Behind the Art with Melissa

Hi everyone!

I saved my favorite journaling page for last, with all of you!

This page is all about the future. When I think about Direction, I think about the journey to come and it makes me excited. All the possibilities. All the new opportunities. Who will I meet? What will I do? What will I learn? And really, it can only make me a better person.

I cut the strips of pattern paper into pennants and banners. A simple way to showcase movement and direction. Lots of arrows going different directions. I really do believe the world is our oyster. So many possibilities! 

I love the metal geo tag clip. The rings help to symbolize freedom but it still is something to mark where I've been and that I loved it. It's a memory to put in my memory bank.

And now for my favorite part of this layout. This is more design than it is symbolism. Even though the arrows and compass like shape of the mask definitely symbolizes direction, I just LOVE the look of this blue paint and modeling past on the white cardstock. I was so excited when I lifted the mask! Haha! It was super easy to mix up the paint and modeling paste. Then I spread it over the mask with a craft knife. After lifting it, I flipped it over and did the print on the bottom right of the page. 

Thank you for swinging by today! I can't believe July is right around the corner!

Making Marks

Hi folks, 

So hopefully, you all have gotten...or will be getting this months's

 BELONGING kit...it's seriously gorgeous!!

I wanted to share with you some alternate ways of using the

Ranger Distress Marker in Seedless Preserves. 

Now, of course, you can use it just to write:

But, why stop there?

These markers stay wet a little longer, so you can smear, paint, etc. with them as well. 

I wanted to use mine for some painty techniques.

I started by coloring on to my craft sheet....you could use any piece of plastic.

Then I used a water brush (there's a tube in the handle that holds water---you could use just a wet paintbrush) to paint borders, make splatters, and lay down color.

For my little 4x6 canvas, I just colored all over the surface directly with the marker and then used a brush and my fingers to spread the color around.

I was pleasantly surprised at how versatile this little marker ended up being!

Be sure to check out this month's GALLERY including our 

teen GUEST DESIGNER, Heather Adams!

Come visit and chat with us on the FORUM!

Like our FACEBOOK page for updates!

I hope you're feeling a real sense of BELONGING this month!

Journaling: The Power of the Pen

When it comes to journaling on our layouts, we all have our own unique approach. After the thoughts come rolling in, after the rough draft happens, it's time to place it on our layout.

Something that I love is seeing handwriting. I think that it adds a beautiful and personal touch to our layouts.
The other day, I found a bunch of letters that my grandma had written to her friends. Something stirred within me when I saw her handwriting. No one else has her handwriting. It is completely her own and, I think, the personal relationship she has with her handwriting, made it so much more meaningful.

Many of the design team showcase their own handwriting on their layouts. I love that!

Layout by Jen Matott

Layout by Lori Wilbanks

Layout by Melissa Elsner

You can see Times New Roman, Calibri and Arial on anything and everything. There is no personality to it! So here is my challenge to you - USE YOUR OWN HANDWRITING! Add some personality. Leave your mark and embrace it. Whether you hate it or love it, there is so much more value when using your own handwriting. Believe me. 

You can do it. 

Journaling: After the Rough Draft

Hello there!

Last month we took a moment to focus on journaling and where to begin. We discussed removing the fear of being grammatically correct. That might make some of you cringe but, in all honesty, it's something you need to let go.

The next piece of advice I am sharing this month is to allow yourself to "go there". If you have ever sat in a therapy session, your therapist has probably recommended keeping a journal. There is something freeing about letting out what is inside your head and translating it into the written word.

The same can happen with your "INSIDE OUT" layout or art journal page. GO THERE.

Layout by Melissa Elsner

I cannot tell you how many times I have ended up in a blubbering mess after spewing out all I had to say in writing. Even though I was a blubbering mess, I felt freedom. I felt healing. I felt satisfaction. I had a new perspective on the situation or the thoughts I had.

Layout by Lori Wilbanks

So here is an exercise you can do this month:

Think about the emotion of the kit you are working with. 

Get your pen and notebook ready. Or your word processor. 

As the thoughts come, let them out. Don't hold back. 

Pretend no one is ever going to see them except you. 

Of course, you probably ARE going to be the only one unless you are brave enough to share. Which I strongly encourage you to do someday. The lives you can touch and encourage by doing so is amazing and wonderful.

If you feel the emotion coming to the surface, let it. 

Joy. Sadness. Grief. Celebration. 

Layout by Nicole Martel

Wherever you are in your walk of life, I can tell you from experience, that journaling can and will be one of the most rewarding and healing things you can do. Why not begin the process using the prompts on our site? Get a kit. Use your own supplies. We're happy to support you in your journey.

Layout by Melissa Elsner

Subtle colour creates cohesion

Hi everyone! Kiki here with another art journal post for you. This time with a little twist. Lori has a fabulous challenge going on over on the message board right now. She's already provided some wonderful techniques for you to follow to get your first art jouanl page done using the fabulous kits you get here. You have everything you need to do mixed media, scrapbooking or art journaling. 

Most people that ask me about art journaling have told me that the reason they shy away from art journaling is because it's messy, or disorganized, or just doesn't "feel" right to them. They might think that it looks like a "hot mess". You might be one of those people.

I challenge you to try Lori's art journal challenge this month and if you find that you are getting uncomfortable, try this technique: use some subtle colour over many areas of the page, because it helps brings a page together. For example, in my art journal page below, you'll notice that I used the pink Distress Paint in many different areas of the page.

