WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK- Chalk Ink and Scrap FX stencil fun

Happy wednesday folks!
I was flying high on scrappy mojo last weekend and experimented with both my Scrap FX stencils and my Pima chalk inks.

Last week readers and fellow scrappers Scraps and Scarlett BOTH wrote in to repeat advice they had given me before:

When working with wet media it's best to use heavy weight paper and spray the paper down a bit before you start.

Ok advice taken.

Not really.

I decided to use chalk ink with my FABULOUS Scrap FX Engineering stencil because I didn't want to mess with mist spray.
Mists get everywhere and I wanted to work on a tv tray table while watching Sons of Anarchy.
(I'm totally addicted!)

I recently bought 2 pieces of luscious 8x11 double weight water color paper to play with.
I just love all the nooks and crannies!

I got to work and this is the resulting page:

I love everything. Tim Holtz grunge stamps, Prima's chalk inks AND  Basic Grey's crisp clean
Hello collection paper patterns. Who knew cleartitle were a blast from the scrappy past?
To me they are so fresh and interesting. Can you tell I only started scrapping in 2009
and have no friends to bug me with the latest "fashion. Scrapping should not be about fashion!
It should be about FUN.

Here how it went down step by step:

• Prima Attic Dust chalk ink over Scrap FX stencil layer.
• Gel pen outline since the ink got under the stencil and pooled all over the place.
• 4 inch Tim Holtz subway poster stamp and black Prima ink.
• PROBLEM!!! Chalk ink stamped image is not good on the uneven water color paper
• White gesso layer to cover the ugly stamp

PROBLEM!!! Chalk ink is water based (water soluble)
so it streaked the gesso. DARN! MESS!But wait... this is... pretty!!!

• Spray the front and back of the page with Tattered Angels "Iridescent Gold" which I almost threw out because it's pretty much invisible. The thing is... that's a GOOD thing if you are layering multi media work. The gold added a nice sheen to the paper.
• PROBLEM gray stencil ink started running down the page RED ALERT RED ALERT
• Decided to use that as an effect and added some Studio Calico Opaque White spray mist to make the ink run even more.
• Let dry for 30 minutes and try to distract myself. 
• Try to speed things up with heating tool but that cracks the gesso- a look I hate and refuse to include in my pages.
•  Emboss the Tim Holtz stamp in black.

PROBLEM- the bottom of the paper wasn't fully dry
so the embossing powder stuck at the bottom. But wait..
New York City subway- that texture IS PERFECT!!!

• Decided this was a grungy page and went with it. FORCED myself to relax. It's. just. paper.
• Chose gear and cog chipboard designs to go with the "Steampunk" look.
• Added red circles from Basic Grey's "Hello!" line to give some contrast and focus to the page  

Plunked Clear Scraps title right on TOP of the photo and outlined
the edges in permanent ink so they stood out more.
The printed film strip chipboard is also from Basic Grey's Hello line.
shhh don't tell anyone- it's freaking FAB!

• Called it a friggin day

Where did my "What I learned this week" logo go?
It got me nowhere so I decided to design something a little less chessy looking.

Hope you have a great day folks- off to work I go!

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

To redo or not, that is the question

If you are a frequent reader here you know two things
1. I talk too much. (Sorry)
2. I redo my work all the time.

I redo because I frequently get blank brain syndrome (made that up- Web MD can't help on that one) and have trouble coming up with new concepts but I'm REALLY good at spotting what's wrong with an older page.
So the redo is really an entry point for the next original project.

It's also a way to escape from the "I can't mess this up" loop.
If you frequently find yourself saying "I just have to get this right. I can't let these beautiful materials go to waste!"
Stop. You can always change things around. Use repositionable tape and let go.

Case in point:

Even lighting, more red to add contrast, a heart from the absolutely GORGEOUS  Prima wood veneer
collection and the addition of Jillibean Soup stickers- suddenly the page makes more sense.

You've seen me post this page at least 2 times before but only this time is it good enough to post.
I'm using Gauche Alchemy's Nearly Nekkid Mixed Media Paper Art.
I really liked the Jillibean Soup kraft cardstock alphas but I will admit to being a somewhat lazy scrapper. The amount of effort required to get these to look neat on a page is just too much for me sometimes so I scrawled my journaling in the nearest blank spot and called it a day.

I tried ignoring my mistake but when I hung the page up on my wall recently, I got a daily eyefull of personal scrap sloth and decided the evidence needed to go.

Easy-peasy redo. Ok not so easy- those darned itty bitty stickers
are nearly impossible to pull out their packaging without taking half
the other stickers out too so I use tweezers. EXCRUCIATING!!! But worth it.
Also- commas- I need one. 

Don't ignore the problem. Rise above it.
I'm speaking to myself most of all here.
another long week of no photos- a brief pause on my Project Life album but no worries, I will return for week 9.

What I'm working on RIGHT NOW:

Gauche Alchemy Knick Knack Paddy Whack kit.
I'll let you in on a secret: paint SCARES ME.
So this is killing me!!
Talk about WHAT IF I MESS IT UP? syndrome

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Happy Scrappin'!!!

How did I manage to squeeze some time to write this? Well I barely slept last night! Funny how Mother's Day is not a day off but a day ON- everyone wants to see you and you still have to change the baby and wash the dishes so National Scrapbooking Day will be short for me. Needless to say I was SUPPOSED to be working on some cards- Hallmark it is- again. Sorry Mom.

BUT NO! I have edited this now to say that CHERYL has inspired me to MAKE my cards!! I will stay up again! I WILL participate in the Studio Calico challenges- oo FUN! Thanks Cheryl! Ya'll visit her blog please! http://craft-thing.blogspot.com

Here is my NSD page:

In this page I harken back to my scrappy beginnings where I bought Prima flowers by the pound, threw half pearls at a page as if they were free and collected vintage lace trims. I missed the romantic shabby chicness of it all. This was a fun and fast page. I finally broke out my Tim Holtz "Lost and Found" paper pad and finished of the package of handmade flowers by Precocious Paper- a great Etsy store.

Precocious Paper on Etsy- be there or be square!

Pink Paislee wood alphas- best EVER!

Lola's profile and the shinning sun- poetic.

Cheryl, if you are reading this, I need your addy so I can send some scrappy goodies your way. Just because you rock and because it's National Scrapbook Day- and yes the Fascinator is HUUUUGE- but my sister insists it will look fabulous and she's got better taste than I do. :) Readers!! Keep the items I had to use guesses coming on THIS page- a scrappy winner will be chosen on May 10th!

Happy Scrappin'!
MUUAH to all you mommies too!
Michelle