Saturday, May 3, 2014

The Heart of My Art (and a NSD giveaway!)


Hello and welcome! If you've made your way here today, I'm willing to guess you're either a member of my family or a scrapbooker? Safe bet? I hope you're here seeking Nat'l Scrapbooking Day (NSD) info, as I have some brilliant celebratory business for you.

Today's Happy Happenings!

1. Big Picture Classes National Scrapbook Day 10K event is happening now. As a member of their 10K Team, I know I can't wait to add a layout or two to the Instagrams. Will you? Still on the fence? Well, there are prizes involved, and this is Insta-history in the works, friends. Need I say more?



2. Scrapbook & Cards Today: Nope, it's not Monday, but it is NSD, so I'm delighted to be paying Scrapbook & Cards Today an extra visit this week, sharing this layout and giving away some awesome delights. More on the layout in a moment!

The Heart of My Art by Megan Hoeppner. Supplies: Cardstock: American Crafts; Textured paint (Glimmerz): Shimmerz; Heart stencil: Heidi Swapp; Pigment sticks (Gelatos): Faber-Castell; Washi tape: Hazel & Ruby and Paper Source; Glassine bag: SRM Stickers; Stickers: Fancy Pants Designs; Spray ink: Studio Calico; Shipping tag: Office Max; Baker's twine: Whisker Graphics; Pens (Gold Sharpie; White Gelly Roll): Newell Rubbermaid and Sakura of America; Photo: Fuji Film (INSTAX Mini); Other: Gold thread. 


3. Giveaway! Yes, it wouldn't be a holiday without a scrapbooking prize, so I'm offering a mystery box full of scrapbooking goodies to one lucky commenter on this here post. Simply leave your comment between now and Tuesday, May 6, including your email address, for a chance to win. Excellent!

Image credi


Okay, back to my The Heart of My Art layout. This was a first for me—going super mixed media with a page. But it's about art, so I wanted to give it a go. if the idea interests you, here are a few of the steps I took, broken down:



Do It To It

1. I used the Heidi Swapp heart stencil that I recently purchased while at the Portland Creating Keepsakes Convention as a background.



I paired it with this amazing jar of Spun Sugar (white) Dazzlerz by Shimmerz to create a cool, textured, almost watermark effect across the back of my page. Dazzlerz are gorgeous, smooth, paints that have a heavier texture than a basic paint. They are M-A-Zing!

Image credit: Enchanted Dreams Shop



2. Inspired by this cute dress (from Target) I bought Maggie for my Aunt's surprise party last month...



I wanted to create a similar watercolor/heart look, so I started by drawing a heart on the now dry heart background using my beloved white Gelly Roll by Sakura.



Then I drew strips of color down the heart, with more color towards the top of the heart, using my Faber-Castell Gelatos—another awesome product!




3. Using a paintbrush and some water, I blended the Gelato color columns down the length of my heart, adding more Gelato where I felt it needed it.


4. Keeping with the paintbrush business, I then wrote the word "art" on an SRM Stickers glassine bag, using my spray ink, just as I did in this tutorial. This is something I'll definitely be doing again. Loved the look on the glassine!



5. Back to the layout, I added a strip of some of my fav washi, the Fat Roll by Hazel & Ruby, to the side of the page, layering over some misted book paper, which I tore from a book. I then added another strip of gold washi in a slightly thinner size.



Secret revealed: See that bit of black peeking out from behind the book paper? Yeah, that's an area of brush script that didn't go so well. No need to start over, however. No way! I just improvised and this book-paper/washi grouping was born.

6. Once the glassine bag was dry, I positioned it to the layout, making sure to only place my adhesive down the center, backside of the bag so it wouldn't show. I then added a strip of my new "handmade with love" washi tape from Paper Source. Gosh, I love this tape!


7. Time to sew! I added some machine stitching using my fav gold metallic thread, following my white Gelly Roll lines of the heart. I purposefully went outside of those lines a bit to keep it less linear. And I purposefully stitched over a bit of the bag and book-paper row to make the elements feel more connected on the page.



9. For the word "The" in my title, I simply wrote using a metallic gold Sharpie. It took a few coats to make it really show up well.



10. Wanting to enhance the "art" effect a bit more, I added some spray-ink splatter by removing the nozzles of my Mister Huey's and lightly tapping on them while holding them over the coordinating color column in the heart.



11. I added the words "of my" at the top of my tag using tiny stickers from Fancy Pants Designs. typed my journaling on a 2"x4" shipping tag, using my typewriter. I like the way the black letters slightly show through the glassine bag, both acting as a subtle print (to complement the book paper) and indicating there's a story in waiting without putting too much of my words out in the open. This was a personal story to tell, and I didn't want too much of it revealed on the surface.



