Getting Messier

Having successfully completed one creative stamping layout, I am ready to tackle a more ambitious one. Instead of going with my usual pattern paper background I will attempt to create my own stamped background. The linen colour ink and grey cardstock in this month's Citrus Twist Main Kit are my starting points for this project.

I ink up some fine mesh wire screen and stamp in a stepped pattern across the cardstock. Next I gather all the Citrus Twist exclusive word stamps on an acrylic block and roughly apply it on top of the grid pattern. The result is that of an uneven texture with none of the words being visible to distract the viewer.

With the background in place I turn to the main design which is based on this sketch by French designer Maska. It comprises two embellished clusters : one around the photo, the other around the journaling. To link these two elements together I use Wycinanka chipboard film strips.

To soften the layout I use embroidery floss to stitch two semi-circles and then put some white gauze around each slide frame. The last step is to apply splatter paint effect to tie everything together. A shakey hand means there is a bit more black than I would like on this tag but I am OK with it. Playing with ink, mist and paint should look a little messy.


Linking up to these parties.

Citrus Twist June Kit : Studio Calico (Atlantic Plymouth, Sundrifter Die-Cut Shapes), Crate Paper The Pier (Slide Frames, Splash), Basic Grey Basics Candy Buttons, Sticker Stop Washi Tape, Prima Pastel Brown Chalk Ink, Citrus Twist Exclusive Stamp, white gauze, grey cardstock,
Others : Wycinanka chipboard words & film strip, buttons, embroidery floss 

Bringing Together Techique and Design

Few things are as exciting as the idea of incorporating a new technique into my scrapbooking. But the reality is learning takes time, mastering takes practice, patience and the willingness to accept some first failures. So it's with not a little trepidation I set myself the challenge of stamping creatively on my Citrus Twist layouts this month.

Before I tackle the stamping the basic design has to come together. Two of the Studio Calico Snippets papers are put together to form the background of framed ombre circles. The photo is given prominence by layering a slide frame over it and Sundrifter die-cuts beneath it. To create a visual triangle around the photo, a caption label "Life is Good" and a Wycinanka chipboard film strip are added.

For this initial stamping attempt I limit myself to the top left corner. Working with just three colours and word stamps seem a good way to dip my toes into the waters. "June" makes it onto the page with only a little blotch on the middle J. A flair button easily covers up that mistake. More interesting is working out a pleasing arrangement of the little phrases and, sure enough for a novice like me, it takes the better part of an hour to figure things out.

There is a pleasing symmetry in my finished page. The layered stamping mirrors the layering around the photo subtly, with the added element of transparency that paper layering cannot achieve. I seen this effect on other designers' pages but never understood the why it appealed to me until now. Technique and design coming together just the icing on top ! 

Linking up to these parties.

Citrus Twist Kit Supplies : Studio Calico (Snippets Wow & Oh Snap, Atlantic Cork Chevron Stickers, Sundrifter Die-Cut Shapes), Crate Paper The Pier Chipboard Slide Frames, American Crafts Basics Thickers Honeycomb, MME Find Your Wings & Fly Admit One, Webster's Pages Sweet Notes Small Kraft Bag, Sticker Stop Washi Tape, Jillibean Soup Yellow Smile Wise Words Sticker, Basic Grey Basics Candy Buttons, K&Co Smash Cutesy Metal Clip, Citrus Twist Exclusive (Stamp, Flair Button, Handmade Banner)
Others : Studio Calico Alphabet Stamp, Wycinanka Clipboard Film Strip

Gatsby Inspired

Happy news to share today. I'm on a design team that calls for creative work with embellishments - Trinket Track, an Australian online shop retailing all sorts of yummy embellishments. Thank you Monica for including me on your team.

This fancy barrette, created from 100% Trinket Track products, is inspired by 1920s fashion. Although I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl I love the beautiful feathered, flapper dresses and bejewelled headpieces depicted in the movie Great Gatsy. My version uses some spotted guinea feathers, gold metallic filigree work and a teal kanzashi flower to capture that period feel.

To up the glam factor I replace the enamel dot at the flower center with some sugar tip stamens which are sprinkled with gold glitter. It's a simple alteration job, I just dip the stamen tips in craft glue and then dip them again into glitter.


June is also the month I finally took the plunge and bought myself an early birthday present in the form of a DSLR. It's a mid-range Sony that I picked up during the Great Singapore Sale, together with a macro lens for tackling those close-ups. Looking at these two photos, I think I'm ready to retire my trusty Olympus point-and-shoot . . .

 

 

Linking up to these parties.

Trinket Track Supplies : Kanzashi Bloom Teal, Guinea Feathers, Sugar Tip Stamen Peppermint, Filigree Finding Tibetan Design