Embrace this life .. with Alz

Morning peeps!

We have a fabulous new challenge this month, 'tis all about frames. You could, literally, use frames on your project or use an actual frame to create on, or scrap a photo or image of glasses (I have a photo of myself wearing reading glasses but thought I'd save that for a day when I'm not feeling quite so old as I look in the photo lol!). Or maybe you have a 'mug shot' from when you were 'framed'.  :O  I decided to use a visual triangle of flowers to frame my photo.

Embrace this life
 

As usual, I've created my background on a piece of patterned paper. I'm still loving the Riddersholm Design papers so have used one from the Huntington Garden collection .. Summerfield. (In case you're querying my choice of purple for a beach layout (lol, I would be!), purple is one of my niece's favourite colours.) Anyways, I hadn't planned on using quite so many layers on my background but once I started messing around with it I (a) really messed it up and then (b) couldn't stop trying to rectify my mistakes. lol!

I started off applying Ranger Texture Paste in Opaque Matte with a TCW stencil (12x12 Tiny Circles) and, whist it was wet, sprinkled on some glass glitter. When this was dry was about when my background started to go AWOL. I had wanted my circles of texture paste to be quite pronounced and, when dry, they kinda just faded into the background. I reckon I would have been better off using Finnabair's heavy white gesso. Moving on, after brayer-ing several coats of white acrylic paint and Distress Oxide in Wilted Violet onto my page, I decided on my photo placement and stamped three large flowers from Paper Artsy stamp set JOFY32 directly onto the background. I didn't want the stamped images to stand out too much so used a Ranger Archival Ink in Watering Can. But then, to give the stamped flowers a lot more definition, and to help 'ground' my photo, I coloured them with a purple watercolour pencil from Prima Watercolor Pencils The Basics tin. Finally, I liberally flicked thinned white acrylic paint, and 13 Arts Splash Glitter Ink (Violet Glitter) all over my page and ended up with this ..

 

 

 

 

After about 27 different layers I was finally happy!

Using the Watering Can Ranger Archival Ink and Paper Artsy stamp set JOFY32 I stamped dozens of flowers (and lots of butterflies) on a variety of cardstocks and papers. I figured I might as well seeing as I had them out and I knew I'd come back to use these flowers and butterflies again and again.

 

 

 

 

For this layout, I stamped the flowers and butterflies onto another sheet of Riddersholm Design Huntington Garden (Blue Sky) and a sheet of plain paper from a Dina Wakley Media Collage Paper pack. Although I wanted a crisp stamped image, and I doubted (highly doubted) I'd achieve that stamping onto the Collage Paper, I figured I'd give it a go. As I suspected, the Collage Paper was far too porous to give a crisp, stamped image, but I could live with that. I fussy cut a ton of flowers and butterflies and then disguised my 'fuzzy' stamped images and added details to others, with a clear glitter glue. I then shaped and moulded the flowers in the palm of my hand and used them to create a visual triangle around my photo, effectively framing it. I added some Small White Flowers together with bits and pieces from my stash to my flower clusters, printed my journaling (I am so in love with the free typewriter font I found online .. 1942 report) and used a flair to create my title.

 

 

 

 

Around about now I thought I was finished but something just wasn't sitting right. All my cut out stamped flowers were too clean. Looking at the above photo now, I reckon I probably could have left it as it was, but at the time it was bugging me. What to do la? I flicked around more thinned down, white acrylic paint and voila, it was done!

A few close ups ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you've got the time to play along with us this month. You have until midnight on the 30th to upload a photo of your project, together with a list of your Scrap Matrix products to the Scrap Matrix Shares Facebook page. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

'Til next time!

Cheers .. Alz  :)

 

 

Scrap Matrix products used:

Riddersholm Design - Huntington Garden - Summerfield

Riddersholm Design Huntington Garden - Blue Sky

Ranger Texture Paste in Opaque Matte

TCW stencil - 12x12 Tiny Circles

Tim Holtz Distress Oxide - Wilted Violet

Paper Artsy stamp set JOFY32

Archival Ink Pad - Watering Can

Prima Watercolor Pencils - The Basics

13 Arts Splash Glitter Ink

Small White Flowers

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You make me smile .. with Alz

Morning peeps!

I'm baaaaaaack. Okay so this is my third post this month. I know I know lol, but I couldn't help but create another layout with this month's challenge!

