"Silhouettes"

For the past week I've been house-bound with the flu and getting bored with sleeping and watching TV reruns I started watching some of the Prima videos on YouTube...They are a great source of inspiration if a little long.  I'm going to exceed my download limit this month for sure!  The designers are truly clever and I've already stolen a few ideas and there are more I can't wait to try out.

For this layout I've used a somewhat crazy layering technique.  It looks difficult, but was surprisingly easy and I really love how it turned out....I'm sure I'll be using this technique again!

I love this photo. I took a series of them and I'm sure I'll be doing more layouts using these photos. I love how you've got the colours from the sun as it's setting behind Mt Etna and just the shadows of the people (and dog) in the foreground. 

 

 

 
 List of products used:

• Graphic 45 - Secret Garden Collection;
• Dusty Attic - Corner Scroll;
• Ranger - Adirondack Paint Dabbers - Espresso & Butterscotch;
• Ranger - Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Tea Dye;
• Prima Flowers;
• American Crafts - Thickers;
• Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mist - Summer Glow.

 

"Crazy Layering" - I'm not sure if there's a better name, but this is the name that came to me and seems to suit this style.

 

The layered papers come from one entire sheet of 12x12 pattern paper.  In this case I substituted 1/3 sheet for another pattern paper to add some colour to the mix.

 

Take your sheet of pattern paper and cut roughly into thirds.  As the edges are going to be distressed you don't need to make exactly straight cuts if using a knife.

 

The first 1/3 I cut in half giving 2 x 6" long pieces, the rest I randomly cut from 2 1/2" to 5" wide. 

 

Distress all edges with a distressing tool and then ink with distress ink.  This helps to give the layering definition and to raise the pieces slightly from each other. 

 

I arranged the 2 largest pieces first and then tucked the different size pieces under (or over) until I got a shape I was happy with. 

 

Carefully flipping the stack over, I carefully glued each piece in place. Further dimension can be achieved by using foam tape between the layers.

 

 
I am also getting braver with clustering of flowers.  I can see I'm going to run out of flowers quickly using so many at once, but I really love the effect of having a bunch of flowers together on the layout.
 
The Dusty Attic corner scroll was painted with the Ranger Paint Dabbers - entirely with Espresso then random dabs with Butterscotch.
 
To finish off, Glimmer Mist Summer Glow was flicked (by taking the sprayer out of the bottle and flicking the end) over the edges of the layout, and a squirt over the title.

This entire layout was done in less than an afternoon - a record for me.  I can take days to complete a page.  However, with all the layering it appears quite complex.

I hope you like my layout and maybe gained some ideas for your next project!

Veronica
 

Art Journal

Art Journals

What is an art journal you ask, basically it is a diary. It can be a daily journal or just about everyday things each month or memorable moments that you wish to journal about. How you use it is entirely up to you :)

Art journals are fun and a great way to learn or share new techniques. I am going to share a quick step by step to creating your very own Art Journal page. I love the freedom of these journals, you can try new products or techniques and be as creative as you like, journals are awesome for using up all those little bits of left overs or your stash :). First you need a book, can be a cheap exercise book or a hardcover blank book in whatever size you like. Then you need to decide what you are going to put on your page. Journal about the things you love, what's on your mind, where you've travelled, things you are grateful for or inspire you, choose a song and add the lyrics or maybe what you want your future to hold. So lets get started...

Step One: Gesso is your friend and a great base, so apply some to your page and while that's drying you can use this time to go pick out some scrap papers, embellishments, inks, pens or markers from your stash or if like me you are a little impatient give it a blast with your heat gun. (No need for this step if your page is white, has no blemishes or bleeding from previous pages)

Step Two: Choose two or three distress inks and use your blending tool - I used Tattered Rose, Aged Mahogany and Scattered Straw. Mist lightly with water to help blend all the colours together. Gives a lovely soft look. Another idea for backgrounds is using an old giftcard or credit card and scrapping paint over the page for really cool effect!
 

