Hello Hair | August 2021 Hip Kit

 

Hi everyone,

I've got a fun mixed media layout to share today that was created just for ME! If you have been around for a while you would already know that mid last year I took the plunge and subscribed to Hip Kit Club's monthly scrapbook kit. Unfortunately, not long after that I had to pack all my craft supplies away and move house, and I haven't really had a chance to play with my kits since. So it was high time that I crack one open and get some creating done! I chose the August kit, which was a bright, fun kit full of a mix of different brands. I chose to document a series of photos of myself after a visit to the hairdresser last year.

I started my layout with a sheet of 300gsm cardstock and Mont Marte Dimension paint in Paynes Grey. I used my favourite Number 4 brush and the dry brush technique to add some background colour to the page. I then used floral stencil from StencilGirl (Rose Bouquet) and BeeArty Snow White Colour Paste to add some subtle detail over the top of the paint.

Next, I cut a large piece of one of the Hip Kit exclusive papers, choosing the B side for the beautiful orange colour and subtle pattern. (I always love a B side!) I distressed the edges of the paper using scissors (I was scrapping away from home and didn't have my distress tool with me) and then used my fingernail to ruffle it up a bit more. I used another of the Hip Kit papers featuring a black and white sketchy style floral pattern to add a piece above and below the orange paper. I tore along the edges of each strip to add texture. On top of the papers I added a dark grey paper doily and some frayed gauze and before placing my photos on top.

When it came to the embellishments I actually found myself a little challenged. Most of the embellishments were either the wrong colour for the palette I had chosen (I didn't really think it through before I started), or didn't fit with the theme of my page. In the end I chose the Floral Study paper by Vicki Boutin, and fussy cut several flowers from it to use as my main embellishments and tucked them in around my photos.

I chose the word smile from the Amy Tan Thickers in the kit which matched well with the pops of red from the roses on my jacket. I also found a few small pieces in the Simple Stories ephemera pack that matched with the warm tones I was using and added them to the page.

Luckily, the Simple Stories foam alphas in the kit were the perfect match for the main paper I had chosen, so I used them in my title. I finished off my layout with some of the Prima crystals; handwritten journalling; some stamped phrases; and tiny red splatters using Barn Door Distress Oxide.

Overall I was happy with how the layout turned out, but I would probably think more carefully about how my choice of colours / photos will work with the kit before I dive in next time. Oh well.

If you would like to watch how I put this layout together, I have a video available on my YouTube channel here:

If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section of my video, here on my blog post, or connect with me via my Facebook page. 

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Trouble in the Neighbourhood | Favourite Escape YouTube hop

 

Hi everyone, today I am sharing a layout I created for the "Favourite Escape" YouTube hop that I am currently taking part in alongside a bunch of talented creators. The theme of favourite escape could be interpreted any way we wanted, so I chose to document one of my very favourite escapes - scrap retreat! These photos were from my retreat on the Sunshine Coast back in November 2018, but really they are representative of any and all the retreats I've been on. So. Much. Fun.

I decided to use the 'Let's Wander' collection from Vicki Boutin as the basis for my page. (I have so much of it hoarded and I really need to let go and start getting stuck into it!) The travel theme and colours of this range were perfect for these photos that were taken on our dress up night (our theme was "Trouble in Paradise").

I decided to use patterned paper for my background, choosing the black paper with the white script words say cheese. (I thought this paper was appropriate give that these photos were taken in our photo booth corner.) I decided to add some acrylic paint to the focal area of my page. I used a Dina Wakley sky blue paint (which was conveniently still on my desk from a previous project), plus some white paint, both of which I applied with a brayer.

Next, I added some extra papery layers to go in behind my photos (all Vicki Boutin papers). I chose the bright green leafy print paper first, as it was totally made to go with the shirts Mandy and I were wearing. I also added a splash of orange to tie in with the colour of Fiona's dress. I also added some frayed gauze under my photos and a few pieces of torn washi tape to the page.

When it came to embellishing the layout I didn't stray far from the 'Let's Wander' collection. I used a few pieces from the chipboard Thickers pack including the labels I attached to each of my smaller photos and the orange phrase label that formed part of my title. The remainder of my title was some of my favourite black foam Thickers. 

I chose three large die cuts from the ephemera pack (sunglasses, camera and a leafy branch), and used them to create my "visual triangle" around my main photo. I chose the large size die cuts because anything smaller would have been overwhelmed on this bold, busy page. I also added a couple of stickers from the sticker sheet. 

I finished off with my handwritten journalling and a scattering of small orange star buttons.

Check out my process video for this page, and please make sure you visit the other creators who are taking part in the hop - you might just find some new scrappers to follow. (You can find a full list of the participants in my video description over on YouTube.)

