Tiffany's sweet mixed media layout tutorial

Good morning, we are on the 3rd day of a tutorial roll!

Tiffany created this sweet layout with our July Patricia's Memoirs kit:

And she did a step by step video tutorial to show you exactly how she did it:

And a few close-ups:

I hope you've enjoyed our tutorials this week, Laura will be back tomorrow posting something fabulous from our designers!

~Melinda

Sparkle, grunge, and mixed media: New Tutorial!

Good morning, we are halfway through the work week, and we've got something to inspire you to get through the rest, and start crafting this weekend.

Tanya created this amazing mixed media layout, filled with texture and sparkle, with our July Tracey's Artful Adventure kit and add ons, and she did a step by step video tutorial to show you how.

I just love the combination of texture, sparkle and grunge on this layout!  Tanya shows you how to get this look in her video:

And a few close ups of Tanya's layout:

That's it for today!  Stop back for another great tutorial coming tomorrow...

~Melinda

New Tutorial: DIY Shabby Chic Plaque by Tracey

Well I lied, yesterday I said Laura would be posting today, but it's me again!

Tracey's done another great tutorial - if you haven't subscribed to her Youtube Channel yet, you certainly should, she does lots of great tutorials.  Her newest one is for a scripture plaque, and it's just beautiful:

Tracey used our July SOE Patricia's Memoirs kit and add ons to create this, and here's the step-by-step video she did to show you how:

And here are a few close ups of Tracey's project:

The Prima resin butterfly was not in the kit, it's an item from our store.

Who doesn't love a little sparkle and bling?  Tracey used the Iced Enamels Salmon German Glitter Glass that's in the Creativity Add On, but we also carry other colors of it in the store.

The Prima Babs Flowers with Resin Faces is included in the Creativity Add On, and the  Querida Esperenza Butterfly/Flower Mix is in this month's Floral Add On.

Well, that's it for today, we will be posting more tutorials tomorrow and on Thursday, so be sure to stop back!

~Melinda

Oh So Pretty...

Today we're posting PRETTY!  These are a few projects that were done with our June kits that we haven't posted yet, and as Laura is off enjoying some family time today, I thought it was the perfect time for me to share them.

Lisa used our SOD Sindi's Summer Day kit, and says: 

I just adore the Florals in this kit- I used the Prima Aquarelle and Valentina. I kept the mixed media to a minimum again. I used some Marion Smith Color Lab Sparkling Pigments from the Color Add On not only as splatters in the background but to paint my wooden hearts (from the main kit).

I included the beautiful Websters Dream in Color pattern papers. Although I covered them up with florals. There is also a layer of American Crafts Rise & Shine Stella paper.

I really really love the flowers in this kit. Did I mention that? Hope I didn't over do it! LOL.

Next up is another layout done with the Sindi's Summer Day kit, this one was created by Tracey Gregory:

Tracey says: I added items from past SOD kits as well as items from the add-ons to create a more whimsical page fitting my niece's simple joy from dancing and twirling at a family wedding.

And our final project for today was created by Anna Rogalska.  She used our SOE Stéphanie's Treasure kit to create this one:

Background: Craft and You Design - Spring Garden Collection:  Blue Flower 1 paper (main kit)

Crafter's Workshop - 6x6 Template - Daily Buzz (Elements Add On), Shimmerz: Creameez Paint - Get Glowing (main kit)

Tim Holtz / Idea-ology: Remnant rubs - Botanical (main kit), Blue Fern Studios: Chipboard - Ironwork Accents (main kit), Blue Fern Studios - Deja Vu Collection :  Petites Cartes and Luminaires papers (main kit).

Prima: Watercolor Flowers - Fiorella (main kit), Kaisercraft: Self-adhesive Rhinestones - Wine (main kit), Offray: Sheer Ribbon Asiana (main kit).

Trimcraft / Dovecraft: Back To Basics Doilies (in the main kit)

That's it for today, I hope you enjoyed todays layouts, Laura will be back tomorrow to post more inspiration!

~Melinda

DIY Shabby Chic Mason Jars Tutorial

Aren't they simply stunning?!  Stéphanie created these amazing Tim Holtz Mini Mason Jars with our June SOE kit - Stéphanie's Treasure (yes, it was named after her!) and add ons.  The jars were in our Creativity Add On, and we've seen some fabulous variations on altering them!

