Winners Announced!

Well it's been a seriously busy day for everyone making cards... and there are some fantastic cards in our gallery!

Challenge #1 - Layers

Challenge #2 - Stencils & Masks

Challenge #3 - Stickers, Rub ons & Peelcraft

Challenge #4 - Shape

Challenge #5 - Flowers

Challenge # 6 Glitz, Sparkle & Shine

And now onto the PRIZES!!! :)
Ok - I'm on the random number generator... and each card has a number (from 1 to 38) I've given the numbers in the order they were uploaded (thought that would be easiest)

We'll do the spot prizes first:

Prize #1 - Jenny (for finishing the 6 challenges first)

Prize #2 - Number 3 - Tricia (challenge #1)

Prize #3 - Number 36 - Anna (challenge #5)

Prize #4 - Number 7 - Jenny (challenge #4)

Prize #5 - Number 28 - Esther (challenge #3)

Prize #6 - Number 9 - Lianne (challenge #2)

Well done ladies!!

And now for the MAJOR prize winner!!!

Number 20 - AMANDA (challenge #4)

Congratulations Amanda :)

PLUS... I am so impressed with all the entries that EVERYONE will also receive a packet of One Colour Collection flowers from me... just because I can LOL

Thanks everyone for your fantastic efforts!!

World Cardmaking Day - Challenge #6

Ok... it's time for the final challenge - but it's a good one!

The theme this time is GLITZ, SPARKLE and SHINE!

For this challenge you need to get out the glitter, kindy glitz, embossing powders, shiny embellishments etc in fact anything at all that will add a bit of sparkle to your card!

Here's my sample: Unfortunately 'sparkle' doesn't always photograph that well... so long as we get 'some' sparkle I'll be pretty happy.

The silver background paper on my card is REALLY shiny... I also embossed the stamp with silver and added some silver ink around the stamped image. To finish it off I added some shiny star embellishments and added some kindy glitz to the wine bottle :)

Now it's time for you to get out all the glittery things that magpies love! Remember to upload as "Challenge #6 - your name"

You have until 8pm tonight to get the challenges done and uploaded into the gallery and then I'll be announcing the winners (including the spot prizes) at 8.30pm

World Cardmaking Day - Challenge #5

This time the challenge is to use FLOWERS!

You need to use at least 1 flower on your card... it could be a sticker, rub on, stamp, embellishment... anything you like :)

Here's my sample card:
I kept it all pretty simple really... the stamp actually includes a flower but I wanted something 'a little more' so I added a flower embellishment over the top.

Now it's your turn... and remember to upload as "Challenge #5 - your name" when you put your card in the gallery :)

World Cardmaking Day - Challenge #4

Hopefully you're all enjoying these cardmaking challenges

Challenge #4 is all about SHAPE!

Most of the cards available to buy are rectangular... and it seems that it's a shape we're pretty comfortable making. So this time the challenge is to make a card that is NOT rectangular... any shape will do - circular, triangular, square etc

Here's my sample card:
I've been wanting to make a square card for ages... what's stopped me?? Lack of envelopes in this shape (and the cost of the ones I can get!) So don't worry about the envelope and just create a card that's not a rectangle

Remember to upload as "Challenge #4 - your name"

World Cardmaking Day - Challenge #3

Time for the next challenge

This time it's all about STICKERS, RUB ONS & PEEL CRAFT!

How many times have you bought these items... used 1 or 2 of them and then stuck the rest in drawers??? Now it's time to get them out and use them for this challenge! You only have to use 1 item to qualify for the challenge too!

Here's my card:
I bought these stickers ages ago (probably a couple of years ) intending to make a 'Girl Talk' mini album. Well that just didn't happen so I've opened them up and used a couple of them on this card!

I wanted something bright and fun! Remember too that you can stick your stickers and rub-ons onto plain cardstock to give them a bit of a different look - that's what I did with the 'yak' stickers!

Happy sticking :)

World Cardmaking Day - Challenge #2

For challenge #2 the theme is STENCILS and MASKS

Don't panic if you haven't got any commercially made ones because it's super easy to make your own! I'll show you what I used in a minute

Here's my sample card:
I cut the lizard image using the cricut - punches work REALLY well too! Then I used the outside part of the image and held it on my card while I inked the lizard design:
Once I was happy with how my lizard looked I used the actual cut out and placed it on top of the inked image and then I stamped the 'background':
I finished off with some stamped words and then added some crackle accents on the lizard to finish it off

Now it's your turn :)

Remember to upload your card into the gallery as "Challenge #2 - your name"

World Cardmaking Day - Challenge #1

Welcome to our first challenge for World Cardmaking Day

Challenge #1 is all about LAYERS!

