Collage Tree for Scrap Matrix Challenge

Good morning creatives.

 I'm here today to share my Art Journal Page for the current 

'Mark Making and Gel Printing Challenge' over at Scrap Matrix.

For this one I used my large Dylusions Journal.

I had so much fun, firstly creating the leaves on my Gel Press, and then putting down all those marks to make that tree.....

LOVE LOVE LOVE the colour....

So let's take a look at where I began....

I have so much fun and surprises when I create with my gel press, but to be honest, I'm a little overwhelmed by it, I feel unsure of what I'm doing, so I usually need a little push to get it out.

Love that this challenge did that.

So firstly, I created a whole heap of papers using PaperArtsy Paints and a few different stencils including TCW Botanical Dream 12x12 and TCW Blooming Garden 12x12.

Two of my favourite 'go to' stencils.

I also used a Texture Plate by Carabelle called Lines and Circles.

Oh and of course my brayer, and gel plate.

For the Paper Artsy paints, I recently visited Vicki at the gorgeous Scrap Matrix store and she opened a Paper Artsy Order whilst I was there. I snaffled up some of the gorgeous new Paint colours and a few that were missing from my stash.

The colours I used were 'China', 'Deep Sea', 'Weathered Copper', 'Dirty Lime', 'Limelight' and 'Bouganvillea'.

Above are my fave prints from the session. 

As I knew that I wanted to create a bunch of colours, and cut them out into leaves, I went for quite a few of the blockier prints. 

As I said before, I sometimes feel a bit unsure with my gel prints.....that whole

'I have no clue what I'm doing' feeling.  

The beauty of this one was it didn't matter, I knew I was gonna cut them up into smaller bits so that seemed to give me freedom, and a 'let's just see what happens if I do this' attitude.

And I was happy with the results.

See that second from the right print? See that cat paw print??

Yep my Maisy must have walked across my gel plate....I didn't notice it until I pulled it up. Lol! 

It's actually a pretty good print. 

Will definitely be using that somewhere.....

Ok, stop rambling, time to cut out a whole pile of leaves from the prints.....

Aren't they gorgeous?!?!?

All that colour!

To a few of them, I added some painted marks - mainly dots and little dashes.

Time to get on with the background of the Art Journal page.

I selected paint colours that reminded me of the sky.....'Aqua Duck Egg', and 'Aquamarine'.

I painted them all over.

Once dry I added some white paint over the top.

Then whilst the white paint was wet I wiped it off through the TCW Ocean Window 12x12 stencil with a wet nappy wipe.

Here's what I was left with....

I then painted in a tree using 'Snowflake' paint.

I just free handed it.

I then went in with a black paint pen, adding swirls and doodles.

Time to adhere the leaves using 'Soft Matte Gel'.

I then added a border with a few scribbles....

Just love that glorious colour....

I then added a quote in the trunk of the tree

"Can you paint with all the colours of the wind"

Ta-da!!

I had so much fun making a collage....it reminded me of being a little girl.....sticking and pasting.

When's the last time you got creative?

We'd love you to enter our 'Mark Making/Gel Printing Challenge'.

Just head to our Scrap Matrix Shares Page and add your creation, and let us know what products you used that are available from the Scrap Matrix Store.

I look forward to seeing them.

I'll see you again soon

xxx

My first Scrap Matrix Challenge .....FRAMED!

Hello I've popped in today to share some Scrap Matrix goodness.

 

As I put this post together, I've just returned from a wonderful weekend away at Scrap Matrix. I got to take some wonderful 'Tracy' Classes and spend some time with Vicki and many of the gorgeous Scrap Matrix family. I truly think that was the best part.....meeting so many of my online friends, connecting, laughing, creating together.

Needless to say, I am totally inspired and keen to play, but first things first.....paperwork, also known as blogging!

 

So the new challenge is all about Frames.

Frames are so important. They create focal points, they draw the eye into the layout and the story. They highlight.

Here's what I created.....

 

 

 

Lots of coloured frames created with my gel plate!

 

A layout about my girl and her attending the Adelaide Uni Open Day as she plans and prepares for the next part of her life.  Eeeekk!!!

 

 

 

This next phase has certainly been causing me some anxiety! Feeling like time has slipped by and I'm so not ready for this independence, for her to move not only out, but away.

 

Attending this day changed that shift for me.

She looked so content and happy here, in fact she kept saying 'I could so study here', as we'd find another little study area on campus.

I could totally see her here.

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

I began with my background paper.

I added stamps from the AALL & Create Stamp #60. I used the circle stamps in particular and added them in the area where I knew I wanted to add my photo.

