Tam and TCW go together

 Hi lovelies!

Tam back to share another creation in celebration of TCW month!!

I thought I'd share one of the gorgeous Art Journal pages that I've been creating, playing with an image by the amazing Michelle Grant.

I'm still learning to create faces, and am really not confident with them, and I find capturing emotions and expressions so difficult, and sometimes I get bogged down in that part of the creating and my play time kinda loses it's shine.

So.... using these images frees me up to really focus on the freedom of creating.

It means I get to have fun with the background, focusing on TCW stencils!

Let's dive straight in and see how this came together.

Begin by adding a layer of gesso to your page.

Then cut out the image you wish to use.

I used one from the 'Silent' Pack.

Adhere with TCW Gel Medium, adding a layer to the top of the image too. 

This protects the paper when adding paints etc.

I tend to place the face on one side of the background, giving more space to play.

Now it's time to add some colour.

I grabbed a few PaperArtsy Paints that appealed to me.

I went with:

Cherry Red

Peach Nectar

Slimed

Twilight

Cerulean 

Jade

I began with the darker colour, Twilight.

I added that around the image, and a touch on the right hand side to balance the page.

I then placed down NEW stencil TCW Floral Spectacle in 12x12 size and working quickly while still wet, I removed some of the paint with a wet baby wipe.

I then added a touch of 'Jade' and repeated the above step.

I then added some of the 'Slimed' over the space inbetween the two colours.

This time I used TCW Deco Leaves Stencil in 12x12.

Once the background is done, I began to focus on the image.

Firstly I added some flowers using TCW Floral Spectacle in 6x6.

This time I used a sponge and paint through the stencil.

I used 'Cherry Red' and 'Peach Nectar'

It's important to have some variegation with this part for it to be more natural.

I also added some to the right hand edge, again some lighter, and some deeper in colour.

I then added some vine work using TCW Jungle Vines Stencil 6x6.

I used a variety of paint colours for this part,mainly in blues, greens and white.

Now I needed to ensure the image looked part of the page, and not just plonked on top.

I added shadows and depth around some of the edges and then added colour to her face and hair.

I find this step really important.

I actually enjoy it, as it's the moment the magic happens...

her face comes forward and it all ties together.

I also grabbed the Tracy Scott stamp ETS43- and stamped a few feathers onto PaperArtsy Smooth Cardstock using black archival ink.

I then added colour and cut them out.

I adhered these with TCW Gel Medium to look like they were hanging down from the flowers in her hair.

I also chose this Paper Artsy Stamp EEG23 to add the title and a quote.

Add a few scribbles and flicks of paint.....

That's it from me today....

I love seeing what you're creating with your TCW goodies.

Don't forget when sharing them on Instagram, add the hashtag #tcwstencillove and then TCW can see them too.

Much love and creative play...

Tam

xx

The Final DT inspiration.....

Hello lovely people and Happy New Year!!

We truly hope that this is a Year of Joy and happiness for you all.

We hope it's an easier one than last year.

Kinder. Gentler. 

Whilst we are on a difficult subject.....We’re finding this a difficult post to type.

You see Scrap Matrix is closing it's doors and this will be the final 'formal' inspiration from us, the Design Team.  

We have loved sharing our arty inspirations with you and we have loved getting to know you all. It is definitely a real family here - a very safe and encouraging community that has put a smile on our faces whenever we have felt a little flat.

And guess what!!!! You guys have inspired us right back.

We have been in awe of your creations and love seeing what you come up with.

Plus we got to have Vicki as our boss lady - and let me tell you Miss Vicki is divine. Always so generous and grateful for all that we do.

So we have one last request....

PLAY along this month.

Let's flood the page with colour.....

So without further ado, here is our last challenge......

Yep.....The Crafter's Workshop.

They are a lovely company and Tammy is a member of the Design Team.

(In fact it was due to her getting on this team that this idea was born)

They are well known for their Stencils but they also do fantastic mediums including gesso, gel medium, modelling paste, watercolor powders and much much more!!

So use as much TCW goodness on your page as possible.

