Some AMAZING Build-A-Book Projects...

Well, it has been awhile since we have posted some of the cool things that you can do with the Build-A-Book created by Fire and Ice Designs for Prima Marketing, Inc. We recently caught light of what Anam Stubbington Of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada created using our products and thought that she deserved the spotlight this week!


First up... this beautiful Build-A-Book featuring the 6X12 and Scalloped Circle Build-A_Book pages as well as a plethora of Prima goodness highlighting Anam's Hopes for 2009.


Here is a close up of the cover:
Anam then created an adorable wall hanging as well using the 6X12 page...


But perhaps one of the MOST CREATIVE uses of the 6X12 Build-A-Book pages that I have ever seen is the tealight lamps shown below!!! Please note that Anam used BATTERY OPERATED Tea Lights and not actual candles as that could pose an extreme fire hazard...



Read below to learn more about this talented designer as she shares some tips and tricks of her own for working with the Build-A-Book!

Tell us a little about yourself:

I live in the snowy plains of Edmonton, Albert in Canada with my artist hubby Ian and my two blessings – Fay & Lily. We have been here 2 1/2 years now – having moved here from the UK in 2006. I am 34 years old, into a billion things of which I never finish half of them, cannot spell and I just try to be myself at all times.

How did you get started in scrapbooking?

I have been into pretty paper and creating art for years but got addicted to scrapbooking about 5 years ago, while I was pregnant with my little miracle girl, Fay. It was to try and record everything as we had 5 years of fertility issues to get to that point. It combines 3 loves: paper, photographs and memories. I love working with paper, using my sewing machine and my computer to create my designs.

How would you describe your style?

An odd mix of colour and styles – I go with the feeling the memories mean to me – I am all about the story and use the products to enhance the story told by the photo and the journaling.

Where do you gather inspiration from?

I love gathering inspiration from anywhere and everything – from my girl’s words or clothes, to magazines and websites. I am a big fan of words leading to ideas and love quotes – especially from sites like Think exist (http://www.thinkexist.com/) and Quote Garden (http://www.quotegarden.com/). I read magazines that are non scrapbook related – Home décor Arty type Magazines are my favorites for inspiration – I particularly like Wallpaper (http://www.wallpaper.com/) and Style at Home (http://www.styleathome.com/).

What do you love about Fire and Ice designed products?

I love the flexibility of the pages that allows me to work as I feel. To be able to change the book up as the ideas in my head change is something that appeals to me greatly.

You can name your favorite product, or just something that draws your attention to the product.

I like products with bright colours and multi uses – I am currently obsessed with the plain white Prima Flowers in a tin because I can spray them with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist to make any shades and mix of colours I like.

Where can we find you?

My blog is at: http://www.anamstubbington.typepad.com/ where I post about everything from my girls to my layouts – I try and post every 2 days because it keeps me sane.

Currently I create projects for my awesome local scrapbook store here in Edmonton – Treasured Memories (http://treasuredmemories.typepad.com/) – all the girls at the store are so inspiring. I also create for Stix2 Adhesives (http://stix2kooltak.typepad.com/) – I am addicted to their fingerlift double sided tape! And starting in January, I will be creating for the fabulous kit company – Scrapbooking from the Inside Out (http://www.scrapbookingfromtheinsideout.com/) – a new concept in Kits to focus on the emotions we have, rather than events!!

I am also the Sketch artist for Scrapbook & Card Today Magazine (http://www.scrapbookandcards.com/) which is an awesome free print magazine produced here in Canada – which you can download through their site too if your local store doesn’t carry it - and finally I am one of the Build-A-Page Sketch Artists for Prima Marketing (http://prima.typepad.com/prima/prima_sketches/) which is very cool!!

Please list 2-3 inspiring techniques that you display on the work that you shared with us.

I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist to perfectly match up embellishments – I sprayed the chipboard, flower and felt to create a cohesive look even if the photos don’t match up. I put several of the embellishments behind the build-a-book page to allow them to show through or to wrap around the page. I used the same paper & ribbon on each page to give them a uniform look. I love using Stickles, Chalk inks & Stazon inks on the transparent pages to give them definition and a feathered look to the edge of the pages.

Offer a challenge to the readers, either to try a technique, scrap a subject, camera angle or lighting, anything that you think would inspire them, you can offer it as a challenge to stretch their style.

