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This is a very special time of year, regardless of the holidays that you celebrate. While this can be a busy, hectic, and even stressful time, many use the holidays as a time for reflection, family and resolution. We hope that you are able to work in some well-deserved paper crafting as well! We have a little less than 2 months before our January crop. Until then, have a restful, rejuvenating holiday season filled with all the things that are really meaningful in your lives. See you soon!
PO Box 2041
Arlington, VA 22202
703-260-6105
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December Scrapbooking Tip
Layout sketches
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If you have been to one of our crops, you know that we offer a few different layout contests. One of them is the Sketch Contest. In November, we had a few people ask us about sketches, so I thought share more information with those that may not be as familiar with how to incorporate sketches into their layout designs. Sketches are black and white line drawings of what a layout could look like, to provide inspiration. They are handy to take the guesswork out of designing fabulously simple scrapbook layouts. We all hit a creative wall from time to time, staring at piles of photos, papers, stamps and embellishments, wondering how to bring it all together.
Here are some examples of some sketches:
   
Many sketches list the sizes of the photos they recommend, really taking the guess work out of it. There are sketches for different sizes of layouts, too, including 8.5x11 and cards.
By no means does your layout have to look exactly like the sketch. It is there as a guide to recommend using patterned paper vs. solid and embellishment sizes. Just because a sketch shows a floral pattern doesn't mean you have to use floral paper. Likewise, if the sketch shows stars as embellishments, you don't have to use stars, but it should give you some idea of scale. You can also turn sketches on their sides or upside down if that fits your preference or orientation of photos better. They are just to give you ideas.
I like to organize my sketches by the number of photos that I have to work with. If I have 7 photos, I pull out my inspiration folder for 7 photos and have ideas ready at my fingertips.
So, where to find these sketches? Luckily, the internet is chock full of them! Simply google "Scrapbook sketches" and boom! There are unlimited ideas. There are also quite a few books, some by Becky Higgins and others by Becky Fleck. Personally, my favorites are Page Maps by Becky Fleck. The books not only have great ideas, but also include portable cards you can take with you to crops instead of hauling the whole book. Additionally, Becky has a website: www.pagemaps.com where you can find thousands of sketches in the archives. She also sends out a monthly newsletter in an easy to print PDF.
I use sketches every time I scrapbook to jump start my creativity. Maybe you will use them next time too! |
April 2016 Registration
Opening soon!
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In September, we opened registration for our January event and it quickly sold out! We also opened up registration for those interested in joining us for all four events at a 10% discount. As a result, the April event is 50% sold out as well. Please note that registration for other dates will not open until 4 months before each date, so April general registration will open December 21.
The prices for the 2016 crops will remain the same! $250/weekend. There will however, be two changes. 1) At the crops previously you could register for all future events. For 2016, you will only be able to register for the next two. That means at the January crop, you will be able to register for the April crop (if there is availability) and the September crop. 2) There will be a strict enforcement of the deposit requirement (50% due within two weeks of registration) and you will need to click the box showing acceptance of that before registering. Thanks for understanding and we look forward to seeing you in 2016!
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November Crop
Thank you to those that attended!
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Over the past few years, it has become a tradition that the Grand Prize at the November Crop has been a FREE CROP for the following year. And who are we to mess with a good thing? We gave out Thank You gifts, door prizes, passport winners, contest prizes and FIVE $25 off gift certificates in honor of our 5th anniversary! About $3,500 worth of gifts!
Thank you to all who attended. We promise to make 2016 even bigger and better!
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Gift Certificates
Get the gift you really want!
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 We all know what you would really like this holiday season is a chance to get away, a chance to unwind and relax and enjoy your favorite hobby at a 2016 Crops Plus Crop. If your special someone is floundering in the gift giving department, why not help them out?
We'll make it easy on you and them! All you have to do is have them email cropsplus@ourcropsplus.com and we will make the arrangements! We will even send a wrapped gift, so you can be truly surprised. We're sure it would really make your holiday season and would be the best gift ever! Happy Holidays from Crops Plus!
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