Scraps Of Darkness Taking On Technique Challenge Using Graphic Cat Sketch 16

Over at Scraps of Darkness/ Scraps of Elegance, I have been hosting a challenge called the "Stalker Challenge". I started this challenge when we were just Scraps of Darkness, and now that we have  added, and embraced our sister kit club Scraps Of Elegance, I have decided that it is time for a new approach and challenge, time for a change that is more inclusive of both Kit Clubs. I asked myself, "what does Scraps Of Darkness, and Scraps of Elegance have in common that attracts our members to us?" My answer was simple, our love of the artisitic, more technique side of scrapping. So with that thought in mind, my new challenge was born. It will be called the "Taking On Technique Challenge", and will challenge our members to use a specific technique for that challenge round.

The kick off of this challenge will start October 1st and run until December 1st. I am getting it on a few days early, because Scraps Of Elegance Reveal is October 1st and I didn't want to overlap the two on one day :)

The Rules:

1. You must use at least 75 % Scraps of Darkness or Scraps of Elegance products. Either from the kit or from store purchases.

2. You can make any type of project your heart desires (some examples; layouts, canvas art, cards, ATCs, altered art, etc....)

3. The Technique-Stamping~ Your project must have stamping of some type on it ~

4. The most important rule of all, Have Fun!!!

The challenge will end December 1st, votes will be pm'ed to our Mistress of Mayhem Michelle (Bubbachooka), and the winner will receive a $10.00 Gift Certificate from the SOD/SOE store, and a small RAK from my Etsy Shop!! So come join in on the fun!

I used the September Sketch from Graphic Cat to create a Halloween Card that is based on the Edgar Allan Poe Poem "The Raven". Here is the sketch:

And, here is my example using the sketch and for the Taking On Technique Challenge:

 

I used pieces from multiple Scraps Of Darkness past kits.

Here you can see the close up of the Raven that I stamped onto white card stock and then fussy cut out and accented with a Swarovski crystal.

I hope you get a chance to come play along with us, or to at least take part in one of the many fun challenges that are hosted over in the SOD/SOE forums!!!!!  I love a good challenge, and I also love that you took the time to drop by!! Hugs to you ~Renea

Pin It To Win It With Scraps Of Darkness

 

Scraps Of Darkness is excited to announce we are now on PINTEREST!!!!

Want to win a September "My Guy" kit?
All you have to do is stop by our blog (insert a link to our blog page) and click on the "Pinterest" button to follow us. Visit our Scraps of Darkness "Pin to Win" board and follow the instructions there.
You have from now until October 8th to enter!!! So get to pinning, and good luck!! ~Renea

You Only Live Once Scraps Of Darkness September Kit-My Guy

Today, I would like to share with you a Steam Punk layout that I created with the oh so FABulous  Scraps Of Darkness September Kit-My Guy. I love all the grungy, industrial print papers in this kit. So perfect for masculine and Steam Punk layouts!!

I have some very exciting news to announce with this layout, and it is that I have been given permission to use German artist MADmoiselle Méli aka FroweMinahild's gorgeous photos in some of my more Darker work. Méli is a multi talented artist, whose biography includes; traditional painter, digital artist, clothing/jewellery designer and model for alternative scene, steampunk , gothic and fantasy since 2002. I am just in awe of her talent, and I am completely delighted that she has graced me with the permision to scrap around her amazing art!!! Thank you so much Méli!! If you would like to check out some of her work, click this link to her Deviant Art Site, Facebook Page, & DaWanda Shop.

Photo: Lady Steam Punk I by *MADmoiselleMeli

I started with the Dusty Attic September Challenge Sketch, and then got to work using my Scraps of Darkness Kit. I layered in lots of different sizes of distressed, inked and punched papers from the kit and the Paper Add On. I then took a Dusty Attic Fleur De Lis Frame and painted it black, and attached it to the layout.



I added on the image, and then took the black chain and photo turns and added them beside the photo, and then attached an old broken clock face from a watch I found in my dresser, as well as some little red gems from my stash.

I created the bottom flower layer using a Tim Holtz Gear that I grunged up, some black panels I cut from some plastic hangers and the gorgeous Petaloo Red/Burg flowers from the Floral Add On, as well as some past kit Prima flowers. I then tucked in some inked up Dusty Attic Foliage Pieces and one of the handcrafted wood tiles from the kit.

 

 The two metal pieces at the top are pieces from that broken watch that I found lying around.

