Monday, 30 April 2012

Patterned Paper Product Focus

Hi everyone,
Amanda here...

This week until WEDNESDAY, Red Earth Scrapping has 20% off Patterned Paper as a part of our monthly Product focus.

So this blog post is a quickie to show you some more layouts and inspiration for using patterned paper, which we all use, and own, in excess quantities!

I have the entire LILYBEE buttercup collection of papers.  Here are 3 layouts I created this week (2 for our CC sketch) and as you can see, even though they are from the same range, completely different colour combinations can still be created. I love the coordinating stickers and lettering in this range too. Plus I still have some left to create more layouts!

(Title didn't quite work out - "another day to play"
I'll need to fix this when i have more time later in the week!)


Remember to SAVE all those little strips of paper because they can become quite eye-catching elements on your layout.

And I hope the BACKS of your layouts look like this - creative cutting to get the most out of your papers! This a cost effective way to get lots of layers of paper in your layouts without using lots and lots of sheets of paper!




I always like to share my double layouts too....

Now i used only 1 SHEET of double sided patterned paper on white cardstock in this layout - fast, easy, balanced and quite effective. Give it a go!


And remember my April Mystery box layout?
Remember to hand-cut elements from your patterned paper, eg. the clocks in this layout and use the papers to make your own paper flowers.


Have fun creating this week - look forward to seeing all your layouts at the end of our CYBER CROP!

Amanda

Sunday, 29 April 2012

Susanne's Cybercrop Colour Comb Challenge

Hi everyone & welcome to my challenge. I trust you've all been having a great time this weekend & are enjoying the challenges so far.

I've chosen a colour combo for you all to work with to either create a L/O or card set (minimum of 2 cards) with.


I'd also like you to include at least one tag & the words "friend", "friends" or "friendship" somewhere quite visible on your page or cards.

Also, if you haven't already got one, check out the beautiful April "Sunshine" Mega Kit in the shop here, I used lots of bits & pieces from that kit for my page.






Have fun creating & don't forget to post your beautiful creations in the gallery by midnight on Wednesday 2nd May, to be in the running for some great prizes.

Wishing you all a happy Sunday.............Susanne

Friday, 27 April 2012

Amanda's SKETCH challenge for the CYBER CROP


Hi girls,



Hope you are having a happy scrappy cyber crop!


SO, here is the sketch….


As you can see the Sketch can be flipped and this means I have created 2 layouts to inspire!




 


 

Look forward to seeing your pages!

Amanda


April Cybercrop Card Sketch Challenge

Happy Cybercrop ladies.

I've got a fun card sketch for you.  Remember you don't have to use the exact shapes, embellishments as per the sketch, just make sure we can see the sketch in your creation!



And my card using the sketch


Products Used:

Pink Paislee Spring Jubilee 6 x 6 paper pad
satin seam binding
pearl ribbon
prima flower
martha stewart frond punch
SRM Stickers - Thinking of You fancy sentiment stickers
Spellbinders - lacey circles



Have fun with all of your cybercropping ladies and I look forward to seeing what you all create!


Liz

Kates Class HERE



Red Earth Scrapping CyberCrop “Friends”
27th April 2012
Class by Kate McCulloch


Materials List:
1x class kit from Red Earth Scrapping featuring the following-
2 x 12x12 sheets double sided patterned paper from Heidi Swapp's BRAND NEW release "Sugar Chic" - Sparkle and Adore
1 complete pack of Heidi Swapp's BRAND NEW release Memory File Instaframes (72 pcs)
Selection of co-ordinating embellishments - Jillibean Soup journalling sprouts, Green Tara roses, ZVA bling


