The Pretty Committee

April Challenge

2009-04-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

The Pretty Committee extends our sincerest apologies for not having posted April's first challenge of the month sooner. Life seems to have gotten in the way. Due to the late announcement of the challenges, the challenge blog will have a different schedule until June 1st. Instead of having 2 challenges to complete between now and May 1st, we are only going to post a new challenge in May, allotting 3 weeks per challenge, rather than the usual 2. Again, we apologize for the inconvenience. Without further ado, here is April's challenge!

Red Carpet Glam: It's awards show time, and that can only mean one thing: red carpet gowns! Every girl loves seeing who's wearing who, what colors are in - and consequently, which are out - and what styles make their mark on fashion's biggest runway. Be inspired by these 4 ladies from Oscar night. The colors, the different styles, the accessories she wore or didn't wear. Get crazy, be inspired!

Here is what our design team came up with...

Donna was inspired by elements of each of the dresses.

Bekka loved the color and rhinestones of the first red carpet gown.

Amy was inspired by the ladies' summer fashion to make this card.

Happy Spring to all! Be inspired!

March's winner ....

2009-04-04T19:11:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Beth who created this amazing layout using inspiration from our first challenge of the month. You were our random winner so send over your addy and we'll make sure to get your great prize to ya.

Thanks again to Michelle from Bubbly Shnooks for sponsoring us. Everyone loved your stuff (and those new bunny stickers are just too cute!).

The first challenge for the month of April will be posted tomorrow ... sorry for the delay, things have been hectic over here! Thanks for being so patient.

~Stay Pretty!!~

March Challenge #2

2009-03-10T15:01:00.001-07:00

Good evening ladies! Are you ready for the second challenge of the month? This challenge from Amy is a perfect opportunity for you to put those St. Patrick's Day embellishments to good use!

March is a month usually associated with luckiness, green, leprechauns, and pinching. In honor of that, we challenge you to create a layout about a relationship with a family member, friend, co-worker, ect. that you are lucky to have. How do they complete you? Why are you so lucky to have them in your life? Do they make you a strong, independent, and confident woman? Also, we challenge you to go monochromatic! Use different shades of green and see what happens! Have fun!

Here's what our design team came up with ....

Layout by Amy

Layout by our guest designer, Amanda

Layout by Liza

Layout by Stephanie

Layout by Sarah

Remember ... you have until March 27th to complete this challenge and score a shot of winning an awesome prize pack from Bubbly Shnooks. Best of luck to you! (No pun intended, hehe)

~Stay Pretty!!~

March Challenge # 1

2009-03-01T06:06:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the month of March, ladies!! Spring is right around the corner and I don't know about you, but I plan on spending these last few weeks of winter daydreaming about flowers, nice weather and Easter!

Here is our first challenge for the month of March. The next time you're at a loss for inspiration, flip open a magazine and take a look at some of the advertisements you see. Advertising executives are often experts at combining different colors and fonts, and the designs usually translate quite well onto a scrapbook page. For this challenge, use the ad for Dior perfume (above) as inspiration for your page. Maybe the colors inspire you ... maybe it's the pink swirl font ... maybe it's the cluster of circles. Allow the ad to ignite a creative spark and see where it takes you ...

Here's what our fabulous design team came up with ...

This layout is by our guest designer, Amanda.

This layout was done by Bekka.

This layout was done by Donna.

This layout was done by Jessica.

We're pleased to announce that we have another great sponsor this month. Michelle from Bubbly Shnooks has generously donated some adorable stickers and tags for one lucky winner. Be sure to send in your layouts by March 27th in order to qualify for the random draw.

~Stay Pretty!~

introducing ....

2009-03-01T05:47:00.000-08:00

Amanda ... our guest designer for the month of March! We fell in love with Amanda's feminine, whimsical style and are so excited to have her on board with us for the month of March. We asked her some questions to get to know her better, and here's what she had to tell us ... Name: Amanda
Location: Florida, USA

Likes: Art. Artists. Being creative. Design. Photography. Black and white. Sushi. Music. Musicians. Cold Weather. Shopping.The city. Vintage. New places. People who listen. Etsy. RENT. Poets. Crushes. Dreaming.

Dislikes: Roller coasters. Cooking. The heat. Early mornings. The economy. The war. Cliques. Bad fashion. Paris Hilton/Lindsay Lohan.

- Tell us a little about yourself ...

I’m part of a small family. Mom, dad, sister, Yorkie named Chloe, and as of July of last year, a brother-in-law. My brother-in-law, John, is a police officer and a jokester- when he’s around everyone is always laughing. My mom was born to be a mother. She’s nurturing, selfless, and loves to take care of her two children- there are no limits to her love. As a young child, my sister, Ashley, wanted a “baby sister.” So, mom and dad gave her one. She is 11 years older than me! The age difference had its advantages and disadvantages growing up. We very seldom fought which was a good thing, but when I was just 7 years old, she moved out of the house to attend college, which meant I saw very little of her. My sister and I really became close during my high school and college years. Now, we’re best friends. My dad was in the Army and we lived in Germany for 3 years. During that time, we traveled to Holland, Paris, France and a few other places. Like many military families, when dad decided to retire, we moved to sunny Florida. I have lived here since I was 6 and I’m now 22 years old. I graduated from the University of Central Florida last May, Summa Cum Laude, with a Bachelors in Psychology. Right now, I love: cupcakes, ballet flats, sleeping in, line dancing, satellite radio, my new Mazda3, politics, Twilight and Robert Pattinson.

- How did you get into scrapbooking?

