Hi Everyone – Lowri here. I am really excited to start off the Design Team posts and projects for Artfull Crafts. Keep popping back to see what the other Design Team members come up with.

I received a lovely bunch of items to work with – the main one being one of Kaisercraft's latest BTP releases – the Large Desk Organiser. Also included were the papers from the August release Hippy Girl Collection as well as some embellishments, rhinestones and wood flourishes. Now – I have to say that I went into a slight panic as they all looked very pink – and pink terrifies me!! However – on closer inspection I realised that the papers really had a wonderful range of colours and I was especially drawn to the plainer, contrast sides of the papers. I was also surprised when I saw the size of the organiser – it holds a full 12” paper sheet making it really practical.

I am going to go into some more details later this week about how I actually put it together as well as what I did decoration wise before and after putting it together. One hint - if you are going to start on this – there is definitely a right and wrong side to each piece in terms of fit with the other pieces and I suggest playing with the pieces until they fit perfectly and then marking them front and back, up and down etc to make sure you can assembly easily at each stage.
So – here are the pictures of what I came up with!

Homework Desk Organiser
I thought that the Hippy Girl range would be perfect for a girl who still likes pink, but who is starting to grow up a bit too. Here is my finished version – both plain and loaded with goodies!


I am pleased with how it turned out – though if I did it again I would have planned a bit more before assembling it – but I will fill you in on all those technical details later!! Here are some close-ups of the detailing


I used a combination of 12x12 papers and the mini-pad to get the variation in papers for the drawers – which are all fully lined.
I hope you like it and keep an eye out for more detailed information on how I put it together in the next few days.

Desk Accessories
These are “altered” items. The notebook was a very cheap one which I covered with paper and embellishments and the pencil holder was an M&M plastic container - I just cut off the lid.



Lip Balm Holders
These were a fun project I had seen a while back on a couple of other blogs from the US.


The “Sleepover” one has a magnetic snap closure and is a little invitation for a girl’s sleepover. I used the Kaisercraft printables for the Hippy Girl range to create a co-ordinating background onto which I printed the text. The free printables are FANTASTIC for creating stationary to co-ordinate with the Kaiser ranges. (You'll find the "Download Free Printable" option at the bottom of the collections on the Kaiser website). I have made a little Get Well Card in the past with a packet of Tums in place of the lip-balm but you could make party favours with tubes of candy etc

Super Quick Mini Album
I saw this on the Kasiercraft blog and just had to try it out it seemed so easy. The Journal Tags are so perfect for an easy mat/journaling spot. I love how this turned out..


I have a few bits and pieces left and I really want to make some cute notecards, so I am hoping to do that before I start on some items for Father’s Day.
So there you go! I have posted some more detailed pictures in my gallery and if anyone has any questions or comments – please post on the blog and I will reply!

This is the final day where we showcase some of the applicants for the Artfull Crafts Design Team. We thank all the people who have let us showcase their submissions even though they were not successful this time. We hope you've all enjoyed the last week's blogs!

Caroline H, New Plymouth
Caroline has just taken up this great hobby of Scrapbooking and is already being published! She enjoys trying a variety of techniques and is particularly enjoying sewing and layering at the moment. Her all time favourite manufacturer is Kaisercraft (yay!), along with Jillibean Soup (which we will also soon be stocking) and October Afternoon. Thanks for your submissions!


Nik F, Australia
Nik has been scrapbooking when she first got pregnant 7 years ago. She's also a keen photographer and usually scraps for herself and her family. Nik creates canvases and cards and loves the artistic side photos and papercrafts. Thanks Nik and best wishes with the relocation! You might even get your own craft room...?!

Sarah I, Auckland
Sarah is a lover of all things crafty. She has been creating for about 5 years and loves to make personalised gifts for others, along with finishing off an ever-expanding number of scrapbooking pages! She's keen on crafts and looks to put her own inspirational spin on projects - like the very cool embellished umbrella shown below! Thanks Sarah for your contribution to Artfull Crafts.


Shona T, Auckland
Shona is a mad-keen crafter who creates wonderful, varied projects and gifts for others. She enjoys making cards, scrapbbook layouts, tags and mini-albums and has a really eclectic style. She uploads in-depth You Tube videos of her projects so that others can enjoy them too. (Apologies for our blurry images - they were screen shots from You Tube). Thanks Shona! We look forward to seeing more of your work.

