This week's Flickr Friday inspiration comes from Flickr user *Peanut -- also known as Lauren. Her photostream is filled with beautiful images but she still considers herself a beginner -- which makes her photos even more interesting to view each day. Definitely someone to check out for inspiration with beautiful colours and compositions even when working with objects in and around the home.

This week you're on your own as we'd love to see how you take inspiration from this picture. Send us your pages inspired by this lovely photo for a chance to appear in a future issue of Scrapbook Inspirations!

Here's one layout we were excited to receive in response to a Flickr Friday post -- reader Amanda Jones was inspired to break out her butterfly punch after last Friday's photograph!

So what will inspire you this weekend -- the colours, the strawberry subjects, the placement to the left of the photoframe? Can't wait to see!

If you want to make your own speedy scrapbook as Morag Cutts showed in the July issue of ScrapBook inspirations you can download blank journaling cards to get you started.

Morag has created 10 colour cards which you can print out at 4x6in - perfect for traditional photo albums.

Arrow
Celebrate 1
Celebrate 2
Holiday
Journaling card 1
Journaling card 2
Journaling card 3
Journaling card 4
Journaling card 5
Journaling card 6

Don't forget to drop us a line and let us know how you used the cards. Or maybe you've been inspired to create your own? You can email us at scrapbookinspirations@futurenet.co.uk.

In the July issue of ScrapBook inspirations Claire Malvern shared her ideas for decorative envelopes to send to family and friends.

If you'd like to have a go at making your own you can download three envelope templates:

Envelope 1 (square)
Envelope 2 (rectangle)
Envelope 3 (slip)

The templates are all A4 so you can either print them out onto cardstock, or print onto paper and use as a template to make envelopes from 12x12in sheets. We'd love to see how you use them, so email us at scrapbookinspirations@futurenet.co.uk and show us your decorated envelopes.

Make sure you check out the full article in the July issue - on sale now!

The biggest and most popular scrapbooking competition in the UK is back! Yes, we’re renewing our hunt for the most talented scrapbookers in Britain, with the Best of British Scrapbooking awards 2008.

We’re looking for six winners: three in the Best of British Scrapbooking category, and three from the Best New Scrapbooking Talent (open to anyone who has been scrapping for under a year). From this shortlist one scrapper will be named as overall winner.

All six winners will receive a commission for ScrapBook inspirations, plus their layouts will be displayed at the Stitch and Craft Show in London next year. And that’s not all! We’ve also got a bumper selection of prizes from a host of companies (full details are coming soon).

Joanna Campbell Slan, judge and founder of the Best of British Scrapbooking awards, has some helpful entry advice. “Every year a few entries stand out immediately. Winning entries exhibit their own style, revealing the scrapbooker’s personality. They also display a sense of adventure in their use of design, technique, colour and embellishments.

“In addition, entries must have some journaling. It doesn’t have to be extensive; you can say a lot with a few words, but you do have to say something. I’m so looking forward to receiving your entries so go on, be bold!”

How to enter
There are two categories to choose from: Best of British Scrapbooking and Best New Scrapbooking Talent. We’ll be looking out for layouts that show imagination, good design sense, a range of techniques, great photos, and remember that journaling and subject matter are also key!

Best of British Scrapbooking
Select six layouts that you feel show off your skills the best. It doesn’t matter what theme or subject they have, but try to choose layouts that show the range of your talent. Photograph or scan them and write 50 words about each one explaining the story or inspiration behind it and a brief list of supplies. Send an email to bob2008@futurenet.co.uk with the six layouts included as .jpg attachments and the written details within your email, clearly marking which description goes with which layout. You also need to include your full name, address and phone number. In the subject line of the email write: BEST OF BRITISH.

Best New Scrapbooking Talent
To enter this category, you must have started scrapbooking after 22 August 2007. Choose six of your favourite layouts that show a range of your skills and photograph or scan them. Write 50 words explaining each layout and provide a supplies list. Send an email to bob2008@futurenet.co.uk with the six layouts included as .jpg attachments and the written details within your email, clearly marking which description goes with which layout. You need to include your name, address and phone number. In the subject line of the email write: NEW TALENT.

Please make sure you read the rules of the contest before entering! Check back here soon for tips and advice on making your entry stand out from the crowd!

