October's Guest DT Diva- Lisa West

About me...
 I live in a rural town in southern Maine with my husband and two elementary age girls. I love to "create" any chance I get. I enjoy scrapbooking but I really love experimenting with new techniques for homemade embellishments as well as minibooks, collages and altering projects. My interest in blogging has become sharing  the "how-tos" of what I enjoy creating to become an inspiration as well as finding your corner of the art world for inspiration and ideas. I  love sharing what I am actually able to finish during this busy time of life with 2 little ones. 

How long have you been scrapbooking?

I started scrapbooking about 8yrs ago when I was invited to my first Creative Memories party. I have since seeked out all the different styles of scrapbooking and beyond.

What is your scrapbook style?

I love texture and embellishments within my scrapbook pages. I seem to start with a color or a theme for a lay-out that supplements the pictures which helps tell the story. 

Where do you create your projects?

 I create in my daylight basement. I slowly took over a section where I hung 4x8 piece of pegboard over a long table area surrounded by cubes and boxes. I love to find ways to organize!

What is your favorite scrapbooking tools/colors/techniques?

Because I enjoy embellishments,  I have to say I love many techniques from using alcohol inks, textured paint, grungeboard, stamping,clay, fabric and of course, layers and distress techniques. I just bought a BigKick because I love Tim Holtz and his products. I haven't had a chance to use it yet :(

Where do you find inspiration?

So Tim Holtz is definately an inspiration along with blogging to find ladies like those within the Diva's blog. I'm so pleased we are continuing on with the CSD site.

What is favorite scrapbooking tip?

My favorite tip is not to be afraid to alter embellishments. This includes altering everyday finds and treasures to use within your work.  Using the above tools and techniques promises unique pages and lots of fun.

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

As a guest this month, the challenge I chose includes ways to alter cardstock for your projects.

For the first example, I used a Heidi Swapp mask. The masks are flexible and a bit sticky on one side. Using glitter spray or ink, color all around the mask then gently lift the mask. In it's place you will have the white background still showing.

Below is my final project. I chose to blend some inks over the shape vs leaving it white and decorated with rub-ons, 3d flowers ect. Tim Holtz has a great video on other ways to use masks.

Don't forget you can make your own glimmer mist. One way is to use perfect pearls and a bit of water in a mini mister. Tim uses re-inkers to the mix on This Project using this exact mask. 

My second example of how to alter cardstock is using metallic cardstock and alcohol inks.

Alcohol inks can be used on a variety of surfaces that pigment and dye inks won't stick to. So it's really fun to experiment on metals, brads, glass, plastics, glossy paper and transparencies.

Below I took black metallic glittered cardstock and used cranberry alcohol ink to change the color for this pillowbox.

This tag background is glossy (shiny) paper altered with the alcohol inks, blending tool and Adirondack alochol blending solution.

This is the same technique used on a transparency. The layer is pulled to the side. See the full project Here.

For the challenge, choose a way to completely change the look of your cardstock,  glossy cardstock or transparency for any project or scrapbook page.  If using glossy paper or transparency is new to you, now is a great time to dive in!! Have fun and I can't wait to see the projects you come up with. 

All participants names will go into a hat and there will be a RAK given to one person after a drawing on October 31st.  

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Thumb-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.