Scrapboxx Blog

Tammy Templeton Interview

Tammy is our latest Guest DT member this month and here we find out a little more about this talented scrapper -Thanks Tammy it’s great to be able to feature your gorgeous work!

Here is her answers to our round of questions:-

a) What’s the last song you downloaded to your ipod

or the song you just can’t get out of your head right now.
Beyonce - Halo (from the Boxx Jukeboxx) thanks girls

b) Pick any of these answers below that best describe you; just write the numbers of the answers that you pick

1 & 3 - sometimes,

5 - not only do the family eat around me but they also play and fight around me too Keeps me in the Know
8 - pretty self explanatory

10 - yep definitely mounds!

15 - I refuse to set limitations on my creativity

17 - Sometimes it can take me days but I have been know to scrap a layout in a couple of hours…especially after the Scrapboxx retreat! Boy I certainly was very inspired to scrap after being surrounded by so many talented ladies!

19 - some weeks I don’t get to scrap (especially if I’m working that week) but then other weeks I could scrap every day (those are the days I especially like!)

When I scrap :-

1> I have to play music

2> Prefer not to play music

3> Watch the TV

4> Sit in my scrapping space away from the hustle and bustle of the day

5> Scrap on my dining room/kitchen/lounge table and the family eats around me

6> I take out everything I think will work with the layout and eliminate from there

7> Stick everything down before I change my mind

8> Don’t stick anything down until I have looked at it at least a dozen times and sometimes even slept on it

9> I’m a neat freak

10> I seem to create mounds of products wherever I go

11> I have a stash to envy a shop

12> I only buy when I need things or have a project in mind

13> I am a bit of a Type A Scrapper

14> I love to ink, distress and tear!

15> I love freestyle

16> I scrap quickly and normally finish a layout in or under 2 hours

17> I take my time when I scrap, it can take me days to do one layout

18> I scrap everyday

19> I scrap on average 2 to 3 times a week

20> I scrap 2 to 3 times a month

c) Finish this sentence;

The words that would be describe my style are;

I can’t really think of a particular style that shouts ME! It’s just “Tammy Templeton” style. LOL. Does that count? Can I say that?! Is this thing on??

……………………………………………………………

d) I have been scrapping for

Since late 2003

e) If you could meet one scrapper in the world; who would you like to meet and what would you say?

This is a tough question because there are so many wonderful scrappers in the whole of the World, not

to mention our own home grown Aussie talent…but I guess I would love to met Heidi Swapp…and in meeting her I would love to gather any useful tips for designing chipboard

f) If you were a Scrapbooking product, what would you be?

I guess I would have to be ‘Pink chipboard Alpha’s’ LOL…everyone knows I’m never short of a word on the Boxx forum haha!!!!

g) If you could only have three tools to scrap with; - what would they be?
A paper trimmer, Pritt glue and my trusty Zig writer

Kathleen Glossop - Interview

Questions

a) What’s the last song you downloaded to your ipod

or the song you just can’t get out of your head right now.

Lol - honestly!? “Bob the Builder (can we fix it!?)”

b) Pick any of these answers below that best describe you; just

write the numbers of the answers that you pick

4, 7 (funny, I soooo used to be “8”, then I came to the Boxx retreat, lol, no time to check things twice with challenges!), 10, 11, 14 (again, used to be 13, that’s ur fault too ;P), 15, 16 (refer to previous comments!), 18.

When I scrap :-

1> I have to play music

2> Prefer not to play music

3> Watch the TV

4> Sit in my scrapping space away from the hustle and bustle of the day

5> Scrap on my dining room/kitchen/lounge table and the family eats

around me

6> I take out everything I think will work with the layout and eliminate

from there

7> Stick everything down before I change my mind

8> Don’t stick anything down until I have looked at it at least a

dozen times and sometimes even slept on it

9> I’m a neat freak

10> I seem to create mounds of products wherever I go

11> I have a stash to envy a shop

12> I only buy when I need things or have a project in mind

13> I am a bit of a Type A Scrapper

14> I love to ink, distress and tear!

15> I love freestyle

16> I scrap quickly and normally finish a layout in or under 2 hours

17> I take my time when I scrap, it can take me days to do one

layout

18> I scrap everyday

19> I scrap on average 2 to 3 times a week

20> I scrap 2 to 3 times a month

c) Finish this sentence;

The words that would be describe my style are;

Ever changing! Lol – atm? Loud, bright, fun, white space, detailed.

