Monday, September 29, 2014

A Little Lettering.

I have a quick lettering Project to share with you.  Its in my Bible, but you can do with anywhere.

Heres the project.


I used Shimmerz Marigold, Golden Wheat, Royal Red, Celery and Tickle me turquoise




Below is the opposite side.  I used gel medium through a stencil on wax paper, dried it and painted it with Shimmerz. Its totally transparent, and very pretty.  See the how to post HERE


Here it is turned over and you can see the text through it.


and here is the video on how I did the lettering.



so that's it from me today!
:-)

Rembember if you are looking at getting any Shimmerz Paints go Here and mention my name in the Notes to Merchant section to get a free paint in your order.

If you are in Australia, check out The Color Room Store we have loads of Shimmerz paints!

Hope your day has been a good one!



A journal insert with waxed paper.

I had a bit of a play with some waxed paper today, Similar to Deli Paper I believe.  I used the paper side rather than the waxed side.  First I cut pieces of the paper into sheets directly from the roll.  Then I got out my staz on and stamped some text over the whole sheet and let it dry.


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I pulled out a stencil which had a good stand alone image.  I found a Crafter's Workshop Stencil Live Love Laugh TCW467 which had a nice open flower on it.  I used some Studio Gloss Gel Medium through the flower portion on this stencil in the 12 x 12 size, with a palette knife.  (make sure you wash the stencil well afterwards.)

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 It goes on white like this, but as it dries it starts to go clear.

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I gave it a little help along with the heat tool, because I am impatient, but I did leave it sit a bit as well.

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Eventually it started to go clear.

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Next I added some colour.  I used Shimmerz Paints, with a paint brush instead of using them as sprays.  Just remove the spray top and dip your paintbrush directly into the paint. Its really watery and goes on like watercolour.

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 I just loosely brushed it over the image and allowed the colours touching to blend into another colour.  I chose colours next to each other that I knew would make a pretty colour when mixed (as opposed to mud!)

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The paint clung to the gel medium, and resisted off the background.  I didn't even really try to just colour in the image, I just smooshed it on!  I added some droplets of the colours around the image and then let the whole thing dry. I used my trusty heat tool again!
Next I needed to cut the piece down to fit inside my book.  (this one is an insert into my Bible)  You could add this to your journal, diary, what every you like!  I just used my paper trimmer.  Run a line of tape adhesive down the side that would be sticking in the centre spine, and carefully press it in.


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I adore the transparency of this.

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The Shimmerz Gives a lovely luminosity.

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Hope you will give deli paper or wax paper a try in your multi media work.  It takes paint and mediums really well.  Just keep in mind it is a resist surface, so if your media is really wet, then it will resist.  The gel medium allowed the watery paint to stick in this project.
Have a good and creative week!
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Thursday, September 25, 2014

September's Tutorial- My top 10 tips this month

This Month I thought I would share some tips from the productions of this months series of Projects using the September Main Kit from My Creative Scrapbook!

 So lets jump right in.....

#1.  Handwrite a title, and cut it out.


I just used a Calligraphy pen with the flat chisel tip and then fussy cut it out leaving a small white space between.  Not difficult, but it takes a little time.  Add some sticker words and some chip alphas and you have an interesting title!


#2. Place your stickers and alphas on plastic


 I just used an empty cellophane bag.  Just hold it over your Project so you can find the right placement without pulling off individual letters a million times trying to find where it looks best!!! (and risk tearing your Paper)



#3. Make your own chevrons


I just cut a rectangle of patterned paper (with a small print)  Cut a snip in the centre of the bottom, and  cut from the corners into the centre snip to cut out two small triangles.  (Keep these they are great for arrows pointing to a focal point on your project)  Now cut an angle into that same centre point from the outside in, about 1/2 inch wide, making your first chevron piece.  Keep your eye on cutting evenly.  do the next and the next in the same manner.  Snip the top triangles off the top creating the last chevron....
You can mark the back if you like, but I like doing these fast, so I just eyeball it!


#4.  Layer die cuts


I am always looking for ways to layer die cuts.  The one above was easy.  It needed a backing to slide easily into my Project life sleeve.  But die cuts can looks so very sweet layered on top of each other.




#5.  Add stencilling in the background


This is a really simple way to add depth.  I chose a coordinating colour (green on green)  Just to add a slight pattern, and I layered several stencils.  Use a foam blending tool for a smooth and even finish.  


#6. Use Layered String


Pull off a length of string to create a frame for your focal point. Its really effective, creating a lovely soft framed look, rather than bold framing a solid frame would give.  Play with coloured strings and cottons too.

#7.  Overlap heavy chipboard alphas


Some alphas have large serifs, or long tails or tops which prevent them from sitting really close together.  Sometimes you can layer a letter on top of another to keep the kerning even (the spacing between the letters) Like the letter 'g' above.  He is actually sitting on top of the 'u' and the 'h'.  This can be difficult to secure, so I just ran it through my sewing machine.  It works perfectly in my paper machine (one reserved for crafting) Just go slowly, but you shouldn't have trouble.