My 2nd and 3rd grade teacher was a consultant for Creative Memories. She and I were always close and we still keep in touch (we still scrap together at her house and at weekend crops, 16 years later). I went to crops at her house even after I was her student and before too long, I was hooked and became a regular scrapper. Now, I’m absolutely obsessed with the craft.

- What are some of your favorite products, companies and techniques?

Trying to pick a favorite company is like trying to pick out my favorite pair of shoes. It’s impossible. But I can name several: Basic Grey, American Crafts, K & Company, and Prima have always been my favs, and lately, Pink Paislee, Sassafras Lass, and October Afternoon have joined my list. I am a paper addict. I’ll say it. I am addicted to patterned paper. I buy collections of paper in their entirety and often times 2. For me, it’s all about the paper. A page starts with paper, and the paper truly makes it happen. I’m also in love with rub-ons, flowers (can’t do a page without them), paint (especially lately), and sticker letters- AC thickers are my favorite!

- What advice would you give to women who are just starting out in scrapbooking?

First, try not to get overwhelmed! I know, there is A LOT of “stuff.” Just take baby steps. Start out by organizing your photos. Once you have that done, you will feel much better. Now, you can start buying products based on your pictures (instead of me, who just collects products). Next, try to find your style- are you simple, trendy, classic, eclectic, artsy, colorful, or all of the above? And finally, try surrounding yourself with fellow scrappers. There, you can find new friends and inspiration. Friday night and weekend crops are the best place to get your creative juices and scrapper’s “mojo” going.

- Would you consider yourself to be a girly girl? If so, how do you incorporate that onto your layouts?

Gee, if you asked anyone who knows me, you would get a resounding, YES! I am about as girly as you can get. I love the color pink, makeup, shoes, purses, and fashion. I don’t like to sweat or do things that make me sweat (except perhaps line dancing). I don’t play sports, although, I’ve been known to watch football on occasion. ;) And if I see a cockroach, I WILL jump up on a chair and scream (a little). My layouts almost always have some kind of girly accessory, whether it be bling, glitter, or flowers. Even on a boy’s page. I have no shame.

A big thank you to Amanda for answring all our questions and for playing along with us this month. We're *thrilled* to have you on board!

~Stay Pretty!!~

Congratulations to ....

2009-02-27T16:06:00.000-08:00

LG Belarmino!!! Your lovely layout is our February winner ... please email us your address so we can send out your fabulous prize from Paper Trail Studio. Our email address is prettycommittee@live.ca

Be sure to swing by the blog tomorrow ... we'll be introducing you to Amanda, our amazing guest designer for the month of March. We have some great challenges lined up for next month (and an awesome prize sponsor too!) so you won't want to miss it.

Have a great weekend everyone! ~Stay Pretty~

just a reminder ...

2009-02-21T07:33:00.000-08:00

February is quickly coming to an end. There are only 5 days left to complete the two challenges of the month and secure your shot of winning the fantastic prize pack from Paper Trail Studio. All work must be recieved by February 25th in order to be entered into the random draw. Check out the two challenges here and here.

Good luck everyone!

Happy Love Day!

2009-02-14T16:21:00.000-08:00

All of us here at the Pretty Committee wish you, our readers, a very happy Valentine's Day. May your sweethearts spoil you rotten, as they should .... and for those of you who are single (like me!) may you never stop believing that someday your prince charming will come. Here's some Valentine's Day inspiration from some of our Pretty Committee design team members:

Some Valentine's Day photography by Stephanie

Awesome love notes by Sarah

An adorable layout (so beary cute!) by Liza

A great altered mailbox by Donna (to stash all those Valentines!)

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

February Challenge #2

2009-02-10T00:04:00.000-08:00

February's second challenge comes from Bekka who says: "When I was participating in a 365 self-portrait challenge, I would accidentally zoom in on myself too much, which usually resulted in a photo of one eye. I used to immediately delete these "mistakes" until I saw one that caught my attention."

For this challenge, turn the camera toward you and deliberately zoom in too close. Then, create a page about your eye (or eyes) in the the photo. Maybe they are expressive ... maybe they've seen something special. This is the Pretty Committee, so we can't forget about the makeup! Use eye makeup somewhere on your page - you can use the real thing or you can "fake" it by using a mascara brush and black paint (to create the look of mascara), use chalk as eyeshadow, pens for eyeliner - there are so many possibilities!!

Here's what our design team came up with ...

Bekka used black paint and a mascara brush on her page.

Donna used glittered eyeshadow left-over from Halloween on her page.

Stephanie used waterproof mascara on her page.

We love how Sarah used multiple copies of the same photo on her page!

Be sure to send us your layout by February 25th for your chance to win the wonderful prize pack from Paper Trail Studio. And swing by the blog on Valentine's Day for some extra lovin'.

~Stay Pretty!!~

February Challenge #1

2009-02-01T09:12:00.000-08:00

Happy February everyone! Welcome to a brand new year of fun challenges and great prizes. The first challenge of the month comes to us courtesy of Donna. New Year's Eve celebrations may have come and gone, but it is never too late to make a commitment to change. Donna is challenging you to make a layout highlighting some issues or habits in your life that you would like to change in 2009. Maybe you want to lose weight ... maybe you want to reconnect with an old friend ... maybe you want to make more time for yourself. Whatever it is, scrapping about it is both theraputic and inspiring.

Here's what our design team came up with:

Donna would like to get over the psychological hurdles keeping her from enjoying eating fish.

Amy has a bunch of major resolutions and goals - getting accepting at University of California, trying some new recipes and becoming more decisive are just a few.

Inspired by the Kindness Crew, Jessica wants to work on being more kind this year.

Liza wants to believe in herself & conquer her weight.

