Smile | Art & Soul September Challenge

Hi everyone!

Popping in today with an extra share for you - this one inspired by this month's challenge at Art & Soul Studio. As soon as I saw this mood board, I was immediately attracted to it when I saw "put a butterfly on it". (Those that know me know how much I love butterflies!)

Here's a look at the board...

The challenge criteria were to create an art journal page, a card or a scrapbooking layout. Use the mood board however you want but you must add a butterfly somewhere and as these challenges are sponsored by Art and Soul Studio please make sure that you use at least one product that is available from the store. 

I took my initial inspiration from the colours in the board, putting an emphasis on blue tones, with just enough orange for contrast. I also took inspiration from the flowers and tree branches, adding some floral pieces and leaves to my page. And of course, there are plenty of butterflies!

I started my page using a sheet of patterned paper from the 13@rts 'Until Dawn' collection. (I so love the blue tone of this paper - the fact it was wood grain was a bonus!)

I then added some acrylic paint to my background. I started with Flutterby Designs 'Arctic White' Flutter Colour paint, applied with a brayer. I then applied some Dina Wakley acrylic paints over the top - first 'Cheddar' using a brush, before adding a little 'Peacock' using my brayer again.  

Next, I added some Colour Blast 'Singin' the Blues' Colour Paste and applied it through my StencilGirl 'Urban Insiders Bar' stencil (designed by Seth Apter). I then went back with some more acrylic paint - this time Dina Wakley 'Night', which I mixed with water to make a watercolour, then applied some near the top of the page and allowed it to run down. I also splattered the excess around my page.

Now it was time for some stamping! I decided to combine some of my old favourites with some new stamps that were yet to get dirty. 

I started with the dash of colour paint splat stamp from 'Aall & Create set #28', stamping it in several spots around my page. I then used my Viva Las VegaStamps 'Gossamer Butterfly - large' and stamped it on either side of the page, (so that only half of it would be showing once I added my photos.) I also used my VLVS 'Butterfly Specimans' stamp and stamped it twice along the central line of my page. 

Next, I took a sheet of paper from the 13@arts 'Until Dawn' 6x6" paper pad. I fussy cut a floral piece from the paper, before using the remainder to stamp out some sketchy style leaves using a Dyan Reavley stamp. I then positioned the flowers and leaves on my page before adding some messy cotton thread and my photos on top. I added the Jen Hadfield 'Smile' puffy sticker directly onto my photo for my page title. 

At this point I decided my page need some more butterflies, so I pulled out one of my stunning new rolls of washi tape purchased recently from Chiyogami Designs. The one I used was called 'Wide Beautiful Butterflies 30mm' and I simply tore off individual butterflies and placed them around my page. I also added a few torn pieces of another washi I got from Chiyogami - a blue, grunge / mixed media style tape (no idea of style name, sorry).

I then stamped the chin up princess or the crown slips quote from Aall & Create set #41. (I thought it worked well with the selfie theme of the page - everyone knows chins up, right?)

The last butterfly I added was a random glittered sticker I had lurking in my stash (not sure of brand - it might have been from a cheap shop?) I also added some Cocoa Vanilla Studio 'Wild at Heart' blue glitter enamel dots. 

To finish off my page I added some splatters of Colour Blast 'Barley' Colour Artist Ink and some Dylusions 'White Linen' Ink Spray.

Here is a list of products I used that are currently available at Art & Soul Studio (linked):

13@rts 'Until Dawn' 12x12" paper pack

Colour Blast 'Singin' the Blues' Colour Paste

Dina Wakley 'Night' acrylic paint

Aall & Create Stamp Set #28

Aall & Create Stamp Set #41

13@rts 'Until Dawn' 6x6" paper pad

Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this with you. If you would like to check out all the details of this challenge, head to the Art & Soul blog HERE

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

"Beautiful Disaster" Canvas Class - Scrap & Chat Retreat

Hi everyone!

Just popping in with a project share and a quick wrap up of the class I taught last month at the annual Scrap & Chat retreat in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne. (If you have never been on a retreat, let me tell you that there is nothing that compares to being around 60 like-minded people for a weekend full of creating. So good for the soul!)

