Friends, using the Catch Up Kit.

Hi there!

Sandra here with my very first post for  Scrappy Chat Designs.
I was so excited and honoured  to be asked by Beck to join her team and I am humbled that I am working alongside the very talented Heather McMahon and Renee Aslette, three very talented ladies whose work I have admired for such a long time.

I LOVED the Catch Up Kit that Beck sent me to play with.

Here is the layout I created to share with you.

Aren't they the most gorgeous colours??
So bright and fresh.

Sorry this layout is currently out for publication, you can still have a look at a wonderful technique used on this layout

When I first saw the stencil in the kit I thought it looked just  like a tree, and  when I pulled out a cold beverage from the fridge  a few moments later and saw this:

I knew I was on the right track  so that is what I ran with!
Instead of using texture paste or mediums with the stencil I went down a different road.

Using a pencil,  I traced some of the stencil onto white cardstock and then using the “cider tree” from the packaging as a guide I hand drew the tree trunk and branches.
Then with a craft knife I fussy cut out the leaves, and carefully rubbed out the pencil marks.
And this was the result.

I added a bit more doodling, using the cider tree again as a guide, for the tree trunk.  

I picked one main patterned paper (I have used the grey side of the Fancy Pants “paddleboat” paper) to use as my main colour of the leaves and placed the stencil on top of this and used this as a guide... then came the fiddly, but fun,  bit!
Using scraps of paper.. (see! those 2inchx2inch scraps DO come in handy!! ;-) sticky tape them to the back of the cardstock under the stencil. (Don't stick that big piece of grey paper down just yet!!)

  This is the back.. it gets really kind of messy doesn't it?!
*tip! keep the pieces of sticky tape small so that it doesn't show on the front of the layout.. it does get easier the more you stick on.

Then keep flipping , sticking and flipping again until you get the look you want and then stick the “Paddleboat” paper to the back of the cardstock on the stencil. 

And this is what you end up with.

You might choose to use only one sheet of patterned paper behind the tree... this is much easier but still effective. Play with it! See what effect works for you. J
Then I constructed the rest of the layout.

I am sure you will love playing with the Catch Up Kit as much as I did.
Gorgeous colours and papers, two fantastic stencils that I am sure you will use over and over again..  washi tape...and lots of stickers and diecuts to play with.. Heaps for future projects.
There are still some Catch up Kits available.
follow the link on the side bar or HERE for more details..

And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook!
(the link is up top on the sidebar)

 and share with us your layouts and projects using your kits from  Scrappy Chat Designs.
It's always great  to see your creations!

See you next time with another share!

Sandra x

How to Make a Background with your December Kit

Hi There,

Renee here with a technique to share with you, using the December Kit.

I love this kit, it is filled with loads of inspiration.

The colours are perfect and you get a Pan Pastel and Liquid Pearls.

I have made a layout using this kit, and have a few tips on how you can create your own background using the pan pastel that was featured in the kit.

Here is my layout:

Here is how I started the background.

You need to use the white cardstock from the kit.  Cover it in gesso.

You can use a paintbrush, or a foam brush and even a brayer.

Allow to dry or use a heat gun.

Once dry you need to use a sponge or your finger to spread the pan pastel all over the page.

Darker in the top right and bottom left.

Here is what it looked like.

Next you need to grab a 12 x 12 stencil.

I used the Prima Triangle Stencil.

I used a Tattered Angels Glimmermist - Key Lime Pie, but just find a matching mist to the papers.  OR you could take some of the liquid pearls and add it to a mini mister with water, shake and create your own spray!

Spray and leave to dry or use your heat gun.

Then I got another stencil.

I used the Prima 6 x 6 Lattice stencil.

And the Tattered Angel Glimmermist - Burnt Red, but once again just find a spray to match the paper.

Allow to dry or use your heat gun.

Then I got a water spray, and spray water all over the page.

I also used my brayer to spread it around.

Some of the color drips and fades what you stencilled but that was what I was after.

Then using the same Prima 6 x 6 stencil.

I used gesso and stamped it onto the stencil in the top left and bottom right of the page.

It won't be perfect as the gesso is quite runny, but that is fine.

Then because the triangles are faded, I found a PITT pencil in a similar colour and coloured them in.  

Not all of them but the areas I wanted it to stand out.

Then it is time to construct your layout.

And journal.

There are so many funky elements in this kit to use and fussy cut out.

I found some lettering in my stash to match the papers.

And used some Liquid Pearls for zig zags and to smear behind the papers.

All done!

'Merry Christmas to you' kit is still available if you would like to give a try at creating your own take from the kit - just $39 + postage.  