You have until February 25th to get your layouts in and qualify for the monthly prize. Paper Trail Studio is sponsoring us this month and have made some awesome pins, magnets and adhesive buttons for one lucky winner to enjoy. Make sure you play along for your chance to win.

We'd also like to say goodbye to some of our fantastic design team members who worked so hard to make Pretty Committee a success: Hilde, Cassandra, Stephanie and Emeline. Thank you for all your hard work and the incredible inspiration you brought to each of us. We'll miss you girls.

It's almost time ....

2009-01-30T15:43:00.000-08:00

.... for the first challenge of 2009!!! Make sure to swing by on February 1st as we unveil our latest challenge. You'll want to make sure to play along this month because we have a fabulous sponsor: Paper Trail Studio and they're giving away some awesome exclusive Pretty Committee goodies to one lucky winner!

See you all in a few days!!!

~Stay Pretty!!~

Our December winner .....

2009-01-13T10:32:00.000-08:00

We are back from vacation and are finally ready to announce the winner of our December challenge .... so without further delay, congratulations go out to .....

Scrapgurl !!!! Congrats on your win and on your awesome layout - we loved it! Please send us your address so we can get your prize out to you. You can reach us here: prettycommittee@live.ca

Thanks to everyone who played along. If you won a RAK during the 12 Days of Scrap-Mas, it will be mailed out to you by the end of the week so keep your eyes on your mailbox.

Oh, and we *finally* updated the inspiration gallery, so be sure to swing by and check out all the awesome layouts we recieved. Thanks for making 2008 such a fun year!

~ Stay Pretty!! ~

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009

2009-01-01T00:27:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!!! It's 3:30am here in Montreal, Canada so I'm assuming no matter where you are in the world you are officially in 2009. I hope you all had a safe and happy time celebrating the end of 2008.

It's time for our last (but certainly not least) 12 Days of Scrap-Mas post. Here are some absolutely stunning ornaments made by our design team member Hilde.

All you need to complete this project at home are:

Clear Scraps Christmas ornaments

Magic Mesh

Alcohol ink

and flowers/stickles for decoration

Christmas may be over, but I can see some cute Valentine's Day ornaments ... even Easter ornaments ... using the same idea.

I'm sure you're all anxious to see the two winners from our boxing day RAK. The winners were selected randomly and the lucky ladies are:

LBMann said...
I wouldn't mind a challenge that shows an evolution in our lives (i.e. the cars you had over the years, the haircuts you had over the years, etc.). Something that show a progression.

Heather said...
I'd love to see challenges that encourage women to scrap more about themselves. So many times we scrap our kids, but rarely ourselves. Thanks for all of the challenges this year!

Congrats LBMann and Heather ... send us your addy and we will get your RAK out to you as soon as possible. You can email us at prettycommittee@live.ca

As we dance into the wee hours of the first day of 2009, we'd like to thank you for supporting the Pretty Committee. Thanks for participating in the challenges, commenting on all our posts and making this blog what it is. We are taking a little holiday, but we'll be back on January 8th. See you then.

~Stay Pretty!!~

New Year's Eve ...

2008-12-31T15:23:00.001-08:00

well ladies, here in Canada it is officially New Year's Eve and depending what part of the planet you live on you may already be in 2009. As promised, we'll be posting the three remaining inspirational tutorial posts from the 12 Days of Scrap-Mas and announcing the two winners of our boxing day RAK. First up - our design team member Amy's awesome tutorial!

Scrapbooking can get a bit pricy when all the papers, ribbon, adhesive, and other fun embellishments are added up. When creating projects and cards I love to make my own easy and fun embellishments that I can add to my work. It gives the piece more detail and a unique touch. Since layered accents are hit a right now, here are two different embellishments you can make to spice up your projects!

TUTORIAL ONE:

Layer Ribbon Embellishment Steps:
1. Gather materials: Ribbon; flowers, buttons; adhesive (hot glue works really well); scissors
2. Tie two bows with coordinating ribbon.
3. Overlap two bows at the center and adhere together with adhesive.
4. Adhere a flower or button at the center.

This is card I made using this embellishment technique:

TUTORIAL TWO:

Layered Circle Embellishment Step:
1. Gather materials: scrap pieces of patterned paper; decorative edge scissors; epoxy stickers; foam squares.
2. Cut four different sized circles using scrap patterned paper and decorative edge scissors.
3. Layer the circles (largest on bottom to smallest on top) and adhere together with foam squares
4. Adhere epoxy sticker on top.

This is a card I made using this embellishment technique:

Thank you Amy for that tutorial. It's great.

Be sure to swing by again in an hour or two, when we post yet another 12 Days of Scrap-Mas post. If you haven't completed the December challenges yet you have until 11:59pm EST to get them in and qualify for the Scrapbook Deals 4 U prize kit.

On the 10th day of Scrap-Mas ....

2008-12-27T19:05:00.001-08:00

.... the Pretty Committee gave to me: a sincere apology. We're so sorry we were unable to share the last three scrap-mas tutorials and inspirational posts with you. Things got a little hectic around here and, as a result, our blog got a little neglected. The last three posts are GREAT, though, so we will be sharing them with you on New Year's Eve so be sure to check back in on December 31st for some awesome tutorials and inspiring info.

Also ... don't forget that December 31st is the last day to get your layouts in for Decembers' two challenges. Up for grabs? A kit from Scrapbook Deals 4 U. Be sure to play along!

In other news, we're having a BOXING DAY RAK. Wooohoooo. Leave a comment letting us know what kind of challenges you'd like to see on our blog come January. On New Year's Eve we'll pick two lucky winners.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday ... see you all in a few days!

