Thursday 30 May 2013

National Scrapbook Day Challenge Winners


Remember, earlier this month it was National Scrapbook Day and I set you a few challenges?!

 
Thank you to everyone who played along!

I am sorry for the delay in announcing the winners but check out below to see if you have won!


I loved looking at all your fab entries and thought I'd show you a few ...
 
This one from Sonja


 
and a lovely layout from Furrypig

 
 
Echo Park was Lisa-Jane's choice of manufacturer for this bright page
 


 
I had a tough time choosing just one favourite ...
 .... but the winner is .....
 
Lesley G !!!
 
with her lovely layout with Crate Paper supplies





I hope you all had fun visiting the Design Team blogs and searching for the answers!

The winner picked at random from all the entries is ....
 
Sonja!!!

Well Done to both Lesley and Sonja! if you could both please e mail me sarah at sjpapercrafts (dot) co (dot) uk with your mailing address and I'll get your prizes off to you.

Don't forget the  Sketch Challenge is open until 10pm tomorrow (Fri 31st May) so if you're quick you still have time to enter!
 
Sarah x


Monday 27 May 2013

How I Love To Scatter - By Jennifer Grace

Hello and a very Happy Bank Holiday Monday to you!!
 
Remember a couple of weeks ago Lisa-Jane shared her current love for die cutting ... if you missed it it's right here!!
 
I'm here today to share one of my current favourite techniques with you ...
 
Scattering!!
 
Regular readers of my blog will already know  how much I like to scatter gems or sequins on my layout, but here I'm going to show you how I also applied the 'scatter' mindset to other aspects of this layout.




I wanted this page to be particularly scattered - as bits of these cakes got scattered all around my house while the kids wandered around eating them - I hadn't put enough chocolate on and they were super crumbly!

I started with a piece of paper from the DIY shop collection pack, and splattered some Mister Huey Pretty Pink mist droplets over it, keeping the drops more concentrated near the centre of the page.
 

Then I built up a photo mat, using scraps from the DIY Shop collection pack and the Maggie Holmes collection pack. Normally I'd layer a photo mat more like a frame, so the edges would be seen evenly all around the photo. But to make it look more scattered I piled them up so they stuck out a different amount each side. You can see that one scrap had a hole in it, but I knew that would not matter as it would be covered by my photo!!


When I stuck the photo mat onto the layout I only adhered it in the middle, so that I could tuck things in at the edges if I wanted to. My photo was stuck on with 3D foam pads to give some extra dimension.

I then chose a couple of journaling spots, and a date sticker, and scattered them about so the journaling wouldn't be all in one place.

 


Now comes the fun part - choosing an ecclectic mix of other items to scatter about! I used a mix of stickers and die-cuts from DIY Shop and Maggie Holmes plus some Studio Calico Wood Veneer Tiny Stars (painted pink) and Cameras (painted light blue), some sequins and gems.


And I started to scatter them all over the page! I left the gems until last, as they are harder to move about (although usually possible if you do it quick). All the other bits were stuck on with Ranger's Glossy Accents, except for the 'fun day' and 'yes, please' sentiments which were adhered with foam dots, once I was happy with their position.

I also made the title look "scattered" by off-setting the letters in 'cakes':

 


 
If you don't want to scatter things all over a layout, you could just confine them to a journaling spot or embellishment - like I've done here on the speech bubble cut from some DIY Shop paper.
 



 
Keeping the scattered elements close to to a larger element like your photo stops them getting lost on the page.

 



And having some items tucked under each other (like the flower and date sticker shown below) and some completely separate (like the 'yes, please' sticker) also helps to make things look more random.




So you end up with a lively, scatter-filled page!!

 



I hope you've enjoyed an insight into my scatter-love! If you try it out please let me know!

Jennifer x

Tuesday 14 May 2013

My "Right Now" Inspiration! - By Lisa-Jane

"What's inspiring you right now?"
 
When Sarah (S J Crafts owner) asked me this recently I had to answer that I am loving using my Silhouette Cameo. It is great for lettering because I never run out of any particular letters and it is also wonderful for titles like the "Just Because" title from Heidi Swapp that i've used on my layout. I am also loving the current trend of highlighting the negative areas and so decided to create a layout where the negative space of the cut is a prominent feature of the page. I created this Star cut file myself and then cut roughly similar shapes of patterned paper to stick to the back so that they show through - kinda like a stained glass affect!



I used papers from the Snippets collection papers by Studio Calico. This layout is part of a series in my album so this one didn't need any journalling.
I really love the simplicity of the page with no other embellishments.



You could try using punches or cutting dies to get a similar affect and it's also a great way to use up all those small off cuts  and scraps of your favourite papers. 
 
Thanks for stopping by today and I hope my "Right Now" inspiration inspires you too!
 
Lisa-Jane x 
 
Don't forget to check out more of Lisa-Jane's layouts at her blog: Inside My Head
 

Saturday 4 May 2013

NSD Special Offer .... 15% Off

 
To celebrate National Scrapbook Day and the long Bank Holiday weekend here is the discount code for 15% off in the shop!

 
Enter the code NSDMAY2013 during checkout.
 
