"So Sweet" by Gwen Wruck

Hi Creative Friends,

Gwen with you today on the blog.  Quite often, I have a plan for a layout before I even begin.  This really helps keep me focussed and get things stuck down more quickly.... because well, I have a tendency to do the embellishment dance and nothing actually gets glued into place.  Sometimes it's colours that I start with, sometimes an idea from my picture and sometimes it's based on a product.

The idea for this page came from a pattern paper I had seen online and wasn't able to find locally.  I love the circle elements in neat rows and the pastel colours.  I had given up on being able to source it, so I went about recreating it.

Firstly I wanted to lock in the colours for my page.  I tried to loosely match the colours in the paper and also matching some of the other products I thought I might use in the page.  I've gone with the combo of Colour Shimmer Sprays in Lipstick, Envy, Sunshine and Singin The Blues.

I didn't end up using the banners on the final page, but they definitely helped with narrowing down my colour choice.  (Seems I have too many pretty Colour Blast colours to choose from!) Now that colours were locked in, I went about spraying sections of some white cardstock paper scraps.  I didn't bother adding Gesso as I knew it would just be a fine mist I would be applying.  I tried to make the sprays uneven for interest.  I also add a few splatters using the nozzle of the sprayer while the colour was still wet.  Doing it this way softens the splatters are they tend to blend into the background rather than sitting on top like they do when applied over dry spray.

Once my paper scraps were completely dry, I then went about punching out 2-inch circles in each of the colours.

Next, it was time to add them to my page.  Using the paper as a bit of a guide, I lined them up across the top of the page.  I used only a small amount of adhesive so that I could re-position if necessary.  Once I was happy with their placement I continued down the page.  Then, once I had placed all of my circles, I added a stack of machine stitching for added detail.  I made sure not to stick everything down too much, I really love how the circles slightly lift off the page around the edges.

With the background finished, it was now time to add my photo mat and embellishments.  I decided to try and stash bust a little on this one so I've used a lot of bits and pieces to build my clusters and even some packaging in my photo mat.

Here you can see a close up of the Envy sprayed circles and you can see the detail in them of the splatters.   Below you can see the Lipstick circles.

and below you can see the colour of the Envy compared to the colour of the Singin The Blues.  They really were the perfect match to the mint and blue tag I used which you can see on the left there.

I give this project a "mess level" of Low

 No mess, easy process and something we can all try.  New to mixed media?  This is a great technique to start you off.  More experienced?  Why not try re-creating a more challenging pattern paper.

Thanks for popping by today, I hope this page inspires you to create your own pattern paper rather than buy one!

Gwen

xox

"Craft Day" Scrapbook Layout + process video by Louise Turner

Hi Crafters

Louise with you today.

I'd like to share a new scrapbook layout with you today.

"Craft Day"

My mojo was a little distant when I started this page.

I find a good way to kick start it is to create a 9x12 layout.

I'm not sure why, but the different dimensions really challenge my creative thinking.

To start I've gathered some white 9x12 cardstock, brushes, water spray, Colour Shimmer Dusts, paint palette and photo.

I haven't prepared my paper in any way.

Using the Colour Shimmer Dust Cobalt mixed with liberal amounts of water, I've painted strips onto the page - keep them wet and with lots of water.

Repeat the process with the Colour Shimmer Dust Sunflower - Lots of water and no need to dry.

Don't be afraid to allow the colours to blend.

Using my hand, fill it with water and make a fist.

Allow the droplets to fall out and land in different spots on the page.

When the desired effect is reached, tilt the page and allow the colours to mix and run.
If you prefer a clean look you don't have to add the extra water.

I let the colours dry naturally overnight.

When I came back to finish the page, I decided to turn it into a 12x12 and mounted it on some black cardstock.

Adding some stamping to blend the coloured background with the black cardstock.

I've chosen mostly green for the papers around my photo cluster to help blend with the background.

Finally, I've added a small cluster to the bottom right and my title.

Photo explanation: Quite often our neighbours/friends visit and we spend time painting, cutting, gluing and making a big mess.

Here is a close up of that lovely blended shimmer.

 Some simple paper layers in various patterns and similar colours to highlight the photo in the busy background. 

Here is the process video if you'd like to see more of these pages.

I love the simplicity of this page and think that if you didn't want to blend the colours, the stripes would still be an awesome background effect.

Thanks for visiting.

Happy Scrapping

He's an EPIC showoff! - Skai Mitchell

Whoo hooo... its another long weekend and I hope your are getting some crafty time scheduled in. 

I'm sharing a layout today that pulls out all the bells and whistles in regards to product usage. I'm a scrapper that uses multiple products and techniques on her layouts, and I'll take you through each medium step by step... 

Step One - Shimmer Dusts. 

