CUT to YOU | My Fave Childhood Character

Hey, hey everyone and welcome to my blog again today!!

Another share for CUT to YOU and today I am sharing a rainbow of flowers lol

So, did everyone see the gorgeous new releases this month?? I am lucky enough to have received a whole bunch of them and I just couldn't decide so I first asked in the CUT to YOU HQ group (you guys were too slow!!) and then I asked hubby and he picked this Loop Flower for me to work with. And then I got an answer on the HQ group - floral so it was decided for me!!

I stretched the cut file to fill my whole background and cut it on white cardstock - I had an idea in my head and using white meant I could PLAY with ALL the colours!! Oh, and if you buy the custom cut Gwen will cut it to fill your background too ;)

I grabbed another sheet of white cardstock (my intention was to use the not cut piece thus my reason for picking another sheet rather than leaving my cut on my mat and adding colour to the top) and got to work.

I knew I wanted to play with my Distress Oxide inks so picked out a rainbow of colours (sorry, no purple, I don't own a purple!! #sorrynotsorry) and started blending my colours, one at a time, using an ink blending tool. I started in the middle with a yellow (easier to find the centre of the page and not add too much of any particular colour) and then did the warm colours and then went back in with the cool colours. I used some washi tape to hold the cut file (now stencil) down for some of the blending but by the end I was just holding it in place and being careful as I added colour.

The colours I used (in ROYGBIV except IV order and add in pink lol) 
Picked Raspberry|Candied Apple|Spiced Marmalade|Squeezed Lemonade|Cracked Pistachio|Peacock Feathers|Mermaid Lagoon

Time for the magic to be revealed!! I lifted off the cut file/stencil and though the whole 12x12 looks great I fell in love with the cut file and it was at this point I changed how I was going to do my background! I do still have my rainbow of stencilled flowers in my stash so I'm certain it will get used!

I added some water splatters to both pieces to get that gorgeous oxide effect happening and used some paper towel to soak it up after it had sat for a few seconds.

From here my page came together super easy - I had a whole rainbow of colours to work with so matching colours wasn't a huge problem but rather than add more colour I chose some gold accents by firstly backing my photo with some gold foiled vellum and a doily. And then of course I needed some gold in my background so I splattered some gold colour shine all over my white background.

I pulled out another "vintage" gold star from Charms Creations and added that to my photo cluster. I created a tag, did some gold machine stitching through the centre of the flowers (side note - IF you want to stitch through this cut file it is WAY easier to sew when it is adhered to your background!!), grabbed some alphas and voila, one completed page.

This is a super fun page and I so love creating with a rainbow! I recently went to a class at a local scrapbooking store where I learnt some new Distress Ink techniques which lead me to give this a go!! Thanks Suzanne!

I do have a process video if you interested in seeing this come together, I do hope you enjoy!

Until next time, happy scrapping

Melinda

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CUT to YOU | Remember | Scrapbook Layout

Hey everyone and welcome to my blog today!! I am so excited to be here sharing my very first page as part of the DT with CUT to YOU!!

For those of you that perhaps may not have seen yet the very talented (and incredibly sweet) Gwen Wruck from Created By Gwen Designs has opened up her own little business designing her very own designs as cut files!! Now, if you don't own a silhouette or any other electronic cutting machine DO NOT run away!! Gwen not only offers her designs as digital downloads but also as custom cuts - in other words she will cut them, pack them and send them to you!!! How awesome is that?!?

I have used the gorgeous Floral Filled Heart 02 (the custom cut can be found here) and enlarged it to fit pretty much the whole of a 12x12 white cardstock sheet and got that cut on my mat.

I have kept this page VERY clean - there is not a single drop of mixed media to be found!!! but I wanted this beautiful cut file to make a statement so pulled some beautiful papers from my stash (to be specific it is the Prima Amelia Rose collection) and set to backing the flowers in the design. I have used mostly the darker colours for the pointier flowers and mostly the pale pink for the rounder flowers. 

For the bigger pieces I like to trace, cut and then stick.

For the smaller pieces I prefer to stick and then trim. You can also see (just) in this close up that I have strategically placed some of the patterned paper so you can see the rose gold in the centres of the rounder flowers.

After that was all done I decided to back the whole heart with some vellum and LOVE the effect it gives to the finished page. And then some white machine stitching. Though I did only do the heart and then the bigger of the flowers - it was tricky lol

I initially planned to stick the heart straight and right in the middle but I adhered my photo on way too much of an angle so decided to run the heart off the page and on an angle and I'm going to go with "it was a happy accident" - I think it was just what the page needed!