Step Three: Pick out one of your favourite Glimmermists or Perfect Pearl Mists in coordinating colour and spray onto your page. I used Tattered Angels Vintage Pink, adds a really nice sheen! Watercolours are also great.

Step Four:  Choose some stencils, templates or punches and create your design, you might like to add some texture and depth. Ripped paper, drywall tape and other household items can add extra interest and texture. Using TH Distress Paints, TH Distress Inks, Donna Salazar mixed media Inx Chox, texture paste or any other medium you like just keep building layers.

Step Five:  Randomly add some stamped images, allowing some to hang off the page. Using a black (or a colour of your choice) sharpie pen start doodling on your page. Don't think to much about it, just have fun and let your imagination flow! Using black and white charcoal pencils are also fun. Add a quote or an inspiration thought!

Step six:  Ink around the edges with TH Walnut Ink or DS Inx Chox Sparrow to grunge up the pages a bit to finish off.

TIPS: Jar lids, bottle tops, sponges, kitchen spatula's, plastic doily's, steel wool and so much more can be used to create different textures on your backgrounds in your journal. Just think outside the square :)

Later I will share some different background techniques so remember to pop back and visit often.

Sue
xx

A Year in Time - March

March 2012 was a bit exciting as our friendly volcano Etna let off a fair bit of steam with some spectacular displays.  I caught this one on a Sunday morning as I was heading for breakfast in the local bar (always a good excuse for a croissant and cappuccino when you forget to buy milk!).  Of course, I had to turn right around and run back to the house for my camera.  This plume of ash eventually covered the sky until the sun was covered.  This photo and the others I took that day are my favourite photos taken here so far.

 

 
Products used:

• Graphic 45 Place in Time - 8x8 - March Foundations & Cut-Aparts;
• Graphic 45 Place in Time - Alpha Stickers;
• Graphic 45 French Country - Abundance;
• Bazzill Basics - Raven cardstock;
• Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Boardwalk & Mardi Gras;
• Pink Paislee Artisan - Circles
• Tattered Angles Glimmer Glam - Orange Crush & Oil Slick;
• Ranger Adirondack Colour Wash - Sailboat Blue;
• Tim Holtz Distress Stains - Shaded Lilac, Squeezed Lemonade, Weathered Wood;
• Tim Holtz idea-Ology - Journalling Ticket;
• Tim Holtz idea-Ology - Adage Ticket;
• Tim Holtz Distress Pens - for journaling and doodling;
• Mesh Ribbon;
• Prima Flowers;
• Buttons.

The purple and green theme for March really didn't go with my photo so I decided to make my own background.  Using the Foundations page I then spritzed with Ranger Adirondack Colour Wash and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist to make the background blue with a hint of grey (for the ash) and purple for the already existing March flowers.
 

 
The Mesh Ribbon used in the background was originally white, but has been coloured using Tim Holtz Distress Stains.
 
The Pink Paislee Artisan range are a lot of fun. I literally slapped the Glimmer Glam on randomly, first the black then the orange and then some more black. In between drying with my heat gun. It was fast and easy and I now have an element totally unique for this page. I'm definitely going to be using these a lot more and will try for a tutorial for those who don't know what to do with them including me - I'm still learning. :)
 

 
This is a real learning process for me with this album.  I was very surprised at how much of a difference there is between 12x12 and 8x8.  With the first 2 months I know I tried to fit too much in.  Originally wanting to add even more photos.  This time I decided it was a perfect opportunity to showcase one special photo. 

For those of you wondering, no I haven't added my pages to the Easel yet as I need to find a spiral holepunch first!  Owning a store doesn't mean I have all the supplies for my own use...unfortunately.

Pretty much all supplies are available instore at Wild About Scrap.  Keep checking the blog as more projects will be uploaded soon including a tutorial on creating Art Journals by DT Member Sue Down.  I am currently experimenting with watercolouring using Tim Holtz Distress Pens....experimenting is probably a good word.  Nothing worth publishing yet, but maybe soon :)

Veronica