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

 

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

Studio Calico Snippets

Hello and a very happy weekend to you!

Louise here today to show you my projects made with the Studio Calico Snippets Collection!

 

My main supplies were:

 

Snippetts 6x6 patterned paper pad

Chipboard Arrows

Chipboard Cameras

 

All of which are available in the shop!

 

This collection is perfect - it reminds me of bright summers days. Airy and light. The patterns are a mixture of bold and subtle, the colours being both bright and muted. What I like best about this 6x6 pad is that all the papers are single sided. You don't know what a weight off my mind it is not to have to choose between sides. The combination of colours and patterns is wonderful and suitable for all themes.

I'd like to share with you two 12 x12 layouts and several 4x6 horizontal mini cards/layouts. These layouts are for my holiday album which mixes 12x12 with 4x6 page protectors pockets.

The top two 4x6 cards will accompany a non beach/pool 12 x 12 layout in my album with the bottom two going next to to a 12 x 12 beach/pool layout.

First up is the beach/pool theme. I wanted a fresh bright feel to my holiday album and used the Bazzill white range of cardstock. The 12x12 layout is kept simple with lots of white space. The main focus being the photos.

The journaling is on the back of this page. I have so much to write for this holiday that occasionally there is too much to actually put on the layout. Here is my DH coming down the water slide with two of my boys in the pool waiting for him. He has a water camera in his hand, so while I take a photo of him (on the left), he is taking a photo of me (on the right). You might just be able to make me out in a black cosie standing with my feet firmly on the ground.

I fallen in love with the chipboard cameras and arrows. They are simply Cute!

The 4x6 cards and photos will go in the 4x6 page protector pockets next to the 12x12 layout in my album.

You can see I've used more of those gorgeous chipboard arrows with some titles and quotes.

For my second 12x12 layout I have chosen a non beach/pool theme. First of all I created a misted hexagon background.

To create this background I used an embossing folder. Spray your mist onto the raised side of your embossing folder, turn over and press onto your card/paper.

I used two mists here the Mister Huey Honor Society and Leaf Green

This amazing castle is the Harry Potter Ride in Florida. The title of this layout is taken from the words that my youngest son wrote about this ride at the end of the day.

More chipboard cameras and arrows.
 

As before, the 4x6 cards and photos will go into in the 4x6 divided page protector pockets next to the 12x12 layout.

Once again there is so much to journal for this page. Like.... how I came to have a photo of the "Public Convenience" sign and the story of the Harry Potter Ride, the Forbidden Journey. For this story in particular, the 4x6 card is a pocket which will hold all the details.

So.....I hope you like my Studio Calico projects. Making little 6 x 4 cards to go alongside 12 x 12 layouts is a great way to get all those extra details and photos into your album. I hope you might give it a go.  If you are still not sure I will be making plenty more 12x12 and 4x6 with this range so you may wish to keep an eye out over at my blog.

In addition to the Studio Calico Snippets 6x6 paper, chipboard camera's and arrows I also used:-

• Glitz washi tape pokka dot blue
• Glitz aplhas
• 12 x12 bazzill white cardstock
• AC Alpha's
• Studio Calico Mister Huey Mists - Honor Society and Leaf Green

All these products can be purchased from SJ Crafts.

Thanks for stopping by today

Louise x

Don't forget to visit Louise's blog at : Boys, Bugs and Beautiful Buttons

Trend Watch!

Hello, Jennifer here!

In January it was the Craft & Hobby Association’s Winter Show in Anaheim, California, which is when all the Scrapbooking manufacturers (along with other crafting brands) show off their upcoming releases. So I've been watching all their blogs with a close eye as they also revealed all the new products online, for us to drool over whilst we wait impatiently for it to get to the UK shops!

The good news is that Sarah from SJ Crafts has lots of lovely goodies on order, and some of it has already started to arrive! 

I want to tell you about a few of my favourite trends that I've been spotting, so you can watch out for them arriving to the shop!

Trend 1: The Pink and Turquoise Colour Combo 

This has appeared in many collections before, but it’s a combination that will never grow old for me. It just looks so fresh and pretty, and is perfect for spring and summer projects - something we all look forward to after these long grey months!

