Mood Board Layout with Mandy

Hi everyone!

It's Mandy here with you, and today I'm sharing a closer look at the layout that I created for this month's mood board, and I have some tips and techniques for getting the most out of your patterned papers!

Now I have a confession to make... I was planning on sharing a step-by-step tutorial for creating this layout, however the photos that I had taken of my procedure were on my phone which I unfortunately dropped in water last week and was unable to retrieve anything off it. I lost a few months worth of photos since I last backed them up :( The moral of the story is to back up your photos regularly!!! (I'm now using iCloud so that my photos are backed up automatically).

Here's my layout that I created for our gorgeous 'black and anything goes' mood board this month...

I must admit that I struggled a bit with this because I don't usually use black as the dominant colour on a layout, but I loved the challenge and I'm happy with the end result! The photo that I scrapped is of my eldest daughter taken when we went strawberry picking while we were on holidays last year! She was wearing a black hat and a dark floral dress, so I thought this would be perfect for this mood board!

So today I want to share some tips and techniques that I use to get the most out of my patterned papers! I used the Maggie Holmes Bloom collection for this layout. When I purchased this collection, the chipboard and ephemera were not available, so I was limited to the patterned papers and the puffy stickers, but I didn't mind, because it just meant that I had to get a bit more creative with using the patterned papers! So here are my tips...

1) Don't throw away the branding strip on your patterned papers!

I always try to think of ways that I can incorporate the branding strips onto my layouts, and on this page, I added it as a strip between the dark patterned paper and the white cardstock. I like the extra detail that this adds, and it looks like I've included more patterned paper onto my layout than I actually have!

2) Fussy Cut!

Look for elements in your patterned papers that you can fussy cut! The teacup on the bottom right hand corner of my layout was fussy cut from one of the patterned papers, as was the word 'beautiful'. I often like to use those busy floral patterned papers to fussy cut the flowers to use as embellishments for my pages.

3) Cut up your patterned papers!

I love to use my Silhouette Cameo to cut out shapes and words from my patterned papers. If you don't have a die-cutting machine, trace shapes and cut them out by hand. I didn't use my Cameo for this layout, but I did cut a little banner out of patterned paper to include on my page.

4) Don't waste!

If there are any parts of your patterned papers that are hidden, cut them off to use on a future project! For instance, on this layout I have backed my photo with patterned paper, but only a thin border is actually seen. So I cut away the middle section behind the photo, which is hidden, and I kept it to use for layering on another layout.

There are lots of ways that you can get the most out of your patterned papers! When we have to scrap on a budget this can be particularly important. I'd love to hear your tips if you have some!

Here are a few closeups of my layout so that you can see all the details...

And here's a reminder of this month's mood board...

I hope that you get a chance to play along with our mood board challenge this month! There's only 2 more days left to get your projects linked up!

Thanks so much for joining me on the blog today!

Mandy Melville

My Happy Place

Step by Step page with Mandy and a bonus sketch

Hello friends!

It's Mandy here with you and today I'd like to share an easy step by step tutorial for the layout that I created for our current mood board. As a bonus, I've also created a sketch for you to use as well!

Here's my layout...

What you'll need

This is everything that I used to create my layout

Step 1

Choose a patterned paper or cardstock for your base and then cut one large and one small triangle out of another patterned paper to cover two of the corners of your layout. Add a strip of washi tape along the joins.

Step 2

Next adhere your photo to the layout with a doily tucked behind. I added foam tape underneath my photo to give it extra dimension.

Step 3

Next add your title to the layout. I like to create interest by combining different fonts in my title.

Step 4

Now it's time to start embellishing! Choose embellishments that co-ordinate with your colour palette and complement the theme of your page. I started off by creating a little cluster on the bottom right hand corner of my photo using a Charms Creations heart, a flair button, and a glittery silver leaf. You'll notice that each of these build on the colours and patterns that I've used in my patterned papers and title.

Step 5

I added a few more embellishments, tucking some in behind the photo, and others on top. I kept all the embellishing on this layout tight around the photo to keep the viewers focus on the photo.

Lastly, add your journalling and date to the layout. I decided to type my journalling and cut it into strips, but you could also hand write it if you prefer.

