Brave Wings | Colour Blast

Hi everyone!

Popping in with a recent Colour Blast design team project for you. Today I have a mixed media scrapbook layout to share featuring the 'Spread Your Wings' collection; combined with a bit of the 'Graffiti Grunge' collection; Colour Paste; Colour Shimmer Cubes and Heavy White Gesso.

I created this page to document a selfie of my best friend and I as we sat on top of Mount Beerwah (after climbing it in 36 degree heat.) 

Here's a look at the supplies I pulled out to start my project with...

I began with the Fly paper from the 'Spread Your Wings' collection for my background. To give the page some extra depth, I added some stamping using the Do It Stamp Set and 'Stormy Sky' Distress Oxide.

I then added a piece of the Fearless paper from the 'Graffiti Grunge' collection across the centre of the page, distressing the edges to give texture, before stamping over the left edge to blend it in with the background sheet.

Next, I wanted to tone down some of the colour and pattern, so I used a small brayer to apply Heavy White Gesso to the centre of my page.

Whilst the gesso was drying, I gathered up some paper pieces to create a layered mat for my photo. I arranged the pieces in a small stack and secured them with staples before sticking it down.

Next, I took the Peony Dreams paper and fussy cut some of the large floral designs from it, which I then tucked in under the edges of my photo mat. 

Once the floral pieces were stuck in place, I rubbed a small amount of white gesso over each of them to help blend them into the background.

Then it was time for some texture! I wanted it to be subtle, so I used a small floral design stencil with 'Snow White' Colour Paste and applied it in a few areas on the page and left it to dry.

To embellish my layout, I dug through my (extensive) flower stash and pulled out an assortment of paper and fabric blooms (most of these were from D-lish Scraps). I created a circle using a pip berry stem, which I layered behind and over my photo before sticking my photo down. I then adhered the flowers on my page using hot glue; starting with the largest flowers first and working my way down in size until I was happy with the arrangement.

With the flowers all stuck in place, I then dry-brushed a small amount of gesso over them. This helped tone down some of the brighter colours to make them more subtle.

To finish my page off, I fussy cut the with brave wings she flies quote from the Earth Angels paper and stuck it down using a strip of cardboard behind it to pop it up a bit.

I then took 'Apple of My Eye' and 'Singin' the Blues' Colour Shimmer Cubes (these are now discontinued, so simply substitute another product if you don't have them in your stash); and used a small brush to apply pools of colour to the page. This added subtle, shimmery detail to the layout once it had dried. 

You can see how brushing the gesso over the flowers not only toned down the colours, but also provided cohesion to bring the mix all together.

That's all from me today, thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. Perhaps you might be inspired to pull out some old flowers from your stash and create something too? It's fun mixing old supplies with new!

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Simply Amazing | Scrap the Girls April Challenge

Hi everyone!

Popping in today to share my take on the April challenge at Scrap the Girls. This month's challenge is called "Knock Your Socks Off" and it's about you at your best! I chose to document some photos of my daughter when she was all dolled up and wearing a pretty dress. (This is a rare occurrence for my little tomboy, and I was lucky to capture these just before she went off to a high tea birthday party.) 

I began this layout using a variety of products from Colour Blast - first, I chose the Fearless patterned paper from the 'Graffiti Grunge' collection as my base. Next, I used some 'Blush' Colour Paste, which I spread in small amounts randomly around the page using palette knife. I then added some stamping to my page using black ink and the 'Peony Dreams' stamp from Colour Blast.

Once the paste and ink had dried, I set about creating some layers for my photos to sit on. I gathered together some more pieces of patterned paper from the "Graffiti Grunge" collection and cut them into different shapes and sizes. I also fussy cut some of the tags from the Perfect Tags paper, then tied them off with green paper string. I then layered the tags and paper pieces over some pale pink tissue paper and tucked in a pale pink paper doily.

