Scrapbooking layout for Sketchabilities DT: Love and be loved


Hi!
We have reached the middle of the month which means that it's time to reveal a new Sketchabilities sketch!


Here's my layout:


The background paper is from American Crafts / DIY Shop collection. Before panting it with yellow, brown and orange water colours I covered it with a thin layer of transparent gesso. I've become a heavy user of clear gesso, as it prepares the surface perfectly for watercolouring, without changing the colours of the papers. And it's so easy to use!


Feathers and flowers are fuzzy cut from patterned paper. The wooden stars are actually not wood at all, but cutouts from patterned paper (Crate Paper Poolside Lawn Chair). Love it!

White branches are die-cut using Sizzix Branch with leaves die.



Our lovely sponsor for this reveal is Freckled Fawn. Hope you play along and get a chance of winning some amazing Freckled Fawn goodies! More information of Freckled Fawn can be read here: Website - Blog- Facebook

Happy crafting!

Hugs,

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Tri-Hard and Love Life. Kraft inspired scrapbooking layout.



Hi!
I love earth tones. On my projects I often use browns, warm greys and greens, and spice them with white, black and bright yellows and oranges. Kraft coloured paper evokes my imagination; it's unfinished and bit rough look and feel makes me grab my supplies and start working. Kraft cardstock is often much cheaper than patterned paper and it's affordability allows you to experiment, play, test and also fail. Should yoy not like your project, just take out another sheet and try again!

Kraft+ is a challenge blog for all kraft lovers. It's all about letting the kraft shine. Kraft is used as background, and highlighted as the essential element of the project. I had been following the blog for a while already, and inspired by a great sketch by Em Stafrace I decided to play along. Here's her September sketch 'Tri-hard'...



... and my take on it:



Layout filled with pure crafting joy!

I started with painting the middle part with white gesso. Once dry I cut regular masking tape into thin strips, and layered them randomly on the background. I dabbed clear embossing ink on the masked area, and heat embossed a few layers of orange and black colours.




Then I cut different sized triangles of scrap paper, glued them on the background and decorated with a simple straight stitch.


Brown water colour like effects are made with 'Vintage Photo' Distress Ink. The same brown ink was used also for stamping texture on the background.


Then I added some washi tape, 3 selfies, foam stickers and text stickers and the layout was done!


I want to wish you a great week. Maybe it's time to view the inexpensive, porous, versatile and fun kraft cardstock from a new angle?

Hugs,
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More Craft Stamper Take It Make It inspiration: All The Gals

Weekend is here! Woohoo!

After a busy week it nice to create something that brings you joy. To get your fingers inked and hands covered with acrylic paints, unwind, and just let the creative flow carry. Being able to make something that pleases the eye is a gift, and I hope that you have time to use that gift some time soon!

Craft Stamper September Take It Make It challenge is ongoing, and there are over 70 projects already linked to it. Amazing! Our Design Team has put up a new set of inspiration pojects for you, so hop over to Craft Stamper blog to see them. September challenge details can be read here.

For my project I used two Dina Wakley stamp sets. I'm such a big fan of her style! I challenged myself to use a palette of unconventional colours, i.e. different shades and tones of blue and turquoise. Don't get me wrong, I do like blue and turquoise, but for some reason I find them bit tricky to use. Too often I just grab my favourite and easy-to-work with colours of yellow, green and brown, but this time it was going to be something else!



The size of this project is 10 cm x 35 cm, and the base is the lid of a wooden champagne box. The box is used for storing glue bottles and tubes, and I'm happy I found use for the lid, too!

I started with painting the background with black gesso, as a wooden plate will easily curve if there's paint only on one side. Then I stencilled some small squares on the front, using white texture paste as medium. Once dry I painted over the entire front with light blue acrylic paint. When working with several colours of light body acrylic paints I suggest you begin with the light colours and add the dark ones later; this hint is applicable also for colouring with markers, painting with watercolours, and working with mists.




The flowers on the background are stencilled using a mixture of light blue acrylic paint and soft modelling paste. A finishing touch for the flowers is created by stamping on them with dark grey Archival Ink. Red textures are added with stamping and rolling over the edges with a brayer.



The white words are stamped and embossed with white embossing powder. I've not been able to find a white stamping ink that would work perfectly, but embossing powder will create a bright white result even on black cardstock.

Faces are coloured with Promarkers, and highlights are added with a white gel pen. Before gluing the images down I attached a small piece of corrugated cardstock under each face; a piece of bit heavier cardstock both lifts the image from the background, and also eases attaching it on a textured surface.



This must be one of my favourite pieces. I love it's empowering message, and looking at it brings a smile to my face.

From all your recent projects what's your favourite one? I would love to hear!

Hugs,
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Bird Crazy! For Craft Stamper August Take It Make It Challenge

Hi!
September Craft Stamper Take It Make It challenge has started!
This month's theme is simple, 'Take A Stamp' which means that for entering our challenge you need to create a project of any kind that has stamping somewhere on it. Easy!

For my September project I did not have too many options to choose from: I had finally received my Bird Crazy stamp set, so I jus HAD to play with those cuties! lol!


Using masking technique I stamped three birds on a piece of watercolour paper, and decorated the background with a text stamp and by doodling with a black marker. For colouring I used my watercolours, and here's my finished card:


The background is also coloured with watercolours. For painting that easily without worrying that the colours would mix, I first covered the stamped birds with masking fluid. Masking fluid also protected the birds when creating stamped patterns to the background.


I hope you join our September challenge- just follow this link to see the challenge details and to link your project. Before adding your project please read the challenge guidelines here; just to ensure that your project is entitled to be one of the lucky prize winners!

Our amazing and generous sponsor this month is STAMPlorations!



One randomly drawn winner will win an amazing prize: A STAMPlorations stamp set and two  stencils! Wow!




Free delivery on STAMPloration orders!

As a very special offer for Craft Stamper blog readers, Shery from STAMPlorations has created a coupon code just for us.... a coupon that will entitle the user to FREE international shipping on any order over $20 (which works out to around £12.90)!

The code to enter is: CSTAKEITMAKEIT, and is good throughout the whole month of September (and you can use it with other STAMPlorations coupons too).

 I wish you a great, relaxing and inspirational weekend. And happy shopping! ;)



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Card for September Mixed Media Card Challenge: Hello My Friend



Hi!
What a wonderful theme we have for September Mixed Media Challenge: 'Friendship'!




Friends never get too much recognition. So why don't you brighten the day of your dear friend and send her or him a self-made card!

Here's my card for my special friend:


This card has a watercolour background I embellished with stamped patterns and sewing yarn. By the way, the lovely stamps are designed by Nathalie Kalbach; her art work is a true source of inspiration and on top of that she's a dear friend! 


For the birds I used a wonderful new Sizzix / Craft Asylum die  'Happy Birds'. I loved the original design, but for this purpose I modified it a little bit. Follow the above link to see the original version!




For viewing the entire Design Team card collection just follow this link to Mixed Media Card Challenge blog. I hope I will see you Friendship themed card among the linked projects!

"Your friendship is a special gift, 
Generously given,
Happily accepted,
And deeply appreciated!" 

Wishing you a lovely day!
Hugs,
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