Happy July 4th!!!

From all of us at Scrap Shotz, we wish all our American friends and family a wonderful 4th of July!

Happy Canada Day!

From all of us at Scrap Shotz, we wish you all a wonderful Happy Canada Day.

Fabulous Fundamental: Stamping with Gelatos

Since receiving my gelatos (which I might add comes in a starter pack but this value pack is utterly AMAZING) I have been watching videos on the various gelatos techniques. I am completely sold on the product!!!

One of the techniques that I have been enjoying is stamping with gelatos. The water colour look on a dry brushed typography piece of pattern paper is stunning. Stamping with gelatos was much easier than I expected to be honest. All you need to do is colour directly on your stamp with the gelato. Just before stamping, lightly mist the gelato covered stamp and then stamp. If you desire a more watery effect, mist with a heavier hand.

An example of stamping with gelatos is below.

Supplies:  Cardstock (Bazzill); pattern paper (Scrap Shotz monthly kit); twine (Hemptique); leather label (Making Memories); sentiment (Elizabeth Craft Designs); stamp (Bo Bunny); gelatos (Faber-Castell); chalk (Versa-magic)

What have you created with your gelatos?

Fabulous Find: Faber Castell Gelatos

When I first heard the word, "Gelatos" I immediately thought of ice cream! That super smooth delicious cool taste with the gorgeous array of colours. Then I learned about gelatos by Faber Castell...well, I don't think my crafting area has been the same since.

Truthfully I don't know why I have never dabbled in the mixed media world of this wonderful hobby but I suspect it was fear. Fear that I wasn't an "Artiste." However I can honestly say that working with gelatos is so freeing. There is no right or wrong; it's all about creative expression and that in itself is freeing.

On YouTube and Faber Castell blog, there are oodles of tutorials, samples and videos. Check them out - it's a great way to spend a couple (um...a few!) hours of time. Over the next few blog posts, let me show you what you can do with the gelatos.

When I first began with the gelatos, I was wanted to become familiar with how the colour worked, not the blending or the other fancy techniques, just the application of colour. On the 2 coasters below, all I did was add colour in blocks, spritz with water, let it dry and then add a bit more colour for depth.

For this coaster, I coloured each leaf with green and some orange and then smooshed the colours together with a water brush. On the moulding paste created stars, I coloured directly on the paste with the gelatos.

Supplies:  Faber-Castell (gelatos), Maya Road (tree stamp, chipboard bird), Chatterbox (chipboard phrase, mini alphas)

On this coaster, I coloured the whole coaster purple, making some areas of the coaster heavier with colour. Again, it was spritzed with water and allowed to dry. After it dried, I added a smidgeon of blue to various places on the coaster. Then I coloured my "chicken wire pattern" stamp, spritzed with water and stamped. After it dried I added some flowers and various left over chipboard and stickers to the coaster.

Supplies:  Faber-Castell (gelatos), Making Memories (sticker); BasicGrey (rub on); Maya Road (chipboard dress form, butterflies); Hemptique (twine); Kiki Art (glitter chipboard heart); Prima (flowers); Kaisercraft (chicken wire stamp)

I hope you are inspired to get some gelatos and play too! (Check in a few days time to see some stamping with gelatos too!)

Fabulous Find: My Minds Eye Chalk Studio

Chalkboard paraphernalia is one of the coolest trends now (in my opinion.)  Who doesn't love the look of striking white or gold or silver (and even other colours) on black? American Crafts has created the DIY Shop Permanent Chalk Markers for outlining, journaling and accenting. The pens fit comfortably in my hand; the ink flows smoothly and steadily and the look is gorgeous.

Another chalkboard themed line is by My Minds Eye. Their Chalk Studio line is completed with these awesome accents. There are enamel dots, decorative tapes, chipboard elements, decorative brads, decorative frames, papers and accessory pack, stickers, labels and tags - the complete set is available in the store.

The gorgeous layout below was created by Rosie showcasing the Chalk Studio line.

Supplies: patterned paper, enamel dots, stickers & washi tape MME "Chalk Studio II", Teresa Collins Modeling Paste, Tim Holtz stencil

What have you made with a chalkboard theme?

Fabulous Fundamental: Mixing and Matching Elements

Sometimes I find myself stuck in my ways, thinking I should only use the items in a collection but then I ask myself "Why?" Why indeed? Half the fun of this wonderful hobby is the creative freedom it affords.

Take the layout below for example...here I have used predominantly Studio Calico's Print Shop line and its accessories but I love how easy it is to add elements from other manufacturers. For example, just a few wood icons from Prima here and there add so much to the layout. The cloud dies from Taylored Expressions are so versatile and are just the perfect accent to tie all your elements together.

Supplies:  Paper from Scrap Shotz monthly kit featuring Studio Calico's Print Shop, American Crafts (thickers). Studio Calico (cork punctuation, happiness wood phrase); Prima (wood icons); Spellbinders (circle dies);  Taylored Expressions (cloud die); Making Memories (mini alphas)

Tell me...do you mix and match from within a collection or do you use multiple manufacturers?

Want to Play Tag?

Have you considered joining our forum? We have monthly Design Team challenges, swaps and tags, for both layouts and cards. Participating in tags is so inspirational and loaded with laughs and camaraderie.

Below is a layout I created as part of the Layout Tag using Bella Boulevard's Molly Collection kit.

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Bella Boulevard (pattern paper), Heidi Swapp (flowers); BasicGrey (alphas); Claudine Helmutt (acrylic paint); Prima (gems); Studio Calico (acrylic phrases)

I look forward to seeing you in the next tag!