Create a card that has at least 3 layers. You might decide to back an embellishment with a cardstock mat... or layer papers together... or create layers using foam dots etc.

The theme is completely over to you!

For my sample card I made a Christmas card for a special friend:

Steps for my card:

I began with my 1st layer of card and stamped text over it.

Then I ripped some patterned paper and inked it and layerd that onto the background.

Next I cut a small piece of text paper and layers that to create a 'ribbon' along the bottom of the card.

Then I matted the Santa image with cardstock and adhered that to the card front.

I then added the pointsettia flower and popped the "25 Dec" up on foam dots in the center.

I finished it off with some rub ons (Merry Christmas and the holly leaves)

When you upload your cards into the gallery please label them "Challenge #1 - your name" and remember that each time you enter a challenge you get a ticket in the draw for the prize pack (and you might even win the challenge spot prize!)

Happy Layering!

Challenges and Competitions!

Well the first of the month has arrived which means our September challenge winner has been announced! Congratulations to Gail for this gorgeous layout! Esther chose Gail's layout because she said "it was a breath of fresh air and she loved the clean lines"
We've got a prize pack ready to head your way Gail :) To see the rest of the entries into this months challenge visit our online gallery.

I'm organising the October challenge. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month so I've picked PINK for this months challenge.

Now before you say... "but I've only got boys"... all you need to do is include something pink on your layout! There might be some pink in your photo... or you could use some pink cardstock or patterned paper... or pink embellishments... or even just 1 pink button LOL etc.

I'm not worried about there being a certain % of pink... I can never figure things like that out LOL

I've got a layout all 'planned' but haven't actually got it done yet so right now it's completely up to you!

I hope you'll all join in on this months challenge... and if you win you're guaranteed that there will be something pink in the prize pack!!

We've also got some great challenges planned for World Cardmaking Day tomorrow!!

Just in case you didn't know... it's World Cardmaking Day on Saturday 3rd October. To celebrate the event I'm going to be running some cardmaking challenges throughout the day - 6 in total!

Here's how it's going to work:

1. There will be 6 different challenges posted throughout the day - I'm aiming for a 10am start so keep checking back for the details of each challenge

2. The idea is to use what you already have... there won't be any 'product' challenges... so it's a great way to use up some of your stash (and don't forget about your 'scraps' box/folder etc)

3. The entries need to be uploaded into the gallery by 8pm on Saturday night.

4. Each entry gains you a ticket - 1 entry per challenge - so you have a chance to gain 6 tickets

5. At 8.30pm I'll be announcing a major winner who will receive a small pizza box of goodies :)

There's also going to be spot prizes for each and every challenge so that's another 6 chances to win!

Check out all the details HERE!

Happy Scrapping xx

Buzz & Bloom Competition!! $250 prize pack :)

Buzz & Bloom are really in the mood to celebrate and they're running a great competition!

They're looking for the best project created using a Buzz & Bloom tabbed mini album kit... and what's up for grabs?? A prize pack worth $250!!! That's a tonne of product!!

So what do you have to do?? Simply create your project using a Buzz & Bloom tabbed book kit (available in our shop), take your photos and then upload it into the Buzz & Bloom Flicker page. For more information check out this post on the Buzz & Bloom blog!

Currently available in the shop we have 3 different tabbed mini book kits for sale... and starting today we're taking 20% off the RRP! Now available for just $12!!!

Unicorn:

Hearts:

Circles

To give you an idea here's one I made using the circle tab kit:

And if you're looking for even more ideas the current Buzz & Bloom design team are putting up their ideas on the Buzz & Bloom blog... there's some GREAT ideas to use!

Why not give it a go!!!

Buzz & Bloom Design Team 2010

I received an email from Buzz & Bloom announcing their Design Team call for 2010... exciting stuff!

We are looking for a fresh crop of designers to be on our design team for the upcoming new year.

If you think you've got what it takes, and you're interested in applying here's what to do:

Email us the following information:

1. Your name, email address, phone number and address.
2. A link to your blog and/or on-line gallery.
3. Previous or current design team / teaching experience.
4. Information on any published work.
5. Please also include a little bit about yourself and your life, as well as detailing your experience with scrapbooking, your style, favorite products or techniques, and give us a good idea of who you are and what kind of artist you are.
   

Along with this email, please attach images of four of your best or favorite layouts or projects.

Write a sample blog post for two of the four layouts.Your job as a member of our Design Team will be as much about writing posts on our blog as it will be about designing projects with our products. We want to see how you present your projects in writing. Each sample post should include details of techniques used, products used and should also give us a glimpse of your personality.