Here's another look at my completed layout...

And here's a reminder of this month's monochromatic mood board...

I hope that you get a chance to play along with our mood board challenge this month! There's only 2 more days left to get your projects linked up!

And I mentioned at the start of my post that I would have a sketch for you, so here it is...

I hope that you are inspired by my step-by-step tutorial and sketch! If you happen to create a layout using my sketch, please come and share it with us over in the Off the Rails Scrapbooking Facebook group or share it on Instagram and tag me (@mandy1980). We always love to see your work too!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Until next time, happy scrapping!

Mandy Melville

My Happy Place

Adding Texture and Dimension with Mandy

Hello friends!

It's Mandy here with you and today I'd like to share some tips and techniques for adding texture and dimension to your layouts! When I look back at some of the first layouts that I created years ago they seem very flat. Now don't get me wrong, I still really love those layouts, but over the years my style has changed, and these days I'm drawn to layouts with lots of texture and dimension... the kind of layouts that you want to reach out and touch! So today I'm going to take you through a step-by-step tutorial and show you how I have added texture and dimension to my layout!

I created this layout for our current mood board...

What you'll need

This is everything that I used to create my layout

Step 1

Firstly, trim about 1/3 inch off each side of your patterned paper so that you can mat it on white cardstock. Next, using your chosen stencil, apply texture/modeling paste to your patterned paper. You can use a palette knife to do this if you have one, otherwise an old credit card/gift card will do the trick!

Using modeling paste with a stencil is a really effective way of adding texture and dimension to your layout!

Step 2

Next add some foam tape to the back of your photo and adhere it to your layout.

Using foam tape is another way that I like to add dimension to my layouts, as it gives different heights to the elements on your page.

Step 3

Next, create a flower cluster to the right of your photo. You can see here that the flowers add lots of beautiful texture and dimension to my layout!

Step 4

Next, add your title to the layout. Here's another opportunity to add different textures and dimension to your layout. I love to combine different alphas to create my titles! On this layout you can see that I've used chipboard alphas as well as a wood veneer word. The chipboard alphas also have gold foil on them so this adds another texture!

Step 5

Next, add a die-cut to the right of your title. I chose a flamingo to tie in with the mood board! Once again I've added foam tape to the back of it to give it extra dimension.

Step 6

Lastly, I've created a small cluster in the top right hand corner of the layout using another die-cut and a couple more flowers.

And that's how easy it is to create a layout with lots of texture and dimension! Next time you scrap, why don't you try out one of these techniques that I've used on my page...

- Add some stencilling using texture/modeling paste

- Add foam tape to the back of your photo and/or die cuts

- Create a flower cluster

- Use different textures such as chipboard, wood, foil etc

Here's another look at my completed layout...

And here's a reminder of this month's mood board...

I hope that you get a chance to play along with our mood board challenge this month! There's only 2 more days left to get your projects linked up! Our sponsor for April is Memory Maze.

Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope that you found my tutorial useful and enjoyed looking at my layout!

Mandy

My Happy Place

Watercolour Effects on your Background with Mandy

Hi there!

It's Mandy with you today and I am so excited to be sharing my first tutorial here at Off the Rails Scrapbooking!

When it comes to using mixed media on your layouts, do you find it all a bit daunting and scary? I only dabble in mixed media, but I absolutely adore the beautiful watercolour backgrounds that talented scrappers such as Missy Whidden and Adele Toomey create. I wanted to show you how easy it is to create a watercolour effect on your background even for those who are new to mixed media!

I created this layout for the current 'Romance' mood board at Off the Rails...

I'm going to take you through my process for creating this layout.

What you'll need

Obviously you'll choose whatever papers and embellishments you like, but this is what I used to create my layout.

Step 1

Using a credit card or a similar type of card, start by covering your white cardstock with gesso. I used clear gesso, but you could also use white. Just swipe it over your cardstock until it is all covered (or at least the area where you want to apply the wet media). Then wait for it to dry, or use a heat gun if you want to dry it more quickly.