The top flower layer was created using the same grunged up gears, plastic pieces, flowers, and tile pieces as the bottom one.

I finished out the layout with the FABulous May West saying "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough".  Thanks so much for dropping by, and remember to "do it right"!! Hugs ~Renea

Adventure Card Scraps Of Darkness My Guy Kit

TGIF everybody! Hope you have something fabulous planned for the weekend! Before I head into the weekend, I would like to share a masculine card that I created using the Scraps Of Darkness September Kit-My Guy. I loved all the hot air balloons and grungy feel papers of this kit, and wanted to create a yummy, grunged up card that had that earthy feel to it, that I love so much.

I layered on a distressed layer of the kit paper, then took a piece of corrugated board and inked it up, did some stamping, and then took another piece of paper, did some tearing and added it onto the corrugated board.

I cut the hot air ballons out from some of the paper, and then took Tim Holtz Markers and colored them in. Next, I fussy cut them out and then attached them with foam tape for lots of dimension. I took 2 of the screw brads fromt the kit, set them in the corrugated board, then wrapped them with hemp rope.

I layered on some burlap, then took the the twill ribbon from the kit, and ran it across it. I then took one of the Kaisercraft Die Cuts from the kit and inked it, then coated it with UTEE for a glossy finish, and then I tooks some of the little gears that I created using this month's Creativity Add On, and attached them to the clock. I added a Tim Holtz metal clasp from my stash, and then faux attached one of the Prima Typo Bulbs from the Embellishment Add On.

Here is a close up of the little gears that I created with the Creativity Add On. This add on is the perfect way to try out new techniques like this one, that allowed you to mix your own resin, add the color (provided), and then pour it into a mold (also provided), and create your own gears. This Add On can be used over and over to produce these gears or items using other molds, or you can do like I did and buy some mold putty and create some molds of your own. I am looking forward to experimenting with this technique and getting to show them to you! With the Scraps of Darkness Kits, and Add Ons,  you will never get bored!! There is always something new and different, and we are alway sharing how we created with them in our forums, so I invite you to join us, and try out some new techniques of your own~ Until next time, Hugs, ~Renea

Be Unforgettable Created With The Scraps Of Darkness September Kit-My Guy

I just finished up another layout using that incredible Scraps of Darkness September, My Guy Kit. I love to do SteamPunk and get a little crazy cool, and these papers were so perfect for it!!! I used a photo that I found on Pinterest, and lots of technique.

I used the papers from this month kit and the Paper Add On to create lots of layers with masking, sewing, distressing, inking and layering. The clock acetate was part of the kit and mad for an amazing background on top of the masking I did. I used the Lindy's mists from this month's Color Add On for all the masking and chipboard coloring.

Here you can see the Dusty Attic piece that I misted with 2 different colors from the color add on and then added some of the Prima pieces, and tulle  from the kit, along with some flowers from this month's Floral Add On to create the top corner piece.

 I used some stash crochet lace across the bottom, pleated the edges and added on some of the little metal owls from the embellishment add on.

The bottom piece is a Dusty Attic Flourish that I misted with the Color Add On Mists, and then added some of the Prima pieces and tulle from the kit to, and then layered lots of flowers from the Floral Add On onto.

The gears are some of the Grunged Up Gears that I carry in my Etsy shop that I put some of the Prima pieces onto and the little butterfly was from this month's Floral Add On.

This kit has so many sides to it and features something for everyone. If you love technique then there is the Color Add On, and also a fun Creativity Kit that features all the stuff you need to create some really cool gears. I am working on some right now, but they haven't had time to dry yet, but I am sure you will see them soon!

Thanks for the visit, and take some time to be creative this week!! Hugs to you ~Renea

Scraps Of Darkness Unveils It's September Kit-My Guy

Scraps of Darkness unveiled it's September Kit-My Guy on the 15th, and I was so excited to get mine and get to work with it!! The papers were perfect to create the following layout of "My Guy" Draven , when he was about 6 years old. He was playing in his Dad's car and pretending he was driving, and my husband snapped this cute photo of him smiling like he had just been told he could start driving-lol! I couldn't resist adding the fun little mustache to his photo, and showing the fun side of scrapping.

I used the all inspiring sketch by Sue Pup to create this layout. It was masculine perfection!

