Yummy!

Long time no scrap! How are you all doing, my lovely Scrapaholics? Sorry I haven't been around much for the last 5 months, we have had a huge loss in the family. I'm hoping that getting back into my crafting will help the grieving process, so here goes :) 

I have created this cute layout of our Master of Mayhem eating some delicious ice cream from Cold Rock using the gorgeous A2Z Scraplet Yummy Shabby Circle in this great set, which I coloured with Tim Holtz markers and Kindy Glitzed the word yummy, and the Off The Wall collection by Kaisercraft. The circles on the background paper were made simply by dipping a jar lid, misting bottle lid, and pencil end into some paint and stamping with them. Easy!

I hope you like it! Until next time, keep calm and craft on!

Karyn

Fun At The Park

Hi again! Where does the time go? I can't believe how quickly this year is flying by.

Between work, homeschool, and building a new house, I haven't had as much time in my crafty room as I would normally like, but I did get enough time this week to whip up this simple layout to share with you.

I created this layout with the Fun at the Park, Chicken Wire Corner, Chicken Wire Border and 2 out of the set of 3 Helicopter chippies. 

As usual, I've coloured the chippies with felt pens, coated them in Dimensional Magic and outlined with a gold gel pen.

I hope to get a bit more crafty time soon so I have lots more to share with you!

Until next time, keep calm and craft on :)

Karyn

Life On The Edge!

If you're here, chances are you're as obsessed in love with papercrafting as I am! Luckily my husband also has a hobby that keeps him busy, so he doesn't notice the ridiculous amount of goodies I cram pack neatly into my craftroom. And while his hobby absolutely terrifies me, it does provide me with some incredible photos! When I saw the Life on the Edge chippy, I knew it would be perfect for this layout using the Scrapyard collection by Kaisercraft.

I used a black Sharpie to colour the Life on the Edge! chippy and outlined it with a silver gel pen. The Heartbeat border chippy was also perfect for this layout, as my heart always feels like it's about to jump out of my chest whenever he's on the track. The Gears chippies you can see peeking out from behind the tears in the layout were coloured with a silver gel pen.

To make the photo stand out, I printed 2 copies, cut 1 out and layered it over the top of the first one. A very effective technique!

I love that I've created layouts of my husband's achievements on his bike, and I love even more that one day when we're long gone, our great great grandchildren are going to see just how cool he was.

Until next time, keep calm and craft on!
Karyn

WATTON celebrations

How are the school holidays treating you? We baked a yummo Malteser chocolate cake today. 

Om nom nom! 

I've also been lucky enough to have some crafty time, so I whipped up this gorgeous Family Birthdays Calendar. 

However, I wanted mine a little more personalised and to include family celebrations as well as birthdays. So I asked the lovely Deb from A2Z Scraplets to make mine with WATTON celebrations as the title instead. If you ask nicely, she might even personalise one for you ;)

I've used a lovely yellow and white chevron background with WATTON and the months painted black and outlined with a white gel pen. The Butterfly chippy and celebrations word were covered with Stampendous Shabby White Embossing Enamel. 

I can't wait for my next card making day so I can whip up a bunch of cards ready to send out for these wonderful celebrations!

Until next time, keep calm and craft on!

Karyn

Sketchy Boards Challenge July DT Inspiration

Hiya! I'm happy and super proud to announce that I am now a Design Team member for the Sketchy Boards Challenge site! 

Here is the JULY sketch, isn't it gorgeous?!

And here is the colour inspiration

This is my take on the challenge. I've included golden frames and incorporated the sketch into the layout in the canvas.

If you'd like to join in the challenge this month, pop over to Sketchy Boards Challenge show us what you've got!
Until next time, keep calm and craft on!
Karyn

Reverse Canvas FUN!

Hi there! Have you tried creating a Reverse Canvas yet?? If not, what's stopping you? They're super easy and look amazing! Here is one I created using an oval canvas by Mont Marte, the Fly Free collection by Kaisercraft and the A2Z Scraplet Doodlet 29.

First up I punched out a bunch of hexagons with my Fiskars Hexagon punch and outlined them with a gold gel pen. They were then glued down onto the reverse of the canvas. The photo was matted, outlined and mounted on foam tape to give dimension.

The A2Z Scraplet Doodlet 29 was coated with Stampendous Aged Gold embossing enamel. I didn't have any embossing ink so I just used a glue stick to adhere the embossing enamel before melting it with the heat gun. I'm not sure if it changed the effect as I've only used it with glue, but I LOVE it! It's so chunky and bold! Check out the range of embossing powders and enamels from A2Z Scraplets HERE.

I added a strip of patterned paper around the inside edge, and Kaisercraft Ribbon Roses around the frame. Some very cutesy flowers from Scrapping Life were clustered over the corner of the Scraplet to finish. 

