February Guest Educator - Rikki Graziani from Australia with an AMAZING!! Background Technique Tutorial.

Hi Everyone!  Today we welcome one of our players, Rikki Graziani to Scrap Around The World, 

to share a technique tutorial with us on how she creates her amazing backgrounds.

Her December entry really caught our eye so we invited her to join us as our

February Guest Educator.  Welcome Rikki!

"Hi!  Rikki here & I am thrilled to have been invited as a Guest Educator at Scrap Around The World! 
Thank you so much for the opportunity & I hope I inspire you with my technique.

I live in Mandurah, Western Australia, with my hubby, our 3 beautiful kids, our dog & two bunnies. 
I am a very lucky to be a stay at home mum & have been scrapping since I was 16 years old.
 I am currently on several design teams, namely Molossi, Sawyer’s Place, 
White with One, Scrap the Boys & Scrap it with attitude.  

I have been published many times both in Scrapbooking Creations & Scrapbooking Memories, 
where I was very honoured to have one of my layouts featured on the front cover.

I love participating in challenges, especially mood boards as sometimes I can be quite
 colour challenged.  My pages vary a lot ~ I can’t go past a bit of fussy cutting 
& at the moment my latest love is mixed media."

You can see more of my work on my blog & Facebook page."

http://justtoobsessed-rikki.blogspot.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/JustToObessed

1.  Using a large 12 inch , mask mist your paper with the contrasting colours starting with the lightest
 colour first. Once your happy with the result set aside to dry, or use your heat gun to speed up
 the process.  To stop your cardstock from warping, dry the front & back alternately as you go.

2.  Using Stazon/archival ink, stamp over your misted background with your script

& music note stamps.  Don't use a stamping block as holding the stamp in your

hands makes for a freer look.  Use a brick stamp around the edge of your layout.

3.  Choose  6 inch mask to add some more background design, randomly around your page, 
using texture paste.  Overlap the mask with the edges of your layout too so you can go right 
over the edge with your design.  Dry off with a heat gun or overnight/a few hours.

4.  Using a pipette or dropper, add large splashes with Heidi Swapp Colorshine – Gold Lame. 
I have added mine in a diagonal pattern starting in the bottom right hand up to the top left hand. 
Allow to dry naturally as using a heat gun will manipulate the mist into different shapes.  
If you are in a hurry try blowing gently on the back with your heat gun.

5.  Stand back & admire your background - you did it!!

6.  To finish off the background add some stamped butterflies (using black ink)
approximately ¾ of the way on the layout as if they are flying up the page.
Remember this can be chalk ink now as you are not adding any more 
layers of medium.

7.  Complete your layout using photos, patterned papers & embellishments

I used metallic gold cardstock, die-cuts & doilies to match my page.

8.  Don't forget to add a title and/or journaling.

                                    

SUPPLIES USED:-

Tattered Angels Mist – Deep Plum, Black Cherry, Cupid.

Heidi Swapp Color shine – Gold Lame

Stazon ink– Black

Jo Sonja’s – Texture Paste

Prima Marketing – mini stamps (brick wall x2)
         12 inch Template (Swirls)

Script & music note stamps – Stash

Butterflies stamps – UNITY 

Crafters Workshop 6 inch Triangle Mask

Crate paper - Flea Market tags & Ephemera Pack

Pink Paislee – Prairie Hill Bitty Blocks Alphas

Paper Doily - stash

WOW!!!!  Thanks so much Rikki for sharing with us!

How AWESOME is that background & what a top-notch tutorial Rikki prepared for us!!

  Thank you!  Thank you!!  Please leave some comment LOVE for Rikki if you agree!!!

  Here's a reminder of our FEBRUARY MOOD BOARD that so clearly inspired Rikki.
There's still TIME for you to enter - just 4 days mind!  So if you haven't got your entry
 in NOW'S THE TIME!!  We've had a boat-load of inspiration this month, from our
 Design Team, Guest Team & Guest Designer so track back the blog if you are
 looking for your mojo.  You're sure to find it here :)

  The current challenge is located HERE and HERE (our mid-month reveal).

February Guest Designer Tanita Shmigun of Russia!

Please view our current challenge HERE & our

2nd reveal based on the same challenge HERE.
{& don't forget our Design Team Call HERE}.

Today we welcome back the winner of our January 2014 Challenge,

Tanita Shmigun of Russia, as our February Guest Designer!

"Hi everyone!   My name is Tanya, but my online name is Tanita.

 I’m 19 years old & live in the little city of Angarsk (Siberia) in Russia.

