Your Creative Wings Projects

My latest projects are up on the Your Creative Wings blog today, with two layouts to share - one in a clean style and one a bit more shabby.

First up, 

Ice Cream Star

This layout is about my then four year old nephew who really deserved a special treat after being such a superstar walking around the town to show his Aunty the sights on my visit. 

This You're A Star badge really brought the theme of the layout together for me.  It fits so well with all the chipboard stars available in the YCW shop, and also with the Solstace collection.  It's such a bright and cheery sentiment, can be used for both boys and girls, and even adults!  I've applied pigment ink to the raw chipboard which has allowed the intricate cut details of the text and stars to keep a really nice contrast.

For my title I used the Alpha #1 set.  I love that these alphas are in a more formal font style, but still have their own character.  I primed with gesso and then applied two coats of acrylic paint in a navy blue.

Soo, I have a little confession to make... I'm a massive fan of metallics and bling!  I can't tell you how happy it makes me that the gold metallics have continued to be so popular with the latest collections being released.  The Solstice collection from Pink Paislee is no exception, and I wanted to mirror the pops of gold in some of my chippy pieces.  I've inked the pieces with Versamark ink and then heat embossed with Queens Gold embossing powder.  The result is a really close match to the gold elements in the collection.

I've tucked the Small Star Wheel behind my photo.  The star wheels have a removable inner star (making it super easy to colour the inner star differently), and then some extra smaller stars in the set to layer.  

The Stars in a Row are so versatile.  On this layout I've made a border strip by joining a few rows together, and I've trimmed a strip of three stars which have been positioned above my title.  You can also cut them into individual stars for scattering around your page, and the inner star in the centre of each one is removable, so you can have outline stars and small stars as well!

Included in the pack with the Your a Star badge, are two layered stars within circles.  I've pulled each of these apart so that I have two outline circles and four larger stars to scatter about the page.  I've used some more navy acrylic paint, gold and red embossing powders, and patterned paper to colour the stars and circles.

A few pieces of ephemera from the collection, some October Afternoon Pop Drops and some journalling, and I called it done.

Your Creative Wings materials used:  Star Border YCW10003,  Word Discs - So Proud Combo   YCW1023, Small Star Wheel YCW10006, Alpha Set #1 YCW 5006.

Other materials used:  Pink Paislee-Solstace patterned paper, Crate Paper-The Pier slide frames, Pink Paislee-Solstace ephemera, October Afternoon-Daily Flash pop drops, Colour Box pigment ink in Mint, Ranger embossing powder in Queens Gold, red embossing powder, acrylic paint, machine stitching.

Perfect

My second layout is a softer coloured shabby page using a lot of textures and layers.  I've used papers from Pion Design's Shoreline Treasures collection.

I've started my layers with some texture paste tinted with cream acrylic paint and applied to my background with a leaf stencil.  Once dry I've added some watercolour in a soft blue and allowed to dry again.

From there I've layered strips of the papers trimmed into banners and added bits and pieces between the layers.  I've applied two coats of gesso to the leaf border, and the flourishes have had two coats of gesso, followed by matt Mod Podge as a glue with a light dusting of Diamond Dust for some glimmer.

The chicken wire background I wanted to grunge up a little, so I trimmed four or five odd sized shapes out of the sheet, spritzed each of them with water to allow them to loosen up, then manipulated them a bit to pull them out of shape.  Then using my scalpel (carefully ha!) I scratched across the top layer to loosen fibres here and there.  Once dry I added gesso randomly and finally added some Kindyglitz for sparkle.

My frame originally had a square outside border attached, but that's the beauty of working with a raw product - you can change it up so that it suits how you want to use it.  I carefully cut away the outside border with scissors and was left with just the scroll frame.  I primed this in gesso and then applied a blue pigment ink.

The brand new range of script words are beautiful.  I've used the word "Perfect", but others available include Happiness, Laughter, Memories and Wanderlust.  This scripty font is really on trend right now.  I've left my title piece raw as a contrast against the lighter colours in the papers and embellishments.

Your Creative Wings materials used:   Perfect Day Script Set YCW1052, Leaf Border YCW 11006,  Key to My Heart Charm Set YCW12013, Butterflies Mini YCW3042,  Mesh Panel YCW8010,  Scroll Frame YCW6013, Sprig Set 2 YCW7013.