E-mail orders.scrappychatdesigns@gmail.com to place your order.

Melbourne Papercraft Expo

Some exciting news to share today!!  I will be teaching at the Papercraft and Scrapbook expo in Melbourne at the end of February.  I am so excited to get the opportunity to teach and inspire others at the show with a Tutor's display board and two classes where people can come along and learn my way of creating.  

In both classes you will work at completing one layout and get started at least completing the background for a second layout that you can easily finish at home. We will be having fun with Spellbinder die cuts, Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts products including goosebumps and fireworks teamed up with yummy products from Craft Queen.

You can check out all the details of my classes here 

BOOKINGS GO LIVE WEDNESDAY 29TH MIDDAY  and spots are limited.  Given the size of this expo classes often fill fast as well with limited participants in each class.  

Here are some sneaks of each class.  

The first class (check the website for all times and details here):

All Smiles (your choice to go boy or girl)

       Layout 1                                                   Layout 2

                      

The second class (check the website for all times and details here):

:

A Trendy Feminine Delight class:

       Layout 1                                                   Layout 2

                                   

I would love to catch up with you if you can make it along!  

It's All About The Hair

Hi everyone! It's Heather here again.

I hope you've been enjoying some sunshine this week. I have!

I have a new layout to share with you. This is my third layout using the new kit from Scrappy Chat Designs. And for something different, I've made a girl layout with what are very boy papers.

Here's my layout:

I felt that the softer colours of this range suited a girl layout and used only those. The navy blue was added for contrast.

Do you like the flowers and leaves? I made them with the Paperclay that came in the kit. Here's how:

Large Flower - Step 1

Take a small piece of Paperclay and flatten it with your hand. Take a plastic flower and press it into the Paperclay, face down.

Step 2

Tear away the pieces of Paperclay that don't form part of the flower shape. These pieces can just be re-used.

Step 3

Once you have removed all the unwanted Paperclay, take the plastic flower off and you are left with a gorgeous Paperclay flower ready for you to decorate as you wish. I rolled the corners of mine up for more depth and painted it with acrylic paint.

Leaves

Take a small piece of Paperclay and flatten it out. Tear or cut a rough leaf shape and press a plastic leaf into it to create the veins. Allow to dry and decorate as you wish. Here are my finished, but not painted, large flower and leaves.

Small Flowers

To make these I took pieces of Paperclay about the size of a large cooked grain of rice and roughly rolled them into petal shapes. Note that Paperclay doesn't stick to itself so assembling the flower before it dries doesn't help - you have to glue each piece onto the page individually.

The rest of the layout is largely made of banners that I made from the papers. I was careful to keep boy-oriented sayings off the page but there were plenty of options for this. I inked around every banner piece to help define them.

To make the background, I roughly coated the gorgeous Kaisercraft stamp that comes with the kit in paint and randomly stamped it on. Stamping with paint always gives an imperfect, grungy look which I really like. Just be careful you don't put too much paint on though or you'll just get a big smudge!

Well this is my last layout for this month's kit and I must say I really enjoyed this one. If you have this kit, I hope you have lots of fun with it.

Cheers,

Heather

Keep calm with the new kit!

Hi everyone,

It's Heather here. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and saw the New Year in with a glass of bubbly or two.

I'm busting to show you my second layout that I made with the new Scrappy Chat Designs kit. I sure had fun making this one! Here it is:

My son and I were waiting for an appointment one day and, as teens do, he pulled out whatever digital device he carries around in his pocket and started taking selfies. He used a programme called CamWow to distort the photos. We had a good laugh over them!

The papers are from Carta Bella and the background framing is made using the gorgeous Kaisercraft stamp that came in the kit. I love this! You'll see this one appear in my work many more times in the future I'm sure. The black diamonds are made with black ink but the tan colour is made with the Metallic Melts that are also in the kit. I inked up the stamp with VersaMark ink, stamped it then added Metallic Melts on top. I then melted it with a heat gun and I think the effect is amazing! I deliberately kept the images imperfect to give the page a grungier look.

Now you're probably wondering what the story is with that weird 'flourish' beneath the pic. I made it using the Paperclay that came in the kit. I wanted something a bit grungy and different and I think I certainly achieved that!

Here's how I made it:

Step 1

Take a piece of the Paperclay and start rolling it into a sausage shape. Go back to your kindergarten days and pretend you're using Play Dough!

Step 2

Keep rolling it out, letting the piece get longer and thinner.