Stéphanie has included her steps right on the photos, for easy reference:

The stencil she used was included in the kit Elements Add On.

The Alcohol Ink was in the Creativity Add On, and the Get Glowing Cremeez Shimmerz paint was in the main kit.

And again, the beautiful finished jars:

I hope we've inspired you today, if you'd like to see our other mason jar tutorials and more, please stop by our Off The Page Tuturials page.

~Melinda

Tracey's amazing shabby chic altered clock and a sale!

Today we've got a simply stunning project to share with you:

Tracey used our kit Tracey's Artful Adventure (which was named after her!) to alter a plain thrift store find, and turn it into this beautiful shabby chic masterpiece.

Here's what Tracey said about her process:

Today I want to share my altered alarm clock using the goodies from my Namesake kit,"Tracey's Artful Adventure", the July Scraps of Darkness kit.

I've a had a silver retro style alarm clock that I found at a thrift store, sitting dismantled on my scrap desk and awaiting inspiration. When I opened this kit full of my favorite colors and lots of wings and clocks and lace and immediately started creating!

I started by painting all the silver parts with off white chalk paint. Using the Canvas Corp.  script tissue paper from the kit, I mod-podged it over the 

clock, then did some sanding and distress inking.

The large chipboard is by Blue Fern Studios and from the kit-I used gessos and glitters from the Creativity add-on for dimension. I added beaded greenery and leftover elements from previous kits. 

Lots of BoBunny Penny Emporium die cuts and embellishments in this kit to perfectly coordinate your projects. Here I added pearls from the Creativity kit to embellish the "time flies" chipboard element. The lovely lace from the kit was wrapped and glued around the clock to add softness and cohesion.I borrowed the feathers from the July Scraps of Elegance kit and touched the flowers from the Floral Add On and other elements with gesso and light glitter.

Have something hanging around that you never got around to altering-well, get this kit and get gluing! Have a wonderful day!

I also wanted to let you know our store has had a little (did I say little? I meant BIG) makeover, and to celebrate, we're offering $10 off your purchase of $50 or more - just enter coupon code Remodel when you are checking out.  Here's a link to the store:  www.scrapsofdarkness.com -  I hope you like our new look!

~Melinda

Shabby Shabby Shabby

Good Thursday morning!

I am so looking forward to the weekend.  

Jon had some time off work so we are headed up to Canada's Wonderland - a huge amusement park - this weekend with the boys.  Our boys love rides so its something we do every year!

I'm not as adventurous as the boys but I love to watch them have fun and of course take photos!

Today I want to share a couple of projects that are so shabby chic!

First up is Renea, who has created an elegant and beautiful layout

using the July 'Patricia's Memoirs' kit from Scraps Of Elegance.

She started with a layer of the Debutante Prima paper from the kit, then punched and sewed the next layer.

To get the texture you see in the background, she used the Prima Wildflowers stencil from the kit and painted over it with Prima White Crackle Texture Paste letting it air dry for maximum crackle, then she inked over it softly with some Tim Holtz Distress Ink  In Tea Dye. 

  She added a matte behind the photo by distressing and sewing some of the kit paper. She painted around the image with some  Tim Holtz Distress Rock Candy Crackle, let it air dry then inked it really heavily with the Tea Dye Ink.

She fussy cut a wide pattern from the kit papers, and water distressed it so it looks like material, and layered some pink lace and a rose die cut that was in the kit underneath.

She painted the Blue Fern Chipboard Feather from this month's Elements Add On white, then layered on tulle and heated it up so that it melted into the paint and gave some gorgeous texture.  Then she layered in the feathers from the kit for softness, adding some stash bling to the large one.

And a few more of the gorgeous details.....

I did not get to previously feature another gorgeous shabby chic project from Renea using the June Scraps Of Elegance Stéphanie's Treasure kit!

She created a pocket folder from the kit papers.

Now I want to share a stunning creation from Mallika also using the 

July Scraps Of Elegance Patricia's Memoirs kit.

I love the vintage image she used!

here are a few of the beautiful details.....

Thanks so much for stopping by!

~Laura