'Good Vibes' by Elisa Ablett

Hi everyone, 

Welcome to February, this year is travelling so fast already!

This month over at Scrap Matrix Shares we have a 'limited supplies' challenge.

The design team were sent 5 main supplies and we were allowed to add a few things (just a couple, nothing big lol) so I was sooooo happy when i discovered my supplies (the colours) matched exactly with my niece's beautiful Camilla inspired jump suit.

My layout came together quite quickly after I added a few circles cut from 'Art by Marlene' Collage paper and a stamped and coloured image. I adore Bohemian/Gypsy style elements and colours in my scrapping and mixed media work and the Aall and Create stamp set fit perfectly with my photo and layout. 

My 5 supplies from Scrap Matrix: 

and a few extras 😉😉😉😉😉

http://scrapmatrix.com/art-by-marlene/

http://scrapmatrix.com/zig-memory-system-millennium-8mm-marker/

💙💚💛💜💙💚💛💜

Here are some close ups for the finer details:

To add extra texture without all the lumps and bumps to your background, use a stencil and an ink applicator or sponge and blend ink through your stencil to add 'texture' to your background.

Add some random distressed sewing (or just crappy sewing in my case lol) to the circles and layout to add that extra texture and coordinating element to your layout.

That's it from me today, I hope you have been inspired to try the limited supplies challenge this month!

Show us your work over on the Scrap Matrix Shares page.

Hugs 

Elisa x

Art Journal - Limited Supplies

Good Morning - Lynn here to share my art journal page for this months challenge - Using Limited Supplies.

I was given the following supplies to create with:

Dylusions Paint - Bubblegum Pink
Dylusions Spray - Crushed Grape
Dina Wakley Paint - Lemon
Aall & Create Stamp
13 Arts Stencil - Galaxy

For me this was a challenge as I have a huge craft supply and dont like limitations - but actually in the end found it very rewarding!!!!!

I tried to stick to the supplies given - adding black gesso and white paint pen.  I did also use a die cut for the frame.

I began by stamping the images from my Aall & Create stamp onto tissue paper and then using gel matte medium adding to the page of my Dylusions Art Journal

I have used tissue paper as some of my previous art journal pages are a bit bulky and this means I can not stamp a clear image directly onto the page,

Whilst waiting for the to dry I have stamped and coloured the image again onto card stock that I have coloured using the Dylusions Spray and spritzing with water before it was dry.  I also stamped out the three sayings to use on my page.

From here I took step by step photos but for some reason they have vanished to cyber space!!!  So I will have to talk you through the steps - which are super easy!

I used the stencil and some clear crackle paste around the layout and once dry have applied colour using all three types of paint given.   I then mounted my frame and focal point as well as the three sayings.

Final touches included drawing little triangles to match those in the stamp, white paint marks and edging with black gesso and marking with the yellow paint and white paint pen,

Here are some close ups:

I would love to see what you can create with the following supplies:

Entering is super easy - just head to our Scrap Matrix Shares Facebook  page and find the February - Limited Supplies folder.  Upload your project and dont forget to mention in the comments what limited supplies you used. - remember you can use other items such as pens, patterned paper etc - these are just the basic supplied to create your background.

  

You could win a voucher to the Scrap Matrix Store ( who doesnt love some free shopping!) or the opportunity to be a Guest Designer with us.

Limited Supplies.....with Tam

Hi there Scrap Matrixes!!

 

Tam here today....

I've popped in today to share the details of my first creation for the 'Limited Supplies' Challenge.

 

Here it is.....

Love that colour against the white, with the touches of black thrown in!

This layout celebrates my girl's recent achievement to attend NYSF in Canberra (the National Youth Science Forum).  This is a highly sought after trip with applications from all around Australia.

 

I was so excited for her when we found out!

She got recognised at Government House and sponsored by Rotary plus achieved a scholarship.....so she is off on a trip of a lifetime, to discover all things STEM based!

 

Not too bad for a young girl from little old Clare!

 

Anyway, time to stop bragging, and get on with the layout.....

This month, the design team all received 5 supplies in the post, and the idea is to play with only those, adding the bare minimum.
We each received 2 paints, a spray, a stamp and a stencil.

So here's the supplies I received:

AALL & Create Stamp No 14

13 Arts Stencil - Galaxy

Dylusions Paint - 'Cut Grass'

Dina Wakley Paint - 'Ocean'

Dylusions Ink Spray - 'Funky Fuschia'

 

Now the first thing I was relieved about was the colours - nice and bright.  My only dilemma - the stamp and stencil had a more 'boy/grunge' feel, and the colours had a more 'girly' feel.

Yes I know......no such thing!! But it had my brain freaking out for a while.

 

So I decided to focus on the stamp and stencil. 

They have a bit of a science/maths feel to them - and then the idea struck!

My girl and her Science achievement! YES

Suddenly I had direction.

