Once again - this theme is designed to be VERY broad - we want to see anything and everything to do with birthdays or flowers

For example, what about

Here are some I made last year - and you can see how to make them here.
Why not make some and enter them into our challenge

Talking of inspiration - starting this month we are also providing a sketch to help you start creating.

This sketch was created by our own Design Team member Tanya Leigh.

Your entry to the challenge can be either along our theme of "Birthdays and Blooms" OR it can be using the sketch. (OR of course it can be both!)

During the month we will see what wonderful layouts the Design Team come up with using the sketch.

To enter the challenge - send a picture of your project tomailto:artfullcraftsdt@gmail.com You can send us as many entries as you like. We will be featuring entries and there will be a prize for the Challenge Winner!

For our feature this week we are meeting another member of our Design Team - Lowri McNabb.

Lowri lives in Marlborough. She enjoys a variety of papercrafting and loves to make mini-albums.  Here she shares with us three of her favorite projects, and tells us more about herself and her work. To see more of Lowri's work - be sure to take her look in her gallery.

How were you introduced to scrapbooking?
When my oldest son was born, I decided to make a scrapbook with pictures of him for my Mother’s birthday. I bought everything from the Warehouse and the $2 shop – and I created absolutely everything from scratch. I then did the same for my other 2 kids when they were born and just as I finished the last one about 18 months ago I discovered that there was a whole ENORMOUS industry dedicated to scrapbooking. Now I am hooked!

What inspires you for layouts, projects, cards?
I get HEAPS of inspiration on-line and I am always on the lookout for items to use in second-hand shops, $2 shops, hardware store, grocery store – you get the picture. I look at a lot of other blogs and if I see something I like I try to re-create it from scratch, putting my own twist on it along the way

Picture Wallet I originally saw this project somewhere on the internet and I could not find any instructions on how to make it - so I figured it out for myself! My mother-in-law was in hospital unexpectedly so I made this for her with pictures of the kids in. A lot of love went into making this! I have more pics on my blog here

What other project types do you like to work on besides scrapbook pages?
I mainly do mini albums, small papercraft pieces, BTP projects and altered items. I find the full-size pages really daunting and I love the idea of making something practical that the recipient can look at frequently. I have yet to make anything for myself – I really must get on that….

What is your favourite scrapbook brand and why?
Well – that is a toughie! My all-time favourite ranges have been from Cosmo Cricket and Crate Paper – but I basically love any collection which offers something a bit more than paper only. I always love to see what Kaisercraft come up with. I don’t always love their collections – but I definitely think they have something for everyone.  I like bright and bold colours, but also retro styling and textured, good quality paper.

Cocktail Box I made this for my submission to the Artfull Crafts Design Team.  It took a long time and was one of the first BTP projects I tried. I learned HEAPS from making this- and now I can complete those projects much more quickly   They are so much fun - you can see more of this box on my blog here

What scrapbooking tools/products can you not do without?
Adhesive eraser, corner rounder, very sharp knife, metal ruler, dimensional foam tape, fine grit sandpaper and my computer. I use it not only for searching for ideas, but I love to print onto PP, print out text for invitations, cards, etc

What is your current favorite technique or embellishment?
I am very fickle when it comes to this question!! My favorite tends to be the last one I saw that inspired me. I have learned to print anything I really like out – as the chances of me finding it again on-line are slim. Last year – my favourites were the single sheet mini-album I first saw on the Kaiser blog and the Covered Lids tutorial I did. I had so much great feedback as it was a technique not many had seen before

Goldfinger This might seem like a really odd choice of project! It's the inside back cover of the book I made for my Mum featuring my second son. He needed a lot of light treatment when he was born and my brother took this photo as it reminded him of a scene from Goldfinger. I am a huge James Bond fan and it just makes me look back on this stressful time with a smile! I made every element by hand and I also love to look at it to see how my work has progressed!

What do you hope to try or improve on this year?
I want to become a little more time-efficient I would also like to work on my photography skills to be able to take great pics of my kids and I really want to learn how to stamp properly!

What advice can you give to people just beginning to enjoy scrapbooking?

1. Enjoy yourself - this is meant to be fun!
2. Don’t panic – if it doesn’t work – what have you lost? Most times you can just cover it with a bigger piece of paper and start again!
3. You don’t need everything and anything out there– only buy product you love and think you will use in the next 3 months (I really should start heeding that advice!!)
4. Find a few people on-line whose styles you admire, follow their blog – ask them questions. There is not a blogger out there who doesn’t love to know people are interested in their work. 
5. Enter some challenges/DT calls etc. It's hard sometimes to "put yourself out there" but you will find people are friendly and really appreciative you have taken the time to share your work

Do you have a blog?
I certainly do! Come and drop by at http://papervinenz.blogspot.com/
I have heaps of tutorials and the odd cooking related tidbit too!

Well - that's enough from me today! Be sure to join us during the week for some great ideas.

Lowri :-)