……………………………………………………………

d) I have been scrapping for

4-ish years…but most seriously in the last 2.

e) If you could meet one scrapper in the world; who would you

like to meet and what would you say?

Lol – honestly (and she’ll laugh at me Im sure), Nic Pomeroy!! And what would I say? “Can I borrow your brain please?!” ;P

f) If you were a Scrapbooking product, what would you be?

Bling Frequently over the top & always bright J

g) If you could only have three tools to scrap with; - what would

they be?

Oh eeek! Hrmmm……Paper trimmer, sand paper……and a sewing needle J

Thanks Kathleen!!  great to have you on the team this month!

Non - Sale orders - two days

SALE ORDER UPDATE - we are about half way through the sale orders - all remaining sale orders should ship this week - thanks for your patience!

Lisa Arnet - Interview

a) What’s the last song you downloaded to your ipod – or the song you just
can’t get out of your head right now.

Decoded by Paramore.

b) Pick any of these answers below that best describe you – Lisa’s answers are the ones in bold

When I scrap :-

* I have to play music

Prefer not to play music

Watch the TV

* Sit in my scrapping space away from the hustle and bustle of the day

Scrap on my dining room/kitchen/lounge table and the family eats around me

* I take out everything I think will work with the layout and eliminate
from there

Stick everything down before I change my mind

Don’t stick anything down until I have looked at it at least a dozen times
and sometimes even slept on it

* I’m a neat freak

I seem to create mounds of products wherever I go

I have a stash to envy a shop

* I only buy when I need things or have a project in mind ( and i need
things all the time!!!)

I am a bit of a “Type A” Scrapper

* I love to ink, distress and tear!

I love freestyle

* I scrap quickly and normally finish a layout in or under 2 hours

I take my time when I scrap – it can take me days to do one layout

I scrap everyday

* I scrap on average 2 – 3 times a week

I scrap 2 – 3 times a month

c) Finish this sentence –

The words that would be describe my style are ………………………………………. clean and simple with a
little extra added and i always have an element i use on every layout.

d) I have been scrapping for ………oohhh about 5 years - but only the last two
years on a regular basis.

e) If you could meet one scrapper in the world – who would you like to meet
and what would you say?

I would love to Meet Tina Cockburn. She is awesome and i don’t know what i
would say….. Maybe that she is an inspirational mum. Her 3 kids are
adorable and that she is my scrapping idol.

f) If you were a Scrapbooking product, what would you be?

mmm maybe Bazzill cardstock. Coz ya can’t live without me!! he he he he

g) If you could only have three tools to scrap with - what would they be?

My making memories trimmer, Kraft c/s and all the patten paper a girl
could want.

Thanks Lisa!! lovely to know a little more about you and thanks for being our guest Design Team member for March

Fran Tynan - Interview

Questions

a) What’s the last song you downloaded to your ipod – or the song you just can’t get out of your head right now.

So What – P!nk

b) Pick any of these answers below that best describe you – Fran’s picked answers are highlighted

When I scrap :-

1. I have to play music
2. Prefer not to play music
3. Watch the TV - well, I actually just listen as it’s in another room but I need noise but I can’t concentrate with music on.
5. Sit in my scrapping space away from the hustle and bustle of the day (except I’m standing, not sitting!LOL – I find it hard to sit and scrap)
6. Scrap on my dining room/kitchen/lounge table and the family eats around me
7. I take out everything I think will work with the layout and eliminate from there
8. Stick everything down before I change my mind
9. Don’t stick anything down until I have looked at it at least a dozen times and sometimes even slept on it – this is my downfall! JUST STICK IT DOWN!LOL
9. I’m a neat freak
10. I seem to create mounds of products wherever I go
11. I have a stash to envy a shop
12. I only buy when I need things or have a project in mind
13. I am a bit of a “Type A” Scrapper (lol – GOD NO!!)
14. I love to ink, distress and tear!
15. I love freestyle
16. I scrap quickly and normally finish a layout in or under 2 hours
17. I take my time when I scrap – it can take me days to do one layout
18. I scrap everyday
19. I scrap on average 2 – 3 times a week
20. I scrap 2 – 3 times a month

c) Finish this sentence –

The words that would be describe my style are ……………………………………….