I had so much fun teaching my class to all these gorgeous ladies...

The piece I taught was a mixed media canvas panel, entitled "Beautiful Disaster" and it was a great opportunity to fly the flag for a number of my favourite brands including Colour Blast, Cocoa Vanilla Studio, Flutterby Designs and StencilGirl.

The canvas was was coloured with my favourite Colour Blast product - Colour Artist Inks, and we used the warm tones of Slipper, Cranberry, Cider and Citrus for the background; then the cool blue colour of Oasis for adding some contrasting highlights. 

Besides the Colour Artist Inks, we also used one of my other favourite Colour Blast products - Colour Paste. We used Deep Water for contrast and texture, applied through a Flutterby Designs stencil (although there were a couple of ladies who used Lovely Lilac from my stash because we thought it would work better with the pieces they had created). 

We also used Colour Blast black and white heavy gessos on the canvases - using the white to strip back colour and offer the eye a place to rest; and black to add contrast and tie in with the StencilGirl 'Talaya: Goddess of Rain' stencilled image and the Flutterby Designs quote. This was probably the messiest part of the class as I encouraged everyone to test my motto that "fingers make the best brushes" - so fun! 

We finished off the canvases with some 'Bohemian Dream' vellum accent embellishments from Cocoa Vanilla Studio. The gorgeous colours of the printed vellum die cuts worked beautifully with the tones of the inks and paste. 

I so enjoyed the opportunity to fly the flag for some of my favourite products and to share my love of mixed media with such a lovely group of ladies. Thanks to everyone who attended!

If you would like me to come and teach at your local scrapbook store or event, I am happy to discuss your requirements and see if we can make it work. You can email me via the contact tab at the top of the page.
Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Purr-fect Arsehole | Flutterby Designs

Hi everyone!

Popping in with my latest Flutterby Designs design team project for you. Today I am sharing an 8.5x11" mixed media scrapbook page I created featuring some photos of my cat when he was still a kitten. I had been wanting to document this series of snaps for a while and I knew exactly which quote I was going to use!

I began my layout with white cardstock, adding some Colour Blast 'Passion' Colour Shimmer Dust (mixed with water to make a watercolour paint) along the top portion of the page and then held it vertically to let it run down. I then layered over it with some Flutter Colour paints. First 'Grape Soda', applied roughly over the top of some of the watercolour paint, and also in the bottom right corner of the page. Next, I added some 'Stormy Grey', which I spread around using a brayer.

 Next, it was time for some texture and contrast. I used the 'Macaroon 5' stencil and Colour Blast 'Singin' the Blues' Colour Paste and applied it in three small areas of my page before drying with a heat gun. At this point I decided I wanted to strip back a bit of colour so I grabbed my 'Arctic White' paint and spread a little around with my brayer in my focal area. I then rubbed off the excess paint randomly around the page.

I then created a layered mat for my photo strip, using some Everyday Etc filler cards and a page tab from the 'One of Those Days' sheet, which I secured with small staples. Once I had all the layers in place I added my photos on top, mounting them up on some cardboard to pop them up a bit. Then it was time for my feature quote, which I fussy cut from one of the 'Fur-ever Friends' Everyday Etc cards and then placed above and below my photos.

At the top of my page I added the what the fuck? Snippet Strip, and you have got to be kidding black Tiny Sticky Quote.

Next, I created my title, which I placed in the bottom right corner of my page. I started by adding the word arsehole using the 'Sentence Enhancers' stencil, a sponge dauber and ink. I then added the purr-fect die cut from the 'Fur-ever Friends' Die Cut Bits & Bobs pack. Above that, I added the one of a kind Snippet Strip, and the hey you black Tiny Sticky Quote.

Alongside my title, I added the cat is in charge sticker from the 'Fur-ever Friends' Sticky Quote sheet. Then it was time for some finishing touches. I used my favourite 'Doodle Dots' stamp from Viva Las VegaStamps to add some random dots and spots around my page. I also used my Stabilo All pencil to add some page borders and scribbled details around my page. Finally, I added some splatters of aqua mist, stamped the date and I was done. 

Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this with you.