Additional Materials:
2x 6”x4” photographs in a friends theme- I have used black and white matt printed photos. They will be cut down to approx 3.5” x 4” so keep in mind.
Black ink for stamping
A flourish stamp/ leaf stamp or a black pen for doodling either of these if you don’t own them
A heart stamp (or a punchie heart you might have or a butterfly would work well) / any symbolic type stamp you may have that you think would be suitable.
Tissue paper (or washi tape) I have used white tissue paper.
Flowers from your own stash!
Alphas- I have used black Thickers (Daydream Foam)
Border punch
Paint- I have used 3 different paints- White, Yellow, Spearmint & Candy (which is a pale pink)
Mist- I have used Glimmermist (Patina – which is a light blue, Trunk Bay – which is an aqua) and Chalkboard Glimmermist (Firefly – which is a yellow).
A toilet roll core!!
Your basic tools- scissors, ds tape, foam tape

1.      Pictured is the patterned paper which will be our base. Trim off the strip at the bottom which has the product info on it. Pick any of the “polaroid” frames from the Heidi Swapp pack, insert a photo in each, I used ds tape to keep the flap down- then cut the excess off. The Heidi Swapp rubons in the pack are great, in the past I have had difficulty with rubons from this brand however these went on really smoothly. Pick some phrases to suit your photos and rub them on at an ANGLE. Put these aside for now.


2.      Taking the chevron patterned paper, follow the zigzags with your scissors like so. You should end up with 2 teal zigzags and 3 white. Cut this strip down to approx 7 inches long. Put aside.


3.      Turn the leftover chevron paper over to the pink side, cut a strip and use a border punch on it. Cut it down to approx 7 inches as this will be layered with the previous strip. If you don’t own a punch you could use scissors to make a scalloped edge or you could do another chevron and once cut, turn it over to use the pink side. 


4.      Cut a strip from your tissue paper. Run a piece of ds tape along it to create your own washi tape effect. 


5.      So we have our embellishments and photos ready to go. I find it helps putting everything together to work out what colour paint I am going to use for my base. 


6.      Starting with your spearmint paint, I like to use a foam brush as I slide the tip through my blog of paint on the palette. (please note the pink punched strip is not adhered to the page at this stage!!)


7.      Start to make small “zebra” stripes horizontally on the top half of the patterned paper. I wouldn’t go past half way down. 


8.      Using white paint, continue with your “zebra” stripes. I like to use the white right next to the previous colour. 


9.      Continue to do the same with the yellow. Because it is quite vibrant, I don’t want to use a lot. With paint, less is more. Make soft strokes, not heavy handed strokes!! After my painting, I gave 1 spray of each mist over the painted area. (See list of mists used in materials list). 


10.  Get your toilet roll core. This is great for stamping with your paint. Using a brush or foam brush, paint the end with the pink paint. 


11.  Stamp your toilet roll core over your painted areas. Do approx. 5 or 6 circles. Doing this towards the sides and top of the paper is better than the centre where your photos will be covering it! It is now time to take your washi tape aka tissue paper tape, and tear 2 inch strips of it. Position this over previous “zebra stripes”. You only need about 4 x 2inch strips.


12.  Your layout should look something like this by now….


13.  Time for your patterned paper strips. Position these half way up the page. Put your pink strip down first then layer your teal chevron strip on top. 


14.  Now it is time for your ‘polaroids’. Position them in the centre, slightly overlapping each other and put them on angles. We want it to look fun!!


15.  Take your biggest Jillibean Soup journaling circle, cut it in half and attach half upside down in the left top corner. 


16.  Position another Jillibean Soup circle under bottom right hand corner of your right ‘polaroid’ and remember the half we stuck up the top? Use the other half along the bottom right hand side of your patterned paper. 




17.  Take a journaling sticker from your Heidi Swapp pack, and adhere it to the right just below your patterned paper strips. By now, you should start to see a diagonal happening on your page from the top LEFT of your base, down through your ‘polaroids’ and towards the bottom right hand side of your base. We are creating flow!!


18.  We are up to the extra fun part now!! Raid your stash for flowers!! If you are creating a layout mostly masculine dominated you could add stars at this point instead of flowers. 


19.  I have gathered my flowers. I have used a mixture of coordinating colours. On the left are the three Green Tara flowers from the kit. 


