Tuesday 26 November 2013

Be Merry This Christmas

Hi there scrappers.

We've had a week of really weird weather here. I hope it's been better where you are.

The new Christmas kit from Scrappy Chat Designs is out and I got to have a play with it. I've had a blast! The kit includes some gorgeous Simple Stories papers, a Pan Pastel and some Liquid Pearls among other things.

For my first layout, I took the title 'Be Merry' quite literally. Here's my layout:


I seem to keep scrapping layouts lately where I have to explain about my very silly family! Aunty Rita is such a joker and always comes armed with a supply of gizmos to make people laugh. As you can see, she has no shortage of people willing to help share the silliness! Those fake teeth were just gorgeous - not!

The chalkboard look is hot right now and this background paper is a fabulous one. It allows colours to stand out so well. I mostly used the 3 x 4 Journaling Cards Elements paper on the remainder of this layout. I fussy-cut some items from the cards to use as features, then layered the leftovers and other whole cards behind the photo as a mat. I inked all the edges to help define the papers.


Included in the kit is a bottle of key lime Liquid Pearls. This is a bright lime green. Normally I wouldn't associate a strong colour like this with Liquid Pearls but I'm so glad I gave it a go. I've fallen in love with it! To make the strands of 'Christmas Lights' behind the photo mat I first randomly glued down handfuls of cotton thread. They're only glued under the photo mat. I then carefully placed dots of Liquid Pearls over the top of the cotton. I had to hold the cotton down at first, but once the Liquid Pearls dries, it acts like a glue and holds the cotton in place itself. I think the result is really effective and this technique would look great on a layout about Christmas lights.


The 'Christmas Lights' forming the border were made quite differently. There was no way I could get cotton to sit like that while I put Liquid Pearls on it to glue it into place so I just drew the white lines on with a gel pen. This is a lot easier way to create the lights and looks almost (but not quite!) as good as the cotton method.

I hope you get to scrap some fab Christmas layouts this year.

Happy scrappin'

Heather

Saturday 23 November 2013

Scrap Around The World Layout

Hi everyone,

Gosh I seem to be posting so much more than usual lately. I've been busy!

I've made a layout for this month's challenge at Scrap Around The World. As soon as I saw the mood board I knew I just had to have a go. That mood board is so me! Maybe that's cos it was created by the uber talented Leonie Neal-Dawson, who has a similar fixation with bright colours to me. Here's the mood board and sketch:


I have thought of sooo many ideas from that mood board but sadly, I only have time for one layout. Using the sketch is optional and it didn't work for what I wanted to do, although I did use the circular element. The two left hand pics were the ones that influenced me the most. I used the bright, bold colours of the paint picture but my design feature came largely from the first pic. Somehow, those butterflies kept  making me think of hearts. I was keen on that transparent look too so I used watercolours. I used them strongly though, in keeping with the second image.

Here's my layout:


I spent hours making this layout! This is mainly because I started out with a different idea using the watercolour paints to make the hearts. After much effort I had to accept that it wasn't going to work! I eventually just put it all aside telling myself that I might be able to use it for something else another time. To make this version, I traced some hearts from a TCW stencil with textas then used watercolours to paint the smaller heart inside.

The circle shape is a separate piece of cardstock that I ran dribble lines of Dylusions ink sprays down. I then sprayed white Dylusions over the dribbles to make them fade into the background more so the hearts would be the feature. I stitched the circle shape, cut it out then stitched my hearts to the dribble lines. Here's a close up:


That background paper is an American Crafts Sketchbook paper, which is one of my all time favourite ranges. I added some stamping to it and used watercolours to colour the flowers.

The title is influenced by the third picture in the mood board. I painted the chipboard letters black, and added black Wow! glitter. I adhered this to a section I cut off an older chippie which I painted white. Underneath there's a layer of this fabulous textured ribbon that I found recently.



