Scrap Matrix Challenge.....limited supplies

Hi there today I've popped in today to share the details of my first creation for the 'Limited Supplies' Challenge over at Scrap Matrix.

 

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.....

 

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.

 

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

A letter to myself

Hi everyone
So today I'm sharing with you something very personal, a layout I created for Scrap Matrix and their current challenge. It's about something that I have struggled with over the years.
I am definitely putting myself out there and I am actually terrified.  But I am doing it for a few reasons.

1.  It's something I've been meaning to do for years, but never have - always making excuses.
2.  I believe scrapbooking/creating is a highly personal as well as therapeutic process.  It is definitely somewhere I turn in times of stress.  I need it to cope with life's challenges. So it's important that I scrap the darkness as well as the light. 
3. I'm all about words and photos. About telling your story. So much of what we create now has no journaling, no handwriting. My voice, my words are an integral part of my creating. If I don't have a story, then I struggle - I just sit and shuffle. For me, the story is the base for everything else, it's the spark.
4. Maybe, just maybe this idea will resonate with some of you.
5. It's therapeutic for me. I need to do this. This is a safe space. It's my space.

So here goes....

As soon as I saw the 'You've got Mail' Challenge, my mind began whispering "it's time..." I tried so hard to ignore it, but it was very persistent!

I have written myself a letter, a very important letter of forgiveness and acceptance.

So it's titled 'Just for You' and it begins 'Dear Me' and ends with 'Love Me'.

Once I'd made the decision to create this page, it just kind of happened, it flowed out of me and onto the paper and I'm so glad it did.  The words were added without a draft, there was no need to practice, my heart knew what it needed to say.

It was so therapeutic.

As this page was all about myself.....I decided to have a go at hand painting and then fussy cutting some roses and leaves (something else I've wanted to do for a long time) and mixing these up with my favourite 'Aall & Create' Stamp.

So let's look at how this page came together....

I began by adding a thin layer of white gesso to some white cardstock.

Whilst this was drying, I began painting my roses and leaves.

I used my Prima Watercolours - I have 'Tropical'.  I LOVE the colours.
I ended up not using the yellow roses or the green leaves, so they are on my desk waiting for something else.

Once dry, I cut them all out.

I then stamped using Archival Ink and that gorgeous AALL & Create Stamp.  As you can see they didn't stamp perfectly - I need to refill my ink I think. (lol - I sound like Dr Suess!) but that really doesn't matter. I'm happy with imperfection.
If an area really bothered me, I just went over it with my Fudeball black pen.

Ok, time to go back to the background.

I used the 'packaging technique' for the background. 
I added some watercolour to some old plastic packaging, and then I turned this over onto my backround, smoodging and smooshing as I went!!

I really love the effect this technique gives, and the amount of control I have over where the paint ends up!

I then added layers behind my photos, and I created some tags from leftover scraps of paper.

I began poking these out from underneath my photos.

I then began to add the flowers and leaves - I wanted them to look like they were cascading down the page.
I also knew I wanted to write the letter directly onto the background and so I made sure I left enough space for that.

Time to write that letter....
I added a 13Arts Clear Sticker as my title.....I popped this down first so I knew where to start the words.

Some of the flowers are adhered with foam dots to give extra dimension.

I love the look of the black and white stamped images alongside the bright flowers.

I added a few embellishments too - a little chippy heart and that gorgeous 'German Scrap Pen Nib'.

 

 

I also added in some 13 Arts Clear phrase stickers.....they were just perfect, and I love the way they become part of the background.

I will definitely be using more painted flowers in the future..... I see a whole new style evolving.

 

Have you thought about writing yourself a letter?.......what would you say to your 15 year old self? What does your soul need to hear?
I recommend it.

Here's a quick reminder of the moodboard to use for inspiration:

Just pop your entry in the 'You've Got Mail' folder over on our Scrap Matrix Shares Facebook Group. It doesn't have to be a scrapbooking layout....it could be an Art Journal page, some cards, a canvas. Just let us know what Scrap Matrix Products you used in the comments and you could win either a $20 voucher at the store or a chance to guest design in one of our upcoming challenges!!