 

 

 

I kept building up the layers.

 

I then added a paint splat stamp by 7Dots Studio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep happy with the detail around the photo.

 

Right time to create the frames.

 

I began by gathering some papers I'd created previously using my Gel Plate.

 

 

I randomly cut out lots of different sized frames.

 

 

I added them all around the photo, and even on top of the photo.

This really draws the focus into the photo, and onto the subject, my gorgeous girl.

 

I adhere some with glue and some with foam tape for extra dimension.

 

 

I added some German Scrap, creating frames with them.

 

The black really helped the coloured frames to 'pop'.

 

 

Time to start adding embellishments.

 

For my title, I used some clear stickers by 13Arts.

 

 

 

I trimmed them and added them onto my photo.....the saying was just perfect for the story behind the layout.

 

 

 

I also added in my journaling on a tag I cut from black cardstock.

 

I slipped in a few word stickers by 7 Dots.

 

 

I added my fave 7Dots Studio stamp - those tiny little flicks.

 

They look just like splatters, but the best part is that I have control over them!

 

 

I love that they always 'finish off' the layout.

 

 

 

 

The final step in this layout is to add black paint around all of the edges to 'FRAME' it.

 

So.....are you entering the challenge this month??

 

Vicki is offering a voucher to her awesome store and perhaps the opportunity to Guest Design.

 

Just add your creation - layout, art journal page, cards, tags, whatever it is to our Facebook Shares Group and let us know which products from Scrap Matrix used on your Frame inspired creation.

 

 

I'll be back again soon, so keep checking in!!

 

 

 Scrap Matrix Products used:

 

Paper - Chesterville Holmes

Gel Plate 8x10

Dylusions Paint - Fresh Lime, Lemon Zest

Dina Wakley Paint - Ocean, Fuschia,black

German Scrap - Renaissance Black

13Arts Clear Stickers - Strength In Numbers

7Dots Studio Word Stickers

7Dots Studio Hazy Days Stamp Set

Archival Black Ink

AALL & Create Stamp #60

My Second July 2Crafty Chipboard share

I've popped in today to share my latest creation for 2Crafty Chipboard......

 

This one's titled:

 

"True Beauty"

 

 

A page celebrating my girl who is the image of True Beauty. Inside and out.

I used the following 2Crafty Chipboard:

 

"Beauty script title"

"Circle Stack"

"Flowering Clusters"

"Weeping Vine"

 

 

 

I just love the colours and the ombre effect on the "Flowering Clusters".

 

I created this by first applying a couple of coats of white gesso, and then using Dylusions Ink Sprays.  Instead of spraying them on, I applied them with a paintbrush which gives a much stronger and more vibrant finish once dry.

 

 

 

I used the colours 'Polished Jade' and 'Fresh Lime', and I let the colours blend in the middle.

 

These are available from my favourite scrappy supply store Scrap Matrix.

 

 

 

These "Flowering Clusters" are new to the 2Crafty range and I just LOVE them, and know I will be using them again soon.

 

 

 

I painted the "Weeping Vine" with a couple of coats of white gesso and then white acrylic paint.

 

I then cut it down and tucked it into various parts of the layout.

 

 



I selected a circle from the "Circle Stack" that would act as a frame around my photos.

 

I painted this with a couple of coats of white gesso and then stamped over this with black ink and a script stamp.

 

The background stencil is by Aall & Create.
I used a few tags from 7Dots, as well as some of their word stickers in my layers around the photo.
I made some tags too using paper I had created with my Gel Plate. 

These are all sourced from Scrap Matrix too.

Finally I added the "Beauty Script title" to the top edge of the frame and gave it a couple of coats of black paint.

 

I adore the black and white mixed with the turquoise and lime.

 

My favourite colour combination.

 

 

This page was taken prior to my girl attending formal for High School.

 

Leading up to this night, she had bought an amazing dress.

 

There was lots of pressure on her (ridiculous!) to have her hair done, her makeup done, fake tans etc, but she refused. She just wanted to be herself.

 

This made my heart swell, and I was so proud of HER!!

I wanted to document THIS.

 

 

The journaling reads:

 

"Beauty begins the Moment you decide to be yourself"

"You are truly beautiful inside and out - sounds cliché but I love that you don't get caught up in all the fakeness that surrounds our teenagers. The fake tans, eyebrows, eyelashes. They must look in the mirror and wonder who is looking back at them. Youth is beautiful. So is being you.

That's all you need."

 

 

Well that's it from me today, I hope I've inspired you, thanks for popping by.