Other materials used:  Pion Designs-Shoreline Treasures patterned paper, The Crafters Workshop 6x6 Mini Leaf Frame stencil, Prima Junkyard Findings clock faces & zippers, Prima Say it in Crystals, doilies, Petaloo flower, corrugated cardboard, Kaisercraft Jewels in Hunt & Gather, Twinklets Diamond Dust, Kindyglitz in Crystalina, Windsor & Newton Iridescent Medium, Tattered Angels Glimmermist in Glacier, Versa Colour Ink in Atlantic & Baby Blue, Distress Ink in Frayed Burlap and Pumice Stone, watercolours, muslin, gesso, texture paste, Jo Sonja's Crackle Medium.

Thanks for dropping by today xx

Your Creative Wings - September Inspiration

Today I have my first Creative Team assignments up on the Your Creative Wings blog!  I'm so excited to be part of the Creative Team for this awesome Australian chipboard company, and looking forward to working with all of the amazingly talented girls making up the Team.

My three layouts for this month are included in my post today, but to see the Your Creative Wings blog post in full, including extra photos of the individual chipboard pieces I've used (and to enter in a super special giveaway), head over to the YCW blog.

18

My first layout is of my daughter on her 18th birthday.  I've used Graphic 45 papers to create a soft and feminine page with lots of pastel pinks, blues, greens and neutrals.

Most of the chipboard pieces have been treated in the same way on this layout.  Firstly a base coat of gesso, and once that was dry a second coat of gesso was applied followed by some Kindyglitz in Crystalina while the gesso was still wet.  I love the extra visual texture it adds to white chippy.

This sidewalk sign I prepared as above, then traced around the edge of the oval on the reverse side of my patterned paper and trimmed close to my pencil lines.  Holding it in place I then used an emery board at a 45 degree angle around the edges of the bottom half of the oval to sand away the paper until it was exactly the shape of the chipboard.  Then I reversed the paper so that the bottom sat in place at the top of the oval, and adhered using PVA glue.  Once dry I then repeated sanding with the emery board around the bottom half of the oval to ensure an exact fit.

You can just see the shimmer of the Kindyglitz on the Ornate Post.

I used the Heart Ring as a layer underneath the Prima crochet icon.  After priming with gesso I added a coat of acrylic paint in a pastel blue, and once dry dabbed on some cream acrylic paint with my fingertips.

And yes, the little fairy.  I have a definite soft spot for her! I can totally imagine her hiding out in a little corner of my garden.

Your Creative Wings Material Used - Numerals Typewriter Small YCW5005, French Window Double YCW18001, Ornate Post YCW19005, Heart Ring YCW12004,

Hanging Sign 2 YCW16009, Fairies Tiny Set YCW3036, Words -  Family Script YCW1050, Keys YCW8004

Other Materials Used - Graphic 45 patterned paper Botanical Tea, Sweet Sentiments & Come Away With Me collections, Bazzill cardstock, Martha Stewart border punch, Prima Lace Doilies; Say it in Crystals; Crochet Icons, Green Tara flowers, Kindyglitz in Crystalina, Tattered Angels Glimmermist in Key Lime Pie

Radiant

My second layout is again of my daughter but using a bolder colour palette.

I've created a tone on tone background with lots of texture and subtle metallic highlights.  I've used a stencil and texture paste as a base, and then added lace, satin seam binding, ric rac and junkyard elements, and even some chippy pieces to construct the background texture.

Here you can see the chipboard Key and Bird on a Wire that I have used as part of my background.  I painted each piece in black acrylic paint and then spritzed in Black Magic Glimmermist to add the same golden sheen as the rest of the background.

I used the Love Birds Heart behind my photo.  It was prepared in the same way as the other background pieces, but I then added a coat of Glossy Accents so that it was a little more pronounced than the rest of the background pieces.  

I've used two shades of Pipe Dream Ink embossing Utee, Rosevears and Sandstone on the feature chippy pieces.  The Sandstone embossing powder melts to a silver colour if used on the chipboard pieces raw, and a more pearlescent white if they're coated in gesso first.  

