Saturday, 7 July 2012

Challenge 5 (All About The Boy) Winner & Top 3

Hi Everyone!
It's Jenny here with the winners for Challenge 5  All About The Boy
Sorry we are late again this month - time just seems to be flying by at the moment.

Our winner of the selection of mini ink pads, selected using random.org is.....

No 28!!

That's Tine!!!  Well Done! 


Please e mail sarah at sj papercrafts (dot) co (dot) uk and with your address details to send you your prize!       

The TOP 3!!

The Design Team enjoyed visiting your blogs and have helped me select the following 3 projects as our Favourites!!


Sharon J- with her banner card!



Donmark - with her campervan card!



Torry - with her fun kraft card!


Congratulations to all the Top 3 entries!! 

If you would like to display our "Top 3" badge on your blog please e mail me sarah at s j papercrafts (dot) co (dot) uk and I'll get it sent to you!!


Our current challenge (Challenge 6) is still open here! You've still got plenty of time to enter!

Have a great day!


Tuesday, 3 July 2012

UK Scrappers Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome! 
Today we are excited to be participating in the UK Scrappers Blog Hop. If you are following the hop you should have arrived here from Sir Stampalot!!  To be in with a chance of winning the UKS Blog Hop prizes you will need to comment on this post (and on all the blogs in the hop) and remember to mention your UKS user name in your comment. Finally be sure to reply in the UKS thread on the forum when you have completed the hop.

After your visit here hop on to That's Crafty and if you lose your way or you want to start at the beginning of the hop you can find the complete list here!

We are also offering 20% off all orders placed via our online shop with the code UKSBLOGHOP entered during checkout.  The code is valid right up until 11pm on Thursday 5th July.

Our project for you today is a fairly quick layout - it took me just over an hour (excluding drying time!) to complete! We'd love you to have a go too!!

"Summer Days" Layout



This is the kit of supplies that I gathered together:
2 x patterned papers - Try to pick one bold and and one more subtle pattern. My patterned papers are from Echo Park So Happy Together
1 x bazzill cardstock (12 x 12) (for your background) and 1 scrap of cardstock - (I didn't use the green on this layout in the end so just ignore that in the pic!)
A sheet of journalling cards (mine is "jot it down" by Echo Park)
Selection of Stickers - I picked out the alphas and stickers from Echo Park's Hello Summer and So Happy Together. I love how these two collections work so well together.
Stamp Set - My stamps are from My Minds Eye, Miss Caroline. You will need a stamp for the background and this set also has a "date" and "place" stamp but you can leave these out if you don't have them.
Paint Dabber - I used Jenni Bowlin in speckled egg
Pink Gems - Mine are by Hero Arts
Washi Tape
Photograph- 1 x 6" x 4" Portrait



So, onto making the layout:
Choose your back ground cardstock (I used a sheet of kraft bazzill) and cut 2 panels from the patterned paper and scrap cardstock (or you could use another pattern instead of cardstock if you prefer). The sizes were approx 13cm x 17cm and 12cm x 16.5cm but if you are using a different size photo just adjust the sizes appropriately. 
Choose and cut out a journalling card from the 12 x 12 sheet.


Mat your photograph onto a piece of patterned paper (a more subtle pattern works better) and adhere to the other 2 panels. Don't put adhesive on the edges of the paper so you can slightly lift the corners to give some texture and also if you want to tuck anything under later.  

Position on your background cardstock (but don't stick it down just yet) and lightly mark with a pencil where your photo mat will be and then put it safely to one side whilst you apply the paint in the next step!


Stamp your background stamp using the paint dabber to apply paint to the stamp (instead of ink) and then take the lid off the bottle and dip a paintbrush into the paint and gently flick onto the cardstock. You might want to practice this on scrap card if you've not created paint splatters like this before!
Use you pencil marks to help you get the paint where you want it to show!