~Stay Pretty!!~

On the 9th day of Scrap-Mas....

2008-12-21T20:17:00.001-08:00

.... the Pretty Committee gave to me: some money saving tips from design team member Stephanie!

I work in a scrapbook store, so I know first-hand how quickly scrapping supplies add up. It doesn't take much effort to spend a small fortune on paper and embellishments. One of my goals for 2009 is to make more layouts, but spend less money making them. I know what you're thinking: "is such a thing possible?!" Working at the store, I've picked up a few money saving tricks and I thought I'd pass them along.

1. Organize your supplies. I'm not saying you have to call in Martha Stewart or hire the crew from TLC's Clean Sweep, but I do think it's important to keep your scrapbook supplies organized in one common place. The more organized you are, the more aware you'll be of what you already own and you'll be able to avoid buying things you already have lying around. I'm lucky to have an entire room to organize my supplies in, but there are ways to stay organized even if you only have a small corner of a desk. I love this desktop organizer by Making Memories ... it has lots of room to hold paper and embellishments, and the little drawers are perfect for ribbon, buttons and tiny accessories.

2. Buy double-sided patterned paper, and paper with stripes. People could save a bundle on patterned paper if they were more selective about the paper they bought. I rarely use an entire sheet of 12x12 paper on a single layout, so I love getting my hands on double-sided patterned paper because it means I can use it twice and get two completely different looks. I also love using paper with stripes because if I cut the stripes out, I can use them several times on a layout and it looks as though I've used several different papers. These two papers by Scenic Route (top) and Making Memories (bottom) are two of my favorites. For just $1.50, I get 15 different designs that I can cut out and use as individual strips. If I were to buy 15 sheets of patterned paper at $0.75 each, I'd be spending $11.25!!!!!

3. Make a shopping list. Keep a list of things you need and/or want. Before heading out the store, edit the list. Give yourself a specific budget, and decide what you absolutely cannot live without. Then, because scrapbook stores are always getting new supplies in, allow yourself a $5-$10 bonus to spend on items you weren't expecting to find. Sticking to a shopping list will help you stay within your budget, and allowing yourself the luxuary of buying one or two small "impulse purchases" will keep the shopping experience a fun one.

4. Get artsy fartsy with your layouts. Remember, there are no rules in scrapbooking so don't fool yourself into thinking that EVERY layout needs to have patterned paper, letter stickers, flowers, etc. Sometimes, forcing yourself to make do with what you already have can lead you to create an incredible layout that really captures your artistic personality. This is a layout I made using only paint, buttons and some left-over rub-ons I had in my stash.

5. Share your stash. I'm lucky that all of my closest girlfriends (and even my mom!) are scrapbookers. If you have one or two friends who scrapbook, consider splitting the cost on certain items like punches, Cricut/Slice cartridges, templates, etc. Of course you'll have to come to some sort of a "custody agreement" regarding who will keep the item and for how long, but if you're able to share with others you can save hundreds of dollars on pricey items.

I hope some of these tips will help you save some money in 2009. Leave a comment letting us know how YOU save money when it comes to scrapbooking!

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas

On the 8th day of Scrap-Mas ...

2008-12-20T08:42:00.000-08:00

... the Pretty Committee gave to me: an inspirational mini-challenge from design team member Jessica!!

Every Christmas, my family has a tradition that we all have to decorate the tree together, and that every ornament's story needs to be told before it is hung. There is one very special ornament, a small, delicate bell, which has the most well-remembered and most-told story of all. My mom's father passed away when she was only 6 years old, and one of her few memories of him is that when she was a really young girl, each Christmas he would hoist her up on his shoulders to place this very bell near the top of the tree. She had four older siblings, but this treasure was hers and hers alone; none of the other kids got to hang this ornament. It's gone on the tree in loving memory each year since, and the story is told year round. This precious little ornament is a yearly reminder in my household to always be thankful: for friends, for family, for moments in time that seem insignificant but are so cherished.

What is your bell? Do you have an ornament whose story is always retold? Do you have a childhood Christmas memory that has been passed down to the next generation, and holds as special a place in their heart as it does in your own? Maybe your favorite ornament has no story at all. Does the sound of a bell- any bell- at Christmastime grab you more than it does any other time of the year? Maybe there is one Christmas ornament or decoration that you always get to put up, because it's your task, and yours alone. What is your bell? Be inspired to go through your Christmas decorations, and see what fond memories lie in boxes in your attic almost year-round. Cause maybe, just maybe, your bell isn't a bell at all.

xoxo Jess

And congratulations to our RAK winner ....

Txracy said...
I have seen some of these types of ornaments filled with curled/rolled strips of patterned papers also.They WOULD be awesome filled with flowers!

Send us your addy and we'll send a holiday treat your way. :o)

~Stay Pretty!!~

On the 7th Day of Scrap-Mas ...

2008-12-19T21:17:00.000-08:00

... the Pretty Committee gave to me: a holiday photo trick from design team member Liza!

Happy Holidays

For the past 3 years, I noticed that my DH and I don't actually have any decent Christmas Photo together. Our photos are either with family at Christmas Dinner or no photos at all since I was the one taking the photo.

Last year, I decided to put an end to the bad photos I am left with. I convinced my DH to have our pictures taken at a Photo Studio. There were no fancy set-ups in the studio so I decided to bring my own props - a set of Santa hats for each of us. I even coordinated the clothes we were going to wear. Both of us were wearing green and that Santa hat was just the right accent for the red tones.

We had a blast! Our photo package consisted of four set-up with 16 wallet-size print and 1 8R print. It was our best photo for 2007 and I had plenty of photos to choose from for scrapping.