You make me smile

A quick reminder of this month's fabulous moodboard challenge Love is sweet ..

I've already created a layout using pink which was inspired by the baby photo, and a layout focusing mostly on green with some neutral elements. This time I was inspired by the yellow, albeit a softer yellow, and the shape of the macaroons. The layout came together super quickly, so I'll keep this super quick. Well, lol, at least I'll try.

I created my background on patterned paper from the Maja Design Coffee in the Arbour collection. Three quick steps and it was done. Literally. Using the masking technique I've shared before, I stamped some circles from a Blue Fern Studios stamp set, Texture Circles with a Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink in Antique Linen. I gave that a quick blast with a heat gun before applying Ranger Texture Paste through a TCW Stencil, 12x12 Tiny Circles. Judging by how grungy my stencil is (oops), I'm going to hazard a guess its my favourite. lol. Once that was dry I flicked around my absolute favourite product of all time, irResistible Spray. I've used the Desert Sand and OMGee it is divine. It looks like toffee and I can't hardly wait to use it on kraft cardstock as I reckon it'll look sensational. Moving on (lol).

Next, I stamped some circles from the Blue Fern Studios stamp set, Texture Circles on another sheet of patterned paper from the Maja Design Coffee in the Arbour collection. I used circle punches to cut out two different sizes .. one the original size of the stamp and the other, a smaller size. I inked the edges of both size circles to give them some definition. Oh, and I used the Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink, in Antique Linen, for my stamping which, again, I heat set.

I mounted my photograph with some cardboard packaging to raise it off the page and then added my stamped circles and some Petaloo Florals (Mini Paintables - Blossoms Ivory) around the photo as a mat of sorts, and also as embellishments. I added some other small bits and pieces I had sitting on my table gathering dust, and a stick pin I made (my latest obsession). I added the journaling I printed using my favourite font, 1942 report, which I found free online somewhere, and voila, I was done! I told you it was super quick. Here's a couple of close ups ..

Anyways, its time for me to step away from the moodboard (lol) and check out what you guys have been creating. Don't forget you now only have until the end of the month to upload a pic of your project on the Scrap Matrix Facebook page. Also, don't forget to let us know which products you've used from Scrap Matrix.

Til next time!

Cheers .. Alz   :)

Scrap Matrix products used:

Maja Design Coffee in the Arbour - Homemade Lemoncurd

Maja Design Coffee in the Arbour - Lemon Meringue Pie

TCW 12x12 stencil - Tiny Circles

Ranger Texture Paste

irResistible spray - Desert Sand

Blue Fern Studio stamp - Texture Circles

Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink - Antique Linen

Petaloo Mini Paintables - Blossoms Ivory

Life is good - Sandra Brimelow

Hi everyone, I am sharing today the second of my guest design team projects for Scrap Matrix, it has been fun to be back as a guest designer, especially with the fun products I have had to work with.
I love how this layout came together, and playing with lots of products available in the shop was what brought it together.

Life is Good

So this layout, is one I decided to create continuing to use the wonderful paper selection from 7 Dots Studio Hazy Days range, this one is Gelly. I really loved these papers.

I wanted to grunge the paper up a bit more, so sanded it with some sand paper first. I then applied Ranger texture paste transparent matte through a Heidi Swapp 12 x 12 heart stencil. Whilst the texture paste was still wet, I sprinkled some Prima art sugar - antique silver, this is a really fine glitter, and looks fabulous sprinkled on to the page lightly.

I used some Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst spray over the background, to add a bit more colour, then did some stamping with Aall and Create stamp set # 25 and Ranger archival ink over the background randomly. 

So that's the background done, next came all of the embellishing. I stamped some feathers and leaves using the Aall and Create stamp set #11, Paper Artsy stamp set JOFY 32 and Ranger archival ink. I coloured the flowers and feathers with Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst sprays and then fussy cut them.

I also sprayed some German Scrap French Lace white, with Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst spray.

I matted the photo using Heidi Swapp 6 x 6 mixed media die cut paper. Then I simply tucked all of my flowers, feathers and german scraps around the photo. 

Finishing touches came with MAMBI Hey You chips, (the little pack of chipboard that just keeps giving), 7 Dots Studio Lost and Found elements. ecru roots and Prima flower from my stash.

I love the colours that I managed to put together on this layout, and the fact that I actually created a feminine grungy layout. 