Clean and simple (mostly!)

d) I have been scrapping for ……………………. (how long)

About 7 years (after birth of my first daughter)

e) If you could meet one scrapper in the world – who would you like to meet and what would you say?

Without a doubt, Ali Edwards! I love her work and ideas. But Heidi Swapp also runs a close second as she seems to have such an energy about her.

f) If you were a Scrapbooking product, what would you be?

Oooh tricky one……I’d have to say “glitter” (even though I don’t use it!) as when I’m scrapping I just seems to get everywhere! I take up as much space as I’ve got – just ask poor Kel who had sit next to me at the last retreat – every time she made a space I’d fill it!LOL

g) If you could only have three tools to scrap with - what would they be?

Trimmer, my Quickutz file tab die (I use it ALL the time!) and at the moment I’d have to say my Heidi Swapp alphabet stamps – love them.

Thanks Fran!! great to know a little more about you and thanks for being our guest Design Team member for February.

Our current order turn around is 3 to 4 working days.

Making Memories Slice Review by Mel Nunn

I bought the Making Memories Slice as soon as it came out because of the great things I’d heard about it. I tend to collect machines and gadgets and my DH rolled his eyes when it arrived from the Boxx… “Another dust collector” he’d said.

I half agreed. I don’t usually use a lot of these gadgets I accumulate because they are such a pain getting out of the box and setting them up just to cut one or two shapes. I almost can’t be bothered clearing off the bench space to use them.

But the Making Memoires Slice machine is different. You can literally use it in 6×6 inches of space on your desk. It comes with a basic shapes design card, which is excellent for basic letters and shapes such as stars and hearts. Each shape can generally be cut in size from 1 to 4 inches. You select the shape you want, the size and then hold down the machine on the glass mat as it cuts it for you. It is hand held and very light.

Below is an example of a Valentine’s gift box I made using the Basic Shapes Card set to the heart shape. I cut two hearts from cardstock on the largest setting (4 inches). I then cut the same heart from patterned paper set at 3 inches and layered it on the front.

The machine comes with a few accessories such as a glass mat, clear adhesive to paint on the mat so paper will stick while cutting, a Basic Shapes Design Card, spare blades and changing tool and an AC adapter so you can charge your machine. I took mine to a crop last week and it was excellent. I charged it before I left and I didn’t have to worry about finding a power point when I got there, or even leaving my desk to cut something.

This is the layout I created at the crop using the Basic Shapes 3 Design Card. The flowers and the bee are cut using the Slice.

I’ve used the Machine quite a bit and not had to change the blade yet. I have heard that this is easy to do and Making Memories have provided a tool to make it simple. I have mostly cut patterned paper and the odd shape form Bazzill Cardstock. The cuts didn’t go all the way through in some points using the cardstock sometimes, but it took little effort to “pop” out the shape in the tricky areas.

I have another example of a project using the Slice, a card. The blue shape is one from the gorgeous Noteworthy Design Card and the “smile” phrase is one that you will get on your Basic Shapes Design Card that comes with the machine.

What I love and hate about the machine… I love it’s portability and the great variety of shapes and letters on each card. I love that you can use it in a small area on your desk. I hate that I don’t have all the Design Cards!! Honestly there isn’t much I don’t like. I wouldn’t cut anything next to a sleeping baby as it cuts because it does make a small amount of noise, but other than that I like it a lot!

Find out more about the Slice machine and watch some video demos at www.whyslice.com

TAKING BETTER PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHILDREN

Some people have an eye for photography and great shots come naturally to them. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people! What I lack in natural talent I try and make up for with practice, persistence and passion. This comes in very handy when photographing my children as they are not always so cooperative! Here are some ideas on what you can do before, during and after a photo shoot to help you take better photographs of the little ones in your life.                                                   

Before

When working with children, preparation is key. Kids just don’t have the patience to wait for us to reload batteries or set up a tripod so ensure your equipment is ready to go before hand. Keeping your camera in an easily accessible place with batteries charged, ample space on your memory card and clean lenses will save you precious moments and could be the difference between a great shot and no shot. With children things move so fast, and the best way to take spontaneous, candid photographs is to always be ready to do so.

