Blog Posts

Creative ways to recycle wrapping paper

So, Christmas is over and the January birthdays are rolling in fast. It's easy to get buried under a giant pile of wrapping paper at this time of year, but don't throw it away! Here at Spotlight we’ve put our heads together and come up with some great ideas to ...

Thinking outside of the album

If you thought scrapbook papers were just for use in albums, think again. More and more people are adapting these beautiful materials for use in weird and wonderful projects, from home décor items to special books, mementos and even toys. “Current trends in scrapbooking definitely take us beyond the album,” ...

Scrapbook paper - the basics

Most scrapbook paper or cardstock is available in 12” x 12” (30cm x 30cm) sheets. Some smaller formats 8”× 8” and 6”× 6” are also available. Scrapbook papers and cardstock come in a wide range of colours, patterns and textures and are available in single sheets, packs or tear- off ...

Get the basics - Glitz

There are many different products you can use to add sparkle to your projects. Some stickers, rub ons, papers, felt, fabric and even yarn come with the glitz already applied. But here are some products to use if you want to add a bit of sparkle to give your project ...

Inside the studios of creative women

In the late 1920s the famous English author, Virginia Woolf, delivered some essays that came to be published under the title, ‘A Room of One’s Own’. In the years since, these writings have become famous for one of the key messages they presented; that “a woman must have money and ...

Indie craft report

Changes are afoot in the craft scene and major players in the industry are finally sensing the shift. Carrying the moniker, ‘indie craft’, this new trend sees 18 to 35-year-old crafters taking to needle, thread, the computer, the recycle bin, you name it, and coming up with beautiful, cheeky and ...

Meet a scrappy fundraiser

Amanda Gilchrist’s love of scrapbooking combines perfectly with her commitment to research into a cure for Muscular Dystrophy. Amanda Gilchrist became involved with Muscular Dystrophy (MD) NSW when her closest friend was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 28. “It was hard for everyone to deal with as ...

Memory Art - Where life is your muse

Memory art is a term that has been used in recent terms to describe a new wave of creative work being produced by people whose original scrapbooking forays have evolved, now, into works of creative wonder. Three leading women in the field - Carol Wingert, Helen Bradley and Nic Howard ...

Projects

Gloss embellishments card

This unconventional card gives you the opportunity to play with new papercrafting gadgets.

Sports party invitation

The great thing about becoming adept with papercrafts is that you can create whole themes for parties & special occasions. These can carry through everything from the invites to your album pages & add a new dimension of creativity to the experience.

Sports theme scrap scheme

The great thing about becoming adept with papercrafts is that you can create whole themes for parties & special occasions. These can carry through everything from the invites to your album pages & add a new dimension of creativity to the experience.

Pet scrap page

The scope & selection of scrap embellishments on the market now means there is no end of cute ways to celebrate the furriest members of the household.

Pets picture frame

The scope & selection of scrap embellishments on the market now means there is no end of cute ways to celebrate the furriest members of the household.

Pet decorated tin

The scope & selection of scrap embellishments on the market now means there is no end of cute ways to celebrate the furriest members of the household.

Knitted friendship card

Whether you're known for your knitting or the recipient is, this card is perfect for yarn lovers!

Collage card

There's a textural beauty & artistry to collage works that make them beautiful to look at & addictive to make.

Memories in a lunch pail

Keep photographic memories and keepsakes in a lunch pail album with this fun cut out box. Exclusive designs from Helen Bradley.

Memories in an album

Keep photographic memories and keepsakes in an album with this fun cut out box. Exclusive design from Helen Bradley.

Happy day card

Tailor the text on this card to suit the occasion in your life.

Scrappy album

A perfect project for a teen

Travel cards

Don’t rely on shop bought cards. Use your own unique photography to say hello

Travel canvas

The holiday is never over when you get into the habit of creating memory filled collages of your favourite trips.

Heritage mini book

Take your papercraft skills to a new level & utilise precious family photographs in this wonderful mini-book. Direct from USA by Australian-born Helen Bradley.

