Creative School Books

Hi folks,
Today I thought I would share a nifty idea I've been seeing creative parents in the store doing...
Scrapbook supplies to make stand out and unique book covers.  

So using their inspiration I ran these up for my nephew who started school today (big school boy Nathan!).  They didn't take long to do, are durable and will make it easy to find his books in class.

Simply cover with Scrapbooking paper using double sided tape.  Reinforce the spine with an extra piece of cardstock.  Decorate with stickers, letterering, die-cuts and other flat decorations.  Then cover with clear seal for durability.  SNAZZY! and easy.

Just another way to get more from your supplies.  Decorate the books with your children so they can put their own personal touches on them.

Don't forget our 50% off coupon sale is running for three more days (Friday, Saturday and Monday) so print out the coupon and call in for the great saving.
Link to the coupon: http://nzscrapbook.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/50-off-coupon-for-you.html

Also we have had requests for peacock feathers... in stock now.


Have a great back to school week!
~Kathleen, Linda and the team at NZ Scrapbook

Baby flowers..

With new stock of miniature flowers just arrived I am reminded how much I enjoy using them in both scrapbook layouts and greeting cards. This particular shipment has a huge array of colours, some with tinted edges and some with micro bead petal tips.


My fav techniques with these tiny flowers:

• Mix these little babies up with the larger sized flowers. I especially like how they look with the new Kaiser florals.
• Mix the colours up. Same colour family but different colours (eg: pinks and reds together) is especially effective.
• Take advantage on the long stems. Create a trailing look with the long elegant stem, twist them around each other to create a vine or wreath.
• Hand colour them. Touch Copic Markers or another ink pen to the edges of the petal for a custom colour.
• Dot tiny rhinestones on their tips. Sparkly! Add Kindyglitz for double glittery action.
  

I store my miniature flowers in a preserving jar on my art desk. Even when I'm not using them they are just so pretty.

Check out the lovely range of colours and styles in store now.

5 fun and productive wet weather paper craft activities

Organised and efficient - that's me!
Originally uploaded by Janna78

We have had such a lovely spell of brilliantly fine weather. It was a sure thing that the rain would come sooner or later. Of course the sun will come again but until then why not make the most of the indoors with 5 fun and productive wet weather paper craft activities.

1. Sort those photos. Pull out those envelopes of stashed photos that haven't been touched. The 80's albums with the sticky cover sheets, the boxes in storage, the photos that have slipped to the bottom of the drawer. Don't forget this also includes films (yes, I know you have some somewhere!) that remain undeveloped and files on your computer yet to be sorted, printed and backed up. My fav method with printed photos is small lunch bags (the snack size fit the 4"x6" photos) labeled with a permanent marker with the date and event/subject.
2. Attend a class. Expand your craft knowledge while creating a project by attending one of our many classes on offer. This week we have classes every day. See this post for details.
3. Play with your supplies. Play. seriously. Or if you want a more productive word - organize. Sorting my ribbons, putting my rhinestones in pocket sleeves, recording my Copic marker numbers not only leaves me with a tidier workspace but it sparks so many ideas I can't wait to create.
4. Involve the kids. The trick to this so you are not left with a huge mess and mutilated paper is select a project they want to do, define the materials they can use and the area to work. It could be a room door hanger, a photo of them and a special friend, a decorated name plate for their book bag. For example, my 9 year old daughter wants to make some greeting cards to sell. Being an entrepreneurial type myself I am encouraging this. I give her papers and embellishments that I am happy for her to use. She knows that she can create on her desk and that its not to spread across her room or into the lounge. So far she has created six cards and is keen to make more.
5. Create cards. Sticking with the card theme, I love to create cards in preparation for upcoming events. They are quick to make and wonderful to have on hand for that special thank you or pick me up for a friend.


What is your favourite wet weather paper crafting activity? Post your ideas in the comments below.

Have a wonderful day!
~Kathleen

Stylish Gift wrapping and easy!

On the Blog a year ago today:

Beautifully wrapped makes a little gift super special

When the lovely Fenn arrived a work this morning bearing wee gifts for myself and the girls I just had to show you! At first look you would be sure it was packaged that way but it is actually hand wrapped with scrapbook paper! They feel crisp and smart and the little details really sing.

Crimped and zig zag edge

So I hit up Fenn to find out how create them too...

1. This works best with a small compact gift.. something tells me there is a chocolate bar inside :)
2. Cut scrapbook paper so it folds around the gift snuggly and adhere closed with double sided tape.
3. Insert two strips of double sided tape at each open end and PRESS closed rather than fold.
4. Trim each end with zig zag pinking shears.
5. Heres the super cool part: Insert each end into paper crimpers to create pinched fold ends.
6. Cut small Christmas images from Christmas scrapbook paper or stickers, add little embellishments such as rhinestones, flowers and kindy glitz to decorate the gifts.
   