The Maggie Holmes Collection by Crate Paper has bold pink and turquoise hues, that make me think of tropical days and lots of laughter! Look out for the collection pack coming soon!

The Sundrifter Collection by Studio Calico has slightly softer pinks and blues, but it teams them with black, grey, and patterns with a slightly urban feel, that makes it oh-so trendy and cool! This one is due into stock early February.

The Collectable Collection from My Minds Eye is due to arrive at S J Crafts next week. This collection has four themes within it, and I think Memorable is my favourite with the pink/turquoise colour combination in a super sweet, girly way, with flowers, doilies, and lots of delicate details!

Trend 2: Hints of Travel

I love that a lot of brands are adding just small touches of travel to their lines, rather than it taking over a whole collection. I especially like ones that have hints of going up in the air, as it's been 6 years since I flew anywhere on holiday and I miss it! The travel details can usually be used on all kinds of pages though, so I can add an uplifting phrase here, or an aeroplane image there, and get a sense of travelling on projects that have nothing to do with going away!

The Scoot Collection by Echo Park is a really fun boy-themed collection. It's also got lots of aeroplanes and clouds, and a sweet 'up, up and away' sticker that I adore! Plus the collection pack is in stock already, so you can get your hands on this one straight away.

The Lucky Charm Collection by Dear Lizzy for American Crafts is based on bracelet charms, like horses and hot air balloons! My absolute favourite bit is the 'come fly away with me stamp' which is too dreamy for words! The mini-chevrons and clouds will be sweet little details too. The stamp and the 6x6 pad should be in the shop in early February.

The DIY Shop collection by Crate Paper also has hints of travel. It has a real vintage vibe about it, which works so well on projects all year round. The map-paper details and one little aeroplane chipboard are the perfect touch of escapism! The collection pack will be in stock very soon.

Trend 3: Arrows and Arrow Heads

This trend is so hot right now! There are arrows all over the place. I love it because each new year I feel like I need some 'direction' in my life! It looks great when you go over the top and add arrows all over the page to really emphasise something, or just one arrow tucked away on a layout or card can draw your attention to whatever it's pointing at. Whichever way you like it, the arrow trend is definitely something to embrace!

The Snippets Collection by Studio Calico has some great graphic chevron-arrow patterned papers and wood veneers. It also includes these fantastic arrow stickers, in nice bright colours - I like the mix of shapes and sizes! Look out for Snippets arriving soon. 

My final pick is from Studio Calico too - their awesome Huey's Masks. I just had to draw attention to this one from the Sundrifter collection. It's called a 'Triangles' mask, but it fits in well with the arrows trend, as it looks like arrow heads pointing up and down. This will make a great layering element on layouts, or a background for cards. And you could always block off some of the design to just have one or two rows of arrows! Look out for this and other Studio Calico goodness including more masks, wood veneers, and Mister Huey mists arriving soon.

So there's a few of my favourite trends that I'm looking out for this season! 

Has anything here caught your eye? Now I've just got to wait on the edge of my seat until it all arrives in the UK and into the SJ Crafts shop! 

Don't forget to 'like' the SJ Crafts Facebook page if you want to know as soon as the new stock arrives! I'll let you into a little secret (Shh!) ... Sarah usually announces new arrivals over there first!!

Bye for now, Jennifer x

Studio Calico Burst Mask - Part 2

Hello! Jennifer here, and I'm back with some more Studio Calico Burst Mask Projects!

If you missed the first part, you can find that here.

 For this next project, I decided to try something other than misting. I played with some stamping through the mask instead!

Step 1: Take a 4.5" square piece of white cardstock, and position your burst mask on top. My mask still has ink on it from where I had been trying different stamps out earlier!

Step 2: Stamp all over the mask with a rubber stamp, using a few different colours of ink pad. I used blue, yellow, and pink. The rubber stamp needs to be one with a deep design - the flatter ones won't press down enough between the mask's gaps.

Here's the card with the mask removed.

Step 3: To finish the card off, sew some straight lines in the gaps between the stamped bursts. Add a brad in the centre. Then ink the edges of the white cardstock with pink ink, and mat it onto a piece of 5" square blue cardstock. Mount it onto a 5.5" white square card.

I'll keep this card on standby to send to someone who needs cheering up with a burst of colour!