Recycled envelope book

Don’t let bills get you down... instead use the envelopes they come in for creative purposes.

Bon voyage card

Buy purpose-designed travel scrapping embellishments or recycle real life examples in this project.

Smart card

A card within a card, an RSVP within an invitation... you choose!

Travel journal

So much happens on holidays. Nothing better than a good journal to remember it by.

Address for success - house number

Get the neighbourhood talking with this funky new take on your house number.

Bicycle bon voyage

Learn how to turn beading/craft wire into a fun card accent.

Bohemian threads

These funky designs and pretty paisleys in rich yellow, orange and deep shades of purple provide moody glamour to any project.

Jade's garden

Earthy shades of brown and deep orange combine with contrasting patches of jade to create unique & versatile patterns.

'Family' album

A great gift idea when the personal touch is required.

Memory box

A great way to store loose photos, trinkets from your travels or gift cards & notes.

Inspiration board

Here’s a fun project that gives any workspace an inspirational edge. Peg & pin your favourite design ideas, cards and inspirational sayings to the colourful ribbons that criss-cross this board.

A book about YOU!

Make this fun interactive mini book with places to hang, write & clip on your thoughts, reminders & goals.

Memories tin with photo

Very cute storage idea

Pink & black tin

How stylish with diamante buckle!

White & silver tin

Very elegant and easy to make.

Fully framed!

Add some saved ticket stubs or other memorabilia to personalise your piece.

Handbag art

Ohh, if you love handbags you'll love this!

Friend album

Make something special for your bestie.

Concertina book in a tin

Now this is cool!

'Boyz' art

We’ve used the ‘Boyz 2 Men’ paper range as the basis for this accordian book.

Easter dreams

Your best photos deserve your best work. We were inspired by the timeless beauty of a tuckered out tot.

Boys r fun

Balance a big, bold picture with big bold words!

New Year’s invitation

As the year comes to an end, how about using the computer for play, not work?

Photo frame mini book

With a few tags & book rings, turn a wooden photo frame into a mini book featuring your furriest friends. An exclusive design from Helen Bradley.

Angelic art

Balance the moody beauty of black & white photography with fashionable citrus colours.

Father’s Day memory book

Use your craft skills for the favourite men in your life.

Message cube

A perfect project for Teens and Tweens!

Textile canvas

A perfect project for Teens and Tweens!

Couture concertina

Personalise & glamourise your home or office filing systems with this easy technique.

Rotary cutter pouch

The 'get creative' magazine Creative Coordinator received one of these bags as a gift and asked the maker if we could feature it as a project.

Butterfly storage crate

Make this pretty butterfly themed carry-all.

Green & mauve dot storage crate

Make this cute decorative carry-all

Bird themed storage crate

This carry-all is oh so Tweet!

Pink & black storage crate

Make this elegant carry-all.

Totally tabbed

Play with papers & colours to create a brightly coloured journal.

Backyard fun

Incorporate elements of the photos within your schemes. Here we’ve used leaf & insect motifs.

Ski family

Group photos contrast with individual & close-up shots to create great schemes.

Marbling with shaving cream

Raid the bathroom cabinet for shaving cream & add a new, fragrant skill to your artsy arsenal.

Face time

Create a one-of-a-kind clock that’s truly a collector’s item.

Autumn journal cover

We love this clever idea for turning spare fat quarters into inspirational journal covers. Created by Zoe Ferguson from Spotlight’s Mt Barker Store.

Scrapped & stored

Make spring cleaning a pretty affair with this simple storage idea.

Crown journal

A beautiful place to store your secrets.

My paper mosaic box

This box is great scrapbooking practice!

Birthday cake boxes

Take birthday celebrations to the extreme by wrapping gifts to look like birthday cakes.

A day at the races

Pretty girls get a pretty page in this scheme that echoes the mood of the occasion.

‘Two’ today

A beautiful Birthday celebration page.

