Top Tip Tuesday...

TOP TIP: Creating your own patterned paper is inexpensive and can be fun. Use stamps and ink/paints/masks/glimmer mist to create your own background paper for your next layout. Remember back to those Kindergarten days where stamping with cotton reels and anything with a texture. Bubble wrap is great if you slap on a layer of paint then press it onto cardstock. The marble rolling technique is another idea that can give a great effect to a plain piece of cardstock. Using everyday items as 'stamps' to experiment is half the fun.

Winner of Black & White Challenge

... congratulations to Kirsten

The entries are great and I can see that choosing a winner is going to get harder as you talented ladies have a go at the challenges.

Black & White and Purple - Just stunning. Drop me an email Kirsten, I have a copy of the Innovations Magazine to send to you.

Sketch Challenge...

...as promised here is my example of the sketch challenge.

Don't be daunted by a double layout. As you may notice the sketch actually has five photos, but I have only used three. I have filled the other two spaces with embellishments instead. You could also use these spaces as journalling spots too. I have similar photos to keep the flow of a double page, but used different types of embellishments on each page to symbolise the 'well done' by using stars and the foliage for our country environment.

I have used Beach Bum - Four Mile Stripe and Cowabunga - This Way from My Minds Eye.

Top Tip Tuesday...

Top Tip: You can give paper flowers a whole new look by stamping on them, spraying on some Glimmer Mist in a contrasting colour or for those of you with Cuttlebug's emboss them. The possibilities are endless.

Fornightly Challenge...

Here is your challenge for this fortnight.

I thought that I would up-the-anti a little with a double page. Remember to email your creation to fiona@scrapboxnz.com by Sunday 5th July 2009

TIP: When doing double page layouts. Both pages should flow from one to the other.

Good luck and I will share my example with you on Wednesday.

End of Black & White challenge

We've had some fabulous entries. Here are some of them. We will anounce the winner in a couple of days. They will receive the new Innovations Magazine.

Flowers, Flowers Everywhere...

...Fiona has an abundance of flowers... oh and brads, so I thought that I would do a little showcase with them both.

I came across these instructions for making a mini pizza box. So I gave the flowers and brads a good showing on this cute little card set. I have used Green Tara Flowers in pink and chocolate brown as well as some heart, loopy and 5mm round brads. All these are also available in store.

Have a great week and stay warm. A new challenge will be set tomorrow and I will post my example on Wednesday. Tuesday will see a more tips for using paper flowers.

It has arrived ...

Issue No. 2 of the Innovations Magazine has arrived today. If you didn't get hold of Issue No. 1 and would like to keep the collection complete, there are still copies available. Look under Books & Publications in the shop.

Issue No. 2 has some beautiful layouts in it (including one

by Julia on page 22), alot more articles in this issue with some great

information about products and inspiring ways to use them. I love the article near the back on page 54 "What's for Dinner?" - How to make a recipe album. Just gorgeous.

Get you copy now, find a warm place with a cuppa and have a great read. Enjoy!

Top Tip Tuesday...

Time for another Tuesday tip.

TOP TIP: Distressing...takes on many forms. Something as simple as swiping an ink pad around the edge of your paper or cardstock. To wetting the edges of your paper with a cue tip or fine paint brush and rolling the wet edge towards you with your fingers. Sanding/tearing and crumpling your papers are other ways you can distress your papers. For those of you with Cuttlebugs, Emboss your papers first then sand over the embossing to expose the white core is a great easy way to distress.

Bazzill Cardstock, Pearls & Rhinestones

All of these have been restocked and most of your favourite colours are back in store. I've added Bronze to the Rhinestone colours and 5 new colours in the Pearls. Ice Green, Rose, Pewter, Red & Green. Have a look in store at the other new stock that's been added from Heidi Grace Designs. I'm adding new items all the time so keep poping into "what's new" on the shop front and keep up to date. I'm sure there will be something to tempt you.


Stay warm & dry.
Have a great weekend.

Top Tip Tuesday...

I thought that it would be great idea to introduce a weekly top tip. So check back here each Tuesday for the week's tip.

TOP TIP: in these harder time of economic doom and gloom, when choosing papers for your layouts, choose papers that you can use to create your own embellishments. Adding a little Dimensional Magic to a hand cut shape or using some foam tape will give your layouts a whole new look.

Black and White...

Your challenge for the coming fornight is to create a layout of any size using black and white papers and cardstock. The twist in this challenge is that you may choose ONE other colour as an accent colour. Black and white are a great combination for busy photos with lots of colour. Here is my sample below.Tip: Choose a colour from your photo as your accent colour. I have picked up the blue from Emma's top as my accent.

You have until Sunday the 21st June to email your creations to fiona@scrapboxnz.com

Good Luck and happy scrappin'

Challenge Sneak Peak...

The first of the fortnightly challenges will be posted here on the blog on Monday. Until then I thought that I would give you a sneak peak into what you may expect.
I will be bringing you a new challenge each fortnight and all will keep you creative and motivated. As Fiona said you have to be in to win.

New Products

Hope you all found some of way of keeping warm over the cold Queen's Birthday weekend. My youngest was very impressed that the "Queen" came to visit Kindy on Friday, and her present to Kindy was a holiday for everyone on Monday.

Over the weekend I stayed inside and organised all the brads that arrived from America. Some very cute little Tutu's for your dancing girls, Lady bugs for spring layout and Tools for the handy men in your life. Some other brads along with spots and striped papers by Heidi Grace will be added shortly. I have purchased some Heidi Swapp products and they too will be in the shop soon.

Here's a wee look at what's coming ...




I have recently made orders to replenish stock. Cardstock colours and Kaisercraft pearls. The Innovations issue No. 1 is back in stock, so if you missed out you can order this now. The next issue is out early/mid June. Another great looking magazine and this one has Julia's layouts in it too. Keep a look out for them.

Julia will have another challenge for you soon. She has come up with some great ideas for the coming challenges and of course there will be great rewards!

Happy Scrapping