And here is my take on it:

And here are some close ups of the details;

I used a Crafter's Template Stencil and modeling past to create the background texture, then with the stencil still on, I misted it with the Lindy's Mist from the Color Add On to give me lots of texture. The banner was created by layering on some of the Kaisercraft Die Cuts from the kit onto corrugated board, and then adding twine and tying it around some of the screw brads that were also included in the kit.

I did a fold down at the top, by pleating the paper and then putting a Tim Holtz Metal Hing Clip on to hold it in place. I added in another die cut, and some metal gears from mys stash.  I created a zig zag pattern with the screw brads from the kit and then laced twine around them for visual interest.

 Here you can see that sweet face, and the fun little mustache that I added on from the die cuts in the kit. I also layered some of the die cuts to complete my title work.

The Wooden Compass was part of the kit and I embossed it with distress powder and then UTEE'ed it for added gloss. The fun, gear pin was created by Mandy (Craftysprinkles), especially for this kit. I repeated the pleating with the hing clip around the photo and tucked in some more of those stash metal gears. I hope you enjoyed my playful take on the kit!

Thanks for stopping in for a bit, and I will be working on and posting more layouts with this amazing kit as the week progresses. Hugs to you~ Renea

Old Friends Hanging Banner Using The Scraps Of Elegance September Kit-Nostalgia

Hi everybody! Today, I have a project that I created using the Scraps Of Elegance September Kit-Nostalgia. The soft Pion papers, paired with some of the Vintage look embellishments in this kit and the Add Ons were perfect for this little Vintage Hanging Banner.

I love creating things that have a time worn look, so I cut layers of the papers and distressed and inked the edges. The Die Cut layer was a gifted piece from my Dark Sister, Michelle (Bubbachooka) Thanks Mish!! I then took some burlap and cut it to a mat size for my photo and then pulled the strings to get a frayed look, and then topped it with a sweet little Vintage Image that I found on Pinterest.

 

I then created a flower layer using one of the large Petaloo flowers from the Floral Add On and some past kit flowers. I took some of the fibers from the Embellisment add on and trailed it across the bottom. 

 

 

 

 

I blinged up the die cut piece with the Flourish With A Bling Pearls from the kit, and then attached the Webster's Pages Cameo from the Embellishment Add On. I added a Baby Renea Harmony Butterfly from my Etsy Shop for dimension.

 

 

The Pion Paper was double sides, so I already had the base for the backside. I then cut out one of the tags from another piece of paper, inked the edges and then stamped the sentiment "It takes a long time to grow old friends",  onto the back using The Rubber Cafe's "Friends" Stamp Set. I then used the Kaisercraft Rub Ons, and some more of the pearls from the kit to accent the sentiment tag.

 I wanted something special and that could capture the Vintage feel of the banner to hang it with. I have seen some of the really cute clothes hangers in some of scrapbook collections, but I needed something bigger, and well, more economical, so I decided to create my own. I took a thin wire hanger, that my DH gets his uniform pants on, and sprayed it with white spray paint, leaving some spots bare for a worn look. After it was dry, I took the hanger apart and then recreated the hanger shape, and cutting the wire down to size with wire cutters. I then coated the ends with puff paint just to make sure there were no sharp edges and then randomly applied puff paint to the hanger to create a nice texture. I took some 7gypsies metal hangers that I had purchased from the Scraps of Elegance store, hung them on the clothes hanger and then pinched the ends together to hold them onto the wire. I then added a flower and one of the little Resin Birds from the Embellishment Add On,  and I had a really sweet, unique hanger that cost me very little to make.

I appreciate you stopping by! Have a great week! ~Renea

We're Watching You!!!

"Yes we are watching you!!"

Did you know Scraps of Darkness AND Scraps of Elegance has a "Paranoia Contest" each month?
What do you have to do to get a little extra goodie in your kit you ask?
WELL... all you have to do is put either "Scraps of Darkness" OR "Scraps of Elegance" in the title line of the layout you create at the scrapbook.com site using one of the mentioned kits.
That's it! We are watching you and we aren't going to tell you when you are spotted! WE have a specific day each month and every 6th layout we spot is a winner!!!!
(no other kit clubs mentioned in the title or description will be eligible)

So what are you waiting for? Toot for Scraps of Darkness and Scraps of Elegance over at Scrapbook.com and you could win a little somethin somethin in your next kit...a

And who doesn't love free stuff??! Good Luck! ~Renea

Berry71Bleu Sit And Dream Banner

It's the 1st Friday of the month, and time for my Berry71Bleu Pages and Tags Reveal! Today is a bittersweet day for me, because it is my last reveal for Berry Bleu as a Design Team member. I just want to take the time to thank Marivic for the wonderful opportunity of working on such a talented team. I have loved working with Marivic's gorgeous tags, and it has been a pleasure to design for her. So, thank you Marivic, and to all of my Berry Bleu Sisters, who have never ceased to amaze me with their talents.