A couple of layers behind the photo, some stickers and a title and my page was done! And like I said, not a single drop (or splatter!!) of anything messy!

Make sure you head over to Gwen's store to see all of the pretties, oh, and I have a process video too!!

I hope you enjoy and until next time, happy scrapping!!

Melinda

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Stuck On You ~ GDT ~ K+ August 2018 Challenge ~ A Scrapbook Layout

Hey everyone! What a busy start to the month I have had! I hope you are keeping warm and dry wherever you are!

Today's share is my Guest DT spot for K+ Challenges August 2018 Challenge

This had me STUMPED!!! In my process video I explain how I got to my idea but here is a little run down....

Google is my friend and when I get stuck off I head! A google search for "terracotta" showed me a tonne of terracotta pots and LOTS of photos of the Terracotta Army in China. The pots got me curious as I saw a few with different cactii in them so then googled "Cactus quote" and came up with "Stuck On You" A quick word with Gwen Wruck from Created By Gwen and she shared these adorable cactii cut files she had been working on and sent them to me early to play with them! And here is my finished design

I cut my cactii on Bazzill Marshmallow cardstock and got painting with some Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolours (have I mentioned how much I LOVE these?!) and then I backed the open parts of the cut file with some scraps of patterned paper.

Then, would you believe it, I decided to use my sewing machine to stitch the cactii and pots!! This was a mission but oh my, it is so cute and I love how it looks!

I used some embellishments from the Photo Play "Stuck On You" collection and also some stickers.

Make sure you head over here to the K+ blog for lots of inspiration for this months challenge and over here for Gwen's Cut To You shop!

Until next time, happy scrapping!

Mel

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{Scrap The Boys} August 2018 Challenge ~ Angry-Octo-Cool-O-Saurus in Boots ~ A Scrapbook Layout

Hey everyone and welcome to August!!

I have a lot of things happening this month and first one up is my Scrap The Boys share for this month! This month our sponsor is the lovely Gwen from the Cut To You store. We got the very versatile Wild Geometric cut to work with - which is available both as a digital download (which is what I got) or as a custom cut - Gwen will cut it and send it to you - and I had lots of fun splattering paint and making it work for my page.

And here is the inspiration for the month! I know that my page looks nothing like it however the "Stay Wild" spoke to me and told me to use this set of photo's of my big boy from a few years ago, lol!! This child cracks me up!

I have used watercolours and plain white textured cardstock to cut and customise my cut file. 

I have also used the Oasis Tropical Leaves cut file (digital file is here and custom cut is here) to add to the whole "wild" theme.

Here are a few close ups!

I have a process video available if you would like to see my whole process

And head over here to see the rest of the amazing work the design team girls have done!!

We would love for you to play along with us this month and can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Till next time, happy scrapping!


Melinda

{Colour Blast} A Few Of My Favourite Things

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog today! 

I am certain by now that most of you (probably all of you!) are aware that I am stepping down from the Colour Blast Design Team. First up a very big thank you to Tenisha for taking me on board 2 1/2 years ago and giving this relative newbie a shot!! I have loved my time on the team and loved stretching myself every time I pick up a Colour Blast product! To all of my current and past DT members, thank you to each and every one of you also, I've learnt, I've laughed, I've shared and made some real friendships that I otherwise may not have.

So, that's that part of the post done. I am here today sharing some of my favourite Colour Blast creations from my time on the team.

These projects are in no particular order but I hope you enjoy this little wander down memory lane with me. I will link to process videos and old blog posts for you throughout the post ;)

Can't Wait to Meet You

Blog post is here and process video is here

Believe in Your Own Magic

Blog post is here and Process Video is here

Better Together

Blog post is here and Process Video is here

Fun Rainbow Boots

Blog Post is here and Process Video is here

Hello Treasure

Blog Post is here and Process Video is here

More

Blog Post is here and Process Video is here

Shine

Blog Post is here and Process Video is here

#Live Bigger 2017

Blog Post is here and Process Video is here

Dream

Blog Post is here and Process Video is here

So, I couldn't narrow it down any further!! I hope you have enjoyed seeing all of my personal faves over my last 2 1/2 years on this team!

Though this is farewell it is not goodbye! I am still a part of the Colour Blast Kit Club DT and am loving being able to create and inspire you all through that avenue and of course, I will still be in the FB group sharing my creations using Colour Blast goodies!!

Thanks so much for stopping by, see you around the net!!

Melinda

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{Charm's Creations Guest DT} My Sweet Boy ~ A Scrapbook Page

Hey everyone and welcome to my blog this cold and wet weekend!