Princess page

The beauty of black & white or even sepia toned photographs is the freedom they give you to explore colour in your pages.

Tile decorated gift box

It’s not the gift that counts; it’s the way it’s packaged that will be remembered.

Scrapbook card envelope

It’s not the gift that counts; it’s the way it’s packaged that will be remembered.

CD tin

It’s not the gift that counts; it’s the way it’s packaged that will be remembered.

Papier mâché hat box

It’s not the gift that counts; it’s the way it’s packaged that will be remembered.

Event planner

Stationery & gift stores charge a mint for beautiful books like these. Eschew high price tags & make your own this month.

Cupcake party favour

A cake full of lollies - now this is a party pressie few others will ever have seen!

Birthday wrap

Gift wrapping at it's best!

Cupcake invitation

This invitation will match the beautiful cupcakes that we will eat at the party!

Christmas Fairy 1

Dress-ups are a beautiful part of childhood & seasonal costumes can inspire matching layouts.

Christmas Fairy 2

Dress-ups are a beautiful part of childhood & seasonal costumes can inspire matching layouts.

I wish for...

Focus on one priceless image using jolly seasonal embellishments.

Rectangle Christmas tree tag

Ensure your gifts stand out under the tree by making your own unique tags.

Round bauble tag

Ensure your gifts stand out under the tree by making your own unique tags.

Merry Christmas sign tag

Ensure your gifts stand out under the tree by making your own unique tags.

Silhouette magic

Black pages in a mini-book show off silhouettes to perfection. Project care of Helen Bradley.

Concertina mini book

Inspired by Nina Bagley (artist profile available in blog)... we’ve tried our own version of this project

Holiday treasure tin

Apply your papercraft skills to the storage of holiday memorabilia - for photos, shells, postcards, theme park & movie tickets... you name it.

Post-it notebook

Here’s a chance to pull out the pliers when you create a gorgeous desk or bench top accessory.

'Our house' Album

New designer albums such as this ‘house album’ allow you to experiment with design & embellishments.

Beach holiday scrap - portrait

Choosing papers & embellishments that echo colours in your photos leads to more balanced layouts.

Beach holiday scrap - landscape

Choosing papers & embellishments that echo colours in your photos leads to more balanced layouts.

Calendar

Make this as a gift or use it on your own desk at home.

New Year dream journal

Capture your most important thoughts & feelings in a journal you that will inspire you throughout the year.

Book cover & bookmarks

A perfect project to keep your tweens to teens creative!

Sandcastle scrapbook

A perfect project to keep your tweens to teens creative!

Bridesmaid gift - mini journal

Keep the handmade theme going throughout the wedding when you make personalised thank you gifts for the girls in the party.

1st Anniversary Gift - Paper

Inspired by the traditional materials linked to anniversaries, we’ve got crafty with this stationery set.

10th Anniversary gift - Tin

Inspired by the traditional materials linked to anniversaries, we’ve got crafty with this tin with fold out 10 page album.

25th Anniversary gift - Silver

Inspired by the traditional materials linked to anniversaries, we’ve got crafty with this silver frame.

A pretty pair - Heart

Make your favourite ‘couple’ photo the focus of an elaborate lay out relying on new, highly decorative, papers.

A pretty pair - Bloom

Make your favourite ‘couple’ photo the focus of an elaborate lay out relying on new, highly decorative, papers.

Paper dreams

Use this time to really focus on your plans for the year ahead.

Get the basics - Paper cutters & trimmers

Full details regarding the basic tools you'll need.

How to - Apply gold leaf

Step by step lesson - for teachers or learners.

How to - Tying bows

Step by step lesson - for teachers or learners.

Embellished lamp

Escape the confines of albums & canvases when you adapt paper to décor projects.

Handmade Book

Inspired by Hilary Peterson... we’ve created our own handmade book.

Couture clipboard

A Helen Bradley exclusive design - Use 35mm slide preserver sheets & a small office clipboard to make this marvellous display piece.

