Introducting our new Design Team Member - Kim Ewins

Once again we have been sitting on some VERY exciting news over the last couple of months... yes we have another new Design Team member that joined us.  Why did we keep it a secret??  Well because we wanted to announce it closer to when her first kit will be released!  We do try to work ahead with kits and release, and having a new Arty Chic is definitely making that happen.

Our new design team member is Kim Ewins.  She is a super talented Arty Chic who will be showing her stuff in the form of the premier kits as well as technique sheets e-mailed to members and inspiration on this blog.  We are super excited to have her join the team.

A little about Kim....

Hello, my name is Kim Ewins.

I live in Orange which is in the Central Tablelands of NSW. (And we actually grow apples and cherries in Orange..lol)

 I am a SAHM and my husband, Roy and I have eight Children, (well 3 have left the nest so far). I have 5 boys and 3 girls…..and in January 2014 we welcomed our first grandchild.

 I first started scrapbooking in 2006 after the birth of my last child as I felt I needed to capture our family’s precious moments and my passion has just grown from there.

My current Design Teams;

 Scrap Around the World, Scrapmatts, Craft Queen, Orange Paperie & Co, CSI (Colors, Stories, Inspiration), Heart & Soul Artists (aka, The Color Room). I was a Tutor at The Scrapbooking & Papercraft Expo’s in 2013 and I have also been published in SBM.

My style is on the grunge/shabby side; I love to machine stitch and tend to use lots of layers…. I also tend to stick more to neutrals and pastels.

I love to try out new things and like getting a little messy.

My blog is

 www.lifeisabalancingactx8.blogspot.com

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To celebrate Kim joining the team, we are sharing Kim's layout created using the current kit 'Explore', and rather than keeping her technique sheet just for the members, we are sharing it here so you can get a feel for her amazing style and how she created this fabulous layout.

Don’t Grow Up

Hello Kim here, I am excited to share my first layout for Scrappy Chat Designs

 Created using the Explore Kit.

To create my layout I began by taking the (October Afternoon-Library Card) paper, and then I roughly measured in 3cm from each side and then cut out the middle section. Be sure to keep all pieces aside and don’t throw out.

 Now take the October Afternoon Reference Section paper (I have used the spot side) Measure in 2cm from adjoining sides & trim.

 Then as before cut the middle section of this paper out.

 Now place your 3 layers together so you have a visual of how the layers will look together. Glue the layers together with a light glue (I used a Bostik glue stick).

 Now take the trimmings/strips you cut from the October Afternoon papers (from the edges) and use these strips to create some layers. Glue or stick down once happy with placement.

 Now take the Crafters Workshop mini sketch grid template and position over the strips you have stuck down. Using texture paste and a spatula add some background interest…. Spread the texture paste over the template, remove the template.

 and then let dry or dry using a heat gun.

I then machine stitched around the outer edge through all layers in a white Top Stitch thread and then again using a turquoise coloured thread.

(I generally use either Top Stitch or Upholstery thread in my sewing machine as it is a lot thicker than normal threads and it adds another dimension or texture to my layouts).

 Then using the distress stain (tumbled glass) I have added some splodges in random places.  I also placed some stain onto my plastic mat to paint onto my layout using a paintbrush

 Next I matted my photo (6x4) onto the red cardstock and also cut another piece of red cardstock measuring 12cm x 14.5cm, I then stuck this onto my papers in the desired position.

 Take the twine in the kit and stick it down above your matted photo and down the right hand side as well, tying the ends in knots. (Refer to layout photo).

Using more of the twine make some swirling circles. Use a scrap of cardstock, place double sided tape onto this. Take the twine and create a flat spiral with it, then place onto tape as pictured.

 Once you have placed the twine on the double sided tape simply cut close to the edge of the twine and then stick randomly in place. I have made 5 of these in different sizes.

I also wanted to use some of the cute elements from the October Afternoon Library Card paper so I cut some of the elements out and, also using the top of the Distress Stain as a circle guide I cut 3 circles from the red cardstock and also 3 circles from the Library Card paper then stuck one red and one printed together (slightly off centre) I also added a few enamel dots.

 Title

Now for my title I used some old alpha’s I had in my stash, (You could use leftovers from your Cheeky Smiles Kit). 

First I inked my alpha with embossing ink then added the Metallic Melts and heated until I liked the texture; I put some Distress Stain onto a plastic surface and then painted this onto the alphas then reheated the Metallic Melts. This added a mottled effect to the alphas.

I then cut the ‘WE GROW UP’ from the Library Card paper and stitched around this and matted on red cardstock and sewed through the ‘WE’. I also slipped a few little strips under this and stuck down. Using small alpha stickers, I suck the other words I needed onto red cardstock, then trimmed close to the edge but making sure to leave a narrow border. I painted more of the Distress Stain around this and also painted randomly around my project.

To finish off I added a few more enamel dots.

Happy Creating

Kim x

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I hope you've enjoyed reading Kim's first post for Scrappy Chat Designs. Kim's first kit release is JUST around the corner!  If you want to get your hands on it, simply email orders.scrappychatdesigns@gmail.com if you would like to pre-order or sign up for membership. Membership is for a three month period and for only $135, you receive a full kit every month including postage along with 3 video tutorials showing you how to create 3 layouts as written instructions and detail pics helping you get up and close to the project at hand. But wait .......... there's more! You also receive email technique sheets from the Arty Chics! showing you how they have used the kit and products it contains in various ways and sharing their techniques, tips and tricks with you.