Step 2

Stamp your chosen colour of distress ink onto some plastic packaging a few times, then add a couple of sprays of water. I also sprayed some water onto my cardstock. Next, simply "smoosh"/smear the plastic packaging around on your cardstock. You might need to repeat this process a couple of times until you have covered the area that wish to cover. It's as easy as that, nothing difficult or technical involved!

Step 3

To add some further interest and contrast to the background I did some stamping with black ink. I stamped three plus signs to create a visual triangle on my page, but you could use any stamp you like, and you could add more stamping than this if you wish.

Step 4

Next, add a 10cm strip of patterned paper down the left hand side of your layout with another thin strip of patterned paper tucked under the edge (you could also use washi tape).

Step 5

Matt your photo, then adhere it to your layout overlapping it onto the strip of patterned paper. Next to the photo I've added a piece from one of the cut-apart sheets of patterned paper. Alternatively you could add a tag or a PL card. Underneath this I also added a strip of black lace washi tape.

Step 6

Next add your title to the page. I also added a subtitle underneath my photo as I liked that this balanced out the title at the top, as well as adding another gold element to the page. I mounted up the word 'together' with some foam tape to create some extra dimension.

Step 7

Next I added a pip berry stem over my photo to draw the viewers focus in. You could also make a circle out of twine or wire. I think that this is a nice way to frame the main subject of the photo. Because I had hot pink and white roses in my wedding bouquet, I also included a paper rose in each of these two colours on my page!

Step 8

Then it's time to add some more embellishments to your layout!

I finished my layout off by adding some glitter chipboard hearts and some gold Color Shine ink splatters.

Here's another look at my completed layout...

Here's a reminder of this month's 'Romance' mood board...

I hope that you get a chance to play along with one of our mood boards this month! Our sponsors for February are Candy Chelepy and Memory Maze.

Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope that you found my tutorial useful and enjoyed looking at my layout!

Mandy

My Happy Place

Please welcome some new faces to our Design Team

Please give a warm welcome to our new designers 

Their work is fresh and very inspirational, you might recognize some but others are new around the place, so jump on and follow these ladies. 

ELISA ABLETT

http://2crazycrafters.blogspot.com.au/

Hello, my name is Elisa and I live on the mid north coast of NSW Australia with my lovely husband and two boys.

 I've being scrapbooking since 2003 but have only recently ventured into the online world of challenges and blogs and I haven't looked back. My scrapping style is a little eclectic, mostly mixed media style with loads of colour and technique. 
I am so excited to join Off the Rails DT and feel honoured to be a part of such a amazing and creative team. I am also really looking forward to getting to know you all and hopefully inspiring you along the way! You can catch up with me over on the blog - http://2crazycrafters.blogspot.com.au

Anguree Jansen Van Rensburg
http://anguree.blogspot.com.au/

Hello there, my name is Anguree, and I am absolutely thrilled to be part of such an awesome team.

I am married to an awesome guy and live in tropical Darwin, Northern Territory (NT) Australia. We have no children except for a very spoiled Chocolate Labrador.

I was introduced into Scrapbooking somewhere between 2004 and 2005 and have been addicted ever since. I generally scrap 12x12 pages, but also love art journaling, making cards and off the page projects. My style vary from grungy to shabby but I dare say no style is off limits.

Over the years I've learnt not to get too tied up in what exactly my style is or should be, but rather to enjoy the process of creating. I love to experiment and try new products, mediums, techniques and all the little discoveries along the road.
I have been very lucky and blessed to have been published in Scrapbook Creations Magazine and Scrapbooking Memories Magazine and have previously been teaching at Scrap Matrix. I'm also very proud to be a design team member for Studio M Designs and Colour Stories Inspiration(CSI).

LYNN GOOD
http://memoriesonthepage.blogspot.com.au/

I live on small acreage of the North West Coast of Tasmania with my husband.  We are recent empty nesters and I must say it is quiet and peaceful!!
 I have been scrapbooking for about 12 years but have always done something crafty in my life. I wouldnt say I have a particular style - it depends on the photo and my mood but I love mixed media, flowers, bling (a little hard when you have 2 boys!) and chipboard. 

