Introducing The Best of British Scrapbooking and Cardmaking
By Joanna Campbell Slan

It started with a visit in the fall of 2001 to the first dedicated scrapbook store in the UK, ScrapMagic in Surbiton. When I saw the quality of layouts on display, I wanted to share my discovery with other scrapbookers around the world. Some might think scrapbooking is a recent phenomenon to the

British Isles, but it’s actually been around for decades as a stroll through Kempton Park Racecourse on an antique fair day will prove. What we see today represents a recent incarnation which has flourished in part to newly available products made expressly for the scrapbooking and papercrafting market.

The most efficient way to surface the best talent in the UK, I reasoned, was to have a contest.

Once it was announced, entries poured in from all over. On a sunny day in June, I met with three other experienced scrap-bookers to select The Best of the Best. Believe me, it was a daunting task.

Upon getting to know our winners, I learned that many of them began as cardmakers—and continue to make cards with their leftover scrapbook supplies. So it seemed only

natural to share The Best of the Best cards as well as layouts.

The result? The Best of British Scrapbooking and Cardmaking showcases outstanding work by well-known and unknown designers, along with inspiration, techniques, and tips for anyone wishing to get started in this craft. This website is a continuation of our book, chock-a-block full of goodies and information to get you itching to give it a go!