Mini Book with limited supplies -First project from Helen

Welcome back to the Scrap Matrix challenge this month. 
We are challenging you to create with minimal supplies.

I had a stamp, a stencil, Dylusions Paint, Dylusions spray
and Dina Wakley Acrylic paint.

 To this bundle of supplies, I added two pieces of patterned paper and some heavy chipboard.

 I decided the best way to combine them all was to make a mini book. Not something I'd done before, but I made a little template out of paper to see if my idea would work. 

It's my Grandson's final year in Primary School this year and I wanted to make him a little book of positive affirmations.

This paper from Pink Fresh Studio,

 Escape the ordinary collection, "Search" had just the kind of thing I was looking for.

I cut some heavy chipboard 23 cm x 15 cm and scored a 
1 cm spine in the centre.

Using Pink Fresh Studio, Indigo Hills, "Pinnacle", patterned paper, I cut a piece 27 cm x 19 cm and folded the edges in.

I trimmed a notch out of each corner and burnished the folds

firmly with a bone folder.

Using a strong wet glue, I adhered the paper to the chipboard.

A plain grey lining completed the cover.

The cover was decorated with dies from Pink Fresh Studio, 
"Escape the ordinary".  These die sets are such good value for money; I've used them on 4 or more layouts, several cards, now this mini book and there are still lots left in the packet.

On the first page, I had yellow and brown paints to use, neither of which, were the colour I was looking for, so I blended a bit of each to make this mustard yellow.  Using the first of many Tim Holtz stencils, I sponged a pattern around the edge, before adhering the butterflies and stamping "love you" with AALL & Create #14 stamp with Tim Holtz black archival ink.

My Grandson is smart and witty, but sometimes school get's a bit overwhelming.  I wanted him to have a little book of affirmations in case things got too demanding this year. 

This Fingerprint Stencil by 13@rts, made me think of his unique qualities and I wrote a little message in between the fingerprint lines.  I used texture paste through the stencil and then sprayed some watered down "Dirty Mojito" Dylusions ink while it was still wet.  On the opposite page, I used a Tim Holtz stencil, "Dot Fade"

How are you going?  It's a long post, so you might like to get a cuppa!  On this page, I used an AALL & Create stamp, #14 and another Tim Holtz stencil 004, This time I used Distress Oxide inks, Fired Brick and a little Map Marker from the die cuts,  I just doodled to create a border on the opposite page.

This is the middle page; using more die cuts and a Star Stencil from Tim Holtz.  The Dirty Mojito Dylusions spray, that I had to work with was too dark and to blend with the green dies, so I just added a few drops of blue in a mini mister to get the right shade.

I love this stamp set from AALL & Create #14.  It works brilliantly for this Grand Boy, as he is fascinated by Geography, loves to draw maps and has a great eye for detail.  The little stars and the map marker are from the same die cut set and the blue stencilled pattern is from, yes, you guessed it, Tim Holtz S082.

Nearly at the end, well done, if you are still with me!
Using texture paste through yet another Tim Holtz stencil, "Eye Chart", I smooshed some Tim Holts Distress Oxides over the top.  I highlighted his initial, the year level and his age with a Fude pencil.

Finally the last page. Yay!
One more Tim Holtz stencil S075 to decorate the corner and it's finished.  You can see the way I attached the signature to the spine here.  I used my Cropodile to punch some holes and then threaded some silver elastic through, fastening with a bow at the front.

I hope you find time to play along, just add your entry to the Scrap Matrix Shares page in the corresponding folder and don't forget to let us know what Scrap Matrix products you used and what inspired you.  You could be in the running for a generous gift voucher and perhaps a Guest Design Team spot down the track.

Scrap Matrix Products used:-

13 @rts Stencil, Finger Print

Finnabair Texture Paste

Tim Holtz Stencils

Tim Holtz Distress Oxides

Tim Holtz Archival Jet Black ink

AALL & Create #14 Stamp

Dylusions mist, Dirty Mojito

Dylusions acrylic paint, Melted Chocolate

Dina Wakley acrylic paint, Lemon

Pink Fresh Studio, Indigo Hills, "Pinnacle"

Pink Fresh Studio, Escape the ordinary collection, "Search" 

Reveal for February.......

Hi everyone!

A new month means a new challenge, and we have another awesome one to share with you today......

How creative can you get with a limited supply of products?

Can you make LESS into MORE?

Whether you are art journaling or scrapping, we can sometimes get overwhelmed with the idea of how much stuff to use... so this challenge is about stripping it back, using less and stretching your supplies in different ways.

 There's a whole stack of reasons to create with limited supplies.

You may be attending a crop/creative session and not have the space for stacks of stuff.

You may be brand new to the whole mixed media world and not have a lot of supplies at your disposal yet.

You may be scrapping at a friends or attending a crop.

You may be travelling (lucky duck).

You may want to push yourself creatively. 

Have you ever sat down to create and been at a loss of where to begin?  You just move and shuffle things around without actually achieving anything?  Yes, we have all felt this way. Limiting your supplies is a great way to refocus you, give you some direction and push your creative spirit to think outside the box.

Try it, you just might be surprised!!

That's what happened for the Design Team this month.

Each DT member was sent a pack of limited supplies and asked to show creative ways to use them, ensuring that both their projects looked completely different yet with the same products.

Each received:

2 paints

1 spray

1 stencil

1 stamp

You are just gonna LOVE what they created, so let's take a look:

Aren't they amazing??

You can see that it really kicked their creativity into full speed!

Tomorrow on the blog, the Guest Designer for the month will show her amazing first product, and then each of the Design Team will share their project in detail, so keep popping in.

A bit later in the month all of the Design Team will share another project using the same limited supplies.

We can't wait to see your projects, to see where this challenge takes you.

It's so easy to enter.

Just head to our Scrap Matrix Shares Facebook Group and find the February - Limited Supplies folder, upload your creation and in the comments just let us know what limited supplies you used (paint, spray, stencil, stamp).

You can add other items - pens, embellishments, patterned paper etc - those basic supplies are required to create your background.

It really is that easy.

There is no need to have a blog!

You could win a voucher to the Scrap Matrix store (guilt free shopping!!), or the opportunity to Guest Design with us!!

Have fun!