WINNING SMILE!

The new Scrapbook Creations Magazine Issue #105 is out now and its filled to the brim with lots of fabulous techniques. In this issue the Design Diva's are the guest editors and wow what a fantastic job the ladies did. I am loving all the tips and tricks and so many inspirational projects fill the pages, lets say it had me all motivated to pull out my Gelli plate and make a few backgrounds ready to be digitised he he. 

My regular feature in SC Mag, Digital Masterclass... is a goodin this issue.

It's called 'A whole lot of style' and looks at dressing up your photos, elements and text using digital styles and actions. Well worth a look if you are wanting to learn more about how to customise and personalise your digital scrap pages. Below is the sample page showcasing only a fraction of the plethora of styles and actions you can purchase or download for free.

'Winning Smile'

Digital Credits:

Sahlin Studio| Country Fair Picnic Mixed Media Pack and December Glitter Styles

Mommyish Designs| CU Paper Tear Action,  CU Flocking Action and Style & CU Stylin' #94 Pinhole Styles

Coffee Shop| Golden Afternoon Photo Action

Page Drafts Sketch for Pink Reptile Designs by The Nifty Pixel

The next two pages are my DT pages for Scrapbook Creations Colour Expert Feature.

'Warm my Heart'

Digital Credits:

Sissy Sparrows| Grunge Stamps No.6

Studio 68| Take a Chance Stamps & Nevermind Paper Pack (No Longer Designing)

Mommyish Designs| CU Label Maker 2

KStudio| Wordart No.6 (No Longer Designing)

Kim Jensen| Perforated Paper Alpha

The Nifty Pixel| Making Marks Vol.1 Digital Brush and Stamps Set (Yet to be released)

'Sweet Little Boy'

Digital Credits:

Captivated Visions| Today is a Struggle Value Bundle, It's my Journey Elements and Ephemera Pack and You Are Worth It [Elements & Ephemera] Pack.

Simply Tiffany| Barely There Brush Set No.1

I also thought I'd share my latest creative team projects for Sahlin Studio using the fabulous new June BYOC bundle thats for sale over at The Lilypad.

'5 Quizillion Reasons...'

Digital Credits;

Sahlin Studio| Drift Away Bundle

Valorie Wibbens| Pockets No.3 Basic

'My Happy Place'

Digital Credits:

Sahlin Studio| Drift Away Bundle

Page Drafts Sketch #31.1 by The Nifty Pixel

This page was created using a mini kit by Sahlin Studio. The kit itself can be bought seperately however if you followed the 2014 NSD Facebook hop held by The Lilypad Designers you'd have downloaded this along the way as a component of the free I'll Be There For You Collab Kit, so double check your stash first ;)

'You & Me'

Digital Credits:

Sahlin Studio| Life is Better With You Mini Kit and Strips & Pieces template Vol.1

I also played with some gorgeous products by Vinnie Pearce which got a mention in the

Show and Tell section of Scrapbook Graphics, very happy 'bout that ;)

'Sweetheart'

Digital Credits:

Vinnie Pearce| Chinee 11 Paper Pack and Upgraded Elements Pack

Page Drafts Teamplate #31.2 by The Nifty Pixel

So thats it for this week. Thank you for stopping by and happy scrapping!

Em x

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Thats a broad question I know...but the real reason for this post was prompted by a conversation I had recently with a friend, who thought that every entry she made in her art journal had to be a resolved and well thought out piece of art. 
This started up a conversation about what the true meaning of keeping an art journal is about and we decided if you are going to start one, dont think that every page has to be a finished piece of high art as that way of thinking can hinder you and stifle your creativity. I truely believe the secret to unlocking your creativity is to simply have fun! Don't be too contrived, get messy and experiment after all if we art talking about an art journal we are talking about a book that houses and nurtures your ideas a tool, a medium to document and capture what in essence inspires you. 
I was really attached to my art journals years and years ago when I studied Printmaking at art school. It was a requirement to present an artist journal at assessment time so often one wasstashed in my bag and went with me everywhere.
This was a great insight into our young creative minds and our lecturers referred to them often and got a tap on the hand if we weren't being vigilant in keeping one. I loved to collage in mine and often glued imagery that I found in my travels usually in those free postcards or concert flyers found around town. I was intrigued by advertising and loved the really random designs that were being taped or pasted around town during that time. I would then deconstruct these ideas and emulate them into my screen prints and etchings. At the time I didnt appreciate the artworks I had created after all they were just studies of shape, pattern and colour. I am full of regret for doing this but sadly I threw alot of these teeny tiny little prints away (they measured about 4"X6").
So then I thought I should scan some pages of my art journals circa 1989-91 to share with you and reveal my thought process but...after spending the past few hours trying to find mine in amidst all the boxes stored away...I was left with a pile of mess and a completely futile exercise...grrr...I have a sneaking suspicion they have been lost along the way! Oh well I figure it was the late 80's and then another thought maybe they just turned to dust after becoming fodder for the silver fish!he he...
Either way I have started a new Art journal and although its not an artist journal in the true sense of the meaning its a great way to try out new techniques and to play with some fun backgrounds and can't wait to see the pages filled with random experimental play. Over time I will share some of those pages  filled with snippets or paraghraphs of my favourite writers, lists of words that grab me. Pasted newspaper clippings and human interest articles that define the times. I am going to share photo's and small doodles and try to discover the subconscious parts of my mind that influence my thoughts and actions and well simply put, I am just gonna HAVE FUN and maybe find myself again! Keep posted tee hee
Onto a different kind of share...a couple of projects featuring my godson, Kellan from the past couple of weeks as guest creative team member for Captivated Visions. Here are two that I had some fun with. I am loving extracting my photo's it makes the digi page look more collaged. Its a start yeah? Getting back into mixed media it's like retraining the brain ;)

'Shine' Digital Credits: Captivated Visions You Are Worth It Value Bundle Blueberry Blush Mixed Media Papers Font: Veneer by Yellow Design Studio

'Little Sprout' Digital Credits: Captivated Visions Mish Mash Stamp Stash Value Bundle 02 Creme Caramel Value Bundle
'Little Sprout' got a GSO which was a bit exciting! 
Thanks for stopping by I had better run off and get all sorted... Tige and I have a picnic date today! Have a beautiful day everyone and hey if you can share what inspires you I'd love to hear about it!

I ♡ CAPTIVATED VISIONS

Don't you just love getting happy mail?  I do and when I saw a subject line in my inbox saying 'Captivated Visions CT Guest Spot'  I was very curious! 
I hadn't heard of Captivated Visions at that point so headed over to the CV Store at Scrapbook Graphics and then the fun CV Website I was hard pressed staying on my perch...drool and swoon worthy digi goodies were already piling into my cart and so began my love of Captivated Visions digi wares!
The most current release by Rachel the mastermind behind Captivated Visions Digital Designs is called 'Today is a Struggle'. Its inception came from a very difficut time for Rachel and is a beautifully sensitive expression of the pain and loss she recently experienced. The kit is filled with fabulous mixed media papers and gorgeous ephemera style elements and is the first official kit I have been playing with as GCT with her. Here is my page and although my journaling is very personal it was somewhat cathartic for me albeit a difficult one to fully realise.

'It's Gotta Get Better'

Digital Credits by Captivated Visions

Today is a Struggle Kit

And if your after all the extras that go with this kit you can grab them here for a steal!

⬇

Today is a Struggle Value Bundle 
In the next couple fo days I'll be sharing some more pages I have created using CV products so stay tuned, thansk for stopping by and have a fabbo day! xo