The TRANSFORMATION Kit is LIVE! Are you ready for a change?

Ready for a change? Join us this month with the TRANSFORMATION kit and shift your perspective from the Inside Out. 

Glitz Uncharted Waters, Cosmo Cricket Summer Love and Basic Grey Knee Highs are filled with variegated color, ombre design and delicate-to bold motion that perfectly captures the spirit of change that lives in your heart and mind. We've included some of our best symbolism ever. Crate Paper's super-hot Photo Overlays let you TRANSFORM your photos on the fly, Julie Balzer's Celtic Circle Template celebrates the seasons and transitions of the life cycle, smooth AND textured white cardstock to create contrast and Dyan Reaveley's Dylusions spray ink in Calypso Teal to add life and depth to your musings.

Images include Jenni Bowlin's limited edition silver feather rubons to float on the currents leading to your future, layerable translucent alphas to spell out your plans with precisely the level of certainty you wish, plus anchors to steady you, ocean waves to propel you forward and film leader countdown paper to measure your progress. Amy Tan's Yes Please wood veneer and die cut bits, Glitz transparencies and some alterable (transforming) flowers round out a truly meaningful kit that will help you set your sights and set sail toward the new and improved you.

Click here to go to our buy page and get yours!

KIT DETAILS

PATTERNED PAPER: 
Basic Grey Knee Highs Kissing Tag
Basic Grey Knee Highs Jump Rope 
Basic Grey Knee Highs Ring Pop 
Basic Grey Knee Highs Hopscotch 
Cosmo Cricket Summer Love Drive In 
Cosmo Cricket Summer Love Sno-Cone 
Cosmo Cricket Summer Love Water Park 
Glitz Uncharted Waters Waves 
Glitz Uncharted Waters Anchors 
Glitz Uncharted Waters Scallop 

EMBELLISHMENTS: 
American Crafts Remarks Transparent Amelia Alphas 
American Crafts Thickers Kenzie Alphas  Crate Paper DIY Shop Photo Overlays 3 pcs 
Fancy Pants Artist Edition Quote Stencil - Dream/Journey 1 pc 
Glitz Uncharted Waters Peekaboos 2-3 pcs 
Jenni Bowlin Rubons Silver Limited Edition Feathers 
American Crafts Amy Tangerine Yes Please Wood Veneer - Smile 3 pcs 
American Crafts Amy Tangerine Yes Please Bits Die Cut Shapes – Create 6 pcs 
Glitz Uncharted Waters Bits and Pieces 3-4 pcs Petaloo Color Me Crazy Canvas Flowers 1-2 pcs 

COLOR: 
Ranger Dylusions by Dyan Reaveley Calypso Teal 

CARDSTOCK: 
American Crafts Sunflower 
American Crafts White 
American Crafts Black 
American Crafts Geranium 
American Crafts White (Smooth) 

TECHNIQUE: 
Crafter's Workshop Template - Celtic Circle - 6x6

June's Sneak Peek: TRANSFORMATION

Available June 1:

The TRANSFORMATION Kit.

Glitz Uncharted Waters, Cosmo Cricket Summer Love and Basic Grey Knee Highs!

Wood veneer, Maggie Holmes super-hot Photo Overlays, Julie Balzer's Celtic Circle Template, Tim Holtz Distress Paint and SO much more.

Bright, bold and your perfect platform for change.

Are you ready for the new and improved you?

Join us and BE the change you wish to see in the world. 

It's never too late.

 

Weekend Warmup: Let Me Ask You a Question

One of the key elements of the type of scrapbooking/art journaling/creative expression we foster at SFTIO is THE QUESTION. 

Think of it this way...if I told you we were going to spend the month making art about CURIOSITY, would you know where to start? It's hard to jump in and get going. Even asking yourself the question, "what am I curious about" might leave you with more confusion than crafting. It's too open ended.

In comes THE QUESTION.

Some call them prompts. Or journaling starters. Or challenges. I call them the place where the rubber meets the road. 

Every month I prepare a list of questions that I'd like to answer - things that are on my mind. Hmmm...maybe that's not exactly right. They're the questions I want to answer and the ones I fear answering. That's where the good stuff is...

'The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek' - Joseph Campbell

Here's a prompt from this month's CURIOSITY Inspiration Page that's especially touchy for me...which is why I NEED to answer it.

I don't want to know: Are there things that you'd rather stay in the dark about - where you might be curious but are afraid of what you might learn? Did curiosity really kill the cat...can you (or have you been) too curious and gotten in trouble? Perhaps a little internet snooping...anyone? Be honest...