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I'll see you again soon. Until then, happy scrapping! X

Unplug | Kitaholic Kits May 2021

 

Hi everyone, 

Today I am sharing another design team project I created for Kitaholic Kits using the May kit and mixed media add-on kit. The May kit is full of the beautiful Heidi Swapp 'Carefree' collection, which features a soft, muted colour palette. Whilst the mixed media add-on kit features a set of Vicki Boutin stencils and some of the new VB gel crayons, which are quite bright and vibrant. My challenge to myself was how to marry the two together on a layout whilst still achieving a cohesive design.

The first thing I did was to do some experimenting with the crayons to see how different methods of using them would achieve different looks. This is something I try to do anytime I receive a new medium to work with, because the best way to learn is to play! I tried a mix of wet & dry applications and different blending techniques until I finally settled on the method I wanted to use for this layout. 

I finally settled on a dry application, and used a mix of the pink and orange crayons to achieve the colour I wanted. To apply them to my page, I first scribbled them onto my non-stick craft mat, then used a foam blending tool to pick up the pigment and then gently blend it onto my page to give me a subtle result. 

For the next layer on my background, I used one of the new Vicki Boutin 'Color Study' stencils and some plain texture paste and just added some subtle stencilling over the top. I then used the gel crayons again, but this time with a wet application, by mixing some of the pigment with a little water and then using a paintbrush to add splatters on my page. 

 For the paper layers I used a mix of the Heidi Swapp papers, starting with a piece I had left-over from my previous project using the kit. I also used labels from the HS 'Carefree' cardstock sticker sheet to add extra interest to my layers. I had matted the main photo of the three that I had chosen for my layout, and used soft, messy cotton thread to add texture to the page.

My title came from the 'Carefree' ephemera pack, and I popped it up with some foam tape to help raise it up to the same height as my photos. I used a few other pieces from the same pack, including the cactus plant embellishment which I chose to use simply because the colours and shape worked on the page. 

A few extra stickers, a scattering of Bo Bunny Candy Dots, some stamped phrases and a final splatter and my page was complete.

You can see how it all came together in my process video here:

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I'll be back soon with another project to share.

Until then, happy scrapping! X

Together | Kitaholic Kits May 2021

 

Hi everyone, today I have another Kitaholic Kits design team project to share using the May kit and mixed media add-on kit. My inspiration for this project came from one of the Vicki Boutin stencils in the mixed media kit - the floral pattern. As soon as I saw this stencil it had a real "retro" vibe to me, and I knew I wanted to pair it with an old childhood photo. I found a photo of my sister and I and thought that the painted style paper from the Heidi Swapp 'Carefree' collection in the kit would work well as my page background. 

I used a sponge applicator and my Tattered Rose Distress Oxide to add some of the floral pattern through the Vicki Boutin stencil in three areas of my page. I love the way it added extra depth to the background paper and I was impressed with how the Distress Oxide looked on top of the colour variations on the paper.

Next, I moved onto creating some paper layers for the focal area of my page. I added some torn pieces from some of the other Heidi Swapp papers in the kit, and added a mat to my photo as well. I layered them together, adding a paper doily from the kit and some frayed gauze from my stash, before placing my photo on top. 

To the left of my photo, I used a gold foil edged journal card from the 'Carefree' Ephemera pack with my typed journalling on it; along with a circular gold foil phrase piece and leafy branch from the same pack. Along the bottom edge of the photo I added the gold foil happy with you phrase sticker.

To the right of my photo I added more ephemera pieces including a tag (which I tied with twine), gold foiled flower and small gold heart. I used the word together from the Cardstock Sticker sheet as my page title, adding some foam tape under it to pop it up from the page. The wood veneer heart was from a previous kit and I think the small splash of natural texture it brought to the page worked really well.

 I finished off my layout with some stamped butterflies from the Pink Paislee stamp set in the kit. I used Bundled Sage and Stormy Sky Distress Oxides for them. The final touch was splatters of Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Navy and Dina Wakley Gloss Spray in Mineral, plus a few stamped phrase using a roller stamp from my stash. 

If you would like to see it come together, you can watch my process video here:

Thanks for stopping by, I'll be back soon with another project to share. Until then, happy scrapping! X

Fresh Cut | Kitaholic Kits May 2021

Hi everyone,

Today I have a mixed media layout to share for Kitaholic Kits using the new May 2021 kit and mixed media add-on kit. For this page I was documenting some photos of one of my boys that I took just after he got his haircut; which I had collaged together to form a 4x4" square. Taking my colour cue from the photos, where the green grass in the background was the dominant colour, I decided to create a layout with green as the dominant colour.

