Saturday 30 November 2013

Altered Cookie Container for Scrapmatts - also using lots of Lindy's Stamp Gang!





Sharing my 2nd project for Scrapmatts this month!

Our spec was "Christmas Gifting" so I decided to
create "something for nothing" using my Prima offcuts
{had them for YEARS!}, plus mists from Lindy's Stamp Gang
of course, Scrapmatts chipboard & a cardboard cookie container.


You can see my blog post at Scrapmatts HERE  for links 
to their online store & all the products I have used.


I cut my offcuts into rectangles (to ensure the angles were all
 90 degrees) then used gel medium to adhere them all - overlapping 
where necessary & placing some vertically & others horizontally. 


  I added a light layer of gesso to blend all the patterned papers 
together then I used a 12 inch Prima mask, together with Lindy's 
Stamp Gang Starburst Mists in Pointsettia Red Gold & Glory of the
 Seas Gold to do some light misting.  The gesso & mists settle in
 the creases & joins of the paper & look AWESOME in person!


As usual I used HOT GLUE to adhere all my embellishments.


I got a bit carried away but I was having FUN!


I plan on filling this container with more edible Christmas treats!


I added some lovely blooms to the lid.  I have a lot of
older flower collections from various different manufacturers
& am busy trying to make a dent in my stash - to make
room for new Prima Jan CHA products of course!


I...


MAY...


HAVE...


Got a bit carried away with the photos on this one!
Hope you are all enjoying a lovely weekend!!



Friday 29 November 2013

My Creative Scrapbook Kit Club & Lindy's Stamp Gang BIG NEWS!




Massive Black Friday Sale at Lindy's Stamp Gang 
store & a Special Deal on the Mega Sets!!  

Watch the video for full details!
  It's less than one minute long!! 

 And YES you can purchase no matter
 where you live & postage is reasonable!  

The sale goes on all weekend so you have up
 until the end of Monday {American time} to order.

 LSG is really on top of the Mixed Media game - 
their mists, embossing powders & pigment powders
 are top quality & the best out there in my opinion
 {and the opinion of many others - just watch any You-Tube
 review & you will see how popular they are & how well
 they compare! Or should I say how superior they are!!}

NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT I DON'T PINCH MYSELF 
THAT I GET TO PLAY WITH SO MANY OF THESE GOODIES!!!



Here is the image of the Mixed Media kit
 I got to work with this month.

Please note: The Mixed Media kit can be purchased on a one month sub.

 It can also be purchased on a three moth subscription
 this will guarantee that a kit is available for you each month. 

You do not need to be a member to purchase this kit. 


This kit is a STEAL at $24.99!!

It is PACKED with product & the album makes
 19 double-page spreads {I glue each page together
to make them extra sturdy - so they hold up to all the mists,
 etc that I add - if you don't do this you'll get 38 spreads!!

MCS kits are great value for money & there's one to
suit every taste so take a look around the store & sign up
 if you want to take the hassle out of selecting the latest
 &greatest supplies each month -get it all in one place,
every month - it will save you hours!   See you soon!!!


Thursday 28 November 2013

Christmas Wreath for Scrapmatts {transformed using Lindy's Stamp Gang products!}





Goodness me the end of the month is relentless!
There are always so many deadlines to meet & I just go from one to the next!!

I've been meaning to get this post up for days but have been busy working on
the Scrap Around The World reveal, which is always a mammoth exercise for
me, as well as preparing my SATW layout & my Lindy's Stamp Gang Colour
Challenge - I am sooooo excited about that - I love how it turned out!  Ooooh!!


I started out with a plain brown twig wreath
 purchased from a local home decor store.


I painted it, sponged it, embossed it, splattered it -
in fact it was quite a process & I have the photos
to prove it!  Hoping to get a tutorial post up soon!!

I used Ponderosa Pines Olive & Frozen Jack Frost
Starburst Spray.  Magic Moon Pearls, Tannenbaum 
Green Gold & Starbright Gold Green Embossing Powder 
Creme Brulee Cream & Glory of the Seas Gold
Magicals {pigment powders}.


You can see all the product codes for the chipboard pieces 
(and links to the Scrapmatts online store) on their blog HERE.


As well as the Scrapmatts chipboard Christmas words
 I also used their chipboard bows (see above).  


I painted the bows using Peony Scarlet Red Magicals from 
Lindy's Stamp Gang then dipped them randomly in 
Lindy's Stamp Gang Ruby Red Glitter.

Our design team spec this month was 'Christmas Decorations' 
and WOW there are some seriously awesome creations up
on the Scrapmatts blog HERE at the moment (and in the gallery).

