Advent Ornaments

Make an advent calendar your Christmas tree ornaments! With Wendy's creative idea and Oscrap's paper packets, die cuts, and ribbons you could also have this hanging from your tree this year. I thought it would be fun to have an activity written on the back of each ornament that our family could do together like "baking cookies", "seeing the holiday lights" and "visiting Santa". So there you have it...countdown, tree deco and activity tracker all in one FUN project!

Freedom is not Free

I just got back from spending Memorial Day weekend in our Nation's Capitol. What a time to be in a city where the history of our country seems to seep from the sidewalks. It was so beautiful and so inspiring. We visited museums, memorials, monuments and ended the trip in Arlington National Cemetery. Throughout the entire weekend I couldn't help think back to a few years ago when I took this picture of this saying that is etched into the wall on a war memorial near the Lincoln Memorial. "Freedom is Not Free" I know I for one take the everyday freedom that we have for granted. I don't think about the ease, convenience, and fearless way we live our lives because men and women have given their lives so that we can live free. I am grateful for them. For their service. And for the families that are left behind. And I am grateful for the reminder to me this week to embrace life and the freedoms we enjoy because truly, it isn't Free.

flash back

I know some people update their pages. I've never done it, and probably never will--for a few reasons...First of all, it's just too much work! How in the world could I re-do layouts when I have so much that I haven't done even ONE layout for yet?!

Secondly, I feel like for me it's wrong...it would be like photoshopping my '90's hair-dos, or updating my outfits in my pictures.  

So, this page is a photo that I found in a stack of miscellaneous photos--I scrapped it as I would have originally, so it fits in with the pages from that time...It's the missing piece of our engagement story.

Contrast

I've been thinking about contrast lately. I am struck by things they are made beautiful when surrounded by something different from themselves. I took this picture while hiking last weekend. It is a piece of coral in a lava field. Pretty incredible. When in a pile of coral, this piece blends in and has no special significance, but in a lava field surround by darkness it becomes beautiful. I love finding things in real life, and especially in nature that inspire my own creation...I'm using this as an inspirational piece for my next layout.

Ode to my 'Clear the Closet'

Ode to my 'Clear the Closet" 

The box when arrived I opened with glee 

and into my Clear the Closet all my stuff went

 all my embellishments I could finally see!

who could have fortold what this all meant...

 my imagination has run wild!

 beautifully organized are ribbons and tags

layouts galore are coming to mind

 my excitment to embellish is a far cry from mild

before I would search for  buttons and brads

 and now with ease each of them I can find

Motherhood...

This weekend is dedicated to celebrating Motherhood...As I've stopped to reflect on the women and mothers who have played a part in my life, I couldn't help but think of my own motherhood. Being a mother has changed me in so many ways...it truly is the most amazing experience I have ever had...to suddenly love and care for another human being so immediately and so completely.

Some of the greatest things I have learned in life have come from women...some young, some old, some with children, some without. Being a woman empowers us with the ability to mother, and to me, that means the ability to LOVE. Whether it's your own mother, a woman who has mothered you, or yourself as a mother, take time to make a tribute to the beauty of motherhood.

Boys Day

Today is Japanese Boy's Day, so in honor of boys here's a card made with our "Oh Boy" product. Coming from a family of girls, and being the mother of two bOyS I have learned quickly about all things boy. Why they love dIrT, mud, StIcKs, balls, wHeEls, loud noises, etc is a mystery but I am convinced that (at least mine) came that way...there was no conditioning on my part to love playing in the dirt...I'm pretty much a germaphobic! I don't like bUgS, or wOrMs, or to touch animals...yep I'm horrible, but my bOyS love it all.

For Boys day my boys made Carp Kites and ran around the yard flying them. I made this card. :)
Happy Boys Day, and Happy Scrapping!

Products:
"Oh Boy!" Sampler
Olive Green Cardstock DS 134
Alphabet Stamp
Brown Ink
Hemp String
Button

Way-Out Layout Challenge

You know those "tags" you get on facebook?  Or the "surveys" that fill your email inbox?  The ones asking you all sorts of personal information people usually aren't allowed to ask, and most of which probably only your best friend,  and your mom really care about?  Well, last night I was lying in bed and it hit me...what a GREAT layout!  My Challenge:  take a random survey and turn it into a page all about you.  Use those strange questions like:

• 10 quirky things (or more if you're brave :)  )
• 25 random things
• pet peeves (things that really drive you crazy, or just kind of drive you crazy)
• 25 things about me that you probably already know...
• Kid Answers (this one is perfect if you have toddlers/young kids, you ask them a series of questions ie "what was Mommy before she was your Mommy?" and "how old is Mommy?"and record their answers exactly.  You could do this with a variety of topics...about Mommy, Grandma, Uncle, etc. or about their future..."Where will you live when you are all grown up? etc.)