I am all about the emotions and feelings behind a page – the reasons why we scrapbook are very important and we should be totally honest because there is no other way to be if we want our descendants to truly understand our albums. I often do 2 pages for a set of photos – one for the event and 1 for the emotions. Journaling helps us decipher the truth. I am big into journaling – I feel it is as important as the photo as it explains and advises and comforts the reader. I use what I call "the 10 minute death bed rule" for my journaling…I have done a big entry about how and why I journal and my tips to journaling at my blog here (http://anamstubbington.typepad.com/a_little_of_my_life/2007/06/journalling.html) If you do nothing else, please put a label on the back of your layout with the date of the photos and the people in the photos – it will save a lot of confusion later on.

Thanks for sharing your amazing projects Anam... they truly are stunning:)

If you have some projects featuring the Build-A-Book by Prima Marketing, Inc and would like to be featured, please drop an email with sample photos to Trisha at trisha.lado@gmail.com or Michelle at trendyscrapper@gmail.com and you could be the lucky designer featured next!

Congrats to the Build a Book Contest winners!

They were announced over at the Prima blog! Check them out, these ladies really knocked it out of the park with their creations!

Here is a sneak peek of a super cute banner created by Holly Hank. What a creative use for the Build a Book. This just shows the verstililty of the build a book and ALL the possibilities.

So hop on over to the Prima blog, and check out the amazing creations, from our winners!

1st place: Louise Williams
second place: Kerry Murray
third place (3 way tie!): Holly Hank, Susan Lui, and Bonnie O'Leary

Congrats ladies!!!

Build A Book Contest Reminder!

What could YOU do with $600 worth of Prima Product??? Well, here is your chance to find out! YOU could be the winner of Prima's Build A Book contest! For more information and the official stuff, check out the Prima Blog.

Prima is offering a wonderful Prize Package for 1st and 2nd Place!

First Place:$600 prize package of Prima products (retail value)

Second Place:$300 prize package of Prima products (retail value)

Check out this totally rockin' Build A Book album created By Sharon Laakkonen for a Crop for the Cure in Indiana. This album is being auctioned off for charity, to read more info on how to bid on this album click here.

So check out the Prima blog, for the details. We can't wait to see what you come up with!

~Liz

Featured Primadonna- Candra George

Tell us a little about yourself:

About me? Well, I’m 28, married almost seven years to a great guy, and we live in central California with our three miniature dachshunds. I’m a southern girl born on the coast of Mississippi , but have lived all over because of my husband’s job. Day-to-day life can be crazy. I split most of my time between teaching scrapbook and photography classes at local scrapbook stores and teaching cooking technique classes for Williams-Sonoma.

How did you get started in scrapbooking?

I was first introduced to scrapbooking at a Creative Memories party 6 years ago, just after I married my husband Wes. I knew then that I had discovered a new extension of myself. My first scrapbook was of some of the first weddings I was planned. I still have it and it’s one of my favorites!


How would you describe your style?

My style has always revolved around rich jewel tones, lots of sparkle (shiny is my favorite color!), and delicate touches. It is anything but traditional, and usually very ornate and busy. My goal is to have people see something different every time they look at my work, and be inspired. I also almost always use some type of digital embellishments in my scrapbooking. Being a photographer, I naturally gravitate to little things I can add while editing to add punch to my traditional pages. I also tend to scrapbook the photos that emotionally mean the most to me, even if they aren’t perfect or clear. There has to be feeling in my pages.

Where do you gather inspiration from?

Most of my inspiration comes from my photos, my family, and from God. A phone call from one of my little nieces, or a new client’s photos, or one of the fabulous projects of one of my fellow Primadonnas are great sources of inspiration. I’m also a big fan of books on art, photography, and scrapbooking. Two of my favorites are Scrapbooking Your Faith by Courtney Walsh and Scrap City “Scrapbooking for Urban Divas and Small Town Rebels” by Paul Gambino. Another great resource is the online galleries provided by some of the digital scrapbooking websites, such as Primahybrid.com. You can upload your scrapbook pages, see others’ submissions, and chat with fellow scrapbookers. It’s great fun and was part of how I was discovered by Prima Marketing!


What do you love about Fire and Ice designed products?

I just love the Build-A-Book minis! They are small and can be done is a short time, make great accessories to your handbag or gifts! I also love the new colors!

Where can we find you?

The best place to find me is at my blog! There you can find updates on my classes, photography, art shows, and availability.

