Monday 29 July 2013

If awesome...

Instead of working on my day job yesterday, I decided to play along with a CSI challenge instead...

The challenge specified the following:

So I gathered what I could from my stash, and made this:

 
One of the prompts got me thinking about some of the "awesome" qualities of my 9-year old son. As I was jotting down a few ideas, I realised that in my eyes, he is "awesome" personified. So quite a long title was born.
 


I really had fun playing with embellishments on this one. There is a chipboard feather, coloured with Distress Ink, then covered with Distress Stickles for a bit of sparkle. There's also a number of chipboard hearts, covered in word stickers and few silver metal embellishments.

 
My journaling is on 6 tags, each corresponding to a different aspect of his personality. Each tag lives in its own vellum pocket, decorated with stamping, washi tape, word stickers and die cut numbers.


This is the first time I participate in a CSI challenge, and I found it very interesting to work with so many "clues", instead of just a sketch. Definitely something I will try again!

Saturday 27 July 2013

Hexagon patchwork

Scrap Africa's current challenge involves using patchwork to create the background of a layout. I've used a number of different patterned paper hexagons to create my background. I've picked up on that theme by also using chipboard hexagon shapes, which were inked, stamped and glazed.

 
Washi tape, more stamping, fussy cutting and a few "technique heavy" tags all helped to create a fun layout  of my son having fun outdoors.

Monday 22 July 2013

Extra layout for this Saturday's class kit

This month, we are not going to use all the paper and embellishments in the kit for our class. So I've created a bonus layout with the "leftovers".


As you can see, there's a bit of fussy cutting involved here... I loved the look of this piece of paper so much on the original layout, that I just had to repeat it here. The layout also incorporates some rub-ons and bling, and a beautiful red, glazed title. This kit is absolutely jam packed with goodies, including a full chipboard alphabet set, a set of chipboard shapes, rub-ons, book paper, tags, self-adhesive bling, washi tape and loads of paper.

Once our class is all done on Saturday, I will post details of the class layout as well. The class layout looks completely different to the one above, and also includes a very cool technique used on tags to add as embellishments to the layout.  As usual, we've packed a few extra kits. You are welcome to contact us at info@picsntales.co.za to order yours...

Friday 19 July 2013

Vintage crackle day dreams...

Last week I was fortunate enough to be asked to do a step-by-step encaustic art project for "Die Burger: In en om die huis". My studio is also home to the Pics 'n Tales classroom - with scrapbooking layouts displayed everywhere - and they wondered what I could do with some handmade vintage crackle paper. To see what I came up with, get a copy of the July issue of Die Burger: In en om die huis. 

The rich rusty tones of the paper and a sepia picture of my daughter, Electra inspired me to do this single page layout:



I used the piece of the handmade vintage crackle paper and dictionary paper layered behind the photograph on a card-stock background, stencilled with a hot air-balloon image in textured paint and glimmer mist. I also stamped using an italic script and smaller balloons stamps randomly, in brown ink.


To embellish I punched various sized circles from the handmade vintage crackle paper and dictionary paper, to emphasise the theme. 


The silver chipboard alphabet letters for the title was sprayed with glimmer mist (Heirloom Gold) and chalked with brown chalk.



I then built a flower cluster to bring in colour and added some bling and a miniature film strip to finish the layout off.

I really enjoyed the unstructured and artistic process of this layout, using the handmade vintage crackle paper, stamping and textured paint. These techniques tie in beautifully with this month's Pics 'n Tales class.



Tuesday 2 July 2013

Someone's been a bit busy...

After our monthly Pics 'n Tales class this past weekend, I found myself in quite a creative space. I had finished this layout as my interpretation on Ezme's beautiful design on Friday night:

 
When I got home, I felt like scrapping a bit more, so I made these cards from the left overs of the kit...
 

 
Then was the "unfinished business" I showed you in the previous post. And then last night, I decided that the bits and pieces left from that kit just screamed: "USE US FOR SCRAP365'S SKETCHBOOK CHALLENGE!!!!"  So I did. This is what the gorgeous sketch for the current challenge, designed by Sheena Rowlands, looks like:
 
 
And here is my take on it:
 
 
I've used the Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue range for the layout, and combined it with a bit of paint splashed on the background, a lot of fussy cutting, and a bit of Glossy Accents to highlight a few areas.
 

 
Now if you will excuse me, I nee a cup of coffee!! TFL!