Scrap Matrix guest designer for May - Dream Big

Hello, I am delighted to have been asked to be guest designer at Scrap Matrix, for a second time. It has been fun to play along with the new challenge, "To the Point". Here is the challenge graphic, as a reminder:

There is so much great inspiration here with this challenge, so it was a fun one to be able to do.

I had a photo in mind when it came to this challenge, and when I received the papers and other products to play with, I knew this was going to work together. I wanted to create something really grungy, but not too grungy that it was overwhelming to work with my photo. 

Dream Big

I started this layout with these awesome 7 Dots Studio Hazy Days collection papers, I mean to say, they just speak grunge to me when I look at them. To top it off, they already had on them chevrons and zigzag patterns, just like in the challenge graphic. I cut the chevron strip off the bottom of the Zip paper and stuck it to the Slick paper, as this had the colour on it that I wanted to work with. 

The other great product that I got to use for this layout was this Paper Artsy stencil.

So I was well and truly supplied with products to make a grungy boy layout using the point theme for the challenge. 

I laid down some colour onto my patterned paper, using Dylusions paint, Dina Wakely acrylic paint, and Tim Holtz distress oxides.. 

Using the Paper Artsy stencil, and Finnabair by Prima clear crackle texture paste, I applied texture over my page. 

Other detail added to the background was done by using this awesome stamp set by Paper Artsy and Ranger archival ink.

So after all of that creativity, I ended up with this background.

So to embellish the layout, firstly I made some stars, using the 7 dots paper, I also used this to mat my photo. 

I was given this awesome MAMBI chipboard pack to work with. So using chipboard pieces that worked for the layout, I sanded them back to make them a bit grungy, and placed them strategically around the page in clusters, wherever they suited. For the title I had a different idea in my head, but flicking through the pack, I found the piece that said Dream Big, which I thought was a perfect title, considering my great-nephew was trying to get onto a very oversized skateboard. 

As extra embellishing, I used 7 Dots Studio Lost and Found Elements to scatter around the layout.

I love the grungy feel to this layout, without it being too grungy for a small boy. I loved creating it. So I hope I have provided some inspiration, and you feel like doing the challenge. Until next time...Sandra.

Scrap Matrix products used: 

7 Dots Studio Hazy Days patterned paper  - Zip and Slick

Paper Artsy stamp set - Tracey Scott 08

Paper Artsy stencil  - 016

Finnabair clear crackle texture paste

Dylusions paint - Chopped Pesto

Dina Wakely acrylic paint - Evergreen

Tim Holtz distress oxides - Faded jeans, Hickory smoke, Peeled paint

Ranger archival ink - black

MAMBI chipboard pack - Hey You

7 Dots Studio Lost and Found Elements

Scrap Matrix guest designer share - Art journal double page spread

Hi everyone, I am back with my second share for October for Scrap Matrix as a guest designer. This has been a real privilege, thanks Vicki.

So, for my second share, I have an art journal creation. I am reasonably new to art journaling, so still finding my feet with it. I loved doing this one though, as the products I used are just so much fun.

I really love the 13 Arts ayeeda watercolour powders, and this was the main feature used on my art journal spread.

With these powders, the more water added, the more dilute the solution, and with less water the more intense the colour.

So with the sky blue, I spread this over my art journal page, adding water as I went, adding more powder – even to the page, and continued spreading it until I was happy with the look I was achieving. I dried it in between layers, to be able to add more intensity in some areas.

I added splashes of water to the layers as well, to create some spots on the spread colour.

I used the most basic of tools for my art journal, grabbing the trusty paper tool, and I removed sections of colour as well, as really wanted some differentiation on the pages.

Once I was happy with the layers, and after drying them all off, I then added some more intense colour with a spray in the mini mister, as I wanted to create some flowers.

I then started to bring in the brown watercolour as well.

After I was happy with the background colour, I sealed it with some clear gesso.