If you are looking for some Christmas inspiration I urge you
to take a look!  And I will be back soon with ANOTHER
Christmas project!!  Thanks for stopping by today & to all
my American friends - Happy Thanksgiving!!



Monday 25 November 2013

My Creative Scrapbook Mini Album Tutorial - 18 Handy Tips for creating a Mixed Media Mini Album!





Hi everyone!  Here are some photos of the inside of the Paris mini-album I made for My Creative Scrapbook this month.  All their kits are available HERE & whatever you are looking for, you will find it there - My Creative Scrapbook caters for every style, every budget & has samples galore to inspire you HERE in their extensive gallery, month after month!!  I used their current MIXED MEDIA kit.

As this tutorial is also going up at My Creative Scrapbook
 I need to show the cover photos again - sorry :)
------------------------------------

Hello there My Creative Scrapbook fans!  Helen here today with 
18 Handy Tips for creating a MIXED MEDIA MINI ALBUM
- I hope you enjoy them & learn something new today...


1.  So how do you go about creating a mini album?  The prospect is always a little daunting at first, but breaking it down into achievable steps makes it easy & fun, especially with a kit all selected for you like this one from My Creative Scrapbook!


2.  Although I am showing you the cover first - for the sake of continuity - you need to do the cover last. Save your bulky embellishments for it and set them aside. 

You'll find it much easier to work on your album whilst the cover is still flat & leaving it until last will also ensure that it doesn't get squashed, stained or damaged during the construction process.  



3.  There is usually always ribbon or braid supplied with a kit, like this gorgeous striped cotton ribbon as well as cream lace & black lace too.  

Set aside your ribbons & braids for your album spine. Big bows always look fab!!  If you have a long enough length to create a double bow learn how to do that HERE


4.  Don't forget about your back cover.  
Whilst there is obviously no reason for it to be elaborate you need to keep it in theme with the front cover & contents so need to reserve enough medium to enable that.


5.  Before you begin glue two pages together at a time, in order to create thicker pages.  Unless of course your album is especially designed for watercolours, with a gsm of 180gsm or more.  This is only necessary if you plan on using various mediums on your pages {such as sprays, paints, inks, etc}.  

This will lessen the warp of your pages, which tend to buckle if dampened.  This helps minimise this as much as possible.


6. Cut up the papers you are using (or those supplied in the kit) according to the design possibilities. For example - cut up journaling cards, printed strips, fussy-cut elements,etc.


7. Now split your cut paper elements up into the same amount of piles as you have pages (for example 19 double-spreads equal 19 piles), to ensure an even distribution throughout your album.

 {This album will give you 19 double page spreads
 although not all are shown here}.


8. Do the same with your embellishments
Split them up into the same amount of piles as you have for the papers. For the same reason as above (no. 3).


9. Decide upon a theme for the album and print out the correct amount of photos in advance. Resize them according to the size of your album. I had my photos printed 2 per jumbo (10 x 15cm print) as my album was just 14 x 19cms.


10. Choose a stencil (in this case supplied with the kit) as well as a few stamps, and use these on every page, to provide continuity to your album and make it look cohesive.


11. Stamp using archival ink as it is permanent and waterproof so won't smudge or run, even if you add other mediums on top of it.


 12. Don't add a lot of bulky embellishments to your pages or your album won't close nicely - rather reserve these for your cover.


13. If you can't resist using flowers on your pages (like me) open up the petals as much as possible and use your heavy scissor blades to push the flowers as flat as possible (be careful as often they have a central wire holding them together, which can pierce your finger!)


14. Dry off each double-page spread thoroughly, either overnight or by using your heat (embossing) gun,  before starting on the next, to avoid them sticking together when you turn over your page.


15. As an additional precaution, use pieces of greaseproof paper - cut roughly to size - to place between each page of your album until it is completely dry - to stop tacky paint, etc sticking to the opposite page.


16.  Have fun!  Enjoy yourself experimenting!!  Mini-albums & art journals are meant to be a fun place to try out new techniques so don't stress too much about whether or not everything is perfect!


17.  Think of your mini album as one complete unit - meaning that not every page needs to be a work of art of full of detail because people will be looking at all of it as a whole, like they would just one layout.


18.  Don't forget to use your ephemera on your pages.  I used postcards, tickets & pages from pamphlets.  With this album there is an envelope at the front to store even more, as well as a pocket at the back.  

I hope you will have learned at least one new idea today, that will come in handy when you are putting together your next {or first!} mixed media mini album.  



Saturday 23 November 2013

Mixed Media Mini Album for My Creative Scrapbook {November Mixed Media Kit} plus Album Cover Tutorial.




