#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--AUTHOR LOIS WINSTON ON RELEASE DAY FOR SCRAPBOOK OF MURDER

Today is the official release day for Scrapbook of Murder, the sixth book in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series. As a special gift to readers of this blog, I’m offering a limited time $2.00 discount on the paperback edition. Click here and enter the coupon code 9JTW6733 at checkout.

As the crafts editor for American Woman, a women’s magazine sold primarily at supermarket checkout aisles, Anastasia is tasked with showcasing easy-to-execute craft projects in each issue of the monthly magazine.

In Assault Witha Deadly Glue Gun, the first book in the series, I featured several different crafts. Beginning with Death By Killer Mop Doll, I chose to highlight one craft per book: dollmaking in Death By Killer Mop Doll, fabric yo-yo crafts in Revenge of the Crafty Corpse, decoupage in Decoupage Can Be Deadly, and knitted and crocheted baby blankets in AStitch To Die For. 

Before I became an author, I was a craft and needlecraft designer and editor for manufacturers and publishers. The craft industry has gone through some drastic changes over the last twenty years. Most consumers no longer have the time or willingness to spend days, weeks, or months working on a single craft project. They want something they can complete in a few hours at most. For that reason, when you walk into a craft store nowadays, you’ll find shrinking needlework sections with a huge percentage of the store devoted to scrapbooking supplies. Once there were cross stitch and needlepoint shops in just about every town in America. Now there are entire states without a single shop. Stores devoted entirely to scrapbooking have taken their place.

With that in mind, I chose scrapbooking as the craft to feature for Anastasia’s latest adventure. And in Scrapbook of Murder, the craft of scrapbooking plays a pivotal role in the book’s plot.

If you’re someone who has boxes of family photos stored on a shelf in a closet—or worse yet, in an attic or basement—Scrapbook of Murder will also give you good reason to protect and preserve those photos.

Scrapbook of Murder

An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 6

Crafts and murder don’t normally go hand-in-hand, but normal deserted craft editor Anastasia Pollack’s world nearly a year ago. Now, tripping over dead bodies seems to be the “new normal” for this reluctant amateur sleuth.

When the daughter of a murdered neighbor asks Anastasia to create a family scrapbook from old photographs and memorabilia discovered in a battered suitcase, she agrees—not only out of friendship but also from a sense of guilt over the older woman’s death. However, as Anastasia begins sorting through the contents of the suitcase, she discovers a letter revealing a fifty-year-old secret, one that unearths a long-buried scandal and unleashes a killer. Suddenly Anastasia is back in sleuthing mode as she races to prevent a suitcase full of trouble from leading to more deaths.

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USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry.

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ANASTASIA IS BACK!

Lois Winston, the author who is always getting me into trouble, has done it again. Scrapbook of Murder, the sixth book in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, is currently available for pre-order, and as usual, thanks to Lois, I’m up to my eyeballs in murder and mayhem.

Lois often gets her plot ideas from news stories she reads. Scrapbook of Murder is no exception. It was inspired by two recent headline-making events, a sex scandal at a prestigious New Hampshire prep school and a real-life ongoing mystery taking place in the town where the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries are set. She even blogged about it shortly after the story broke nationally. You can read about it here.

To whet your appetite, you can read the first chapter of Scrapbook of Murder here. 

Scrapbook of Murder will release on Oct. 2^nd and be available in both print and as an ebook. In celebration of my latest caper, I’ve created a one-of-a-kind fabric and button-craft photo album that Lois is giving away only through her newsletter and readers of this blog. If you’d like a chance to win, sign up for the newsletter, then send an email to her at lois@loiswinston.com. No need to send your mailing address. If you win, she'll email you for it. The winner will be chosen by random drawing on release day, Oct. 2^nd.

Scrapbook of Murder

An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 6

Crafts and murder don’t normally go hand-in-hand, but normal deserted craft editor Anastasia Pollack’s world nearly a year ago. Now, tripping over dead bodies seems to be the “new normal” for this reluctant amateur sleuth.