Closing date for all entries is Friday 22 August 2008

Thinking of entering the Best of British Scrapbooking contest? Make sure you read the following rules before entering. Details of how to enter are here.

1. The Best of British Scrapbooking competition is open to all residents and scrapbook stockists within the UK (you must be aged 18 or over).
2. Entries must arrive by the final deadline of 22 August 2008.
3. Double-page layouts count as a one layout towards your entry.
4. ll entries must be original, not from a class, must not have been entered into any previous competition or published previously in UK publications (or currently submitted to be considered for publication). Layouts displayed in online galleries can be submitted, but should be removed before entry. Any contestants breaching this guideline will be disqualified.
5. You may only enter one category.
6. Entries must include a full name, address, phone number, list of supplies and a brief description of each layout.
7. Do not send original layouts at this point. We will contact those shortlisted, and the winners will be announced in issue 47.
8. No responsibility will be accepted for entries that are lost.
9. The entries will be judged by Joanna Campbell Slan using the following criteria in equal measure:
- Are the projects unique, well designed and do they reflect excellent craftsmanship?
- Do the projects showcase innovative principles or techniques?
- Do the layouts express meaning through journaling, art or photos that provides value or insight to viewers?
10. The prizes provided by sponsors will be divided between all of the winners.
11. Decisions of the judge are final and binding in all respects.
12. Winners may be asked to participate in publicity (including being photographed) in relation to the competition. The winning layouts will be displayed at Stitch and Craft Show 2009 and will not be returned until after that date.
13. Employees of Future plc and any sponsoring company are not eligible to enter.

For a full set of Future Publishing’s competition rules see p92 in the July issue, or visit http://www.futurenet.com/futureonline/competitionrules.asp

The biggest scrapbooking contest in the UK is back! Look out for details in the July issue of ScrapBook inspirations, on sale 26th June!

The July issue (42) of ScrapBook inspirations goes on sale Thursday, 26th June

In this issue you'll find...
* Our scrap spaces go through the keyhole with the Design Team
* Everyday photography be inspired to photograph your life and home
* A good post day make someone's day by sending them a decorated envelope!
* Hybrid scrapbooking everything you need to know to get started
* Your designs a reader gallery of action layouts and pages with creative text or titles
* And drumroll please... the launch of Best of British Scrapbooking 2008!

This week's Flickr inspiration comes from Fiona Watson -- or Wild Goose Chase on Flickr. Her photostream is filled with beautiful still life works, carefully constructed from a variety of bits and pieces that she brings together just perfectly. Fiona is also a talented portrait artist -- you can see more of her work here.

I love this photo, which she calls Metamorphosis. I thought the underlying clean lines, the high contrast of the colours and the silhouetted shapes would make it easy to translate into a scrapbook page. But not so much:

I tried cutting butterflies and birds but had no luck with them looking delicate like Fiona's, so went for a scrapbook staple in the scallop punches. This isn't a composition I would normally create and I'm not sure that it's totally finished, but that's the point of Flickr Fridays: to bring an element of inspiration to try something new. You never know...it may grow on me.

But now you have the chance to show me up and create a masterpiece using Fiona's photo as a point of inspiration. Be sure to send us your Flickr Friday pages -- yours could be featured on the pages of Scrapbook Inspirations.

Have a fabulously scrappy weekend!

Scrapbook Inspirations reader Lindsay has been spotted putting the June issue to use! She posted this layout on her blog, inspired by the Sketch Collection in this month's issue.

We love how Lindsay paired supercute photos with lots of ribbons and patterns!

Something new for Fridays on the blog: Flickr Photo Inspiration! Every Flickr Friday, we'll pick a photo to inspire your scrapbooking over the weekend. Use it as inspiration for your own photography by trying a new angle, different lighting or emulate the pose and scenery...or use it to inspire a layout, taking influence from the colours and design elements you see within its 4x6 glory.

This week's photo is from talented Flickr member Amanda Keeys, an Australian photographer with a photostream filled with soft, beautiful images of children in adorable outfits. For more from Amanda, check out her Etsy shop, her blog and her Photoshop actions. All full of loveliness!

Here's our first take for Flickr Fridays -- can you spot the inspiration taken from the photo?

Now it's your turn: use Amanda's photo to inspire your creative efforts this weekend and let us see the results! You never know when your Flickr-Friday-Inspired project might grace the pages of Scrapbook Inspirations!