I love scrapping these older pics of my kids. It's a great reminder of how much has changed in the last 12 years. 

I'm not sure if this was a great time to write this post because about 20 minutes ago that sweet little blond girl just drove herself off to schoolies week! With her hair dyed black, seemingly a year's supply of clothes and a box of alcohol she has just headed down the coast for a week of fun with four other friends. It's the first time she has ventured away on her own and my hubby and I are having a bit of trouble with the letting go thing. We know she'll be safe - she has a great group of friends who are all good kids - but we won't be there with her. 

OK - that's enough emotion for today! Hope you can join in this month's challenge.

Heather

Tuesday 19 November 2013

It's Blueberry Time!

Hi all.

It's Blueberry season at White With 1 this month. Yes, the colour this month is blueberry. After my last month's layout where I used a watermelon photo on the layout where the colour was watermelon, I was tempted to use a blueberry photo this time. I didn't though - but I did use the word in my title!

There is an option this month to use a sketch from Creative Scrappers. Here's the sketch:


I flipped the sketch on its side and highlighted the vertical elements in it.

Here's my layout:


I wasn't planning to put the word in my title but I was looking at the photo and the word 'blueberry' was in my mind and it just happened!

To make the word 'Blueberry' that gorgeous blueberry colour I took plain white foam Thickers and coloured them with a new product called Metallic Melts. They create a stunning glossy effect on Thickers. As the name implies, they have to be melted on so they do shrink the Thickers a bit but I found this was fine. Metallic Melts aren't quite available yet but you can inquire about them at the email address on the website here.

Here's a close up:


I created the background of this layout by flipping over a stencil that I had painted gesso through and using it as a stamp to print the image onto the blue cardstock. To create that lineal look behind the pic I added torn cardboard which I painted white and some gorgeous textural white ribbon that I recently found at my LSS. I topped these with a Wow Chippie flourish which I painted black plus a smattering of white flowers. I stitched two random lines around the edges of the layout and painted the gaps inbetween with gesso using a fine brush.


And here's my journaling:


Thanks for looking everyone.

Heather

Saturday 16 November 2013

Beautiful Ride

Hi there.

I'm back again with my last layout using this month's kit from Scrappy Chat Designs. I based this layout around the gorgeous My Mind's Eye paper "Beautiful Ride".

Firstly, here's the layout:


To make the background, I first cut out the centre of the Beautiful Ride paper. I left the title in the top left corner, the bike in the bottom right plus the border all the way around. I just used a pair of small scissors around the shaped parts and my trimmer along the straight edge in between. I then lay this border on the woodgrain side of the "Hello" paper for a gorgeous contrast.

I had a fair bit of space around the people in my photo so I made it a bit more interesting by cutting the photo into strips in the blank areas but leaving it intact where my family are. I then used a distressing tool to scratch lines around each piece. I really like this effect. I sprayed the Fireworks spray behind the photo to help ground it.

I didn't want to unbalance the layout by adding journalling in a block anywhere so I wrote my journalling in curved lines across the page and 'hung' my banner from it. The banner is made entirely from scraps leftover from making these three layouts from the kit.

To make the flowers, I again attacked my scraps pile. I tore rough circles from the two papers I used on the layout, wet them and scrunched them up. I then dried them with a heat gun and glued them together in layers. These flowers are so easy to make and are great for adding dimension and interest to your page.I then used a leaf punch and punched the leaves from leftover bar code strips from the other papers from the kit.

Here are some close ups:



I hope you have as much fun creating with your kit as I did!

Happy scrappin'

Heather

Tuesday 12 November 2013

A Step By Step for Scrappy Chat Designs

Hi everyone.

For those of you who participated in yesterday's Blog Hop, wasn't it fun! If you didn't join in but would still like to, the blog hop starts at Leonie's blog here.. Once you get to the end, go to the Scrapbooking Memories blog here for clues and the final answer.