Next, I wanted to try something a bit different so I used the burst mask to make my own unique t-shirt.

It was great fun and I love the final effect! I'm going to show you how it's done - but first of all I must point out that you can't use regular scrapbooking mists on a t-shirt that you'll want to wash. They'd wash right out! You need to get some fabric spray paint and follow manufacturers instructions for drying / setting the paint.

Step 1: Protect your work surface (and it's a good idea to wear your old clothes!!) and put newspaper or similar inside your t-shirt so the paint doesn't bleed through. Then place your mask on the t shirt where you want it to go.

Step 2: Spray all over your mask going over the edges a little, with yellow fabric spray paint.

Step 3: Spray the centre of your mask with orange fabric spray paint.

Step 4: Take the lid off your orange fabric spray paint and tap it above the t-shirt so you get little drops all over it.

Step 5: Take the mask off. Just after this photo I also sprayed a couple of times with the yellow fabric spray paint, from high above, so the t-shirt wasn't quite so stark white where the mask had been.

Step 6: Leave the t-shirt to dry, or follow the fabric paint instructions for how to dry / set the paint. Sew on a few scattered orange and yellow buttons, and your new t shirt is ready to wear! 

My Mum kindly modelled it for me!!

Thanks so much for reading my Studio Calico Burst Mask projects - let us know what you think about them and whether they've inspired you to make something! 

Jennifer X

See more of Jennifer's crafting at Jennifer's Jumbles

Studio Calico Burst Mask - Part 1

Hello, Jennifer here!

I hope you've had a wonderful Christmas and 2013 is bringing you lots of happiness and crafting time!!

I've been having some fabulous fun playing with the Studio Calico Burst Mask! I've got several projects and ideas to show you, and first up are are two layouts.

Magical Moments Layout

For this first layout, about my daughter at a Christmas parade, I used the mask in the simplest way - to fill the whole page. I began by spraying the back of the mask with removeable adhesive, to stop the mask moving as I misted, and I stuck it onto a piece of white cardstock.

I protected my surface with newspaper, and then spritzed all over the mask with Mr Huey's Honor Society Mist. To get an even coverage you need to move your hand quickly from left to right (or from right to left if you're left handed) as you are spraying.

Once the blue mist had dried a little, I carefully pulled the mask off. Remember not to leave the mask on too long if you've used adhesive on it, as it will end up getting stuck forever! About 5 minutes after misting should be okay. I then left the mist to dry completely for about an hour.

Once the blue mist was dry, I unscrewed the lids of Mister Huey's Calico White and Pretty Pink Mists, held the 'straws' over the layout, and tapped the lids with my finger to sprinkle drops of mist all over the page.

Once it was completely dry I trimmed the a little off each side, and mounted it onto some mauve cardstock. 

Then I just had to add my photo and embellish the layout!

I used: My Mind's Eye All is Bright stickers from the Collection pack 

MME Rhinestones and 6x6 Paper (for the journaling)

Studio Calico Wonderland Wood Veneer Snowflakes

Hey Day Aqua Thickers

Glitz Teeny Alpha 'Yours Truly' Stickers

and a few Hero Arts Clear Gemstones!

Little Angel Layout

For my next layout, I used the mask in a few different ways...

To start this layout, about my son when he was first born, I first misted a starburst in the top left corner. I covered the parts of the mask where I didn't want the mist to seep through. It's worth testing this on a spare piece of paper to check you get the size/shape you want. Once I had done my "test" piece I cleaned the mask and placed it on the piece of Sugar Cookie cardstock (I covered up the other holes too after taking this photo) 

And then sprayed it a couple of times in the middle with Honor Society Mist. I pulled the mask off while the mist was still wet, and used the 'straw' of the Calico White Mist to flick streaks from the middle of the starbust out to the edges  - make sure you clean the 'straw' before you put it back in the bottle!!

Next I created an a mat for the journalling, by blocking off all of the mask except one section of the 'burst'.

 And then I sprayed this with My Huey Letter Jacket Mist. 

A little word of warning if you do have a go at this technique - spray quite lightly.

On my first attempt I sprayed on way too much mist and it seeped below the mask and ended up looking like this!!

Not the look I was going for! 

