Shabby Chic "Best of Friends"

Best of Friends

This is a piece I finished at the Tasmanian scrapbook camp last year(2012). I was posting all the latest one's I'd done and remembered about this one. I have it framed and hanging in my scrap room.

 

I've used many different flowers on this layout. Material, paper and crocheted. The one in the top left hand corner I made myself. I've also used lots of recycled pieces such as the music paper from an old music book and the square clock face from an old watch.

 

I've also added some chipboard pieces from Prima and Kaisercraft and trimmed the edges with a Martha Stewart edge punch.

The word "Friendship" is spelt out in scrabble tiles and put together on a simple banner of triangles cut out and edged.

Little pieces of bling I've collected here and there, a stamp from my old stamp collecting days finish off the corner piece.

I love looking back at my older pieces and seeing how much my style has changed. This is only 12 months old and yet my scrapbooking now looks very different.

PRODUCTS USED



KAISERCRAFT

Flourish pack - Long Bird Cage

Sweet nothings - Silver Lini 12x12

Sweet nothings - Dozen Roses 12x12

 

MARTHA STEWART

Doily Lace Border Punch

 

TIM HOLTZ

Movers and Shapers - Mini Butterflies set

 

PRIMA

Decorative Wooden Embellishments - Birds

Prima Flowers

 

Australian Out Back Beauty

A Simply Beautiful Place

I'm very blessed. I live in a beautiful country, a sun burnt country, a land of sweeping plains.

Dorathea Mackeller puts it so eloquently in here poem

 "My Country"

Core of my heart, my country!
 Land of the rainbow gold, 
For flood and fire and famine
 She pays us back threefold. 
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze ... 

This page is dedicated to my beautiful country, Australia.

The splats are created by using Distress Ink. I love this affect and chose the colours to represent the yellow sand and blue oceans.

I coloured wire flower stems with black Alcohol Ink Markers to add some dimension and to represent the broken and black limbs from a burnt tree after one of our devastating bushfires.

Twine is wrapped around the photo. This symbolises my ties to my country. 

Washi tape and a collection of stamps help guide the shape of the layout along with many layers of different textures from black tuille material to wooden swirls. I also put together a stamped clock that I distressed and added a metal gear and large diamante on to, then backed with gathered washi tape to create a flower shape.

The simple word "Delightful" says it all.

I hope you have enjoyed viewing this layout. It's a real beauty!!

Cheers

Fiona

Jo's Family (Kaszazz Tassie Camp Competition)

Winner of the Tassie Kaszazz Camp (Rocktober) Layout Challenge

As is usually the case at many of the camps I attend, there is a layout competition available to enter. This was my entry for the Tasmania Kaszazz camp I attended recently. Because I had flown over to Tasmania, I was limited to what I could take so I had planned my projects meticulously right down to the exact embellishments I would need to the corresponding inks required for each project (15 kg luggage limit). So when it came to any of the challenges, I didn't have my usual stash of "Goodness Knows What" available to draw on. 

Luckily it was a Kaszazz camp, and you were restricted to using only Kaszazz products incorporating something from the challenge pack they had given everyone at the beginning of the camp, plus the camp was full of Kaszazz consultants. So I begged, stole and borrowed what I could. Of course that was not a problem at all because they are such a great bunch of craft loving ladies. The problem was that I didn't have any photos for the layout. I know you can create a layout with any photos but I found my interest in the challenge limited due to the fact that I couldn't envisage what I might use the layout for after I had created it.
So I stole someones photos too! 

These are Jo's beautiful girls with their Nan (Jo's mum). Because the photos are hers, the layout is also hers. It was a privileged to create and exactly what I am trying to promote as part of my Studio. Commissioned pieces, just like you would from an Artist. I'm determined to get scrapbooking known as a true art and not simply cutting and gluing as most people consider it. The pieces I create can be framed and displayed as art on the walls of a home or even one day maybe in a gallery as a featured exhibition!