When the daughter of a murdered neighbor asks Anastasia to create a family scrapbook from old photographs and memorabilia discovered in a battered suitcase, she agrees—not only out of friendship but also from a sense of guilt over the older woman’s death. However, as Anastasia begins sorting through the contents of the suitcase, she discovers a letter revealing a fifty-year-old secret, one that unearths a long-buried scandal and unleashes a killer. Suddenly Anastasia is back in sleuthing mode as she races to prevent a suitcase full of trouble from leading to more deaths.

Pre-order at Amazon and Kobo. 

On sale everywhere Oct. 2^nd.

#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--#SCRAPBOOKING WITH AUTHOR GEOFFREY MEHL'S MANDY OWENS

Geoffrey Mehl is a former journalist, graphic designer, editor, and marketing and public relations executive. An environmental advocate and avid gardener, he is also the author of three best-selling landscaping books. Today Mandy Owens, the star of one of his novels joins us to talk about the challenges of scrapbooking when you’re a reporter working undercover with a spy. Learn more about Geoffrey (and Mandy) and his books at his website. 

The Problem with Souvenirs

As we made our way to our diner booth, I winced whenever someone asked if I’d brought souvenirs or mementos. I’m sure Tommy was pretending to ignore it, but that placid expression gave him away.

When seated, I put the envelope on the table. No reaction. Fiddled with it. Nope. Again. Nothing. He was good.

“Want to know what’s in it?”

“In what?” he asked while Frannie poured coffee.

“The envelope.”

“That one? No.”

He was getting under my skin and into my head. “Why not?”

Tommy sipped coffee. “Not my envelope.”

I slumped. “So you’re going to pretend you don’t care, just to prod me into telling you it’s a collection of mementos and souvenirs.”

Oops. Thankfully, he didn’t gloat. “The scrapbooking thing, at Iverson’s. Lot of talk about that.”

Which was true. Two weeks ago, construction work along Railroad Avenue, two blocks south of the Puffin Diner, turned up a metal box containing a link to the past of Jacks Ford: a scrapbook from 1887 with photos, maps, letters, memorabilia. What made it precious was that in 1888, the locomotive of a logging railroad that ran down the center of the street exploded. The resulting fire burned the entire town to the ground. The bankrupt logging company vanished.

Among the images in the miraculously saved box was one of the infamous locomotive.

Muriel Iverson, who owns Iverson’s Arts and Crafts, ensured the scrapbook got to eager hands of the Jacks Ford Historical Society and everyone in town came to see it. A clever businesswoman, Muriel fanned scrapbooking buzz and organized a class.

Tommy and 98 percent of the men in town were indifferent. “So, you’re joining the class?”

Waffle, egg and bacon platters arrived. “Yes. You said yourself that we’re supposed to blend in, be a nice, normal, ordinary couple. While you’re at Ferguson’s Hardware ogling all the noisy toys with starter cords, I’ll do my part as a good citizen.”

He drowned a waffle in syrup. “Shrewd. You brought stuff from when you were a kid?”

“Gosh, no. Muriel specified recent. I’ve got things from some of our adventures.”

A slice of bacon went into his mouth like paper into a shredder. I ignored ice forming on my eggs and reached into the envelope just as he cocked an eyebrow to accompany a “such-as.”

“Here’s those forged credentials from Karl Felchin that we used in that thing with the Federal Reserve. And a scrap from that dress ruined by rain in Argentina. This was fun — the casino chips with the transmitters.”

“The Las Vegas job?”

“No, the cruise ship off the Greek coast.”

“Of course.”

“Here’s one of those cute little tranquilizer darts you and Sergei used to attack the gunrunners in Kenya...”

He wordlessly ate.

I studied the items next to my breakfast. “This isn’t going to work, is it?”

A faint smile suggested the concept had flaws. “If you’d like, we could call Lucy and have her rush us some assorted mementos. Snapshots, theater ticket stubs, some foreign currency, a couple of travel brochures. Probably only take a half hour or so.”

