A lot to share!

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Alicia Redshaw

I created the layout below for my April Layout Sketch and forgot to share it. I have to admit to doing a lot of creating that just doesn’t seem to make it onto my blog lately. Apart from creating and teaching several classes each week, I have also been making quite a few sets of invitations. I don’t know where I am finding the time, I just am.

I was surprised to hear recently that Julia Morris doesn’t burn up her energy trying to find a work/life balance, she just gets on with it and lives. I am glad to hear that I’m not the only one who is of the same belief that there is no perfect balance between work and life, just priorities and meeting my own needs along the way. I feel that as long as I am spending enough quality time with my husband and children, and of course occasionally on my own that it will all be good. Anything that doesn’t get done probably doesn’t need to be done anyway. I prioritise my work time and run my business my way, and it works very well. I also do several community activities that I just fit in as needed too. All in all I just make it work.

Whilst I am here I thought I would also announce the winners of my April Layout Sketch Challenge. Each of these ladies will receive a lovely pack of ribbons donated by Scrapbook Fantasies.

Lucky Draw – Lisa

Special Mention – Mikayla

My Pick – Kirsty

Congratulations ladies, and thank you to everyone who entered.

Now onto my layout which I have created with some of the lovely Prima Fairy Rhymes range. I have to confess that some of the leftovers from this layout were used to create the layout for my May Layout Sketch Challenge.

Supplies used:
Patterned papers, butterfly clip, leaves, pearl centres, mesh, lettering - Prima
Flowers – Prima (pink), Green Tara (cream)
Transparency – Hambly
Ink – Prima (Pastel Brown), Versamagic (Jumbo Java)
Mist – Lindy’s Stamp Gang (Apline Ice Rose), Shimmerz (Vibez Egg Noggin)
Pen – Tim Holtz Distress Marker (Worn Lipstick)
Punch – EK Success (Doily)
Date Stamp – Colop
Pearl trim

Layout Sketch Challenge – May 2013

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Alicia Redshaw

This is the layout that I have created my May Layout Sketch from…

Supplies used:
Patterned papers, cage charm, resist canvas, crystals, flower, pin and lettering – Prima
Pen – Zig
Ink – Prima Pastel Brown, Versacolor Pinecone
Stickles – Platinum
Mist – Lindys Stamp Gang (Alpine Ice Rose), Shimmerz (Vibez Egg Noggin)
Other - pearl trim, string, gauze, doily (used as a mask)

Now for the sketch inspired by this layout…

If you would like a chance to win a fabulous prize donated by Scrapbook Fantasies why not have a go at my Layout Sketch Challenge. All you have to do is:

1. Create a layout using my sketch (above).

2. Upload an image of your layout to your blog, the Scrapbook Fantasies Gallery (in the appropriate folder here) or another gallery (not hosted by a store of the same type as the Scrapbook Fantasies). Wherever you upload your creation/s to please make sure you link back to here to be eligible for a prize.

3. Come back here and add your name and the link to your layout using the Inlinkz tool below. You must do this step to be eligible for the prize. (Please only link to the actual gallery page or blog post that contains your layout, not the general gallery or blog address)

You have until midnight on 14 June 2013 (the time counter below will let you know how long you have).

I will draw one random winner and select a second winner based on my own taste, who will each receive a ribbon pack valued at over $10 from Scrapbook Fantasies, plus FREE International postage.

So what are you waiting for…

It’s Nearly Mothers Day

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Alicia Redshaw

Yes, it is nearly Mothers Day and I have a special gift made for my Mum already. As she is a very creative soul I had to pull out all the stops and get in touch with my inner grunge artist for this piece. It is a cross between a reinforced easel card and a free-standing piece of Mixed Media Art.

I have used soooo much on this piece that I am just going to give a generalised list at the bottom of this post, however by now most of you will have realised the the majority of the product is from one of my favourite brands….Prima.

I have based the colour scheme on the April Prima Product Pick, which is very fresh and clean – and I have made it grungy!