A quick share for you today sharing one of my makes for Charm as her guest designer for July. Which I have LOVED! And I plan on using MORE charms between now and the end of the month ;) Perhaps even more videos too ;)

Anyways, I decided to play along with Charm's June & July challenge of scraplifting a DT member and I chose one of Charm's very own pages - I just love everything about her style and perhaps may have even found another page or 2 to hopefully lift ;)

But here is the page I am lifting

And here is my take on this awesome page

I have pulled another of my fave Cocoa Vanilla Studio collections, More Than Words, and used one of my all time fave papers as the background and lots of pieces from the 6x6 paper pad for all those gorgeous layers Charm has used in her page. And those very pretty doilies!

Here are a few close ups, mostly of those gorgeous Pastel Glitter Hearts, aren't they just gorgeous?!

I decided to give my title on this gorgeous yellow star. I've used a piece of veneer from another CVS collection and paired that with those AWESOME tiny white foam thickers.

I've tucked in a couple of labels and flair behind this very pretty star. And again with the white foam thickers cause the star was looking a little lonely!

And of course, more of those tiny foam thickers - I didn't want this one all alone either ;) - on this gorgeous pastel green star.

I have a process video up for this page as well, just click on the link below and enjoy!!

Make sure you head on over to Charm's FB page here and take a look in the girls albums so you can play along with scraplifting a DT member - so much inspiration in their albums!! And you can head over here to the Charm's store to shop up a storm!!

Thanks so much for stopping by and see you again very soon 

Melinda

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{Colour Blast} Dream ~ 12 x 12 Canvas

Hey everyone and welcome to the blog today! 

I have something a little different to share with you

but oh boy, I love it!! It's not often I do "pretty" and "feminine" but I sure did for this and I got to have another play with the awesome Colour Artist Inks! Here is my project, a 12x12 canvas for a friend's daughter for her 15th birthday in June and it was well received!

If you have been on the internet at all in the last couple of months you will know straight away that this idea is most certainly not mine, I was inspired by the one and only Paige Evans and then all the people that were also inspired by Paige so got creating!

I started by working on the butterflies I had cut earlier on my Cameo. I left them on the mat to make it a bit less fiddly to colour. A quick, light coat of White Heavy Gesso which dried super quickly!

And then some random stamping with some Versafine Black ink. I popped that aside to dry thoroughly and started work on my canvas background.

Next I painted my black stripes. I have used the Black Heavy Gesso on my messy with a little bit of water to make it more of an acrylic paint consistency and used about a 1" brush to apply random black brush strokes across my canvas, varying where they started and ended.

While that was still wet I added some BIG black splatters on the diagonal from the top right to the bottom left by adding a bit more water to the black gesso and using my fingers to squeeze the bristles of the brush together to get big splats! I love this look!

Next I chose my warm colours in the Colour Artist Inks to play with knowing that they could mix together and would not get any mud! The colours I used (from left to right) are:

Citrus, Barley, Cider, Spice, Sunburnt, Cranberry & Bordeaux. 

If you haven't yet got your hands on these inks then it's important to note that these are beautiful vibrant colours. I was after something a little softer so I spritzed my paper with water and then randomly added drips of all the colours to my page and turned and tilted my page to get a good coverage.

When that was dry I went in with splatters of all the colours using a paintbrush and also some splatters using the Bling Colour Shimmer Spray; using both the nozzle and a paintbrush. This I left to air dry as well.

I grabbed my now dry canvas and added in some splatters of the Bling as well, once again using the Colour Shimmer Spray. I added these to tie in the gold from the butterflies.

While the canvas was drying I pulled all of the butterflies off of the cutting mat, stacked them on top of each other, adhered with a tiny dot of glue and then ran through my sewing machine, leaving all of the threads long for extra texture.

I wanted to add a little something more to the background so grabbed a stamp set and some white tissue paper. I stamped a bunch of butterflies and also the sentiment which formed my title and had a bit of a play with placement. When I was happy I adhered my stamped tissue paper with matte medium and left to dry.

When the matte medium was all dry I adhered all of my butterflies, added some sequins following that diagonal and my canvas was completed! Here are a few close up's where you can really see the dimension of all of those butterflies!

I seriously love how this turned out and when I gave it to my friends daughter she LOVED it!! Winning!!

Also, click on the link below for the process video if you'd like to see this canvas come together!!

Anyways, I hope I have inspired to create something today and I'll see you again later this month for my very last post as part of the Colour Blast Design Team!

Melinda