Inserting the end into the paper crimper

Decorated Tins - Great for gift giving

Shanez and Michelle look on as Crystal opens her Secret Santa tin

Hi friends,
Recently NZ Scrapbook had our 2010 Staff Christmas Party. And along with good food, laughter and a crazy game we had the ever popular Secret Santa gift giving. This year we did something a bit different where each person got a cool metal tins with a hinge lid and could then decorate and fill it for their Secret Santa recipient. Well as you can imagine with 12 passionate crafters the assortment and quality of the tins were amazing!

Secret Santa Gifts waiting to be distributed

Here are some pics of the completed tins. Sorry for the blurriness of some of the pics - I didn't realise I had macro turned off. Anyways I hope it gives you some ideas for your own craft giving and we have more of these fab undecorated tins in store for just $3.95.

Colour and inspiration galore

Some of the ideas included:

• Floral flower masses adhered to the outside
• Serviette covering
• Net pockets
• Layered collage images
• Embroidered flowers
• Scrapbook paper covering
• Cuttlebug Lettering
• Lettering made from crystals
• Floral trims
• Paper flowers and mesh
• Folding accordion pages
• Tins covered in micro beads
• Musical inserts that could be wound and then made music when the tin is opened
  
• Shrink plastic embellishments
• Alcohol ink colouring (very effective on the metal)
• Felt diecuts

All full of trims, flowers, cards, messages, chocolates, beads, images, embellishments, buttons and more! Can you think of a friend who would love to receive a gift like this? Pop in a gift voucher too for a really special Christmas gift idea. These tins are not hard to decorate and oh so thoughtful to give. I encourage you to give it a try.

Kathleen and Fenn

Would love to see your Christmas craft giving.. send me pics to share with our Blog readers at info@nzscrapbook.co.nz

Linda and Tracy watching as Paula opens her Secret Santa gift

Don't ask... hehe :)

Altered Book Club - Thursday

Hi mucky pups... that is, I'm talking to myself there too! Addicted to all things gluey and inky!

This Thursday night is Altered Book Club night at NZ Scrapbook. It's our last one for the year and we will take a break for January so this week I thought we could have a light supper, share our favourite artworks from the year (so even if you have bought it before then bring it again to show new people) and then given I'm on a vintage card roll I thought it might be fun to do a Vintage Christmas Tag project.

Vintage Christmas Tag project for Altered Book Club

I'll provide all the materials... just bring yourself!

I have lots of exciting ideas for the new year, including giving our club a brand new name. Would love to have you input on what you would like to see happen each month. Come chat and create.


Altered Book Club Christmas meeting
Date: Thursday 16th December
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Tutor: Kathleen
Price: FREE

Vintage Christmas Tag detail

No bookings necessary, new people welcome - Look forward to seeing you then.
Phone 09 912 0665 if you have any questions

Make a 2011 Diary with Sally Ridge!

Make a Date craft article - out now!

Hi folks,
Sally Ridge has done another fantastic project in this weeks Women's Weekly (20th December 2010 issue). This time she has personalised a Diary that you will love using in the new year.




Products she has used:

• Diary
• Patterned scrapbooking paper
• Kaisercraft paper flowers
• Kaisercraft rhinestones and pearls
• Prima Fleur Danseur flowers
• Jac Paper
• Glitter

I encourage you to pick up a copy as there are step-by-step instructions on how to embellish your own diary plus she features a great technique for making glitter lettering with Jac Paper. All products are available at NZ Scrapbook.


Lovely job Sally!

How to make EASY and cool Photo Charms

Fragments used to create Photo Charms

Giving personalised gifts adds a special touch that shows you have given careful thought to the recipient.

This year my FAVOURITE way to add that unique element is adding clear Fragment charms to gifts. In fact embellished photo/image charms make a lovely gift in themselves. SO EASY and FAST.
Fragments are a Tim Holtz clear tag. What I like about them is that they are small with a quality weight about them with a generous thickness. In this technique I am adding photos and vintage images to them to create photo charms and decorations.



How to create Easy Christmas Charms using Fragments:


You need:

• Fragments Tags by Tim Holtz
• Photos or images of your choice
• Clear glaze product such as Glossy Accents, Dimensional Glaze or Dimensional Magic
  

Method:

1. Select photo and tag by positioning the tags over your image/photo to choose a proportionate sized tag. Fragments come in a variety of sizes and shapes.

