Introducing Traditions by Samantha Walker for Carta Bella!

Introducing "Traditions" by Samantha Walker 

for

Family is the heart of memory keeping.  Document your favorite memories with the sophisticated styling of the "Traditions" collection.  Rich colors and refined patterns combine in this beautiful, family oriented compilation of papers and stickers.  Traditional elements with a vintage twist make this collection perfect for your most treasured moments!

This collection includes the following:

9 - Double-sided, heavy weight, textured patterned papers.

3 - Double-sided, heavy weight, textured solid papers.

1 - 12" x 12" Element Sticker Sheet

1 - 12" x 12" Alphabet Sticker Sheet

1 - 12" x 12" Collection Kit

1 - 6" x 6" Paper Pad

 Look for the new "Traditions" collection in your stores soon!

A to Z Collection! Sneak Peeks!

Are you ready for some sneak peeks???  I sure am!!!  Truthfully...I'm about to burst because I'm so excited about this Summer's CHA releases!  

The first collection I'm going to share with you is called A to Z, and will be available through Creative Imaginations. This collection is comprised of 8 double sided cardstocks with themed fronts and coordinating pattern backsides. There are also three 12X12 cardstock sticker sheets that include borders, alphabets, tags, tabs, and journaling spots. There is also one 5X12 sticker sheet with fun elements from the themed papers. 

I tried to create a retro feel with a fresh twist that could span many grades for use with all of your school aged kids. You will note that both a cursive and a Roman letters alphabet paper are included, flashcards, and graph paper...the collection will go far for a school album for your entire family--hitting on themes that transcend every grade. My palette was inspired by my first crayon box...with a set of 8 bright, bold and clear colors--one for every color of the rainbow. 

In addition to this collection, I've got lots of coordinating products through three popular manufacturers.  If you are going to the show, look for coordinates through Creative Imaginations, Spellbinders, and Unity Stamps...and online you'll find coordinating digital die cuts through the Silhouette Machine store. In the Silhouette store, you will find each of my illustrated alphabet letter representations available as cutting files, as well as the schoolhouse, the trees and more!  At this time, these files can only be purchased used by crafters using the Silhouette Machine.

12X12 Sticker Sheets:

Borders

 Alphabet and Journaling Spots

Tags and Frames

5X12 Sticker Sheet:

Watch tomorrow for a sneak peek at some of my Summer Release stamp sets with Unity Stamp Company!

Creative Team Member Spotlight: Nancy Doren!

I'm thrilled to share with you the designs of Nancy Doren!  Nancy is a seasoned scrapbooker, you may have seen her layouts in FW book publications, Scrapbook Trends, or Creating Keepsakes just to name a few.  She has a wonderful blog, and if you haven't started following Nancy yet, today is the day to start.  She is always creating and sharing what she does in such a fun fashion.  You will grow to love her just as much as I have.

I asked Nancy to introduce herself by answering a few questions...here is what she had to say:

Q.  What is your favorite Technique?  

A. Machine stitching! I can hardly do a project without it!

Q.  Where did you learn to design? 

A. I've always been interested in art and design, and I learned a lot in college art courses like Art History and Principles of Design. Other than that, I'm just self-taught by looking at the work of designers I love.

Q.  What influences your design choices? 

A. Women's fashion greatly influences my choices. I'm always inspired by new trends, prints, and textures in fashion magazines.

Q.  Who are your artsy inspirations? 

A. My favorite artist is Alphonse Mucha, so I try to put a little bit of Art Noveau and organic lines in all my projects. As far as other artists, I really admire Loretta Grayson, Sylvia Ji, and Tara McPherson.

Q.  What do you enjoy doing besides crafting? 

A. I love to watch sci-fi with my hubby, play games with family and friends, and I love to read.

Here Nancy used papers from Samantha Walker Ooh La La collection for Creative Imaginations. She also used some of my dies from the Silhouette store, as well as some of my black and white houndstooth fabric from Alpine Fabrics. I love the personality captured in this layout...Nancy has tons!

 To create this card Nancy used paper from Samantha Walker Blossom Collection for Creative Imaginations, as well as a print and cut butterfly digital die from my designs in the Silhouette store. I love those textured beads on this layout...and that stitching is a fantastic touch!

 Don't you love these CUTE cards!  I do!  Nancy showcased some Samantha Walker dies from the Silhouette store...the cherries on the left and my birdcage design on the right.  I love that she has a butterfly in the cage ready to fly out at any moment...perfect for a congratulatory card.

 This layout has such a fun grouping on the right.  Love all the texture of buttons and flowers.  Nancy used paper and stickers from Samantha Walker Blossom collection for Creative Imaginations.

Another wonderful card by Nancy! Paper and stickers from Samantha Walker Blossom Collection for Creative Imaginations.

 My favorite thing about this layout...the unexpected use of hot orange-y red to add a little excitement to the color scheme.  Nancy used fabric from Samantha Walker Enchanted Garden collection for Riley Blake Designs.

