Saturday 29 April 2017

Cheeky Little Devil ~ Scrapbook Page

Hi there scrappy friends!! I'm here with you today sharing my take on the fun sketch challenge over at Anna's Craft Cupboard.

Here is the sketch if you have not yet seen it

And here is my take on the sketch


I have finally cracked open my Pink Fresh Studios Indigo Hills collection and it is just gorgeous!! I have paired it with one of my new favourite colours from Colour Blast - Just Blue. If you love blue and don't have this colour - you NEED it - all of it! The Shimmer Spray, the Embossing Powder, the Colour Paste and the Colour Shimmer Pot - swoon!!!

Anyways, enough of my swooning and here are a few details of the page!


This photo shows a close up of the title area. I've mixed and matched some chippy pieces from Dusty Attic and used both the Just Blue and Dusty Charcoal embossing powders on all the words - doesn't it look A-MAZING the way the colours mix and blend together?!



With all that work in the background I decided not to go to OTT with embellishments so kept it pretty simple with a few pieces from the ephemera pack and also a Charms Creations grey arrow. 

So, another story told, another page in an album and I satisfied my need to get messy ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by, until next time, happy scrapping!!

Mel
xx

Friday 28 April 2017

Love ~ K+ April 2017 Challenge ~ Swatch It Up

Hi there fellow scrappy friends!! I am here today with a quick share of my take on the very fun (and somewhat challenging!!) April Challenge at K+ Challenges!

Here is the challenge if you have not seen it and true to form, it's pretty late in the month but DONE!!


It took me ages to work out what I was going to do but I am super pleased with how this came together in the end! I was inspired by this page by Fiona Paltridge and also by this page by Belinda Spencer, both of whom are A-MAZING scrappers, both on the K+ design team so a big thanks for the inspo ladies!!


I originally had pulled out all my OTHER paint swatches - mostly pinks, greens, blues, teals, aquas etc but ended up using these very pretty metallic swatches instead! I have done a little mixed media in the background starting with a quick coat of gesso and then I have used the super beautiful and brand new Colour Pots by Colour Blast in 2 brand new colours - Blush and Punch - Oh La La!! A new fave in my stash!!



Another page into the wedding album and another project done for #the100dayproject !! My plan for the 100 days (since I have not yet mentioned it here!!) is to finish off (or at least put a dent in!) all of the unfinished projects that I currently have in my craft room so another one done!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by, and if you'd like to see this page come together just simply click play below and my process video will start up!


Until next time, happy scrapping and remember to have fun!!

Mel
xx

Tuesday 25 April 2017

{Colour Blast} You Can't Have A Rainbow ~ Art Journal Page

Hi there scrappy friends, I'm here with you today with an art journal share!

But first with today, being ANZAC day, I just want to say a big thank you to all of those that have served and are currently serving. You, and those you love, on a day to day basis, sacrifice so much so that we can live the life we live and call Australia home, so thank you, from the bottom of my heart. 

Now, onto the reason I'm certain you are here!

I had recently purchased a stamp set that I was desperate to play with so pulled out a rainbow of Colour Blast goodies, my art journal and of course my brand new stamp set!

I wanted a drippy, pretty rainbow-y effect on my page but before I did anything I applied a quick coat of white heavy gesso using an old card.


I gave that a quick blast with my heat tool to ensure it was completely dry and onto my step which was a little stamping using some grey archival ink and one of my new stamps. I just randomly stamped a few of clouds across the page.


Next up, colour! 

First up, I used Sunset Colour Spray (I was after all going for a rainbow of colour so was working with ROYGBIV) and used the nozzle to apply a little colour to the top of the page, added a little water and then tipped the page to get a fun drippy effect happening.


I did use my heat tool to dry alot of this up and also it helped the colour to pool and dry in the fun way it did. 

I forgot to photograph each colour but going from left to right I have used the following products/colours after the sunset, Saffron Colour Spray, Tangereen Dream Colour Shimmer Spray, Rainforest Colour Spray, Lagoon Colour Spray and Sapphire Colour Spray. I did the exact same technique all the way across.

When that was all dry there was a little too much of the Sunset colour so I simply applied some of the Bubblegum Colour Spray straight over the top and the colours mixed together nicely to give a different shade.

Next up, I decided I wanted to add a bit of a different texture so again, to my stamp set, this time with some clear embossing ink and the same cloud stamp. I applied my ink onto the stamped image (I stamped onto some scrap white cardstock) then sprinkled with Dusty Charcoal Colour Embossing Powder and then heat set with my heat tool.


I love how these clouds came out!!

I fussy cut these and popped them aside while I decided what to do next. Raindrops!!!

Again, some more embossing ink, this time paired with the beautiful Snow White Colour Embossing Powder, straight onto my art journal page. I applied the stamp in a few places, under where I knew I was going to stick my already embossed clouds and then heat set the powder.