This month our sponsors are Studio 75. Studio75 is a Polish manufacturer of scrapbooking papers and other craft embellishments.

Have a look at there store : HERE

And there blog: HERE

Studio71 Prize: The entire summer&latte collection.

 

And here is my project that I created using that gorgeous line, along with some of their chipboard pieces and my stunning Berry71Bleu tag that just happened to have the perfect colors in it for these papers.

 

 I cut a chipboard piece from a template that I made, and then covered one  side with Summer Latte 03 paper and the other side with Summer Latte 02 paper that I had distressed and inked the edges on.

I then used a Prima Stencil and modeling paste to create the raised, texture area of the banner. With the stencil still in place, I layered on layers of color to bring out the color in my tag and in the papers.

 Next, I took a layer of the Studio 75 Latte o1 paper, distressed and inked the edges and then used it as a mat for my  Berry71Bleu tag. The tag was instant glamour, and I really didn't need to much more to finish the project off. I added in a couple of small flowers, and then took 2 of the swirls from the Studio 75 Summer & Latte chipboard pieces, painted them with perfect pearls, added some Prima e-pearls and then tucked them under the tag. I then took the large medallion from the same chipboard panel (I loved that the chipboard matched the patterns in some of the papers), painted it with Perfect Pearls and added a Prima E-Pearl and then tucked it under the side of the tag.

 

To finish out the banner, I created the title work using Studio 75 Summer & Latte Alphas, twisted some hand dyed seam binding and sheer ribbon together and attached it to the banner with Tim Holtz Clips that I alchohol inked and added e-pearls to, and then added on a set of my Memory Keeper butterflies from my Etsy Shop for lots of dimension.

 

I hope you have enjoyed my projects over at Berry71Bleu, and I am so grateful to all of you who support my work and that of Marivic! May you find the time to "Sit And Dream" ~Renea

Blog Hop Winner!!!!

I hope everyone had a fantastic long weekend. It is now time for me to announce the winner of my Scraps of Elegance Blog hop prize!!!! The prize consists of  A $10.00 Gift Certificate from the Scraps Of Elegance Store, and a prize pack of the following butterflies that were created by me for the Scraps of Elegance kits!!

And the WINNER is ..................................................... Sherry!!!!!

Sherry you have 5 days to get back with me and e-mail me your shipping information and the e-mail address that you would like your Gift Certificate e-mailed to! Super Congrats, and thank you for hopping along with us!!!!!  ~Renea

Welcome To The Scraps Of Elegance Blog Hop!!!!

If you have arrive here from Lisa Novogrodski's blog - http://lisas-livingincolor.blogspot.com/ then you are on the right track!!

*** This month we have 3 manufacturers joining us on our hop*** 

PION DESIGN

FLOURISH WITH A BLING

3^RD EYE 

~~ We also have a special announcement~~ 

Please welcome our newest designer to the Scraps of Elegance team!!! 

RACHAEL FUNNELL

 

We are thrilled to have Rachael joining our team and are sure we will be inspired by her talent… 

~~And meet our special guest designer this month~~ 

LYNNE WOOLGAR

 

We are so happy to have Lynne joining us this month and can’t wait to see her work with our kit throughout September… 

The hop begins here at the “Scraps of Elegance” blog

Where our September kit “Nostalgia” has just been revealed!

 

 

This kit is featuring Pions “Grandmas Schoolbook”

&

Flourish with a Bling beautiful “Adhesive Pearls”

 

SCRAPS OF ELEGANCE

Is giving away prizes to

TWO

***LUCKY WINNERS***

 

**1**

WINNER

Will receive “Inkadinkadoo  Stamping Gear Deluxe Starter Set

 

AND

**1**

Winner

Will receive the “Inkadinkadoo Stamping Gear Intro Set

 

In addition to this the manufacturers participating in the hop are giving away their own prizes, as well as our designers!!!

Lot’s of chances to win! 

All you have to do is become a follower of the Scraps of Elegance blog AND visit each participating blog, become of follower of those blogs and leave a comment.

