CHA highlights – Aussie scrapbooking manufacturers!

So the talk of the town at the moment is CHA…

New products, new papers, new tools…. new everything!

So what did some of our (Australia’s) two biggest scrapbooking manufacturers release??

First up…. Buzz and Bloom!

Straight from their website,  they said they have,

“3 new mini book kits – they’re now available in Beaded Curtain, Blank & Super Heroes designs and of course everyone’s favorite – The George – is still available in the mini size. We’re also offering clear acrylic book cover sets to co-ordinate with these superb laser-engraved chipboard minis! We’ve also added new chipboard alphabets to the range – we now have 24 chipboard alphabet packs – collect ‘em all!”

First up the mini books – I love the Superhero one!!

Chipboard Alphabets – how cool are these designs?

And now onto Kaisercraft who released their Q3 collections – Made with Love, Shaken not Stirred, Devonshire, La Di Da, Gypsy Sisters and Made with Love.

According to their facebook page – their Gypsy Sisters and Devonshire collection were walking out the door!

Head to their website to see the full collections!

What news have you heard from CHA? What are your favourites among them all??

Scrapbooking Memories Magazine Masters 2009 announced.

For those wondering….

the Scrapbooking Memories Magazine Masters (elite scrapbooking competition) for 2009 has been announced:

MASTERS
Bernie Dodd
Christine Rumley
Ebony Van Der Starre
Georgia Keays
Hetty Hall
Karen Watson
Kellie Lusted
Kim Arnold
Leanne Stamatellos
Sarah Gladman

So what are your thoughts? Are these scrappers worthy of the Masters title? Who would you have loved to have been a master?

Here’s scrapbook insights thoughts:

Bernie Dodd: A versatile scrapper, scraps a variety of layouts and styles. Love her clever titles, fun photos and cute mini albums!
Christine Rumley: A simple scrapper with a funky twist, love her cute photos and often have white borders. Christine often includes stitching and rounded corners on her layouts. Overall a quirky cute and easy to replicate style!! Love it! Also on Kaisercraft’s Design Team!
Ebony Van Der Starre: Bright, colourful and boistorous scrapping style! Love her use of black backgrounds to make her layouts POP! Will be a great addition to the team!
Georgia Keays: Bright, colourful layouts, fun photos, cute embellishments!
Hetty Hall: Gorgeous style – quite a popular kind of style that appeals to most scrappers! Love Hetty’s use of layering, clever titles and flowers!
Karen Watson:
Kellie Lusted: Love her painting, splattering and clever layouts! Scraps one page layouts mainly – love her layering and that she uses challenges to scrap outside her comfort zone!
Kim Arnold: Great to see a scrapper who scraps boy layouts out of the box! Also on Design Teams for Scrapware, embellished, American Crafts and Inspired Blueprints! Gorgeous layouts – she can cover any ’style’ and her layouts don’t always typically look like ‘Kim Arnold’ layouts – love that! More often that not she scraps one page layouts.
Leanne Stamatellos: A very talented ’simple scrapper’ with a clean lined graphic appeal. Love this style, her amazing photographs and real journalling of real life events and family photos.
Sarah Gladman: Designing for Upsydaisy designs and Addicted to Craft. Takes gorgeous photos, makes beautiful cards, scraps ‘real life’ photos (not posed ones) also love her clever stitching, painting and inking!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

SINGLE AND SHAPE LO’S
Candice Myers
Kerryn Lawson
Michelle Winston
Beth Jarrett
Marianne Berry
Sonia Barnett
Deb Godley
Belinda Spencer
Lauren Boase
Wendy Bennett
Kylie Fraser
Pip Prosser
Catherine Pineda
Geraldine Pasinati
Tiff Sawyer
Tammy Milborn
Nicole Aspinall
Tanya Tahir
Emma Allen
Cass Glass
Sonia Thomason
Jane Tregenza
Sue Campbell
Skye Johnson
Debbie Johnston
Cindy Roberts
Robyn Bell
Kerry Christie

MYSTERY CHALLENGE
Angella Peardon
Mel Connell
Kerryn Leworthy
Cheree Wheare
Tammy Milborn
Cass Glass
Rhonda Harvey
Agnus Kasprzak
Melanie Forbes
Monica Barry
Sharon Thomson
Canice Myers
Tanya Ballestrin
Kylie Shotton
Julie Hill
Jodi Dolbel
Jenni Parsons
Catherine Pineda
Kathleen Glossop
Tatum Woodroffe
Alicia Barry
Jane Tregenza
Rochelle La’brooy-McIver

DOUBLE LAYOUTS

Shelley George
Pip Prosser
Leann Pearce
Susan Longman
Cindy Bishop
Wendy Smith
Fran Tynan
Manon Keir
Nerida Mitchell
Kylie Shotton
Emma Viney
Louise Nelson

Australian Scrapbooking Magazines – December review

Did you buy any magazines in December?