2. Apply clear glaze product directly to the tag

3. Press down onto your image squeezing out any air bubbles. Some product will squish out, as long as you don't get any onto the surface of your tag it is no problem. Allow to dry.

4. Once dry, cut the tag out from the background of the image

And that's it!!!
SOOOO simple.
Some additional ideas:

• Run around the edge of the image once its cut out with a dark coloured marker. It just looks more finished.
• Embellish with cord, beads, mulitiple tags and the like.
• Attach to cards, gifts, pop in Christmas stockings, hang on a friends computer screen!

Check out Tim's Blog for additional ideas using Fragments. Also he is well underway with his annual 12 Days of Christmas Tags... such beautiful and inspiring projects.

Tim Holtz Products available at New Zealand Scrapbook Company!

Vintage Greeting Card using a Fragments tag as a removable Christmas ornament. Come and have a go at making this card at this Saturday's Vintage Christmas Card workshop

Vintage Christmas Card Fragment detail

A video from Tim using Fragments. In this video he is using the square and rectangle Fragments. Also available at NZ Scrapbook!

I would love to see if you use this idea... send me pics at info@nzscrapbook.co.nz

~Kathleen

As seen in NZ Woman's Weekly!

Inspired by Sally Ridge's recent Christmas card in this weeks NZ Woman's Weekly?

Sally has created a clever easel card using wonderful Christmas products found here at NZ Scrapbook. It was especially cool to see she used one of my Create Your Life Collection collage sheets as the main images. (The Angel sheet also used in this week's Vintage Christmas Card Workshop).

Be sure to check out our huge range of Christmas products.


Sally used:

• Scrapbooking paper including Die Cuts with a View
  
• Bazzill Cardstock
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Rope Ribbon
• Double Sided Washi Tape in green plaid (we have a great selection)
• Kathleen Green's Create Your Life Angel Collage Sheet
• Christmas chipboard lettering

Full selection of Collage Sheets on display in store now

There are now nine Create Your Life Collection Christmas sheets available each one jam packed with gorgeous vintage Christmas images. At just $5.95 a sheet they are great value!


If you haven't seen Sally's latest article it's on page 60/61 in this week's NZ Woman's Weekly. Check it out!

Clever paper idea

Victoria with her paper and costume

How's this for a cool idea: Crop goer Victoria was recently scrapbooking some photos wearing a leopard print costume. Hmm. actually she wasn't wearing the costume while scrapbooking.. the photos had the costume in them! Anyways, finding a good paper match was harder than you would think.

Enter our super cool colour copier machine... costume on the glass and ta da - perfectly matching paper. Nice one!


Speaking of the colour coping maching. Did you know it can print full 12" x 12"? Before you send those much loved pages overseas this Christmas. Come in and we will copy them for you. A 12"x12" sized copy is just $2.50 (cheapest around by the way) or if you want it on cardstock just $3.50. Linda is our colour copying whiz :)


~Kathleen

ATC Stand makes a great swap pin display

7 Gypsies brand do a wonderful rotating Artist Trading Card stand display. By attaching your cards to 7 Gypsies notched cards they then slot onto the stand to you can rotate, see and enjoy your and your friends creation.

So what about those Swap Pins you picked up and exchanged at craft fairs and gatherings? Linda had a great idea of displaying hers on an ATC stand.

This is what the empty stand look like. It is solid and the central portion rotates.

You take your Swap Pin (this one actually could double as an ATC due to its dimensions and style) and adhere it to a plain or printed 7 Gypsies Notch card.

Then details removed or transferred from the back and attached or written onto the card. Card is now ready to be slotted onto the stand. Cool and simple!

You can also create your own notch cards by using a 7 Gypsies notch punch. Using the stand as a guide you can then put slots into any colour or designed background card you wish.

Cards and pins are then displayed onto the stand ready to be enjoyed! A couple of pins Linda received had hanging attachments so were able to hang them conveniently off the top of the stand itself.

Check out these couple of lovely pins from New Zealand Scrapbook stars! :

Intricate folded Swap Pin by NZ Scrapbook Class Teacher Paula Saunders

Paula won this years SENZ 2010 Swap Pin competition - by the details and thought you can see why. On a sewing theme complete with Paula's attention to detail show in all that she creates. Well done Paula!

By the way you can learn from Paula at her Canvas Class scheduled for Tuesday 17th August at 7pm.

Details of Paula's Swap pin unfolded

Crafter extrordinary and super cool chick Kathy Girdler created this Swap Pin tag book.
Kathy loves using black and vintage elements. Love the fab images Kathy used.

Check out the full display and the very attractive and useful 7 Gypsies display stands are for sale in store now. $79.99 each.

