Does your life look like this~busy, busy, busy? As a wife, mom, multiple business owner and avid paper crafter, I certainly know the feeling, so over in the Scraps Of Darkness/ Scraps Of Elegance Forums, I create a monthly "Make It In Minutes" segment that shows you how to make a project in 15 to 20 minutes, so that you can do what you love in a small time frame.
This month, I have a tag that was created with the Scraps Of Darkness August Kit-Rustic and the Embellishment Add On for that kit. I love tags, they can be given as gifts, used to decorate a gift or your home, and if you were lucky enough to get the Creativity Kit for this kit, you can use it to add in to your Recipe Book.
Here is what the finished project will look like:
For step by step directions on how to make this tag in minutes, please visit the Scraps Of Darkness/Scraps Of Elegance "Make It In Minutes" Forum thread here:
Here's to lots of creating in what little time us busy women have!! Hugs, ~Renea
Hello everybody and welcome to my monthly Design Team reveal for Scrapmatts Australian Chipboard!!
For one of our DT criteria we were asked to get a head start on Christmas by making a set of simple Christmas Cards. As you know my style is pile it high and spill it over, so although it was a challenge for me, I think I managed to keep it fairly simple.
I chose a Vintage theme and used some Vintage blue-greens, browns and golds. I did lots of distressing, sewing, and used inked up corrugated board to add in the dimension and texture that I love.
The sweet Vintage images you see are some that I purchased from DigitalCollageSheets.com, one of my fav places to get high quality images that I sometimes colorize and use on a lot of my projects.
The snowflakes are Scrapmatt's CB1181 Snowflakes 04 that I inked up and then added a ZVA pearl center to. I made some hand dyed seam binding bows and added a snowflake for each card to the center for a soft, yummy look.
The "Merry Christmas" sentiments are Scrapmatt's CB1102 Words22 Merry Christmas that I embossed with some Lindy's embossing powder.
And here are some closeups of each card so that you can see all the details, and how those Scrapmatts chippies add just the perfect touches.
This next project is a masculine over sized tag that I created for the "Father's Day" criteria we were given to create with. I used one of my past Scraps Of Darkness Kits along with Scrapmatts to create a travel themed tag that would be perfect for any of the men in your life.
For the hanging ribbon, I used burlap then added in a metal Tim Holtz tag and swivel clasp, then topped it with one of the CB1209 Scrap Words 12, which was perfect for the travel theme of the tag.
I did lots of stamping with puff paint to get that grungy texture that I love on my masculine pieces, fussy cut out the sign and hot air balloon from some papers that I had.
I then distress embossed the CB5106 Chevrons 01inked them, and added them on for a nice masculine feel. I set some brads and wrapped twine around them just for a little extra texture.
And here is the back side.
Thank you so much for joining me for my Scrapmatts Reveal! Those amazing chippies make putting together a card or tag for any occasion a breeze with all the different styles they offer, and the fact that you can get them in their raw form and then decorate them to suit your own style!!
Hope you have a creative and wonderful week! Hugs, ~Renea
It's Monday, and I am off and running, and the first thing I have up this morning is a Shabby Chic mini album that I created for Tresors De Luxe. I based the whole album on the Emily Dickinson quote "Hope" Is The Thing With Feathers~ I have written and collected poetry my whole life and that poem still remains one of my all time Favs. The Tresors items were teamed with the Scraps Of Elegance August Kit-Sweet Summer Nights. All the papers and pieces with the birds on them were just perfect for pulling off the symbolism of the poem.
I put tons of technique work into this album: from the Peeled Wallpaper Effect technique on the cover, to painting, fussy cutting, sewing, texture paste work, seed bead work, stamping with puffies, hand crafting my butterflies, stamping with inks, glitter paint accenting, alcohol ink work, hand crafting paper clay wings and tags, and hand tinting seam binding.
I used items from the Tresors De Luxe Etsy throughout the album and the items include:
To get the look of Peeled Wallpaper like you see in the background of the cover just follow the steps in my YouTube video below. The video was created with an earlier Scraps Of Darkness Kit, but all you have to do is change the colors of paints and papers you are using to get the same effect for a more Shabby Chic look :)
I used Tresors Lace on the bottom of my cover and also tied pieces onto the D-rings of my album along with some tulle scraps to get a yummy Shabby look.
Here you can see where I tucked one of those wonderfully soft organza flowers from Tresors into my floral and nest pieces.
Look how soft and wonderful those lace tie ons look with, yes, leftover scraps of tulle.
The whole album "toggles" closed with sheer ribbon and a sweet closure I made by attatching a rhinestone button onto a metal sewing machine bobbin that allows you to wrap the ribbon around the center.
Here I used some scraps of Tresors lace that I had left over from another project and one of those oh so sweet embroidered hearts as well.
Another scrap on this side topped with lots of fussy cut pieces, flowers and feathers, and a tie on of a little clay wing that I hand crafted with paper clay and accentied with glitter paints.
Here I took some of the gorgeous Tresors lace and created a pocket to hold my fussy cut tags with hand tinted seam binding bows. The background texture was created by stamping with puffy paint and heating it up to make it puff.
Oh I just love how these pages turned out!!
I just took some Tresors wide lace and misted it with Lindy's Mist subtly to get a two toned effect and then added on some fussy cut pieces, feathers, pieces of the Emily Dickinson poem and some of those FABulous flowers that add the perfect Tresors touch, and texture.
It's hard to see in the photos, but I stamped the Doillies with a music note stamp.
The tag is one that I hand crafted from paperclay and inked.