I used the stencil provided in the Fortune kit this month to add some colour to the blank page (which incidentally also frightens many people away from art journaling). I used quite a few scraps of paper from the different patterned papers this month and layered them on with a glue or medium, depending on the texture I wanted. Although the kits are well thought out and the patterned papers work well together, not everyone is comfortable with using many patterns on their page. So how do you make it feel like it all works together?

• Use the same paint over papers that feel too bright.
• Add the paint to other mediums, like I did with the glass bead gel.
• Paint over some embellishments, like I did with the tag.
• Add paint splats or drips to make the page more cohesive.

A variety of ways to use the same paint to make the layout cohesive.

So the next time that you do your art journaling, and something just doesn't feel right, try adding some subtle colour in different ways to bring your page together in an eye-pleasing way.

Hope to see your pages in the gallery as you complete Lori's art journal challenge this month!

Using Vellum with Diana Brodeur

I was cleaning, or should I say reorganizing, my scrapbooking stash when I came across a couple sheets of vellum that I forgot I had. I kept them out so I could use them on some layouts. I decided to start printing my journaling on them. I love how it still allows you to see the patterned paper underneath and how clean and fresh it looks. Now I can't seem to get enough of vellum!

For this kit, I used vellum journaling on two of my layouts. This one....

And this one...

You should give it a try. I think you will love it too! 

-----------------------------------------

Here are some tips on adhering your vellum, as discussed on our SFTIO Forum:

1. You can use an adhesive specifically for vellum. There is spray, glue dots and tape runners.

2. Use a very small amount in the corners. It might still show through, though.

3. Use staples or brads.

4. Stitching! 

5. Or use a very thin line of glue around all the edges. It will give a cool "matte" look. 

Hand Cut with Mary Jo Rhoda

A common thread I noticed in all of my pages using this month's Release kit, is how I love to cut pieces from patterned paper!

For Set Them Free, I cut a sunburst style block from the "Chestnut Boutique" paper by Crate Paper. The line also has a fabulous piece of patterned paper with faux tape strips on it (Pistachio Market). I actually hand cut several of those pieces for a different layout as well! The white boxes for my journaling and title were cut from the American Crafts "Think Good Thoughts" paper. Very handy and easy!

I cut a large flower from the "Almond Grove" patterned paper by Crate Paper to accent my photo in this simple style layout. I loved the large floral paper, but found it hard to use in large portions. And now I have several smaller flower embellishments all cut from one single piece of paper.

More faux washi tape strips cut from the "Pistachio Market" paper by Crate Paper.

And finally, the big one! Lots of hexagon shapes cut from the "Tradition" patterned paper by Cosmo Cricket.

I just love using bits and pieces of my patterned papers to use as embellishments!
Have you tried hand cutting portions of your kit papers to use as embellishments?

Make it your own!

Hello! 
One of the hottest trends in paper crafting and scrapbooking today is alterable objects. In this month's RELEASE kit you will find many of these items! 
There is:

Maya Road Burlap and Linen Linen Banner Pieces

Maya Road Kraft Butterflies

Maya Road Wood Vintage Wood Feathered Friends

and 

Mistables Thicker Shapes, Leaf

The item this month to alter these items is the amazing

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Tarnished Brass    It is one of my favorite ways to distress and alter things!!! 

One of the best places to learn techniques on how you can alter items besides HERE with our amazing designers is on Pinterest!

http://pinterest.com/pin/136585801170083044/  

how to mist ribbons!

http://pinterest.com/pin/136585801169749268/   

how to use distress inks

http://pinterest.com/pin/71776187782544721/   

how to use distress stains

http://sweetstephcardcreations.blogspot.com/2011/10/tutorial-distress-stain-resist-3-ways.html   

some more GREAT ideas!!

http://vickichrisman.blogspot.com/2008/04/glimmer-mist-tips.html  

great glimmer mist ideas! 

Here are examples of how are great design team altered the items in their kits!!

MaryJo used metallics to make her butterflies pop off the page!

Melissa used the distress ink as a background texture and enhancement.

Kate stamped her birds and also used the distress stain on the leaf on her page!

There are so many ways to make your supplies your own. And with so many wonderful tools, tips and techniques out there it is easy to make each page, card or project uniquely your own.

:)
Tammy

Using Pre-Printed Layered Papers

This month's papers include a couple where a layered look is already printed right on it! They are full of beautiful textures, but without the bulk.

At first glace, they are gorgeous and exciting but after sitting looking at one I got nervous about what to add. It looks beautiful as is...

But don't be afraid to turn the paper, add more embellishments, create depth with layers and add journaling. It's really just a starting point!

Created by Jen Matott for Scrapbooking from the Inside Out

In this layout named"Guilty", I wanted to mimic the layered look of the pre-printed arrangement. The doily was perfect for placing a real textured item on a flat surface. 

Here's another layout where I used the pre-printed paper as a design element. In "Pure" I used the printed elements to frame the photo.

Don't forget that you can cut out the elements and use them as another layer. I like that they have started the design for you. The papers allow for flexibility and adding embellishments to personalize the page. .
How will you use the papers that already have layers started for you? 

Visit Jen's Blog by clicking here.

Visit the Design Team INNOCENCE gallery by clicking here.

Come join us on the forum for genuine community and more exclusive content here.