What did I tell you? Too easy! I sure hope this has inspired you to create your very own reverse canvas. OH and a little TIP... If you want to ensure dust doesn't settle on your masterpiece, glue a piece of acetate over the frame before adding your ribbon roses.

Until next time, keep calm and craft on!
Karyn :)

Awesome!

Are you loving Kaisercraft's new collection - Scrap Yard as much as I am? It's perfect for all of those masculine photos! 

This photo is of my husband and his cousin, although they're more like brothers than cousins.

I've used the Scrap Yard collection by Kaisercraft for this layout, titled Awesome.

This gorgeous A2Z Scraplets Industrial Large Corner chippy was spritzed in Kaisercraft's new Charcoal Mist with the Peach mist spritzed over the top. These mists are fantastic. Full of colour as well as some glimmer.

To get the effect around the photo, I just scribbled with a white gel pen all the way around, I love how it turned out!

The Awesome chippy from the A2Z Scraplets Awesome Fabulous set has been coloured in with a burnt orange pen on the top half and a black Sharpie on the bottom half. Then the whole thing was coated in Dimensional Magic and outlined with a black gel pen. It's given a very cool effect.

I hope I've been able to inspire you to get those masculine photos out. This collection truly is what you've been waiting for. And when you couple it with A2Z Scraplets, you can't go wrong!!

I'd also like to share this Tag album with you as well! I've used the A2Z Scraplet All You Need Is Love. 

The Scraplet was painted grey and outlined in a white gel pen.

Until next time, keep calm and craft on :)

Karyn

Sketchy Boards Challenge MAY

Hi all! I don't know about you, but I love creating layouts about my fur-babies! They provide an awful lot of gorgeous moments to scrap :) This is my precious Dumpling, he's a real character!

This layout was created for both A2Z Scraplets and the MAY challenge at Sketchy Boards Challenge. Here is the sketch and colour inspiration. I didn't have any green laying around (a lot of my room is packed up at the moment awaiting our move) but there is green in the background of the photos!!)

I've used the A2Z Scraplet - Meow, from the  Meow, Purr, Sleep wordlets. It's been coloured in with a yellow ZIG chalk pen and outlined with a black gel pen. The heart is from Kaisercraft, also coloured in with the ZIG pen. The papers are from the Shine Bright collection by Kaisercraft.
This was a real fun sketch to work with, I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with next month!

I love grunging my layouts up a bit simply by adding some staples, give it a try! 

Until next time, keep calm and craft on!
Karyn

Truly, Madly, Deeply

Greetings! I hope you've all been well, and creating lots of masterpieces :)
I have a layout here to share with you titled Truly, Madly, Deeply. Sorry for the poor quality of the photo in the layout, it was snapped with my phone at midnight on New Years in the dark. My favourite photo of me and the hubster EVER - even with the dodgy quality :)

I painted the Heart Frame from A2Z Scraplets blue and then coated it in Diamond Dust. Man, I love this stuff! All papers and the title were outlined with a white gel pen, my favourite way to make things 'pop'. Give it a try some time, you won't regret it!

I hope you've been inspired to head to your crafty room! 

Until next time, keep calm and craft on :)
Karyn

White.. With 1 April Challenge

Hi there! This is my creation for the April colour challenge over at White.. With 1. 

This layout was created with 2 gorgeous A2Z Scraplets chippies - My Everything  and just one of the 4 Chevron Borders which I cut up into 4 smaller pieces, also the Hello Today and Sandy Toes collections by Kaisercraft, with White and Sand coloured cardstock. Everything has been outlined (as per usual!) in white and gold gel pens.

I hope you've enjoyed this layout and have perhaps even been inspired to pop over to White.. With 1 and join in the challenge as well!

Until next time, keep calm and craft on!  :)
Karyn

Brickwork Dollhouse

Hi there! I have spent the last few weeks creating this gorgeous dollhouse for my best friend whose favourite colour is (obviously) yellow!

This awesome Brickwork chippy by A2Z Scraplets complemented the brick paper from the lovely Shine Bright collection from Kaisercraft perfectly. Goes to show that the raw chippies can have just as much of a *wow* factor as decorated ones!

A Fiskars border punch was used to create the curtains. 

I hope you've enjoyed this post and that it has inspired you to get your craft on this Easter long weekend!!

Until next time, keep calm and craft on :)

Karyn

Trucks and Gears and Swirls, oh my!

Hi there! I have a couple of projects to share with you all today that have been created for A2Z Scraplets.

First up is a layout titled Lights on the Hill. 

I've used a Mask to do the large cog on the background which I then filled with Finnabair's Graphite Texture Paste (OMG you NEED this stuff!). I also coated 3 of the Gears from the set of 4 in the same Graphite Texture Paste and then spritzed some copper Glimmer Mist over the top for a rusted up type of look. The Truck chippy was painted white and then I added a strip of green Washi Tape to match the truck in the photos. The truck was then outlined with a black gel pen and had buttons added for wheels. The Garage Days collection by Kaisercraft was perfect for this layout!