I then topped off the layers with some frayed gauze and messy black cotton - both for added texture, before adding my photos on top. Next, I added some small pieces of torn floral washi tape (from Chiyogami Designs) and some snippets of punchinella, which I secured in place with staples.

For my title and embellishments, I used various pieces from a couple of packs of die cut ephemera - one from Kaisercraft and the other from the Reject Shop. I tucked pieces in amongst my layers under and around my photos. I also added some small pieces of twisted pink wire (again, secured with staples); and a sequin bow under the bottom edge of my photo - both from D-lish Scraps.

To finish off my page I added a scattering of sequins; a few green butterfly stickers (these are From a Mothers Art by Kelly-ann); and then a few stamped phrases and my handwritten journalling.
I was really happy how this one came together and the balance between girly and grunge.

I hope you will join in with this month's challenge. We have the fabulous Charms Creations sponsoring us (and even though I didn't end up using a Charms embellishment on this page, you already know how much I love them!) Check out all the challenge details, plus inspiration from the rest of the design team on the Scrap the Girls blog.
Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Be Fearless | Colour Blast

Hi everyone!

I am here today to share my latest design team project with you - this one created for Colour Blast. This 12x12" mixed media scrapbook layout features the February release Graffiti Grunge collection; as well as Colour Paste and Colour Artist Ink. I chose to document a fun photo taken with my kids when we were at a theme park.

Before I started, I gathered together my supplies - I chose the Tough paper from the Graffiti Grunge collection for my page base; along with the Direct Links die (also from the GG collection); the Peony Dreams stamp set (from the January Spread Your Wings collection); and Bling Colour Paste.

I began by adding some stamping to my page using the Peony Dreams stamp. Rather than stamping the entire image as a whole, I used parts of the stamp randomly with black ink to define the focal area of my layout where my photo was going to go; along with a small amount of stamping in the bottom right corner where I planned to place my title.

I then chose a Seth Apter designed stencil from StencilGirl to add some Bling Colour Paste over the top of the stamping, to add further interest to the focal area of my page. With the excess paste on my palette knife I simply wiped it off randomly around my page. 

At this point I decided the page needed some extra depth of colour, so I added a splattering of Rust Colour Artist Ink to the page using a small, stiff brush and then dried the page off. (You can see the shine and depth the Bling Colour Paste has once dry.)

Next, I set about creating some layers as a mat for my photo to sit on. I chose additional papers from the Graffiti Grunge collection and cut a variety of pieces; which I layered with book paper and then stapled it all together, bending and scrunching the edges for extra texture.

With my layered photo mat complete, I then attached it to my page, adding some frayed gauze and messy black cotton on top for soft texture. I also cut the Direct Links die twice from the Epic paper, cutting one in half and layering it over the top of the gauze so it the arrow head and tail were sticking out on both sides of the photo mat.

With the second die cut, I cut some of the extra chain links from it and adhered them so they would protrude from below the photo, then stuck an extra arrow head on the right side; before sticking my photo down on top.

With my photo in place, it was now time to embellish my page. I began with my title cluster - adding a couple of small torn scraps of paper (left over from my die cutting) over the stamping and paste I had on the page. To tie in with photo cluster, I also added some messy black cotton; then a butterfly sticker and the words "Be Fearless", which I had fussy cut from the Be Yourself Word Sheet.

I then tucked two butterfly stickers into the photo cluster (because "rule of threes", right?) and a die cut star. I then used several pieces from the Cocoa Vanilla Studio 'Boys Rule' chipboard pack to add a few pops of dimension to the page. I added a few small pentagons, some chipboard stars and used the negative from another piece (cut in half) to frame my title words.

To finish off, I added the "fun and games" chipboard banner piece along the bottom edge of my photo and I was done!

Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this with you. The Graffiti Grunge collection is currently available to purchase in the Colour Blast online store, along with the die, stamp, Colour Paste and Colour Artist Ink I used on this page. Alternatively, you can ask at your favourite craft retailer. 

Until next time, happy scrapping!