Mixed Bag

Hi there Simple Stories fans! It’s Chantalle back with you today to share some projects I have created recently. I had the pleasure of being immersed on a retreat last month and I came back with renewed passion! There is so much out there for us to explore and that’s what I absolutely love about this craft of ours - we can try out new things and mix it up a bit. There are no rights or wrongs, just what feels right to us!

Hello, Open Wide

On this page I have experimented with some watercolour paint and texture. I will admit that I really like the way it turned out. This adorable photo has been waiting to be scrapped for quite a few years now! My little girl and I were playing out in the yard and she was trying to convince me to try her tasty dessert. We both couldn’t stop laughing as I dodged her spoon of mud pie! Bloom & Grow couldn’t be more perfect to capture this memory.

There is lots of layering going on here. I started with the watercolour over the top of a sheet of ‘Bee Happy’ to add a bit more of a pattern to the left corner of the paper. I then popped some texture paste over the top through a stencil to tone it down a bit, so both sides matched a bit better.

What followed was a happy mix of elements to help tell my story. You’ll notice that I have added some stitching in parts. I really love the subtle texture it can bring and in this case also adds a bit of rustic charm to the page. (Plus, stitching holds your embellies on over tricky texture!)

One of my favourite things to do when scrapping with a collection, is to go through all the different elements, papers, stickers, die cuts and chipboard and then use similar shapes in different weights to build up my layers. I usually start with a lightweight item at the bottom and then add the chipboard higher up.

Add a big title to create a play on words! I initially wanted to really space out the word ‘wide’ but I felt it was just too busy overall. If there were less elements on the page, it could’ve been fun.

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Miss You With My Whole Heart

This page remembers my Mum who we lost to breast cancer back in 1995. What’s so wonderful about the Heart Simple Set is that it is so versatile. I have seen heaps of gorgeous layouts with themes from love and loss to vacations. I absolutely loved this starry print and joined the stars to create constellations of love in that beautiful night sky.

I started with looking at the stars on the sheet and working out whether a heart shape could actually be created. I then pierced the paper in a few spots which would be the guides for my stitching.

Using backstitch, I used some very pale blue embroidery thread to connect some stars in a heart shape. This shape provided me with an outline along which I could run my title. I’ve kept the lettering very subtle as it’s already a busy print and I didn’t want it to be too full-on.

To further emphasise the constellation theme, I have used a white Uni-ball Signo pen to connect more stars. This is an excellent white pen to have in your stash. I used a ruler which took longer, but the lines needed to be straight to look correct.