I grabbed my white sharpie and gel pens, and started to draw circular shapes onto the pages.

I cut out some circular shapes from some leftover Blue Fern Studio patterned paper, and added this to the pages.

The next step was to do some random stamping around the pages.

I mixed the blue and brown watercolour mixtures to make a greenish colour, adding another colour tone to the pages, and painted the stamped images with this and also with the straight diluted colours.

To then added some plasterers tape, 7 Dots Studio Lost and Found elements and word stickers.

To complete the pages, I grabbed some Art Alchemy acrylic paint, and randomly painted this around the paper flowers.

So the completed art journal pages were a complete surprise to me, how the watercolour powders would work with techniques I used. It was a completely random process, and a great way to explore some very fun products.

Art journal spread

Products used: 

Art journal

13 Arts Studio Ayeeda watercolour powders

Prima Finnabair clear gesso

Blue Fern Studio Wanderlust patterned paper

Blue Fern Studio Departure stamp

Stampin Up Reason to Smile stamps

Stampin Up Fast and Fabulous Stamps

Dina Wakely stamp set

Ranger Archival ink

Plasterers tape

7 Dots Studio Lost and Found Elements

7 Dots Studio Lost and Found word stickers

Prima Art Alchemy acrylic paint

Scrap Matrix guest DT layout for October challenge - watercolours and words - This moment captured

Hi everyone, I am sharing my first Scrap Matrix guest post. I am so pleased to have been chosen as a guest designer for Scrap Matrix , and have this layout to share with you, for the Watercolour and words challenge for October.

As I was searching the store for products, I came across the awesome Blue Fern Studio Wanderlust patterned papers, and knew this was where I wanted to start my layout for the Watercolour and Words challenge. I had a photo from my 2016 holiday in Hawaii just perfect for the layout, and these papers were so right for the photo. I tore the edges of the papers and layered 3 different sheets together to create the background.  I also stamped on the papers just a little, using the Blue Fern Studio departure stamp.

This Moment Captured

I chose some 13arts rainbow watercolour powders, for the watercolour component to the challenge. These products are new to me, and I have to say, are now a new favourite product, so will need to get a few more colours. I chose sky blue and brown, as they were going to match the papers nicely.

I purchased  a Blue Fern Studio chipboard title for my layout, which I firstly sprayed with gesso, then started to colour with the watercolour powders.

You only need a small amount of the powders, and the more water you add the lighter the colour. I had a couple of different puddles of colour tones that I used to colour my elements.

I purchased some dried roots, that were available in ecru, which I coloured with the watercolour powders, both by painting on and spraying (adding powder and water into mini mister) , and then tucked the roots in around the paper layers:

I stamped some flowers onto watercolour paper, using an archival ink. I then blended the powders adding more water or powder, as required to colour the flowers from light to darker.

I die cut the flowers, and placed these around my layout, surrounding my photo with them:

This challenge is also about words, so I purchased some 7 Dots Studio lost and found word stickers, and scattered these around the layout, including as part of the title.

My journaling was typed onto some cardstock, but I didn’t like the colour match, so I just added a little of the watercolour paper to the cardstock, to allow it to match the rest of the layout.

I had  a lot of fun with these gorgeous products. Make sure you take a look around the Scrap Matrix shop for some really cool products. Thanks to Vicki and the team for having me as guest designer.

I hope you have enjoyed my creative process. If you would like to see more of my work, take a look at my blog here.

Products used:

Blue Fern Studio Wanderlust patterned papers

Cardstock

13 Arts Studio rainbow colour watercolour powders

Ranger archival ink

Heartfelt Creations Arianna Blooms stamps

Heartfelt Creations Arianna Blooms die

Blue Fern Studio Departure stamp

7 Dots Studio Lost and Found stickers

7 Dots Studio Lost and Found elements

Blue Fern Studio chipboard title

UsARtQuest Prills

Prima Archivist flowers

Prima flowers - other

Dried roots – ecru