Colouring Petals and Mixing with Metals by Monique

Hi everyone, welcome to our Scrap Matrix Blog!
Monique here sharing my latest layout - created for the Scrap Matrix "Metals and Petals" challenge.

I had loads of fun with this layout - using some beautiful Stamperia Paper and colouring flowers with some Prima Paints.....

This is what I created:

This is how I created my background:

First, I mixed some Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Paints in Green Patina with some texture paste, and applied it to my layout using one of my favourite 13 Arts Stencils. 

Next, I mixed some more Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Paint, this time in Mudsplat, with some more texture paste, and applied it using my Carabelle Studio A4 Stencil called Calligraphic Composition.

Can I just say I loved the way the Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Paint mixed with my texture paste?  Wow - such solid colour!

Next, I broke out one of my new Paper Artsy stamps and stamped on some more yummy texture using a dark brown archival ink.

There we have the background!

Next, I simply cut out some tags, and a photo mat from the gorgeous Stamperia "Clockworks" paper, and layered them under my photo.  I added some string to some tags for extra texture, and also cut out some clock images from another piece of paper in the range to add to the paper layers.  Stamperia paper is so good for this - it has such beautiful images and is so beautifully layered with images that you can have so much fun fussy cutting out divine embellishments.

I wanted to add a few flowers - no, I really don't have much of a problem adding flowers to my boy layouts, especially ones with a steampunk feel!  Anyway, I got out some Petaloo Mini Paintables  and my Prima Metallic Accents Watercolour set and painted them in a lovely teal colour to pick up the colours in my background.

I then started to put everything together.  I picked out some chipboard cogs from the Blue Fern Studios Cogs and Gears set, and painted them in Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Paint in Mudsplat and gathered together my metals - including some Prima Mechanicals Rustic Washers and Steam Punk Gears.  

When I was putting everything together, I was having trouble deciding where to place my flowers, so I took photos of what I was trying to make my mind up about, and compered them side by side.

I quickly decided I preferred the bottom photo.  The main reason for this is the pop of teal/mint forms a visual triangle around the photo, which then draws the eye to the photo - the main focus of my page.  In the top photo, the visual triangle draws the eye down into white space, and the eye is left floundering, wondering what to look at.  This is a very useful technique when you are deciding on your placement of embellishments.

Again, here is my layout once I was satisfied with the placement of all my embellishments:

Here is a full list of the products available in the Scrap Matrix Shop

Carabelle Studio A4 Stencil - Calligraphic Composition

Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Paint

Prima Mechanicals Steam Punk Gears

Prima Mechanicals Rustic Washers

Petaloo Mini Paintables - White

Prima Metallic Accents Semi-Watercolour Set

Well that's all from me today, I hope I have given you some inspiration.  You still have plenty of time to enter the "Petals and Metals" challenge.  When you are finished, simply upload a picture of your creation to the "Petals and Metals" folder on our Scrap Matrix Shares page.  I  must say I am absolutely loving all the gorgeous creations I am seeing so far - so keep them coming in Scrap Matrix fans!

Monique's "Family Memories" Layout

Hi Everyone,

Monique here, popping in to share my second layout for this month's "You've Got Mail" challenge.
This time I went back to my old shabby chic/vintage style and used some of the gorgeous papers from this beautiful paper pad by Stamparia.  It has such gorgeous images of postcards, stamps and postmarks - how could I resist?

Here is my layout:

I just loved layering up all the papers to create depth and texture, as well as glimpses of all the "mail" ephemera.

Here are some close ups:

Here is a full list of all the products I used from the fabulous Scrap Matrix Shop:

Stamperia 12"x12" Double Sided Paper Pad"Around The World"

12"x12' TCW Stencil "Tuscan Wall"

Paper Artsy Fresco Finish - Seth Apgar Boxed Paints (Set 3)

7 Dots Studio Hazy Days Clear Stamp Set

Blue Fern Studio Roman Clock Set - Large

7 Dots Studio "Air Mail" chipboard

Um Wow Studio - Flair "Written"

TCW Light and Fluffy Modelling Paste

Big Words - Fly Away 13 Arts 12"x12" Chipboard

Scrap Matrix Metal - Passport

Thank you for popping by the blog today, I hope I have inspired you to enter our fabulous challenge.  You still have a few more days - simply upload your entry into the "You've Got Mail" Album on the Scrap Matrix Shares Page.

Take care and Happy Scrapping!

"Imagine" by Monique

Hi Everyone - Monique back again with my second layout for the fabulous "You've Been Framed" challenge over at Scrap Matrix.

As I said in my first post for this challenge, the thing that really appealed to me about the challenge was just how diverse the interpretation of the challenge could be.

For this layout, I decided to use the "Negative Frames" as the "Frame" component of the challenge.