Please list 2-3 inspiring techniques that you display on the work that you shared with us.

Two of the techniques that I have been into lately are the many uses of transparencies and using digital elements with traditional products. I love adding digital frames to my photos, printing them on transparencies and then using them in my scrapbooking. The possibilities are endless!


A little challenge for you!

Photography can be intimidating at times. We often times try so hard for that “perfect” shot. To me, the best photograph isn’t the “perfect” one. It’s the picture that evokes the most emotion. I would like to challenge the readers to scrapbook those imperfect photos, the ones that really show feeling. I promise you’ll be happy you did!

For info on this upcoming Primadonna class checkout the Primadonna's new blog.

Thanks Candra for your great project and super techniques!

Build-A-Book CONTEST!!!!

September 03, 2008

Prima's NEW Build-A-Book Contest!

That's right! Prima has a brand new contest for you! Let's jump right into the details!

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Have you ever wanted to try Prima's Build-A-Books? Now is the time to do that! Simply enter any Build-A-Book project for your chance to win! Build-A-Books offer a clear surface that is amazingly fun to work with. Let your imagination run wild with the variety of art mediums and products that work especially well with Prima's clear albums. Of course you can mix and match any page size or shape...and build you very own customized book! That's what makes Prima's clear albums so unique! For additional information about Prima's Build-A-Books feel free to check out the DT's projects, as well as the Fire & Ice blog.

BAB design shown by Tish Treadaway

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Contest Prizes:
Prima is offering a wonderful Prize Package for 1st and 2nd Place!

First Place:
$600 prize package of Prima products (retail value)

Second Place:
$300 prize package of Prima products (retail value)

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OFFICIAL RULES AND ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS

Eligibility:
Contest is open to legal residents of all countries (as allowed by law). You must be 18 years or older to enter. The Contest is not open to employees, teachers or design team members of Prima Marketing, Inc. or their immediate family members. Affiliated companies, subsidiaries, and advertising or promotional agencies are also ineligible.

Prima Marketing, Inc. will not be responsible for late, misdirected or illegible entries.

Artists may submit more than one entry. Designs previously posted are acceptable for contest submission as long as they meet eligibility requirements.

Judging:
Judging will be done on the basis of creative use with Prima's Build-A-Book (examples of BAB types include: 890063, 890322, 890247, 890278, 890452, ); creative use of art mediums/product on the BAB's clear surface, design composition, craftsmanship, and originality of project.

NOTE: Prima Build-A-Book clear albums only allowed. Please include the item number of the Build-A-Book product(s) when you are submitting your entry. The item number is located on the back of each package.

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Awards:
One First Place winner

will be chosen from amongst all of the entries and awarded a $600 (retail value) prize package of Prima products.

One Second Place Winner

will be awarded a $300 (Retail Value) of Prima product each.

A signed photography release will be required from each winner.

All international, federal, state, local and municipal laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited. Any taxes incurred are the winner’s responsibility.

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Entry Procedure:

How to Enter:

1. Submit your contest projects by visiting the Prima Marketing Inc. website. Digital photos or scans are required (upload maximum 150 K). Entries are to be submitted via our web site, www.primamarketinginc.com Click on the "Idea Gallery" tab, scroll down and click on "Contest Entry". The direct link for the contest entry is:

Build-A-Book Entry Link

2. Label each submission "BAB Contest" along with the title of your project. You will be contacted separately if additional information is required. Feel free to submit up to 3 photos of the project.

Please enter your email address carefully as this is the only means we have of contacting you if you should win.

Verification emails will not be sent out for entries this time. However, feel free to check with Sharon to see if your entry was received. sharon.laakkonen@primamarketinginc.com

Do not send actual project to Prima Marketing, Inc. Prima will not be responsible for any entry sent to them.

3. Deadline for entry is October 30th, 2008 Midnight PST.

Please direct contest questions to sharon.laakkonen@primamarketinginc.com.

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We can't wait to see what you incredibly talented designers come up with! Good luck to everyone who enters!

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Look What Sarah Did...

With the kids heading back to school, it means that Autumn is right around the corner! I know... is hard to believe that! Well... check out what Sarah Hodgekinson did with the Build-A-Book by Fire and Ice Designs for Prima Marketing, Inc.