I carved off a hunk of waffle to crush the egg yolk into an oozing mass of disappointment. “I feel like I’m walking into one of those big box stores. Hi, I’m scrapbooking today and I need ten dollars worth of assorted souvenirs to prove I have a life.”

He chuckled in a patient way. “Or you go with what you have, probably raise some eyebrows. Sorry I can’t add to your collection.”

The bacon still had crunch to it, and the blend of syrup and egg yolk on the waffle was palatable. “Back in your espionage days — before you were Robin Hood — you never kept mementos? All the stuff at the cabin is just window dressing?”

Tommy gestured to Frannie for coffee. “No, I didn’t, and yes, it is.”

Frannie arrived with the pot. “Going to Muriel’s class, are you?”

My smile must have been weak. “Not entirely sure.”

Like us, Frannie has a past and was always understanding. She said, “I’ve got some assorted junk if you need materials.”

I slipped my collection into the envelope. “That would be sweet, thank you.”

Frannie promised to return soon. I drained two packets of creamer into the coffee and confronted Tommy’s mischievous grin. “No souvenirs? Ever?”

“No. We never called them souvenirs. We called them evidence.”

Nine Lives

When reporter Mandy Owens witnesses the bizarre murder of a pathetic conspiracy freak, she’s snared in a deadly conspiracy to plug the leak of an incredibly dangerous government document. But the powerful forces in the dark world of finance have tangled with the wrong person. She’s got connections. Reunited with spy-turned-adventurer Tommy Kane and a shadow world of talented misfits, the trail leads through a string of murders to a group of financiers and government officials. But there’s a problem: the mysterious leaked file is a ticking bomb that could destroy the international banking system within minutes and must be defused with a billion-dollar wager, all in.

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#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--GUEST AUTHOR AND CRAFTER TR FISCHER

Author TR Fischer grew up in Colorado. After moving to California and sampling life in San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles, she and her husband moved back to the Denver area. That didn’t satisfy, so the city-dwellers bought some land and took up raising buffalo. Each day is an adventure, on and off the page. Learn more about TR and her books at her website.

When my kids were young, I loved creative projects. Every year at Christmas, I bought sweatshirts, ironed on holiday designs and painted them in with fabric paint. And on every special occasion, I kept a camera nearby so I could capture the things I didn’t want to forget. As the kids got older, we had accumulated boxes of photographs.

I attended a party where someone was selling scrapbooking supplies. I didn’t spend much that day but I came home with a plan. I would conquer those boxed photos and create beautiful scrapbooks for my kids. I would document their every achievement in annals worthy of whatever prize one gets for scrapbook artistry.  Wait! Why not get each of them a book of their own and we could do it together. Yes! It would be great fun. I bought paper and pages and all manner of things.

After schlepping myriad supplies from whatever closet I’d stored them in, setting each child up at the dining room table with photos I’d picked out just for them, I waited for the blissful wonderment to descend. I’d imagined us chatting and laughing about the fond memories while we documented them.

Cut to reality:

I flitted from one child to the next, helping them choose a theme, cutting the patterned paper they chose into every shape imaginable. No one was happy with the results and at the end of the session, I felt stressed and exhausted. Surely it would go better the next time. Nope.

I’m not the kind of person who volunteers for painful experiences I can get out of, so I kept taking pictures but gave up on the dream. Maybe one day I would find time to do it myself.

A few years ago, I came to terms with the failure and got over it. I scanned all the photos. Then I stared into the closet filled with paper and stamps. I couldn’t bring myself to throw it all away and knew I’d get nothing if I tried to sell it. I still loved craft projects. I realized nearly everything could be repurposed making greeting cards.

I’m no pro, and I prefer simple designs. Above are several cards I made a few weeks ago. I hope it inspires you to take another look at what you have sitting around and seeing if you can find another purpose for it, something that brings you some joy or pleasure. Most of the time when I send people a handmade card, I get some sort of thank you—a text, a Facebook message or phone call.  They’re touched that I took the time to create something for them.

If you want to try your hand at greeting cards, here are a few things you’ll need to get started:

·   Aileen’s Original Tacky Glue—there are plenty of options, but this is my favorite.

