border of an old sticker sheet to both sides of the front "acrylic" cover. You will see I also inked the front and back cover so you could see them better. If inking the covers, you will need to use an ink like Staz-On.

Voila! You have made a "frugal" mini album.

See photos of complete project here: http://s394.photobucket.com/albums/pp23/frugalscrapperphotos/Frugally%20made%20Acrylic%20Album/

I will try to add a new frugal tip, trick, technique or project to this blog at least twice a month.

If you complete this project (or one similar) feel free to share by posting a comment to this blog. Include any other frugal tips, tricks or techniques you used and would like to share. You may find YOUR PROJECT featured in a future post so make sure you add your contact info to your comment. You can also e-mail me directly at frugalscrapper1@aol.com.

Scrap Frugally,

Lori McCausland, Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire

I AM an EMOTIONAL SCRAPBOOKER:)

I've been thinking alot recently about how far I have traveled on this scrapbooking journey...all in all though, there are two things I've been true to since the beginning...my interest in frugal scrapbooking AND always making my photos the STAR on my pages.

This layout was one that I completed at least 5 years ago. After all this time, it's still one of my favorites...not because I used some really awesome techniques (although, I'm sure I thought they were awesome when I did them, lol), but because it is an overwhelming example of why I scrap...my focus will always be on the photos and the "story".

Yes, my name is Lori McCausland (aka Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire)...and I AM AN EMOTIONAL SCRAPBOOKER...

There, I said it:) There is nothing more amazing to me than capturing the "emotion" in the photo. Now I know that there are some AMAZING photographers out there...you know the one's that make it...really make it...I would just LOVE to scrapbook for them! There are definitely times when "a picture says a thousand words", but I still believe that just a few written words along side any photgraph (or sometimes even ONE word) will grab you and hold onto you...

Do you have that one special layout that just grabs you every time you see it, no matter how long ago you created it? I don't just mean that it grabs at your heart strings...it could be humorous, happy, sad, scary, etc. It's just the layout that you love as much today as the day you created it...not because of the paper or the embellishments or the techniques used...just because you were lucky enough to capture photos you could tell a story with...ahhhhhhhh, just one of the many joys of scrapbooking....

Remember, the photos really DO tell a story and should always be the STAR on your pages...the rest of the layout (paper, embellishments, etc) should always play a supporting role in the story line.

Shhhhhhhhh.....if we're really quiet, we may hear those photos "telling their story" now...

If you have a favorite layout you would like to share, please add a comment with a link to your layout.

Frugally yours,

Lori McCausland
Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire

They say "a picture says a thousand words"...remember to let your photos do the talking...

Use your Stash challenge

This layout was done for a challenge at http://www.useyourstash.blogspot.com/ where you are challenged two ways...one is to take on the challenge given, the second is to limit the challenge to using your stash!

For those of you who know me, you know this is RIGHT UP my alley, lol:)

I had this picture in my "stash" also for the last, well, almost 4 years since this baby will be 4 next month. I had just never scrapbooked it:)

The challenge issued was to use at least 3 DIFFERENT rub-ons in a layout. I think I used rub-ons from 6 different rub-on sheets (and probably from 6 different companies, lol).

It was fun to use my "stash" and I look forward to future challenges offered on the http://www.useyourstash.blogspot.com/ blog.

Scrap frugally,

Lori McCausland

Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire

A rose is just a rose...unless it's a Peach Rose!

I just LOVE this photo! I took it when I visited Solvang with a friend at the end of September.

It reminded me of a story I heard a long time ago about ONE of the differences between men and women...when the male audience was asked what color roses were a women's favorite, most of the men said "red". Then the female audience was asked the same question. Guess what the overwhelming response was (lol)...you guessed it...PEACH!

Based on this photo, are you surprised...I could look at this all day...ahhhhhhhh....

MDC Sketch Challenge - Halloween Layout

Well fellow scrappers...I've definitely caught the "bug". I am totally addicted to entering contests AND doing challenges:)

Not only do I LOVE the anticipation, but I LOVE seeing all of the entries to see how my fellow scrappers have interpreted the sketch. It's great to have a starting point (the sketch), as well as having the creative freedom to choose your own colors, photos, format, etc. I love the ability to "tweek" these amazing sketches to match my style.

I found this challenge on a great site I found called Mothers and Daughters Creations. A direct link to the challenge is http://mdcchallenges.blogspot.com/.

I had lots of fun using some of the Basic Grey papers from the "huge" stash I won at the SD Expo layout contest back in August. Of course, I just had to mix in a few papers from other lines, too. I just love mixing and matching papers from various manufacturers. Some of the embellies are from class kits I took at the expo and some are from the October TNT kit (Tuesday Tips ,n Techniques book club I lead at Ever After Scrapbooks in Vista, CA).

Enjoy:)

Lori McCausland, Frugal Scrapper

Whoo Hoo!!! Winner of Sketch Challenge:)

Well, TNT members...now you know where I got the sketch for our October challenge. I entered this layout in a challenge at http://scrapbookdeals4u.blogspot.com/. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I won the challenge. I'm so syked!!!!

I took some of this idea from the big boy album I made. I just loved the use of colors, and wanted to use it with softer papers in this layout. I also love to write "poems" when I journal which is what I also did with this layout.

Enjoy:)

Lori McCausland

An Ecstatic Frugal Scrapper!

Well, I've found a "new" love...metal sheets!!! This Halloween Album was made using 6 x 6 metal sheets for each cover. I love the fact that the same ideas can be used on them as with the acrylic albums:) These sheets are not see-thru, of course...but they ARE magnetic!!! Think of the possibilities!