And here is that layout. I used the 8R print to keep the focus on my DH and I. For the color scheme, I limited it to 3 colors - green, red and gold. Just the right contrast for a Christmas feel. This is one of my all time favorite layouts.

So this Christmas, try to do the same thing, have your photos taken in a photo studio. Or do your Christmas photo session. Use props to help add mood to your photos. And most of all have fun! You will definitely end up with a photo you like and it will inspire you to create a wonderful Christmas layout.

Don't forget about our two challenges (you can view them by clicking on the links in the upper right-hand corner). You have until December 31st to get those done and qualify for the Scrapbook Deals 4 U kit. Also, don't forget about our RAK ... leave a comment to the post below by Sunday morning for your chance to win a little holiday pressie from us.

~Stay Pretty!!!~

On the 6th day of Scrap-Mas ...

2008-12-18T20:53:00.000-08:00

... the Pretty Committee gave to me: a fun tutorial by design team member Sarah that makes a perfect gift for a fellow scrapper!

Scrapper's Ornament Gift

Materials:

box of clear glass ball ornaments (any size)

ribbon (your choice of color)

various small scrapping supplies

1. Twist the metal top of the ornament slowly and delicately until it slides off.

2. Once the metal top is removed, fill it with scrapping goodies that you want to give to your scrapping friend(s). You can put whatever fits into the top of the glass ornament. Small brads, snaps, buttons, and ribbon all fit into the ornament.

3. Once you fill the ornament with your choice of items, pinch the two metal wires protruding from the metal top. Pinch them until they are small enough to reenter the hole of the glass ornament.

4. Twist the metal top until it rests back on the glass ornament.

(Optional): For a quick embellishment, tie a fun and festive ribbon to the ornament to give it a holiday touch. Also, you could attach a small gift tag and tie it to the ornament.

This is a fun and fast resourceful gift to make for a fellow scrapper. They'll probably hang it from their tree, or just use the supplies inside the ornament! Need a last minute gift for the kids? Replace the scrap supplies with candies or small toys.

Today we're giving away a RAK ... just post a comment to this post, and we'll pick one lucky winner randomly. You have until Sunday morning to leave some love.

Happy Holidays!!

On the 5th day of Scrap-Mas ....

2008-12-17T16:01:00.000-08:00

... the Pretty Committee gave to me: some great websites full of inspiration. Grab a mug of hot chocolate and check out these sites recommended by our design team member Emeline.

1. Design Sponge- a website dedicated to product and home design, it is a great resource for beautiful patterns and ideas. I came across this site while flipping through a scrapbook magazine.

2. Sweet Pea Ink - I chanced upon this link while looking for some gift items sometime back. Love this site ! It's a great and affordable online paper-gift related store.

3. Vintage Amethyst- This is a European site selling beautiful vintage items. I cannot remember how I chanced upon this site. It has been in my book mark since forever and I just love browsing through this beautiful site and dream!

4. Martha Stewart Craft Online Store- She is the mother of craft! Love her, her concepts and love this store. Lots of inspiration and bargains at times.

Thanks and have a happy holidays ! :)

Emeline

** The Pretty Committee would like to congratulate Emeline for her page in this month's Memory Makers magazine. Great job! **

December Challenge # 2

2008-12-15T19:36:00.000-08:00

Hi Ladies!! Are you all enjoying the 12 Days of Scrap-Mas as much as I am? Trust me, there is lots more to come including fun tutorials and tons of holiday inspiration, so check back often. We're ready to launch December's second challenge, and we're hoping you'll play along with us. Up for grabs is an awesome kit from Scrapbook Deals 4 U!! In our first challenge, we wanted to know what you were wishing for this year. Now, we want to hear all about your holiday traditions. Is there something that you do during the holiday season that makes your spirits bright? Let us know what kinds of traditions you have during this time of year.

Here's how our design team celebrates ....

Amy says: "Every year my mom and I bake a cake for my aunt's Christmas Eve party. Last year we were ambitious and decided to bake a complicated and time consuming Buche De Noel roll cake. It took nearly all day but the end result was absolutely worth it. This tradition of Christmas baking will be with my mom and I forever!"

Donna says: "Since we don't do a tradition that is specifically girly in our house, I did my layout about a dream that the girls and I have of getting a pink foil tree and making it our own girly thing every year."

Cassandra's family tradition is to eat three big meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and one of the meals is always Stone Crabs. Yummy!

Emeline says: "it's an annual year end tradition our family practice to walk down the busy roads in the city to soak up the Christmas atmosphere and to see the beautiful Christmas lights."

Our guest designer, Alecia, says: "For several years now, three of my closest friends and I (we call ourselves the FAB 4) get together at Christmas time to exchange gifts, hang out with each other, cook dinner or eat out somewhere we love, have a few drinks and just have a good time. I have always made them each a handmade Christmas card, and this year was not going to be any different. Here are my three cards I made for the girls this year."

So make a layout letting us know how you celebrate the season. You have until December 31st to get your layouts in.

Be sure to swing by Sarah's blog ... she's having an awesome RAK giveaway. Oh, and tune in tomorrow for an awesome tutorial by Cassandra.

~Stay Pretty!!~

On the 2nd day of Scrap-Mas ...

2008-12-14T15:35:00.000-08:00

... the Pretty Committee gave to me: some holiday inspiration from design team member Donna!

What gets me in the mood for the holidays? I am one that LOVES the holidays. From Thanksgiving to New Year's, I am in heaven. The aromas of pies, cakes, and cookies baking. Spending time with the kids playing games, baking together, watching holiday movies. Every year, one of the kids tries to make it to seeing Santa, but no one ever does. That final night of the year; the competition to see who can outlast the clock and welcome in the new.