Happy crafting!
~Kathleen

Scrapbooking Techniques with Tracy - Autumn layout

Scrapbooking Techniques with Tracy - Autumn Layout
Date: Monday 3rd May at 10am and Thursday 6th May at 7pm
Fee: $25 including materials.


Create this lovely Autumn layout using the lovely rich reds and rusts of Basic Grey papers and decorative trim. Features Cuttlebug lettering with heat embossing in copper.

Phone 09 912 0665 to book your space.

FREE Make'n'Take Tomorrow!

Pretty goodie bag for you to create

Tomorrow's FREE Make'n'Take project is a perfect little gift for Mother's Day.
Come along and learn Cuttlebug cutting and embossing featuring both Cuttlebug and Spellbinder dies, inking and rubber stamping techniques with our friendly Make'n'Take instructor.

You will leave with a generous baggie of fancy fibers, Basic Grey die-cuts and shapes as well as learning these new skills.

FREE Make'nTake
Saturday 1st May
Call in anytime between 10am - 2pm to make this project.
Project takes approximately 15min to complete.

All welcome!

Customer Inspiration... and a half! Sue Knibbs

Sue with her stunning canvas

When Sue Knibbs, one of our dear customers (and past participant of some of my workshops) came to visit the store on Saturday with a black wrapped parcel under her arm she exclaimed some nerves on showing me. Nerves of what I'm not quite sure since what she presented could be described as masterpiece!

What I adore about this beautiful piece of art work is it is every bit Sue, handcrafted with care and thought and truly made with love.

Detail of the crackle finish, stamping and serviette design

Sue and I spent some time discussing the method and details in the creation of this artwork. Here is some of the techniques and thoughts of note:

• Sue started out with a sketch and an idea stemming from an idea to use the beautiful SevenGypsies Victoria bird stamps. As her artwork developed the only idea that resulted in the finished piece was the use of the stamps as her ideas evolved so much.
• Background colours were brushed and sponged with acrylic paint.
• The colours she chose were a new combination for Sue. They work together brilliantly!
• The vine images are from serviettes. It is worth noting that she painstakingly cut each vine out buy hand to get a perfect result. Edges of the serviette were pushed inwards as she glued to get a slight bit of edge texture.
• Each of the stamped images (birds, text, doll images) were stamped onto tissue rather than directly to the canvas with Stazon ink. By stamping onto tissue, miss-stamping was avoided. Stazon ink doesn't run when adhesive is added and produces a nice black sharp image.
  
• Each stamped image was carefully cut out before adding to the canvas. The white parts of the tissue turn clear when adhesive is added but cutting out produces better clarity in the background colours.
• Sue's glue of choice is Mod Podge.
• Some of the background texture was created by applying acrylic in her various colours directly to fiberglass mesh (Magic Mesh) and then using that as a stamp to apply a grid texture.
• The ornate classic image was from a $2 shop frame.
• If any lines or areas didn't stamp dark enough or wasn't defined enough she would go back over them with her pen/acrylics to get the result she wanted.
  
• The crackle medium Sue used is our favourite Helmars Brand (available at NZ Scrapbook).
• Sue completed her art with one of our other favourite products - Bullseye Spray Shellac. So easy, so yum! 12 light coats to finish.

I liked how Sue also commented that she would say to herself "How am I going to fix this?" So often that is the case. Its persisting and problem solving that art evolves. Much like life! hehe



So wouldn't you agree - WOW! Sue has done a beautiful job.

Thank you Sue for bringing it in to show me, and letting me show my Blog readers. Enjoy it in your home, I am happy you are proud of what you have created - you should be! Yay you!!

~Kathleen x

Beautiful!

Customer Inspiration: Decorated gift bag

Check out the lovely gift bag customer Jinny has been making this week. I snapped this pic as she was shopping for more black, white and red supplies to make more baggies. Incidentally she chose the Kaisercraft Shaken not Stirred range - the perfect colour combination. I especially liked how she covered the front and the back of a standard brown gusset bag with cardstock and patterned paper and then to form a closure a big circle hole punch was punched in the top to use as a handle and tie with ribbon.

Thanks for the inspiration Jinny!

Gorgeous Glitter Pens!

Close up of the glitter pen writing

I'm really quite taken with handwriting my titles at the moment... combined with discovering that our cheapest of cheap glitter gel pens are awesome!!

This mornings journal page beginnings

Using a waterproof black pen for the out line these glitter gel pens can only be described as thick and painterly! The fine tip gives great control and they are super glittery and blend beautifully together. I'm hooked.

Available in 13 gorgeous colours and just $1.99 each.

~Kathleen