Thanks for having me here as a guest designer, it has been fun.

7 Dots Studio patterned paper - Gelly

Heidi Swapp heart stencil

Ranger texture paste - transparent matte

Prima art sugar glitter

Heidi Swapp 6 x 6 mixed media diet cut paper

Aall and Create stamp sets - #11, #25

Paper Artsy stamp set - Jofy 32

Ranger archival ink

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst sprays - cowabunga copper, Bodacisous Blush, Gag me with a spoon gray, time travel teal

MAMBI Hey You chips

7 Dots Studio Lost and Found elements
German Scrap - French Lace

"Everyday moments" .. with Alz

Morning peeps!

So the current Scrap Matrix challenge (What's the point?) got me thinking. What is the point, after all? Of anything? Of everything? Of nothing? Of life? In an effort to divert my mid life, existential crisis, I scrapped ..

Everyday moments

This is Harry. Harry is a ratbag. Don't get me wrong, I love and adore him, but he's a ratbag. This pic shows him sprawled on the top of the outdoor table out on our back deck where we like to have brunch from time to time. You know like, where we like to eat. There is no respecting boundaries with a ratbag! This is but one example of his ratbag-iness. Stay tuned .. there will be more. But meanwhile, he's also 'my little man', my ratbag, and a very, very sweet boy.

Have I digressed? I think that's my speciality. Digressing. See?!

the current Scrap Matrix challenge

When tackling this challenge, I knew I wanted to work with some 'pointy' papers and a grey-ish colour scheme, so Pinkfresh Boy's Fort was definitely the way to go. But first off I wanted to add some colour and texture to my background. I did this by .. smearing around some Dina Wakley Media acrylic paint in Marine and Elephant; applying Opaque Matte Ranger Texture Paste through an Aall and Create stencil (#7); and whilst that was still wet, sprinkling on some Antique Silver Prima Art Sugar. Once all of that was dry and I'd shaken off the excess Prima Art Sugar, I splattered some 13 Arts Splash Glitter Ink in black around the page.

With that all done and dusted I cut some 'pointy' borders out of the Pinkfresh Boy's Fort patterned papers (following angled patterns where I could) and adhered them to my page, some with foam tape to create some depth in my layers.

I also wanted to use some 'pointy' chipboard on my page ..

(hasn't Ratbag got just the cutest paw??)

I painted and inked a variety of Blue Fern Studio chipboard. The Tattered Diamond Bits were painted with the Elephant Dina Wakley Media acrylic paint and the Radiant Bursts were painted with Marine Dina Wakley Media acrylic paint. I inked my chipboard title Everyday Moments, also by Blue Fern Studio, with a black Ranger Archival Ink Pad.

The final step once everything was stuck down was to add just a few extra details with some final embellishments.

Small White Flowers scattered about, some black bling I cut from a Molossi Crystal Line, randomly placed, and a few words from Tim Holtz Idea-ology Chit Chat Stickers and I was almost done.  Because they're quirky, and fun, and dogs (!!!) I had to add a Ryan Reaveley's Dylusions Creative Diary Die Cut Animal which I coloured in with Prima Watercolour Pencils.

Voila!

Don't forget you have until midnight on the 14th of June to add your entry to the appropriate album on the Scrap Matrix Shares Facebook page. Please also add details of the Scrap Matrix products you've used. Oh and don't forget (lol) to be inspired by this ..

.. as that's kinda the point (ha ha!) of the current challenge!

Wishing you happy, scrappy days.

Cheers .. Alz  :)

Scrap Matrix products used:

Pinkfresh Boy's Fort patterned paper - High Five and Thumbs Up

Dina Wakley Media acrylic paint - Marine and Elephant

Aall & Create Stencil #7

Prima Art Basics by Finnabair Art Sugar - Antique Silver

Ranger Texture Paste - Opaque Matte

13Arts Ayeeda Splash Glitter Ink - Black

Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black

Blue Fern Studio chipboard - Tattered Diamond Bits

Blue Fern Studio Chipboard - Radiant Bursts

Blue Fern Studio chipboard - Everyday Moments

Dyan Reaveley's Dylusions Creative Dyary Die Cuts Black & White Animals

Prima Watercolour Pencils - Scenic Route and The Basics

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Chit Chat stickers - Verbiages

Molossi Crystal Lines - Black

Small White Flowers