Scrapmatts Australian Chipboard Monthly Reveal

Good morning everybody!! Hope you are having a great week so far. It is time for my monthly reveal over at Scrapmatts. They have so many wonderful chipboard pieces and I just love creating with them, because they add so much visual interest to my projects, and with all the different styles they carry, there is truely something for everyone. 

My first project is a layout that was done with the March Sketch that was created by one of our DT members Anne Patterson:

I rotated the sketch 90 degrees Counter Clock Wise, and this is my layout using her beautiful inspiration. Thank you Anne!!

This layout features a self portrait that my son Draven did of his self, and I used my gorgeous Scraps Of Darkness February Kit that was loaded with all those amazing Prima Engraver Papers and Embellshments that were perfect for pulling off the masculine look that I was going for. I did lots of inking, tearing, paper rolling, distressing, gesso overlaying, and staining on this one to give it an aged, well worn look. The matting behind my photo is a piece of used sand paper. I just love the texture of sand paper and it made a perfect backdrop for the photo, plus allowed me to up cycle which is a biggie with me  :)

Here I first took a Scrapmatt's ATC10-021 Film Strip 05,  and painted it with  a Ranger Paint Dauber in Snow Cap and then stained it randomly with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Stain. I then layered it over the photo to draw interest to Draven, and then took a Scrapmatt's CB1072 Gears 01  and stained it with some Tim Holtz Rusty Hinge Distress stain then layered on a Prima Engraver Metal watch part.

I added another Scrapmatt's Gear, and another Prima Engraver piece at the top of the layout.

Then repeated the gear, and watch part pattern at the bottom. The piece with the journaling on it is a piece of broken up Balsa Wood that I stained and pressed one of the Prima watch parts into then added my journaling to. I love using Balsa Wood in my masculine layouts, because it is light weight and really thin, so it is easy to work with.

Here is a shot of the finished layout at an angle where you can see all the dimension.

This next project was created to meet the "Heritage" criteria for this month. I decided to create a small keepsake box that is just perfect for storing old photos of loved ones, and  trinkets and treasures that have been passed down throught the generations. 

I love texture and detail and Scrapmatts Chipboard is a perfect way to add both. Here I used lots of technique to create this box. I used distressing, painting, staining, dimensional layering, gel medium work, stamping and embossing. 

I layered in lots of different paper layers and cheesecloth, and then added some Scrapmatts CB1125 Hinges 02  that I colored with a Tim Holtz Marker then added some little ZVA Pearls to. I used a canvas tag then added a Scrapmatt's CB1134 Assorted Words 01 that I colored with a Tim Holtz Marker, and added a little crystal to.

Here I took 2 Scrapmatt's CB1017 Keys 01 and embossed them with a metal look powder, added a little crystal accent and tied them together with some burlap string.

And here are some close ups of the sides and back:

Thank you for joining me for my reveal day!! I hope you enjoyed my projects using that yummy chipboard. Thanks for taking the time to visit me~you know I appreciate it!! Hugs, ~Renea

Scraps Of Darkness March Kit Design Team Reveal-Day Glo

The unique and so very gorgeous Scraps Of Darkness March Kit Day Glo has been revealed and now it is the Design Teams turn to reveal their projects! This kit features the Prima Sunrise/Sunset Papers by Finnabair, and loads of the latest Prima products, and Gina's Design Chipboard that is packaged exclusively for the kits.

Here I have this month's sketch created just for the kit by our very own Sue Pup:

And here is my take on the sketch:

I loved all the Paris elements to this kit, so I created a dreamy, romantic scene using a post card theme, and a Vintage Image that I found on Pinterest a while back. I did lots of distressing, distress embossing, inking, fussy cutting, stamping, tearing and layering on this one. 

Here you can see where I fussy cut out the Eiffel Tower image from some of the papers, as well as a postcard piece. I tore one of the sheets of paper into pieces, heavily inked the edges and stamped them with a script stamp. I used the Ingvild Bolme ink that was in the kit and loved how well it matched my colors and the Vintage, distressed look it gave my papers.  The butterflies are Chocolate Truffle Butterflies from my Reneabouquets Etsy Shop.

I layered in some of the trim from the Embellishment Add On and then some stash crochet lace and then really distressed up a chipboard bracket and script stamped it to match my post card look.

That big, gorgeous zipper flower is in the kit, and I layered lots of stash, past kit, and flowers from the Flora & Fauna Add on, as well as some Textured Terra Cotta Flowers from my Etsy. The wooden Prima clocks were from a past kit, and I fussy cut out some of the postal stamps from the kit paper tucked it into a Tim Holtz Memo Holder then tucked in a  burlap scrap for lots of texture.