Code expires at 11pm (BST) on Monday 6th May.
 
 
I hope you've enjoyed the NSD celebrations here at S J Crafts today.
Thanks to all who have joined in and played along with the challenges so far and don't forget the challenges and the giveaway are open for a few days to give you chance to catch up!
 
 


 

Visit the Design Team - Challenge 3 (For NSD)

Hello again!
 
So, how is your day going? Plenty of scrapping? Enjoying this beautiful weather?
I certainly am! I have been scrapping lots today and enjoyed a fun trip to our local park with my girl this afternoon!

It's time for another NSD challenge!!
 
If you're new here, a big welcome to you!!
You can catch up on Challenge 1 here: A Sketch Challenge
Challenge 2 here: Just ONE manufacturer
And details of a giveaway here: Facebook Giveaway
 
For this next challenge I'd like you to "meet" the wonderful  S J Crafts Design Team!!
 
 

These ladies have all been with me since the start and have been a fantastic support to me and S J Crafts. Their endless enthusiasm for papercrafting and desire to share their creative talents with others is second to none! I now consider them my firm friends and have been lucky enough to meet and craft with three of them and hopefully one day soon I'll also "meet in person" the fourth!!

So, for this challenge you will need to visit each of their blogs and have a browse around and find the answers to the questions below.
 
When you have all the answers send an e mail to me with DT Visit Challenge in your subject line and tell me what you think the answers are.
E mail me at:   sarah (at) s j papercrafts.co.uk (remember to turn it into a proper e mail address .... just don't want loads of those rubbish spam messages in my inbox!)
 
Whilst you are visiting the DT Blogs it would be absolutely wonderful if you would leave a comment for them to let them know you stopped by and of course if you like what you see there you could follow their blog too! I know they'd all appreciate it!! 
 
Here's the blog links:
 
Lisa-Jane :  Inside My Head
 
And the Questions:
 
* What was the item of clothing that Lisa-Jane scrapped about recently on a layout featuring her young son?
 
* Jennifer recently scrapped about a wet weather walk with her daughter. What colour and pattern are on Jennifer's footwear on that layout?
 
* What did Louise's son say about the Harry Potter ride in Florida which features as a title on her recent layout made with Studio Calico's Snippets collection?
 
* Jenny recently made a lovely Christmas card featuring a snowman. What colour is the snowman's tie and which papers did she use on the card?
 
One winner will be picked at random from all the correct entries (all questions must be correct!) to win a prize pack of Crate DIY Shop papers and stickers (shown in the pic below).
 
 
 
Closing date for entries: Saturday 11th May 10pm BST
The winner will be announced on this blog soon after the closing date!
 
Good Luck and enjoy "meeting" the Design Team Girls!!!
 
I'll be back later this evening (or possibly first thing sunday morning!) with a special NSD discount code just in case you fancy a little stash shopping this bank holiday weekend!!
 

Just ONE Manufacturer - Challenge 2 (For NSD!!)

Thanks for joining us for our National scrapbooking Day celebrations!!
 
If you've just joined us you can catch up on the Sketch Challenge here and the Facebook Giveaway here!!
 
Next Up we Challenge you to:
 
 "Create with supplies from just ONE Manufacturer!!"

 
 
Maybe there is a manufacturer that is your current favourite that you just love!
 
Do you purchase co ordinating papers and embellishments all from the same collection? If you do grab your latest purchases and create a project for this challenge!
 
If you are more of a mix and match kinda girl then you will need to take a few minutes to collate some supplies that are all the same manufacturer .... these can be different lines and collections, some old and some new ... just so long as they are all the same manufacturer!  Have a good rummage through your stash - you might find things you had forgotten you had!!
 
I have lots of favourite manufacturers including Echo Park, Crate Paper, Glitz Designs and Studio Calico. These tend to jump in and out of favour with me depending on how much I like their current collection but one manufacturer that I have been in love with for many, many years and I probably have more of their products in my stash than any other is My Minds Eye .
 
So for this challenge I have used their brand new collection Sky's The Limit!, some older MME bits from my stash & Mister Hueys which I know are a different manufacturer but as they're inks they're allowed!!
 
 
 
My supplies include: MME Skies The Limit Papers: Ephemera, zigzag, Look, and MME stickers. The Sweetest Thing Word Stickers, Boy Crazy and My Girl enamel dots and Studio Calico Mister Huey Mists (Cash Money and First Kiss). Tools: Martha Stewart Pinking circle punch and Butterfly punch

 

 
So, here's what to do if you want to play along with this challenge:
 
Make a scrapbook layout, card or some other project using primarily supplies from just ONE manufacturer. Exceptions allowed are inks, punches, adhesives and basic tools but all stamps, papers and embellishments must be from the same manufacturer. We'll also allow letters/alphas as an exception but try to use alphas from the same manufacturer too!!
Post your entry on your blog mentioning that it is your entry to this challenge and you must include a link back to this post.
 
