Saturday 11 January 2014

Scrap365 Blog Hop

Hi all

At Scrap365 we are getting your scrapping New Year off to a flying start!!!
This month we are teaming up with Finnabair and her amazing DT from Mixed Media Place :D

http://mixedmediaplace.com/index.php?route=common/home
 
One of the things that we are very conscious of at Scrap365 HQ is that if you are new to scrapping it can be really overwhelming with the choice of products to use and the host of styles to emulate….the same could be said if you’re experienced!!

So we have decided that 2014 is the year to get BACK to BASICS!! It doesn’t matter if you have been scrapping for ten years or ten days...you will be sure to learn something new along the way!

Finn has very kindly donated a marvellous prize to either add to your stash or to get you started.


 
All you need to do to be in with a shot of the prize is follow the Scrap365 and Mixed Media Place blogs. Like both on Facebook and leave a message on the Scrap365 blog telling us which layout principle you are going to try! We would love to see your take on the Principles so be sure to upload them to our Facebook page :)

Our January Blog Hop is all about layout principles. This fabulous prompt was found on Pinterest, courtesy of SuzyQ Scraps. It really sums up the beginnings of every layout.

 
So continue your blog hop journey with us and see how this turns into some glorious pieces of art :)
 
And here is my little offering
 
 
I chose to work with the 6th principle on the sketch ... Texture. I love making my work 'touchy feely' and I like people to have not only a visual experience but also a tactile experience when I share my work.
 
Texture can be added to your work in so many different ways. It can be done with embellishments, material, paint and even the paper itself. I'm going to break down my layout for you to give you a few ideas on how you could add texture to your layouts and hopefully prompt you to explore other ways for yourself. 
 
There are so many gorgeous papers on the market now that already look textured and they are a great place to start from as with my base 12 x 12 from 7 dots studios, I then set to work with some distressing....
 
 
I do this by holding my scissor blade at a 90 degree angle to the edge of my paper and scratching it backwards and forwards. Start gently and add more and more pressure as you get the feel of the paper to create as much or as little distressing as you desire.
 
 
Ripping the edges also gives a different paper texture, rip towards you to reveal the core of the paper.
 
 
I created a 'scrunched' frame for my small photo which added a different paper texture and even more dimension to my layout. Distress the edges of a mat which is cut a bit larger than the photo and then curl up the edges, ripping into the frame as you go.
 
 
Once all my paper and photos were distressed I moved onto some fabric texture with ribbons and lace. All sorts of fabrics make for great textural additions to your work from net to hessian, ric rac braid to felt, velvet to denim.
 

 
I like to attach my lace and ribbon with staples by pleating them roughly as I go to add some movement to the strips I use. Also the metal of the staple plays really nicely against the texture of the lace.

 

And then I raided my embellishment boxes and added even more texture with metal, wood, resin, cork and wire. Pick textures that not only feel different next to each other but also textures that the eyes can see which creates a visually textural feast even if the viewer can't touch your work physically.


The last thing to add was my journaling (which is a quote from Bruce Lee) You can add texture with your alphas too, some are 'touchy feely' with so many great choices on the market and I also find by mixing up the styles of alphas I use I can create visual texture too.

 
The following close ups show the mix of textures I have used in a little more detail.
 
 
Layering up the elements creates texture in itself by adding dimension.
 


 
and doodling some of the title adds my own personal texture to my work
 
 
I hope this will inspire you to add some extra texture to your work and have a play about with different materials and embellishments.
 
That's it from me for this little installment of our blog hop, I hope you've enjoyed your visit and will pop back soon to *see me* Now it's time to hop off to the next lovely in our list, the uber talented Pascale and one of the lovely Mixed Media Place girls, you're in for a treat ... enjoy! (just click on her name to get there)
 
Don't forget to leave your comments on the Scrap365 Blog when you get back to the beginning and follow the instructions to be in for a chance to win that gorgeous prize! And maybe you could leave some blog love on the DT blogs along the way ;)
 
Thanks for your visit and until soon, as ever,
Happy Crafting
Love
MJM x
 
Materials used; Paper = 7 dots studio - Messy Head & Glitz designs - Wild and Free Arrows, Drip. Embellishments = Prima decorative wooden embellishments, Tim Holtz idea-ology cogs, Metal charms from PaperArts, Websters pages - Alison Kreft recorded stickers, Freckled Fawn cork arrows,
Alphas = American Crafts Thickers - Sentiment foil letter stickers, Cosmo Cricket tiny type

 

23 comments:

  1. Layout is wonderful so much gorgeous Texture I love it. You make it look so easy I always seem to get a bit stuck when it comes to adding bits & bobs to a layout I will have to get a bit more daring. Thank you for the tutorial on how .x

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  2. OMG this is a stunner Michelle!!! I ADORE all the detail and the title is just divine, daaahling :) You have taken the principle and blown it out of the water! Smashing to see the layout coming together too. Thank you so much for being a part of the Blog Hop, my BIG hearted bear! ;)

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  3. Thank you for sharing your creative process stp by step. It's really interesting. The final result...fantastic.

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  4. Michelle! I've found you! I've always enjoyed seeing you demo on the box so it's fantastic to finally see you 'at home' on your blog. This is a great layout with such clear step by step ideas, and I'm loving the blog hop. I try to apply some of these ideas to my card making (almost like small scale scrapping) and will definitely have to try the rest. Thank you for the inspiration. Jenny x

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  5. Love that quote - what an interesting photo, all beautifully scrapped.

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  6. Thank you so much for sharing the way you do things! Even something so basic as distressing is so useful to know. You've inspired me with the ribbons. I have a box full and didn't know quite what to do with them. Using staples is a good idea. You have totally inspired me. Your layout is gorgeous!

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  7. thank you so much for the step by step process

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  8. Oh yes! am a touchy feely scrapper myself so I can totally relate to wanting to have lots of stuff on your pages :) This is yummie yummie! xx

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  9. Texture overload Michelle (although you can never have too much!)......love it, thanks for sharing.

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  10. Wonderful creation. thank you for sharing your talents. Cheers-! sarinda

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  11. I think this is the technique I would like to try the most texture! I love adding different elements to my page that make it stand out! Your layout is fantastic and I love all the different textures you added there! Thanks so much for sharing this! All the besthttp://mybeaner.blogspot.ca/!

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  12. Fab LO missus. Love all the texture. I'll need to get into gear and mail you and Amanda I've been a bad ninja.

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    1. never a bad ninja! we all get it and we're all ninjas together!! Miss ya hun M x

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  13. Wonderful page, love the colours especially!

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  14. Just fantastic - I'm a total texture addict too, so this is right up my street. And I love how bold the colours are too - fab layout. Thanks for the inspiration.
    Alison x

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  15. Im loving those layers! So cool and colorful :)

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  16. Such great contrast of textures here...fabulous!

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  17. Love all the texture you have created, especially the metal and the wires. I am inspired to try stapling the ribbons, looks really cool!

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  18. V interesting array of materials. Surely adds texture to d psge

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  19. I love textures. Wonderful job.

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  20. Ooh! So much gorgeous going on in this page! Love the different materials and textures!

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  21. Texture is one of my favorite design principles! I love the tactile experience and the three dimensionality. Your layout is a perfect example - I really love the layering of materials against the metal pieces!

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