20.  We are creating a waterfall type of effect with the flowers. We are filling in our flow!! Lay your flowers out before you stick them down. I like to use the bigger flowers and then fill in the gaps with smaller ones.


21.  Stick them down when you are happy. I used ds tape for mine.
22.  It is time for your flourish/leaf stamping or doodling. I have this spiral flourish stamp from Rhonna Farrer I have had for ages. 


23.  EXAMPLE: I have just used the stamp on a scrap piece of paper to show you how I utilise it. I stamp it once..


24.  ..Then I stamp a swirl to continue on from one of the ‘branches’. This helps to build up your flourish without having to have a huge stamp set to do it. You can then manipulate your flourish to go wherever you want it to! 


Stamp this around your flowers to continue that flow. On each swirl I have done, I have added Zva rhinestones to the tips or the lines on the flourish. (check next few photos to see where I have positioned my flourishes).
25.  Using a dry brush, dip it in white paint…


26.  And brush over your flowers edges to give them a bit of dimension. 



The finishing touches…



-          Add your journaling to your journaling sticker.
-          Adhere your title using alphas from your own stash. I have placed mine under the ‘polaroids’ as I didn’t want to disrupt the ‘flow’ we are creating on our page!!
-          For something extra, I used a heart stamp I had, which I stamped on white cardstock, and foam taped to the bottom left of the left ‘polaroid’. This is optional.
-          Using the sticker hearts from the Heidi Swapp pack, I positioned some around my flower clusters and towards the top of the layout. It reminded me of floating hearts. Some of them I outlined in black pen. Others I left as they were.
Although it might seem as though a lot goes into the painting side of it, with the paint, mist, then the tissue tape etc it adds to the total effect of your layout with all those layers you are creating for a fabulous tactile and visual piece of art.
The colours are just so fun to use, and with the popularity of social networking these days, this Heidi Swapp collection is perfect for a fun modern layout. Try and keep to the black and white photos, as it will make all your other colours really pop and the ‘polaroid’ frames will stand out around your photos.

and some close ups:






 I hope you have enjoyed the class :)
thanks so much Helen for the lovely kit to work with.
Please do not hesitate to ask any questions!!
Love Kate xo

FRIENDS Cyber Crop - Welcome!

WELCOME everyone to our Cyber Crop!!! Today's the day, we're kicking things off and I hope you're ready to scrap up a storm. I am!

All the challenges and chat will happen over at the FORUM, as well as posted here on our blog and of course posted on Facebook as well so there should be no excuses for not following along and joining in the fun.

First up will be Kate's class which she will post a little later today. Then we'll have Liz's challenge, Amanda's challenge and Susanne's challenge.
** sneek of Kate's stunning class **

Tonight will be CHAT and BINGO in our FB Group from 8pm AEST so please come and join us for some fun and friendship.

And finally, this weekend is also our next monthly PRODUCT FOCUS so it's all about Patterned Paper during the CC. Of course there is 20% off all patterned papers in the shop (no code required, discount applied manually at checkout).

So let's get scrapping. Have a FABULOUS weekend ladies :-)

Friday, 20 April 2012

Stop Press!!! Cyber Crop ... Next Weekend!!!

Our CYBER CROP is just one week away. I hope you're ready for a fabulous, fun and inspiring few days.

One of the special features of our CC is the FREE ONLINE CLASS!

One of our members, the talented Kate McCulloch, is going to lead us step by step through a class which will be one of the CC challenges.

You will need this kit -

Find it here in the shop.

HURRY and go shopping today so there's time to post the kit to you for next weekend!!!

Oh, and here's sneek to really, really tempt you ...

 

While you're shopping make sure you check out all the other new pretties recently arrived in store, including the long-awaited Crafters Workshop templates and our GORGEOUS April Mega Kit.

 

See you NEXT WEEKEND - dont forget the "FRIENDS" theme ... bring all your scrappy friends too.