·   Pre-made cards or cardstock you can trim to size. I buy these from craft stores when they’re marked down. Current also sells colored envelopes that are great for birthday cards.

·   Stamps and stamp pads. There are millions to choose from and they’re always on sale somewhere.

·   A good paper cutter with an arm that extends for measuring the paper. I have two—one of which is always in stock at my local Tuesday Morning for $6.99. When the blade gets dull, I just replace the whole cutter.

·   Embellishments of your choosing.

A Few Helpful Tips:

·   I usually choose a theme first and make a few cards that are similar to each other.

·   Cut anything that needs to be cut and lay out your design. Then reverse them and glue them onto the card in the right order.

·   Don’t worry if it’s not perfect. People will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Feel free to reply with any questions and I’ll respond as soon as I can. I have a greeting card board on Pinterest, too. I’d love to connect with you!

Happy crafting!

A Man Around The House

A mountain of problems and painful memories have Tara Jones in their grip. The moment she graduates, she plans to escape her small town and make a fresh start. On the way to her nursing final, Tara watches in horror as a car crashes in front of her. The driver is the same man who bribed her for a haircut a few days before. The one she can’t stop thinking about.

Bo Michaels is not looking for female entanglements. He’s too busy chasing a real estate deal he believes will catapult his career. After totaling his car, Bo wakes up in the hospital with a metal contraption holding his leg together. No walking, no weight bearing, no nothing—for six weeks. Estranged from his family and having no close friends, Bo turns to Tara for help.

Tara reluctantly agrees to care for Bo in her home. The money she’ll make might enable her to pay off a debt to a frightening man who won’t leave her alone. Neither the nurse nor her patient anticipates the lightning that strikes their hearts. Just as a fragile bond develops between them, the town and shadows from the past threaten to destroy it.

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#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--GUEST AUTHOR AND SCRAPBOOKER NINA MANSFIELD

Nina Mansfield’s debut young adult mystery novel, Swimming Alone, was published this year. Her short mystery fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Mysterical-E. She’s also a published and internationally produced playwright.Learn more about Nina ad her work at her website.

My Scrapbooking Evolution

Ten years ago I started to take my writing seriously. I also started to take my scrapbooking seriously.

It was my first summer off from teaching. I had two goals: finish the young adult mystery novel I had started writing and get my photographs in order.

I had dabbled with creating scrapbooks ever since my high school days. Mainly they were glorified picture albums of my ballet recitals and travels with a few mementoes sprinkled in and some handwritten captions. Nothing fancy, and looking back at them, they were rather sloppy and unimaginative.

I’m a writer; I wanted my pictures to tell a story.

I visited a local craft store, picked out just the right album, a ream of colorful scrapbooking paper, some stickers and stamps, and got started.

Scrapbooking was the perfect complement to my writing. There were only so many words that my writing brain could produce in a day. Arranging pictures on a page freed my mind to reflect on what needed to get written next. There were red herrings that needed planting and clues that needed placing. Solutions to my story would pop into my mind as my hands worked to create the perfect scrapbook page.

But just like the early draft of a novel, those first scrapbooks were rough. Sometimes I tried too hard, and the pages were cluttered. Other times, I would lay out a page and glue everything into place only to think of a better layout after it was too late. They’ve been stored away, stories to be rediscovered at some future date.

I did finish writing my novel that summer. Luckily, unlike the scrapbooks I made, the words were not glued to the page. I would end up doing quite a few major revisions before my novel was ready to send out into the world.

Eventually, I would move on to other writing projects and other scrapbooks.

And like my writing, my scrapbooks would evolve. I would streamline and simplify. I would learn to try sample layouts before gluing anything down. I would remember to collect scraps and souvenirs during my travels that would help me to make the perfect scrapbook page.

And then I entered the digital age.

It was last summer. I had just given birth to my daughter. I had also fallen woefully behind again on my scrapbooking and I was determined to remedy the situation while my newborn baby slept. I had two scrapbooks that I desperately wanted to complete from vacations I had taken the previous year with my husband: a trip to Costa Rica and a trip to Peru.

