Wednesday 31 July 2013

Lindy's Stamp Gang July Colour Challenge! A new Video Tutorial, & a couple of Publications in Scrap 365!!




I was so excited to see that Lindy's Stamp Gang is having a Design Team Call HERE that I decided to enter their latest colour challenge for July HERE as this was a requirement.

Color Challenge Header

I played along using the following Lindy's Stamp Gang products:-  

Starbursts mists in Azure Sea Asters
& Moon Shadow Mist in Smoky Sapphire.

Color Challenge July 2013 lindys stamp gang glimmer shimmer

Other products used:-

Goosebumps Resist Spray by Tsukeniko
Inks - Ingvile Bolme for Prima
Prima stamps, flowers & packaging
Petaloo Leaves
Maya Road Stick Pins
Scrapmatts Chipboard
Zva Creative Bling
PaperVine Metal & Antique Embellishments
7 Dots Papers & sentiments
Tim Holtz Paperclips
Threads, filmstrips, plastic &
wire mesh, burlap, twine, staples - stash





I made a video tutorial to accompany this layout & you can find it on my You Tube Channel HERE.  

Unfortunately it is still loading right now {and has been for the last 12 hours!}.  It takes a couple of days to load from here & I started yesterday but it got stuck at 1% overnight so I had to restart it again today. {We are on 22% now - yippee!!}

Anyways I am REALLY EXCITED for it to go up! 

 I know I have a long way to go as it's only my 2nd video tutorial but I got the hang of it this time & am working on improving my lighting & set up for future.  

I really enjoyed editing it & think it's okay for a video newbie :)

I've also been busy with some "secret squirrel" scrapbooking for Scrap 365 Magazine this week!  You can see my 2 new layouts in their next issue - October/November - coming up.  I also have a couple of layouts in their current issue too so look out for those in the issue below!!


So it's been a crazy-busy week as it's also time for Reveal 4 tomorrow at Scrap Around The World, my new challenge blog! 
{I correlated the votes & compiled the Winners' Post earlier this week} so it's all going on!! - Busy, busy but that's how I roll...

Thanks for popping in to take a peek & say HI! 



'I Will Always Be Your Lighthouse, your Shade & your Umbrella' Layout - Scrapmatts {Webster's Pages}





Happy end-of-the-month!  Phew!!  How has it FLOWN?!?
Still more layouts to share but I will have to roll 
July into August- doesn't really matter I suppose...


I created this layout for Scrapmatts, where I had to use the chipboard embellishments from their Nautical Designs collection available HERE.  Namely the ship's wheel, life ring & light house.  


Cute embellishments but themed layouts don't fit my style 
so I chose to work it another way.  I came up with an 
appropriate title as a message to my 18 year old son, who is 
very typically 18 & dying to move out & live an independent life. 


Of course this will include washing his own clothes, etc - 
so I am looking forward to this progression next year 
with great interest. Being my 2nd eldest I know he will 
come home from his first university vacation with a
 new-found gratitude for my domestic skills 
- cannot WAIT!! {hehehe}


I mixed old & new Webster's Pages here.  Fussy-cutting 
that palm tree definitely classifies as one of the craziest 
scrapbooking moves I've made.  It took what felt like an 
eternity but I guess one has to do it once in this life :)


I splattered some Tattered Angels "Driftwood" mist 
around the page to keep it young, male & grungy :)


I painted the chipboard with white acrylic paint followed by 
Ranger Distress Paint in Broken China, then sealed with 
Ranger Crackle accents & hot shots of the heat gun for bubbles.


I love the Alison Kreft sticker sheet & the sentiments
 & images definitely modernise the page I think.


It was all looking too clean for my liking so I stamped around 
the edge of my page with a chevron stamp then went over that with
 a Prima Crackle mask & Golden Modelling Paste, which I then flicked
 over & used as a grungy stamp more towards the centre of the page. 

 It took the edge off the bold printed text paper & helped 
the layers blend more seamlessly into one another.



Tuesday 30 July 2013

'Always Together' Layout - Scrapmatts - 7 Dots {My Favourite Page EVER!}





Hello to you!  I am very proud of this layout -
 finally I've achieved the look I've had in my mind's 
eye for a while now, of the way I want my layouts to be.  