I just love how Tresors pieces add such Shabby gorgeousness to any project!! If you decide to add a little of that Tresors Touch to your own projects, don't forget to mention that I sent you to Lucy when you make your purchase, and she will include a free gift in with your items :)
Thank you so much for stopping by, and I hope your week is off to a flying start!! Hugs, ~Renea
Scraps Of Darkness has just released it's August Kit~Rustic, and if you love that rustic meets country look as much as I do then this is the kit for you!
Each kit comes with an inspiring sketch, and this month the sketch was done by Laura Gilhuly. Here is Laura's sketch:
And the following is my take on the sketch that features a photo of our little country singer/songwriter friend, Madeline Bales. We just love Maddy, she is a little girl with a big voice, check her out here singing Taylor Swifts song "Mean" I just love that country voice:
This layout shows how this kit can be used to create with a Country Chic style.
I used 3 different layers of papers from both the kit and the paper add on that I punched and heavily distressed for the base of my layout.
I then took one of the Tim Holtz Cabinet Frames from the Embellishment Add On to create a pocket that I created a tag for journaling to go into. I used a stamp from last months kit and then heavily inked the tag on both sides, leaving the backside bland to journal on.
I added burlap and machine sewed, distressed paper for a photo matte and then added my photo on.
I created a "banner" by taking the little wicker hearts from the Embellishment Add On, and the little clothespins from the kit and hanging them with kite twine. (Gotta do something with all that kite string left over from when Draven was young-lol).
I then added on flowers from the Flora & Fauna Add On, took some of the Burlap Stickers from the E.A.O. , stamped and layered them to create dimensional butterflies and added on some Prima E-Pearls from my stash.
Here is a shot of all the dimension.
I am a country girl through and through and so is Madeline, and I just love how Rustic meets beautiful this layout turned out!!
Next, I have a layout of one of my FAV subjects, my son Draven. The photo is one that my sister, Tammy who owns All About Smiles Photography did of my son. They went to an old steele mill that has been closed down for years, here in Chattanooga to shoot them, and I warned them that if they got arrested I was not coming to bail them out-lol!! They have so much fun together, and I am grateful to my sis for the time she spends with him :)
This layout shows you how you can get a masculine or industrial look from this oh so versatile kit!
I layered up paper that I distressed, rolled, distress punched, and stamped for the base. I also took some pieces of a really cool onion bag that I had hoarded on my desk, and used it behind the punching and rolling for some really FAB texture.
I used a large chipboard gear, and some smaller chipboard pieces that I inked and stamped. I then added a stash Tim Holtz metal clock and then adhered one of the Prima find from the kit onto it.
I did lots of stamping with the super cool chicken wire stamp that was in the Creativity Add On. I actually cut my paper so that I got that wonderful No. spot and added an inked corrugated 1 to it. My photo of Draven is mounted on a scrap piece of sand paper which I love the texture of, and I took 2 more of the Prima Findings, laced burlap strings through them and then ran it across my photo.
I used some burlap across the bottom and then inked up some chain chipboard from my stash and added it on. I cut a circle layer from kit paper and then used dimensional tape to add some of the Authentique stickers to them. I then edged them with puff paint and heated it up for a nice grungy look.
I love the industrial look of this layout, and it is Draven's favorite style so this one is going into his Senior Box that I am making for him as a keepsake. I hope he loves it!! I know I love him!!
Thanks for coming by for a visit and a look at my reveal day work! I hope you have a FAB ending to your week!! Hugs until next time~Renea
Today, I have a layout to share with you that I created using those gorgeous laces and flowers from the Tresors De Luxe Etsy . I teamed them together with some past Scraps Of Elegance kit pieces to create a dreamy, dance themed layout called "Dare To Dream".
I used the following items for the Tresors De Luxe Shop:
I did lots of punching, inking, crackle painting and floral layering to get a texturally rich, yet soft look to my layout. The Cherry On Top Glitter Glass Butterflies are from my Reneabouquets Etsy, and help to add to that Shabby meets Elegant look that I love.
Here you can see one of those wonderful, pearl centered Organza Flowers from Tresors.
And here you can see where I tucked another in with my other florals and feathers, and then ran some of the lace across the bottom of the inked sheet music for that yummy Tresors touch.
The combination of the lace against the inked crackle finish gives a FABulous aged look to my layout.
Here you can see the dimension of my layout, and all the different textures and layering.
I hope that you take the time to do a little dreaming yourself this week, and if one of your dreams is to gussy something up or to create something beautiful, then Tresors De Luxe items are the perfect way to add that special touch to that project you have been dreaming of.
Bring Your ATC Game!! Challenge Come join in this fun challenge that I am hosting in the Scraps Of Darkness/Scraps Of Elegance forum for a chance to win this awesome prize valued at more than $65!
Here is my just for fun entry that I created using past Scraps of Elegance kit pieces and some Scrapmatts Chipboard:
We have had over 43 entries and there is still plenty of time for you to come join in on the fun, and a chance at the FABulous prize pack listed below!!
This contest is open to everyone! No kit necessary :)
1.You do not have to be a member or create your ATC with the kits-this challenge is open to everyone.
2. Create an ATC around the size of 2 x 3 (Any theme, any style)
3. Post your ATC into this thread.
4. Challenge will close August 30, 2013 at Midnight Pacific Standard Time
5. ATCs will be voted on by the Scraps Of Darkness and Scraps Of Elegance Design Team, based on creativity, and originality. The winner will be posted on Wednesday September 4, 2013.
6. Have Fun!!!
Please feel free to post the challenge on your blog, Facebook, forums or any other social media you use Thanks, ~Renea