I noticed the negative of the Square Selfy set sitting on my craft table and it reminded me of a polaroid frame.  I trimmed it down to the right size, primed in gesso and embossed in Sandstone utee before tucking it behind the photo to frame it.

The larger Sprig Flourish and Fern Leaf are my feature chippy pieces, and both have utee applied over the raw chipboard.

To finish off my cluster I added a small script word "Inspiration" on my Prima frame, and I couldn't resist adding a small vial of pink glitter.

Your Creative Wings Material used - Sprig Flourish YCW7010, Love Birds Heart YCW12009, Doves YCW3005,  Sprig Set 2 YCW2028, Creative Words Script YCW1046, Keys YCW8004, Word - Radiant YCW1011,  Bird on a Wire YCW3026.

Other Materials used - Authentique patterned paper Lovely collection, Bazzill cardstock, Kaisercraft 12 x 12 template Bubbles, Tattered Angels Glimmermist in Black Magic, Luminarte Pigments in Golden Opal and Apple Blossom, Lace, Satin Seam Binding, Ric Rac, Tulle, Prima resin frame, Junkyard elements, glitter, Martha Stewart punch, Petaloo flowers, Pipe Dream Ink embossing utee in Rosevears and Sandstone, Glossy Accents.

Love Everyday Life

And for my last share today I have a bright and cheery layout featuring my cute nephew and one of his "Everyday Life" moments - enjoying some ice cream in his PJ's!

To keep with my "everyday life" theme I've used the days of the week pinked circles.  I don't know about you but I think Funday should be a day in every week right!?  I've made a base coat in pink acrylic paint on these before inking in gold ink and clear embossing over the top.  You can just see little bits of the pink peeking through.

The Mason Jar Bunting chippy piece was perfect for this layout.  To ensure that all the intricate details of the jars remained visible I embossed in white embossing powder.  One of my patterned papers was a patchwork of designs, which made it easy to find differing patterns for my pennants.  I traced one flag out and trimmed, and then used it as a template for the rest of the pennants.  I adhered the top of each pennant flush to the chipboard, and used Helmar Scrap Dots to raise the flag ends.

The "Love" alphas that come as part of the Mason Jar Bunting set I used at the top of my layout as part of the title.  Both the alphas and stars were primed in Gesso and I then coloured with Margarita Mix gelato, using my water pen to smooth the colour.  When I did this I lost the definition of the mini stars so I used a black pen to trace around the inner stars and redefine them.

My little homely cluster at the bottom features the Heart Scroll, Birdhouses & Birds, & Cute Birds.  The Heart Scroll has been inked in Archival Ink, while the Cute Bird has been primed in gesso and then acrylic paint.  The winged bird has been treated in the same way as the stars and alphas.

Your Creative Wings Material used - Birdhouses & Birds YCW15001,  Birds Cute YCW3002, Heart Scroll YCW12006, Mason Jar Bunting Love YCW9001,  Word Badges DaysYCW1006,  Star border YCW10003

Other Materials Used - Websters Pages Family Traditions collection patterned paper, Bazzill cardstock, Silhouette cut file Circle Frames id#65728, Martha Stewart Punch, October Afternoon buttons, bakers twine, washi tape, crochet flower, Tsukineko Brilliance ink in Galaxy Gold, Ranger Archival Ink in Coffee, Versamark Ink, clear embossing powder, Gelato in Margarita Mix

I hope you've enjoyed my first shares using Your Creative Wings' new chippy designs.  I love that some of the cuts are just so intricate, like the Heart Scroll above.

Have you fallen in love with these chipboard pieces just like I have?  Remember YCW is hosting a giveaway of a prize pack of gorgeous chippy goodies on their blog, and you still have just over one week to enter.  All you need to do is leave a comment at the end of this Your Creative Wings blog post by the end of September to be in the running.

Thanks for dropping by!

Fancy a Prize Pack full of Goodies?

That's right, a pack full of gorgeous chipboard to celebrate Your Creative Wings launch!

Audrey has put together a yummy pack of her chippy designs and all you need to do is leave a comment on this Your Creative Wings blog post to be in the running.  A lucky winner will be drawn at the end of September.

Competition is open for postage within Australia. 

Good Luck!!

