Helen's Second Project February 2019

Welcome back to Scrap Matrix for the second half of February,

where we are challenging you to create with minimal supplies.

Remember the good old days, when pages were a lot simpler and there were not many scrapbooking supplies around?

Now is your chance, to whip up a stress free page; perhaps win a prize or be invited to Guest Design. 

I had a stamp, a stencil, Dylusions Paint, Dylusions spray

and Dina Wakley Acrylic paint.

I decided to make a feature of the stencil and began by using texture paste through it.

Then I roughed out half a heart shape on a folded piece of paper.

I cut it out freehand, and used it as a guide to shape the texture paste.

Then I randomly splashed it with some of the watered down 

Dina Wakley paint.

To complement the yellow heart, I used a corner of yellow paper left over from my first February project.

I marked out the heart area on white cardstock, added some stamping in black and splashed some green mist on 

with a wet paint brush.

I hand drew some yellow flowers, interspersing them with some leaves from an extra stamp by Carabelle. 

My journalling is not very straight, but we are always encouraged to include our own handwriting, so I do that occasionally, even though it's messy.

We'd love to see what you create - just hop across to the Scrap Matrix Shares Facebook Group, load up your project and let us know what Scrap Matrix Products you used.

Scrap Matrix Products used:-

13 @rts Stencil, Finger Print

Finnabair Modelling Paste

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"

Carabelle Studio Stamps - Scribbled leafs & Textured circles.

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" 

You've been framed. A second post from Helen

Welcome back to the Scrap Matrix challenge where this month we are asking you to use frames on your project. You can make a layout, an art journal page or a card.

They can be any type of frames; big, small, square, round, anything you like.   Why not pop over to see what the rest of the team have created to inspire you?

The subject on my page is my darling Grand daughter, who was recently diagnosed with some visual problems and now needs to wear glasses.

The frames of her specs sparked the idea for my layout.

I chose to blur one of the photos to demonstrate how she 

used to see the world before she got her specs. She took to them like a duck to water; her spelling and reading improved almost immediately and she wears her purple frames with pride.

Recently, I was lucky enough to take some classes with Tracy Scott and I've used  her techniques to make the flowers.

It was wonderful to gather with scrappy friends, to laugh, learn and get really messy. I caught up with some of the Design Team, met old friends and made new ones, all in a fun atmosphere.  Thanks so much Vicki Christensen for organizing such a brilliant event.

First I chose this paper from 
The  13@rts, Art Journal collection - “Dream”

I covered the paper with a layer of Dina Wakley clear gesso 

as I planned to use mixed media on the page.

The glasses frames are from a cut file by Silhouette.

To add some texture, I scraped some Finnabair modeling paste 
through a stencil from AALL & Create, #13

The purple splashes were made with Tim Holtz Distress Oxides, Wilted Violet; I love how versatile this product is; 

I seem to use it on everything.

The next step was to finger paint a piece of white card stock with Paper Artsy Chalk Inks - Bougainvillea, Caribbean Sea, Banana, Limelight, Lavender.  Then I dried it off with a heat tool. This finger painting was a technique that we did with Tracy... 

Now comes the fun part!   

I chose lots of flower stamps and filled up the entire page using Black Ink.  I used Tim Holtz Archival, Jet Black before drying the card stock again with a heat tool.

The stamps are all from Paper Artsy; ETS21, ETS18, ETS16, ETS06.

I love them all and there are so many more that I need like!

After the classes on the weekend, some of the stamps have sold out, but they are on order again, so it won't be long until they are back in stock.

Next I flicked on lots of splats with Paper Artsy Gold paint. Tracey said the more the merrier.  I ended up with gold everywhere, even on my glasses!  Next time, I'll take it outside.

The final step is to fussy cut the images; something relaxing to do in front of the TV while someone else does the dishes!

To ensure the stamping and splats were completely dry, I went on with prepping the chipboard with white gesso. It's called Blue Fern Stars.  I noticed that firm is closing down, so if you love these chippies; it's time to stock up.

Whoops!  I forgot to photograph the painted stars.  I just mixed some Tim Holtz Distress Oxides, Seedless Preserves and Salty Ocean, to get the pink colour I wanted. You can see them in the next photo.

Just playing around with placement, to emphasize the world in colour and in focus, that is now part of my DGD's life.

Finally I added a few bits of black stamping here and there.

I used  AALL & Create #23, (temporarily out of stock) and 

some oldies from my stash.

Phewh!  Congrats if you read all the way to the end, 
it's a bit of a marathon post.

Thanks for calling in today, I hope you find time to play along, 

just add your entry to the Scrap Matrix Shares page in the corresponding folder; 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 $30.00 gift voucher from the generous Vicki Christensen and perhaps a Guest Design Team spot down the track.

It's the pointy end with Helen

Welcome back to the Scrap Matrix challenge where this month

the challenge is "The point is."

Here is a vibrant mood board to inspire your creativity 
and why not check out the fantastic projects by the 
rest of the SCRAP MATRIX team?

I was inspired by the triangles and the chevrons, 
as well as the grey, black and white colours.

This graphic paper led me to using crisp lines with lots of angles.

To emphasize the points, I trimmed a couple of 
big triangles from this paper 
and mounted it on black to suit the black and white photo.

This looked too stark, so I added a few smaller triangles 
and fiddled around with placement.  

I made a few pencil lines around the edges, 
as I planned to add some mixed media under the photo
and some stamping along the bottom.

The Prima Rustic washers were added to draw the eye to the photo.

The title was cut from a different paper in the collection.  
I love the way it combines with the image on the hoodie.

I tucked a couple of extra triangles in to balance the design.

Thanks for calling in today, I hope you find something 
to inspire your creativity. 
Would you like to play along?  You don't need a blog to join in and we'd love to see where the "points" take you.   
Just pop your project in the folder named 
"The point is" on facebook, by the 14th of June.   You MUST use at least one product from Scrap Matrix.

Here are the links to the products I used which are available at Scrap Matrix.

Pink Fresh paper - Escape the ordinary - Observe

Pink Fresh Paper - Escape the ordinary - Search

AALL & Create stencil #20

Finnabair opaque matte modeling paste

Paper Artsy Stamp EM 17

Finnabair mechanicals - rustic washers

I used Brilliance pigment ink - Moonlight white for the stamping.