I was able to complete my Costa Rica scrapbook, but with difficulty. There were so many pictures and an infant that demanded constant attention. I had more than twice as many pictures from my Peru trip. There was no way I’d be able to cut and arrange and glue all of them while simultaneously caring for my child.

I decided to create a photo book on one of those online photo sites. I had been avoiding doing this. To me, they seemed less creative. All those scraps and souvenirs I’d collected during my travels would go to waste. But I knew if I didn’t try, those memories might forever stay locked in my computer.

With my child nursing at my breast, I was able to get started. I chose to use the site from the Costco Photo Center, mainly because I am a member, and had already uploaded my photos to the site for printing.

I could have done things the easy way: pushed a button and the site would have created a book for me. But that method would not have helped me to tell the story I wanted to tell. Plus, I had too many photographs for this to be an option. Instead, I chose custom layouts for each page. I selected the background pattern. I could rearrange the prefab layouts to my liking. I ended up arranging over 700 photographs, one by one.

I typed out my captions, and reorganized the pages and photos when it became necessary. This time, there was no glue holding me back. I had so many photographs that I found it necessary to divide them up into two albums.

Within a few weeks, I was done. The results were spectacular.

One of these days, I will return to creating traditional scrapbooks. But for now, I am putting away the scissors and glue. For now, the digital age suits me well.

Swimming Alone

The Sea Side Strangler is on the loose in Beach Point, where fifteen-year-old Cathy Banks is spending the summer with her aunt (who happens to be mystery writer Roberta McCabe.)  Although thrilled to be away from her psychotic, divorcing parents, with no cell phone or internet access, Cathy is positive that her summer is going to be wretched. Just when she begins to make friends, and even finds a crush to drool over, her new friend Lauren vanishes. When a body surfaces in Beach Point Bay, Cathy is forced to face the question: has the Sea Side Strangler struck again? 

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#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--PHOTO JAR

Let’s think outside the box—or in this case, the picture frame. There are many ways to display family photos. We don’t always have to place them in frames.

The next time you open a jar of applesauce, mushrooms, or even baby food, save the jar and lid. Soak the jar to remove the label. (You might have to use a product such as Goo Gone to remove any glue that remains on the glass.)

Measure the depth and circumference of the jar. You’ll need a photo that’s the height of the jar, minus the screw lid area and the width of the circumference. Scan the photo into your computer if you need to change the dimensions. Don’t worry if the width is too short. It’s the height that matters. You can compensate for the width by centering it on the printing paper or mounting it on a separate piece of paper after printing.

Place the photo upside-down in the jar. Screw on the lid. Using gem glue, glue a scrap of ribbon around the outer edge of the lid.

#DECORATING WITH JEANIE--OTHER USES FOR DENTAL FLOSS

photo by Siilfehler

Dentists tell us we should floss daily. But did you know that dental floss has uses beyond maintaining dental hygiene? How about when it comes to decorating? You’re laughing? Keep reading.

Years ago we all kept our family photos in those photo albums with the sticky pages and clear plastic covers. We eventually learned that the materials used in those albums were discoloring and destroying our photos. If you’re like me, you began replacing all those photo albums with ones that contained archival quality papers and adhesive tapes that didn’t contain acids.

If you haven’t transferred your photos yet or are in the process of doing so, you may have found that sometimes the photos are extremely hard to remove from those albums. Pull too hard, and you risk tearing the photo. Solution: dental floss! To separate stuck-on photos from the pages of old albums, gently saw a piece of dental floss back and forth between the photo and the page. This also works well for photos that have become stuck to the glass of a picture frame.

A good quality dental floss is also the perfect go-to for hanging lightweight frames on the wall. Wire can scratch your walls; dental floss won’t. Tip: use a double or triple strand of floss for added strength.