So that's it folks! Many thanks once again to everyone who applied. If you want to see more of the new Design Team's work then head to our Gallery...

There are just 8 more people to showcase on the blog. These people applied to be on the Artfull Crafts Design Team - but weren't chosen this time. We thank them for applying and letting us show you their submissions. There is so much talent out there!!

Gail L, NZ
Gail loves to create a range of Beyond the Page projects and cards. She creates gifts for friends and family and also for her home. Gail also enjoys completing a range of cards - from 3D, to animals, to shaker boxes to photo cards. Thanks for the variety of your submissions.



Julie C, Paraparaumu
Julie enjoys a range of papercrafts and also quilts! She started scrapping about 5 years ago and has been making cards for a couple of years (including a stint as a Stampin' Up demonstrator). She admires the way Tim Holtz keeps coming up with new ideas and would love to meet Kristy Evans - the Editor of Scrapbooking Memories. Julie sent us a lovely range of her projects. Thanks Julie!

Amanda B, Hamilton
Amanda is a scrapper who has also spent some time as a Stampin' Up Demonstrator. She likes doing hand-written journalling (great for all her travel photos) and enjoys playing with punches, stamps, and lots of tools. Amanda also makes gifts for others and at times hunts around in stores to find projects that need a make-over. Thanks for your lovely work!


Ashlee S, Edgecumbe, NZ
Ashlee is a keen scrapper and her 3 kids are often the subject! She likes to create with her children and believes that getting back to the basics in life is important in this day and age. She ran her own scrapbooking business from home last year, but has put that on the back-burner for a while and is now crafting for herself. Consequently Ashlee has a wonderful craft cave filled with tools and the products she loves. I look forward to meeting Ashlee for a coffee at SENZ next year!!
See you all back here tomorrow for the final 4 applicants. Have a great night!

Hi everyone. It's time for Day Three Design Team applicants to be showcased. We have two more days after this - so be sure to follow along... We want to thank again everyone that applied to be on the Team and special thanks to those who were prepared to have their work displayed here on the blog - even though they didn't make it this time.

Stacey D, Invercargill
Stacey has always been 'crafty' but now she spends most of her hobby time Scrapbooking. She enjoys doing challenges and has a love of Martha Stewart and Tim Holtz (good taste!!). Thanks Stacey for your submissions. I love the mini wedding album!


Ella R, Timaru
Ella is a a keen teen scrapper has a habit of taking her camera everywhere. Consequently her friends often find themselves the subject of her layouts! Ella spends time carefully considering her layouts and what products will best suit her pictures. While Ella didn't score a place on the Design Team this time, she did score a part-time job at Artfull Crafts! She's now our Saturday employee and she's doing a great job!

Faith T, Ngaruawahia
It was such a pleasure to meet Faith at SENZ! She's been scrapbooking for almost 10 years and has developed a recent love of mini albums. Her work is so beautiful and here you see some layout of her gorgeous family. Thanks for your submissions, Faith!



Carol J, Ashburton
Carol loves making cards although at times she also creates mini albums, books and Kaiser projects. She's a fan of craft groups and enjoys keeping up with the trends on the web. Carol enjoys Rachel Greig and Tom Holtz products and loves to give her cards away. Thanks for your cards Carol!
Have a great night everyone. See you back here tomorrow...
:-) Liz

Thanks for following along this great journey. We are sharing the work of the applicants for the Artfull Crafts Design Team who weren't successful this time around - but they've kindly given us permission to showcase their submissions.

Debbie J, Australia
Debbie is an extremely talented scrapper and she loves Kaisercraft products! (So do I in case you haven't picked that up!). In fact she's even taught classes at the Kaiser outlet store in Geelong. Debbie loves cutting out from patterned paper and making her pages pop with foam tape. Her layouts were quite exceptional and we thank her for applying.


Tania M, Christchurch
Tania enjoys a range of crafts - including creating minaturist doll's house and beyond the page projects. But she really loves it when her children look through their scrapbook albums and remember their activites. She was introduced to scrapbooking back in 2003 and has developed her skills (and love of the craft) since then. Thanks heaps for your colourful submissions!