This month I received a very exciting package from My Creative 
Scrapbook!  Not the usual Limited Edition kit I usually receive 
{and love!!} but rather the Mixed Media Kit, which is an occasional
 kit that is only available in certain months & limited quantities.  
You can see all the kits available HERE,along with an email 
address you can write to if you are wanting this special kit!


This is the album that comes with the kit, together with all the
 flowers you see, the ribbon & lace I have used for my bows.
 3 sheets of papers from the Prima Lyric Collection "Tempo" 
{music notes}''Prelude"{printed panels}& "Overture" 
{Mixed Panel Print} a 12" sheet of Chipboard Pieces {Lyric} 
the gold mica powder, 2 packs of Prima flowers 
plus the metal "Mechanicals" flowers by Finnabair, for Prima, 
pictured below, & a 6" damask stencil from Prima.





The stamps I have used, the black archival ink, the white
 acrylic paint, the alphas for the 'Paris'title plus the mists used 
{Lindy's Stamp Gang - Glory of the Seas Gold Starburst Spray 
& Queen of Hearts Red Flat Fabio} come from my own stash.


Today I am just showing you the front & back covers.
There are 19 double page spreads inside!  I actually
did {and always do} the covers LAST so that they
stay pretty & don't get scuffed up during 'the process'.


I had such fun creating this little mini-album featuring some 
of the photos we took on our quick visit to Paris earlier this year.  

To create this cover:-

1)  Paint with your choice of paint. 
 I used Berry Red Acrylic Paint by Americana

2)  Use archival ink & a stamp to stamp randomly. 
 I used Jet Black by Ranger together
 with a Grid background stamp from Kaisercraft  
& the stitched circle stamps from Prima.

3)  Hot glue your flowers onto your front cover,
adding in a couple of chipboard pieces too.

4) Using the mica powder supplied mix with water 
& use like paint to dab onto your flowers.

5)  Do the same with white acrylic paint.  
Also use it to stamp circles on your cover using a lid.

6)  Adhere your title/alphas - 
dabbing them with mica powder too.

7.  Seal your entire album cover with gel medium.
I used Pro Art Glossy Gel Medium.

8.  Cut your ribbon & laces to the same length & 
thread them through the rings down the spine of
your album, tying them in a tight but full bow.


And here is the back of my album!  
I hope you enjoyed taking a peek at it!!
I will be back soon with the scoop on the inside...

Have a wonderful weekend :)



Friday 22 November 2013

Inkido Design Team Call 2014





Hi again everyone.  
Time for me to get my application in before time
 runs out! As you know I have already been with Inkido 
since August this year, as one of their "Special Guest Designers" 
so I have been popping up there every month already :) 

***The Inkido Design Team Call information can be found HERE
& applications close on the 24th of November, in 2 days time, so
if you would like to apply I urge you to get on with it!***


 I love the Inkido papers, flowers, laces, bling & stamps.  
They are all the types of things that I work with on most
 of my pages in any case, so it would be perfect for me
 to continue at Inkido on their official Design Team.


Here is a selection of some of my more
 recent projects using Inkido products.












My bio :)

"My name is Helen Tilbury & I am currently living in South Africa {since 2006}. I have been scrapbooking for the last 10 years & began my blog & online journey 5 years ago.  Since then I have worked for many different challenge blogs & manufacturer blogs.

I am currently designing for Scrap Around The World (which I also own so am DT co-ordinator, etc there) as well as for Scrap 365 Magazine, My Creative Scrapbook Kit Club, Lindy's Stamp Gang, Flourish with a Bling & Scrapmatts Chipboard & I am also a Special Guest Designer at Inkido!

I have been published in Creating Keepsakes magazine, Scrapbooking Memories & Scrap 365 Magazine as well as various online publications & ebooks.  I love working as part of a team, encouraging others & working to deadlines & specifications. 

My style has evolved over the years, along with the trends, but is now set as a light, shabby grunge style with lots of soft layers & mixed media.  I post to my blog regularly & share everything I create weekly on my Facebook page as well as the Facebook walls of all the manufacturers whose products I feature in my projects, as well as to the Facebook Group 'Paper People'. 

 You can find my blog here - Scrap Addict http://helentilbury.blogspot.com,  You can find my 2 Peas Gallery here http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/gallery/projects/_helen_tilbury
My Pinterest boards here -  http://www.pinterest.com/helentilbury/boards 
My You Tube Channel & Tutorial videos here http://www.youtube.com/user/helentilbury .  

I am married with 4 children, 3 are teenagers & my eldest daughter
is 20 already!  My family & travels are the subject for most of my
scrapbook projects. I love working with Inkido papers & products.
Thank you for considering my application!