#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--GUEST CRAFTER AND AUTHOR JOANNA CAMPBELL SLAN

Anastasia's semi-organized craft closet

Did you make a New Year’s resolution to organize your craft supplies? Today national bestselling and award-winning author Joanna Campbell Slan has some tips to help you fulfill that resolution. Joanna recently released Handmade, Holiday, Homicide—Book #10 in the mystery series featuring ace scrapbooker Kiki Lowenstein. She also writes the Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series, featuring characters who recycle, upcycle, and repurpose items to turn trash into treasure. Learn more about Joanna and her books at her website. 

Organizing Your Stash

 “If you can’t find it, you might as well not own it,” says Kiki Lowenstein, the fictional protagonist of my Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series.

She’s right. As a crafter, I have tons and tons of supplies. When I lived in a big house, they were well-organized. However, since then I’ve downsized several times—and keeping stuff organized is a challenge. It is so irritating to search high and low for that perfect craft product that I know I have…somewhere. But it’s even worse when I buy craft supplies only to discover I’ve duplicated my stash!

Combing the Internet, I’ve come up with these great organizing tips. There’s nothing new here, but they are all ideas I tend to overlook when I’m in a hurry. I plan to use these in the order I’ve listed them, and I’d love to hear from you! What are you doing that works and what doesn’t?

Start by Seeing What You Have

Drag everything out. Choose a day when you won’t have distractions or interruptions. Spread things out, so you can really see what you’ve got.

Dump the packaging. Packaging is designed to protect the product and to take up a lot of room on a shelf. You’ll save valuable space by getting rid of all that excess. Plus, you’ll discover whether those ink pads are dry, the glue container is empty, and so on. (Tip: I wind ribbons around flat pieces of cardstock. Saves tons of space because they can be stacked on their side in a plastic file container!)

Sort by type of object. For example, put all the papers in one place, tools in another. Make the categories as broad as you can initially.

Toss the trash. Let’s face it, most of us crafters can turn straw into gold, but along the way we accumulate … well … garbage. Stuff that’s ruined and can’t be saved. Send it to the recycling or trash bin.

Give away duplicates. You really don’t need SIX pairs of scissors, do you? (I thought not.)

Set aside what you don’t want, don’t need, and realistically won’t use. Be ruthless! Corral all this stuff in a box that you can carry so it’s easy to donate to your locate schools or community center. (Tip: Why not organize a swap with other crafters?)

Store with an Eye to Functionality

Buy a labeler if you don’t own one. It’s the BEST investment you can make! I like the Dymo LetraTag series.

Measure twice. Too often we run out and buy containers, only to discover they won’t fit, won’t stack, and won’t hold what we need to store. Instead, take careful measurements, both of your space and your items.

Buy containers that match, in multiples. If you store things in matching containers, they’ll always look neat. (Tips: Square containers are more useful than round, as are containers with straight sides versus sides that curve under. Try stacking your new containers. Also, try prying off the lids. If they come off too easily or not easily enough, re-think them.)

Sort and label. Do the labels right away! It will save time in the long run. Label the front and the top of each container.

Group like items, separating small from large. I keep all my small bits of paper in plastic storage bags by color. When I need a small piece, that’s where I go first, rather than cutting into a big piece of paper. I also keep all my pieces of wood in one big plastic bin. Inside that bin, I use plastic baggies to keep the small pieces together.

Store according to use. If you rarely use something, don’t give it prime real estate. Pack it away in your garage or up in the attic.

Create a site map. Make a list of where you’ve tucked items that you use infrequently. List also those items that are grouped with other supplies. For example, you might want to put your chalks in with your colored pencils, but two labels would be confusing. So list your chalks on the site map.

Sure, it takes time to organize your crafts. But that time will pay you dividends by saving you time, money, and frustration!

Handmade, Holiday, Homicide,

a Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mystery

Super-crafter Kiki Lowenstein is cramming as much into the ho-ho-holiday season as she can. But Kiki’s ambitious plans come to a crashing halt when her student, Eudora Field, drops dead at the start of one of Kiki’s community center classes. An overeager security guard is convinced that Eudora didn’t make her transition without help. Now it’s up to Kiki to determine who was nice, and who was very, very naughty, indeed.

