Digi Mixes It Up!

The Challenge:  Take four or more digital kits and mix and match elements onto one layout.

'Fall Fun' by (-Shannon-)

 

Sometimes it's all too easy to use elements from one kit to create your page.  All of the papers and embellishments automatically match or have a certain theme.  What about those times where you're not able to find exactly what you're looking for in that kit?  It's OK to do a little mixin-n-matchin!

'One Dad. One Mom, Two Monsters' by Davsar

The Result:  Amazing layouts based on coordinating colors, contrasting styles and great inspiration!

Take time to look outside of that kit purchase to look for other elements from a different kit or an entirely different artist!  You just may find that perfect final touch that makes that layout or project exceptional!

View the entire Digital Creative Team reveal HERE!

Great job, team!

This Week's CT Reveals!

This week the Creative Team uses products from Fancy Pants Designs, Prima and Scrap Within Reach! You can view their complete articles by visiting our Resources Page.

Here are a few samples of the projects:

Sus uses neutral colors from Scrap Within Reach's line to create this project!

'Confident' layout by Beth using Prima products.


SarahA creates a lovely Cupcake Album, featuring her daughter, using products from KaiserCraft and Fancy Pants Designs!

As always, INCREDIBLE job Creative Team!

Featured Feature: Product Alerts!

Our Product Alerts feature will notify you when the products you've selected become available at ACOT. An auto-generated email, per your specifications, will be sent out either daily at 7 PM EST or weekly on Saturdays.

At the top right corner of your screen you will see the Product Alerts link. When you click on it, you will have two choices: Scrapbooking Product Alerts or Digital Products Alert.

The Product Alert feature is a great way to make sure you don't miss the arrival of your favorite product line or type. You can opt to receive notifications as often as you'd like (daily or weekly). Receive email notices when your favorite manufacturer has new products in the shoppe get really specific and only receive notices when your favorite artist has new papers in stock!

For complete 'How-To' details, check out our Product Alert Help FAQ.

Until next time...

Hop On The Polar Express

Holiday Train by Kimandasmo

This is a wonderful Christmas project to try this holiday season! Cindy (Kimandasmo) takes the KaiserCraft Train Tidy along with Imaginisce's Polar Expressions line to create the perfect center piece or mantle decoration!

You'll need Mod Podge, files, and paint along with other optional items like Polar Fleece Felt Shapes, popsicle sticks and stickles. This project is sure to impress anyone who sees it! Make this train your own by
adding pics of your family or tuck special candy goodies into the cars for friends to snack on!

Get the complete How-To HERE! Wonderful job, Cindy!

Fancy Pants - Not Just For Little Sprouts!

'So Very Brad' by Laura Fiore

Fancy Pants Designs is known for creating wonderful kid themed papers and embellishments with lines like 'Dancing Girl' and 'Rough & Tough'! Laura grabs inspiration from the big 'kids' in her life in this reveal.

'Welcome to Your Future' by Laura Fiore

Laura used several patterned papers to portray the excitement and business of the day Jessica moved into her dorms! Not sure how to mix different papers to get the desired affect? Check out our online 'Never Too Many Patterns' class.

Lovely job, Laura! To view the complete reveal, click HERE.

Christmas Countdown with Jules & SEI

6"x6" Wooden Christmas Trees

CT Member, Jules, loves spending the holidays hosting friends and family. She makes gatherings extra special by creating personal keepsakes for her guests!

Holiday Photo Cards Using SEI Christmas Mint line

See Jules' complete article and get instructions on making the perfect gift using Bo Bunny's Chocolate MyWord Cascade Album!

Fabulous job, Jules!

This Week's Paper CT Reveal!

The CT is at it again! We've been busy adding new products to our shelves and the CT has been busy showing 'em off! Take a peek!

Megan gets 'Rough and Tough' with Fancy Pants:

Angela adds a little 'Flourish' to her projects using products from KI Memories:

Pam and friends travel down Pink Paislee's 'Amber Road':

View their complete product reveals (including how-to's) HERE!

Until next time...

Creating With Templates

template designed by JennK

Using templates is a terrific way to inspire creativity. Our digital Creative team created their own layered layout template. They then traded with another CT Member to see what would happen. The results?

Well, you be the judge:

template designed by annelies1972


'Tough Stuff' by Keling - using annelies1972 template

Janello used JennK's template to create this layout:

Templates can be used by both digital and traditional paper scrappers for inspiration. Click to view the entire article. Try designing one yourself before creating your next layout. It may just help you through a design slump or challenge you to discover better ways to display pictures or use that embellishment you've been saving!