12. The HEART of my ART, when it comes right down to it, is preserving our stories from my Maggie and her future sibling(s), so I simply added an old Instax Mini photo  taken of me while pregnant with Mags to complete the page.



For more on the significance and story behind this page, I hope you'll check out my post today on the Scrapbook & Cards Today Magazine blog. And don't forget to upload the fun you create today on Instagram with the hashtag #NSD10k (or in the BPC gallery). Both the magazine and BPC are offering pretty sweet prizes today, so there's even some added incentive in there for ya! :)

Oh, and don't forget the ol' goodie box o' delights being offered here. Hope you'll enter.

Happy NSD, friends! Thanks a bunch for making my blog a small part of your celebration today!

Cheers!

88 comments:

Miriam Prantner said...

Wonderful layout! I love how you used the stencil! Thanks for the chance to win some goodies!

Sarah said...

Wow, what a cool "artsy" layout. Thanks for the chance to win some goodies. Sarahjohnw@verizon.net. :)

jengd said...

Great layout! I love the combo of Dazzlerz (cool!) and gelatos. And thanks for the goodie box chance! "Go ahead Smithers! Guess what's in the box!" "It's Homer Simpson sir!" ;)

tara said...

You're braver (and more talented) than me to take the plunge into mixed media layouts! Nice job megan! Spotofteadesigns(at) yahoo (dot) com

Beatrice Lawson said...

The dress that inspired you was just adorable and the heart on your layout ended up looking great! I love that textured paste from Shimmerz, they have such great products:-) thank you for a chance at a scrappy mystery box!

Fiorella said...

Such a great source of inspiration!
Thanks for the chance to win.
fiorellacorini@alice.it

Tammy Mauer said...

I have not been brave enough to try mixed media in my scrapbooking. I think you did a great job. Thank you for the chance to win some goodies. tsmauer at myomnitel dot com

{VICKI} said...

WOW
wonderful layout!
and I love a good mystery---thanks for the chance to win
vickidotdaltonatyahoodotcom

Jennifer Grace said...

This is really artistic and it looks like it was a lot of fun to create! I love the multicoloured heart, and the word on the glassline bag. Thanks for sharing your tips, and for the chance to win! jennifergrace(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk

Liz Harris said...

I'd love some goodies!
godman_harris@yahoo.com

MJ's Kraze said...

Great page. I love gelatos too.

Margie said...

Beautiful layout-love that stencil!! I love scrappy surprises!

Ret said...

I love your "the heart of my art" page, Megan! Love how you ended up with a great multi-media page! I especially love how you take the time to explain what you did, and why and how! I've never been brave enough to try multi-media but by gosh, I'm gonna now! It looks so cool and the best part is I know I'll have fun doing it! Thank you! And thanks for the chance to win the goody box!! Happy belated NSBD!!!
retcudmore@live.com

Donna G. said...

Thanks for the inspiration and thanks for the chance to win!
druth1964@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Love mystery boxes. So much fun to open and ooohhh and aaaahhhh over them as you pull out each item. I loved your projects. enjoy being more free-form on my cards. Thanks for sharing.
txmlhl@yahoo.com

Tina Mayo said...

so cool...I just started dabbing in the mixed media stuff and LOVE it!!! it is sooo freeing..not worrying if I messed something up or not...I could just let myself go!!! sillygirl912@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Isn't it fun to learn new techniques! I was at a crop over the weekend and learned about gelatos in a make and take ! Aren't they fun?? (Not quite as good as the Italian treat but so close ;) ). Thanks for the chance to win!

tampatha01@gmail.com

Amy C. said...

Thanks for sharing your great project ideas and for the chance to win a mystery goodie box! I love a good mystery!
(clayandamy@sbcglobal.net)

Chark said...

love the vellum bag with the word on it...and the gold lettering!

T Young said...

I love you layout. Your blog post made me think about why I started to scrapbook and why I still do. I need to do more :).

Megan said...

Beautiful layout! Just this morning I was thinking about why I scrapbook and how much fun I had participating over the weekend. I definitely need to spend more time on it! :)

DJ said...

Love that you wrote on the glassine bag-never thought of that simple touch. And, I love the old instant Polaroid!! There's a lot of thought that went into this layout.

Kelly Massman said...

I love the soft colors on your beautiful projects Thanks also for a chance to win! kmassman gmail

Anelsie Ramos said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anelsie Ramos said...

Your layouts are always so beautiful! Thanks for the inspiration and for the chance to win!
I LOVE scrapbooking so much...I am addicted to it!!! I adore preserving and documenting my family memories and history and at the same time, having fun with my scrappy friends! It is the best therapy ever!!! :)
anelsieramos@hotmail.com

Kathy said...