Lets have a look to see what

What are you reading this month? Do you even buy magazines any more?

Here’s a review of this month’s scrapbooking magazines:

Scrapbook Creations – Issue 73

Sneaky peek: Hints and tips on scrapping multi photo layouts, projects, techniques on scrapping multi-photo layouts, heaps of galleries and more projects directed towards cardmaking and stamping.

Quick critique: Galleries include Bright and colourful layouts, everyday moments, rides and something for everyone – do I think they’re trying to appeal to the masses? Clever features include making your own journal boxes, colour combo layouts (Purple and blue), sketches, technique focuses on multi-photo layouts. Heaps of cardmaking and stamping projects and more. While there are great ideas in this issue the quality of the scrapbooking itself seems to have slipped, does anyone else think this?

Recommendation: BUY BORROW BROWSE BYPASS

Issue status: 154 pages; 33 ad/promo pages, $9.95 (AUD)

Australian Scrapbooking Memories – Vol 11 No 12.

Sneaky peek: Step by Step techniques on embellishments and photo transfers, canvas and mini BTP projects, heaps of layouts, challenges from Kaisercraft, Bella!, Basic Grey, Stampin Up and Pink Paislee.

Quick critique: I did like this month’s galleries which included toys, looking forward/back, Christmas and Encore – with a variety of different types of layouts included. A look into ’boutique scrapbooking’ was interesting and ‘arty’, but as more and more scrappers turn to traditional and tried and tested scrapbooking technqiues – it didnt’ quite hit the mark for me.

Recommendation: BUY BORROW BROWSE BYPASS

Issue status: 146 pages; 43 ad/promo pages, $9.95 (AUD)

What do you think the trend for Australian mags should be? What would you like to see happen in 2010?

I for one would like to see more ‘budget’ and time friendly scrapbooking, ideas for using up my stash and ways to get through my HUGE stash of photos!!

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish you all (whoever you may be) a Merry Christmas and safe and happy New Year!

Scrapbook Insight will be back in the New Year with a bang! I’ve got big things planned for this little blog including guest posts from scrapbooking industry ‘experts’, more ‘What’s Hot and What’s Not’,  not to forget topical discussions on all things scrappy, reviews of scrapbooking publications and more!

If there’s something you’d love to read/see/hear about on Scrapbook Insight, just pop it in the comments section and I’ll endeavor to pop it on my to do list – afterall – this blog is all about you – the reader!

xo xo Alison

Whats Hot and What’s Not – 2 December 2009

1. Vintage/Retro designs

Oh my gosh… this ’style’ has been “Hot” since the start of the year… With Vintage labels like Graphic 45 leading the way it’s hard not to love this vintage styled products. With offerings from Cosmo Cricket, Making Memories,  Tim Holtz/Ranger distressing products, Jenni Bowlin, Websters Pages, K & Company, Prima, Buzz and Bloom (retro embellishments) – there’s a huge range to choose from!

Above: “Mistletoe & Co” Pink Paislee.

Above: “Monstrosity” Sassafras Lass.

Above: “Evergreen icons” K & Company.

Above: “Merry and Bright” We R Memory Keepers.

2. Fabric.

Buzz and Bloom won an CHA Innovations award for their cord & denim embellishmnets. Now we’re seeing more a more fabric hitting our scrapbook stores!

Above: “Pop Art Dots” & “Wham bang ouch” cord, Buzz and Blomom

Above: Prima Fabric words, Prima

4. Distressing/painting/mixed media:

With mists popular right now, so are Tim Holtz’s distress inks and crackle paint. There seems to be more and more people trying out mixed media right now too.

5. Manufacturers selling direct to the public online:

Scrapbooking product direct to your door from the manufacturer! Woah – this is fantastic for US customers, but it’s hard for us Aussies with international shipping costs being so high. So why not go in with a few mates and buy up big while the Aussie dollar is good?