Until next time, happy scrapping! 

Don't Blink | Viva Las VegaStamps

 

Hi everyone!

Today I am here to share my latest Viva Las VegaStamps design team project with you. This piece was inspired by the September "For the Birds" monthly challenge and it showcases one of the amazing new release stamps, which I couldn't wait to use!

Here's a look at the challenge inspiration...

One of my arty friends (yes I am looking at you, Leanne Jago - I said you had a lot to answer for!) has been using index cards a lot lately, and I was inspired by the pieces she has been creating to use an index card for my project. (One of the good things about index cards, is that they are almost exactly the same size as a standard photo, so they fit nicely into 6x4" photo frames!)

Here's my card inspired by the challenge...

To begin my project, I used some gel matt medium to adhere some book paper onto the index card. I then applied Colour Blast white heavy gesso using a brush. I chose to use a brush as I wanted the texture of the brush strokes to show through; but in hindsight, next time I will go a little thinner with the gesso so the text is more visible on the finished piece.

After the background was prepared; I used black Staz On ink and the new Raven Looking Up stamp as the focal image of my piece. I then added some tree branches across the top and bottom of the card using the Branch Antlers stamps. I also inked around the edges of my card.

Next, it was time for some colour! I wanted my piece to have an eerie feel, so I opted for green as the main colour. I used Faber-Castell gelatos to scribble gently onto the card, then used a baby wipe to blend the colour out. 

I started with the darkest shade around the edges of the card, moving towards lighter shades in the middle. In the centre of the card I used a yellow, blended with a small amount of green; and along the edge of the raven's silhouette I also added a small amount of orange.

Once the colour was complete, it was time to add some text. I used the recently released That Look of Otherness stamp and combined it with Don't Blink to form my focal quote. I stamped each of them out on some scrap white cardstock, then used the orange gelato and a baby wipe for blending to add a small amount of colour over the top.

I then cut the words out and inked the edges of each piece with black ink. To add some texture to my project, I added some messy white cotton thread before sticking the pieces of the quote down.

To finish off, I used Colour Blast 'Soot' Colour Artist Ink and a small brush to add some fine splatters randomly around the card.

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you.

Don't forget to enter this month's Viva Las VegaStamps challenge for your chance to win some new rubber and a feature spotlight on the VLVS blog. (Link your entries HERE)

Until next time, happy stamping! X

Galaxy Painting | Colour Blast

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here to share my latest Colour Blast design team project with you. Today I am sharing a galaxy themed painting I created using Colour Shimmer Dusts and black and white heavy gesso. I cannot claim that this piece was my own idea, as I was inspired by several videos I saw on YouTube (search galaxy painting tutorials if you want to see some yourself). 

To prepare for this project, begin with a sheet of watercolour paper. It is important to use watercolour paper, as you need a surface that will allow the paint to move and blend freely. To keep the paper flat, I used washi tape to secure it to my craft mat. I then mixed up the Colour Shimmer Dusts I was going to use with a little water in my paint palette, and set them aside.

(Also ensure you have on hand - a cup with clean water and paper towel.)

To begin, I brushed the surface of the paper all over with water (not too much), as this piece uses the "wet on wet" watercolour technique.

I started by applying the lightest blue colour I had chosen, which was Duke, using a wavy motion with my brush. You will see the colour start to wick out onto the wet paper. The colour will pool more heavily in some areas than others - this is completely fine. (There are lots more layers to go yet!) Be sure to leave a little spot or two of white space in the centre area of the page.

Once the first colour is in place, you can repeat the process with the next colour (working from lightest to darkest). I actually opted to leave out the 'Cobalt' Colour Shimmer Dust at this point and moved straight to 'Navy' instead.

I followed some of the natural lines already formed by the previous colour and used more of a dabbing motion to apply the colour this time. 

Here's a quick look at what I mean...

As you work, if you find an area is getting too wet or the colour runs where you don't want it, simply blot away with paper towel. Remember that you want the piece to be darker the closer you get to the edges. 