Read your manual, know your camera, and know yourself. Sure, all of us fluke an amazing shot every now and then, but making yourself aware of the functions of your camera can take the guesswork out of great photography. Knowing what works for you is important also, so take time to discover what your comfort zone is. Be it the composition, the lighting or a favourite spot in your home, it’s the shot you can rely on time after time to give you great results.

Apart from being prepared and knowing your equipment, the best thing you can do before a photo shoot is to think about what story you are wanting to tell. Are you hoping to capture an emotion, a memory, a relationship, or an aspect of the subjects in the photo? Consider who (subjects, portraits, group shots), when (time of day, lighting, your child’s active and quiet periods), where (location, background) and how (props, tripod, lenses) to help you portray this story. Whilst it’s possible to point, shoot, and capture an amazing image, working with intent and purpose will provide you with more reliable and consistent results.

During

When photographing children, the number one thing you should do is make it fun. The more enthusiastic you are, the more willing your subjects will be. Whilst composure, lighting and focus will always be important, a happy child is a must so put your effort into making it as fun and enjoyable for them as you can. Try blowing some bubbles to take advantage of a childs imagination and watch their little face light up – it’s almost guaranteed to get you a great shot.

Children should also be photographed in an environment they are comfortable in, be it the park, grandma’s garden or even their own bedroom. It will always give you better results, the experience will be less of a struggle and the background will contain memories for years to come.  

Use props to help keep children busy and entertained – and as an extra bonus the props themselves will add a burst of colour to your photographs. An orange ice block, a bright red fire truck or a soft pink tutu can set the mood and they also tell their own story.

If you keep the mood light and fun and don’t give anyone a chance to become bored, children will find it less intimidating and you as the photographer will find it less frustrating!

After

No, I’m not talking about editing your photographs, I’m talking about reflecting, and learning. After a shoot, take some time to study the images you have captured. Ask yourself the same questions as you did before – the who, what, when, where and why and determine if you achieved what you set out to. Take a child’s birthday party for example. Did the photos you took capture the story? Did you remember to include the cake and the presents and the guests as well as the hero shot of the birthday child? Did the lighting, focus and composition work for you? If so, why? And more importantly, if not, why?

This is where you can make the most growth and vastly improve your photography - by recognizing what made the poor shots so poor and the great shots so great. Go ahead and edit your photos by all means, some creative cropping and colouring can make the world of difference, but  put the emphasis on improving the image as you capture it.

Lastly, print and enjoy! An image captured on film is a moment captured forever, by you – the photographer, and the story teller.  

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TIPS:

1. Take LOTS of photos, the beauty of digital is that an extra shot or twelve costs nothing and you can never have the moment back to try again. The more shots you take the more chance you have of getting a great one.
2. Try a different perspective by shooting from different angles – above, below, side on, upside down if you have to! Children love it when you get down to their level and the results will prove it.
3. Take the time to compose your shot properly. The centre of the photo is not the best place for your subject to be, but instinctively we usually centre the subject without thinking. Bring your picture to life by simply moving your subject away from the middle of your picture. (use as example)
4. Let your kids take the picture – each person has a different eye and you might be surprised at the images they will capture. Besides, the more comfortable they are with the camera, the more willing subjects they will be for you.
5. Source out great locations in your local neighbourhood. Small details such as old windows and doors or wrought iron fences can add so much to a photo.
6. Keep a ‘to do’ list of things you would like to take a photo of and make it happen. Children grow so quickly so you need to take the opportunity before it passes.
7. Take charge of your pictures, and your subject and watch your photos dramatically improve. Give them tips on where to look, how to stand, where to stand etc. This is especially important with children that are shy and obviously uncomfortable being in front of the camera.
8. In order to get enough detail in your subjects you need to have sufficient light. The better lit your subject is the clearer your image is likely to be. The way you achieve this varies from situation to situation but being aware of lighting and using it to your advantage can instantly improve your photographs
9. Candid shots in a natural environment can produce fantastic results, especially if your subject is unaware that you are even taking the shot. Next time you see your children playing quietly together, or catch them engrossed in an activity, grab your camera and capture the moment
10. Tilt your camera a little. It adds a fresh and fun feel to your photograph and takes some of the pressure off properly composing your shot.

our current order turnaround is 2 - 3 days. 

our current order turnaround is 3 - 4 days

cheers!
Maria