The use of our products is not a requirement.
We will accept submissions which include off the page projects, however we have a limit of one per application.

Successful applicants will be required to submit:
3 projects per month, including drafting of blog posts for each project & occasional additional artwork for catalogs, trade shows and new product releases

You will receive product packs in the mail every two months.

Email your application to dt@buzzandbloom.com with subject "2010 DT Application". Applications close 31st October.

Looking forward to seeing some amazing talents!!

This Design Team call is open to anyone, in any country.

Why not give this a go?? The people at Buzz & Bloom are super friendly and great to work with!!

September Mid Month Motivation

Each month we do a mid-month motivation... something just to have a go at. Sometimes it's a sketch, sometimes a card challenge but this month we've got something a little different.

When I was writing about the Tim Holtz masks on the Scrapbook Dreams blog I was thinking about the fact that I really don't use paint on my layouts very much and I realised that as scrappers we all have our 'favourite' things we do over and over... but what have you never tried?? Have you ever bought products thinking you want to give something a go... and then just never actually gotten around to it???

Here's a couple of examples - After being quite 'anti' paint on my layouts I gave it a go and came up with this:
I really wanted to try creating a canvas and the opportunity came up to do a class. I ended up creating this for my BIL and he still has it on the wall:
I learnt lots of new techniques making the canvas and went on to make a few more :)

Just recently I was talking to Esther on the phone and she was busy multi-tasking (as you do). She had a stamp out and had inked it up... then the next minute she went "Bother" (or something fairly similar LOL)... she had accidently inked it with the 'wrong' ink pad But here's the result:
She's been busy ever since doing multi-coloured stamped images!!!

So here's the motivation... try something you've been wanting to do... or have never done! It can be a technique, project, something you've bought and never used... it's completely up to you!... so go and 'play' and show us the results!

When I got home from work tonight there was a fabulous canvas Sherryn had made in the gallery! So why not give it a go and see what you can come up with??

Shell xx

Product Spotlight - Tim Holtz masks

Everyone that knows me knows that I'm a fan of Tim Holtz! I'm not so much into the fact that his name is on his products... it's more a case of I know that they're really good products :)

I'm completely into the Distress Inks - in fact I find it really difficult to complete any crafting project without adding a bit of Distress Ink!!

More recently I've discovered how good his masks are! I've tried other masks and they just haven't done the job... but these beauties are FANTASTIC!

My sister recently gave me a Tim Holtz mask (Flourish) as a gift and here's a layout I created with it:
This layout was super easy! Here's the steps I used:

1. Take a piece of plain cardstock (I used black)
2. Place Tim Holtz mask in position... it sticks to the paper perfectly but is completely removable without any damage to your paper!
3. Get some paint (I used white) and smear it over the mask with a paper towel... the best part is that there's NO clean up! When you're happy with the design just let it dry a bit and throw your paper towel in the bin :)
4. Then I scrunched up a bit of bubble wrap and dabbed it in some more white paint and 'stamped' it around the edges.
5. Next I added my photos, journaling and title - super easy and really effective!

We've got three of Tim's masks available in our online shop - (L to R) Borderline, Timeworks & Flourish.

If you'd like to see more about using these masks you can watch this video Tim Holtz created... there's LOADS of tips in it!



Happy crafting - Shell xx

Christmas Card Swap

Christmas is fast approaching… or so my girls keep telling me! We thought it might be fun to have a Christmas Card swap.

All the details are on the forum, but basically you make 6 Christmas cards and send them in to me by Monday 12th October and then I’ll send you back 6 made by other participants.

Here’s a couple I made recently to give you a few ideas:

If you haven't joined the forum yet it's a quick and easy process! We have a great community of friendly scrappers who are always there to offer support, advice and lots of fun :)

September Sketch Challenge

Well the time has come to make a change so I've moved the Scrapbook Dreams blog over to blogspot and hopefully now I'll update a bit more regularly!

Esther designed our September challenge and she's provided us with this great sketch! I love the fact that it's a multi-photo layout without seeming cluttered at all :)
Esther also provided a sample layout that she created. This gorgeous layout celebrates the arrival of spring!
I love the soft colours and the way she's incorporated multi-coloured stamped images in place of some of the photos!

I even managed to get a layout done myself! Krystal had her first school ball earlier this term and I wanted to capture the memory... and with the multi-photo sketch it seemed perfect so here's what I came up with:
If you'd like to enter the challenge and be eligible for a fantastic embellishment prize pack then all you have to do is create a layout based on the sketch and upload it into the gallery by Midnight 30th September.

Shell xx