A link to the full album is in my projects section. Just click on the Halloween Metal Mini Album and enjoy:)

These metal sheets can be purchased at http://everafterscrapbooks.com/ in various sizes. I believe they come in 6x6, 8x8, 8 1/2x11, 12x12...check with the store to be sure.

You can also purchase them on-line (for those of you not near EA), at http://kits2remember.com/. This site also sells acrylic and chipboard sheets.

Scrappingly yours,

Lori McCausland, Frugal Scrapper

"As you live the life you imagined, scrap the life you have lived."

Sweet Pea MOSD Acrylic Album Contest

This is an acrylic album I created for the MOSD Big Boy Guest Designer contest. It is a 6x12 album with acrylic covers and 6 chipboard pages.

I had so much fun making this ablum. I love working with acrylic AND chipboard, but this is the first album I have created using a vertical orientation.

I love the way I was able to place embellishments on the acrylic front cover that "framed" the photo on the first chipboard page. Also notice that "Sweet Pea" is on the first page, but shows through the acrylic cover.

I also added some swirl stamps around the album cover with staz on ink (love that stuff, too).

Included in the kit were these awesome "stick-on's" (see arrow on cover). I placed these stick-ons throughout the album and had fun using them, too.

Another exciting aspect for me was that I was able to decorate the album using paper I received in classes at the San Diego Scrapbook expo. I took 9 classes at the expo and was pleasantly surprised to see that many of the papers in each class had similar color schemes. I just love combining paper from various manufacturers and using them on one project.

I also love the way this album stands up. I have it on an end table in my living room. It's interesting to see how everyone that visits will pick this album to see what's inside. Of course, it's filled with pic's of my "Sweet Pea" (granddaughter).

The entire album can be viewed in my "Projects" section.

Enjoy....I know I did:)

Lori McCausland
A VERY Happy Frugal Scrapper

TNT DINE-O-MITE Recipe Layout Challenge

O.K fellow scrappers, get ready to have a BLAST!!! I have added a new link to my blog (see TNT DINE-O-MITE Recipes). I have created these recipes to share with anyone who is interested in "just the facts".

I do want to go over a few "administrative" things:

1. For this TNT DINE-O-MITE Recipe, I saved a Power Point file as a jpeg. While you may not be able to read the screen when opening the link, if you print the file, it is fine. If it doesn't work for you, Oops.....I promise to figure out a better way by next month...consider this a "test", so see how close I have come to my target:)
2. This challenge is FOR ALL! Print it, copy it, share it, toss it, do whatever you want. Just make sure you had a BLAST with it, lol.

TNT (tips 'n techniques) DINE-O-MITE Recipes are instructions designed to get your creative juices flowing.

Consider them the opposite of a sketch challenge where you have a sketch (and I DO LOVE a good sketch challenge) to follow, but no written instructions.

TNT DINE-O-MITE Recipes are layout instructions without the sketch. That's right scrappers...you get Recipe Rules, Ingredient list, and Mixing Instructions...the rest is up to you.

I plan to make a new recipe available each month. Once the month is over, I will post my "vision" of what I "saw" when I read the directions...in other words, I will post my version of how I followed the instructions and completed my DINE-O-MITE Recipe.

Please feel free to post your comments and links to your "vision" of the DINE-O-MITE Recipe!

Invite your friends to join in on the fun!!! Don't forget to have a BLAST!

Happy Scrappin'

Lori McCausland
The Frugal Scrapper

The Crystal Croppers

Once upon a time...a long, long time ago (o.k., it was around 2000)....in a land far away (o.k., it was in Pennsylvania) there was a Frugal Scrapper who "had a dream...".

Her dream was to start a scrapbooking business where everyone could learn the awesome art of scrapbooking without taking out a 2nd mortgage to fund this great hobby.

This dream started out small, she started by researching and purchasing scrapbooking tools on a "cost per use" basis. Soon after, she began to hold monthly crops at her home in her kitchen where friends, family and all could come to crop and share tools. Her husband was very supportive of the crops and was always available to help with setting up, getting lunch ready and tearing down after each crop ended.

It wasn't long before she started teaching "frugal scrapping" at craft stores, the YMCA and through the community education programs offered by the local school district.

Her next step was creating page kits, cards and other gift items and selling them at a local craft consignment store. She also sold her creations at local craft fairs.

Soon an addition was added to her home, part of which included a 28 ft. x 16 ft. scrapbook studio. This studio has windows all the way around on 3 sides which gave it alot of natural light. It also gave the feeling of being in the great outdoors. Each season brought a new refreshing view, perfect for daydreaming and kicking those creative juices into high gear.

Low and behold, though, after a few visits to the west coast, this frugal scrapper felt the calling of a move to sunny southern California. She packed up her belongings (of course the scrapbooking stuff was packed first) and she drove her Honda Accord across country to Carlsbad, California.

A group of her best scrapping buds formed the official "Crystal Croppers" after she moved to California, however the name of the "Crystal Croppers" was derived from the first place this awesome group of scrapbookers met...at 95 Crystal Dr.

To this day, the Frugal Scrapper makes every effort to scrapbook with her Pennsylvania cropping buddies whenever she visits PA. (and she still owns her home on Crystal Drive where it all began...)

Thank you Anne McCausland, Cindy Schwenk, Robin (Fenstermacher) Snyder, and Teresa Fenstermacher for being the best east coast scrappin' buddies a girl could have:)

Happy Scrappin' (and leave the light on, ya hear?)

Lori McCausland

Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire