October Challenge Winners!

October Challenge Winners!
Thanks everyone for joining in the fun challenges this month.

We have a series of winners to announce and want to thank Jenni Bowlin for donating the generous prizes this month. We've enjoyed featuring Jenni Bowlin Designs this month as part of CentreStage. The theme was Vintage and Eclectic Ephemera and it's been great to see how everyone has interpreted it.



Sketch Winner
Congrats to Shiree Arnold! We LOVED this take on the sketch that was supplied by Jenni Bowlin Designs.
Shiree writes: "This is a photo of my little girl, Blake at playcentre. She pretty much covers herself in paint every session. I was searching through our local hospice shop and just about had kittens when I found an old Playschool book, and I just had to use it on this page, I think it is rather appropriate."

First Time Entrant Winner
Congrats to Karen! Karen is a local who attends our Midnight Madness sessions. This is her first time entering the challenges. She's created a canvas with vintage collectables from Kaisercraft's Turtle Dove collection and serviettes. We love it!

Overall Challenge Winner
Congrats to Tania Hinton! Tania used the sketch for inspiration, but also submitted according to the Vintage theme. She's used a great range of papers that can be used for old photos, or more contemporary ones. We love how she's adjusted the photo to black and white tonings. Beautiful work!

Many thanks to all of you who entered. We LOVE seeing the variety. There is ONE more prize to be won. It's the commenting prize! You have ONE week to make a comment on any of the projects submitted to the Gallery this month to be in the draw to win a set of Jenni Bowlin Magpie papers (shown below). Head to the Gallery now and be sure to comment before midnight Wednesday 5th November.

Teresa - Another Rosarian card and ATC set

Hiya! It's Teresa, back with another Rosarian card and ATC set. You can see the first set here.

Again, I have used a piece from the Bocella sheet of paper as the centrepiece of the card. I have embellished it with a button, some ribbon and some paper flowers:

 

The black and white alpha are little stickers by KaiserCraft, and the larger ones are by Prima. They weren't quite the right colour, so I altered them with my Copic markers.  The butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch.

 

Here's the matching ATC using a piece from the 6x6 pad:

 

How about the next time you make a card, you use up the little scraps to make a tag or ATC? It will make the recipient feel extra special, I'm sure ;)

Artfull Craft's range of Prima Rosarian products can be found here in the online shop. Happy crafting!

Jenni Bowlin Guest Stars today! Win!!

Jenni Bowlin Designs has been Centre Stage at Artfull Crafts for the month of October. Today Jenni joins us in answering a few questions we put to her.

1) Who is Jenni Bowlin and how long have you been acting on the Crafting Stage?  I am a wife to Jared and mother to Noah (14) and Christian (10).  We live on a little farm outside of Nashville, TN.  I have been working in this industry for more than 12 years now!

2) What is Jenni Bowlin’s Theme Song? Toby Mac – “Lose My Soul”

3) Please share with us a brief synopsis of the Jenni Bowlin Studio story and don’t forget to tell us anything that sets you apart. Our tag line is “Building Blocks for Creative Storytelling”.  This is what we do, but with a “Vintage Fresh” attitude.  My goal is always to create products that can be used simply or could easily be altered to take it a step further.  I have always thought that what sets up apart is the fact that our products aren’t trendy – they are classic and always in style!

4) As owner, what part of your job gives you the most joy? Meeting people who love the product as much as I do.

5) Where do you think the papercraft industry is heading and what major trends do you see developing for the next year?  I wish I had a magic wand!  I think we will continue to find ways to tell our stories beyond the 12 x 12 scrapbook page.

6) How do you use Social Media to keep your audience clapping?  I have an awarded winning DT and they are always “hoping” and “tweeting” and “posting”!  We utilize facebook, twitter, pinterest and blogs. 

Product Design Questions:

1) How often do you produce a new release and what’s coming up that we should be excited about? We have two bigger releases and two smaller releases in between those, each year.  I am still finishing up our CHA-W release – the biggest of the year!  We have some exciting new products as well as additions to our popular lines coming.  We also just introduced a “True Vintage” line of actual antique/vintage ephemera and will be adding some new offerings with this release.

2) If you thought about your collections as costumes, explain the type of characters that would wear them.  Scarlett and Rhett – Gone With The Wind!

3) How do you get your creative juices flowing. What inspires you? A trip to Anthropologie or the antique store always does the trick!

4) Please describe the process from design concept through to product delivery.  It is very long and sometimes very hard.  I think the biggest issue is always loving an idea but not being able to bring it to market because of price.  I always have people say “why don’t you try this”?  It seems simple, but it’s just not!  There are so many factors involved and sometimes a great idea stays just that – an idea and never reality.  That is always a bummer!

