7 DOTS STUDIO 'DREAMER' PAPERS

OMGoodness, when Leanne from Mad About Scrappin approached me to Guest DT I was excited but when she showed me the gorgeous papers from 7 Dots Studio latest PP release I was doing cartwheels. These papers are absolutely divine. The A sides are an explosion of colour, layers and textures and the B sides are soft, warm and simply divine. So I had an absolute blast with these papers here's a product image of the range. 


So if you like what you see here and are interested in  buying a kit to create similar projects to the ones below scoot on over to Leannes FB Page and snaffle up a kit before they sell out or buy yourself some of the papers! :)
Here is an image of the 7 Dots Studio release,

and below are my layouts using the 'Dreamer' range.
I used black tea to stain the paper and create some lush grungy drips. I also used a paper doiley as a mask to ink  the background. Tip: To add some extra bling why not glue some beads to your page they are as cheap as chips and are an unexpected little addition to any page.
Below is a close up of the beads I used Dimensional magic to adhere them.

Cut your photos into circles is a great way to add some interest to your page rather than the same old same old standard formats. 

 Tip: Layer lots of different masks, tapes, stamps and stitching to create and interesting focal point.

Cut out some random shapes from card stock and lay them directly onto your paper before inking. This is a perfect way to add some points of interest to an already very busy patterned paper.

 Tip: Try using some transparent embellishments to add a little extra something without being too obvious.

Gesso, Gesso, Gesso, this should be a staple in your scrap stash. Its an awesome way to tone down an intricate paper without detracting from it. Its also a perfect preparation for inking and misting on top of.

 Tip: Layer lots of elements and cluster them tightly, this is a rule of thumb when I create a page. Also consider using lots of different textured materials and fibres, particularly things you can find around the house...Save onion and garlic bags they are priceless! 

And finally, combine all those tips into one page, tee hee. Masking, Inking and gessoing are fantastic techniques and tools to include in all your pages.

 Tip: Dont feel like you always have to have lots on your page, less is more in some instances, often just one embellishment and or one wordart speaks volumes.

Hope you likey! xox

I AM...???

The new word reveal for BITW is 'TRUST'. This word prompt got me thinking about who I am and how I would describe myself, certainly a hard one to pinpoint for me, I guess 'I am...' so many things so how do you chose the perfect word to describe yourself or someone else for that matter? 


Anyways, I was reading all about one of my all time fave artists Rosalie Gascoigne although kiwi born she resided in Canberra, Australia and was encompassed as one of Australia's very own. I had the wonderful opportunity to actually meet her many moons ago when I was an art student and she a resident artist with the Canberra School of Art. Not only was she an inspiring person but her work is spectacular I love it and have always found her work impacting and stimulating. Here's one of her pieces its so very urban and bold and so very me one day I'll have my very own Rosalie G tee hee...

and here is a link to one of her galleries just incase your interested in seeing more of her sculptures and mixed media.


Now because its not likely I'll ever have an original I thought I'd play around with the idea of collaging lots of adjectives that describe me drawing from Rosalie's idea of cutting up the common road sign. So I printed a tonne of adjectives in bold black text on yellow cardstock then inked the edges before gluing them together to form the base cardstock! 


So Here is my LO for BITW using the word prompt 'trust' and trustful in my design. Hope you like both it and the digital version too :)

Thank you for stopping by my blog and I can't wait to see what you come up with using this word prompt. Mwah

SCRAPPING LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW!

I have been busy trying to pass my time with Dan gone for an extra week this hitch, so inbetween Tige's sleeps I have grabbed the proverbial bull by the horns and scrapped DT work like there is no tomorrow!

This week I did a couple of layouts for Handmade Halo using the gorgeouse Pretty Little Studio papers which you can pre-order through Halo. They are a fabbo vintage/retro inspired range of papers with heaps of cute little accessories and Corinne also makes some awesome embellishments that compliment the papers so go check PLS out, then drop Corinne a line and she will tee you up.

Anyways here are the couple of LO's I have done using the Vintage Shop and the April Showers Paper ranges and some of the fantastic new stencils from The Crafters Workshop, I have got a serious crush on these new designs and have yet to play with some of them!

Its also 2 days past TCR reveal and again I am late in sharing my DT page. So better rectify that and pop it in this post.

I know its another LO using the same photo agggggaaain, but I love this image of my mum and my aunty they were both such cute little girls and its also because I am trying to get more in touch with the vintagey girl within me and this photo inspires that. Not so sure I managed to capture what it is I am going for but I just love this photo.

I also used this page for Halo because the handmade flower is one I created from sheets of Microfiche film similar to the one below,

Corinne added to my DT pack to see what I could come up with. So I decided I'd make a Transparent flower, by inking the film with alcohol inks then melting the edges with the heatgun. Very cute flower me thinks...

Okay going to scoot now time for Tig-lets breaky could do with some toast and a cuppa myself. Hope you have a beautiful relaxing Sunday and a fun week ahead.