ACOT October Contest!

October Contest ***Halloween Colors with a TWIST***

October Contest reveal: Black and Orange by Kimandasmo

This month the contest is to create a layout or craft using Halloween colors but NOT for a Halloween layout! Typical Halloween colors are to be used such as black, purple and orange.

Eligible entries must be submitted before October 31, 2009. Winners to be chosen by CT Team and 10 Message Board Members. Please click HERE to view complete details. Prizes awarded to include: ACOT gift cards/certificates. Digi prize pack. Prizes awarded based on number of entries.

We want to see what you can do!

Welcome Emarie803!

Emarie803 aka: Emily

Welcome to ACOT's Guest Paper Creative Team Member for the month of October! Meet Emily. 'Em' was one of the original message board 'Stick-Gals'! She worked with SEI's Winter Song line of products for her reveal.

Winter Magic by Emarie803

What's your favorite scrapping tool to use when scrapbooking? My ATG gun. I love that thing! Seriously, I don't know how I scrapped without it!

What are your top two fave holidays? Christmas Eve and Christmas! Seriously that is my favorite time of year!

Favorite thing to do with your family? For my household it would be going to hockey and lacrosse games. Including my parents and sister, getting together for games and dinner.

View Em's complete interview and take a look at all of her gallery submissions!

Congratulations, Emily!

Tutorials? Yeah. We Have Those.

Kristin and I were sitting around talking about the wonder that is ACOT and how it's grown by leaps and bounds over the past twelve years. Once upon a time all we consisted of was an inventory of stickers that fit into one single shoebox.

My, how times have changed. ACOT now has over 28,000 different product sku's in inventory, a thriving community with our Message Board and Gallery and more site features than ever! Our Creative Team gives inspiration, creativity and a real sense of family to our site. I don't know if we could ask for much more.

During this chat with Kristin, I thought there are a lot of features we offer on our site from better ways to search for what you want to our library of resources that could help you find a new technique to try. Many of our customers may not even know these features exist. Here and there I will spotlight one on Cherry Bits!

Today's Cherry Bits Feature: Tutorials

ACOT offers traditional and digi tutorials, paper crafting, hybird, stamping and photography tutorials! We really do want to be your source for inspiration. If there is ever a technique or a particular product you'd like to know more about, be sure to check out our Tutorial library. If a topic hasn't been covered, consider dropping a hint on the Message Board.

Smiley-Scrap8 does a beautiful job in her 'Getting Creative with Core'dinations Cardstock' article.

You have to see what she does to go from this:

To this by just using a border punch and Core'dinations Cardstock:

You can find tips for always getting The Perfect Shot or themed project ideas like Halloween Banners or how to make a Mini Purse Album. Take some time to check out the Resource library and let us know what you think!

Until next time...

Bling! Bling!

Prima's SIIP&C Swirls Maroon & Silver

Everyone needs a little bling in their lives! Sparkly, shiny sparks of brilliance add light to your layouts and projects with little effort! It looks like you've spent days on something when all you really did was find the perfect color stone or gem and stick it on! You have to love that.

Basic Grey's Plume Bling It On

Well, we're making it a little easier for you to find that perfect blingy accent at ACherryOnTop.com. Once upon a time, you had to know whether or not you wanted rhinestones or gems or pearls or crystal. Guess what? Not anymore! We've combined all of these lovely categories into one!

KaiserCraft's Ice Blue Rhinestone

Check out our brand new BLING section and let us know what you think! You'll find all of your favorite companies, like Basic Grey, Prima, Z-va Creative, Mark Richards and so many more. If it's sparkly and shiny you're looking for, you wont be disappointed in our Bling! Happy browsing!

Until next time...

CT Product Reveal Wrap-Up

The kids are back into their routines of school and various other activities. The days are getting shorter and the temps a little cooler. What better time to grab something warm, cozy up to your monitor and soak in some inspiration from our Creative Team?

Beth-W goes Beyond The Page w/KaiserCraft

SarahA's daughter is completely adorable on this layout using My Mind's Eye products:

You can't help but feel all warm and cuddly when looking at this next layout from Cindy~

Bo-Bunny's Kitchen Spice & Delilah combine beautifully together!

The product lines used are HOT and are flying out of our warehouse fast! If something is currently unavailable, be sure to take advantage of our Product Alert feature to receive immediate email notices when they're back in stock!

Back In The Swing!

The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of activity here at ACOT. At the beginning of the month, we were swamped with the success of our Labor Day Sale. We followed that up with our Online Warehouse Sale and then our Local Warehouse Sale! All of this right in the middle of or busy season for new product arrivals!