So many things have inspired me through out the holidays. I love the gingerbread houses that start popping up through out the late fall. The kids and I have so much fun planning our next "home improvement" project.

The weather gets me in the mood for wrapping gifts. (Especially now that we live somewhere that it actually snows!) Beautiful fat flakes and falling snow blanketing the trees and lawns.

My favorite winter/holidays colors can be founds everywhere in my home. Blues ~ teal and royals, Pinks ~ light and dark, green ~ lime and traditional, red, silver.

And I always make sure to toss in the extra the extra sparkle everywhere.

Happy holidays!!

Donna.

welcome to ....

2008-12-13T15:04:00.000-08:00

Alright, so technically 12 Days of Scrap-Mas started yesterday but we had a big snowstorm here and didn't have power (so no internet access) .... don't worry, though ... we'll make it up to you. There will be two posts on Christmas Eve and we'll throw in a bonus RAK as well. Are you feeling all festive? Are you in the holiday spirit? All of us on the design team are, and we can't wait to spend the next eleven days sharing holiday inspiration and some fun tutorials with you.

And so, without further delay ....

On the 1st day of Scrap-Mas, the Pretty Committee gave to me: an awesome tutorial by design team member Bekka!

One of my very favorite ornaments is a string of pretty beads. So when I saw these beads in Michael's a few weeks ago, I knew exactly what I was going to do.

I dug through my craft supplies and found some wire my mom had given me a few years ago. It was out of the packaging, but I think it's called "Fun Wire". I like working with it because it's very easy to bend, and very forgiving when you make a mistake. Oh, and because it comes in pretty colors. I selected a few beads, and started arranging them on the wire. I don't cut the wire at this point, because I really don't know how many beads I'm going to use.

Once I'm happy with the way the ornament looks, I cut the wire. I leave about ¼" at the bottom of the ornament, and 1" at the top.

Then I loop the bottom and tuck the end of the wire inside the last bead.

Once the bottom of the ornament is secured, I create a loop at the top of the ornament…

…and then twist it closed. This is why I like the Fun Wire, because I can easily correct my mistakes.

All that's left to do is hang it on the tree. I have a mini tree, so the loop fits perfectly over the branches.

I'm so addicted to making these ornaments! Here are a few more.

Thank you Bekka for that wonderful tutorial. And ladies, if you follow Bekka's lead and make some ornaments of your own be sure to post your creations!

Don't forget to complete our first December challenge and look out for the second challenge on December 15th. You have until December 31st to complete the challenges and secure a shot of winning the fabulous prize kit from Scrapbook Deals 4 U.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells .... Jingle all the way ...

2008-12-05T18:11:00.000-08:00

Ladies, we have such a fun announcement for you tonight. We have a FABULOUS prize for one lucky winner this month. Martha and the girls at Scrapbook Deals 4 U have generously donated one of their awesome kits to give to our December winner!!! Have you seen their kits? They are full of amazing goodies and products, I'm so excited and can't wait to see who gets to take it home. So be sure to play along with our two challenges to double your shot at winning, and send in your layouts by December 31st (aka New Year's Eve) to be eligible for the random draw.

More exciting news coming your way .... from December 12th to December 24th, our Pretty Committee Design Team will be hosting the 12 Days of Scrap-Mas. It'll be twelve days of fun tutorials, inspirational posts, mini-challenges, RAKs and more so be sure to swing by and leave tons of comments. We're looking forward to scrappin' and getting into the holiday spirit with you!

~Stay Pretty!!~

December Challenge #1 ....

2008-11-30T20:34:00.000-08:00

Happy December 1st !!!!!!!!!!!!

Just 24 days 'till Christmas Eve .. how exciting. "I don't want a lot for Christmas .... there is just one thing I need ..... " OK, OK. I'll stop singing and get straight to the first challenge for the month. We had so much fun making Christmas-themed layouts to share with you. Every girl thinks and dreams of something special that she wants during the holidays. Perhaps it's clothes, jewelery, a significant other, hugs/kisses, etc. Let's face it, although we are in the season of giving, some people are going to constantly ask us, "What do you want for Christmas?" ... so let us know and fill this in: "All I want for Christmas is ..."

Here's what our Design Team is hoping for this year ....

Layout by our fab guest designer, Alecia

Layout by Bekka

Layout by Sarah

Layout by Liza

Layout by Hilde

Because of the holidays, we're giving you until December 31st to get your layouts in. We can't wait to see what all you girls come up with! Good luck and thanks for playing along!

Oh, and stayed tuned for our big December announcement to be revealed on December 5th!

~Stay Pretty!!!~

We have a winner .... and a guest designer!!!

2008-11-28T17:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Black Friday ladies! Did you all hit the shops and score some wonderful holiday discounts? However you spent this lovely Friday, I hope it was enjoyable!!

We have two pieces of fun news for you this evening. First, we have a winner for our November challenge ......

Congratulations Jana! Your fabulous layout was randomly selected, so send us a message with your address and we'll get your Riff Raff chipboard goodies to you in time for Christmas! We're so proud of all the women who take part in our challenges ... your layouts never cease to amaze us. Be sure to swing by the inspiration gallery for some serious eye candy. It's very inspiring indeed!

Next on the agenda .... we have our FIRST guest designer!!! Her name is Alecia and she'll be playing along with our design team throughout the month of December. Check out some of her incredible work:

We got to "interview" her and here are some of her answers ....

