August Challenge - A theme and Stash Challenge!

Hello!!

Where did July go? I can't believe it's August already!!

So, time for a new Monthly Challenge!

Thank you to everyone who played along with July's challenge. There were some lovely entries and I'll be back soon with some of my favourites and also a few favourites from June's challenge too (as I've realised I've not done those yet!) and of course the winners of the prizes (chosen at random) for both challenges.

The August Challenge is a "Theme and Supplies Challenge"

I would like to see projects on the theme: HOLIDAYS AND/OR TRAVEL AND USE "SOMETHING OLD & SOMETHING NEW" on your project.

So, break open that brand new pack of embellishments that's been on your craft desk for a while or get that new stamp that's not yet been inked up and use it ..... and have a good rummage through your crafty stash for something old - something you've had for ages. Have you been saving something for just the right layout? Well, go get it and use it!!

As usual, there's some samples from the Design Team

Sarah (Me)

Another page from our Ibiza holiday from a few years ago using some new papers and stickers from the Simple Stories "Good Day Sunshine" collection. My older stash includes the washi tape that I've had for a while, the red thickers and some very old Prima e. pearls.

Louise

I made some pockets pages from our Florida Holiday. I mixed up some new and old stickers. I'd been hoarding some of these stickers for a very long time and my something new is the simple stories label stickers, to journal on. 

Jenny 

My daughter's friend is leaving the UK to go back to live in Korea so I have made her a card.

My something old is my Fiskars border punch. I think this was one of the first punches I bought and my something new is my Digital stamp which I bought to make this card.

Annie 

I've used papers from the Crate Paper "Boys Rule" collection which came in a recent SJ Crafts monthly kit, and created an embellishment for my page with some snippets from the Echo Park "Brothers" collection which I've been hoarding for at least a year. I've also dug out some half-used packs of alphas which were lurking in the very bottom of a drawer and mixed them up to create my title. My new stash includes some brand new MME Necessities wooden arrows, a Studio Calico wood veneer camera and the cute cloud washi tape.

Lisa-Jane

I wanted to make something special for my son's teacher as her end of year gift.  She's getting married soon so I have made her an album for her to keep her honeymoon photos and travel memorabilia in. I've used a complete mixture of papers, some very old and some quite new.  Scattered through the album are some Project Life cards that I purchased just a few weeks ago. These are just a few of the pages. 

Jemma 

I've used some new stash, bought in the recent SJ Crafts sale and mixed it up with much older supplies to make up my latest Counterfeit Kit.

The MME Cut & Paste Charm papers were the right colours & designs for a story about the Duelling Dragons roller-coasters, yet the Basic Grey Marrakech alpha stickers also matched the scales and arrows perfectly.  In fact there's also some very new stash on there ... faux dots made especially for the page from ThermoMorph plastic pellets ... you can't get newer than that!

So are you ready to take up the challenge this month? 

Add your entry to the linky tool below if you want to play along. A link back to this post is much appreciated.

This challenge will close on 6th september at 11.59pm

I look forward to seeing your Holiday or Travel projects using your old and new stash!!

Have fun!

.... To Finish!

Hi and welcome back to the "Start To Finish Challenge", a new challenge series hosted here on S J Papercrafts.

A few days ago, I showed you the very start of a layout. A few sheets of patterned paper layered to make the "bare bones" of a layout and explained that the idea behind this new challenge series is to help overcome that "scrappers block" that so many scrappers tell me they get when they sit down to create.  If you missed that post you can catch up on it here!

Why not play along with this challenge and instead of pushing papers around for 20 minutes or so .... Cut into them and stick them down in the same position as the "start" layout. Simply copy it .... and then add your own photos and embellishments to finish off your layout in any way you choose.

And here's my finished layout:

With my papers already layered I had a nice base for adding my photos. I trimmed 2 journal cards down and tucked the "these boots are made for walking" card underneath the smaller photo and placed the other card (pink with the # phrases on it) above the larger photo to balance it out. Some washi tape, tiny hearts (punched from the rest of the pink journal card), chipboard hearts, enamel dots, a few stickers and a title and I was almost done. I added some journalling to tell the story of a very muddy walk in the forest. To finish off my layout I flicked on a few drops of Heidi Swapp Pink Colour Shine.

If you want to play along, start off your layout by copying the "start"of this layout by positioning your papers in the same, or a similar placement (if your papers work better slightly higher/lower/further over to one side then go ahead and change it up slightly )  and then you are free to carry on to finish your layout in anyway you choose.

Use the linky tool that can be found on the first "Start" post to link us up so we can come and see. Remember to take a photo of your start layout before you add your photos and embellishments as well as a photo of your finished page.

