A Mix of Projects from Helen for May

"Art Journal"

Hello everyone!  How are you all?  Today I am sharing an art journal page,  a layout & a canvas!  Yup I am mixing it up quite a bit these days!!

For this very simple art journal page I simply cut & tore up my off-cut pieces

 into small rectangular shapes & collaged them all together using gel medium, 

 then sprayed & splattered some mists before adding my 2Crafty Chipboard

 butterflies & my hand drawn arrows & title.  

The Sharon's butterflies are my favourite out of all the butterflies!

  I love the complexity of the cuts & as they are so beautiful they look 

stunning  with simple treatments.  Here I simply inked them black.

I varnished them with some glittery nail varnish that looks shimmery & lovely in person but alas does not  show in the photos!  So the moral of this project? Don't over think it!  Sometimes simple is enough :)       "Hello / Love"

  Next up I made a layout of my daughter with a random shot I caught of her smiling at her mobile phone!   Technology is such a big part of life these days...have you remembered to capture it  "on film?"

Because my photo was so "white" I chose to use a dark brown background paper to  go with my daughter's hair.  I think it makes everything "pop" so nicely off the  background so is perfect for some stencil/modelling paste work.     Once I had dried off my hearts design & splashed on some lovely gold ink I set to work on decorating my page with wonderful pieces from 2 Crafty. When I hauled out my brown cardstock pile I found these 2 off-cut strips of browny green on top of them & decided it was serendipitous!

So I added the border strips of brown & green spotted paper which really started the  WOW factor! Then I added my favourite 12 inch border strips - the Stitched Lace Border.   

 

  I cut off 2 Stitched Lace semi-circles from each border strip to allow for a bit of breathing  space, then I used my Aladine Izinks from France to ink them up in green & gold.
   Next I added my photo, tilted at an angle & offset on top of some coordinating spotted paper  {these papers are VERY old - 2009!  Just shows that classic designs never date!!}  Then I  began my embellishing around the photo. Seeing as the theme of my page was  TECHNOLOGY I used the  COG BORDER.  I cut it into 3 pieces & tucked the  pieces into 3 sides of my photo after inking in 3 different rusty colours.
  It is very easy to paint your chipboard this way if you start with the palest colour as  then it is not even necessary to wash off your paint brush in between & you waste  less medium this way. 

  Next I decorated around my photo & the cogs with various pretty flowers, leaves, tendrils, cotton reels & micro-beads before lastly adding a couple of Circle Words with the words HELLO & LOVE.
  The LOVE circle forms part of my title ''LOVE Technology". I painted these with  gold inks then sponged on a bit of white acrylic paint before adhering them then gluing on  some micro- beads between the lines.   LOVED creating this page.   2CRafty Products Used  2 STITCHED LACE BORDERS  {with some off-cut pieces left} 1 COG BORDER 2 WORD CIRCLES       "Love -CANVAS"

My last share is a "canvas" that is actually just a thick piece of mounting card.   Canvases are  quite expensive here in South Africa so I save anything I can  that will work as a suitable alternative {lids are great too!}.   This was really thick so worked PERFECTLY!

The measurement of this piece is 9 x 12 inches.  I started by painting the entire board with white  acrylic paint then I stuck some old stickers onto the base while it was still wet, to add some texture.  I repeated the same method with some more white acrylic paint acting as my  adhesive, & added the negative area of the sticker sheet too.
  I snapped a few photos along the way to show you my starting process.  This is a great way of using up old alphas & things that you no longer like the colours or themes of as they end up getting mostly covered up & just add some  textural interest.      Next I added some 2Crafty Chipboard pieces for textural interest.  I started with the sets of 3 circles from the mini-sampler set.
   Next I added some SKELETON LEAVES - LOVE these!!  Have been dying to use them!   

 I painted over the first layer with white acrylic then sprayed with mists then painted the second layer with green Izinks.  I ended up using 9 leaves {1 1/2 packs}.   Next I added my other embellishments.
  Once I had added my flairs, flowers & fabric leaves I felt that something was still lacking so I painted up & added 3 out of 4 of the set of  MINI-FLOURISH BITS - these are SO handy - the perfect size!

I used my glue-gun to layer up all my elements {& my Tombo glue to adhere by chipboard pieces} then added some mica-flakes & a couple of sequin  butterflies as my finishing touch.  Thanks for visiting today!

2Crafty Products Used

1/2 pack mini-sampler set

1.5 packs of Skeleton Leaves

3/4 pack of mini-flourish bits

And here are the  process photos to help you get started on a canvas of your own :)

For more tutorials visit my blog HERE.

Remember, to find a 2Crafty stockist near you, drop an email to...
salesat2crafty@optusnet.com.au

February Shares from Helen 2 Layouts & A Canvas!

Hi everyone!  HELEN back with you today to share what I have been up to lately  using the fabulous 2Crafty Chipboard!
 Firstly I used  the "Valentine's Hearts"  to create a layout for Scrap Around The World!  You get the double-heart  (on the left) & TWO Single hearts (as seen on the right) so I still have one left over!

For this rather grungy layout I simply inked the chippie pieces randomly 

with black ink, leaving parts of them raw.  I also used a couple of "Tiny

Leafy Stems" that come in a 4 pack, so have half that pack left over too.

I often use my chipboard to anchor some thread, as I like using threads a lot

 but not unless I can keep them in place.  Chippie works perfectly for this.

To get the variegation on my Leafy Stems I shaded my chipboard with Gelatos.

Gelatos are a great item for chipboard as they require no primer & do not

 cause the chipboard to become wet like mists & sprays do.  

"Gorgeous"

Next up is the layout I contributed earlier this month to the CSI Challenge site 

HERE where some of us 2Crafty Chipboard ladies are guest designing.

I used the "Hello" from one of the  "Circle Word Sets" that comes in a multipack

 of 6 words.  For all the chipboard pieces on this page I inked them in Olde Golde

then sponged lightly & randomly with gesso {white acrylic paint will work fine too}.

The "Gorgeous" word/title is finely cut in a beautiful font.  I love 

the way the classy 2Crafty Chipboard titles really finish off a page.

Lastly I used an "Edgar Swirl" which I LOVE the look of here!!  They come in

 a double-pack & add the perfect touch of class right where you need it :)

"My Sister My Friend CANVAS"

Lastly I created this cute little canvas for my younger daughter's bedroom,

using the "Love Circle Word" from one of the "Circle Word Sets" as well as 

some ''Chicken Wire", an "Tiny Vivian's Frame" & the "My Sister, My Friend" title.  

I really enjoyed creating this pretty piece.  It is nice & small so even though

 there is a lot of luscious detail it didn't take me too long!  I glittered up the

 chipboard with high quality glass glitter that is really shiny!!

You can't really go wrong with pink & purple, glitter, sequins & micro-

beads for young girls & all of them look great on or around chipboard!

Just for interest sake - the black grid box you see on my canvas is actually Prima

 Plywood packaging from their wooden embellishments.  I have kept all the little

 boxes as they fit small canvases perfectly & are less than one inch deep

 so make perfect little printer's trays/shadow boxes.  

 And remember, to find a 2Crafty stockist near you, drop an email to...
salesat2crafty@optusnet.com.au