Thanks for stopping by xox

SCRAPBOOKING MEMORIES 'EXPRESS YOURSELF'

A couple of weeks ago whilst trying to find the current submission themes for Scrapbooking Memories, I stumbled across the 'Express Yourself' competition. I decided what have I got to lose so entered both the digital and traditional versions of my 'I Heart Woodgrain'layout into the competition.


Wednesday morning I received an email to say that my submission had been selected for the top 10 entries in the digital section...WOW!


My layout will be on display along with the other 9 digi finalists at the Brisbane Scrapbook & Papercraft Expo over the June long weekend. Show attendes will then vote for their favourite design!


So here is my digital layout (you have seen it before), I thought I'd display it again so you can take a mental piccie tee hee!

Credits:

Basic Grey-Alyssa Woodgrain Texture Overlay

Puglypixels-Round Doiley Element

Other elements including, Pretty in Pink Grunge paper, ornate gilt frame, magnetic word art, sewing pin, misted circles, wooden button & woograin flair button are all created by me.

Here's the traditional/hybrid version using the gorgeous Sassafras-Starters range of patterned papers.

Thanks for stopping by!

THE ONLY THING...

Here's my DT layout both Traditional and the digi(using some of my own digi elements) and the inspiration behind them Palette#57 which was launched today at the Color Room, you can check all the details out here.

I missed last weeks palette so have a catch up to do, but here is the weeks before page about my all time fave book 'Memoires of a Geisha' and the colour inspiration Palette#55.

here's the digi version (this too incorporates my own digital elements)...

TFL xox

I HEART WOODGRAIN!

Yep another week and another LO and a palette (#54) that I am certain will inspire you, the colours are gorgeous this week. I am so stuck on citrus combo's and as you all know equally stuck on woodgrain!  Some of you will think this is hilarious as this weeks layout is dedicated to my absolute infactuation with everything woodgrain!


Here's the glue and paper version albeit some hybrid elements using my current digi designs from my not yet launched 'LOVE ME' digi kit! I also used yet again the tried true and tested awesomeness of Grafix Rub-Onz to create the journalling and word art. Can I also say a little blurb too on the gorgeous new range of Sassafras papers called 'Starters'...OMG I am sooo inlove with this range its just so dreamy. Its full of fun, soft and vintage yet graphic layers that screams out to me actually sings out to me would be more the right description and well, has to be my fave PP range at the mo!

...and my digi version

I have plenty of ATC's to share too but haven't had a chance to photograph them so will post them some time over the weekend...TFL and have a gr8t day! xox

THIS IS GOING TO BE

SO MUCH FUN!

Here are palettes #48 and #49:

TFL :)

USING TRANSPARENCIES TO ADD DIMENSION.

There are many patterned and motif transparencies on the market, but finding the right one for your LO is not always easy. In this tutorial we are going to look at making our own designs to create dimension on your project. There are many applications for using transparencies like adding journaling or an image to your project without covering up any background PP’s. But my favourite way to use them is to to layer them over an existing image, like a flower. 

In the following steps you will learn the basic application of designing an image in your photo editing program, printing that design onto the transparency and then creating the final dimensional embellishment. 

Step1: Open up a photo or image you have in your computer, in this instance it is a picture of a sunflower. Do any tweeking you may think it needs ie: Change the saturation or light source so that you have a clear, and crisp image with lots of detail. 

Step 2: This step is important. When saving your colour image make sure the dpi (dots per inch) is set at 300, this ensures a high quality image is saved for premium printing. Print this image out onto photo paper or cardstock. 

Step3: Re-open your newly edited image and change it to Greyscale. The next process is to add filters that enhance the greyscale image so that it is a Black and White image. Most photo editing programs have a saturation filter. When you apply this you are changing the brightness and contrast levels so that you have a distinct B&W image. You will notice that by rendering this process a lot of detail is lost, that is exactly we want to create... lots of white space with some detail left. Once you are happy with your image save it, then continue to step 4.

 

Step 4: This is a crucial step to remember. Change the direction of your B&W image so that it is flipped vertically into a mirror image. The reason for this is that this B&W image will be printed onto the transparency Paper. N:B All Transparency Papers have a rough and glossy side. The Rough textured side is the side that the image is printed onto. Once printed and time allowed to dry ,we want to flip the printed image over and have the glossy side facing up on our LO, so obviously when we do flip it the image is the correct way up, the same way as our original coloured image when the two are overlayed.

 

Step 5: Carefully cut the two images out. If your transparent image is a flower like this one cut the petal outlines into the center making sure you still have the center in tact. 

Step 6: Using some clear dry adhesive, paste the transparency cut out over the corresponding photo image and fluff up the petals to create dimension then adhere it to your project. Now you have a uniquely custom designed embellishment. NB: To add even more dimension to your page, cut out a small piece of cardboard and adhere that to the underside of your flower then using a pop dot stick it onto your page. You could also use some flower Soft on the embellishment to create texture. 

Hope you have enjoyed this tutorial...