Today I have a new layout for you using the November kit from Scrappy Chat Designs. This time I have a step by step tutorial to show you the process of how I made this layout.

Firstly, the layout:


I love this messy, grungy look but I also enjoy keeping the layout reasonably 'clean' so the focus is on the photo. Don't you just love that ombre paper! The colours are gorgeous!

Here's how I made the layout. Keep in mind that I took these photos at night and haven't altered or cropped them at all so, like my layout, they're a bit messy!

Step 1
Cut uneven sized strips from the sheet of Charm "Bliss" Jovial paper and distress the edges. Adhere them in an irregular manner towards the top right corner of the Adorbs "Special" Striking paper. Flip some pieces over so the houndstooth pattern is showing.


Step 2
Roughly paint gesso over the strips, letting the houndstooth pattern show though a bit. Glue strips of the hessian and netting over the top, opening up some parts of the netting so it forms an interesting shape.


Step 3
Paint gesso over the hessian and netting. You could skip this step if you want the natural colours to show through.



Step 4
Add strips of the plasterers tape in irregular lengths and spray the Fireworks spray a few times over and around the cluster plus around where your title will be. Flick a bit of paint or ink across the page around your title and cluster and in the area in between to link the two areas to each other.



Step 5
Cut the shapes from the Adorbs "Hello" Greet paper and arrange them so they hang mostly below where the photo will sit. You can ink the edges of the shapes if you like.



Step 6
To make your title, spray the Fireworks spray through the words on the Crafters' Workshop stencil. Only use a light spray or it will seep under the stencil. It doesn't have to be perfect (it won't be!). When it's dry, outline the letters with pen. Frame the title and your photo with the cardstock in the kit and trim the corners to complement the angled corners on the fussy cut shapes. Ink all these edges.



Step 7
Add plasterers tape behind the title and a word sentiment on top of it, place a die-cut shape beneath the photo and trim a word sentiment to sit above the photo.



Step 8
To finish off, add some chevrons from the sentiments sheet, tuck a scrap of the fussy-cut shapes under the title, add your journalling beneath it and run a hand-drawn border around the layout.


I love it when there are interesting shapes in papers that I can use in different ways, such as the fussy cut shapes in this layout.

I hope this was helpful. Enjoy playing with your goodies!

Heather

Monday 11 November 2013

Scrapbooking Memories Blog Hop

Hello there!

Welcome to the second clue in the Scrapbooking Memories Blog Hop. The first clue was on Leonie's blog. If you missed it, hop back to her blog here and to the Scrapbooking Memories blog here.

Ok, so without any further delay, here is the second clue.......


Hmmm, now that's got you thinking hasn't it? Remember, your challenge is to guess the common theme that runs through the layouts that are being posted on this Blog Hop today. Make sure you add your guess to the Scrapbooking Memories blog, not here, so all the guesses will be in the one place.

I had a lot of fun making this layout. The photos are a wonderful reminder of the fantastic walk I had through the gardens of the Matsumoto Castle in Japan on a freezing cold day. It was every bit as cold as it looks!

Anyone who took my class in the Victorian Masters Tour might recognise the background paper on this layout. It's the paper we made in the class. I cut it down to a size to frame the group of photos then framed this with a border made with a Martha Stewart border punch. This is my favourite punch at the moment.

On top of the background paper I used a new product called Metallic Melts through a TCW stencil. Metallic Melts are amazing. They give a fantastic textural, glossy effect. They're not quite available for release yet but you can inquire about them here. To make the 'Magic' part of my title I printed the word onto transparency on my printer.

Here's a close up:


Those circles are cut with a gorgeous die from Memory Box called Loopy Rings. You can find it here.



If you're enjoying the work you're seeing on this Blog Hop today, you could show your appreciation by becoming a follower of these blogs if you're not already and by leaving a comment. There are some very talented ladies showing you their work today and it's always nice to let them know that you have visited.

