Scrap Booking

Themes, layouts and inspirations

Japanese Creations Review and Giveaway

by

Japanese Creations is a Japanese arts and crafts experience creator offering unique
Japanese crafts and courses. With all materials hand-selected in Japan to assure
authenticity, Japanese Creations shares traditional Japanese heritage through
treasured crafts.

Chigiri-e is a Japanese-style paper collage created using hand-dyed Washi paper to
create realistic or abstract images that are traditionally used in greeting cards or other
modern-day crafts, such as scrapbooking. The layering and soft textures of Washi
paper look similar to watercolor painting, but the Washi paper fibers also add edge,
texture and depth that watercolors cannot achieve.

Ranging from $24 to $32, Japanese Creations offers Chigiri-e kits that are perfect for
card making, scrapbooking, décor and gift giving! Also available is an online Chigiri-e
course, which offers multiple Chigiri-e techniques across a variety of projects.

We are giving two Craftgossip.com readers holiday Chigiri-e kits!

For your chance to win, simply comment below telling us why you would like to win

! Giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only; giveaway

closes December 15, 2018.

Japanese Creations also offers courses in the Etegami craft, a colorful folk art
consisting of Sumi ink drawings, Gansai paints and sentiments; as well as Chirimen, a
centuries-old art that transforms Shibo kimono fabric into exquisite, hand-sewn pouches and ornaments.

Visit www.JapaneseCreations.com. Rooted in Japan. Made by you.

Comments

  1. What a great prize. I enjoy making greeting cards and this would be a lovely new technique to learn! Thanks for hosting the giveaway.

  4. I would give this to a friend who loves to paint. I know he would make some beautiful ornaments or something else for all of us.

  8. Wow this would be a fun book. I would love to win as I love paper projects and love working with paper.

  9. I used to live in Japan and admired their hand crafts, but never was able to learn any. This would be great!

  10. This would be a great craft to learn together with my two teenage daughters and give us some quality bonding time together. Plus it looks beautiful!

  13. I’m fascinated with Japanese handcrafts and would love the opportunity to actually learn one. Thank-you for the give-away.

  14. I love working with washi paper for scrapbooking cards and have subscribed to the JapaneseCreations newsletter. Thank you for introducing the website to me.

  16. I would just love to learn more on Japan hand crafts. I have always admired looking at them and this would just be a lovely. Thanks for the opportunity.

  20. I have always been interested in Japan & all things Japanese! Learning new things & the adventures, the journey & the wonderful results in this concept is absolutely intriquing! Thank you!

  22. I love paper crafting. Origami has long been a fave and I would love to give this a try! Hand made cards/ornaments are always special to give.

  24. I think the prettiest paper crafts come out of Japan. Their attention to detail always amazes me. Would like to give one of their kits a try and see if it spurs any talent.

  25. The first Japanese craft I received was an origami woman wearing traditional dress. I have admired this little bookmark for over 25 years and would enjoy learning a Japanese craft.

  29. I am always looking for something new and fun to try and this looks like both. Plus, my younger daughter loves Japan and Japanese things, so that’s added incentive.

  30. I love learning new papercrafting techniques and this definitly sounds like fun. Thanks for a chance to win! 😀

Have you read?

10 Modern Rainbow Scrapbook Layout Templates for Single Photos

There’s something wonderfully uplifting about rainbow-themed scrapbook pages — they add instant joy, a sense of hope, and that lovely feeling of “better days ahead.” But not everyone wants the classic curved rainbow we all grew up drawing in kindergarten. Modern scrapbookers are leaning into geometric rainbows, with clean arches, bold shapes, layered semi-circles, and minimalist lines. And honestly, they look stunning on a page.

This new set of 10 single-photo scrapbook layout sketches combines that modern rainbow aesthetic with simple, clean design ideas that are perfect for everyday memory-keeping. Whether you’re documenting a milestone, a quiet moment, a favourite snapshot, or even a healing chapter of your life, these layouts allow the rainbow to act as a symbolic backdrop without overwhelming the page.

Each layout includes space for one photo — because sometimes that ONE image tells the whole story.

Use these rainbow sketches for:
 • kids’ artwork and school photos
 • birthdays
 • bright outdoor memories
 • “first day / last day” pages
 • mental health or personal growth journaling
 • celebration of small wins
 • Pride-themed layouts
 • baby and toddler albums
 • anything that feels colourful, hopeful, or meaningful

Here’s a look at what you’ll find in this modern geometric set:

––––––––––––––––––––––
 Layout 1 – Half-Rainbow Arch Behind a Central Photo
 Simple, bold, and great for patterned paper lovers.

Layout 2 – Layered Semi-Circle Stack
 A modern twist that looks incredible with textured cardstock or tone-on-tone colours.

Layout 3 – Offset Rainbow Bands + Journaling Strip
 Asymmetrical but balanced — perfect for candid photos.

Layout 4 – Triple Geometric Arches in a Vertical Column
 A clean, fresh layout with lots of white space.

Layout 5 – Bold Oversized Rainbow + Minimal Embellishment
 Your photo becomes the centrepiece while the rainbow adds gentle framing.

Layout 6 – Rainbow Layer Cluster Behind a Tilted Photo
 Adds instant movement and energy.

Layout 7 – Concentric Semi-Circle Trio + Title Banner
 Very modern and perfect for scrapbooking boys, teens, and minimalist pages.

Layout 8 – Soft Arched Shapes + Bottom Journaling Panel
 A gentle, calming design ideal for quiet or meaningful stories.

Layout 9 – Rainbow Block Background
 A more graphic layout that uses straight-edged shapes inspired by rainbow palettes.

Layout 10 – Chunky Rainbow With Clean Title Placement
 A bold design that’s perfect for showcasing a favourite photograph.

––––––––––––––––––––––
 How to Use These Modern Rainbow Sketches

  • Use tone-on-tone papers for a subtle, sophisticated look
     • Try patterned paper for rainbow bands — stripes, dots, grids, or watercolour prints
     • Keep embellishments minimal to let the geometric shapes shine
     • Add stitching (real or faux) along the arches for texture
     • Use cardstock scraps to create a rainbow without cutting into new sheets
     • Match your colours to the emotion of the photo — bright for happy moments, muted for reflective ones

What I love most about modern rainbow layouts is how versatile they are. These designs can feel playful, peaceful, bold, or soft depending on your colour choices. And because each sketch only uses one photo, you can easily create a whole rainbow-themed album without feeling creatively overwhelmed.

If you use these sketches, tag CraftGossip on Facebook or Instagram — I adore seeing how you all interpret these designs in your own style.