Making Memories are selling a selection of old and new lines online, Hambly also have a lot of discounted old lines (sold in ‘kits’) along with more popular lines, Jenni Bowlin has a store called JBS Mercantile with monthly kits a ‘general store’ with Jenni Bowlin products, a ’boutique’ with one-of-a-kind vintage items,  Kaisercraft also have an ‘Outlet Online’ store that sells a limited range of products (at the moment kits).

1. Craft magazines having the ’same’ contributors:

The same names appear in every issue… while it’s great to see the occassional familar face, and type of scrapbooking you love – it does get a bit old… Bring in new fresh faces, photos and layouts please!

2. Hall of fame/Masters type competitions:

Now this isn’t an attack against those who have/will make it into these “lists”…..I just think these type of competitions are a breeding ground for bitchy behaviour, unsavoury attitudes and bring the scrapbooking industry into disrepute (based on what I have observed in the past).  Controversy has surrounded previous competitions like CK’s ‘Hall of Fame’ contest in 2007, where a winner was named after not following the ‘rules’.

Industry News: Buzz and Bloom announce new 2010 Design Team

If you didn’t know, Buzz and Bloom had a DT call out, and their new Design Team was announced on their blog on Saturday.

The announcement revealed a total 19 Design Team members,

with 8 Australian members: Jodie Zebra,Pippa Waddell,Sophie SIm,Gina Rodgers,Kellie Lusted,Skye Johnson, Cookie Aguilar and Nina Granzien.

There are also 6 USA members , Lexi Bridges, Arlene Camacho, Lynette Davis, Jennifer Findlay, Tanisha Long and Keandra Perkins-Willis

and 5 International members: Mia Caniza, Pauline (Polinka) Dirrig, Bjay Jaminal, Janis Medina and Gaby Alcantara

 

Aussie Scrapbooking Magazines – November Review

What are you reading this month? Do you buy magazines any more?

Here’s a review of this month’s scrapbooking magazines:

Scrapbook Creations – Issue 71.

Sneaky peek: This issue features the usual, ‘technique focus’, ‘your story’ and quick grabs galleries (gallery, santa is on his way, distressed look, all stitched up and mix it up),, along with other features, 20,40,60 challenge featuring Stamp It products,

Quick critique: The scrapping with print blocks article seemed a bit dated and layouts seemed older style than what is hot in scrapbooking right now, a shimmer and shine technique focus seemed approapriate in the lead up to Christmas, the distressing gallery was hot – I loved the multitude of ideas featured there, again Scrapbook Creations included another Card sgallery – trying to expand their readership perhaps? This issue also included a “FREE” DVD featuring ‘Fabulously Fast pages’ made by Lorraine Bate. I’m yet to view this….

Recommendation: BUY BORROW BROWSE BYPASS

Issue status: 154 pages; 32 ad/promo pages, $9.95 (AUD)

Scrapbooking Memories – Vol 11 No 10.

Sneaky peek: Tips and Techniques (Louise Nelsion, Kirstie Ibraham, Belinda Venables), Galleries (Urban Grunge, Double Trouble, Babies, Encore). Challenge galleries from Buzz and Bloom, My 2 Angels, Crafters Workshop, Kaisercraft.

Quick critique: The encore gallery has some interesting layouts in it and I found Louise Nelson’s misting technique interesting – and seemed to follow on from last month’s ‘road test’ of glimmer mist in Scrapbook Creations , the urban grunge gallery is good for boy layouts (ideas) and Buzz and Bloom’s new fabric letters are very unique indeed, the double page gallery and article by Kathie Link was a great read – inspiring enough to break into my own stash and create a double layout.

Recommendation: BUY BORROW BROWSE BYPASS

Issue status: 146 pages; 45 ad/promo pages, $9.95 (AUD)

So what are your thoughts on  this month’s Aussie magazines? Did you buy any of them, or do you subscribe? Or did you borrow them off a friend? Your thoughts and ideas? What would you have liked to see in this months mags?

Hot topics – The Australian Scrapbooking industry

A month or so ago I wrote an article about the Aussie scrap industry for Scrapbook Update.

Here’s a snippet of what I wrote:

The Australian scrapbooking industry is unique, innovative and arty.

One of the biggest words circulating the scrapbooking industry of late is individuality. With the increase of blogs, forums, online galleries, scrapbook stores and challenge sites, Kim Taranto, editor of Australian scrapbooking magazine Scrapbook Creations says, “Scrapbookers have become much more knowledgeable about the various styles of scrapbooking and most have found their own unique style rather than jump from fad to fad.”