Supplies used:
Patterned Papers – Prima (Fairy Rhymes)
Flowers, letters, embellishments, stamp - Prima
Cardstock – Prisma Favini
Ink – Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Mist – Shimmerz
Paint – Golden Gesso (White)
Glitter – Golden Pearl Mica Flakes

Scrapbooking Class @ Scrapbook Fantasies

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Alicia Redshaw

My Scrapbooking Class this week at Scrapbook Fantasies is a single page using papers and products from the Prima and Bella Blvd to create a layout that would look great with wedding, engagement, couple or love photographs. I have used a photograph of Quentin and I to express how much he truly means to me…he is the love of my life. The cost is $22 which includes a kit to create the single page. The class will only be held on Wednesday 17 April at 10am or 7pm and Saturday 20 April at 10am. Bring along basic tools and adhesives, distressing tool and black acid free pen.

Thanks a Million Card

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Alicia Redshaw

I am back to share my card that inspired my April Card Sketch Challenge. It is very bright and I love how the orange and purple contrast perfectly and beautifully.

I coloured the wooden swirl with the inkpad before giving it a mist with the Shimmeringz Baby’s Breath, and finally once it was dry I coated it with Dimensional Magic. The Glitter on the flowers is the Shimmerz Blingz painted with my fingers.

Supplies used:
Patterned Paper – Bo Bunny Ambrosia 6×6 paper pad
Cardstock – Bazzill (Sting of Pearls Bling)
Flowers – Prima
Wooden swirl – Kaiser
Paint – Shimmerz Blingz (Pixie Dust)
Mist – Shimmerz Shimmeringz (Baby’s Breath)
Phrase sticker – Cosmo Cricket
Cutting dies – Cheery Lyn (doily, bird cage)
Stamp – Collections (butterfly)
Ink – Versacolor (Violet)

Doodling…What Doodling?

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Alicia Redshaw

This month’s challenge at White with 1 is to create a layout with a white base, brown and doodling.

Apart from the page and lettering outlines there is some serious Doodling on this layout, and I am going to show you how I did it.

So what did I do?

I have used a Copic Multiliner Pen (Sepia 0.3) which is water-proof once dry, and a Crafters Workshop Mini Hexagons Template to create the outlines of various sized Hexagons in the area around and behind the photograph.

Next I traced just inside the outlines with an Inktense (Saddle Brown) pencil, which isn’t your average watercolour pencil. Inktense aren’t just INTENSE in colour, they are actually a permanent ink once wet and then dried. (As this is a time consuming technique I didn’t colour the Hexagons that would be completely hidden by the photograph)

Finally I used a damp brush to wet and blend the Inktense pencil outlines. To ensure that the brush is only damp not wet I continuously rinse it in clean water and then lightly pat it onto clean paper towel. I use a pretty good quality soft brush that doesn’t have any stray hairs that could make a mess. I have worked fairly loosly so that the design isn’t too rigid even though it is geometric, and also so that there is a degree of variance in the tones of the Inktense once dry.

This is the finished result and a close-up of a small area, where you can see the colour variance and the loose edges.

I have never seen this technique done before, however that isn’t to say that someone hasn’t already thought of it. I am going to keep experimenting with it to see where else it will go.

Now for some close-ups:

Supplies used:
Patterned paper – Kaiser Basecoat (Distressed)
Cardstock – Bazzill (Lace)
Lettering, Flowers, Key Clip – Prima
PanPastels – Burnt Sienna Shade, Raw Umber
Ink – Versacolor (Pinecone), Prima (Pastel Brown)
Shimmerz Mists – Vibez (Hot Fudge), Spritz (Treasured Hymn)
Pencil – Inktense (Saddle Brown)
Pens – Copic Multiliner (Sepia 0.3), Tim Holtz Distress Markers (Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain)
Chipboard – Imaginarium (Butterfly)
Template – Crafters Workshop (Mini Hexagons 6×6)
Pearl Swirl – Zva Creative

All products used have been purchased from Scrapbook Fantasies.

Another Prima Layout

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Alicia Redshaw

This is another layout using Prima, however this time it is for the March Build-a-Page.

I enjoyed putting this page together and reliving the wonderful day we had together at the beach. I never tire of the beauty that is my Mum’s relationship with my youngest son, Noah.

Supplies used:
Patterned papers – Prima (Lifetime, Engraver)
Stencil, Flowers, Vine, Pearl Swirls, Bulb, Key Clip – Prima
Tim Holtz Distress Marker – Walnut Stain
Ink – Memto (Rich Cocoa), Versacolor (Pinecone), Prima (Pastel Brown)
Stamps – Prima (Doily), Colop (Date)
Paint – Shimmerz (Butter Cream)
Medium – Golden Light Molding Paste
Shimmerz Mists – Spritz (Treasured Hymn), Vibez (Hot Fudge), Spritz (4 Leaf Clover)
Shells
Edge Distresser

All products were purchased from Scrapbook Fantasies.