So shimmery and pretty!! I love, love, love this Snow White!

I wanted to add a pop of a darker colour and thought that I would that in the raindrops. As you can see the raindrops all have different little patterns on the inside of them so I knew that whatever colour I added the embossing would resist! I decided to go with the Duke Colour Shimmer Dust and a tiny paint brush and added some pops colour randomly to some of the raindrops.


I love the extra colour this gives and that little pop of a darker shade!


I wanted some more texture so grabbed a Dusty Attic raindrop stencil and the Steel Colour Paste and once again, randomly applied some across the page.




I left that to airdry (which does dry super fast by the way!) and then stuck down the clouds I had fussy cut earlier using a little craft foam and cutting off the excess hanging over the edges.



I added my sentiment using black staz-on and then stamped that off around the page to add a little extra something.




And my very last step was getting some of my black heavy gesso, a little water and a small-ish paint brush and applying little drips of black across the page.




I was a little unsure of this in the early stages of it coming together but in the end I am super happy and thrilled that I decided to keep going until I had something I was happy with! I guess, it doesn't always have to be pretty in the beginning for us to love the finished design ;)



Here are a few close ups












I hope that you have enjoyed seeing this art journal page come together and if you would like to see the whole lot come together in a process video just click below and enjoy!



As always, thanks for stopping by and have a messy, crafty day!




Melinda

xx

Wednesday 19 April 2017

Project Life WK 7 2017

Hi there scrappy friends! I have a super quick share with you today in the form a Project Life spread!

I am using my stash for this and have pulled cards from one of the Maggie Holmes PL kits and paired that with some left over ephemera pieces and also a couple of other bits and pieces from my stash!

There is a process video which you can see below, just click play :)


And here are a couple of photos of the 2 pages


First up is the left hand side in a D design page protector. I think I have mentioned it before but I am more focused on getting in the album this year than over thinking it so my pages are pretty "simple" but I am happy with them and even happier that they are in the album!


And the right hand side. This is an A design page protector. And, as is pretty standard for me, lots of journalling!


And last photo, and mostly because this is one of my all time favourite ever PL cards!! That 07 tag came straight out of one of the ephemera packs (coincidence or meant to be?!) and I just added a little cream and gold bakers twine. Both of those butterflies are fussy cut - the big one from a 12x12 paper and the small from the same paper in the 6x6 paper pad.

So, thats it for me! I am working on lots of different things at the moment (nothing really unusual there - haha!) and if you would like to see what I am up to on a (hopefully) daily basis with The 100 Day Project you are best to follow me on Instagram - my user name is m_sweetman and I will post with the hashtags #the100dayproject and also #100daysoffinishingtheunfinished . I would love to see you there!

I hope you are having a fabulous scrappy day and I will see you again really soon!

Melinda 
xx

Monday 17 April 2017

{ScrappingClearly} Some quick cards

Hi there and welcome to my blog this Easter Monday! 

I hope the Easter Bunny was good to you and that you are enjoying a long weekend with your loved ones! I'm happy to report, our Bunny Trap, once again failed yesterday!! Though the boys had fun setting it up, the Bunny was kind enough to leave chocolate, pj's and new slippers for them!!

Today I have some cards that I created using the Kasier Craft Ooh La La collection.




I have used a couple of off cuts from a couple of my 12x12 papers as the card fronts - cut to size - but you could very easily change it up and use the 6 1/2' x 6 1/2" paper pad. And then grabbed the collectable pack, the 12x12 sticker sheet and the Kaiser mini blooms in honey and sage. I've also used some of the very pretty Cantaloupe Liquid Pearls on some of the butterfly centres for a little extra touch :)


In the bottom right corner I have used one of the left over triangles from this project. I have pulled a few pieces from the collectables pack and stuck 3 of the sage flowers along with 2 of the sentiment stickers from the 12x12 sticker sheet.


I started with some Whipped Spackle and a stencil from my stash for some added detail in the background then when that was dry I grabbed a few pieces from the collectables pack and voila, card #2 done!


For this one I started with one of the 12" border stickers from the sticker sheet and then added lots of pieces from the collectables pack. And a final touch, 3 of the honey mini paper blooms.


And finally, card #4, I started with the big floral piece from the sticker sheet which I trimmed in half and stuck down. A couple of butterflies, one is a sticker and the other is from the collectables pack. Some of the word sticker strips and the final touch of Liquid Pearls down the centre of the 2 butterflies. 

4 cards done and dusted in under and hour - I did record the process but apparently my phone had other ideas and didn't actually record anything!! Technology, hey?!

Anyways, cards are a quick, easy way to use up some left overs and especially some of those bigger paper offcuts that you may otherwise be unsure what you are going to do with. Always good to have a few in your stash!