 Another two sweet cards...Nancy used paper and stickers from the Samantha Walker Heidi collection for Creative Imaginations.

 Who doesn't just love the retro look of pink and hot orange with a touch of brown...such of fun color combo!  Nancy used several birdhouse digital dies from the Silhouette store, she also used Creative Imaginations Foundations cardstock, and fabric from the Samantha Walker Enchanted Garden Collection for Riley Blake.

Sonic can make any kids day a happy YUMMY day...check out that grin!  Nancy used paper and stickers from the Samantha Walker Heidi and Blossom collections for Creative Imaginations.

Thanks for popping in on Nancy's Creative Team spotlight. I hope you enjoyed getting to know her better as I have. I hope you will frequent her blog often.

Introducing creative team member Eva Dobilas!

Last month I selected a team of 10 fabulous crafters to work with my product over the next year.  I selected them because each of them had a unique "something special" about the way they design.  Some love bright and bold...some like a simple graphics approach, some love to make cards, some paper mache, and others are true scrapbookers at heart.  I have had the joy of watching them post projects on my Facebook page that feature the use of my products.  I would love to introduce you more in-depth to each of them over the next week.  


Today, I am starting with Eva Dobilas.  


Let me introduce you to Eva.  She is a delightful person to know...always up-beat and positive and it's catchy...not only in her words, but also in her craft.  I discovered her beautiful work about a year ago, when she did a lovely project with my birdhouse Silhouette die. I loved how she added so much life to this simple die design...and particularly loved the stamps she was using.  To make a long story short...she was the one who introduced me to Unity Stamp Company...and the rest...is history.  I am grateful for that introduction as I have been having so much fun designing stamps for Unity! Eva loves to use bright colors, and pays attention to detail.  Here are some of the things she has been busy making over the last 6 weeks...I bet you she crafts every day...because this is just a sampling of many projects she has created in the last little bit.  She has a true love for design.

To make this gorgeous fall card, Eva used one of my digital cutting files from the Silhouette digital download store called:  2_layer_swirly_leaf_C01028_1921010/19/2010.  I love her choice of fresh gingham ribbon to make this card POP! 

Eva used stamps from the Ippity Fall for You set  (this is Unity Stamp Co. sister company)  to create this festive fall pumpkin. The Thanksgiving sticker is from my Harvest Collection for Creative Imaginations and the label that holds the cute arrangement of  stamps at the top, is one of my digital dies: 1_label_frame_tag_C00885_1921008/09/2010, available from Silhouette designs.  Here adorable project was created with papers from my Harvest paper line by Creative Imaginations.  I love Eva's detail in her rolled flower at the top of her pumpkin!  

For this lovely card, Eva used my fern_artisan_C00375_1921012/17/2009 Silhouette cut set and my Encompassed Grace stamps from Unity. Eva started out with white paper, but she inked it up with Ranger Distress inks--very cute! Love it, Eva!

This cute pair of dimensional projects by Eva, make me smile! She made this adorable little Halloween House with my birdhouse die from Silhouette, papers from Basic Grey (a company I LOVE--they are good people) and stamps from Ippity and Unity stamps.  Eva's second project uses another one of my dies from Silhouette called, spider_web_treat_bag_C017107/07/2009 , which you can fill with candy for your favorite little trick or treater.  She also used Copic markers, which Eva is really good at...as she demonstrates on the witch in this project. The bats are also some of my digital Silhouette cuts, bat_circle_set_C01015_1921010/18/2010.  I think these projects are precious!

Eva created this card base with my Silhouette die: jack_o_lantern_card_C20090904130829_19210

09/04/2009 .  Her card turned out so fun with all of her extra layers and embellishments, including stamps from Ippity.  I sure love it! 

Eva used my Ooh La la paper collection from Creative Imaginations to complete this cute card.  My favorite thing about this card is her choice to add an unexpected pop of blue!  Clever way to add spark!

I have to Credit Eva for inspiring me to design this snow globe die for Silhouette (christmas_snow_globe_C01068_19210)  She asked if I could do it for a project she had in mind...I was happy to oblige...as I knew Eva would do fabulous things with it! I added the scalloped border around the snow globe knowing this kind of motif is something Eva already loves to do with her cards.

Eva used My Wanna Be a Cowboy papers from Creative Imaginations and all the shapes were cut with the following Silhouette digital cutting files:  

10_piece_rectangle_stamp_set_2_C01052_19210

nesting_artisan_frames__C20090810001943_19210 08/10/2009

basket_butterfly_2_C00588_19210 03/22/2010

Here is another card by Eva.  For this card she used papers from my Harvest collection for Creative Imaginations, and coordinating stamps from my Fall Family Memories set for Unity Stamp Co.  Eva also used my artisans_nesting_rectangular_C00685_19210 05/04/2010 available as a digital download on the Silhouette die cut machine site.

Make sure to check out Eva's blog.  She is a regular blogger and always has inspiration to share.