Natasha H, Rotorua
We loved Nastasha's application form - she is brimming with excitement for scrapbooking and loves to scrap with her mum. Natasha likes to mix and match colours - and we enjoyed the range of items you submitted. Thanks for the fantastic card you made us (you can see it in the middle of the collage).

Rosalie B, Wairarapa
Rosalie is a valued member of the Artfull Crafts Community. She has a large family, a vibrant faith and she LOVES her craft! She is self-taught with all crafts (quilting, scrapping, needlework etc) and scraps every day (yes sorting photos is scrapping!). We loved Rosalie's style and if you keep your eye on the craft magazines later this year you might see something...

Thanks everyone and pop back tomorrow for another display of crafting talent.

We want to say thanks to all the people who applied to be on the Artfull Crafts Design Team. There was a LOT of talent! For the next few days we are going to reveal some of the applicants who weren't successful this time around - but they've kindly given us permission to showcase their submissions. (There are 20 people who have agreed to let us share their images - so keep popping back for the next five days.)

Starting here in the local town of Pleasant Point we have Shirley B! Shirley often pops into the shop to show us her creations. She's been playing with alcohol inks lately and has some lovely little samples in store. She also runs our quilling parties! Shirley has dabbled in a number of crafts and she loves to think ourside and square and mix up her skills. Thanks Shirley for submitting a great range of cards and layouts.



Denise S, Hanmer, NZ
Denise is (like many of us) an addicted crafter! She started out with cardmaking and progressed to scrapbooking. Denise now hosts a get together for the local scrappers! She submitted a lovely range for pages for us (in a beautiful frangipani album that she has let me keep!! Thanks!)


Andrea L, Lower Hutt, NZ
Andrea loves card-making and she is drawn to anything with glitter, flocking and texture. She spends time making cards for friends and family and enjoys using her cuttlebug and copic markers. We really loved the interesting cards she submitted. (I must copy that Shoe Card!) Thanks Andrea.

Alison E, Auckland, NZ
Alison has been part of the Artfull Crafts community for as long as we've been around! She started out with Scrapbooking - but then found Beyond the Page projects. It's opened up a new world for her and she loves Kaisercraft products. Alison submitted a lovely range of Beyond the Page projects for us. (I just love that butterfly with the crackle paint!). Thanks Alison.


Thanks ladies. Check back tomorrow evening for another 5 submissions...

It is with great pleasure that we announce the new Artfull Crafts Design Team for the next year...

But firstly we want to THANK everyone who applied for the Team. We were really thrilled with the quality of submissions and know that it's disappointing for the unsuccessful applicants. But we want to celebrate their work too and have permission to showcase them on the blog this week. :-) Thanks everyone. We'll show a few each day...

Today we announce the successful applicants. We have included a photo montage of each person's application pieces and encourage you head to the new galleries in the website to see them up close. Below each project you'll be able to read the Designer's Comments and you also get a chance to comment. If you put a Comment on the website before midnight Wednesday then you'll go in the draw to win a set of Sentiments Clear Stamps.

You can also read a bit more about the Designers and what scrapbooking products and styles they like by clicking here.

Make sure you're a Facebook and Blog follower - so you don't miss out on any of the new projects.

Clarissa Hardy
Clarissa remains with us, creating the Monthly Layout Kit (Scrappin' Sensations). Here's what she has to say, "I want to say a big welcome to the new Design Team members. It's great to have so many people joining us and I'm looking forward to seeing all the fantastic ideas and inspiration that I'm sure you'll all bring."

INTRODUCING...
Tina Connolly, Queensland, Australia

I have been scrapbooking on and off for about nine years, but started to become seroiusly addicted around four years ago. I love experimenting with new products and techniques, getting my hands 'dirty' with paint/mists/inks, and altering my paper in as many ways as possible.

My favourite products are Tim Holtz/Ranger, Tattered Angels, & Prima. I teach scrapbooking and card classes at my local scrapbooking shop, and am always on the net sourcing new products and ideas. I have a blog www.scrapdiva-tina.blogspot.com, which I update regularly.

I'm so excited to be selected for the Artfull Crafts Team and feel honoured to be chosen.


Lowri McNabb, Blenheim, NZ


I am thrilled to be chosen for the Artfull Crafts Design team. I love papercrafts, but family is still the most important thing to me. We live on a vineyard and with 3 pre-school kids and being a full-time mum I spend a lot of time in the car ferrying the kids and myself to various activities.