This is a piece of the Gina's Design Chipboard from the kit that I distress embossed then added flowers to. The circle with the sentiment "Collect Moments not things" is one of the SEI stickers from the Embellishment Add On.

Here  is a side shot so that you can see all the dimension and layering.

With this next layout, I took the kit in a  Girlie Grunge direction. I did loads of machine sewing, texture paste work, distressing, paint dripping, and layering to achieve this look. The colors in these Prima papers are just so vibrant and striking~love them!!

The doillies are fussy cut pieces from the kit paper that I punched around the edges, added some of the SEI trim from the Embellishment add on two and then added flowers from my stash. The "strips" were created by cutting out some of the "lace" look papers, distressing the edges, then sewing on pieces of hand dyed seam binding to them.

At the corner of the photo is a damask pattern that was created with a stencil and you can see where I dripped pink acrylic paint onto my layout and just let it dry in blobs. The butterflies are Lili Ann Glitter Glass Butterflies from my Etsy Shop.

I loved the metal time pieces that were in the kit, and here I used them as rings to drape misted cheesecloth through then added a large flower from the Flora & Fauna, some stash, hand tinted roses, and one of the buttons from the Creativity Add on. I then took some chipboard bricks, punched some of the bricks out, texturized them and added the panel beneath the cheesecloth and the others randomly onto my layout.

Here is a closeup of all the sewing and distressing. The stick pin bellow the photo was created just for our kits by Mandy Harrell (Craftysprinkles). Thank you Mandy for the gorgeous pieces of jewelry you make for our kits each month!!

For this next project, I took the kit off the page and created an Altered Memory/Keepsake Box.  I loved the  Velvet Paper in the kit, it just reminded me of a sewing box for some reason, so I wanted to create a box that would remind one of their Mother's sewing box. The little tray was actually the Prima piece that housed some little wooden flowers. I just put my flowers into a baggy and then stained the tray in multiple layers of color and then script stamped it to give it a Vintage look. 

I then added Vintage photos, lined some of the squares with pieces of the kit papers that had sewing elements on them, and then added little "sewing embellishments" from my stash. The little button with family fun on it, was from the Prima buttons in the Creativity add on and the trim inside the tray was from the Embellishment Add on. The large flower and leaves was in the Flora & Fauna Add On.

 All the trims on the rim of the box were stash pieces. I just love to collect old crochet laces, trims, and Vintage lace. I have boxes full and just love them!!

 For the sides and inside of the box, I repeated the multiple stain layers that I used on the tray, then stamped the sides with a Glitz Stamp that we had gotten in a past kit. I then added a stash button, a metal bobbin and a pearl to create a faux drawer pull look.

As usual, Mel has provided us with a kit that is as versatile as our imaginations. I just love that she gives us such unique elements in our kits, that take our work to another level.

We are having a Scraps Of  Darkness/Scraps Of Elegance Blog hop on March 29th. There will be lots of hidden prizes and inspiration along the way, so I hope that you can join us!! 

Thanks for the visit! Lots of big Southern Girl Hugs~ Renea

Spring's Promise Card & Altered Jar Set

I am having so much fun playing with the March Scraps Of Elegance Kit-Spring's Promise. So many beautiful elements that are just perfect for creating those wonderful, sweet Spring projects that having been forming in my mind all Winter. 

Here, I have an Easter Card that I created using cardstock, distressed and sewn layers from the kit papers, and even some glittery tissue paper thrown in as well. I used a sweet Vintage Post Card Image from the Magical Moonlight Studio website. I used the kit trim and interlaced it with some dyed silk bias from a previous kit. I then the vine look, by taking the Gina's Design Chipboard Frame from the kit, and cutting it into pieces, then misted and glittered it, and layered on Prima flowers from a past kit and some hand tinted mulbery roses. The little "for you" sentiments is from the Prima Divine Chipboard that was also in the kit. 

I just love the shabby soft look of it, so perfect for a feminine card :)

OK, so I am a little vain and every night I pile some CQ10 Cream onto my face before I go to bed in hopes of combatting some of the wrinkles that insist on showing up on my face. I don't know if it is working or not, but one of the perks, is that when I am finished, I have these sweet little, peach colored glass jars left over. I have been hoarding them, and when I saw the colors of this kit, just knew that they would make a great altered project. I used the Prima Fabric Tape from the Embellishment Add On to cover the lips of the jars. I then took the Graphic 45 Ticket Stickers from the kit and placed one on the front and one on the back. I put hand tinted mulberry flowers on the sides, and added some leaves to one, and some more G45 stickers to the other jar. 