I have this layout up at Scrapmatts HERE
it was one of our Design Team challenges for July - 
to "scraplift"one of our scrapbooking idols. 


I didn't follow the spec exactly because I don't like to copy any one person entirely - I have absolutely no desire to have my work look identical to someone elses & I have far too many scrapbookers whose work I admire for it to even be possible to choose!


I chose rather to be inspired by the mixed media scrapbooking genre of specifically the Eastern Europeans, who really have their scrap on at the moment!


I tried to acheive the look here by adding :-

1) layers without bulk 
2) grunge without mess
3)  controlled mixed media 
4)  white space  


These 4 factors epitomise the look of works by brilliant artists
 such as Kasia Krzyminska & many other Polish, Russian, 
Ukranian & Eastern European mixed-media scrapbookers. 


It is definitely the style of scrapbooking I like the look of the
most, and thankfully, also feel comes the most naturally to me.

Store Banner / Banner Shop

I'm entering this in the "How You Use" challenge over at 
Mixed Media Place HERE, where the challenge is "embossing".


I have used Prima stamps with white embossing powder & also
applied clear embossing powder over my stamped butterfly images.

Embossing is definitely making a come-back thanks to the welcome
return of technique-based scrapbooking (thanks to the Mixed Media trend).  

Supplies List for 'Always Together" Layout

Water colour paper - Daler Rowney
Coloured & patterned papers - 7 Dots Studio
Resist mist - Tsukineko Goosebumps
Mists - Lindy's Stamp Gang
Black mist - Maya Road
Stamps - Prima
Chalk inks - Ingvild Bolme
Inks, embossing powder & paperclips- Ranger
Bling - Prima
Thread, rafia, netting, plastic mesh, leaves, filmstrip - stash
Antique dots & clocks - PaperVine
Chipboard {words & triangles} Scrapmatts



Sunday 28 July 2013

'Guten Tag Fraulein' Layout - Flourish With a Bling - Prima BAP





Hello again :)  

With the end of the month fast approaching I'm working
 hard on getting all my layouts posted & linked up!  

Here's the full reveal of the sneak peek of my Flourish With a Bling
Design Team work, that I posted here last week.


I used a very old Prima patterned paper for my background 
& Prima Rosarian papers for the rest.  After all they were 
PERFECT for the Tyroler/German bar themed photos.


I used the July Prima BAP for my layout composition inspiration.


Of course the FWABulous flourish above comes from 
Flourish With a Bling & you can see all the product details
 within my post on their blog HERE & buy your own flourishes HERE.


Lots of fussy-cutting & layering, starting with 
the Prima Static mask with black acrylic paint.


The black plastic mesh is from a roll of non-slip 
carpet underlining I bought recently - fabulous!


I distressed the edges of my paper & cut some single dots 
off the Chloe flourish for the confetti effect above.


I used my Martha Stewart heart punch - my favourite at the moment :)


I lifted up some of my fussy-cut pieces 
using 3D foam tape for a little dimension.


I also did some tearing & background stamping 
(using the Prima static mask as a stamp to use up the residual paint)
 to give my page a mixed media edge in keeping with my style.



Saturday 27 July 2013

'Pavement Culture' Layout - Flourish With a Bling - Prima Product Pick July 2013





Hello Lovelies :) Here is the full reveal of the sneak peek
 I showed you for Flourish With a Bling earlier this week.  


I used the Prima Product Pick as my colour inspiration.


I did lots of mixed media work on the background & took 
photos all along the way so I have a tutorial coming up soon!


I used Prima Romance Novel paper & treated with embossing paste,
 embossing powder, acrylic paints, inks, gesso & mists.


I stenciled & stamped, using the Prima gate mask & 'love' stamp.


The flowers & metals are from Prima & of course all the bling
flourish pieces come from the Flourish with a Bling store HERE!


I've mastered the art of the double-bow at 
long last thanks to this awesome video tutorial.  


I also tucked in a couple of brass clocks from PaperVine.
  They stock a fabulous selection of products in their store HERE.


Photo credit - my dear friend Gayle Price - thank you!
We both visited Paris in December/January last year 
(separately unfortunately so we just missed meeting up).  