Tell us a little about yourself ... your family, your likes, dislikes, hobbies, etc

A little about me... I'm 33 years, married to an awesome guy, and have two teen stepchildren that live with us full-time (Lord help me, LOL!). I work full-time outside of the home as an Engineering Coordinator, and spend the rest of my "free" time scrapping and hanging with my family and my girls, whenever we get the chance!!!

How did you get into scrapbooking?

A friend I worked with years ago got me into this wonderful hobby. My spare time has been consumed with it ever since (just ask hubby, hehe).

What inspires you the most?

I LOVE to see other people's work. I can get consumed in blog-hopping for hours if I'm not careful. There is SO much inspiration out there to see. I also love using sketches, these are so great for getting your scrappy mojo flowing.

What are your favorite products and techniques to use on layouts?

A few things I find myself ALWAYS reaching for are flowers, ribbon, buttons, bling, brads, journaling spots... oh and ink... I ink everything, hehe.

What advice would you give to women who are new to scrapbooking and just starting out?

The best advice I ever received and have given since, is to remember, there are NO rules to scrapbooking. Grab some supplies, Glue & Go!!!

Would you consider yourself a girly-girl? If so, how do you incorporate that onto your layouts?

A girly-girl... hmmm, I guess I can be if I have to be, hehe. Although I love the girly things on my pages... love using bling, flowers and ribbon bows on my pages and use them often.

It's going to be so fun having Alecia hanging out with us! Make sure you check back on Monday for our first December challenge ... and some fun holiday news .... ooohhh I wish I could spill the beans now, but I think the design team would kill me! hehe

~Stay Pretty!!~

November Challenge # 2

2008-11-09T21:02:00.001-08:00

November is the month of Thanksgiving - at least, it is for Americans ... Canadians celebrate in October. Regardless of when you celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, we all have one thing in common: we're thankful for our girlfriends. Women share a special bond, and here at The Pretty Committee we are passionate about our friendships. Our girlfriends are our posse and they're the ones we can talk to non-stop. So we challenge you to go ahead and celebrate that relationship, that special bond. Create a layout celebrating your friendship! Be sure to post your creations back here by November 25th for your chance to win the prize from Riff Raff Designs.

Here's what our incredibly talented design team came up with ~

Layout by Sarah

Layout by Liza

Layout by Hilde

Layout by Bekka

Layout by Donna

Layout by Amy

Don't forget to complete November's first challenge (the most perfect thing in your wardrobe - see previous post) to double your chances of winning the prize. We'll randomly select a winner at the end of the month.

~Stay Pretty~

November: Challenge # 1

2008-11-06T07:28:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the month of November! There's a new president in the white house, and a new challenge up on our blog! Such an exciting month! :o)

This month, we challenge you to find inspiration in your wardrobe. Everyone has their absolute favorite dress or purse or shoes that they could not live without! What dress in your closet is perfect for any event? What shoes go with almost any outfit imaginable? What earrings look perfect at any occasion? Make a layout celebrating the most perfect thing in your wardrobe and send them to us before November 25th for your chance to win an awesome prize from Riff Raff Designs!

Here's what our design team came up with ...

Stephanie from England wants this dress in her closet.

Jessica loves her Versace glasses.

Cassandra thinks her necklace is perfect.

There's still one layout missing ... but as soon as Stephanie from Canada gets her camera working, she'll be able to show off her favorite pair of black heels. So run to your closet, snap some photos and show us your favorite must-have's for this season!

~Stay Pretty!!~

sorry for the delay ...

2008-11-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

Good evening ladies!

Those of you who read our blog and participate in our challenges have probably noticed that there's been a little delay in the posting of November's first challenge. Sorry about that - we're having some technical glitches over here, but we'll be ready to reveal the challenge and the design team's work on the 5th. In the meantime, we thought we'd introduce you to our amazing sponsor for the month of November: Riff Raff Designs.

They make the most incredible chipboard shapes .... everything from trees to swirls, flamingos to snowflakes. I love to spice up the chipboard with glitter, flocking powder and/or paint. Not only are the designs fantastic, but they're totally affordable too! Be sure to take the time to visit their etsy shop ... I'm sure you won't be able to resist adding some of their items to your shopping cart!

A few weeks ago, I came home and found a big box of Riff Raff goodies (about $25 worth) in my mailbox ... and I can't WAIT to send them to one lucky winner this month. Be sure to play along with our two challenges for your chance to win.

For those of you who are just dying to know what the challenges are ... here's a little insider's hint: pay close attention to your wardrobe and spend some quality time with your best friends this week. Heehee! I wish I could share more but the big reveal will have to wait.

See you all on November 5th!!!

~Stay Pretty!!~

Congratulations to ....

2008-10-30T15:36:00.000-07:00

Wow ladies ... your October layouts were fantastic! Thanks so much for taking the time to play along. We randomly selected a winning layout and the lucky scrapbooker who will be walking away with the fabulous prize pack from Elle's Studio is .......... Corien!!! Congrats girl! Email us your address (prettycommittee@live.ca) and we'll forward it along to Elle so she can send you your prize.

Here is the great layout Corien made .... we love the honesty in the journaling!

Be sure to tune in first thing Saturday morning for our first November challenge. :o)

~Stay Pretty~

October Challenge #2

2008-10-10T06:34:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone!

Mirror mirror, on the wall … what makes YOU the fairest of them all? Let’s just admit it: we all steal the occasional glance in the mirror to check out our reflection. But if that mirror could talk back to you, what would it say? We want to hear about the most beautiful part of your reflection. Maybe it’s your smile … maybe it's your children … either way, we want to know what makes you stand out from the crowd!

Here's what our design team saw when they looked in the mirrror ...

