Altered Mixed Media Brush Tutorial

Earlier today I shared some of the layouts and projects our design team did with our June Fireworks kit, and now I have a tutorial to share, as well!

Drycha has done an awesome video tutorial, showing you how she created this Altered Mixed Media Brush:

And here's the video:



I hope you enjoyed the tutorial, and that we've inspired you to create something new and fabulous today...

~Melinda

Firecracker kit Design Team Reveal

We have a little "in-between-kits" treat for you today - the ladies on our Design Team are sharing some fabulous inspiration that they've created with our Firecracker kit! 

I've just chosen one project from each of our designers to share here, but if you click on the designer's name, you'll be taken to her blog, where you can see more of their work, close ups and descriptions, etc.  

Renea Harrison

Lisa Novogrodski

Karen Zueger

Charlotte Jenkins

Mandy Harrell

Kim Arledge

I hope you've enjoyed seeing some of the work our Design Team has done with the kit, that you'll stop by their blogs to see more, and most of all, that you are having a beautiful weekend!

~Melinda

Abstract Painting: Alcohol Resist tutorial by Vivian Keh!

Good morning, I hope this Wednesday finds you all well, and thinking about scrapping over the coming weekend!

If that's the case, we have a little inspiration for you.  Vivian Keh has done a fabulous new video tutorial - she created this gorgeous painting using items from our May Main kit, Color Add On, and Creativity Add on, and she shows you how she did it, and it includes a fun new technique using common rubbing alcohol.

Here's the video:

Doesn't this look like fun?!  I know I want to to try it, the possibilities are endless, whether you want to do an actual painting, or background work on a layout...

I hope you'll give it a try, and that we've inspired you to create something fabulous and new today!

~Melinda

June Kit Premiere!

It's the 15th of the month, and you know what that means - a new Scraps of Darkness kit premieres!

For the last 3 years (yes, our anniversary is coming up next month!), we have been bringing you fun, technique based kits on the 15th of every month, and this month is no exception!  We are excited to announce our June 2013 kit...

Firecracker

This month's kit is full of intense beautiful color and fun supplies, perfect for scrapping summer pics, 4th of July pics, masculine layouts, and anything else you can dream up!  We have papers from Bo Bunny's Anthem Collection, Glitz Design's Sunshine In My Soul collection, and Authentique's Pride collection, as well as Petaloo Color Me Crazy alterable flowers and vines, cheesecloth, Canvas Corp Deco Mesh Ribbon, and more.  You can see the detailed list on our website or in our store.

Our Design Team is currently working their magic with this kit, and will be revealing their projects with it soon, so I thought today I's also share our kit add ons in the post...

Our June Patterned Paper Add On - an extra set of the papers that are included in the main kit, allowing you to create more projects, do more layering, and use both sides of the papers:

Our June Coordinating Paper Add On - 2 sheets each of 5 different double sided papers that are not in our Main Kit, but that will coordinate beautifully with the papers and embellishments in the Main Kit:

Our June Embellishment Add On - You can never have too many embellishments!

Our June Color Add On - we were the first to bring it to you - each month we include paints/mists/stencils/stamps, etc. that coordinate with the Main Kit so you can get your hands dirty!

Our June Creativity Add On - we started this add on almost a year ago, and it has been hugely popular ever since!  Our Creativity Add on includes mixed media supplies and projects to help you get more creative with your Main Kit, but is also a nice little Mixed Media Kit on it's own, as well!

Our June Floral Add On - includes beautiful floral items that coordinate with our Main Kit:

And our final June add on is our Cardstock Add On - we only include quality Bazzill cardstock in our monthly cardstock add ons:

And a new kit always means a new sketch by Suepup for inspiration!  Please feel free to use our Firecracker kit sketch with your own supplies, and stop by our gallery and share your interpretation of it with us!

Thank you for stopping by today, and I hope you create something fabulous today!

~Melinda

Acrylic Bookmarks tutorial by Drycha

Good morning, and happy Thursday!

We have a fabulous new tutorial for you today.  Drycha has made this gorgeous bookmark, using the acrylic sheets, Diamond Glaze, Lindy's Mica Powders, and Tim Holtz Rub Ons from our May kit, and she shows you how she did it in the video.

And here's the video:

I hope you've enjoyed today's tutorial, and that it's inspired you to try something new!

 ~Melinda

Look who's joined our Design Team!

We are thrilled to announce that Sarah Routledge is joining our Design Team, and will be showing off her fabulous work with our kits beginning with our July kit!

Hi There! My name is Sarah and I am a fe and working mum to one beautiful little boy. I started scrapping in 2009 and fell in love with it immediately. I absolutely love the creative process of putting together a scrapbook page. I love trying different (non-traditional) materials and new techniques - especially mixed media; one of my favourite things to do is to make unique, handmade embellishments, particularly flowers. Although most of my work is layouts, I also love using my scrapping supplies for other crafty items (e.g. tags, cards, home decor).  


Welcome to the team, Sarah!

IIntegrating Acrylic for Variety In Texture: A New Tutorial!

Hello fellow scrappers!  I hope this beautiful Saturday morning finds you all well, and scrapping or getting ready to scrap!

In the event you are not, we have an awesome new tutorial by Vivian Keh (ContadinaK) to inspire you to try a new technique.  Vivian shows you how to use some of the things in our May Creativity Add on - the acrylic sheets, Diamond Glaze, and Lindy's Magical Micas:

 I hope you enjoyed the new tutorial, and that you are inspired to try something new and create something fabulous today!

~Melinda

May Sketch Challenge Winner!

Our May Sketch Challenge has ended, and the entries were all so beautiful!  Lucky for us, we didn't have to pick a favorite (that would have been impossible!), because the winner is chosen randomly - so everybody has an equal chance at winning, whether they've been scrapping for one day or ten years.

So without further ado, here's the gorgeous layout that won for May - created by Maja/eyovine:

Congratulations, Maja!

Our June challenge has just started, if you'd like to join in, here's the link to submit your entry:  June Whimsy Sketch Challenge.  Remember, you don't have to use our products to play, just base your layout on the sketch provided.

June Kit Premiere!

It's the first day of the month, and you know what that means... a new kit, a new sketch, and gorgeous inspiration from the awesomely talented ladies on our design team!

Whimsy Kit

June 2013

The warm summer weather is here, and along with it, those fun summer pics I know you are all taking!

We've put together the perfect kit to help you preserve and show off those magical summer photos...

Stop by our website or store to see the full list of what's included and available add ons, we still have a few kits available, and you won't want to miss out!

And you know, whenever there's a new kit, there's a fabulous new sketch by Suepup!

Along with a new sketch comes a new sketch challenge - come play along with us, you don't need to use our kits to play, and you could win a nice little RAK (a $20.00 credit to spend in our store)!  Here's where you can find the challenge:  Whimsy Sketch Challenge

What would a kit premiere day be without a little inspiration and eye candy from our Design Team...  so of course, we have some of that for you, too!

This gorgeous layout was created by Gabrielle Pollacco, who we are so happy and honored to have guest designing for us this month.  Gabi based this layout on the sketch above, isn't it just beautiful?!

Renea Harrison created this stunning layout, also with the Whimsy kit sketch:

Want to see Helena Johansson's take on the sketch?  She created this fabulous layout:

Mandy Zimmerman created this magical beauty with the kit and sketch:

I hope you've enjoyed seeing our new kit, and some of the beautiful work our Design Team has done with it, and I hope you Create Something Beautiful Today...

~Melinda