I've just finished school & soon I will be furthering my studies.  
 I live with my parents, little sister & brother.

I began scrapbooking in 2010 & I still try to learn more & more about this amazing art.
I love to tell my stories through layouts & mini-albums ~ to express my feelings & emotions.
 I love to use paints, stamps, stickers & confetti & I love to layer.
At the moment I am experimenting with mixed-media, steampunk & grunge. 
My  inspiration comes from my boyfriend, my friends, my family.  

Scrapbooking is my therapy & makes my world better, brighter & happier ~
you can find my blog *HERE*  

 

 

 Tanita has used our current mood board for inspiration.

I love the touches of yellow Tanita has used

 {inspired by the gold in the flower-pot image}.

Just look at all those luscious layers!!  I can count ELEVEN!!!

Yet Tanita's layout is not at all bulky.  Very clever!

Such a wonderful photo too.  

Tanita sure knows how to capture the

 essence of our mood boards doesn't she?

Thank you so much Tanita for creating this wonderful 
page especially for Scrap Around The World!

Please leave some encouragement for Tanita,
who is still a teenager!  {Makes me wish I had
been able to take up scrapbooking earlier than I did!}

Just 8 DAYS TO GO until our current challenge closes.
Remember it's February which is a short month,
so if you haven't had a chance to play along yet why not 
schedule some "ME" time this weekend?

Challenge closes on Friday 28th Feb - midnight EST.

Design Team Call! 2014 Term 2 {May 2014 - October 2014}

Hello again everyone!!  Just reminding you all about our DESIGN TEAM CALL in case you missed our first announcement.  {It was within another post HERE} but here are all the important deets for you again.

*We have had such an amazing response that I am already making my 

shortlist so please DO NOT DELAY - the sooner I receive your entry the better*

We have nearly completed a year here at Scrap Around The World & I am in need of some new Ambassadors!  
At last the time has come for everyone to have a chance to join the SATW team!!  I have
 had countless enquiries as to how to do so over the last year so here is the 411!!

I will NOT be sending any confirmation e mails, nor will I be replying to anyone other than the successful applicants, for no other reason than lack of time :(  Running this challenge blog is a detailed & time-consuming job
 in itself & is only a small part of what I do so I ask for your forgiveness & understanding in advance :)

 I check my spam folder regularly so there is no way I will miss your application but if you would like 
to leave a comment ON THIS POST to say that you have applied I will get back to you ONLY IF I 
HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT so that can give you some peace of mind if you are concerned about that.  

I have put all the necessary/vital information into a jpeg for y'all!  

So that all interested parties can right click & SAVE to your desktop 
{to make it easier for you to refer to}.

Anything needing clarification?
Please leave your question here & I will answer it asap!
All the best for your applications!!

If you are interested in joining the Design Team at SATW
here is the information you need...

1)  You need to have taken part in one of our challenges,
so if you haven't played yet, now is your chance.  Play
along with our current {February} mood board & link up!

2)  You need to have your own, current & active blog.
We are looking for people who have an established 
online presence, as we need to spread the word about
our new challenge site & our ambassadors help us do that!

{That means you need to blog regularly - at least once a week
 on average} & have built up an online audience.  

3)  You need to be on Facebook {regularly}.  This is because
 Facebook is a great marketing tool & makes it really easy for us
 to share our information there, with our Facebook Friends &/or
 Followers & also because Facebook Groups are the way 
Design Teams store, share & discuss their "behind-the-scenes"
 information with one another.  

However, it is fine for you to have just a "fan page" rather
than a personal page.  We are ALL expected to SHARE
SATW info regularly on Facebook as well as to blog about
the SATW reveal once a month on our own personal blogs.

4)  You need to have or create a Pinterest account to
 be able to PIN your project to our group board once a month.

5)  You need to create ONE PROJECT PER MONTH, to 
be ready by the 25th of the previous month, irrespective of
 whether or not you are in the 1st of the month reveal or the 
Mid-Month (16th) reveal.  

5)  You need to SHARE the reveal post in FULL on your blog 
once a month, including our prizes & sponsor information (but not 
everyone else's projects - just your own) by the 3rd of each month,
 including a link back to our reveal post.  

{Our mid-month team shares the first reveal post by the 3rd 
& then their project on the 16th, 17th or 18th of each month,
 on their blog, including a link back to the mid-month reveal}

6)  You will be on comment & voting duty every alternate
month & will be required to comment on half the entries
only then send in your top ten votes within 60 hours of
entries closing.  So you have one month on then one
month COMPLETELY OFF commenting & judging.
This should take no more than an hour on average
each month (2 hours every 2nd month) absolute max.