I have always enjoyed a number of crafts and love how with papercrafts you can take inspiration from others and quickly turn an idea or project into your own. I would not consider myself a traditional scrapbooker (only having ever done one 12"x12" layout) - but I love to do cards, mini albums and small papercraft projects. I am really looking forward to the challenge of being on the Team.


I'm a busy Nana to ten lovely grandchildren and married to a very tolerant husband for forty six years. Our Christian faith is very important to us both. Crafting has been a major pastime but
patchworking and cardmaking have taken over. I love both and have been doing them for the past twenty odd years.

I do a little teaching in cardmaking, passing on what I learn off other very talented ladies' websites. I am a social person and do love contact with likeminded ladies. I am thrilled to be part of the Team!


Joanne Care, Hamilton, NZ

I live in the Manawatu with my fiance Shaun and our daughter, Hannah. Ive been interested in Scrapbooking for about 4 years but only really got into it when Hannah was born last year. I don't have many photos or memories from my childhood and I want it to be different for Hannah, so Scrapbooking is perfect!

I think of my style as clean and simple with hopefully a little something extra. Im really looking forward to the next year with Artfull Crafts and I hope you enjoy my creations :)

It's your last day tomorrow to send or email us your entries for the Design Team. We can't wait to look through all your wonderful applications. Everyone who sends in an application will go in a draw to win a $50 prize pack (just a small way to motivate you!).

Here's the link:http://www.artfullcrafts.co.nz/page/2/Team.html

Well, after months of preparation and 10 weeks of the SENZ Sunday Times, we thought it appropriate to end with a summary of the weekend. The NZ Scrapbooking and Stamping Expo was held in Christchurch over the weekend of 16th – 18th July at the Riccarton Park Convention Centre. Thousands of people attended from across Canterbury, NZ and even a keen group of girls from Aussie made the trip over!

Artfull Crafts decided to get a big stand – and then we enlarged it some more! We packed up most of the Timaru store and just managed to fit all the stock and fittings in the back of a huge furniture trailer – as well as a second high-sided one. We packed up the trailers by 11pm on the Wednesday night and woke up early for the trip to ChCh the next day.

Thursday morning began with a bit of drama! The night before Graham had driven the car with the very heavy furniture trailer out into our back yard area. It was a really frosty morning and the car would not go up the slope of the driveway. The wheels kept slipping and sliding and it would not go forward! I was starting to get quite concerned. He had to do a huge 3-point turn in the carpark and tried a few more time from different angles. I was even trying to push it up the hill!! It finally got some traction and made it! Whew. That took 15 mins (I had visions of having to unpack the trailer and running late to ChCh!)

So we got on the road and nervously drove to ChCh (frosty roads and all). It took longer than usual travelling at 80km max! That’s how heavy it was. When we arrived we had to go and hire a car trailer and pick up the 2 huge stands that we would be using at the show (we’ve since brought them back and set them up in the shop. They look great!). That was a job for 4 strong men and a few helpful females!

By 11am we were ready to start. Thanks to extra helpful friends we had a team of 9 people unpacking the trailers and setting up the stall. We worked flat out until 5pm – right on queue for the early VIP Shoppers! After a very busy hour and a half of trading we were ready to collapse into bed! But we still had some class prep to do, and then we needed to stay awake til midnight to pick up the Aussie guests from the airport! Melissa Kennedy and Al Hannah from Kaisercraft came out to run 6 of our classes and they did an excellent job! Thanks girls for all the laughs.

Throughout the weekend there were 8 classes run and 6 Demo Theatre Presentations – which I really enjoyed doing! There was always something to win at an Artfull Crafts Demo. They were always short and snappy too as I was running off to introduce the classes and check on the stall! I also ran a mini-masterpieces class which seemed really successful and I loved the creations people came up with. Many thanks go to Besty Clarke and her daughter who ran a very popular Vintage Cards class for us. People are still ringing me wanting extra packs of these!

My thanks have to go to my wonderful husband - who wore a Depserate Housewife” apron all weekend (while we wore bright pink!), Juanita and Vicki who are very hard-working employees of Artfull Crafts and the other wonderful helpers – Shirley, Clarissa, Diana, Judy, Francine, Betsy, Jocelyn, Melissa, Allanah and family… We couldn’t have done it without your support.