So I began my page with a sheet of 300gsm white cardstock and some acrylic paints. The first one I started with was a Heritage Green from Kaisercraft. I used my Kmart silicone spatula to spread the paint over the background, then applied Mont Marte Titanium White over the top using a brayer to strip the colour back a bit in places. This also provided me an area where I could add some stencilling using one of the Vicki Boutin stencils and the green gel crayon.

The stencil I chose had (what I describe as) a basket weave style pattern, and I applied the colour of the gel crayon through it using a stencil brush. (You can see exactly how I do it in my process video below.) In addition to the stencilling, I also added some extra detail to my background using navy ink and some floral stamps from the Pink Paislee stamp set that is included in the main kit. 

For my paper layers, I used a mix of different paper from the Heidi Swapp Carefree collection from the main kit. I layered a few pieces that I had torn and distressed, along with a white paper doily that was also from the kit. On top of the paper layers I added some frayed gauze before sticking my photos on top.

For my page title, I used the raw chipboard Thickers from the kit, which I coloured using Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide, then added some stamped detail using one of the leafy stamps from the Pink Paislee stamp set. I love the way this tied them into the background detail. 

For my embellishments, I kept things relatively simple due to the how busy the layout was already from the papers and background. To the left of my photos I placed a handmade heart embellishment from Charms Creations, which I topped with a Heidi Swapp sticker and a few staples. I also added a few more stickers and pieces from the coordinating ephemera pack, including a phrase along the bottom and a tab above the photos; a small rainbow and some chevrons. I used a label for my journalling, adding simple handwritten details with a felt pen. 

I really love how this layout turned out, and despite how detailed it may appear, it came together pretty easily. If you would like to see how I put it together, you can watch my process video here:

If you do pop over to watch my video, I would love it if you could give me thumbs up, leave me a comment or subscribe to my channel while you are there. Having people interact with my content helps me to build my channel profile and it's also great to know that you like what I do and want to see more.

Thanks for stopping by today, and for everyone who continues to support me. Until next time, happy scrapping! X

The Best Time | ANZAC Day Cyber Crop for Kitaholic Kits

Hi everyone,

Today I am popping by to share a layout I created for the Kitaholic Kits ANZAC Day Cyber Crop. My challenge to everyone was a "Mixed Media" challenge. Here's a look at my challenge criteria...

I decided to delve into some of my previous kits and pull together some items for my layout. I chose to document a photo that was taken at my retreat at the end of 2019 with the girls from my table on theme night. I so love these girls and cannot wait to get together with them again later in the year. 

I began my layout with my background, using a sheet of white cardstock and some acrylic paints. I used a dusky pink Kaisercraft one that came in a previous Kitaholic mixed media add-on kit, along with a Mont Marte dimensional paint and a couple of Dina Wakley paints from my stash. I used a combination of silicone spatula, rubber brayer and my fingers to apply the paints to the page, with each one giving a different effect and level of coverage.

I then used a grey ink and a brick pattern stamp from Viva LasVegaStamps to add some extra interest to my background. I also added splatters using Dina Wakley Gloss Sprays. 

The patterned papers I used were a mix of Vicki Boutin and Heidi Swapp. I cut, tore, and distressed the pieces to create layers under my photo, adding a grey paper doily from my stash. I also added frayed gauze for soft texture.

For my embellishments, I used a three fussy cut butterflies that I cut from a Vicki Boutin paper; and a mix of Vicki Boutin and Heidi Swapp stickers (both cardstock and clear). I particularly love using clear stickers over a mixed media background, as it still allows the layers underneath to show through.

For my journalling, I used my typewriter on a journal card from the Vicki Boutin cut apart paper. I finished off my page with some stamped phrases and a final splatter with some black ink.

You can watch my process video and see this page come together here: 

That's all for today, thanks so much for stopping by. Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Treat Yo'self | Kitaholic Kits February 2021

 

Hi everyone! With the month just about over, I am here today to share my final February kit project for Kitaholic Kits. For this layout, I decided to scrap some photos of my daughter that I snapped when we stopped for a treat whilst out shopping one day. I started this page thinking I was going to go in one direction, but wasn't happy so I changed tack. (If you are interested, you can hear my explanation in my process video.)

The background of this layout features one of the beautiful mixed media style papers from the Heidi Swapp 'Art Walk' collection. I loved the pink and blue colour palette and decided to stick mainly with those two colours for my page. I wanted to enhance the blue in the paper, so I used one of the Vicki Boutin 'Storyteller' stencils and Ranger Faded Jeans Distress Oxide to add some stencilled detail to the page. I chose the three spots on the paper that already seemed to have the most "mixed media" printed there. 

For my papery layers, I used pieces of the Amy Tan cut apart sheet in the kit, as well as a large piece of the blue Vicki Boutin paper. I also added a pink polka dot doily from my stash (it might have been a Doodlebug one?) and some frayed gauze for texture.