Once the paint is dry adhere your photo mat to the background and add a title. I used the "Summer" sticker and the small blue alphas so I could raise it with foam pads.
Choose a border sticker and tuck this under the bottom edge of the photo mat with a strip of washi tape to soften the edges a little. I tore the tape but you can cut it if you prefer a neater edge.


Apply paint to the date and place stamp and stamp onto journalling card. If you don't have stamps for this, handwrite them onto the card or you could journal onto the card instead.


Cut small strips of patterned paper and layer up on the top edge with a small piece of tape and add a punched butterfly (or a small embellishment). I used my Martha Stewart punch.
Add the journal card tucking it under the photo mat and tuck a small piece of border sticker and washi tape under the card.


Add few more stickers, raising some up on foam pads and scatter punched butterflies and gemstones to finish.


I hope you've enjoyed our step by step instructions and if you do make a layout using them do let us know if the comments so we can come and see!

So, if you're following the blog hop, your next stop is That's Crafty

That's for stopping by!


Tuesday, 26 June 2012

A Blog event - This weekend!!

Many of you will already know of Jennifer and the amazing work she creates as a member of our design team! 

This weekend, she is hosting her own fabulous blog event!


The fun kicks off this coming Friday with posts every hour from 4pm-10pm and then from 10am-10pm on Saturday and Sunday (BST) including a blog hop, tips, tutorials, challenges and lots of GIVEAWAYS! 

See more info over on her blog here!! 

You don't want to miss it!!

Friday, 22 June 2012

Monthly Challenge 6 (June/July)

It's time for a new monthly challenge here at S J Crafts!!

Challenge # 6

With the Queen's Jubilee just a few weeks ago and the Olympics fast approaching our theme this month is:

Red, White And Blue!

You can use all 3 colours or a combination of just two of them!

You can of course add in some extra neutral colours eg; black, cream, beige and small amount of any additional colours but the main colours must be Red, White and Blue!!

Closing date for entries is: 18th July at 1pm.

One random winner will win a £5 voucher to spend in the SJ Crafts Shop!

Please remember to check out the monthly challenge rules on the tab at the top of this blog, before entering. A quick reminder of our main rules:

Your entry may be a card, scrapbook layout or any other papercraft project.
Please link directly to your post & not a general link to your blog. 
You must mention and include a link back to the challenge in your entry post.
No back linking please - new work only.
One random entry will win a prize. The winner must contact me by e mail to receive their prize. A few of our favourites will also be selected to be featured on this blog!
The final (& most important rule) is to have fun!!


As usual, we have some sample projects from the S J Crafts Design Team!

If you want to see more of their work, just click on their name to visit their blog.


"6 Boys and a Tent = No Sleep" Layout 




With all the jubilee celebrations this year, red white and blue was the choice for the teenage birthday celebrations. 

Louise's supplies: Patterned red paper from dilly dally 6 x 6 pad,  Glitz and Jenni Bowlin alpha stickers, Martha Stewart scalloped circle punch to create the bunting.



"A Jubilee Party" Layout


Jennifer's supplies include: Prima fairy belle 6x6 papers, alphas, flower, and chipboard, Dear Lizzy roller date stamp, Cosmo Cricket Tiny Text life stickers  and Papermania Portobello Road papers.

I wasn't sure at first whether I could combine the baby blue and the royal blue hues on one page, but as they were both in the photo I thought I'd give it a go, and I like it! I added some cream rather than more white as it softens the blues and red, and helps to keep it girly!



"Bond -  A Very British Hero" Layout


This layout is about one of our trips to Beaulieu to see their new exhibition entitled "Bond - a very British hero"! The exhibition is 50 iconic vehicles to celebrate 50 years of Bond films. I kept the photos apart from each other because they are quite busy as are the papers.

We look forward to seeing your red, white and blue projects!!

Please remember to link directly to your blog post and to include a link back to the challenge.

If you do not have a blog, please e mail your entry to me at sarah@sjpapercrafts.co.ukand I'll upload it for you.


Good Luck and have fun!!