So that's it from me today. The next blog you have to visit to get the next clue is Anita's. Her blog is here. Her clue won't be up til 1 pm but go and have a look at her blog in the meantime. Her work is amazing!

Good luck guessing!

Heather


Saturday 9 November 2013

It's Blog Hop Time!

I have some fun news! Scrapbooking Memories magazine is having a Blog Hop this Monday the 11th of November. Some of the current Masters and Creative Team members have put together layouts on a particular theme. Your challenge is to guess the theme. It's going to be a big challenge but definitely a fun one!

The Blog Hop starts at 12 noon AEDST on the Scrapbooking Memories blog HERE.  Every half an hour a new clue will be added....

That's all I'm saying for now. I hope you can join in!




Friday 8 November 2013

Wild and Free with Scrap Everything

Hullo there.

Today I have a layout to share that I made for Scrap Everything. Katherine sent me the absolutely stunning new range from Glitz Design called Wild and Free. I adore this range! The colours are mostly bright and happy but there are also some softer colours that make fantastic background papers. Take a look at the range here.

My layout today is about this gorgeous place we stayed at in Crete a couple of years ago. It oozed charm and character. The window in the photo is one of the windows in our little pension. It was so picturesque!


That background paper is very easy to work with. That watercolour effect is so versatile - this would go with just about any theme. I flicked a bit of Dylusions ink across the page to add a bit of interest. I also used some prima packaging behind the photo. All the letters, words and shaped stickers are included in the Wild and Free pack.

The large flowers are from a Prima collection and the small ones are Kaisercraft roses, available here. I gave three of them a quick spray with Dylsusions ink spray and they coloured up really well. I used Lemon Zest, available here. Anyone who is a regular follower of my blog would know that I adore Dyslusions sprays. I confess, I'm a Dylusions junkie!

There's also a bit of twine in there. At $1 for 5 metres it's amazing value. I don't know where I'd be without my twine. It's my go-to when I have a gap to fill.

Here are some close-ups:



I hope you can get your hands on these papers cos I think they're stunning!

Happy scrappin'!

Heather




Tuesday 5 November 2013

My First Scrappy Chat Post!

Hi there.

Well I'm delighted to announce that I'm now an Arty Chic for Scrappy Chat Designs! Scrappy Chat Designs is an Aussie business that puts out gorgeous monthly scrapping kits. Each kit comes with full instructions on how to make at least three layouts. There is also a video showing how to make the main layout plus other videos showing particular techniques and tips. A point of difference with Scrappy Chat Designs kits is that they nearly always include something you can use over and over plus something unique.

As an Arty Chic, my job is to show how to make three completely different layouts using exactly the same kit. I hope to be able to introduce new ideas and techniques to the lovely Scrappy Chat customers. (I know they're lovely - I've met quite a few of them!)

Here's a look at this month's kit. It's called Be Happy.


This kit includes all sorts of things - including a packet of crayons! I thought of heaps of ways to use the crayons and decided to feature them in my first layout. Here it is:


I had a lot of fun playing with the crayons on this. I'd hate to think how long it's been since I last held a crayon! I used them to write the title, frame the photos, colour the hessian behind the photos and draw the chevrons and arrows. When I finished I chose a selection of colours and glued the crayons to the page after doing a little squiggle with each one.

You could use the crayons in so many ways on your pages. Try framing pics with large crayon circles, colouring in lettering or drawing child-like pictures to suit the theme of your photo.

There is a 12 x 12 Crafters Workshop stencil in the kit and I used a central part of one of the cameras to create my little camera. They're very cute!

Although some gorgeous chevron washi was supplied with the kit, I wanted a different colour so I hand cut chevrons from cardstock. The bar code strips on the papers were very generous with quite a few details on them so I cut the arrows, the strip at the bottom and some banner shapes from these to add to my page. The only things I used on this page that weren't in the kit were the border punch and a pen.

I hope you have fun with your kit!

Heather