I generally do 12x12 pages but love the odd canvas, off the page project, art journal and cards. You can find my work on my blog - http://www.memoriesonthepage.blogspot.com.au/ if you want a peek. I am excited to be a part of the team at Off The Rails and look forward to sharing my creations with you all.

MANDY MELVILLE
http://mandymelville.blogspot.com.au/

I live on the beautiful Central Coast of New South Wales in Australia. I’ve been married to Andrew for 13 years and we have three children, Abigail (11 years), Isaac (8 years), and Eleanor (1 year). 

I’ve been scrapbooking for about 11 years, since my oldest was a baby, and it has become more than just a hobby, it’s my passion! I love preserving my family’s memories, and I equally love the creative outlet that scrapbooking provides! My style varies as I like to let the mood of the photos dictate the style of the layout and I like to try out different techniques, though most often on my layouts you will see layering, clustered embellishments, pretty patterned papers, and sometimes a little bit of mixed media. 

I also love to use my Silhouette Cameo to create titles, backgrounds and other elements for my layouts. I am very lucky to be regularly published in Scrapbooking Memories Magazine (an Australian mag) and to be on some awesome design teams including D-lish Scraps, Stuck?! Sketches and Scrap the Girls. I am so thrilled to have been invited to join the talented bunch of designers on the Off the Rails Scrapbooking Design Team and I can’t wait to start sharing my projects with you! If you’d like to take a look at my work, you can visit my blog at http://mandymelville.blogspot.com.au/



Tania Ridgwell
http://taniaridgwell.blogspot.com.au
 
 

My name is Tania Ridgwell and I live in the North Eastern suburbs of Adelaide with my partner of 13 years and our beautiful 9 year old daughter Chloe. 

 My Paper Crafting journey started soon after she was born and she is my never ending source of inspiration. I am totally addicted to all things craft and love to create anything from layouts to cards though my absolute favourite is for anything Off The Page.

I love to try new techniques and though I don't have any one specific style I would have to say the majority of my work is "feminine" and I love to incorporate mixed media into my work along with chipboard, blooms and plenty of bling!


 Peg Hewitt
http://pegsplaytime.blogspot.com.au/
 

Hi, I’m Peg.

I’m quite excited to be joining such an illustrious line-up of past and present designers here at Off The Rails. I only hope I can measure up! So a little about me...

For 15 years I’ve been a die-hard scrapbooker (who now occasionally toys with art journalling or canvas). Grunge and mess are common aspects to my work and I nearly always use some type of wet medium in my creations.  My style varies depending on my mood, the time I have at my disposal, and what is sitting on my table at any given moment. My process is rather organic as I don’t pre-plan and rarely know what my finished project will look like when I start. My primary motivation for creating anything is to tell a story, it comes from the relationships and experiences in my life, warts and all. Scrapbooking, to me, is cathartic. It keeps me sane.

I have been regularly published in the Aussie mags for a number of years, being both a Creative Team member (2014) and a ‘Master’ (2015) for Australian Scrapbooking Memories Magazine. I was a member of the Tattered Angels Design Team for 2011, and spent 3 ½ years designing for Gauche Alchemy among numerous other positions.

On the more personal side, I am happily married to a marvellous and supportive man and together we have 4 children (3 boys and a girl) aged from 20 - 11. We live in a country town in regional NSW on a 2 acre block with chickens, a cat, and a gorgeous garden/yard. I am a work at home mum and do the paperwork for our business as well as helping out at school with crafts and ethics.

Blog - http://pegsplaytime.blogspot.com/

Tanya Cloete

 

My name is Tanya, I am 28 years of age and live in South Africa.

 I have been scrapping for 6 years now.  It all started with seeking a ‘hobby’ to keep me busy during the day, little did I know what I had led myself into J.  I have always loved doing crafty things but never knew that scrap booking would develop into such a passion!!!

Photos are memories to be treasured forever and what better way than to tell a story by the beautiful layouts or albums one can make!!!

I love creating ‘booklet’ type albums and single page layouts but I have recently developed a great new love for making 3D projects!

Scrap booking is a lot of fun and very relaxing!

We are so excited to be introducing 7 new designers to the team, they are all beautiful and are extremely talented, and absolutely adorable to chat with, you will get a lot of inspiration from these ladies.