I really hope you have enjoyed this post, don't hesitate to reach out to me.

Love Tam
xxx

Scrap Matrix products used:

White Gesso
White Bazzill
Watercolour Paper Pad
Prima Watercolours - Tropical
AALL & Create Stamp #20
13Arts Marta's Small Message Clear Stickers
13 Arts Stickers Clear - Secret Letter
13 Arts Paper -
7Dots Studio Paper Pad - Verano Azul
German Scrap Pen Nib Black
7Dots Airmail Die Cut Elements
Fudeball pen
Ranger Ink Black

I'm 'Seriously On Point' for Scrap Matrix

Good morning my lovelies

 

It's my turn to share the layout I created for our current 'The Point Is' Challenge over at Scrap Matrix.

 

Here it is.....

 

A fun layout with photos taken just prior to my girl hopping on stage and performing a Hip Hop Routine.

 

I wanted to capture the 'teenage attitude' so I selected bright colours, funky stamps that look like hand drawn doodling. I felt the 'pointy' theme was perfect for this age group.

 

 

 To go with the theme I went with the title 'Seriously On Point'. LOL

 

 

 So I began by selecting a sheet of 7Dots Paper for my background.

The paint splatters were perfect.

 

 

I grabbed my Dylusions Paint in 'Lemon Zest' and 'Cherry Pie'.

I swiped them randomly across my page using an old store card.

 

 

 I then added some Dina Wakley Washi Tape in a chevron pattern.

I love this stamp set by Paper Artsy and knew it would be perfect for this layout.

I used the 3 arrow sets on the bottom right hand side and the file tab stamp and some lettering.

 

I can see this being a very handy stamp.

 

 

 I  stamped the arrows onto the layout, ensuring they faced towards where I was going to add my photo. This draws the eyes into the photos and ensures the focus is on them.

 

 

I then pulled out a paper I had created a few weeks ago - my first play with the Gelli Plate!

I'd used a cool 13Arts stencil with lots of triangles.....perfect, and I knew the colour would make the page pop.
I achieved the colour using Paper Artsy 'Tracy Scott' Paints.

 

 

I then cut out some taggy bits and also used the file tab stamp and cut this out too.

 

 

 I then placed my photos down, and began tucking in the above items.

I made my own tags from the 6x6 Paper Pad. which I also tucked around the page.

 

 

I then added a few embellishments from the Paint Chips range.....arrows, word stickers etc.

 

 

 The final touches were to add the title from the Mambi Chip Stickers.

These have really been turning up on all my layouts!!

 

I simply wrote on an embellishment for the rest of the title.

 

 

Oh yeah, I nearly forgot, I swiped black paint around the edges to completely finish it off and added a few splashes of paint.

 

 

Here's a bit of a close up.....I love how the various arrows/points look like I've drawn them on.

These stamps print so very quickly.

 

 

Fun, vibrant and ON POINT! Lol

 

 

 So that's it from me today!

 

I'd love you to join in with our challenge this month....

 

It's super easy, you don't even need a blog!

Just head to our Scrap Matrix Shares Page and pop it in the correct album.

 

The only rule is that you MUST use some Scrap Matrix products!

But hey that's super easy.....all my layouts are covered in them.

Just let us know which products you used in the comments.

 

That's it!

 

 

Here's a list of Scrap Matrix Products I used:

 

7Dots Paper - Underpaper

7Dots Paint Chips 6x6 Pad

7Dots Hazy days Word Stickers

7Dots Paint Chips Die Cut Embellishments

Gell Press

13Arts Triangle Stencil

Dylusions Paint - Cherry Pie and Lemon Zest

Tracy Scott Paints

Paper Artsy Stamp Set Emma Godfrey #03

Dina Wakley Washi Tape

Mambi Chip Sweet Memories