On my next attempt I was much more sparing with the mist and it came out much better.

I used another section on the burst as a template to cut out a piece of Studio Calico Hey Day 6x6 paper.

Which I placed below the red misted section

And added a piece of My Mind's Eye All is Bright Decorative Tape above the red section.

I checked where my photo was going to go, and added some detail to the top right corner, by covering up most of the Starburst Mask, leaving just a small arrow shape to point down at my photo.

I misted the "arrow" with Warm Calico Mist, and then outlined with a black pen so it was extra defined, and topped with a little sticker.

I then just off the layout, adding some droplets of White Calico Mist, and using the same stickers and alphas as the last layout, plus some All is Bright Decorative Brads. The cherub image was especially apt for the layout.

Hopefully this post has given you a few ideas for using the mask. I've used lots of ways all on one layout but you could use just one of the techniques.

I'll be back soon with some more ways to use the mask! 

Jennifer x

Shop for Studio Calico Mask Now

See more of Jennifer's crafting on her blog: Jennifer's Jumbles

Lisa-Jane - Inspired By Winter

Thanks for joining us for the next post in our "Inspired By Winter" series.

If you missed the previous ones you can catch up on those here and here. This week I'd like you to "meet" Design Team member Lisa-Jane.

***    ***    ***

Hello, I'm Lisa-Jane and I'm really pleased to be spending another term on the S J Crafts Design Team!  I have a wonderful husband and I'm a full time Mum to Bella and Louis.  As well as being a total paper-craft addict, I'm also studying Creative Writing part time with the Open University.   

I've always loved cutting and sticking and collecting and telling stories so scrapbooking is the perfect creative outlet for me.  My sister-in-law first introduced me to scrapbooking about 6 years ago but after seeing magazine layouts and the price of basic cardstock, I was too intimated to do any thing more than collect bits and pieces.  A couple of years later, I met someone by chance who was an avid scrapbooker and she tipped my husband off about a local retreat as a Christmas present.  I was exhausted after some rather intensive classes but absolutely hooked!  In the last 3 years I have taken over the house with my papers and embellishments and adhesives!  I think my husband rues the day he surprised me with that ticket!

• What was your last crafty purchase?  Back last week I bought the new Echo Park Photo Freedom kit for a friend who was wanting to start scrapping.  I'm trying to get lots more friends into it so we can get together more often!  I also treated myself to this gorgeous Glitz washi tape - washi tape is my new love!

• Who is your favourite Craft Manufacturer?  - and why? My top three are definitely October Afternoon, My Mind's Eye and Echo Park.  October Afternoon have such great interesting designs in really funky colours which are great for children.  I love the versatility of My Mind's Eye with their classic designs and the ability to mix their collections together and they have such beautiful coordinating embellishments.  The winner for me though has to be Echo Park.  Their collections in the last couple of years have been fabulous with stunning papers at a cost effective price in some gorgeous colourways - what's not to love!

• What is your favourite technique? At the moment I'm really working on my layering technique.  I always ink my edges and sometimes I distress them a bit too.  I love the look of heavily laden pages with lots of little bits and pieces peeking out.  I'll let you into a secret though... using lots of stash on my pages means I can shop for more, right?!

For my "Inspired by Winter" project I created this layout with lots of layers and little sneaks just peeking out.

When I think of Winter I think of cold mornings with pretty patterns of sparkly frosts.  I used doilies to recreate the delicate patterns that the frost leaves on the windows and I used winter colours of white, grey and ice blue, with a hint of sunny yellow.  I sprayed through a doiley with Mister Huey mist and added more Winter sparkle with some white gems and some snowflake patterned vellum to make a little envelope to hide my journalling.
  
My supplies also included: MME Lost and Found 2 6" x 6" pad, stickers from Lost and Found 3 (these two MME collections work so well together), Studio Calico wonderland stickers and Glitz Cashmere Dame washi tape.   

 The Open University year traditionally runs from October to April so the Winter months for me are often spent studying.  Although this photo was taken at my graduation many summers ago, it represents years of being tucked up in the warm with a text book and a highlighter pen. 

With that in mind, I'd better get back to some studying.  

Bye for now

Lisa-Jane xx

Don't forget to stop by Lisa-Jane's blog at Inside My Head