wishing a happy birthday to SCT

happy monday morning! this is the week that one of my favorite things turns 5! scrapbook and cards today, a wonderful publication out of canada first hit local scrapbook stores five years ago. catherine had a dream to help support the local stores. the magazine is free and you won't find it in a big box store, it's used as a marketing tool to bring customers into their local scrapbook stores. that's how i first learned of it, my friend mary kay had a store here in denver that carried the publication. i had the chance to meet catherine and kerry the next CHA and a year later, i became part of the team, writing a quarterly column on trends. it has been the most delightful experience! i love the magazine because of the absolute attention to quality it strives for each and every time. every new issue is amazing and blows me away with the talent and inspiration packed in there, then i get the next issue and i can't believe it's even better. and i know this last bit is silly, but i love how very thick the pages are. it's just another sign of the high quality SCT shoots for every time. if you've not had the chance to actually have the magazine in your hands because you don't have an LSS, you can download the magazine online. for free. yep, free. to celebrate five amazing years, the entire team is hosting a blog hop, here are the details:

Thank you for celebrating SCT's 5th birthday with us! If you have just arrived here from Kathy’s blog, then you are in the right place! If not, head back to the SCT blog and join us on this fabulous blog hop.

Have you figured out what the grand prize that caps off this week-long party? It's so cool! And can you believe all of the fun birthday-themed prizes SCT is giving away during the celebration! Fun stuff!

Today, I'd like to share a birthday card I made in honor of SCT's birthday. I used one of the bonus sketches found in the new Cardmaps issue. Over the last couple of months, I've decided I'm converted to sketches, they make putting a card together so much easier for me. If you haven't had a chance, please look for this great new resource! I used the Sassafras Sweetly Smitten line of products, I love the Wee Bundles for their smaller size, perfect for cards. And the little girl with a party hat? I never knew what to do with the vintage photos of strangers that are popping up lately. Then I decided to add a party hat and now I can't get enough of those stickers! Just fun. And what a great way to use up all those brads I've been collecting!

Oh wait! Be sure to check out SCT's Spring issue! One of my favorite sections is Kimber McGray's article Inspired by the Internet on page 39. I'm a big internet junkie, I love trolling through blogs, finding design ideas to translate into my scrapbooking and cardmaking. The article does a great job at showing easy ways to use that inspiration. Also check out the new From the Heart column, GREAT journaling and two amazing layouts by Becky and my dear friend Marnie Flores.

Now head over to Vicki's blog, tell her hello from me, and enjoy the rest of the celebration. Happy birthday, SCT! I wish you many many more years of scrapbook and cards inspiration!

Here's the cover of the new Special Issue, I'm so proud to have a few of my cards featured!