Then using Mister Linky (below) enter the link to your blog so I can come and see!
This challenge will close at 10pm (BST) Saturday 11 May so you have all week to enter.
I will choose my favourite entry to win a prize!! Don't forget to check back here soon after the closing date to see if you are a winner.
If you don't have a blog, don't worry - you can still enter by e mailing your project to me at .... sarah (at) s j papercrafts (dot) co (dot) uk .... obviously turn it into a proper e mail address - just don't want loads of spam robots sending me e mails too!!
 
Good Luck and Have Fun!
I'll be back soon with another NSD post but in the menatime why not pop over and join in with the chat over on the S J Crafts Facebook Page


A Giveaway (For National Scrapbooking Day)

Hello and a very Happy National Scrapbooking Day to you!!

Today is the day when papercrafters all around the world celebrate their love for pretty paper, inks, paints and embellishments!!

We are celebrating at S J Crafts with challenges, giveaways, special offers and fun happening both here on the blog and on our Facebook Page. Hopefully you will get some time to indulge in this wonderful hobby of ours and join in with some of the fun but if you're not around today (I know how manic life can get!) don't worry as most of the challenges and giveaways will remain open for at least a few days to give you time to catch up!

We kicked off yesterday with a sketch challenge with the chance for one lucky entry to win a £10 voucher.
 
Today we are getting things started with a fantastic GIVEAWAY!!!



To be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is pop over to the S J Crafts Facebook Page and "Like" our page. Then simply leave a comment on the Giveaway post on the facebook page. Yes, that's it! Easy!!
 
One "liker" who has also left a comment on the Giveaway facebook post will be chosen at random to win the Photo Freedom Bundle of 5 double sided papers, sticker sheet and pack of photo sleeves!!
 
 
The Giveaway will close at 10pm (BST) Tuesday 7th May!
 
Good Luck!!
 
I'll be back soon with more fun for NSD!!!

 

Friday 3 May 2013

A Sketch Challenge (For National Scrapbooking Day)

As many of you will know National Scrapbooking Day (NSD) or maybe that should be ISD (International) is tomorrow!!
 
Here at S J Crafts we thought we can't let NSD (ISD) pass by without some kind of little celebration so we have a few things happening this weekend to celebrate our love of pretty paper and we would love it if you joined us!
 
First up, we have a Sketch Challenge!
 
If you are planning some crafting this weekend (or anytime soon as this challenge will stay open right up until the end of May!) why not play along and enter - you could win a £10 voucher to spend in the shop!
 
So, here's the sketch:


 

The sketch was based on Jennifer's "Disney Family" layout from this post and  huge thanks to Jennifer for designing the sketch for us!



The Design Team all played along with the sketch challenge and this is what they came up with! Don't forget to click on their name to visit their blog and let them know you stopped by!
 
 

Louise adapted the sketch for her landscape photo and instead of layering up papers and patterns as per the sketch she used paint and placed stickers in places that should have been papers.
 

Supplies include: Alphas from Echo Park All about a boy collection, Studio Calico Hot Diggety Mister Huey mist, Studio Calico chipboard Cameras and Arrows from the Snippets Collection and Hero Arts Red gems.

 



Jenny made a stunning card based on the sketch, showing how a scrapbook sketch can be used for cards too!!

Supplies include: My Minds Eye Collectable Collection Memorable 6 x 6 Pad, Self Adhesive Pearls & Diamond Stickles






Lisa-Jane stayed close to the original sketch apart from changing the photo orientation and extending her title along the full length of the photo.
 
Supplies include: Echo Park  Birthday Wishes Collection and WRMK washi tape.
 



Having already made the layout on which the sketch is based, Jennifer chose to make a card. By keeping the main elements of the sketch and reducing the size of the layers, this card is perfect for sending to a friend!

Supplies: Maggie Holmes and DIY Shop Collection Packs, Studio Calico Wood Veneer Cameras and Chevrons, My Mind's Eye My Girl Enamel Dots, Hero Arts Clear Gemstones.
 
 
 
 
Sarah has rotated the sketch 90 degrees anti clockwise but still included the main elements.
 
Supplies include: Echo Park Sisters papers, stickers and journal card, Glitz Polka dot washi tape, Studio Calico Snippets Arrows.
 
***    ***    ***
 
So, here's what to do if you want to play along with this challenge:
 
1 - Make a layout or card based on the sketch. You can rotate it and adapt it but we must be able to see that the sketch has been used as your inspiration or starting point.
 
2 - Post your entry on your blog, mentioning that it is your entry to this challenge and you must include a link back to this post.
 
3 - Using Mister Linky (below) enter the link to your blog so we can come and visit.
 
4 - This challenge will stay open until Friday 31 May so you have lots of time to enter.
 
One lucky entry will be picked at random to win a £10 voucher to spend in the  S J Crafts Shop!!. The winner will be announced on here soon after the closing date.
 
If you don't have a blog, don't worry - you can still enter by e mailing your project to me at  .... sarah (at) s j papercrafts (dot) co (dot) uk  .... obviously turn it into a proper e mail address - just don't want loads of spam robots sending me e mails too!!
 
Good Luck and Have Fun!
 
Look out for more NSD challenges, chat, giveaways and fun happening here on the blog and also on the S J Crafts Facebook Page