I'm dying to see what you can come up with!

Just Wait...

Something fun coming VERY soon...I promise!

"Simon Says" Layout

So, here's my layout using these...I've been writing the cute things my three year old says on sticky notes and sticking them on my fridge. I decided it was time to put them somewhere where they will last...and this is what I came up with!

Coming Soon...

Just wanted to put a little 'teaser' out there for you all...keep watching for our new 

KiT oF tHe MoNtH

 for two page layout and Kit of the Month for Cards, they will be up and available soon...and you'll love them!

Also, please take a second to to fill the survey on the right side bar...let us know what you want to see on here! 

And the Winners Are...

Congratulations to the following four winners of our Clear the Closet Give-Away!!!

nielsen_amy@yahoo.com

 

jjs2000@netzero.net

 

shakpu@hotmail.com

 

maunimae@gmail.com

We are so excited for you!  We can't wait to hear how much fun you have with your new Clear the Closet, (so please let us know!) 

 Thank you everyone for the great response we got...we wish we could have drawn ALL of your names, but since we couldn't, just remember to check often for our next give-away.  

** Winners, please email your name and shipping address to: info@oscrap.com so we can get your prize shipped off to you!!!

teaser

Started playing with this (click to see) product on Saturday...I'm excited about my new layout...simple, but so fun!  Just waiting to print pictures so I can finish it off, then I'll share!

only four days left!!!

The countdown is on! 

 Only  four days left  to enter our 

Clear the Closet Give-Away!   

Don't pass up this opportunity to enter your name to win your very own "Clear the Closet"!

Wednesday, April 22nd will be the last day to enter, so don't wait!!!

***To enter remember to leave your name and email address on the give-away post below!***

Easter...

I love Easter.  I love the happy, hopeful, peaceful feelings that surround this beautiful spring holiday.  I love the secret that the flowers and trees hold, I love knowing that summer is right around the corner.  I love the smell of apple blossoms when you walk under the apple tree, and the smell of lilacs when you bury your nose in a bundle.  I love watching the crocus, and daffodils break through the ground, fighting the cold and daring it to go away.  I love spring, the hope, the peace, the happiness.   Although pastels don't fill my book and make it on every page, for Easter I delve into the pastels reveling in their soft and sweetness.   It is so hard to find just the right product to help recreate those happy moments, and I have to admit, these are my favorites...I love all the coordinating, fresh, "springy" colors of the paper and of course all the other accents and elements that go so perfectly, helping create a simple, clean, beautiful page (without a headache).  This year I think I'm going to try black and white for my Easter pictures, I want them to pop from the page and let the color build behind it...I'll let you know how it goes :)  

We Make It Fun!

Style. Fashion. Color. Pattern. Texture. All of these things come 'in', go 'out' and as we've seen in the last decade seem to come 'in' AGAIN!  So much has changed since O'Scrap! was born, but one thing hasn't changed at all, and that's our love and desire for simple, basic, adorable designs.  The colors and patterns that we first introduced in O' Scrap! have come full circle and once again they are the trend today.

With this Blog we want to keep YOU our 'loyal fans' up on what's 'in' with us.  Samples, updates, products, ideas, give-aways, contest, specials...you name it, it's coming your way.  So please take a minute to let us know your thoughts, return often, and remember with O'Scrap! WE MAKE IT FUN!

O'Scrap! Blog Giveaway

Welcome to our O'Scrap! Blog!

We'd like to kick it off in style by having a 

"Clear the Closet" give-away!

"Clear the Closet" is a fun way to organize all of your scrapbooking or crafting supplies   All five styles are double sided, so what you see on one side is repeated on the reverse side for double the storage. How cool is that? Clearly "see" your products for easy use!! 

To enter the "Clear the Closet" give-away, just leave a comment to this post with your name and email address anytime between Wednesday, April 9th and Monday, April 22nd.  

FOUR lucky winners will receive their own "Clear the Closet" organizer*.  Check back to see if you are one of the lucky winners which will be announced Tuesday, April 23rd, right here on our blog!  

*The "Clear the Closet" pictured is just one of five styles, winners will not necessarily receive the style shown above.