All the products I have used are from the Kaszazz range. The background paper is "Lady Bug".  The patterned paper is Terrace Garden "Blooms"  both found on page 9 of their catalogue.

Butterfly stamps on page 11 of the Kaszazz Catalogue coloured with Kaszazz Alcohol Ink Markers on page 188 adorn the edges of the piece. I love these markers and have found that with practice I've began to understand their properties and how they blend and work together.

Silhouette family stamp (page 28) is used to create the terrace garden Blooms family cut out. I stamped on the opposite side and fussy cut it out, flipped it over, edged it with Black Soot Distress Ink and stuck it down.

A  combination of torn patterned paper, black gesso (pg 228), strips of left over mounting card, washi tape (pg 200), some black waxed twine (pg 205) and a random spray of White Linen Dylusions Spray Ink (pg 192) make up the decorative panels on each page.

The background is stamped with black Memento Ink using Moroccan tile un-cut set on page 13 of the Kaszazz catalogue and "Our Family" un-cut set on page 24.

"Family" was cut from the Fonts "Delight Roman" Die (pg 220) and placed in position on top of a black gesso background then sprayed over with White Linen Dylusions Ink Sprays (pg 192) then gently lifted off to create a masked affect. The Honeycomb stencil (pg 230) was used as a mask, blended with Black Soot Distress Ink and then flipped over, painted directly on to with black gesso and pressed down over the blended area as a sort of rough stamp.

P.S. While browsing the Kaszazz catalogue, check out page 11, cards created by me and page 68, layout created by me and winner of the Kaszazz layout challenge at scrapbook get away 2013. My very first published work ever.

I really enjoyed creating this layout for Jo. Now that I've blogged it, as promised, it goes to her.

Special thanks Jo for your inspiration xxx

Cheers

Fiona

Just Me

I often scrapbook photos of my children, things I love and places I go, but I don't often blog pictures of myself and if I do, it's not really recognisable as me ("Artistic Me" posted September). So this was a bit bizarre but I had the photo so what the heck! I think it turned out not too bad.

For this layout, I was really looking at the technique of layering. I tend to not over layer my pieces. It's a weird thing but I don't like to cover something up. It all looks good and I want it all showing...... but this also contributes to over packed pages - ME to a T - so I've given layering a go. It was challenging but worth it.
The background is a 12x12 page from the Kaszazz range "Scallop Floriade" it's the flip side of the "Butter Floret" found on page 17 of the Kaszazz catalogue. I've adapted the paper by using a  6x6 Bricks stencil from Crafters workshop. With some gel medium, I created a corner of bricks. When it dried, I slightly coloured it with a bit of Black Soot Distress Ink and then smeared a little bit of white gesso over it to soften their appearance. I've also lightly added some of the "Graph" background stamp found in the Kaszazz catalogue on page 175. The stamp is quite large so I rolled it up and inked the stirp down the middle then pressed it lightly where I want to leave the impression. This technique makes it look more rustic, random, rather than being a perfect square shape.

I've also used the Chevron Arrows stencil on page 230 of the Kaszazz catalogue smudged with Black Soot Distress Ink. I used the woven raffia that is in the layers as a stencil too. I like to use everyday bits and pieces as stencils. Lots of things work, doily's, tulle netting and even the sequin off cuts you can often buy at cheap as chips. Or, with a bit of cardboard, a craft knife and an idea you can make any stencil you like.

I've also sprayed the pages with Dylusions Sprays "Vibrant Turquoise" and "Lemon Zest". You should see me attempt this! Picture this. I'm really afraid of spiders right, and when I'm spraying a spider with insect killer and anticipating that moment when, as you spray, the spider takes off!!! I jump and freak out. Well spraying dylusions causes the same response from me. I'm still not sure about the lack of control I have over the results but it's o.k. I'm getting better at it. Sort of. Either way I always love the results I get.

Another element on the page is the lace. I got it from Lincraft along with some other pretty designs. It was white, so I coloured it using Distress Stain Scattered Straw. Distress Inks are great for colouring any material or paper based product to the right colour for your layout.

