You Make Me Smile

Good morning everyone!

I'm back today to share with you another layout I have created using the Echo Park 'Pirate's Life' collection. 

My layout has nothing to do with pirates! I wanted to create something that still used the gorgeous bright papers but not necessarily related to the pirate theme!

Here is what I came up with...

I still used the sketch for this months challenge, I did some stamping and I used a song title!

I spent a little bit of time creating my background. I started by covering my Cardstock in transparent gesso. I sprayed and sprayed again. Added Moulding paste, Dylusions paint and stamped. Then in some parts sprayed again until I came up with what I liked...it took a little bit but I'm pretty happy with the end result.

On my tag I have used the chorus of the song Smile by Uncle Kracker and made a feature of the last line of the chorus by adding it to my layout. 

I have used again the Harlequin Clumps on my layout (such awesome value when you can get so many projects from one pack). This time I have left them with a matt effect by inking them with Versamark Ink and not embossed them. 

Materials Used:

Kaisercraft Cardstock - White and Licorice, Kaiser Mists - Red, Yellow and Denim, Prima Colour Bloom - Cobalt, Transparent Gesso, Moulding Paste, Dylusions Paint - Lemon Zest and London Blue, Kaisercraft Clear Stamps - Crackle, tag, bakers twine - assorted colours, black ribbon, Echo Park - Pirate's Life collection - papers, paper pad, element stickers and alpha stickers, 2Crafty Harlequin clumps and Versamark Ink - Cardinal. 

I hope that this has inspired you to get crafting today!

You only have a few days to get your entry for this month in. Make sure you do...nothing quite like winning a prize for doing something you love!

Happy Scrapping!
Melx

Adore Forever...

Happy New Year Everyone!

Welcome to my first post for 2015! I hope that everyone has had a wonderful festive season and a great start to the New Year. 2015...Wow!

As this post goes live I am on holidays with my family in Moruya just near Batemans Bay in NSW. We have spent some time in Avoca Beach, then Canberra and this is the last week or so of our summer holiday.

I love holidays. I hope you are all having a break no matter where you are and that you are staying safe. All of the fires in SA and VIC at the moment are devastating. If you are affected please know our thoughts are with you all. 

This month at Scrapbookit, the beautiful Brenda has provided us with the challenge, a tic tac toe!

I love tic tac toes because you have a little bit of variety with what you can do and if you are like me you can be a little naughty and slip in a few extras from the grid!!!!

Here is the tic tac toe grid that Brenda has set up for us...what a great selection!

I have decided to use one of the diagonals...'Flowers, Journal (more than a few lines) and Stencil' as my main focus for this layout.

Here is what I came up with...

This is my gorgeous Nan who turned 85 last year. I used an app on my iPhone called 'Color Splash' to remove the background colours on this photo and just have the main focus of the photo coloured.

As always, Jo has challenged me with an awesome pack of goodies. As you all probably know girly papers and I rarely cross paths but Jo never lets me get away with sitting in my comfort zone and that is what I love most about designing for Scrapbookit...I am forever challenged!

My pack included the Bo Bunny paper collection 'Madeleine.' Such gorgeous papers that include pinks, greys, mint greens and maroons.

I started this layout with a piece of Coconut Kaisercard which I sprayed with Heidi Swapp Colourshine 'Blush'...my first deviation from the grid (whoops!). I then used the Tim Holtz Layering Stencil 'Doily' with some moulding paste in random places around the cardstock. Once dry, I swiped the raised moulding paste with Burgundy Versa Colour Ink. Here are some close ups of the stencil work.

I then used some of the patterned papers to create a patchwork effect behind the photo. Some of these squares I have raised and punched a decorative edge. All sqaures have been inked using the Kaisercraft Grey Ink.

I have mounted the photo on some patterned paper from the collection and some Kaisercard 'Steele' cardstock.

I have also fussy cut some leaves and a birdcage from the patterned paper to add to the features on this layout.

The next part of the grid that I have used is 'Flowers' I have used a mix of Manor House and Kaisercraft paper flowers to create a flower cluster on the layout.

I have also stamped some Burgundy flower stamps from my pack. Another of my deviations - stamps! Also in my pack was a word stamp 'Adore' which I also stamped in this area using the Grey Kaisercraft Ink.

I have also added some Pearl embellishment swirls from Flourish with a Bling to this cluster.

Here is a close up of the cluster...

The last feature of my layout taken from the Tic Tac Toe grid is the Journal (more than a few lines). Journalling is such an important feature of scrapbooking layouts. In years to come I want people, especially my son, to look at these layouts and to know and have access to stories and people who are part of his past.