Sarah sees determination and drive.

Hilde sees her eyes, her humor, her creativity and life.

Liza sees a lady who looks pretty in pink.

Cassandra sees neat brown eyes and a set of plump lips.

Donna sees her eyes staring back at her.

It's all about the eyes for Stephanie too.

You have until October 25th to get your layouts in and qualify for an amazing prize pack from Elle's Studio. Don't forget to complete our "Gossip Girl" challenge as well (see previous post) to double your chances of winning! A winner will be randomly selected on October 26th ... GOOD LUCK!

October Challenge # 1

2008-09-30T20:10:00.000-07:00

Rumour has it that we’re all gossip girls at heart … so we wanna know what gets you talking. Do you spend your lunch money on tabloid magazines? Are you unashamed to admit that stalk your favorite celebrities? Do you keep your girlfriends in the gossip loop, or are you always the last to know? Or maybe … just maybe … you have a juicy story that’s just dying to find its way onto a layout!

Here's what got our design team members gossiping ...

Stephanie documented her transition out of the "gossip girl" phase

Donna showed no shame in her love for Dane Cook

Amy made a digital layout about her guilty pleasure: The Hills

Emeline proudly showed off her stash of magazines

Jessica's been a gossip girl for as long as she can remember

Bekka's layout reminds us to think before we speak

So come'on ... tell us what makes you (or doesn't make you) a gossip girl. You have until October 25th to get your layouts in and qualify for this awesome stash of goodies from Elle's Studio ...

Another challenge will be posted up on the 15th of October ... you won't want to miss it. Complete both challenges and double your chances of winning the prize!

We have a WINNER !!!

2008-09-30T13:37:00.000-07:00

Hey ladies!

First of all, thank you so much to everyone who participated in our first challenge. The entire design team was blown away by the awesome layouts that were submitted and we're so glad you all decided to play along. It was a tough decision, but we finally chose a winner.

So congratulations to ............

VERONICA !!!!! Your layout is absolutely stunning. Send us your address and we'll make sure to get the autumn prize pack out to you.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow, October 1st, for our second challenge. You won't want to miss it ... we have a very generous sponsor and a great prize to give away! See you then!

~Stay Pretty!!~

September's Challenge ....

2008-09-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

Every woman has her own "pretty committee" ... women she considers to be gorgeous inside and out. In honor of The Pretty Committee's online debut, we wanted to celebrate our group's name and find out who makes the cut to be on your own, personal pretty committee. Would you nominate your grandmother? Your best friend? Marilyn Monroe? Mother Theresa? All of the above? Show us your layout or art project and let us know!

You have until September 25th to e-mail your completed work to us OR to link your layout to this thread in order to qualify to win our fun, autumn-inspired prize pack that's filled with goodies like rub-ons, stickers, ribbon, bling and more!!

Here are the fabulous pages our design team came up with ....

Hilde nominated her mom and sister!

Donna gave her Aunt Joyce a place on her committee

Stephanie thought her friend Catherine was worthy

Liza honored her mama

Jessica paid tribute to her high school friends

Kate nominated her favorite fashionista

Bekka managed to celebrate 22 ladies on her layout!

Sarah thinks her mom deserves a spot the committee

Stephanie's layout highlighted two amazing cultural icons.

Emeline's mommy made the list

Cassandra's layout honors her mother, grandmother and Aunt Cindy

All committees need a notebook to keep track of things, and Amy's altered notebook for her BFF Soraya helps the two stay in touch even though they attend different high schools.

Get ready .. get set ... GET PRETTY !!!

2008-09-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

After two weeks of reading amazing applications and browsing through truly inspirational galleries, we've finally made a decision and have selected twelve extremely talented ladies of oversee the challenges here. Yup ... you read that right ... TWELVE ladies. Our original plan was to have only 5 design team members, but we received *so* many awesome applications we had to make room for a few more faces. And so, without further ado, please welcome our lovely design team:

Hilde from the Netherlands, Liza from the Philippines, Emeline from Singapore, Stephanie from the United Kingdom, Jessica and Stephanie from Canada and Kate, Donna, Cassandra, Sarah, Amy and Bekka from the USA. Go read their profiles and check out their blogs - they are seriously fabulous scrappers!

Thank you to everyone who sent in applications … we’re truly sorry we couldn’t take you all onboard. We hope you’ll still join in and participate with challenges, and keep your eyes peeled for future Guest Design Team Member openings and other fun opportunities.

The Pretty Committee Design Team is officially all fired up and ready to scrap. Are you? Be sure to swing by on September 10th when we announce our first challenge and the design team reveal their incredible layouts! Here are two sneak peeks of what's to come:

~ Stay Pretty !! ~

How to play along ...

2008-08-18T16:59:00.001-07:00

Challenges are posted here twice a month - on the 1st of the month and on the 10th of the month. In order to qualify for the prize, your layout(s) must be submitted by the 25th of the month. The winner will be announced on the blog shortly after.

We've had some problems in the past with people NOT claiming their prize and sending us their address. For this reason, from now on, if you are selected as a winner of the month you have 20 days to get in touch with us and provide us with a mailing address. If we haven't heard from you in 20 days, the Pretty Committee reserves the right to give your prize to someone else.

Your layouts may be any size, and digital layouts are accepted. Art projects such as cards, mini-albums, art journal pages and altered items can also be submitted.

To submit your work, you can either post a link to the appropriate thread OR you can e-mail it to us at prettycommittee@live.ca

All submitted work will be uploaded into our photo gallery. If you have any questions or objections about that, please feel free to e-mail us at the address above.

Thanks so much for playing along! ~ Stay pretty !!! ~