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CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--EASTER CARDS

Have you noticed the price of greeting cards lately? It’s next to impossible to buy a nice one for under four or five dollars. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather put that money toward a gift. But people do expect cards on holidays and are disappointed when they don’t receive them. So this year, why not make your Easter cards? I made the one above in less than ten minutes using materials I had in my crafts closet and downloads of computer images.

The first thing you’ll need is card stock. You can buy a package of pre-folded blank greeting cards with envelopes at any office supply store, or just use scraps of index stock you have left over from other paper craft projects. Cut the stock the length of whatever envelope you have on hand x twice the height. Score down the middle and fold in half.

Cut one or two sheets of scrapbook paper to layer on top of the front of the card. I cut the pink polkadot sheet 1/2” smaller than the card and the blue sheet 1/2” smaller than the pink sheet. Using paper glue, glue the layers on the card.

You can find Easter image clip art on the Internet. I Googled “antique Easter card images” and found many to choose from. Print your image to fit the card. I decided to glue mine on at an angle for a little bit more interest.

Finish your card by adding ribbons, lace, gems, or buttons as embellishments.

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--GUEST AUTHOR AND SCRAPBOOKER CHRISTINA FREEBURN

Today we have a guest crafter joining us, Christine Freeburn. Christine’s The Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery series brings together her love of mysteries, scrapbooking, and West Virginia. When not writing or reading, she can be found in her scrapbook room or at a crop. Learn more about Christina and her books at her website and blog. – AP

Scraplifting 101

Like with most creative pursuits, there are times where nothing looks right. Writers have writer’s block. Scrapbookers get scrapbooking block, and that’s where scraplifting comes in. For those who aren’t familiar with the term, scraplifting is when scrapbookers copy a layout design they’ve seen in a magazine or in an online gallery when they want to create but nothing on a page looks right. Scrapbookers can also be inspired by an album cover, book cover, or advertisement they’ve seen.

Today, I’m scraplifting the lovely cover of Designed to Death, the second book in my Faith Hunter Scrap This Mysteries Series. I love the color combination and the dimension the stacked embellishment gives the “layout.” (see cover above.)

I stuck to the same color palette of the cover—blues, greens, yellow—and mixed in some red since the topic is the Disney Fantasy ship (doesn’t say Disney without some red.) For the torn photo element, I used two photos of the ship and put them at an angle with the ends touching to give the same effect.

photo border

For the embellishment cluster, I used one premade embellishment, separating it into three parts so the page had a cohesive look. I had a lot of Disney themed stuff, but the brighter colors didn’t work and I wanted more of a “travel” theme for the page. I removed the twine string from the tag and cut off the phrase element.

The main piece of the tag became the sun overlapping the photograph part from my inspiration design. I tucked the base of the tag behind the periwinkle border and overlapped the circle portion so a portion rested on the yellow photo mat.

The saying was used in place of a title at the top of the page. The twine became the yellow circle border used on my inspiration piece. I loved how one embellishment could fill the role of three separate ones from the scraplift.

embellishment

in pieces

on page

To finish off the page, I used washi tape (my “Disney red” addition) to mimic the border of the bottom page. Instead of a wave embellishment, I used a die cut I made with Pack Your Bag cartridge for the Cricut.

And here is my completed layout, the design scraplifted from the cover of Designed to Death.

Designed to Death

Faith Hunter planned the perfect event at her grandmother’s shop, Scrap This, featuring local scrapbooker and Life Artist Diva, Belinda Watson. But the extravaganza goes up in a cloud of glitter when Belinda and her cousin, Darlene, brawl over scraplifted designs. Faith attempts to break it up but only makes things worse. Then when Belinda turns up dead behind the Scrap This store, Faith’s involvement goes viral.

As accusations against her turn vicious, Faith sets out to prove her nemesis Darlene committed the crime, only to realize they are both innocent. Now they must team up or the murderer’s plan will come together seamlessly with the frenemies sharing a jail cell—or worse, a funeral.

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