7)  You need to be prepared to help out with small administrative
tasks each month to split the load of responsibility, as you may be 
asked by the admin team to help out in some small way.
  This will not amount to more than an hour per month if that.

8)  We are looking for Scrapbooking Artists, Mixed Media
Artists & Art Journallers from ALL AROUND THE WORLD
but you need to have a good command of the English 
language in order to communicate within our Facebook
group & join in our discussions there.  We don't mind at 
all if your English is not perfect, we do not judge that :)

9)  You need to read the instructions below & apply exactly
as we have asked, by sending NO PHOTOS PLEASE,
 - you need to create a hyperlink in your email - to your
 blog - so I can look at your creations there.  If you have 
played at SATW more than once you only need to 
link up to ONE post on your blog, in your email.

There is no compensation for challenge blog positions,
however those experienced with them can vouch for the
satisfaction, exposure & experience gained from
 being on well-run & well-supported teams like SATW.

Scrap Around The World is in need of designers from all over the world & representative of all different styles too. The selection process is never an easy one as there are many factors to take into consideration, as well as a limited number of places.  Only a small amount of people who apply for a Design Team position can be successful SO please don't take it personally if you don't make the team.  

There is always next time or other opportunities that come along!
Thank you so much (in advance) to those of you taking the time to apply!!

WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO PUT TOGETHER A CRACKER JACK TEAM FOR OUR 2ND TERM 
SO THROW YOUR HAT IN & TRY OUT TO BE PART OF SOMETHING AWESOME!

PLEASE FOLLOW US ON BLOG LOVIN' HERE & LIKE us
 on Facebook HERE to benefit from all we have to offer you :)

Design Team Mid Month Reveal - February 2014 Challenge 10 by Christin Gronslett

Welcome back to REVEAL TWO of SATW Challenge TEN

 hosted by Design Team member Christin Gronslett from Sweden!

You will find our first reveal HERE.  If you haven't seen
 it yet be sure to click the link & go & check it out!!

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

Along with our MID MONTH REVEAL we also welcome
 another new Ambassador ~ Amy Voorthuis  from the Netherlands!

 

This is what Amy has to say!

"Hi! I'm Amy Voorthuis & I'm almost 36 years of age. I have been married to the love of my life for almost 2 years now & we have been together for 15 years.  We have one handsome son,  Kevin,  who is 9 years old.  I live in The Netherlands but I have a lot of relatives in the States, in fact it was my aunt there who introduced me to scrapbooking 10 years ago!  Scrapbooking has become my passion ~  I love it so much that I sometimes create in my dreams :)  I think it's a great way to preserve wonderful memories. I feel very blessed to be  joining Scrap Around The World & currently am also designing for Imaginarium Designs (Australian Chipboard Company) BoBunny Press {American Manufacturer} & Cheery Lynn Designs (Die Cut Company)"

Amy has a very pretty, classic vintage/shabby style that is admired by many.
Please join me in welcoming Amy!

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

Feel free to interpret Christin's mood board in any way you like,

 using one image, several of them, all of them or even just 

one aspect of an image, using ANY COLOURS!

To be eligible for judging:-

1.   You need to follow our 10 Golden Rules found HERE, which include :-

1)  Sharing the mood board image.

2)  Mentioning Scrap Around The World {in full - not just 

SATW} & LINKING BACK to the current challenge.

3)  Mentioning HOW you were inspired by our mood board.

4)  Linking back to your SATW blog post NOT YOUR ENTIRE BLOG.

If receiving comments from some of our Design Team members is important

 to you please ensure that you have WORD VERIFICATION TURNED OFF.

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

Riikka Kovasin {Finland} has created a gorgeous CANVAS!

Tusia Lech {Poland} has created a vibrant A4 art journal page
{you can create in A5 size but then you need to create a double spread}.

  

Kim Ewins {Australia} has created a BEAUTIFUL layout portraying the ultimate love!

 Zaneta Glowa aka Zanka {Sweden} has created such a soft & beautiful layout!

  Eila Sandberg {Sweden} has made this stunning A4 scrapbook page!

Alexandra Polyzou {Greece} wows us with an absolutely brilliant layout!

Marilyn Rivera {USA} presents us with such a darling page!

 

 Amy Voorthuis {Netherlands} has created a stunning debut page for us!

PRIZES!!

