Going Monthly!

We have gotten such an overwhelming response to our first digital print edition! Thank you all so much for your patronage to our magazine!!

Since the response was so great -- 600 unique viewers to the magazine in the 8 days since it's been published -- we are committing to that format going forward. With this change in format (from blog posts to a published magazine), we will also be changing posting from weekly to monthly. This will help to facilitate getting what would be blog posts into the format necessary to publish it as a page-turning magazine.

Our first of the monthly editions will be published on August 15, 2011. Each month thereafter, a new monthly publication will be posted with new and fresh inspiration for your creations. You are sure to be blessed with some magnificent projects from the team of great crafters that submit for this magazine!!!

But wait... We will still do two bi-annual publications (January and July) that will be chock full of never-before-seen projects that have not been published to the monthly editions. And there's a special Christmas Edition that will be published on November 15th full of cards and crafts for the Christmas Holidays.

We are sure that you all will continue to enjoy the Village Scraps magazine in its new format! Thank you for allowing us to inspire you!

Much Love,
Dymonz and
The Scrap Dymonz Design Team
The Designer Dymonz Design Team

Inaugural "Print" Edition!

This the inaugural edition of the Village Scraps Magazine! This edition, and every "print" (or digital) edition will contain Bonus Projects -- projects that do not post weekly to the blog. There are also coupons and other information that will be contained. We hope you enjoy this first digital print edition!! To ensure that you continue to receive the magazine, please be sure you are a Follower of this blog. (Click on "Open Publication" to read the magazine in the viewer.)

Open publication - Free publishing - More atc

Some Thoughts on the Dark Art Genre...

Dark Art – A personal view

As defined by Wikipedia

Primarily a product of the 20th Century, dark art is an art style defined as that being "dark" or unsettling in nature. Called and classified under many names such as gothic, horror, metaphysical, nightmarish, and disturbing, it is actually a culmination of techniques and styles. It has been presented in many forms by many artists, illustrators and film-makers. It continues to grow in popularity as a part of the horror genre and gothic, music and publishing culture. Today, it is a part of our mainstream culture, crossing over into multiple mediums including advertising, television, film, and marketing. While it has roots in horror, it has been presented as collage, surrealism, abstract, motion graphics, grunge, expressionism, and largely digital art.

Dark Art is, I think, is a personal voyage into the inner person. A journey into the unknown depths of that other side of the artist. The one untamed by convention and “normality”.

To teach, it is difficult, to learn it, harder. There are very few masters and most will only attain the status of acolyte. As with life, there will always be new avenues to explore, new techniques to try, a new emotion to deal with, helped along by others lucky enough to have drawing skills as well that have devised a new image to help us express these in an individually artistic way.

I can only speak for myself when I say that my true journey began with those images found at Tellen's Place Designs. They helped me develop that “unfettered by convention” freedom. Once that was nurtured and allowed to grow, my true journey began. Imagination is the only limiter. Let that soar and the results will follow.

Techniques learnt in mainstream art can be used, or is it the other way round? The darker side of art encourages the exploration of different techniques. Encourages mixing techniques that few have done before. The beauty of all this is – NOTHING is wrong. There is a place for glitter and glitz just as there is a place for the odd skull, witch or mystical image.

One thing Dark Art is not, and that's Cute.

Written and submitted by Helen Angel-Cullum (aka Croms)

Fourth of July Card

Designer: Croms aka Helen

In the words of Croms: "Not the easiest kind of card for me. I have no real idea what you guys do to celebrate your independence from us over here lol." Croms lives in Scotland, so this was not easy for her to do. Yet, look how beautifully she depicted this celebratory event! Enjoy!!

White Pearlised card stock base. All edges ink distressed with Barn Door Distress Ink.

Digi images from Tellen's Place Designs. Coloured with Promarkers.

Bald Headed Eagle taken from royalty free images on Google.

Papers all from stash.

The fold name is a *Tri Fold Shutter". To be found on Split Coast Stampers here. Just one I thought looked a bit like a flag.

Fourth of July Tag

Designer: TerryEO

Supplies:

Tellen's Place Designs Image

Georgia Pacific White Card Stock

Crystal Effects

Stickles: Diamond and Gold

Copic Markers

Recollections Foam Dots

Microsoft Gallery Clip Art

Brads from Stash

Red & Blue Card Stock from Stash

Red, White & Blue Ribbon from Stash

Fourth of July Projects by Designer Dymonz Kathy

ATC (Artist Trading Card)

Supplies:
Cardstock
Orgami Paper
Sassafras Stitch Border Stamp
SU! Kaleidacolor - Blue Frost
Nestability Heart Die Cut
Silver Stickles
K+Company - Americana Border

Tag

Supplies:
Making Memories Alpha Stickers
Mrs. Grossman's Stars
Memento Ink - Lady Bug
Colorbox - Ice Blue
TH Distress Crackle Paint - Antique Linen
TH Tag Die
K+Company - Americana Border
EK Stickers
K+Company - Americana Border
Stickles - Silver

Two Page Layout (12 x 12)

Supplies:
K+Company - Americana Border and Snow Globe
Cardstock
Stickles - Silver and Star Dust
Flowers
Oragami Paper
TH Dress Ink - Fired Brick
Copic Marker - R27
Die Cut Verbiage Boxes
TH Distress Sander

Toilet Tissue Roll Mini

Designer: TerryEO

The front of the mini is designed with flowers that have been ink distressed to match the paper; a butterfly gives a lovely presence with wedding accents. Fibers decorate the binder ring that holds the mini together.

The toilet tissue roll has become a popular base for mini albums these days. It is a refreshing way to recycle a product that is constantly used in all households. Here's a quick way to make your very own Toilet Tissue Mini Album.

You start with your standard toilet tissue roll by removing as much of the tissue as possible. Then you must flatten this roll. What I did was flatten them by hand and placed them under a very heavy object for a few days. This works quite well and remains flattened.

I decided to paint both sides of the roll since some of it will be showing once I adhered the paper onto it. You could use ink distressing on the edges as an alternative. Trim those little edges that tend to stick up.

I used doubles sided designer paper because it makes it easier to keep the flow of the design with the mini album. I did have to use my hot glue to reinforce the edges as the dry adhesive had trouble adhering to the painted surface.

This is the other side of those fabulous designer papers.

Now that your papers have been adhered to the roll, it is time to embellish each page. Keep in mind that it is a small space and creativity will be a lot of fun. On the left is a simple "library pocket" typical of a lot of mini albums. A small tag is insert for journaling. Liquid pearls were used to enhance a stamped image. On the right, scallop ovals were cut using left over paper where journaling can be used and a small picture inserted on top.

With the creative space being so small, you can leave room for photos and journaling and just add a few die cut pieces or bling in these spaces easily.

These small tags are inserted inside the toilet tissue roll easily and can be card stock or scrap paper from the ones used to make the pages. Flowers make easy toppers with a simple stamped image and ink distressing add a bit of fun to the tags.

On the left, a "folio" is easily added to give more room for photos, as well as the flip page on the right side, being held down by a button.

It's so much fun when these little treasures are opened to reveal more in this little mini.

Typically, the last page is kept blank but a simple chipboard frame with scrap paper from the pages add a space for yet another photo in this mini. The tags compliment the pages as well.

A very simple project that is filled with a luscious crafting presence.

Supplies Used

K & Company Designer Paper

K & Company Die Cuts

Recollections Butterfly

Recollections Flowers

Recollections Pearl Brads

Prima Flowers

Recollections Rhinestones

Liquid Pearls

Stickles

Martha Stewart Scallop Oval

Button from Stash