The Butterfly Jar was topped with Reinder Moss, some cheesecloth, a Prima flower from the Flora & Fauna Add on.

I then topped the flower with a Scrapmatts Butterfly that I had painted with gesso, embossed, then texture painted, added seed beads to and then accented with some Stash Prima E-pearls.

 For the Bird Jar, I added Reindeer Moss, cheesecloth, feathers, hand tinted mulberry roses, a stash Prima nest and popped in a Scrapmatts Chipboard Bird that I colored with Tim Holtz Markers.

Here you can see the back side of the bird jar and the sides.

I just love how naturally sweet these turned out, so reminiscent of things you would see in a garden, plus they have 2 upsides-1. They were upcycled. And 2. They can be used to store small treasures like, beads, buttons, and glitters.

Thank you for taking the time to visit!! Hugs to you ~Renea

Scraps Of Elegance March Reveal

Over at Scraps Of Elegance Spring has arrived in the form of the oh so beautiful March Kit-Spring's Promise. It is packed full of the latest Graphic 45 Secret Garden & Prima products, and it will have you peeling off those Winter blues and trying on all those yummy pastels!!

  

Here is this month's inspirational sketch by the talented Suepup created exclusively for this kit:

And here is my take on the sketch:

It features a image that I purchased from DigitalCollageSheets.com, and then colorized digitally. I used layers of kit paper, the lace, some of the stickers and Prima Chipboard, and the butterflies that were all included in the kit. I then added in flowers from the Flora & Fauna, one of the little metal frames, and the Magnolia wired gems from the Embellishment add on.

I created a floral wire circle and unwrapped some of the wire gem pieces then rewrapped them around the floral wire piece to form my circles. All the chipboard you see around the edges of the layout and on the chicken wire ribbon are from my Scrapmatts DT stash.

Close up of the floral work

The Champagne Dreams Butterflies are the set that were created for the kit, and you can also purchase those from my Reneabouquets Etsy Shop.

Here I layered one of the stickers from the kit onto one of the Prima metal frames from the emebellishment add ons.

With keeping with the Secret Garden look of these papers, I just had to add on a metal key tied with a ribbon! The key is from my stash and was purchased from an Etsy Shop called Ingredients For Lovely. I always try to support other artists, because I know how important that support is for a small business owner. 

And here is a shot that shows all the dimension.

This layout features the lovely Miss Emmie, playing flower girl at my Aunt Annie's daughter Michelle's wedding. My son took the photos for the wedding, and I loved these of Emmie, but there was a lot of background noise, so I just cut them down right around Emmie to give me a slim line look that made it easier to scrap multiple photos and cut out some of the activity in the background.

Ther is lots of tearing, random punching and layering in this layout. Here you can see how I layered in Emmie's photo. 

I added lots of flower, bling and lace. The butterflies are Lavender Ice Glitter Glass Butterflies from my Reneabouquets Etsy Shop.

Here is some more of the flower layering. The Assorted chipboard words, are from my Scrapmatts DT stash.

I used a Prima Resin Frame from the Scraps of Elegance store to create a little frame for one of my words.

 And here is a shot that shows all the dimension inside the layout.

When I saw this kit, I knew I had to create an off the page project with it. There are just so many little detail pieces that were screaming~ create something with lots of little treasures in it!!! I decided on a Secret Garden Mini Album. I wanted to capture the feeling that the book evoked in me as a little girl, and hope you enjoy the sweet, innocence of it. 

The base for the mini album is actually a Scrapmatts Printer tray that I decided to take the pieces of and turn into different pages of my mini album. You know me, I never like to use things for what they were intended-lol!!

The cover has tons of fussy cutting, seed beed and stickle detail, and incorporates kit paper, and Flora & Fauna flowers. The butterflies are Lili Ann Glitter Glass Butterflies from my Etsy Shop.

Here you can see just how fat my album is~

And I will just let you browse through the pages:

  

      

 I love how the album turned out! It so reminds me of a garden that you can disappear into, discover all kinds of nooks and crannies, and daydream to your hearts content.

Thank you so much for stopping by for my Scraps Of Elegance reveal. I am always honored and humbled by all the sweet comments and big fat hugs that I receive from all of my scrappy friends! All of you are true treasures ~Hugs ~Renea