Pocket love

A pocket full of love for that someone special

Making a mini book - tied up

projects for teachers and childcare professionals

Making a mini book - piano hinge

Projects for teachers and childcare professionals

Making a mini book - wired

Projects for teachers and childcare professionals

How to - make book parts

We revisit different foundation techniques.

How to - tint paper

We revisit different foundation techniques.

Journal style

Perfect projects for teenagers & tweens.

Noodle box

These are gorgeous to give presents in.

Foliage notebook

Collect your favourite shaped autumnal leaves this season & use them as the basis for unique creative projects.

Packing tape transfer card

Household objects - tape & old magazines - generate new ideas.

Easter on parade

Choose the dominant photograph for your spread & support it with pictures that ‘flesh out’ the story.

Scrap canvas

Creating 3D effects for large scale works is the latest trend when it comes to using your scrapbooking arsenal.

Purse mini book

Find a book with plenty of room for expansion & have fun creating wonderful lumpy & dimensional pages. Exclusive design from Helen Bradley.

How to - Use Fiskars Xpress shape cutter

We revisit different foundation techniques to refresh your skills.

Make up case

Perfect for teenagers and tweens.

Boys only door hanger

The sign says it all!

Autumn book

Perfect for writing all your winter stories!

Mother’s Day frame

Special photos deserve special presentation. Delight Mum with some effortless embellishment.

Mother’s Day scheme

Use your scrapbooking skills as the basis for a gift for a favourite Mum in your life this Mother’s Day.

Mother’s day gift set - mini bag

Incorporate beading wire into a papercraft project with this lovely set. This mini bag will fit up to CD size.

Mother’s day gift set - gift bag

Incorporate beading wire into a papercraft project with this lovely set.

Paint chip mini book

When your photos are colourful go over the top with this high octane paint chip book. An exclusive design from Helen Bradley. These photos were captured on the island of Burano in Italy. Because the photographs & the paint chips are so colourful the pages themselves need minimal decoration. Simply ...

‘quilty’ card for Mum

This technique is based on the stack & slash method of creating blocks for a quilt but, instead of using fabric, we’ve used paper.

Pet book

Do you have a pet? Yes? Why not make a special book just about them?

Custom Made Notebook

Turn any spiral or comb bound notebook into a custom journal. Showcase your favourite things with this rebuilt notebook. Exclusive design for inspiration from Helen Bradley.

Jenni B - Traditional Scrapbooking Page - Baby

Using Jenni B products for a traditional look scrapbook page.

Jenni B - Traditional Scrapbooking Page

Using Jenni B products for a traditional look scrapbook page.

Jenni B - Minimalistic Scrapbooking Page

Using Jenni B products for a Minimalistic look scrapbook page.

Jenni B - Minimalistic Scrapbooking Page 2

Using Jenni B products for a Minimalistic look scrapbook page.

Jenni B - Shabby Chic Scrapbooking Page

Using Jenni B products for a Shabby Chic look scrapbook page.

Jenni B - Shabby Chic Scrapbooking Page 2

Using Jenni B products for a Shabby Chic look scrapbook page.

Hello I Love You Mini Heart Book

What a gorgeous little book.

Just One More Page Bookmark

Use Francheville products to make this great bookmark.

Fun Happy Birthday Card

Especially from the Jenni B Collection 'Acid Free' scrapbooking & Card Keepsakes.

Baby Girl Card

Especially from the Jenni B Collection 'Acid Free' scrapbooking & Card Keepsakes.

Jenni B Love Card

Especially from the Jenni B Collection 'Acid Free' scrapbooking & Card Keepsakes.

Formal Happy Birthday Card

Especially from the Jenni B Collection 'Acid Free' scrapbooking & Card Keepsakes.

Jenni B Collection Invitation

Especially from the Jenni B Collection 'Acid Free' scrapbooking & Card Keepsakes.

Special Scrapping

The power to celebrate family milestones & document special moments is the cornerstone of scrapbooking.

Your Inspiration Room