Every morning we were up early making sure everything was ready for the classes. We did have the odd panic where some wooden pieces were in wrong packs and we only had 5 mins to get the classroom set up between the classes – but a few free prizes and laughs hopefully kept everyone smiling.

It was a high-pressure weekend and incredibly tiring. I admire anyone who goes to SENZ. It’s a lot of work if you are running classes and even though it’s only a weekend event, it does represent months of work!

Artfull Crafts was thrilled to win the Best Stall Award. We thank everyone for their support and were so pleased to put names to faces over the weekend. Thanks for all the positive feedback too. My worst fear was coming home to negative emails – but it was quite the opposite!! (Whew!). We tried hard to put on classes that would appeal and that had generous class packs – and we’ve certainly been pleased with the feedback.

After the quick pack down on the Sunday night we headed back to Timaru with the Kaisercraft girls. We set off early morning on a 750km tiki-tour of the South island! We started with breakfast in Timaru, a quick trip to the Moeraki Boulders, through to Oamarama stopping off at Elephant Rocks, then up to Tekapo (with numerous photo stops at the dams and lakes).







We had a quick look at the Church of the Good Shepherd, a dip in the hot pools, fish ‘n chip dinner and a drive back to ChCh via Geraldine. We dropped the Kaiser girls in ChCh for their early morning flight and headed back to Timaru! The next day we set the shop back up and opened on Wednesday.

What a crazy week we’ve had. We’ve been quietly hibernating this week and recovering from all the excitement!

So the question is … Will we go to SENZ next year?

Watch this space…! It might be a good chance to have a little look around the North Island… Mel and Al might even consider it after their fingers and toes thaw out.



Here is Al wanting to touch the snow!

Whoops! It appears I was so busy last week that I forgot to do the SENZ Sunday Times!! And this one will be very short...

We have been working long, hard hours to bring you a great looking stall at SENZ. We want to be really well organised so that we can enjoy chatting to our customers - old and new! It's pretty exciting now - with only 4 more days to go (that gives me a nervous flutter in my stomach).

We are still making samples and class kits, designing pamphlets and special notices, and writing list after list...

Things for you to think about...
1) Have you booked into classes? We have an extra-large classroom and still have a few spaces in each one. We've had a great response so far and we know that there will be last-minute bookings - so don't run the risk of missing out.

2) Have you checked the "what to bring" lists? Click into the classes to find the link.
3) Go to your favourite stores first - as you don't want to miss out on the hot-selling items!

What will Artfull Crafts be stocking?
What won't we be stocking?! We will have a large selection of Martha Stewart and EK Success punches, Spellbinders, Cuttlebugs, folders and dies, Cricuts (at AMAZING prices!), Ranger and Tim Holtz products, Opalettes, Copic Caio Markers, iRock, Flower Soft, Layout packs, Scor Pals, stamps and scrapbooking supplies (it's impossible to list it all) and of course a FULL Kaisercraft stall...
Bascially we will have a lot of our website stock PLUS all the new stuff that has arrived in the last 3 weeks...! We have pallets of stock arriving here this week. When will we have time to unpack them all?!

Where will you find us?
Come up the stairs and and turn through the doors to your right. We are the stall immediately on your right - the extra long 11m stall!! We will have it seperated into 3 different sections - Kaisercraft, Stamping and Scrapbooking. We'll be wearing the BRIGHT pink aprons with some iRock decorations on the pockets!

Competition
We have a very cool black bird cage - and we've filled it with Frangipani flowers. You just need to guess how many there are! The closet guess will win the generous prize pack that's on display at the stall.

Other Free Stuff

* Spend $50 and go in the daily draw to win a Kaisercraft Collection Pack
* Get FREE bling with every Kaisercraft Beyond the Page purchase
* VIP specials (in the coupon book)
* Sign Up to the website at SENZ and get a free welcome pack
* Plus heaps of other product specials and deals...

Demo Theatre
Everyday at 10:30am and 1:30pm we will be at the Demo Theatre near the Cafe. We'll be showcasing new products and ideas and will give out handouts to all those watching. All our Demos begin with "3 ways to use..." - so they should be pretty interesting and informative.

Please make yourself known to us if you are a website customer. We'd love to meet you! I'd better go ... so much still to do!

Liz - Artfull Crafts