Have fun!

Start To Finish .... A New Challenge!

Hello! How's your weekend going?

One of the things I often hear Scrapbookers say is "I don't know where to start with a layout". 

Have you ever been in the position where you've managed to squeeze in some scrapping time into your busy week and you've sat down at your craft desk and chosen a photo or photos from your stack of "To Scrap" and picked out a few sheets of pretty paper that you want to use ..... and then you spend the next 20 minutes (or even more) deliberating what to do next??!!

Do you stare at the paper, thinking "Which way should I cut into the paper" .... "How big shall I cut?" ....  "Can I even bear to cut it - it's so pretty!" .... "Should I stick that piece horizontal or vertical?" 

Sound familiar??!! 

Well, if it sounds even a little bit like you (maybe just sometimes) then this challenge is especially for you!!

I will show you a layout in it's very early stages, which you can then copy!! Yep, no thinking about it - just grab your trimmer and cut and stick!!

You can cut full sheets of paper to the same size or you can use scraps that are about the same size - afterall it's always good to use up those scraps, right?!

Once you've got the basics in place, you just need to add your photo(s) and finish it off with embellishments however you choose to. 

So many scrappers tell me it's getting started that is the hard bit so hopefully this challenge will help with that.

Once your layout is finished, upload it to your blog, online gallery or our Facebook Page with a photo of your "Start" and a 2nd photo of your "Finished" layout and then use the Linky Tool at the bottom of this post to share your layout with us.

So here's the Start:

The background is a full 12" x 12" sheet (you could "gut" the centre if you wanted to and keep that spare piece for another project) or you could use plain cardstock for your background if you prefer. Add another paper (I used the yellow spotty paper) cut to 11" x 11" layered on top, a vertical panel measuring 3.5" x 11" placed towards the left hand edge then I layered a scrap (the light blue flowery piece) which was about 8.5" x 6" on top. Finally I added the yellow camera piece of paper  which is actually a 6" x 4" Simple Stories card on top.

Of course, if you feel you need to move the papers slightly or adhere them higher/lower than I did or use slightly different sizes then go ahead. As long as it gets you started on that layout!

I'll be back in a day or two to show you my finished layout!

This challenge will stay open until 8 August and as it's the first one I will pick 1 entry at random to win a small prize !

Don't forget to take two photos .... 1 of your "Start" and another of your "Finish"!!

A "link back" in your blog post is much appreciated.

I look forward to seeing your "Start to Finish" layouts soon.

Have fun!

Sarah x

Chococino Love Layout

Hi everyone

Firstly, thank you so much for all the lovely emails, messages and comments in response to my recent news!

For those that have asked me "Will you still be scrapbooking?" .... Yes, most definitely! I will still continue to make layouts. I have a whole mountain of photos to scrap so I have to get those into the albums. 

And yes, I will still pop up from time to time in your blog reader (don't forget there are bloglovin' and feedly "follow" buttons on the sidebar if you fancy making use of those)

The monthly challenges that I started earlier this year will continue (in fact July's challenge is right here) and there will be layouts, sketches, ideas and even more challenges to keep you happily scrapping popping up right here soon. And for those of you that were with us last year, there is even a little rumour that "Six on the 6th" (or something very similar) may be making a return appearance!!

So, that's a quick update .... and in other news....

.... this is a layout which I made for Scrapbook Magazine Issue 82 (Currently on sale)

Chococino Love

I started off with a sheet of plain white cardstock and spritzed a little light green Mister Huey ink onto it quite lightly. I knew the photo mat would go in the centre and cover the area of intense ink spray so that just the lighter splatters would show at the edges of the photo.

I then built up the page with patterned papers from the Capture Life collection, tucking the "Today" journal card in the left hand side and adding stickers (some raised up on foam dots).

The scattered stickers, chipboard stars and hearts, cork arrow & camera, wood "yummy" and enamel dots help to bring the eye in towards the photo.

Here's a couple of close up shots of some of the embellishments:

I'm trying to create more layouts about our everday life recently. I realised I tend to scrap our holidays, days out, birthdays and so on but sometimes I forget the more everyday stuff, like visiting our local coffee shop where my daughter has grown rather fond of their chococinos (they're a little like a cappuccino but no coffee, just hot chocolate!)

Do you scrap the everyday stuff? 

Do you use "pocket page" style scrapbooking for documenting your daily activities or do you still make 12" x 12" layouts.

There's lots of texture on this layout - wood, cork, chipboard, enamel, ink ...

Do you include different textures or are you a mainly paper type of girl?!

Have a wonderful day and don't forget to check out the Closing Down Sale!

There's still loads of bargains!