Secondly, I have a pair of cards using the gorgeous little swirls in the A2Z Scraplets Music Notes set and the stunning Betsy's Couture collection by Kaisercraft.

The chippies were both cut in half and coloured in with a brown felt pen. The right one was coated in Dimensional Magic, and then both were outlined in a gold gel pen. The scalloped strips across the middle of each card was created using a Fiskars border punch.

                 

Until next time... keep calm and craft on!

Karyn

White..with 1 March Challenge

Hi there! This is my entry for the March challenge over at White..with 1. They have chosen Hemlock as their colour this month and it's just gorgeous!

I dipped a paintbrush into some Tattered Angels Chalkboard Mist for the background behind the photo and a Zig pen from the Chalk Collection (shock horror! I didn't use a gel pen!) created a border for the layout. The Chalkboard Mist was also used to colour the family and border chipboards from A2Z Scraplets. The word family in the circle was coated in Heavy Gesso by Finnabair for that lovely thick white. This photo is one of my favourites, it's just a quick, dodgy one snapped with my phone in December 2013. Sam had unwrapped a present, put the ribbon around my neck and gave me a smooch. I love moments like these, don't you? :)

Some Kaisercraft embellies - rhinestone flourishes, resin flowers, and collectables from the gorgeous Blue Bay collection were added, along with a super cute Prima birdie.

I really wanted to have journaling, but I just couldn't get it to suit anywhere I placed it and then I realised it could work as hidden journaling! So I popped it behind the photo and voila, perfect :D

To create your White..with 1 layout, click here. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Until next time, as always... Keep calm and craft on!

Karyn

Fun with Gesso! ~step by step tutorial~

Have you ever wanted to play with Gesso but never quite knew how? Well, grab your supplies and let's go!

Materials (for this layout): 

* Canvas or adhesive canvas stuck on THICK card. You can use anything, but I recommend using something quite thick, as it will bow and mess up standard cardstock.

* Gesso - for this layout I used Mont Marte, but I have since bought the Heavy Gesso by Prima as I believe it will not need as many coats.
* Broad and thick paintbrush
* Spatula, credit card, or something similar to spread with.

* Charms, resins, chippies, doilies. Just lots and lots of embellies... I know you have just as many laying around stored neatly as I do lol! I love the Flourish chippy by A2Z Scraplets, it's large enough to run up the entire side of the layout and super fun to decorate on and around!
* Mask/stencil/template - I used the Honeycomb template by Kaisercraft.

* Texture Paste - I used Jo Sonja's, it's fine for what we're doing.

* Glue - you're going to want a good strong wet glue. I use Kaisercraft Tacky Glue, it's my personal favourite.

* Mist of some kind - I used Tattered Angels Cotton Candy Chalkboard Mist. Love it.

* Black or grey gel pen

* Tattered Angels Pewter Glimmer Glaze

* I added a Green Tara glass bead thingy at the end too :)

How to:

Step 1. Adhere canvas to thick card and spread 2 smooth layers of Gesso over the blank canvas with your broad paintbrush (you'll need at least an hour drying time between each coat). 

Step 2. Place your template/mask on top of your canvas (I put a little d/s tape in each corner to hold it still) and use your spatula or credit card to scrape the Texture Paste over the mask. This will dry quite quickly, I think mine only took an hour or so.

Step 3. Placement. I laid the chipboard Flourish down first and then placed all of the embellies around it. I messed with them until it suited what I wanted and then glued each one down individually. You can, of course, glue as you go if your brain won't scream at you while doing so hahahaha

*** I left all of this to dry overnight as I wanted it super stuck before I started coating it all in Gesso.

*** Cut to next morning :)

Step 4. Using your broad paintbrush, coat the entire surface in Gesso. You will need to smoosh your brush sometimes to get into the edges and around all of your embellies. Once this is FULLY dry, go over it again. I say fully dry because if you're using metal or plastic embellisments, the Gesso won't stick until it's completely dry and you'll just smear it. Depending on your preferences, you may want 3 or 4 coats - I used 3.
** for the extra embellies added over the top of the photo, cover them in Gesso individually and keep aside.



Step 5. Once your top coat of Gesso is dry, take your layout and extra embellies outside with your Chalkboard mist and give them a spritz (or 5 depending how much colour you want!). You can also leave it all white - it looks gorgeous!
Step 6. Once your spritzing is all dry you can add your photo and extra embellies. My photo was mounted with foam tape.
Step 7. Using the small brush that comes with your Glimmer Glaze, gently brush the edges of some of your embellies. 
Step 8. Outline photo, title and edge of canvas with your black or grey gel pen.

There you have it, Gesso is FUN and oh so easy to work with.

I hope I've been able to inspire you to have a go, I bet you'll love the outcome! 

Until next time, keep calm and craft on! :)
Karyn