 

5) What’s your personal all-time favourite Jenni Bowlin range and why?  Our Classic Red/Black Line.  That’s why we add on to it each fall.  I can’t let it go!

Thanks Jenni for joining us today and giving us some more insight into you and the company. We are looking forward to your visit to New Zealand next year at Autumn Escape and have enjoyed featuring your company here at Artfull Crafts.

Keep your eye on our blog for the final guest design swap where Sandy Ang from Artfull Crafts will be featuring on Jenni Bowlin's Studio Inspiration Blog.

To win a some fabulous products from Jenni Bowlin, head to our website and tell us which paper range you like the most - Wren, Christmas 2012 or Magpie. Leave a comment on the blog or on our Facebook Page by 30th October to be in the draw.

Teresa - Prima Rosarian Card and ATC set

Hi there! Teresa here :)

I belong to a little group of crafters and we get together once a month to make and swap ATCs. (For those who don't know what ATCs are: they are little 2 ½ x 3 ½ inch works of art that are swapped or given away but never sold).

Throughout the year, when it's someone's birthday, we give them a card and a few of us make matching ATCs.

Here's the latest card I made using the Bocella sheet of paper:

 

And here's the matching ATC using a corresponding piece cut from the Rosarian 6x6 pad:

 

 

When I really love a range of papers, I like to buy the 6x6 pad as well. It comes in handy for little projects like matching ATCs or gift tags.

 

I have another card and ATC set to share, so pop back soon!

 

 

 

Splash Sketch Kit with Liz and Tracy

Hi everyone
Here at Artfull Crafts we've been busy creating kits. We have about 12 waiting in the back room to be finished and loaded online! This one is based on a sketch and I (Liz) have created a  layout and a card using some summery photos.

Here's my layout based on the sketch. Evey year we go camping in Nelson (I've been since I was 3 years old and still LOVE it!). A few years ago we started inviting friends to join us for a week or two - and this year there are six extra families coming. There are a few MUST DO activities and one of them is blowing up the tubes and heading down to the back beach to wait for the Estuary. Then we pull the kids along (and maybe each other too...). Here is Clarissa being the horse with her two kids.

 Included in the kit is some fun cardboard with foam on top - perfect for the fluffy clouds, and some tags and an envelope. It's always important to document the activities that are important to you and your family. 

I also created a card based on the sketch with the leftovers. I love Mini Alpha stickers as they are so versatile.

So that's my contribution to the kit! I also sent a pack to Tracy (as a challenge because she's mainly a cardmaker).

Tracy's Layout and Card

Hello Tracy here. Ok, so I don't do many layouts, so I think I might be a bit rusty. But Liz made it easy for me when she sent me a sketch kit to play with. There were so many ways I could have used the kit, but it all came down to working the kit around the photos I chose. 

Anyone that knows me well, knows that I can't resist cutting something out, no matter how fiddly it becomes,  hence where the butterflies came into it. Also in the kit is the heading "pool" in blue gems. I decided not to use it as a title, but instead cut it up and used them as little trails out behind the butterflies, it just adds that tiny bit of sparkle.

Secondly, I put together this card with the kit..... such a cute summer picture, I added the tag behind the photo so that it could be used as an invite to the beach or pools.

If you want the kit (with piccies of the 2 layouts and 2 cards) then click here and purchase it. There are only a few kits available - so don't delay!!

Retro Sewing Sketch Kit by Tracy

Hello, Tracy here. Today I am showing you Cosmo Cricket, retro sewing theme sketch kit. Lucky for me I have two girls who have lots of girl cousins! This kit has a lot of different textural pieces in it, so if you like fiddling, this is the kit for you!

The flowers are made out of the tissue sewing pattern that is included in this kit, be careful, as the tissue does tend to tear a bit, but the end result is well worth it.

And finally my card made up with left over pieces. The image is from Saturated Canary, coloured in with Copics that you can also find at Artfull Crafts. 

Artfull Sketch Kits come with the products, the sketch, full colour copies of these samples - but not instructions. That's where you have to be creative!

If you want to purchase this kit for only $20, the click this link and head to the website.

Happy crafting

xx Tracy

Robbi - Kaisercraft Periwinkle Layout

Hi Everyone in Scrappy Land
Robbi here again with another new "favorite" (they just keep coming!!!)
this time its the Kaisercraft Full Collection Periwinkle...
when will they stop putting out such wonderful collections!
...well hopefully NEVER, because we are definitely the winners when it comes to being spoilt for choice.
Anyway this layout is very special as Our 2nd Son has just proposed to his wonderful Girlfriend and she said "YES" so I had been hunting for some photos to put with these gorgeous papers and the what do you know I now have a heap to play with. So here is the Layout I have not long completed but you will have to wait for the next one as its not quite done yet.
Liz was kind enough to send me quite a bundle of goodies in this range and I still have a few ideas up my sleeve to complete yet using the collection, so keep watching...