She got a better photo than me so I asked her
permission to use it & she kindly agreed.



Friday 26 July 2013

How to Create with a Sketch yet Remain True to your Style {My Creative Scrapbook Tutorial - July 2013}


Hi :)  
Gosh this week has run away with me
 {or more like WITHOUT me LOL}
- I am up to ALL SORTS of scrappy things
right now & have a lot to share for future posts...

For now here's my tutorial for My Creative Scrapbook this month.

Hi everyone!  Helen here today to show you how to work with sketches without compromising your true style.  Ever looked at a sketch & thought – “oh no! – That’s just not “me”?”  Don’t worry, it’s happened to us all.  Rather than give it a miss give it a go instead – only modify it to suit your own individual style.


Take a look at this sketch here, from My Creative Sketches
(our July sketch) currently open for participation right now!

It’s a beautiful sketch (of course!!) but when I looked at it I thought “Hmmm…how should I approach this?" - seeing as I don’t do a lot of paper layering using big squares of paper
(it simply isn’t my style).

So I decided to expand the area around my photo using a Prima mask with some embossing paste followed by gelatos instead of papers. Thus staying true to my artistic approach.

Gelatos are a fabulous new mixed media product from Faber-Castell & are like creamy lipsticks.  I applied mine with a sponge.


I love using packaging & often incorporate it into my layouts so I added some Prima packaging on top of my gelatos & masking, then tucked in some Webster’s Pages packets (cut even smaller)
to form the base of my layout.

(Note how the shape I created mimics
 the sketch but with smaller dimensions.)


Once I had toned down my gelato work with a sponge dipped in 
water I started layering up my embellishments, using Basic Grey 
printed chipboard from the July 2013 Limited Edition Kit.

I laid down a sticker to form the base of my title
 - which you can see I moved from the top
 (according to the sketch) 
to the bottom of the layout (to suit my page).

 Don’t be scared to change some aspects of the sketch to suit you.

(If you are participating in a sketch challenge you must
 be able to “see” that you started with the sketch but not 
every aspect of it needs to remain in exactly the same 
place or have exactly the same proportions).


Next I added my title work & some finer details
 such as the confetti dots (using full-stops from the 
alphabet set) & some cheesecloth (which always 
works well with beach-themed layouts).


Lastly I added some more embellishments
 (printed chipboard) & some floral vines 
(to mimic the main embellishment area on the sketch).


I added my journalling & called my page done!
Can you see the sketch in my page? 
I think so!  Yet I’m happy that I didn’t have 
to compromise my true style to achieve it.


I hope this has helped someone out there today.

If you struggle to interpret sketches into pages 
you like then don't despair - it can be done!


Tuesday 23 July 2013

'Beach Babe' Layout - My Creative Scrapbook Limited Edition Kit July 2013





This is the my 5th & last layout using the My Creative Scrapbook Limited Edition kit this month.  I have a tutorial based on this layout that I'll be sharing some time this week too.


I coloured my base with my new Faber Castell Gelatos.  
They are like creamy lipsticks & blend easily.

Instead of layering up with paper I approached this page a bit differently & layered up with colour (Gelatos being a great choice if you like things nice & flat}, using gauze for texture {also very soft & flattish}, then using chipboard die-cuts, stickers & Webster's Pages mini bags instead of patterned paper.  

{That's right - not a single piece of patterned paper here except the base paper}.


  I am no pro with them as yet so the colours are pretty strong but I did use a make-up sponge to blend them into each other.  I added some texture in the form of cheese-cloth, which always goes well with beach-themed layouts.


Some hand-journalling that went on smooth as butter over the gelatos.


I used a Prima mask together with some embossing paste for the raised design, then coloured with gelatos when it was completely dry.


I simply adore the Prima Hello Pastel Flower Vine that comes with this kit.  I used the one on several of my layouts.

This was a simple layout to put together that didn't hurt my brain {as some do!}Working with the My Creative Scrapbook Kits is such an absolute pleasure as all the hard work of making choices & selecting different items is totally removed from the equation.  

Now is a great time to sign up HERE as CHA is this week, in Vegas, and our fearless leader Pam Rangel is there, making some awesome selections of that I am sure!!

Thanks for your visit :)