There are some people in my life, past and present, about whom it would be better for me to avoid 'studying'. I'm not proud of it, but I've been guilty of making my own life more difficult by prying into areas where I'd really do better with less information.

In our Facebook/Twitter/Google/Instagram world it's WAY TOO easy to learn things that should be private...and that in the end do nothing but cause us to relive past wounds, feel bad about ourselves or create unflattering comparisons that injure us.

So why have I done those things? Have you? I bet...I've yet to meet someone who hasn't looked up an old flame, or a nemesis. 

Perhaps if I spend some time creating a LO about exactly WHY I have let myself get pulled into old stories and what-ifs, I'll be less inclined to do it in the future. Perhaps I can anchor the idea that my life, as it is, is exactly as it should be. Perhaps. No promises. :)

Want to join me on my quest for honest expression? It's my mission in life to inspire you to do so, and in doing so, to free you to be the most authentic YOU. 

Do it on your own, with us on our Message Board or best of all, with our CURIOSITY kit. We've just got a couple left...and this kit (featuring Allison Kreft's Composition and Color line for Webster's Pages and Cosmo Cricket's Sweet Disposition among other fresh and fabulous finds) will give you the perfect color, design and symbolism to tell your story. Grab it HERE.

There are 4 more deep questions to answer on the CURIOSITY Inspiration Page...and many more in your heart that I haven't thought of. Share them with us here on the blog or on our boards, and I hope you spend some time this weekend exploring what you're most CURIOUS about.

Warmly, 

The CURIOSITY Kit is LIVE! (And Limited...)

Springtime with its celebrations of rebirth and renewal is the perfect season to explore what you're curious about - what do you want to know and what fascinates you most?

Join us with the CURIOSITY kit to explore your natural inquisitiveness, searching and the burning questions that keep you up. What keeps you guessing? What would you rather not know? It's all here.

Webster's Composition and Color...Cosmo Cricket Sweet Disposition...camera and Polaroid-style images, canning jars to capture your dreams...so much goodness! Tim Holtz distress paint, kraft chevron bags, ruler twill trim, woodgrain journaling cards, velvet flowers, canvas brads...and a gajillion great alphas, snippets and tags. It's springtime in a kit with all your favorites!

Click Here to Grab Yours.

  Kit Contents: 

Patterned Paper:

Cosmo Cricket Sweet Disposition Booksmart          

Cosmo Cricket Sweet Disposition Dance Floor        

Cosmo Cricket Sweet Disposition Hello       

Websters Sweet Disposition Sunny Side       

Websters Color and Composition Master Plan          

Websters Color and Composition This Way  

Websters Color and Composition True Story

Websters Color and Composition Chalk Prints         

Websters Color and Composition Weathered           

Websters Color and Composition Snapshots 

Embellishments:

American Crafts Thickers Goodness-Watercolor      

Websters Color and Composition Alpha and Tag Sheet       

Elle's Studio Serendipity Tiny Tags 4 pcs

Jenni Bowlin Rubons  Canning Jar Fun 1/2 sheet

Maya Road Kraft Say Cheese – Black 3-4 pcs

Cosmo Cricket Sweet Disposition Canvas Brads 3 pcs

Maya Road Wood You’ve been Framed 5 pcs

Cosmo Cricket Sweet Disposition Element Tags 4 pcs

Websters Color and Composition Kraft Bags           

Websters Color and Composition Salmon Arrow Bags        

Websters Color and Composition Kaleidoscope       

Maya Road Flowers Velvet Pleats - Coral and Green 3 pcs

Websters Color and Composition Ruler Trim

Color:

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Paint Mustard Seed        

Technique:

American Crafts Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm Stamp Set

Cardstock:

American Crafts Robin's Egg

American Crafts Lagoon       

American Crafts Salmon        

American Crafts Kraft (Smooth)       

American Crafts Honey         

(contents will vary!)

While VERY LIMITED supplies last, new SIX MONTH subscribers starting with the May kit will receive the perfect FREE gift to match this month's theme:

Allison Kreft for Webster's Pages Composition and Color Washi Tape:

Don't let this one get away!

 

Weekend Welcome: Sneak Peek of our May Kit: CURIOSITY!

Webster's Composition and Color...Cosmo Cricket Sweet Disposition...camera and polaroid images, canning jars to capture your dreams, Tim Holtz distress paint, kraft bags, ruler twill trim, wood, canvas...so much goodness!  It's springtime in a kit with all your favorites!

Springtime with its celebrations of rebirth and renewal is the perfect season to explore what you're curious about - what do you want to know and what fascinates you most?