Once you are happy with the 'Navy', repeat the process with the 'Midnight' Colour Shimmer Dust, keeping this darkest tone more concentrated to the edges of the piece

Once you have all these colours in place, allow the piece to dry a bit so you can assess it (you can use a heat gun to speed it up a bit if you wish). If you find some areas are a little dark, go back in with a brush loaded with clean water and reactivate the paint where you want to strip the colour away and simply blot some off with paper towel.

You can then go ahead and add some purple into your piece in these using either 'Passion' or 'Velvet' Colour Shimmer Dust. (Just remember not too much, and keep to the lighter areas in the centre of the page intact.) You can go back as many times as you want to with any of the colours until you get the desired effect. Once you are happy, allow it to dry completely until moving onto the next step. 

Using the White Heavy Gesso and a wooden skewer (you could also use the flat end of a small paintbrush or pencil), add some dots to represent stars around the page. Then, using the pointed end, drag the tip outwards from the centre of a couple of them to imitate the light shining from them.

For the remaining stars in the galaxy, mix a small amount of gesso and a few drops of water to make a thinner consistency. Take a small, stiff brush and use a tapping motion to add small splatters randomly all over the page and allow to dry.

To finish off, take some black heavy gesso and paint some tree silhouettes along the bottom edge of the page. (Don't try to be precise with these, you are not looking for perfection!)

And there you have it - painting complete! Here's a little video of the finished project close up so you can check out the details and shimmer...

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to try one of these yourself. If you do, please share it in the Colour Blast Creative Corner so I can see it!
Until next time, happy creating! X

Life is Good | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone!
Popping in today to share my latest Cocoa Vanilla Studio design team project with you. Recently some of the CVS design team were challenged to share projects featuring some form of stitching - either machine, by hand or faux. For my take on the theme, I created a layout using a mix of collections, along with machine and hand stitching.

I started with a photo of myself and my hubby that was taken on a (very) rare date day for us. As the colours in the photo were quite neutral, I wanted to keep my layout largely neutral to match. I started with the grey circular pattern on the reverse side of the Stripped paper from the You Rock collection as my page base. I then cut a sheet of white cardstock down to measure 11x11" that would go over the top, so that the base paper would show a 1/2" border all the way around.

Next, I took a sheet of the Good Times paper from the Boys Rule collection and cut a piece measuring approximately 7" and adhered it to the left side of my cardstock. I then added machine stitching along some of the radial stripes. This was going to help draw the viewers eye into the focal area of my page, as well as adding subtle texture. I then took some of the Abundant paper from the Bohemian Dream collection, and another piece of the Stripped paper I had used as my page base; and created a double layered mat for my photo. I also tucked a paper doily under the two layers before adhering them to my page.

I had a small piece of the Stripped paper remaining, so to further tie into the "Sew Good" theme, I cut a stitched tag using a metal die, tied it with some twine, and tucked it into the layers under my photo. Now it was time for some fun stuff! I took the gorgeous Sketchbook paper from the More Than Words collection and fussy cut some of the sketched flowers to tuck in around my photo. I also added some sketched flowers from the More Than Words vellum accents pack. I love how soft and pretty these are!

For my title, I used the words life is good from the Bohemian Dream chipboard title stickers sheet. In keeping with my page palette, and my choice of placement directly on top of the white cardstock, I left them plain white for a clean, simple look.

In the bottom right corner of my page, I added a small butterfly from the More Than Words die cut ephemera pack. To give the butterfly a sense of movement, I added some hand stitched detail using two strands of gold metallic embroidery thread to represent the flight path. I also stamped the date using a grey ink and added some dots from the More Than Words enamel shapes pack.

I love embellishing directly onto my photos, so I added the my darling die cut banner; a Charms Creations handmade heart embellishment (featuring stitching of course); topped with the you are loved flair button from the More Than Words flair button set.

It was then time to add a few finishing touches. A couple of small hearts from the More Than Words chipboard accent stickers sheet; my handwritten journalling; and I also stamped the words love this a few times around the page using a stamp from the More Than Words clear stamp set. After that it was a few splatters of Colour Blast 'Bling' Colour Shimmer Spray, and three hand stitched X's along the left edge of my page border.

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. I hope it has inspired you to add some sort of stitching to your next project too.

Until next time, happy scrapping! X