{all with FREE SHIPPING!}

1st Prize - GIGANTIC PRIZE PACK OF BLING

 EMBELLISHMENTS from FLOURISH WITH A BLING 

{Australian Embellishment Manufacturer}

who also have a FABULOUS 50% OFF SALE

on right now - so if you want to STOCK UP ON SOME

FWABulous bling embellishments or beautiful chiffon and/or

satin flowers NOW IS THE TIME!! {click the link above!}

FWAB have sponsored a MASSIVE $175 PRIZE!!!!

Wahoo!!!  Whoever wins this will be "in bling" for the

 rest of the year at least!!  

Flourish with a Bling is an Australian retail and wholesale company, owned by Lucy Patrick, Kate Settineri & Maggie Lloyd, who are 3 passionate & avid crafting mums with a love for design, colour & everything Bling! “Our aim is to bring more colour & variety into the world of flourishes & embellishments. With our unique designs & new materials we feel we are putting the ‘Bling into Scrapbooking’. We have a beautiful range of flourishes, vines, pearls & rhinestones. Recently we have introduced our own range of gorgeous flowers too.” They also sell fabulous themed packs at amazing prices. They have flat rate postage & free shipping for larger orders. They post internationally at actual post & packaging charges! You can contact them or find all their products on their easy-to-use website www.flourishwithabling.com.au.  

Follow their blog here http://www.flourishwithabling.com.au/blog/ & their gallery 

here http://www.flourishwithabling.com.au/gallery/

2nd Prize - WONDERFUL MISCELLANY PACK OF STICKERS, PRINTED CHIPBOARD & BLING EMBELLISHMENTS from Papirdesign {Norwegian Manufacturer}

Papirdesign have sponsored this AWESOME prize-pack valued at OVER $75!!

Papirdesign makes paper products, scrapbooking papers, stamps & accessories. 

Papirdesign is focused on colors, pattern & design & draw inspiration from the

 beautiful nature of the Northern part of Norway. The contrast & beauty in the nature 

there...art, culture & the local people, are their greatest source of inspiration.

FOLLOW THE PAPIRDESIGN BLOG HERE.

3rd prize - Scrapmatts Chipboard valued at $25!

 

Australian Made Laser Cut Chipboard to compliment your scrapbook pages,
 cards & paper-crafting projects. Scrapmatts has a Ning site that showcases
 an amazing talented international design team who post regularly on the blog
 there, a gallery, customer challenges & an online store. Come join in the fun here!

Below is just one example of some of the awesome products they stock HERE.

 

4th prize - $25 prize-pack of flowers, chipboard & embellishments

from Prima, Petaloo & Pink Paislee, etc - donated by our lovely

 Design Team member Eila Sandberg!  

You need to be a follower of her blog HERE to be eligible!!  

{worth it believe me!!}

 

 5th prize - A random selection of Purple Pumpkin products, to the value of $15.

 

Purple Pumpkin {Australia} manufactures high-quality embellishments of a fun & funky nature,
 specializing in fabric buttons, handmade flowers,resin, twine & washi tape.  

They have a great blog that is constantly active & they hold monthly challenges 
open to all, with Guest Designer positions up for grabs as well as awesome 
prizes of Purple Pumpkin loveliness!  

They stock a huge range of embellishments, washi tape, motex tape, 
etc in their online store HERE. Below is just ONE EXAMPLE
 of the many  products stocked in their online store.

 RANDOM PRIZE! 

A $25 gift voucher from The Flying Unicorn 

PLUS FREE SHIPPING!!

***TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS YOU NEED TO ALSO POST YOUR

PROJECT ON OUR SCRAP AROUND THE WORLD FACEBOOK PAGE***

{Please post your layout photo as an image then you can add a link to your blog in the text rather than linking only to your blog so that if people want to see your image they go straight to your blog}

 Flying Unicorn...Your Passion. Your Art. 

Their on line store has an incredible selection of products for all paper crafting artists. Their kit of the Month is filled with the latest and greatest and includes an off-the-page project to keep your creative muse flowing! Be sure to check out the Flying Unicorn forums, a hot and happening place which includes monthly challenges, tips, techniques and friendships that last! 

They also have a blog and a Facebook page where you can find loads of inspiration!

store: www.flyingunicornstore.com

Forums: www.flyingunicornforums.com

Facebook: 
www.facebook.com/pages/Flying-Unicorn/120928447946596

Blog: www.flyingunicornblog.com

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

 The deadline for this challenge is Friday 28th February.
Please tell us what you think of our challenges
 & layouts in the comments section!
Just 12 DAYS LEFT to get your entries in!!