However, being that this requirement was 'more than a few lines' I didn't want the story to be the feature of this layout. I wanted the photo to be the focus. So I decided to hide my journalling. Behind the photo I have created a pocket using some foam tape and another piece of cardstock. I cut a piece of Kaisercard 'Ballet' with a tab on the left hand side and inked the edges with Kaiscraft Grey Ink.

This is where I journalled.

On the tab I used the Bo Bunny Combo Stickers for the word 'Forever.'

Here is a close up of the journalling card behind the photo...

And to finish a shot of the layout with the journalling card pulled out.

I hope that this has inspired you to join in our challenge or to purchase some of these great products from the Scrapbookit Online Store...www.scrapbookit.com.au

If you can't find what you are looking for send an email to Jo and she will help you out. She is always more than happy to help you out with all you need to get your scrap on!!

Make sure you pop back again throughout this week to see what else I have created using this Bo Bunny collection.

Until then,

Happy Scrapping!

Mel x

Hey You, My Guy

Why is it that when we have an awesome challenge I have little time to play?

Actually, that appears to be every month.

This month, we have a great challenge.

Your project must be a mixed media project. You must also use sprays, a stencil and chipboard.

My small project for my second post this month has used some of these things.

I have created a small canvas. Here it is...

I started with the blank canvas and added some Faded Jeans Distress Stain. I then sprayed randomly some Prima Colour Bloom Spray Mist in Cobalt Blue. I then sprinkled some Tinby Designs Metallic Melts 'First Light' embossing powder and heated it.

I used the Crafter's Workshop 6x6 Stencil - Mini Rustic Paint and spread some moulding paste over the stencil.

I then randomly sprayed some Prima Colour Bloom Spray Mist in Vintage Coal.

Here is a photo of the background...

I then used some of the gorgeous Kaisercraft papers from the 'Off the Wall' collection. I distressed the edges and inked them with a Kaisercraft Black Ink.

I have used a large Scrap FX Hash Border under the photo. I used black ink and transparent embossing powder to alter the hash border.

To complete the canvas I have used collectables and some of the stickers from the 'Off the Wall' collection and have stamped the 'My Guy' clear stamp onto a piece of patterned paper.

All of these products are available from Scrapbookit. 

So have you organised your entry for this month's mixed media challenge??

Why not get your hands on some of these products from Jo to complete your project?

There are not many days left to get your entry in.

Have a great week everyone and make sure you pop back to check out what Lynn has been creating.

Melx

Mixed Media

Morning Everyone!

What a fantastic challenge we have running here at Scrapbookit during November.

Set by the lovely Tania, our challenge this month is to dabble in the world of Mixed Media.

A true challenge for me but might I say I had a lot of fun doing it.

To participate in this months challenge you are required to create a Mixed Media project that includes the following...

STENCIL

SPRAYS

CHIPBOARD

Here is what I have come up with...

For this project I have done something a little different.

I have completed my layout on a piece of 12x12" ply board. So instead of a piece of cardstock or patterned paper I have used the ply board as the base to my layout.

I have converted the ply board by creating my own background.

I started by painting the ply board with Gesso. I initially did a wash of Gesso and then I did a layer of thicker Gesso. The reason I did this was so that I could save my product...yes I know pedantic...but by doing an initial wash the ply board is sucking up the wash moisture and not the layer of Gesso...hence using less Gesso in the end.

I then sprayed the ply board randomly with Prima Colour Bloom Spray Mist in Cobalt Blue and Vintage Coal.

I randomly stamped using Kaisercraft clear background stamps 'Sketchy', 'Hexagons' and Staz On ink in 'Jet Black' and 'Midnight Blue' around the ply board.

My next step was to mix some Lindy Stamp Gang Magicals - Bachelor Button Blue with Moulding Paste. Once I had the colour I wanted I used my Crafter's Workshop 6x6 Stencil - Mini Rustic Paint and randomly spread the newly coloured moulding paste over the stencil.

Then I chose to use my Quarters Stencil by Kaisercraft and Texture Paste for some added dimensions in the top right corner and the base of the layout. I carefully brushed over these when they were dry with Staz-On ink - Jet Black.

I have used the new Kaisercraft collection 'Off the Wall' including the Superstar Specialty Page, the film strip and other embellishments from the Collectables pack and a piece of patterned paper from the paper pad. This paper is such a gorgeous male inspired collection.

I used the gorgeous Tinby Designs Metallic Melts 'First Light' embossing powder on the large black star and I have also used it on the Scrap FX 'Hash Bits' chipboard embellishment.

Here are a few close ups...

I hope that today you have been inspired to give this challenge a shot. I had lots of fun completing this project, thank you Tania for a great challenge.

I look forward to seeing all of your wonderful entries in the gallery.

Please don't forget that all products can be found at the Scrapbookit Store.

Enjoy your week!

Melx