The it's a good day to be happy tab and my journal card both came from the Amy Tan cut apart, and I simply typed my journalling straight onto the card. (And yes, I love a good pun!)

For my embellishments, I used a a number of subscriber exclusive floral printables that were actually a mix from December, January and February. Some of these were layered with a handmade heart embellishment from Charms Creations. 

On the opposite side of the page my embellishment cluster also featured some Pebbles Jen Hadfield die cut pieces - a sweet little grocery store and a car. I added the treat yo'self sticker from the Heidi Swapp sticker book along the side of it to form my page title. (Titles don't always have to be big!)

I finished off with some splatters of the Ranger Dylusions 'Rose Quartz' Shimmer Spray.

Yes! I have a process video available for this page so you can see how it came together and find out what my "false start" was:

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my February projects. If you have missed any of them you can simply look back through my posts here, or if you prefer, catch up on my process videos on my YouTube channel instead.

Thanks again for all your support. Happy scrapping! X

Cool Specs | Kitaholic Kits February 2021

Hi friends! I'm happy to be back to share the third of my February projects created for Kitaholic Kits with you. For today's layout I decided to use one of the subscriber exclusive cut files as the focus of my page, and pair it with some cute photos of my son.

I started with the Pebbles black and white typed text print paper as my page background, which I then topped with a piece of one of the Vicki Boutin papers that I distressed and ripped a little at the edges before sticking it down. 

I fell in love with the super cute glasses from the February subscriber cut file set.(They were intended as sunglasses but I knew they would be perfect as reading glasses.) I cut them quite large from black cardstock, and I also cut a couple of tiny pairs while I was at it too. I used a scrap of pale blue watercolour print paper I had left from my January kit to back the lenses of the glasses. When I backed the cut file, I actually left a couple of space around the edge as I knew I wanted to tuck the two smaller photos in under the edge of the frames.

I created layers behind my photos using a paper doily from my stash; gold puffy frames (from Maggie Holmes' Sweet Story); foiled pieces from the Jen Hadfield (The Avenue) ephemera pack; and some messy black cotton for texture. I also added one of the cute little mini sets of glasses that I had cut. 

For my title, I used the word cool from the Heidi Swapp sticker book, combined with some of the Thickers for the word specs. I finished off with a few extra stickers and some of the gorgeous gold Pebbles puffy hearts scattered around the page; then handwritten journalling, a few stamped phrases and some tiny splatters. I think this layout turned out super cute - what do you think?

If you would like to watch me put this page together and chat about it as well, you can watch my process video here: 

Thanks for stopping by today and for all of the beautiful kind words you guys leave on my posts and videos. Reading them really makes all the work that goes into them worthwhile, especially knowing that I can help inspire you.

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Mum's Day | Kitaholic Kits February 2021

 

Hi everyone! Popping in today to share the first of my projects using the fabulous February kit from Kitaholic Kits. This month's kit features a range of papers from Vicki Boutin, Heidi Swapp and Amy Tan; as well as a mix of embellishments; and the mixed media kit includes FOUR Dylusions Shimmer Sprays and a stencil! Jam. Packed.

I decided to document a couple of fun selfies of my kids and I that were taken on Mother's Day in 2019, right after they had showered me with handmade gifts, chocolate, kisses and cuddles.

For my first layout, I couldn't wait to crack out one of the Shimmer Sprays, and was immediately drawn to the Vibrant Turquoise (given it is from my favourite blue / green colour family). Instead of using as it as a spray though, I grabbed a soft round brush, dipped it into the bottle and painted it onto my cardstock instead. The colour is gorgeous and it has such a beautiful shimmer.

If you know my work, you will already know how much I love using tags. So for this layout I decided to create a bunch of tags from a couple of the Vicki Boutin 'Storyteller' papers, which I tied off with twine. I added a large torn strip of another of the Vicki Boutin papers running vertically down my page, then used the tags I had made to start building layers where my photos were going to go. 

Tucked in amongst the tags I also included three of the Maggie Holmes 'Sweet Story' puffy frames, which are a beautiful duck egg blue colour. Before adding my photos, I also added some messy black cotton thread for texture. 

To embellish my layout I used a mix of Jen Hadfield ephemera pieces, Heidi Swapp stickers and the American Crafts Thickers from the kit for my title. I finished it off with my handwritten journalling and some simple stamping.

If you would like to watch how this one came together, I have a process video available on my YouTube channel:

There are still a few of these kits left in the Kitaholic Kits store, but you will have to be quick! You can find them in store here: https://www.kitaholickits.com/shop-now

I am looking forward to sharing the rest of my projects using this kit, I loved working with it.

Until next time, happy scrapping! X