Eye Candy For A Digital Scrapper

Eye candy! Things that delight the eye, give pleasure and inspire. I am a digital scrapper and am well used to the amazing and even magical ways to create my pages digitally. I know many traditional scrappers who discovered digital scrapping and threw away their paper supplies, inks and cutting tools or locked them in a dark closet or donated them to more needy friends. No more mess for them! And yes, I can understand the reasons, but from my point of view I am jealous of you traditional scrappers!

I admit to being fascinated and quite literally blown away at how easily traditional scrappers seem to come up with cards, layouts and altered and mixed media projects that are a feast for the eyes and make my fingers tingle in anticipation of touching them. I may not understand all the techniques, terms and the hours that must go into creating such works of arts, but I am in awe at the gorgeous creations I see and could not dream of imitating. For this article I wandered for hours through galleries and blogs, making a list as I went. My only criteria, was that a project had to be no more than 20% digital scrapping and preferably none. So, come along and see what I found to inspire me and leave me awe struck.

Here we have 3 very different projects that caught my eye for their colors and textures. I adore the birthday card Nancy did for her best friend and curly haired cousin, the artwork is astounding and I could gaze at it for hours! Then Dawn's layout "Timeless" just ticks all my boxes, I love vintage and grunge, little bits of metal and worn,torn paper. Linda's bold layout is actually an unusual choice for me, but I am in awe of anyone who can combine vibrant colors and patterns like she has! Take a look below...

Curly Girl by Nancy Hanttula

Supplies: Paper: K & Company, Die Cuts With a View, Alphabet: 7 Gypsies, Alphabet Stickers: October Afternoon, Rub-Ons: SEI, Kaisercraft, Flowers: Prima Marketing, Die Cuts: K & Company, Glitz Designs, Charms: K & Company, Bling: Prima Marketing, Paint: Acrylic Paint (Plaid Enterprises), Mists: MoonShadow Mists (lindystampgang.com), Ink: Staz-On (Tsukineko), Pens: Permaball (Pilot), Glue: Matte Mod Podge (Plaid Enterprises), Stamps: Prima Marketing, Close to My Heart. Tools: Masks: Tim Holtz, Scissors: Close to My Heart, Other: Stamps, Paper, Ephemera, Baker's Twine, Rub-ons, Bubble wrap used as a stamp, Shelf liner used for a background texture stamp.

Design Notes: This is a very special mixed media project that I made for my dear cousin for her 40th birthday! I bought a used canvas at a local thrift store for less than $5 (my own way of recycling - or rather up-cycling!) I had recently taken this amazing on-line mixed media course given by Christy Tomlinson called She Art Workshop, I knew that I wanted to make her a "She Art" girl. The fun of this project is that you can use just about any paper or ephemera you have on hand, with a little Mod Podge, paint, stamping, masking, misting, and rub-ons. You can have an exquisite and visually interesting background to highlight whatever girl, scene, background, etc. that you would like. As for the actual girl that I created here, I was totally inspired by one of my daughter's "Fancy Nancy" paper dolls. Inspiration is truly all around you!

Journaling: No matter how straight you get your hair - Inside you're a curly girl.

Timeless By Dawn Gallop

Supplies: Papers: Basic Grey, Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper, Inks: Tim Holtz Distressed and Alcohol Inks (Ranger Industries), Findings: Tim Holtz (Ranger Industries), The Paper Company Studios, Stamps: Stampers Anonymous, Tools: Electronic Cutting Machine: Silhouette SD (Silhouette America), Sewing Machine: Janome, Other: Rusty Bottle Cap, Rusty Nail, Watch Pieces, Nickle Silver, Thread.

Design Notes: Don't be afraid to use found objects that you may discover while walking your dog or just out and about, think outside the box. I incorporated my jewelry making in this layout, using Nickle silver and hand punching Daddy and Dusty 2010.

Together by Linda Abadie

Supplies: Paper: Lily Bee Design, Hambly Studios, Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper, Chipboard: Lily Bee Design, Alphabet: Thickers (American Crafts), Rub-Ons: Lily Bee Design, Die Cuts: Lily Bee Design, Ribbon: Offray, Lace: Jo-Ann, Buttons: Lily Bee Design, Paint: Liquitex(Blick Art Materials), Ink: Ranger Industries, Pens: Pilot. Tools: Punches: Martha Stewart, Other: Singer sewing machine, Photo Actions: Adobe Photoshop Element 5.0.

Design Notes: It is easy to create unique handmade flowers from patterned paper, using a distressing technique with spray ink and acrylic paint.

Journaling: Families are like fudge... Mostly sweet with a few nuts.