Always love your work, Megan! And thanks for the chance to win some goodies!

Linsey R said...

OH my goodness, I love it so much! I'm so glad you had such fun creating your mixed media LO and it shows in this delightful and artsy page--I hope you do it lots more! And thanks SO much for breaking it down, I totally appreciate this as I have new canvases, gelatos and embossing paste that is calling my name but I've been scared lol...especially the gelatos but this makes me feel so inspired! I think I popped over to join the giveaway but I got so much more out of it!! Thank YOU! Hugs!

Amy E said...

What a beautiful and moving page Megan! I love that you put so much of your heart into it (...no pun intended!) You really got me when you said it was intended for your daughter, so you put a pic of you when you were pregnant with her on it....LOVE that! I totally love the look of the journaling behind the glassine bag too! I really want to try that now!

Amy E.
amyis300 AT hotmail DOT com
Scrapthissavethat.com

Sandi said...

Very cool layout....thanks for the peek into your creative process. And a goodie box???? I am all over that. Thanks for the chance to win!

Robin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Robin said...

Such a cool page, thank you for sharing your steps! That's the best white pen ever made. :)

Rhonda said...

Love your layout AND tutorial. You brightened my day. Thanks for the chance to win. :o)

Tracy said...

Thanks for a chance to win the cool prizes. I love your mixed media layout. Tracy
tracylb78@gmail.com

Jeff said...

Yea, I am bit too scared to get arsty. I have tried a bit, but it just gets messy. Good job.

Anonymous said...

Megan, your comment about the stencil made me smile because I bought the Heidi Swapp polka dot stecil at the Portland CKC. It was wonderful taking your Back to Basics class with my sister, I even made notes!!

Steph M said...

Excellent, indeed! I love the layout, and some products that are new to me! steph_macdonald at hotmail dot com

Angela said...

Fun! Your layout is absolutely beautiful!!
angeandjohn@yahoo.com

Cindy deRosier said...

Such a beautiful layout! I love it!

barbara macaskill said...

What a beautiful mixed media piece! LOVE the colors and the sentiment is perfect!! TFS!

Maye M.L said...

Great layout. I would love to apply some of your techniques to card making (must confess I have not started scrapbooking, it intimidates me!.) Truly enjoyed NSD14 on Saturday. Ended the day with inspiration overload. Not bad for a first attendance. Cheers!

TeacherMom said...

Thanks for the awesome tutorial. A very inspiring layout indeed! Thanks also for the chance to win a mystery box!!! Just like Christmas!!!!!
gaudet5 at bell dot net

Unknown said...

Love the layout, especially how you took an oops that didn't work out and transformed it into something that really made the layout. Like to be in on wining the goody box of scrapbooking fun. Abrahamsrose@ gmail.com

Unknown said...

You always have so many great ideas to share! I love where you find your inspiration! Thanks for the chance at winning that box of goodies! Sounds wonderful!

Unknown said...

Oh and my email is angela (at) alexfam (dot) com

Jennifer said...

Enjoyed seeing the process of your art. Scrapbooking surprises are the best. Thanks for the chance to win.

Jennifer said...

Forgot my email. Jen23kids@gmail.com

Jean said...

Such wonderful inspiratioN! Thanks for the chance to win!

CalleLillyCafe said...

Wow! I love that background! In love with the tiny hearts & your gold stitched gelato heart! I will be trying this in the future!

callelillycafe@me.com

2dogs2luv said...

wonderful & more wonderful!!! fantastic tutorial...easy to follow, if I decide to case it; it looks like so much work, but well worth it.

Lisa P said...

I think your layout is absolutely breathtaking. I love what you did with the gelattos. Thanks for sharing your beautiful words. dpeeples1 at hotmail dot com

Sue D said...

Love how you made this layout!
slrdowney at hotmail dot com

Lynne in NI said...

Such a pretty layout!
I haven't tried mixed media ... my crafty budget is already stretched without getting a new 'addiction' LOL

Lynne in NI said...

Sorry,, forgot to add my email ...

lynneandgreg (at) aol.com

HeatherD said...

What a wonderful layout! Thank you for your detailed description of techniques. And thank you for showing that there truly are "no mistakes in art."
Heather Dreith
hmcid@hotmail.com

IamUniquelyImperfect said...

Wow! What a gorgeous layout! I so want to start doing layouts and you have inspired me to try. Never a mistake just a chance to embellish. Thank you for sharing your wonderful art! imperfectuniquely@gmail.com Patricia B

maria f. said...

SOOO much goodness on one LO. My fave part is the tiny hearts so subtle in the BG and the gelato swipes in rainbow colors.