An Exciting Secret to Share - Your Creative Wings

So... I've been keeping a little secret for a while now, and I'm so very excited to be able to share it with you today!

I'm jumping up and down excited, very honoured and really quite humbled to be joining some amazing and talented ladies on the inaugural Creative Team for Australia's brand new chipboard manufacturer, Your Creative Wings!!

Here is just one little sneak peak at a couple of the gorgeous chippy designs, aren't the mason jars just adorable!?

To see more of the great designs available, head on over to the Your Creative Wings shop.

The first blog post is up this morning, with an introduction to the Creative Team and some beautiful inspiration from some of the girls.  There's also a couple of sneak peaks of my first share to come really soon!  Pop over to the Your Creative Wings blog to see the full post.

There are so many great chippy designs, but this little fairy just might be one of my favourites.  Hmm, okay.... so maybe I actually have a LOT of favourites right now, ha!

I can't wait to share some more of my projects with you, and in the meantime if you'd like to stay up to date with everything YCW,  you can like their Facebook page for regular updates.

Thanks for stopping by!

Week 17 Project Life

It's been a while since I've posted a Project Life spread, and yes this one is from April, well late April (that sounds better right!)  So I'm a bit behind, but I'm grateful for the weeks that I am getting documented.

For this week's spread I've used The  Story of Us collection from Simple Stories.  Technically it's a wedding themed collection, but I was drawn to the black (read chalkboard), gold, florals and faded timber in the line.  I love how it turned out and don't think there's too much on my finished spread that looks really wedding related.

Here's the left side.

And the right.

My supplies were the 6x6 paper pad and two ephemera packs - the Bits & Pieces pack and the Insta Squares pack.  I also added some label stickers, alphas, brads, tags and envelopes from Simple Stories' DIY and Snap Studio lines.

Because I'm documenting a few months back, my separate Project Life diary that I've been keeping this year and my printed planning pages are coming in really handy.  I keep my Project Life diary on the sideboard in our dining room so it's really accessible, and every couple of days I'll jot down anything of note that has happened.

To make this filler card with the ampersand on the left below, I trimmed out one of the patterned papers to 3 x 4".  I then rounded the corners, added one of the 2" Insta Squares, and stitched a zigzag stitch in gold thread around the edge.

The kraft tags make a great journalling base and just slip straight into my trusty typewriter.

This gold doily from the ephemera pack is so sweet, and to make it go further I trimmed it in half and used it in two places on my spread.

I totally loved the patterned paper with a printed border, but being a 6 x 6" paper it wouldn't work with my 6 x 4" pocket.  To get around this I just trimmed a strip from the middle of the paper, making sure that there was enough left on the top and bottom pieces so that they would still join up.  Because it's a chalkboard paper I ran a black ink along the cut edge of the overlapping piece so the white core wouldn't stand out.  You have to look really closely to see the join.

To finish off the filler card I've backstitched a border in green embroidery thread around a 3 x 3" Insta Square, folded over two diagonal corners and secured them with brads, and finally added some punched flowers in the same corners and layered over a few sequins for the flower centres.

Week 17 was our three day working week, Monday was Easter Monday and Friday was Anzac Day.  We spent time on the beach, Brent marched in a local Anzac Day march, and Greg & I did a short bush walk into one of our local parks with a waterfall...until we were eaten by mozzies lol.

In other more recent news in August I turned 40.  I've been dreading it literally for years and I'm definitely not at ease with it yet, but there's not much I can do about it now is there!?  My family and friends totally spoiled me and I had a great day.  I even talked Greg and Kayci in to a little photo shoot in the afternoon down on the beach.  The colours of the late afternoon were so pretty!

I have so much to be grateful for I guess clicking over another decade isn't really the end of the world is it?  Here's to the next 10!

Thanks for stopping by,

Products Used:
Simple Stories | The Story of Us | 6x6 Paper Pad
Simple Stories | The Story of Us | Bits & Pieces
Simple Stories | The Story of Us | Insta Squares
Simple Stories | DIY | Tag Foundations
Simple Stories | DIY | Office Envelope Foundations
Simple Stories | DIY | Labels Stickers
Simple Stories | DIY Boutique | Decorative Brads
Simple Stories | Sn@p Stickers | Letters