"#4PIAP" by Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here to share my latest design team project with you. Today I am sharing a mixed media scrapbook layout that features Colour Artist Inks, Colour Paste and Colour Shimmer Dust. It also features a photo that was taken at a scrapbook retreat last year with some of my favourite people. 

To create my page I began with a sheet of white cardstock, which I brushed from side to side with 'Barley' Colour Artist Ink using a wide brush. (The key to making sure your brush strokes are visible is ensuring your brush is not too wet.)

Over the top of the ink, I added some texture using 'Stormy Weather' Colour Paste and a stencil from Dusty Attic. I applied the paste to three areas on my page, then wiped off the excess paste from my palette knife randomly around.

Once the Colour Paste had dried, I used some stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps to add extra depth to my background.

Once my background was completely dry, I gathered together some papers from Cocoa Vanilla Studio that all featured navy. I cut several pieces in different sizes and shapes, layered them together and secured them with staples before adhering to my page. 

I then turned my attention to the embellishments for my layout, reaching for a pack of paintable Heidi Swapp ephemera. These pieces all feature "resist" details, that is revealed once the pieces are painted. I mixed up some 'Cobalt' Colour Shimmer Dust with a small amount of water and used a small brush to paint each of the pieces. I gave each piece more than one coat to ensure the colour really popped.

Once the ephemera pieces were dry, I added them to my page, along with some Cocoa Vanilla Studio chipboard frames and stickers, before adding my photo on top. I used a small amount of cardboard behind my photo to help pop it up from the page.

I used foam Thickers to add my title to the page.

The final step in my process was to add some splatters of 'Marine' Colour Artist Ink around my page.

I am really happy with how this layout turned out. This is not a colour combination that I would have ordinarily opted to create with, but allowing my palette to be guided by the colours of the photo really did yield a fantastic result.

That's all from me today, I hope I have inspired you to perhaps try a colour combination that might be outside your "normal" choices.

Until next time, happy scrapping! 

"Even the Prettiest" Art Journal Spread by Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here with my latest design team project, and today I have another spread in my altered book art journal to share. (I did warn you there would be more!) For this spread, I again reached for my favourite product - Colour Artist Inks, along with white heavy gesso and Colour Paste. I just love the colour and vibrancy of these inks!

Here's a look at the full spread...

As you can see, I used a super pretty blue / pink / purple colour palette; and a variety of techniques including watercolour, stencilling, layering, collage, and stamping to achieve my result. (Which I love!) I will take you through my full step-by-step process so you will be able to try it too - bear with me, as I have lots of photos to share.

I started by laying down a coat of white heavy gesso on my pages. This primed my pages and ensured they were ready for the mediums I was going to apply. I used an old gift card to scrape the gesso across the paper which ensured a thin, even coat. (I didn't want the gesso too thick, as I still wanted to be able to see the book text underneath.)

Next, it was time to apply some colour using 'Oasis' and 'Slipper' Colour Artist Inks. I started with the 'Oasis' and simply brushed the inks onto random areas of my page, using extra water to help move the ink around. Once I was happy with the coverage, I dried it off using a heat gun. (That is how I achieved the "water lines" you can see in the ink. If you prefer a softer look, leave the inks to air dry.)

Once the 'Oasis' had dried, I simply repeated the process with the 'Slipper' ink; using it to fill the gaps I had left earlier, whilst also layering it over the blue in some places. (Again, I achieved the strong "water line" effect by drying with a heat gun.)

Next, it was time to add some layers! I used the fabulous 'Deconstructed Floral Bouquet' stencil from StencilGirl, along with black Staz On ink and a sponge to apply some floral details to several areas of my page. (I love the way this technique adds a layer, but still allows the layers underneath to show through.)

Once the stencilling was complete I then decided where my focal image and quote were going to be placed, then used my finger to apply some white heavy gesso to each area. (Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty - fingers really do make the best brushes!)

I then added my feature quote (which was from the Flutterby Designs 'We Run the World' collection); along with some Flutterby Designs phrase stickers and my focal image (which was cut from a magazine). As the theme of my page was about being flawed, I took the opportunity to "modify" my image by cutting off one of the model's arms, and by rubbing back the paper on one side of her face.

At this point, my page was looking like this...

It was now time to start adding some texture. I hit on the idea of using up a (very) old supply I had lurking in my cupboard - flat paper flowers. I used many of these when I first began scrapping all those years ago, but they have laid dormant and unused in my cupboard for a long time; so I thought this would be a good way to use some of them up.
I used the "visual triangle" principle of design ad stuck them in 3 clusters on my page using a multi matte medium. (I brushed the flowers down as flat as I could and layered them together.)

After the flowers were applied I decided my page need a little extra "something", so I used 'Lovely Lilac' Colour Paste to add a small smear to the centre of the flowers using a thin palette knife, and then I also added some random smears around my page with the excess.

To help my focal image and quote stand out a little more from the background, I used a water brush filled with 'Soot" Colour Artist Ink to add some shadowing around the outside of them. I also used a correction pen to add some white highlights to my flower petals.

To finish off my page I used my 'Doodle Dots' stamp from Viva Las VegaStamps to add a little stamping to a few areas of my page.

And with that, my page was done! I hope you have enjoyed seeing my entire process and that it might inspire you to try recreating your own version of it.

Here's a couple close up shots of the finished spread...

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. 
If you ever have any questions about the products I have used in my projects or my process, you can either leave a comment on my post, or pop over to the Colour Blast Creative Corner group on Facebook and ask there - I am always happy to help.
Until next time, happy scrapping!

"Awesome" Scrapbook Layout by Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here with my latest design team project for you. Today I have a 12x12" mixed media scrapbook layout to share featuring a fun photo strip collage of some photos I took of my daughter and hubby on a ride at an amusement park. I paired it with the 'You Rock' collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio and (of course), Colour Blast products!

I loved the bright red colour of the ride in the photos so I wanted to use a vibrant red medium to match. Unfortunately, the Fire Engine Colour Paste was not quite the right colour I needed, so I used a tip I gained from the Colour Blast Creative Corner group, and mixed the paste with some Candy Colour Shimmer Dust. This gave me the perfect red shade I was after.

I then took my new red paste and used a palette knife to smear it across the focal area of my page.

I then used a small stiff brush to add some splatters of Soot Colour Artist Ink before drying it off with a heat gun and setting it aside.

The next step in my process was to add some depth to my page by adding some stamping. I used rubber stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps and Staz On ink to stamp directly over the top of my Colour Paste. (The paste takes the stamping really well, providing you ensure it is completely dry first.)

After I had added the stamping, it was time to add some papery layers to my page. I used various papers from the 'You Rock' collection to create a layered photo mat, which I secured with staples before adding my photos on top.

After my photo strip was in place, I added some small pieces of torn washi tape, and coordinating 'You Rock' embellishments before I decided I needed some extra red. I took my Sunburnt Colour Artist Ink and added a few splatters around my page.

Here's a closer look at some of the details...

I love the shine and the extra vibrancy of the paste with the Colour Shimmer Dust mixed in.

I love the dramatic combination of the black / white / grey / red together.

How cute does that rubber charm tag look tied with the bit of twine? A simple way to add some texture to a page.

If you haven't tried stamping over your dry Colour Paste before, I highly recommend you give it a try - you can see how effective it looks!

That's all from me today. I will be back soon with another project to share. Until then, happy scrapping!