This is what I came up with:

I found some old Kaisercraft paper which had some cool film strip edging, which I cut off to edge the paper I wanted to use, and I also had some old negative transparency which I layered under my photo clusters, but you could use this Blue Fern Studio Film Strip chipboard and paint it black and it would have the same effect.

Here is a quick step by step of how I created this layout.

1.  I used a teal/copper coloured piece of paper from the Stamperia "Clockwise" Paper Pad.  

2.  First, I used some TCW Clear Gesso to add some protection to my base paper.  I use clear gesso all the time with my layouts as I tend to use a lot of medium and it really protects the paper and stops the paper from getting too warped and crinkled up.

3.  Apply some Texture Paste using the TCW 12x12 Tuscan Wall stencil.  Layer on some Lindy's Stamp Gang Ink Spray, diluting with water and drying between applications to prevent creating a "muddy" look.  I used Cattail Copper Brown and Danny Zuko Denim.  Once I was happy with that, I rubbed the raised areas of the texture paste with some Finnebair Art Alchemy Metallique Wax in Rich Copper.

4.    Add some layers - I cut some clocks out of another piece of paper from the Stamperia "Clockwise" Paper Pad, and then added them to my base paper using matte medium.  I then added my negative shapes - as shown.

Like I said before, I used some old transparency I had, but you could just as easily use this chipboard,  painted black. 

5.  Next, create some paper layers -  I used the "Tags" paper from the Stamperia "Clockwise" Paper Pad, and cut several tags out, inking them and layering them with a piece of scrap paper from the same range.  

6. Place the layered photo mat on my base, raising it up slightly with some thick card to add some dimension and give me some height to tuck under some embellishments.

7.  Mat your photo with some scrap paper - I used some scraps from the range I was using.  Add your photo on top of the tag cluster using some more thick card to add some more depth and another opportunity to layer.

8.  Time to embellish - get some gear - type chipboard.  I used the Blue Fern Studios Cogs and Gears and Moving Parts Chipboard,  which I painted with some brass coloured paint, and a touch of teal and mint to add a patina effect to them.  I added them to my layout with some Prima Mechanicals Rustic Washers and Prima Mechanicals Rustic Steampunk Gears.

9.  Finally, add a title.  I used the "Imagine" word from the 13 Arts Strength in Numbers Chipboard sheet.  Flick on some black paint, add some black string to the tags and any other bits and pieces to add interest.

Hope you enjoyed my little tutorial.  Don't forget you still have two weeks to weeks to get in your entries.  You can interpret this challenge in so many ways - use chipboard frames, frame your photo, add some polaroid frames, use negatives, stamp some frames.....  the choice is almost unlimited!

Once you have completed your entry, don't forget to upload it into the "You've Been Framed" album on the Scrap Matrix Shares Facebook Page.

I can't wait to see your creations so please be sure to play along.

Here is a full list, with links, of the products I've used from the Scrap Matrix Shop.

Stamperia Paper Pad: "Clockwise"

Blue Fern Studios Chipboard: "Moving Parts" and "Cogs and Gears"

13 Arts Chipboard Sheet "Strength in Numbers"

TCW 12x12 Stencil: Tuscan Wall

LindyStamp Gang Ink Spray "Cat Tail Copper Brown"

Finnabair Art Alchemy Métallique Wax - Rich Copper

Prima Mechanicals - Rustic Washers

Prima Mechanicals Steampunk Gears

String Trim in Black

TCW Clear Gesso

Thank you so much for stopping by xx.

'Create the world you want' by Elisa Ablett

Hi Crafters,

Elisa here from the design team for Scrap Matrix with my latest layout based on the new Challenge for this month - What's the Point ? all about pointy things on your layouts this month.

This is my second layout this month using the Stamperia Blue Stars paper pack and Primary Elements Mica Powder as my main products.

My layout features Stars as my pointy feature.

Make sure you have a look at the website for the gorgeous stamp set #12 by Tracy Evans for Aall & Create, I utilised the star stamps from the set for my layout. 

Here are some close ups of the finer details - 

Start your background by adding modelling paste through your star stencil.

Then add your black water colour ink from 13 Arts plus layers of Gold Mica Powder and little bits of ochre or light brown.

A small pocket of the same in the top left hand corner. Black Ink and blue and brown splatters.

Wire makes a fabulous addition to a background, twisted around the stars (which i stamped and fussy cut out) I then foam mounted the stars.

Here are a few of the products I used from the Scrap Matrix Store - 

http://scrapmatrix.com/primary-elements-mica-powder-10oz/

http://scrapmatrix.com/shop-by-category/paper-ranges-1/

http://scrapmatrix.com/6x6-13-arts-stars/

http://scrapmatrix.com/aall-stamp-set-12/

http://scrapmatrix.com/brands/AALL-%26-Create.html

Thanks for stopping by the blog today,

Head on over to my Youtube Channel and Instagram to subscribe :-) 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRoaLDX2gSp9jqLceKzUZyg

https://instagram.com/elisa_ablett/

Hugs xx