Check out Scrapbook Update to read the full article.

Hot topic – Has the economic downturn affected the Aussie scrap industry?

There’s talk of Urban Lily closing,

For Keeps Creative Paper magazine seems to have gone down the gurgler,

and Scrapbooking magazines are diversifying their content.

What do you think?

After my “What’s HOT and What’s NOT’ column on the 23rd October a few of you commented on my ‘What’s NOT’ comment about using up your stash…

“Using up your stash – like so many of our OS counterparts are doing at the moment (see an interesting discussion over at Scrapbook Update) because of the economic crisis. It hasn’t seemed to hit as hard here is Aus, but really, who wants to use up their papers in their stash from two years ago when they can get the latest and greatest? Definitely not me! “

Firstly, let me explain this comment.

This comment was made to mean that while we might always WANT the latest and greatest – there are sometimes situations outside our control that affect what we can have and what we can’t (the “NOT HOT” part). It also came from a tiny bit of research I took from a previous blog post on Scenic Route’s closure. I asked the question, “Do you spend less on scrapbooking products than what you were a year ago?” 62% of you answered “No”. I know this isn’t a true reflection, but it’s what influenced that post.

Also, because this blog is a mix of news and opinion, I would like to explain my background.

“I only spend about $20 – $40 every couple of months on scrapbooking products and this has not changed since I started scrapbooking. Most of the items I buy happen to be cheap items off etsy, from clearance sales at my LSS and online. I mainly buy paper and other cheap items, not expensive embellishments. Therefore I can afford to buy the VERY FEW items I REALLY WANT, and also use up my stash of older items at the same time. ”

A few of you said you had been affected by the downturn and are having to tighten your belts, and you’re not the only one.

I conducted some research for an upcoming article on the Scrapbook Update website on the Australian scrapbooking industry, and this lead me to believe that the industry has been hit only very slightly by the economic downturn. Of course some individuals more than others, but of the majority, not really.

So I thought it would be interesting to ask you, to open up a discussion on how you are currently scrapbooking.

Do you spend heaps or nothing at all?

Do you go to as many crops as you once did?

How often do you buy new supplies?

How much do you spend a month?

And ultimately, Do you think the economic downturn has affected the Aussie scrap industry?

Whats HOT and Whats NOT 02-11-09

We all have our favourite products, techniques and things going on in the scrap worldand ones we hate… so here’s a place where you’ll find my ratings of  what’s HOT and What’s Not in the Aussie scrap world right now…

Want to be involved? Let me know what your favourites are by sending me an email at scrapbookinsight<at>gmail.com or commenting below…

“Glimmer mist” - Spray it, ink it, dilute it. Use it on paper, chipboard and more. I (and some of you) have seen it being used more and more frequently on projects online and in magazines. Do you like it? Have you brought it? One of the more popular varieties is that from US ‘manufactuer’, Tattered Angels, the makers of Glimmer Mist, Glimmer Chips.

Check out the full colour range here. How many do you have?

Jillbean Soup products - New on the scene, Jillbean Soup products are cleverly marketed and ultra cute! Following in the footsteps of other ‘manufacturers’ like Jenni Bowlin and Elles Studio, Jillbean Soup designs are simple and HOT HOT HOT!

From their ‘Jillbean Soup Journalling Sprouts’ (pictured) to their Soup Paper and Kraft Soup staples…. clever names for clever designs!

Christmas products - Leading up to the silly season we’re inundated with Christmas scrap goodies!!

(Top to Bottom – My Little Yellow Bicycle ‘25 days of Christmas’, Basic Grey ‘Eskimo Kisses’, Graphic 45 ‘Christmas Past’, Cosmo Cricket ‘Golly by Jolly’, Kaisercraft ‘Christmas Carnival’, ‘Belle’ & ‘Dear Santa’.)

What lines are your favourites?

Scrap smack blogs - Publicly naming and shaming individuals for the creative differences, business operations and the like. Need I mention any more?? Do you read and/or comment on these blogs?

Scrap mags featuring more and more card making articles - Scrapbooking magazines featuring more and more card making articles. Are they ’scrapbooking magazines’ or ‘card-making magazines’

Scrap mags “folding” - Magazines folding, first it was ‘Simple Scrapbooks’ in the US and now its ‘Scrapbook Inspirations’ in the UK. Who’s next?