Here is the layout so far

Here is a close up of the Hot Air Balloons 

In this layout I have distressed both bases and inked them with Sepia Ink, I really enjoyed cutting out the hot air balloons and building up the layers, 90% of the goodies used are from the 

Kaisercraft Full Collection Periwinkle and the papers and extras are a combination of :-

Kaisercraft Paper Periwinkle Breathe

Kaisercraft Paper Periwinkle Hint

Kaisercraft Paper Periwinkle Dawn

Kaisercraft Paper Periwinkle Whisper

Kaisercraft Specialty Paper Periwinkle HotAirBalloons

Kaisercraft Collectables Periwinkle

Kaisercraft Sticker Sheet Periwinkle Frames

Kaisercraft RubOns Periwinkle Grey

Included in this layout was a very old Melissa Frances flower corsage and Maya Road Pearl Trinket Pin

and some random little bits and pieces were used as well.....Shock Horror I have just realised that there is no Tim on here at all!

Thanks so much for checking out what I have been up to...until next time

Happi Scrappin

Robbi

Christine - Jenni Bowlin Layouts

Hi there- Christine here, Centre Stage at Artfull Crafts this month is showcasing Jenni Bowlin Studio!
I have a couple of Layouts to show you today using the Wren Collection...

 This Layout is of my Dad at 100 years old holding this gorgeous Baby, Onyu, who is 100 days old. It is quite the thing for my Dad to have his photo taken with babies after Church on a Sunday!! He could get a job as Father Christmas at the local Mall!!!

This LO is of my 3 at home together - it is not often we get all 3 home at the same time, so definitely had to get photos taken! For this 2nd LO I have used this months layout sketch...

 

I have also used Tim Holtz Sizzix Big Dies - Gadget Gears.   

TFL

Happy Creating!

Christine

Welcome Karine from Jenni Bowlin & GIVEAWAY

Hi Everyone.

Today we welcome Karine Cazenave-Tapie from the Jenni Bowlin Design Team. She is sharing some great layouts!

"I’m really proud and honored to be a part of the talented Jenni Bowlin Mercantile team! I’m so happy and honored to be able to have fun with the products that I’ve been fond of for so long! So for my first post on the blog, here are two pages realized with the Stencils paper. I fell in love with these papers, they can be used in so different manners, and I definitely love them"

Let me show you how I realized these layouts step by step.

1- Place your Stencil paper on a white cardstock and spray ink (choose your colour).
2- Peel off your paper delicately and let it dry. We’ll need it for our second page as well.
3- Work on your background now: create shades on the edges with Vintage Photo Distress ink and create shapes with a "text" stencil.

Then glue your picture and embellish! I placed some Flags Tags Kraft around my picture as well as stickers and hexagon chipboards for more volume.

Mix alphabets for your title "Fall in Love" and add masking tape.

Now the second layout - your stencils page should be dry by now.
Glue it on a light-coloured cardstock and embellish it using similar elements than in the first page.

 Add a pretty paper feather and the title "Write your story".

Thanks Karine - we love your projects!

Be sure to check out all the Jenni Bowlin products in the store right now AND see below for details on winning some goodies!

TO WIN

Leave a comment on this post telling us what your favorite Jenni Bowlin product is and how you would use it!
HERE"S A CLUE - you can see all of ours in the shop here!

You have until 6:00pm NZ time on Thursday October 25th to enter. Winner will be announced on October 26th.
Don't forget to check out the latest challenge here.

Liz's Christmas Box Tutorial

Hi everyone! Liz here with a tutorial for you.

There's been lots of interest in the box I created in card class last week. So many of the locals have asked for information on how I designed it. I was just inspired by the pizza box in front of me - so I can't exactly say it's original! The box was supposed to hold the card that we were going to make in class, but then I had a bright idea and decided to put the card on top of the box and leave the inside for choccies....!!

The box is really simple. So join in any time! Here's a ROUGH template I've just thrown together before I head out the door for the long weekend!

Cut card to 8" x 12" and lay longways. Score down at 1" and 7"
Turn card sideways and score at 7/8", 1", 6.5" and 7.5.
Cut as shown in the diagram.
Now cut 7/8" off the left and right edges of the flaps, and cut a triangle off each of the four flaps. This will help you close the box easier.

Fold up the box and make sure that it's going to behave!! Make any adjustments before you add tape! Now add tape onto the outer flap and on the back sides of the small flaps and fold up the box.