I hope you are enjoying the long weekend and maybe even getting in some scrappy time!!


Melinda








Thursday 13 April 2017

{Project Life} Week 4 2017 Insert

Hey scrappy friends! Just popped in quickly to share an insert I have made for our week 4 of 2017. I am using a random assortment of PL cards from my stash mixed with some random embellishments - lots from D-lish Scraps :)

This is a double sided insert of all 3x4 portrait pockets as there were 2 events that I wanted to document that both had a few photos/stories I wanted to include.

I'm going to do this a little backwards as I created the back spread first and that is the order in which the YT process video is.

First up I worked on the back of the spread which is from my neice's 18th Birthday in January.


I think my fave card of this spread is the shaker 18 card! I had lots of fun playing with watercolours and sequins making it!


It's just so pretty <3

And onto the front side of the page which is all about our Australia Day 2017.

Again, using random cards and some embellies from my stash.


And a couple of close ups



This is the bottom shaker pocket which can be seen from both sides and I love how it co-ordinates with both sides <3

So, a super qucik share for you today and if you would like to see my whole process there is a process video which is available, just click play!



Thanks so much for stopping by, as always, I really appreciate it and love getting any feedback!

Happy scrapping and until next time have fun!

Mel
xx


Tuesday 11 April 2017

{Colour Blast} Details ~ A Wedding Scrapbook Page

Hi, hi and hello!! I'm here with you today sharing another somewhat "clean" mixed media scrapbook page!


I had this cut file on my computer that I have been desperate to play with so finally manged to cut it and get creating with it! You will notice that along the left hand side there are a couple of other pieces that I had cut - these were for another project but I figured I may as well use up the whole 12x12 - 2 (well, actually 3) birds with one stone ;)

I have left the cut file on my mat for all of the wet mediums that I apply and I have not applied gesso at all!

First up, I challenged myself to use something other than blues and greens so I pulled all of my reddish/pink Colour Blast products.


These are in order, from left to right, front to back, as follows:
Colour Spray - Bubblegum, Sunset, Love
Colour Shimmer Spray - Rose Petal, Lipstick, Snow White and Bling
Colour Shimmer Dust - Lollipop and Candy
Colour Mica Powder - Watermelon
Colour Paste - Lipstick, Fire Engine, Rose Petal and Bling

The first layer was the beautiful Colour Shimmer Dusts - I used both the Lollipop and Candy. I leave my paint tray to air dry when I still have colour left over so I simply used a dropper to add a few drops of water and re-activate the colour. 


I used a wet brush and literally just painted the 2 colours here, there and wherever took my fancy!


Next up I added the Watermelon Mica Powder. I added a tiny amount to some old packaging with a spatula, added a few drops of water and applied in the same way as the Shimmer Dust.


Because I wasn't using heaps of water the colours dried pretty quickly but I wasn't too concerned about the colours mixing anyway as they were all from the same family.

Next up the sprays. I used the Bubblegum and Love Colour Sprays and literally again, just squirted some here and there. And then to some of the more "splotty" areas I used a wet paintbrush to give more of a water colour effect.


Last layer of pink colour!! The beautiful Colour Shimmer Sprays. I used the Rose Petal and the Lipstick and applied the exact same technique as with the Colour Sprays.

After that was dried I peeled off my cut file from my cutting mat and decided I wanted a little pop of more colour starting with some splatter in the Bubblegum Colour Spray.


Next up some gold so out came the Bling Colour Paste and stencil from Dusty Attic. I applied the paste randomly across the cut file in a few different places and left to air dry.


I wanted a little more sparkle and shine so again, Bling to the rescue! This time the Colour Shimmer Spray. I used the nozzle to apply drips and then I spritzed over the whole cut file from distance for an all over very subtle shine. Oh la la!!


Time to assemble the page! Or so I thought! I had picked out my photo but decided I needed a little something extra behind it so, again, Bling to my rescue!

First up the Shimmer Spray applied with a dry paint brush straight onto the white cardstock. After that dried another stencil with the Colour Paste. Perfect, just what it needed.



NOW I can assemble my layout!


I was terrified as I was working on the cut file that it was going to be Oh My Goodness, that is so PINK but up against the white cardstock with the black and white photo it is not as PINK as I expected so I am super happy with how it all worked out in the end.



Look at that shiny gold sparkle in the background, so beautiful!!


Right at the end I decided I needed something extra. Some tiny black splatters! I pulled out my Roadbase Colour Spray and a tiny little paint brush and flicked a little splatter all around. Voila, one completed page!


I hope I inspire you to challenge yourself to do something a little different. To just have a play! Please do come and share your work in the Facebook group here, we love to see what everyone is doing with their Colour Blast stash!

Until next time!


Melinda
xx