Shelley said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
brenda said...

I love your layout and I'm really enjoying your "Mondays with Megan" blog posts on the SCT blog.

Shelley said...

Love your beautiful mixed media art in your pages! You make it seem so easy that I'm interested in trying out the technique.

Barbara H said...

Beautiful layout, gorgeous color palette. So happy I visited your blog. Dress is so girly, too.

Denise Bryant said...

Love the heart on the layout! So pretty in the rainbow of colors! Anxious to try out some Gelatos and the textured paste also... looks great! Thanks for a chance to win a fun surprise box!
deniseb777ATgmailDOTcom

Unknown said...

Loving mixed media. Also so anxious to try Gelatos. Love reading your blog. Thanks for the giveaway.
troopleader3820@yahoo.com

Carmen said...

What a great Idea you have with that stencil. I am still a little afraid of them :(
Carmen
wildrose.cm@gmail.com

TracyM #6773 said...

Thank You Megan - I loved your layout when you shared it on the SCT Blog, all the more precious with knowing more about the story behind it.
Thank You for sharing your tutorial too, I sometimes (OK, lots of times) get overwhelmed with mixed media, so truly appreciate each & every step AND more importantly that some parts took multiple coats (like "the") and that you even have "oops" moments too. Don't know about you, but I find that the oops usually "help" me change things and they turn out even better than planned :)
Anyway, please don't include me in your prize draw (I'm international), keep enjoying your family, hectic life & Grandma's apron AND make sure you have some creative time too!!!

KarenB said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
KarenB said...

Hi Megan, I didn't get to do very much on NSD because I was working nightshift (and sleeping during the day) but in the days following I've managed to visit some of my favourite scrappy places and overload on inspiration! Thank you so much for sharing your amazing layout - I love that you shared the creative process too. I haven't used Gelatos yet but WOW, what a lovely effect! My favourite part is the stitching - LOVE the machine stitched heart. Even better is the story behind your layout. Thank you xx lemonmyrtle(at)yahoo(dot)com

Scrappin' Diva said...

What a wonderful LO! Thank you for all the tips and tricks you did for this layout!

Jeannine H. said...

Lovely that you have joined SCT and we get to your work and inspirations regularly. Very neat idea for a layout. I love the Heart of my Art theme. Thanks for the chance to win some goodies. J9cardstock@gmail.com

D- said...

I LOVE your pretty heart art. Thanks so much for sharing.
Crafty hugs,
D~
DesignsByDragonfly.blogspot
DMCARDMAKER at AOL dot COM
{new email follower}

forza said...

great layout ! I really love it :)

Thanks for the chance to win !

daphne.carlier@laposte.net

Michelle Price said...

This is gorgeous and totally doable! Thanks for breaking it down!

jeannine said...

Beautiful layout! Love that the cute little dress inspired the watercolor heart!

jeannine said...

Oops forgot my email!!
J9cj at optonline dot net

Michelle t said...

Very pretty layout. I love my gelatos too. It's beautiful, and I love all the colors. Michelle t

KellyG said...

SO cool and creative! LOVE your ideas! Thanks for the chance to win!

terriavidreader (IN-USA) said...

I love looking at all the pages, but I haven't started scrapbooking yet. I do cards, and just keep checking out pages!

Rita said...

great layout! love all the techniques. will definitely give it a try.

ritatimmons@swbell.net

Stacie said...

Megan, love your SCT posts. Great layout process. I can't wait to try some techniques soon! Mystery box, yes, please!

ScrappinLita said...

Thanks for the tutorial. I feel inadequate to try those techniques, but you've made it look so easy. Thanks, again. And who doesn't love a great mystery?

Linda said...

Fun LO!! Love contests!

winjes said...

What a beautiful LO! I love all the mixed media you used. I might have to break mine out of their packages and try them!

Dana Plitt said...

How cute and and creative !Thank you for the chance to win..

Erin Glee said...

Great Artsy lo, Megan! Love your Mags baby bump picture and all the hearts : )

Kailash said...

Love your gorgeous layout!! Very artsy and trendy!!
kailashn2003@yahoo.com

barbara macaskill said...

I had left a comment on NSD but forgot to leave my email addy. here it is just in case I am the lucky winner of your awesome prize. macaskillbarbara@yahoo.com
Thanks for the chance to win!

Deborah Montgomery said...

Awesome layout...your amazing!

Anonymous said...

Hope I'm not too late. Love the free-form cards.

barbara macaskill said...

I am writing to see if the winner for the goodie prize had been announced yet. I keep checking but haven't seen anything yet but sometimes I can't see what is right in front of me. Thank you in advance for answering this question.
Barb macaskillbarbara@yahoo.com