When you have visited everyone return to the Scraps of Elegance blog and leave a comment letting us know how much fun you had!

If you post about this blog hop on your own blog you will be entered into the drawing twice for and extra chance to win! 

We are sure you will inspired by our talented design team to

 ~create something beautiful today~ 

This Blog Hop is open to both US and international entries.  

You have until Sunday September 2^nd 11:00 pm PST to complete the hop

The Scraps of Elegance winners will be announced on this blog on September 4^th.  Our Designers and participating manufacturers will be making their winners on their own blogs.

Be sure to check back on that day to see if you have won… 

Have Fun!

BLOGS TO VISIT

Scraps of Elegance

Helena Johansson- http://willeasscrap.blogspot.com/

Pion Design- http://blog.piondesign.se/

Lisa Novogrodski- http://lisas-livingincolor.blogspot.com/

Renea Harrison- http://www.myglittercoatedlife.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Snyder- http://scrap-escape.blogspot.com/

Mandy Harrell- http://forscrappingoutloud.blogspot.com/

Rachael Funnell- http://awindowtoomyworld.blogspot.com/

Lynne Woolgar- http://mymadkow.typepad.com/mymadkow/

Karolina Stopyra- http://drycha.blogspot.com/

3^rd Eye- http://3rdeyecraft.blogspot.com/

Karen Zuegar- http://lostcoastscrapper.blogspot.com/

Flourish with a Bling- http://www.flourishwithabling.com.au/blog/

Elena Olinevich- http://eleele-handmade.blogspot.com.au/

Escape Kitty- http://escapekitty.blogspot.com/

Michelle  Phillips- http://fullmoonscrapping.blogspot.com.au/

Here are some of my layouts that I created with this gorgeous kit! Each month, you get a sketch created by Sue Pup to inspire you:

 And this is my take on this month's sketch. I did flip the sketch 90 degrees clock wise and took my inspiration from that perspective;

 

This layout features a photo of my son, Draven with his Grammy. He is such a good hearted, young man and is so good to his Grandparents. He has always enjoyed spending time with his Grammy and drops by to help her out, to take her to eat, or just to keep her company.  The Pion and Anna Griffin papers were perfect for this layout, and the Flourish With A Bling Pearls were perfect accents to my chipboard pieces! All the flowers where from the Flourish add on except the centers on the daisies, those are Shabby Terra Cotta Texture Roses from my Etsy Shop. I have the honor of creating the Butterflies for the Scraps Of Elegance Kits, and the ones on this layout are my Harmony Butterflies that were created especially for the papers in this month's kit.

 

 

 Over in the Scraps Of Elegance and Scraps Of Darkness forums, we host a CUTE Challenge each month, and this is my fun play along with for that challenge. It features a photo of our Jack Russel "Jack" righ after we brought him home for Christmas, he was 5 weeks old and loved to nap in front of the fire place, belly-up, on his sherpa bed. The photo in the frame is one that I took of him with my son, Draven. The soft, sweet blues and creams int he Pion papers were a perfect match for the black and whites of Jack's coloring. I used lots of technique and layering with texture on this one.

 

Here are some close ups of some of the details:

 

 

I used painted corrugated board, Shimmerz paints, and seed beads along with the netting from the kit to create lots of texture behind the photo.

 

 

Here I used layers of torn tissue paper, netting from the kit, Dusty Attic bricks and snow tex to create visual interest.

 

 

I did lots of random stamping, with the Ingvlid Bolme Ink that was included in the embellishment add on to add dimension.

 

 

 

 I love Vintage Images, and this is one that I found on Pintrest and it worked so well with the sweet colors, and "little girl" theme of these Pion Papers. I love that Melinda gives us such unique items in our kits, like the trims from the Embellishment Add On that I twisted together and placed at the top corner and bottom for loads of texture.

 

And now, for the prize that I am giving away!!!! The winner of my blog hop will receive the following:

 

A $10.00 Gift Certificate from the Scraps Of Elegance Store, and a prize pack of the following butterflies that were created by me for the Scraps of Elegance kits!!

 

 

 

To win my prize, you must  **Become a follower of the Scraps of Elegance blog AND be a follower of my blog.  The winner will be announced here on my blog, September 4th, and you must respond to the announcement in order to claim your prize.

 

Happy Hopping!!

 

Your next stop is my super talented, SOE sister, Jennifer Snyder's blog- http://scrap-escape.blogspot.com/  Have fun checking out all her amazing work!!!