Shoppers browse during local warehouse sale

Whew!

At least it's never boring! It was great to see some familiar faces from our Message Board as well as some brave travelers from places like Illinois, Indiana and Connecticut during our local sale! We're already planning the last event of the year! Be sure to sign up for our local newsletter for all of the details.

Here is the current view from my desk:

Beautiful, isn't it? Don't worry! We do what we can to be 'green' here! Those boxes will be put to great use.

We're slowly returning to our version of 'normal' around here. Becky and Michelle will be absolutely overloaded for a while! They're amazing at what they do. Our shipping team is constantly working to get the orders out as soon as humanly (and technologically) possible. They really do help make us look good.

Check out the newest arrivals from Prima, Fancy Pants and Basic Grey!

~Until next time...

Have You Seen These?

You've seen our Creative Team Members show off their talents in our ACOT 'Resources' library. This week is no exception! Jules' and Megan's talent shine as they bring us terrific projects and layout ideas using products from Graphic 45 and Shabby Green Door!

Guest Recipe Box by JulesinParadise

Graphic 45's Summer release contains four brand new lines: Christmas Past, Domestic Goddess, Renaissance Faire and Transatlantique. Megan uses Graphic's Renaissance Faire to create amazing projects!

Altered Wallet by Megamay

View both fabulous articles as well as all of our other Creative Team Reveals on our Resources page.
Great job ladies!

No Reservation Required

It's almost that time again! When we open up our ENTIRE warehouse to our local (and maybe not so local) customers! Get ready to save BIG on scrapbooking and papercrafting products from some of your favorite manufacturers!

When:

September 19, 9am - 3pm

Where:

We are located in Saginaw Township, Michigan. Our warehouse is located at 2216 Midland Road, Saginaw, MI 48603 (between State Street and Weiss)

View MapQuest directions

We will be sending out more information to our local newsletter subscribers! Make sure you're on THE LIST!

CLICK for more info!

September Guest Paper CT Member!

Deb (aka: skinnimini)

Can you believe we're already into the second week of September? It's been a busy one around here! With a new month comes a brand new Guest Paper CT Designer!

Meet Deb (also known as "skinnimini" on our ACOT Message Board. Here are a few highlights from her interview:

Favorite thing to do with your family: We live on a farm, so we love to go four wheeling, fishing, picnicking, things like that.

Favorite thing (non-scrap related) to do without your family: What? They never leave me alone.

What's your favorite scrapping tool to use when scrapbooking? There are so many! I love my Tim Holtz inking tool, BasicGrey precision file set, Cutterbee scissors, and my Perfect Layers tool just to name a few.

Name 3 of your favorite SB companies/lines: Again, like my music, this changes on a weekly basis, but today it's Webster's Pages, Pink Paislee, My Mind's Eye

Check out Deb's complete interview and all of her gallery submissions! You can also get to know more about Deb by visiting her blog!

Congratulations, Deb!

New Kaiser, Heidi, Creative Imaginations and More!

KaiserCraft's 'Dash Away All'

We are literally bursting at the seams with new product arrivals with MORE coming in on a daily basis! We love this time of year. Summer is winding down. Schedules change and we step back into routine life. It's also time for the newest and the best to bombard our warehouse!

'Cheerful Bee' by Heidi Grace Designs

Becky and Michelle and the rest of the team are working overtime to get the products into the warehouse and on the site! You'll want to be sure to check ACherryOnTop.com daily for new arrivals. You can also use our Product Alert feature to receive email notices when products from your favorite manufacturers arrive! FYI: You have to create an A Cherry On Top account to use the Product Alert feature.

CI's/Samantha Walker: 'Christmas in the Kitchen'

If you want to view the newest arrivals, click HERE. So, what product line are YOU waiting for?

Save At ACOT's Super Sensational Labor Day Event

• Absolutely EVERYTHING is on sale! Yep! That includes BRAND NEW ITEMS!
  
• Bonus Points on EVERYTHING (including Digi & Sale items!)
• Free Gift just for placing a qualifying order.* (promo code required)
• $2.99 Flat rate standard shipping for orders shipping w/in the continental US!*

See ACherryOnTop.com for complete details!

Meet ACOT's September Digi Guest Designer!

Congratulations Jessica!

Jessica (aka: JustJessa)

Jessica's been an avid scrapper for five years and has been a member of our ACOT Message Board for over a year.

Learn more about 'JustJessa' by reading her interview and be sure to check out her beautiful digital layouts in our gallery!


Destination.. Home Plate by JustJessa

Welcome Jessica!