A couple of Canvas’

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Alicia Redshaw

I’m back tonight to share two canvas’ I completed in February and just didn’t get around to photographing until now. I don’t know where the inspiration for them came from, although I am pretty sure that Donna Downey has influenced them both somehow. They are both created using Golden Fluid Acrylics, Golden Mediums, Tim Holtz Tissue paper and embellishments from Scrapbook Fantasies.

Additional items on this first canvas include Golden Fiber Paste swiped over the background, Golden Soft Gel (Gloss) applied through a Crafters Workshop template, Collections word strips, a postage stamp, a Kaiser nest and eggs, and the tree is painted with Golden Heavy Body Acrylics.

This second canvas also has Caran D’Ache Neocolor 2′s, a Donna Downey (Prima) stencil with Golden Light Molding Paste for the flowers and stems, the background has been stamped with a Darkroom Door Script Background stamp and Jet Black Ranger Archival Ink, and the same ink has been used with some EKSuccess letter stamps for the verse.

Live Canvas

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Alicia Redshaw

As promised I am back to share my Mixed Media Canvas that I completed earlier in the week. It is actually inspired by the March Product Pick Challenge over at the Prima Blog. As you all know I just loooove Prima and eveything Mixed Media, so this is a real project of love.

Before I share the pictures I also wanted to share that my Mum was featured for her interpretation of the February Prima Build-a-Page Sketch.

The photograph was actually taken three days prior to Quentin’s hand being crushed and our prespectives on life changing forever. The canvas is my gift to Quentin for Easter, even though Candy has warned me that it is too good to go in his work office – which happens to be right beside a coal line and workshop (lots of the black gold floating around in the air).

This is what the background consists of in order (prior to the additional of the tulle, paper, flowers, etc):
Canvas
Golden GAC-100 (to protect my work)
Golden Gesso
PanPastels
Workable Fixative
Doily pieces attached with Golden Soft Gel (Semi-Gloss)
Misted Shimmerz sprays
Light Molding Paste dots created with Prima stencil and palette knife
Gesso swipes
PanPastels
Workable Fixative
Misted Shimmerz sprays
Blingz swipes
Light Molding Paste pattern created with Prima stencil and palette knife
Splatters of Shimmerz sprays
Gesso swipes
Golden Pearl Mica Flakes swipes
Swipe edges and tops of textures lightly with Ranger Archival Ink (Olive)

Now for some close-ups of the canvas and especially the background, which I am very proud of.

Anyone who is interested in seeing a canvas like this being created is welcome to come along to the FREE Mixed Media Play Day at Scrapbook Fantasies on Tuesday 2 April from 10am.

Supplies used:
Patterned paper – Prima (Lifetime)
Flowers, bird, Vintage Metal Trinkets, key clip, bulb, wooden flowers, mesh trim - Prima
Pastels – PanPastels (Permanent Green, Phthalo Green, Phthalo Green Tint, Turquoise, Turquoise Tint, Titanium White, Yellow Green)
Mists – Shimmerz (Vibez – 24 Karat, Abomindable Blue; Coloringz – No Yoking; Spritz – 4 Leaf Clover, Sea Foam; Shimmeringz – Baby’s Breath)
Paint – Blingz by Shimmerz (Gold Glimmer, Pixie Dust), Shimmerz (Jilted Jade), Golden Gesso (white), Golden Pearl Mica Flakes Small
Ink – Ranger Archival (Olive)
Mediums – Golden Light Molding Paste, Golden Soft Gel (Semi-Gloss)
Stencils - Prima
Sealants – Golden GAC-100, Micador Workable Fixative (Matte), Micador Picture Varnish (Satin)
String – Tim Holtz Paper String
Adhesive – Helmar 450
Doily – Bo Bunny
Tulle

All of these supplies were purchased from Scrapbook Fantasies.

What I’m working on

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Alicia Redshaw

I thought I would share some sneak peeks of the piece I am creating as a gift for Quentin for Easter. It is to hang in his office, as he has been asking for something new for his office for quite some time. I will be back to share the whole creation when it is finished later in the week.