1) Tell us about yourself: My name is Sarah Hodgkinson and I have a mini-album addiction. I live in Ontario, Canada and have been scrapbooking since 2003. I design for my LSS (All About Scrapbooks / www.allaboutscrapbooks.ca), Core'dinations cardstock (www.coredinations.com) and It Takes All Kinds blog (http://francineclouden.typepad.com/it_takes_all_kinds/). In October 2007, five other women and myself hosted Canada's Scrapbooking Crop For Kids for six children's hospitals and wards across Canada with the help of hundreds of volunteers.

2) Tell us about your project: "Fall Favorites" was made using Core'dinations Vintage cardstock (www.coredinations.com), Sassafrass (www.sassafraslass.com) patterned paper, Scenic Route (www.scenicroutepaper.com) stickers, Riff Raff Designs (http://riffraffdesigns.typepad.com) chipboard, some old leaf punches that I had to steal back from my two kids and, of course, a Prima Build a Book.


What Trisha, of Fire and Ice Designs, thought about Sarah's Build-A-Book creation:

I LOVED the simplicity of Sarah's album! So often, my style tends to involve a tonne of Prima Bling and flowers, yet Sarah has shown just how beautifully various other manufacturers products work with the Build-A-Book too! The raw chipboard embellishments, by Riff Raff Designs, add a natural feel and nice contrast to the "glass looking" Build-A-Book pages. I like how she found use for some of her older punches in her stash too! All of the little details throughout make for a perfect keepsake that her family is sure to cherish for many years to come! Thanks for sharing with us Sarah!


If you would like to be featured on the Fire and Ice Designs Blog... send photos of your Build-A-Book creation to Trisha at trisha.lado@gmail.com or Michelle at trendyscrapper@gmail.com. Be sure to send us a link to any you see online too!

Featured Primadonna

Janine Wahl

Tell us a little about yourself:

My name is Janine Wahl. I am living happily in the growing resort town of Sylvan Lake, Alberta with my husband, Trevor and son, Jacob. We are an outdoorsy type of family that likes camping, boating, fishing and quadding. By day, I am a business risk analyst in the agricultural industry and by night, I am a passionate scrapbooker instructor and designer. I am a hopeless "Lost" fanatic. It is the one show I cannot miss! I am addicted to logic puzzles and I think that it is because I need to know "why" rather than just accept that it is.

How did you get started in scrapbooking?

It is my husband's fault. His old secretary is a scrapbooking fanatic. He showed me her stuff and I simply told him that I would do it when we got married or had a child and let the idea pass.
Lo and behold, I became pregnant, and for Mother's Day he bought me an empty scrapbook. He reminded me of what I had said and told me to fill it up. I never looked back. I love all the different mediums that can be incorporated. It fills my need to create.

How would you describe your style?

My style is playful. If I had to name it, I think it would be, "whimsical romantic".
I try to view life in a light-hearted kind of way and I try to reflect that in my projects. It may a bright pop of color, or adding a new twist to something.

Where do you gather inspiration from?

I love wandering stores. Art stores, scrapbooking stores, stamping stores. You name it. I love wandering the aisles and looking at products. I get revved up about creating spending time in my room doing what I like to call, "getting all mucky-muck". It is a time when I sit down in my room and just get my fingers inky trying new things. I love the trial and error process.

What do you love about Fire and Ice designed products?

I love clear! I am all about layers. As I told you, I love puzzles and for me, doing a clear album is like doing exactly that!

Where can we find you?

You can find me on my blog where I post my creations and talk about a new tip, a fun find or where I am out and about.

I am also proud to be a 2008 Prima Flower Girl! I have loved Prima products for a long time and it is an honor to be working with them this year.

You may have also seen my pages in magazines such as Memory Makers, Creating Keepsakes, Scrapbook and Cards Today and Canadian Scrapbooker.

I am also a scrapbook instructor that has taught at various stores and events around Alberta. I always looking to share my love of this wonderful hobby. I want to get people as excited about this scrapbooking and paper arts as I am!

Please list 2-3 inspiring techniques that you display on the work that you shared with us.

In this project I was all about paint! I really wanted to show different techniques on a Build-A-Book to get the most out of creating layers.

First I used watercolor pencils on my Paintable. Water color pencils create a really nice soft accent to the detail of the Paintables. I actually gave a small tutorial on how to use them on my blog.

I also applied acrylic paint directly to the page two ways.
I applied it using a foam stamp and I also used the backing of my Prima Felt Mattie as a mask.
Once dry, I embellished the patterns using a Sakura paint pen and Ranger Stickles.