Using a dry brush, flick some of your Sunshine shimmer dust onto your background and give a few sprays of water. 

Next, add some Candy shimmer dust with a dry brush and repeat with water spray. 

Using a straw, blow some of the shimmer dust liquid in random bursts. 

Grab a bottle of Love colour spray, unscrew the lid and using the straw add random flicks and blobs to the page. 

Step Two - Colour Paste

Grab your favourite stencil, some Colour Paste in Dusty Charcoal and a pallet knife. 

Using the pallet knife, spread random blobs of the Colour paste. I've made mine really uneven and random, as that's the effect I was going for. You could be very deliberate and even in your application if you wanted to. 

Repeat randomly over the page in places where you know your wont be adding your layers. 

Step Three - Colour Sprays

Next I've used some of the Colour Spray in Roadbase to colour some medical gauze on a messy mat. You could leave it to air dry, or gently use a heat gun to aid drying. 

Begin to stick down your layers and get some assemblage happening. I've used some music sheets and velum edged with black Stazon, and I've added a messy machine stitching frame. 

Step Four - Colour Embossing Powder.

Everyone using embossing powder a little differently, but these are the steps I take. Using your Versamark pad, wet the side of your chipboard you plan to emboss. Cover generously with embossing powder, I've used Fire Engine, and flip over to ensure the whole piece is coated. Scoop up your Embossing powder and place it carefully back into the tub. Gently heat the chipboard with a heat gum and 'melt' the powder evenly. 

Step Five - Colour Spray. 

I've used the Colour spray in Love again to colour my chipboard piece. Give it a good coating with the spray, and I use a piece of medical gauze to soak up the extras and use on another project. 

Assemble it all together and add some coordinating embellishments and alphas. 

Hope you have enjoyed my very textural and layered creation this week

Love and light

xoxox

Skai

All you need is love... Journal page by Skai Mitchell

I was so lucky to have spent a long weekend with some amazingly talented ladies at Hunter Valley Retreat recently, and had the opportunity to really get my stash of Colour Blast products out and play with them, without kids and cats interrupting.

I have to say, the Colour Shimmer Dusts are my favourite product to play with right now. They are super versatile and the effects you can get just playing with different amounts of water and its application is endless. 

Inspired by the super rad Lisa Oxley and her journal pages, I've created this journal spread dedicated to love. 

I began by applying a layer of Black Gesso to my journal with a old credit card. You can see I've done a few layers and kept it messy and textural.

Next I've used the White Gesso and applied it randomly using some bubble wrap.

Now for the fun part!

I ripped a few pages out of my journal and gathered my Colour Shimmer Dusts, dry paint brush, water and isopropyl rubbing alcohol. 

My first page was done in blues, and I've used Navy, Cobalt and Duke to create this page. Layering is essential, and added each colour on its own with a dry paint brush and sprayed with water, drying some portions in between. This take practice, so just have fun playing with the water and the way it pools. 

The isopropyl rubbing alcohol can be added in flicks while the water is still wet, and it give beautiful colour rings...

I've re-created the same technique where with Candy, Lollipop and Passion Colour Shimmer Dusts. How amazing it that shine!

Next I've cut out a stack of hearts in random sizes and inked the edges with Black Stazon

To stamp my title with some large Heidi Swapp foam alpha stamps I've mixed up some Lollipop Colour Shimmer Dust in my pallet with some White Gesso. Use your pallet knife to mix it well.. 

Layer up your hearts onto your page, add your title and define your edges with a white pen, and you have a complete journal page. 

Thank you for popping by. Dont forget to add your art to our Colour Blast Creative Corner page on Facebook. I'd love to see what you come up with using these amazing products.

Live a Life Full of Laughter by Ree Peace

Hi all! Straight up I owe you all an apology...I have had a camera glitch this past week or so and have lost my original pics for this post. I will aim to do my best with a written instruct for this piece, but will also attempt to do a follow up 'LIVE' facebook post =)

This is a canvas I have created for my daughter.

It is built up with a generous layer of gesso that I painted on. I laid a diecut piece on the gesso to create texture. Before the gesso dried I sprinkled many Colour Shimmer Dusts down the first third line (rule of thirds). With a dry brush I spread the shimmer dust in a gentle strokes across the canvas, moving from the third line to the right and then the third line to the left.

 There are often sneaky sprinkles as the shimmer dust is so fine, these make for a great balance on the canvas. 

With a mix of fonts and a large rub on I laid the phrase down.

Simple embellishments of washi, vellum, foam diecuts, sequins and a flair were enough for this piece.

Again sorry for the lack of visual instructions! Try to pop along to our Creative Corner to find live videos of me working of different projects including colouring a chipboard peacock feather with some Colour Mica Powders.

Enjoy getting messy and colourful,

Ree x