Don't miss it...remember, our April kit sold out.

Join us at Midnight Pacific on May 1st to grab yours. Supplies are limited!

Aren't you just a little bit curious? :)

Have a beautiful weekend...

Sneak Peek: Release

As this year comes to a close, what will you let go
to make space for all that is to come?
The RELEASE Kit.
December 1.

Amy Tangerine for American Crafts Ready Set Go
Crate Paper Acorn Avenue

Cosmo Cricket Jolly Days
and much more.

 

The MINDFULNESS Kit

The November Kit: Mindfulness

Who among us isn’t looking for calm, contentment and inner peace? So many ways to look – meditation, prayer, therapy, self-help books, quiet contemplation, talking to a friend…but have you thought about using our wonderful craft to find your way to your core?

Mindfulness sounds esoteric, but it’s really just a psychological or spiritual way of defining being attentive, aware and thoughtful. This theme brings to mind how we find our center, explore our motivation and expand our consciousness.

 

BUY NOW

Looking for peace, contentment and focus? The Mindfulness kit will help you find your center, explore your motivation and expand your consciousness. Soft aqua, deep coral and soothing vanilla act as a platform for your deepest emotional journeys yet.
 
Ground your art with Maya Road's burlap flowers, trim and a secret pouch, enlighten your mind with mistable feathers and Prima light bulbs, and create connections with chevron washi tape from Glitz.

What matters most as this year comes to a close? What growth has benefited your mind, heart and soul? Find out with MINDFULNESS.

Sneaks of BEAUTIFUL layouts here...come on over to our inspiration page to see it all!

Patterned Paper

Cosmo Cricket Art Angel Charity    
Cosmo Cricket Art Angel Faith        
Cosmo Cricket Art Angel Hope       
Cosmo Cricket Art Angel Kindness 
Cosmo Cricket Art Angel Love        
Cosmo Cricket Art Angel Virtue      
Teresa Collins Tell Your Story Damask        
Teresa Collins  Tell Your Story Frames         
Teresa Collins Tell Your Story Flowers        
Teresa Collins Tell Your Story Pennants

Embellishments

American Crafts Thickers Ali Printed Chipboard Aqua       
Glitz Hello Friend Teeny Alphas Tan
Cosmo Cricket Art Angel Element Deck     
Glitz Hello Friend Coral Chevron Tape   
Maya Road Burlap and Linen Sunset Burlap Trim   
Maya Road Burlap and Linen Treasure Bags - Cream          
Maya Road Burlap Trim Sunset Burlap Flower       
Pink Paislee Artisan Collection Resistable Paper     
Prima Metal Trinkets Typo Bulbs 2 
Studio Calico Mistables Thicker Shapes Feather      
Teresa Collins Tell Your Story Flashcards   
Teresa Collins Tell Your Story Accessory Sheet      
Teresa Collins Tell Your Story Large Journal Cards

Cardstock

American Crafts Cardstock Brown Sugar    
American Crafts Cardstock Parfait  
American Crafts Cardstock Oatmeal
American Crafts Cardstock Peach    
American Crafts Cardstock Straw    

Color

Ranger Adirondack Color Wash - Espresso  


Bonus for new and renewing subscribers...

One of my all time favorites...

 

Sneak Peek - Mindfulness

What matters most? How do you stay centered? The Mindfulness Kit. November 1.

Teresa Collins Tell Your Story and Cosmo Cricket Art Angel plus more from Maya Road, Prima, Ranger...

CHA Day One and Countdown to The DREAM kit

Hey everyone! Rachel here live from the Craft and Hobby Association Winter trade Show and Convention in lovely Anaheim. What a fun first day we've had meeting with old friends and new...and planning for what you'll see in our upcoming kits.

Tammy, Melissa, Sofia (our Teen Design Team Coordinator and SFTIO Executive Asssistant) and I had a fantastic time hanging with the lovely ladies and gentlemen at American Crafts, Lily Bee, Jillibean Soup, Maya Road, Crate Paper, October Afternoon, Authentique, Cosmo Cricket, Bella Blvd and many more...and we're only about a third of the way through our list! We can't wait for tomorrow! Here are some pics of the day and the things we loved most so far.

And as promised, we're counting down to the release of our newest kit, DREAM. Three days until we can share DREAM with you in all its delicate, deep and dreamy glory... Here's a closeup of the DREAM kit...can you pick out the products in this sneak peek? Name three items by manufacturer and you'll be entered to win our February countdown giveaway...Tim Holtz' Wings and Crown Metal Embelishments, a recent subscriber bonus. Make sure to submit your guesses here in the comments today and on the posts for the next two days of the countdown and you can walk away with these goodies! This giveaway ends at Midnight Pacific time on the 31st.