Step 3

Make several long sausage shapes and just shape them into whatever you want. I then used a piece of thick glass to flatten it but this isn't essential. Then just put the shape aside to dry then paint or decorate as required. I altered the shape of my finished piece slightly after I took this photo.

A tip for the Paperclay - just store it in a Glad Bag once you've opened the pack. This seems to keep it nice and fresh and it's easy to get into again next time.

The great thing about Scrappy Chat Designs kits  is that they come with really interesting products like these. I would never have discovered these products without the kits. And the kits are so generous. There's not a single thing on this layout that didn't come in the kit. I hope you get to play with them. They are sooo much fun!

If you're on holidays, I hope you're having a wonderful time.

Happy scrappin'

Heather

2014 Design Team Announcement

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!  

May this year be all that you wish and hope for!!

With the start of a new year comes many exciting challenges, new beginnings and building on our past.  With all that in mind, I am very humbled to be introducing you to the official Scrappy Chat Design team.  These ladies are so talented, and I am stoked that they are going to be sharing their talent with me, and in turn all you out there.  Not only are they super talented, they are the most lovely bunch of ladies I know, and I know that will shine though in their posts as you get to know them a little more. 

We have two ladies staying on designing for SCD and a new team member!

Renee Aslette who has been with me from the start and supported me in getting all this off the ground! Renee and I came to meet through designing together for Helmar and it sparked a beautiful friendship. Although we like a great deal of the same products, we often have a very different take with them which I love, as I get to see what she does with them!  

 Renee is a mum with two adorable young boys and a wonderful husband.  She lives in far north Queensland and is passionate about her Scrapbooking. 

Renee has been published too many times to count and has had numerous Honourable Mentions in the Scrapbooking Masters Competition.  She also LOVES to do challenges and has won or named in the top 5 many times. 

You can check out more of her work on her blog:  Anything is Possible. 

Heather McMahon joined the team late last year and has been sharing her amazing talent with us on the last few kits.  I just love her take on the kits and it has been so much fun seeing what she comes up with.  I was SO fortunate to be named ‘Scrapbooking Master’ with Heather as aside from achieving it, it meant I got an awesome friend out of it.  Especially good seeing we don’t live too far away from each other! 

Heather has a teenage daughter and son and a wonderful husband who she shares her live with in Country Victoria.  She has been scrapping now for about 13 years, since a friend dragged her along to a Creative Memories party. She fitted in scrapping when she could until the last couple of years when she has been able to devote more time to it. She is loving the amazing journey this craft has taken her on. She has met so many wonderful people, pushed herself out of her comfort zone and have got to travel and teach.

Heather again is a very published Scrapbooker with too many to count.  I love opening the magazines and seeing what she has created in her ‘Workshop Secrets’ article in Scrapbooking Memories Magazine especially.  Heather is enjoying doing challenges and expanding her Design team commitments finding new challenge in it all. 

You can check out more of her work on her blog:  Heather’s Scrap Room

Sandra Wallace is our NEWEST design team member!  I am so excited to announce that Sandra is joining our team helping to grow the team to a more rounded team.   So long ago I was fortunate to get to know Sandra while we both designed for Twiddleybitz.  I have always admired her work and was so sad not to get to meet up with her last year while travelling in her area.  We will meet one day I’m sure! 

Sandra lives with her husband and 2 children in the small rural town of Cummins in South Australia. She started scrapbooking back in 2008 (about the same time as me!!) and it has been an obsession of hers ever since.  She doesn’t think she has a particular style, as it has evolved with time, but if she had to give it a name she would say it is the "Forrest Gump" style. You never know what you are going to get. :-)  She also considers herself a 'frugal' scrapper… She hates waste and she must admit to being a hoarder. Hey! You just never know when you might need that 2in x 2in piece of chevron patterned paper!  - hmmm sounds like the perfect fit for this team huh!  She will share her talent with us, and for those that haven’t seen her work before, you will fall in love as you have with Renee and Heathers!

Sandra again is published loads in all the different scrapbooking AND card making magazines.  She has currently just achieved two Honourable Mentions in the just announced Scrapbooking Memories Masters competition. 

 You can check out more of her work on her blog:    Back in my corner

So there you have it... our new Design team looks like this! What an exciting start to the year!  

Although there is no January kit being released, we will be sharing with you some fantastic techniques using product from some of the older kits that are still available for purchase.  As you know, these kits are ALL about you learning how to use different products and create more unique scrapbooking pages long after the life of the kit with the non consumable product to keep to do so.  So stay tuned over the month.  You can follow us on Facebook as well to see when posts come live  https://www.facebook.com/ScrappyChatDesigns?fref=ts 

Happy New year!  and...

xxxBeck