#8. Try some variations of Journalling Styles


Draw wonky lines and write directly on them for an imperfect uneven style.  It still looks neat surprisingly, and can look better than trying for a perfectly aligned journalling block, and not fitting words in well.



Strip Journalling- Cut thin strips of card stock, and write on them.  Glue them on in the formation you want.
OR cut the strips into individual words and make a strip of word journalling either in a long line, around a photo or the entire page, or even just one on top of the other down the page.


Use a bullet point style.  No need to think about flowing journalling, or the perfect vocab and grammar!

#9.  Use two photos the same


This can look really interesting, and add to the design without taking away from the focal photo.  
(the other photo IS the focal photo!!!)

I played with this several times this month.  I created a collage of 4 photos on a 6x4 in Fuzel on my i-phone and then printed it out twice, so I had several cute pictures in multiples.

(App- Fuzel- I believe its free but you can buy add ons with in the app.  My collage used 4 photos and I just made the ratio 2:3 for printing as a horizontal 6x4 Print)

You can even use more than two, to create a 'stacked' feel.  Love this look!

#10.  Add Paint splatters

I use paint and ink splatters all the time.  Mostly because I love it, but when you design for a paint Company, you have loads of paint you need to use!!!!  I love the look the irregular and uneven splashes give on a page or project.  Try different colours, but black and white looks great too!  You can use mists if you have those (just take the lid off and flick the tube inside over your page)  Or mix a watery mix of water colour on an acrylic block  (or a palette) and flick that over your page.  


You can even use water based markers or distress inks.  Colour or press the colour on an acrylic block and spritz with water until it beads.  Soak your paintbrush in it and flick it over your page.

REMEMBER if you are doing this last, cover your photos with a scrap piece of paper.


For my drips and splashes I love using my copperplate dip nib calligraphy pen in India ink.  It creates really nice splatters, that are a little more 'controlled'.

So that's it from me today....  
Hope that list gave you some ideas for your next project!

Thanks for stopping in today!


Saturday, September 13, 2014

My Creative Scrapbook September Main Kit- Layout 6

If you are following the posts over this week, I am using the My Creative Scrapbook Kit for September


Layout 6
"My Little Buddy"



Loved using the neutral elements in the kit to keep things bright, light and airy!  
Cardstock, Papers from the kit, Doily, Elements layered and stacked from the embellishment packs.
Crochet cotton added (Not in kit) Painted chipboard frame from the element pack, Gold Paint Splashes.



This one turned out to be one of my favourites this month, despite sitting on the desk for a week or so, unfinished and just not inspiring me.  It was not until I put all the kit away after finished the rest of the pages, that I was able to sit, at a clean space and look again with fresh eyes....and it just fell together after that!  I often don't know how I create in the mess I make for myself when I am creating.....surely it stifles you.  But I keep making my big messes and working in this tiny little space with barely enough room to breathe....constantly losing things!  LOL  I don't think I am alone, but I am jealous of those that put things away as they go and create in an orderly fashion.

Something to strive for I guess!


Friday, September 12, 2014

My Creative Scrapbook September Main Kit Project Life Week 23

Sharing another couple of pages,  this time a Project Life Spread.  I am still playing catch up....and more weeks are speeding by as I am catching up, so I am not sure at what point I will fall in a heap.....but there's no stress, I am just plodding along.  :-)

The Main Kit from My Creative Scrapbook Is a lovely kit ....It always is, but this one is really pretty!
Anyway....Heres the Project Life, for several weeks ago!


Project Life Side A
"Week 23"



This one was lovely to create, I used as many of the neutral papers and embellishments as I could and kept it nice and light.  Just adding minimal accents of red and green in the elements pack in the kit.  
The Black alphas worked great too.


Layout 5
Side B



So I will add this to my PL life album, and poke around for the next weeks photos....at some point I think I am going to have to look for weeks with not many pictures, so I can skip some!  LOL  

That's the nice thing about Project Life Style Scrapbooking.  There are no rules.  You do what you can, you decide.  Weekly, Monthly, Events.....It is all good..... what ever you decide.  It is such a cool way of telling stories.  I STILL love it!

Hope to see you again soon, with my last couple of projects!


Thursday, September 11, 2014

My Creative Scrapbook Layout #3 for September.

Hi again!

Just sharing the next Layout I created using the Main Kit from My Creative Scrapbook this month.
Get the Kits HERE!

So here is my 3rd Page!

Layout 3
"The Words you Speak"

My little fellow has only just started talking.  It took him so long, and I wondered when he would actually start, but in the time that I took to start this page and make a list of the things he has started to say consistently, he added 5 or more to his repertoire!  Its so cute, and I am loving this new opportunity to communicate with him!



I used a plain White Card stock Background, some remnant paper pieces cut down from the 3x4" pieces cut for the Project Life Spread.  Some elements from the embellishment packs in the kit, Splashes of black ink.  Some layered circles painted to accent.  Alphas from the kit, and a hand written title- fussy cut.




This one was a really quick one to do.  Which is nice once in a while, to get the work done!,  Get the photos scrapped, and move onto the next!  It rarely happens with me, but when it does its really nice!

Hope to see you again soon!