What do you see?

And ANOTHER way to win...if you start a new subscription or renew your current one on the DREAM kit release date, February 1st, you'll be entered to win a a huge set of paper and embellishments from four collections courtesy of our friends at Authentique. Make sure to come back each day and go for the win!

Stay tuned for more tomorrow!

Love,

Challenge Yourself to Scrap Deep and Win

Every month, in addition to the Inspiration Page which includes music, quotes, photos and more, we take our Journaling Prompts and add a DESIGN TWIST to help you add symbolism and meaning to your layout - what we call VISUAL JOURNALING. Telling your story with your design choices, color and icons creates so much more depth.

Here's an example from out DT Coordinator Nancy Doren. Look how Nancy framed her page to give a concreteness to her beliefs; her embellishments grow from smaller to larger as her world expands. Her ribbon folds become more and more complex - like the complexity of an enlightened world view. And there's no black and white here...



Here are this months challenges on the theme ENLIGHTENMENT. Our challenges are open for entries until 5 PM Pacific on Friday 10-1 to be eligible to win this month's great prize...

Cosmo Cricket's Togetherness Paper Crafting Kit and coordinating Red Robin Ready-Set-Chip Alphas!





Come play and learn about YOU. You're worth it! Challenges can be posted in our gallery here. You just need to join our message board - it only takes a few minutes.

Can't wait to see you there!

Love,
Rachel

PS - Friday morning...our next kit, PURPOSE!

September Challenge #1, Open Mind/Newly Open

Open-Minded: A teacher of mine once said that “you should be open minded, but not so open-minded that your brains fall out.” How open minded are you? Have you always been a ‘live and let live’ kind of person, or have you evolved in that way over the years? Are there specific areas on your life where you are more closed to new ideas? Where do you take a particularly enlightened approach? Do you want to change those things about yourself, or are you content? Has someone in your past been an influence on how open or closed you are – either by your following their example, or purposely moving away from it?

Where in life have you seen yourself become more open-minded as the years have progressed?

For the design twist, please add something that opens on your page in away you never have - so if you're a journaling-hider, don't hide that - pick another element!

September Challenge #2, Light the Way/Fixture

Illuminate the Darkness: What life experiences and growth have allowed you to shine a light on others in a dark place? When have you been able to ‘turn the light on’ for yourself after a period of loss, sadness or grief? How good are you at lighting a candle instead of cursing the darkness? What is your role in lighting the way for others? Is it overstepping your bounds to speak your truth, or do you offer your gifts freely? What have others done for you to illuminate your path and provide insight?

When and how have you turned the light on after a period of your own or someone else's deep sadness?

For the design twist, please use a light fixture in your imagery...a lamp or lightbulb? The outline of a spotlight?

September Challenge #3, Faith/Less Familiar Symbols

Enlightenment, Faith & Spirit: Our world is filled with myriad ways to access the life of the spirit. Which ways do you choose, in action and deed, to be connected to your source? Do you follow the route that your family laid out for you or have your charted your own course? What, if anything, is unenlightened about your religious or spiritual tradition? How do you make peace, or struggle with this? Why did you make the choice you did? Are you still struggling with faith and spirituality? What traditions/symbols and beliefs from other cultures and faiths speak to you? Do you choose not to be spiritually connected? Why?

Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. You are here to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment. Morihei Ueshiba

Please create a LO about any part of faith that you have struggled with...

And for the design twist, please use a symbol from a faith not your own...

September Challenge #4, Belief v. Knowledge/Sign of Certainty

You wouldn't say that you 'believe' in electricity, but you can't see it. What's the difference between what you believe and what you KNOW? Is the nature of faith in anything about choosing a belief, or having a knowledge of something you can't see?

For the design twist, please use a sign of certainty...check mark? 'OK'?...

September Challenge #5, Mindfulness/Outside

Mindfulness & Self-Awareness: Psychologists refer to the ability to think about your thoughts and evaluate them as ‘meta-cognition’ or, more broadly as ‘mindfulness.’ How introspective are you? Are you able to step outside yourself and look at your own process, or do you often find yourself getting caught up in the moment, reactive, rather than observing? What steps do you take, or could you take, to slow down and really see your choices, your actions and your underlying beliefs?

Not creating delusions is enlightenment. Bodhidharma

Please create a LO about ways in which you do, or would like to, look at yourself as an observer.

For the design twist, please utilize the outside edge of your page!