Now create the card using a 12' x 4" piece of Kraft Cardstock. Fold in half and ink around the edges. Cut patterned paper 5.25" x 3.75" then wet, roll and ink the edges and add centrally. (I've used paper from the new Simple Stories Handmade Holiday range for this box).

Find some corrugated card and trim to 4.5" x 3". Rip off the top layer to reveal the corrugations and then add ink to the top. Wrap ribbon around the cardboard and tie a bow to the lefthand side. Adhere to the card.

Cut 2 Mini Fanciful Flourish dies from green cardstock (I LOVE this die!!) and adhere them as shown in the picture.

Stamp the Book Frame Stamp set from Heartfelt Creations onto 2 pieces of music paper and then cut out with the matching Spellbinder die from Labels Seven. We sold out of the stamp set after class and so we have made them available for pre-order online. We still have some Labels Seven left and the larger Bookframe set (which I think I will have to also add to my stash!)

Wet, distress and ink both books and stitch through the books using the Sew Easy Piercer and a thin piece of jute twine. Add mounting foam in between the book pages and shape so it looks like an open book. Add to the card on top of the flourishes.

Add label with Merry Christmas Sentiment and then cut the small Nested Poinsettia flower out twice from Crimson Card (sorry it's been deleted from Spellbinders!). Use a Paper Shaper to create a flower with dimension and then a brad to hold the flowers together.

 

Add the card on top of the box, and decorate the inside ready for you to write a heartfelt greeting to a friend.

 Now complete the box with by punching out a trim with the Doily Lace Trim Punch from Martha Stewart (my new favourite!). Cut it up the middle and wrap around the box to complete the look. Fill with chocolates and give away!!

Mmm I wonder where my choccies went....

Robbi - Kaisercraft Turtle Dove Tags - Part 2

Hi Everyone in Scrappy Land
Robbi here with the 2nd part to the Christmas Tag game I have been busy creating.
These tags are mostly all created using the Kaisercraft 61/2x61/2 Paper Pad Turtle Dove. Collection
The range of papers and colours in this little pad is totally amazing and it really didn't matter how often I flipped the pages I always saw something that caught my eye. Obviously there are other bits and bobs that have been used but predominantly they are all from the pad.

Here are all the tags nicely tucked away in the 7 Gypsies Drawer

And here is the front of the Drawer

Anyway... here is the plan for the " Game" if you would like to try it.
Create your tags, add the numbers (you could even just do this for the 12 days of Christmas rather than the 25 and another idea is get the kiddies to help make them or maybe they could make their own for themselves, a teacher or friend) This really is just a different take on the Advent Calendars that are around, this way the Kiddie has to go on a Treasure Hunt
Make the little pockets for the back as shown on these tags and make some little treasure hunt papers to slip into the pockets...

The little treasure hunt papers are folded and held in with a paperclip.
REMEMBER:- to check what the next day's clue is though so you can pop the treat in place before the Kiddie gets there....otherwise you might have some grumpy Children on your hands! If you have more than one Child wanting to play, just make enough slips for each pocket but make them different and jumble them up a bit.

Here is all the happy little Chocolate Santa's waiting to be gobbled up, along with a couple of sample hints for the Treasure hunt.

Ok lets check out the 2nd lot of Tags

On the # 3 tag I have used a couple of Tim's dies and even a little resin bird, made by my friend Sharon which I coloured with numerous amounts of alcohol inks and metallic rubs. On tag 1 I used a little silver bell to make it look like a wee parcel.

 On tag 8 there is a lot of little internal tags hiding that could be used for gift tags, and I like
 the simplicity of tag 6.

The lamp post in tag 10 was cut using the Spellbinders die, and I covered it with some liquid applique to make it look like snow. In tag 9 I have used the Cricut cartridge Graphically Speaking (my fav!) to cut the "dream big" banner.

I am thinking out of all the tags so far these 2 are my favorites - the colours just "work".

On tag 14 I have used a little Scrapmatts chipboard hanging clock, which I covered in glossy accents and on tag 18, I have used some of the glitter music paper from the little pad.

I am hoping that with my 3 stockings on the stairs Santa is going to leave me some very special gifts! Or am I being greedy?

Last Tags, and I think the # 25 was the most fun to make! It has so many elements to it I wasn't sure if it was going to fit in the drawer but it did...............

Remember all these tags have been created using large luggage tags and the
Kaisercraft 61/2x61/2 Paper Pad TurtleDove

Thanks you for checking out what I have been up to lately and I hope to hear that you have tried making the little tags and that you were ready to play the game with your Kiddies (or big Kiddies) and that it was a heap of fun.
This drawer and contents will be available for closer inspection in the shop from the 1st December
Have a super fantastic scrappy week and take care
Robbi