Besides a bit of black paint, black ink and black pen and thread, the only other thing I added was a white background paper.  THAT's IT!!

 

So I began by stamping directly onto the paper - time to make my own patterned paper.

Don't be too fussy if the stamping isn't perfect......that just adds to the effect.

I then added the 'Funky Fuschia' Ink Spray - instead of spraying it on, I opened the bottle, and applied it with a brush.  I applied it randomly in a few spots.

I then went back in with the 'Ocean' by Dina and the 'Cut Grass' by Dylusions.

 

NOTE - I added a lot of water to these.....until I achieved a transparent, almost watercolour feel.

I didn't want to cover up all that stamping.

I then added some black paint using a sponge and the 13Arts Stencil.

Just a few pops here and there.

 

 

I felt it needed more black, and I wanted to continue the circle theme, so I grabbed the end of an old paper towel cardboard roll, and used this as a stamp by adding black paint.

 

I then used an old credit card to swipe the black paint around the edges.

 

I love the grungy look this gives.

Finally I used the word stamps within the AALL & Create stencil and randomly stamped them in clusters.

You may also be able to see that I used the 13Arts stencil to create little traced elements that are peeking out in the background. This just adds another layer and more texture to the page.

I printed off 3 of my photos in black and white. I decided to print one in colour, as the colours matched the paints perfectly, and also it would create a focal point.

 

 

 

 

When printing a number of photos for a layout, it's important to keep one as a focal point, so the eye is drawn into the layout - it gives the eye somewhere to focus, and adds to the overall flow of the layout.

At this point, I decided a title wasn't necessary - those stamped words kinda created the title for me.

 

So I added some journaling to the bottom of the layout, making sure to include those repeated words. This 'pulls' the whole layout together, and helps to highlight those words as the title.

I finished off with a few pen scribbles - again in circles.

 

Man, it was hard not to add tags and word stickers and all the gorgeous stuff I normally do.  BUT I DID IT!!  I had to walk away as my hands were itching! But when I came back, I liked what I saw.....do you ever do that?  I do, so often - I take a break, go hang out the washing or something and come back with fresh eyes.

You will often then 'see' something that needs to change. Something that you were blind to before.

 

Another little trick is to take a photo on your phone and look at it that way. 

 

Somehow it focuses your eye and gives you a renewed clarity.
 

Well that's it from me today.....the proof that LESS really is MORE.

Working with limited supplies forces you to be more creative, forces you to think outside the box.

 

So what can you create with a couple of paints, a stamp and a stencil???
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.

 

 

Head on over to our Scrap Matrix Shares Facebook Group and load up your creations, including what products you used. 
We love seeing them. Your creativity inspires us so much.
PLUS you could win a voucher from the shop or a chance to be a guest designer!!! Woohoo!

 

I'll be back again real soon.

 

Love Tam

xxx

 

Scrap Matrix Products used:

 

AALL & Create Stamp No 14

13 Arts Stencil - Galaxy

Dylusions Paint - 'Cut Grass'

Dina Wakley Paint - 'Ocean'

Dylusions Ink Spray - 'Funky Fuschia'

Dina Wakley Paint - Black

Black Fudeball Pen

Black Archival Ink

 

 

Be a Mermaid !

We all have times when we feel overwhelmed with all the supplies we have. This months challenge gave me the opportunity to strip it right back and be inspired by the few things I'd been allocated.

Here are the my 5 items :

Dylusions Paint - London Blue

Dylusions Spray- Laidback Lilac

Dina Wakley Paint- Lime

AALL& Create Stamp - #7

13 Arts stencil -Scales

I knew as soon as I saw the stencil that I wanted to do a mermaid. I have used the blue Dylusions Paint to create a back ground.I got very messy on a mat with paint and black and white gesso to create many tones. Amazing what 1 colour can create !

I was confident that I could create a tail for my mermaid but needed a body for her.
I have flicked through a box of magazine clippings and I've found this gorgeous
 vintage lady in a calendar. I've used her top half only.

To create more ocean like features in the background, I've used the Lime paint with a stencil I've borrowed from the Scrap Matrix class room. (with permission of course)

Her body is not stuck down just yet. I've used some scrap card to sketch out a tail and cut it out.  My first layer is Dylusions ink sprayed on it. Once, that was completely dry, I've used some glossy clear medium through the scales stencil. When the gloss was drying it seemed to separate the blue hue from the purple spray, which gave it a really cool effect that I had not planned for !

Once it was all dry and stuck in place, I've painted in a bikini top using the green again, and used white gesso to create flowing hair. The gesso gives a good start to getting good colour. with the first layer. I have cheated a little bit and used the Laidback Lilac paint the matched the spray (this was not one of the 5 items supplied).

I have then added highlights using a white and black pens, and black water soluble pencil. 

Thanks for stopping by to check out how I created my mermaid ! 

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!