So let's take a look at the DT's inspirations.....

Come on creatives, let's create the hell out of this last challenge.....

See you over in the Facebook Shares Group.

(WARNING - we won't be going away that easily, we will still be around to connect with)

Yep you just can't get rid of us that easily!

Much love and hugs and tears and snuffles and more hugs and colour

Tam, Tanya and Jen

Scrap Matrix Design Team

I tried to be naughty...

 Hi everyone!

It's my turn for my second reveal for this month's challenge.

I chose a Page (again), Stars, Pastels, and Naughty.

 

It's not really naughty, but I tried.

 Actually 'I tried' should be the title of this entry.  I tried to be naughty, I tried to do grungy, I tried to do pastels.  While I do like this page, I didn't exactly achieve what I wanted to.

So here goes,  this I what I did.

I used my small Dylusions journal.  Using a dry brush, I covered the page in Paperartsy's Zucchini.  I wanted the brush strokes to show.

 

Next I used Lilac. I didn't clean my rush with water, I just wiped the excess Zucchini onto the opposite page.

 

Blue Bayou was my next colour choice.

 

I stamped the stars using Carabelle Studios stamp set 'Textures Printing' in Navy Archival Ink...

 

...followed by sponging Paperartsy's Snowflake through 7 Dots Studio star stencil.

 

I stamped one of the cats from Carabelle Studios 'Kooky Cats' stamp set and coloured it with Paperartsy's Truffle, Zucchini and White Fire. One dry, I cut it out and glued it to my page.

 

I sponged Black Soot Distress Ink around the edges of the page.

 

I finished the page with a sticker from Tim Holtz's Snarky Comments. 

>^.^<

I did another page as well. (It's on the opposite page on the abovemention project.)

  This time I chose Page, Pastels, Circles and Naughty.

This was done using Dina Wakley paints, Carabelle Studios stamp sets 'Keep Swimming' and 'Round and Around'.  I added some marks and another Snarky Comments sticker.

So that's it for this month.

 

I'm going to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and merry Christmas.  May it be filled with love and laughter.  Stay safe if you are travelling. 

My mother nominated me to hold Christmas this year.  Just what I love... cooking in tropical heat and humidity. (Thanks Mum). Truthfully though I couldn't be happier.  Hubby will be firing up the BBQ and there will be plenty of food, drinks and laughter. I hope you all enjoy yourselves.  Hug your loved ones.  I'll see you next year.

Jen.

>^.^<

I would like to paint the way a bird sings.

Hi Everyone!

It’s my turn to share my project for the Either/Or challenge.

I’ve chosen to do a page, brights, circles and nice. 

 

Now bright is a bit of a kryptonite for me, but I’m improving.  So here goes…

First I stuck down some torn serviette into my Dylusions journal. I’ve had these for a while, (I think I got then from Kmart).

 

Then I sponged DinaWakley paints over the page. I’ve used Lime, Lemon, Ruby, Magenta, Peacock, Tangerine, Evergreen, Blackberry, Lapis and White.

 

My next step was to sponge more paint through various stencils, (7 Dots Studio and TCW).

 

Then I drew some circles and blocked out the rest of the page with Apricot. (I regret this; I should have used a different colour. Oh well.)

 

I did a second coat.  (I still didn't like it.)

 

I wanted to create a shadow around the circles so I used my Hickory Smoke Distress crayon and blended it with my finger. 

 

I then outlined the circles with a black pen. Adding scribbles and trying my hardest to be messy.  (This is hard for me.) It took a couple more circles before the perfectionist side of my personality would let it go.  (I’m a Gemini; one half chaotic, the other controlling.)

 

I stamped my leaves around the edges of some of the circles and the two birds in the larger circles in Jet Black Archival Ink. (Paperartsy Stamp Set ESN34).  Some didn’t stamp well and I coloured them in with a black pen.

 

I added the quote in pen and that’s it. I hope you like it.  I’ll be back later in the month with more to share. I’ll see you then.  Now it’s time to work on my Christmas gifts. 

Bye for now.

 

Jen.