There is also a lot of black stamping throughout the back ground. I stuck to black rather than add another colour and I find it helps define the shape of the layout I'm trying to achieve. This layout is a off set cross design as shown below. I often find it helpful to begin with a shape to follow. If it's too black, then smear a little watered down gesso over it and it helps to dull the black.

Hand written quotes are a lovely touch to your layouts. This quote is from one of Tim Holtz's stamp sets. The stamp wouldn't actually fit where I wanted to so I wrote it in instead.

The bottom left hand corner is heavily patterned with stencils, stamps, dylusion spray and some tulle. I wanted to help balance the heaviness of the top corner where I'd placed the bricks. I've also placed a couple of circles using a lid to stencil on black gesso. TIP: as you push the lid down onto the paper, shift it slightly to one side to smear the paint so you make a slightly thicker circle. Often you don't have to reapply any more paint to do the second circle, there is still enough to make an impression, definitely of a lesser thickness but still very effective.

The layers begin with an old tarnished Doily and a piece of edged and coloured torn paper, followed by some black fine tulle, then woven raffia topped with corrugated cardboard stripped back slightly and coloured with white gesso. The photo is matted on black card stock and smudged with some gesso to dull the really dark edge. On the right hand side I've also added the lace border.

Layering is so much fun, even though it was challenging and if I can do it (control freak me!) then you can. Give it a go, the results are worth it.

Cheers

Fiona

Christmas Configuration Box (Tim Holtz)

I have recently spent a fantastic weekend in Tasmania with some of the Kaszazz team. Lee, Mel and Lissa organised a scrapbooking getaway in the beautiful Tasmanian wilderness. While I was there I completed quite a few projects. This one is actually the last one I did for the weekend. I had only intended to "start" this project but it actually came together a lot easier than I'd thought. 

I began by coating each box with Gesso. Only lightly as I wanted the brown of the boxes to still show through a little to give it a rustic feel. I also covered the inside sides of selected boxes with some old dictionary pages coloured with gathered twigs distress ink. These old pages are thin like tissue paper and crinkle really well when stuck down with a wood glue and water mixture and then a coat over the top.

Each little compartment is adorned with trinkets I've collected over the years. Some are scrapbook embelishments, some are simply bits and pieces of Christmas decorations and some are dolls house pieces I pick up at Garage sales and the likes.

I used some of Kaszazz's Christmas papers to back each box. I'm not sure what they're called and I'm blogging on my tablet so it's a bit tricky to add links like I usually do, in fact it's a bit tricky to blog full stop so I apologise in advance for any mistakes.

I haven't got all the close up photos, I thought I'd loaded them up but apparently not! So I'll add them when I can.Most of the bought products I've used are Tim Holtz, Kaiser Craft and Prima. 

Tim Holtz: Game Pieces Bingo, Woodlands Trees and Wreath, Festive greenery-holly Decorative strip, Mini Holidays, Mini Holidays 2 and Visual Artistry "The Journey" clear stamp set.

Kaiser Craft: Belle embroidered badges and Dear Santa embellishment pack

Prima: Resin Chic window frame

More close ups as promised.

Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe

The one that didn't get away

 

Fishing and camping is a favourite tradition in our family. This is one of those magical moments when I happened to have the camera out just at the right time. Of course when you capture such a great photo, the only thing to do is Scrap it! So I did. The majority of the patterned papers I used were from Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe. It's such a pity these papers are hard to get now because they have been discontinued but if you're lucky you'll come across some in your travels. I'm holding on to the very last of mine until I find just the right project. Other patterned papers I used were from Kaiser Craft in particular Miss Match 12x12 perforated specialty - Goodie and Kaszazz Timeless collection Clay Flourish (flip side) on page 73 of their catalogue as my backing page. I've stamped some butterflies onto the background page using the distress ink old paper. It gives a light watermark affect.

On the bottom of the layout I created a banner of tags cut out from the different patterned paper pieces strung along a piece of brown string. Every tag is distressed and edged using frayed Burlap Distress Ink.

 

I've also cut out a key and lock from Tim Holtz's mini lock and key movers and shapers die. I cut them out of some leather from an old satchel. This goes to prove how tough the dies are as this leather is quite thick. The brown string is held in place with staples and thread through eyelets put into some of the tags.

 

 

 

In the top right hand corner I've placed a couple of butterflies. One cut from Tim Holtz,s Mini Butterflies movers and shapers die and one fussy cut from the Graphic 45 papers. I've also added some flowers from the Prima range. The side of the page is edged with a half hexagon.

 

The bottom left hand corner is also decorated with Prima flowers and a Old Paper distress ink stamped butterfly.

Some hexagons covered in patterned paper from a free printables page to match the overall layout, a moth stamped in the old paper distress ink and some coordinating flowers from Prima set off the corner of the photo placement.

 

 

 

The Soft background mixed with the splashes of colour from the patterned papers really sets off this story of photos. Three photos on a page doesn't often leave much room for design extras but I feel, even though this page is busy, it doesn't detract from the excitement of the moment portrayed in the photos.

 

Happy Scrapping

 

 

Fiona



Kaiser Craft Miss Match Mini Drawers

Make sure you follow Pastiche Scrapbook Studio on face book to be updated every time I blog and have projects for sale. It's also a good place to find fantastic, exciting and innovative ways to scrapbook :)

Little Iddy Bitty Drawers

I picked up these little Kaiser Craft Mini Drawers from the Kaiser Craft factory Outlet in Geelong a little while back. Happens to be one of my favourite scrapbook stores. It's very funny listening to me and Sandi scheming a reason to go through Geelong on our camping holidays! This was my first Kaiser beyond the page piece and I enjoyed it so much I've done many since. My most useful would be the spinning craft caddy. it sits in the middle of my craft table, within easy reach and holds all my essentials. As recent as last weekend, I completed a set of the Turntable drawers to put all my bits and pieces in.

I themed this little project "Tea Time" and used the Kaiser Craft Miss Match paper pack. I love the colours in this range, the cornflower blues in particular are a favourite of mine.

The left top is decorated with a little picnic basket full of tiny flowers, a menu, written on a tag from the coordinating collectables pack and a tiny cup and saucer from a doll house set, sitting on a paper doily also from the collectables pack. I filled the bottom of the basket with some pink satin cloth and a piece of lace to build it up. I also added a little rectangle clock face to symbolise the "Time" element of the project. 

The right top is embellished using some more of the Miss Match collectables. When ever I purchase Kaiser Craft paper packs, I always try to grab a packet of the collectables that match. This way you're guaranteed you'll have coordinating embellishments. I've added a fussy cut butterfly, tiny flowers and a Tea pot charm to stay with the tea time theme. The little green twists are made simply by twirling the green wire stems, that come with your flowers, around a thin stick. I use the handle of my Kaiser Craft .file set. Every thing is edged in brushed Corduroy Distress Ink, even the edges of the drawers wooden frame.

The front of the drawers are covered in the Miss Match paper and embellished with different little bits I had lying around. The drawers have pull cut outs but I felt they needed little handles to accentuate that they were drawers, so I glossy accented on some mini epoxy brads. All of the boxes are lightly edged with Brushed Corduroy. I do this with most of my pieces. It stops them form looking too sharp, helps the paper blend with the paint edge.

This piece is for sale for $35.00 plus postage. It would make a lovely gift packed full of different flavoured tea bags or kept on a dressing table for storing earrings and rings in. Maybe you would like it just for yourself. It would be great for putting little embellishments into in your scrap room.

If you are interested, pop over to my face book page "Pastiche Scrapbook Studio" and comment SOLD in the comments section of this blog post and I'll PM you for payment and delivery details. I've thought about having an Etsy page, maybe that's a job for me when I find some spare time!

Cheers

Fiona