MAY challenges

  Welcome to our MAY 2026 Challenges!

As the year hits full swing, this is the month to take some time out and create. We hope you are inspired by our May challenges. 

MAY CHALLENGES

Our MAY Moodboard: Retro Carnival

This visual mood board - be inspired by these colours, vibes and techniques.

ALL Papercraft projects are welcomed: Scrapbooking, to art journalling, to tags and cards. We wanna see it all! :)

Colours: Use shades of mustard, teal, tomato red and chalk white

Vibe: Vintage circus, quirky, whimsical fun

Technique: Harlequin patterns, banners, retro ephemera

MAY - Book of Me

Our "Book of me" continues with this month's prompts. Use it to document memories, record reflections, and express yourself creatively. This month we focus on The roles I play: identity, balance & expectation.

Weekly Inspo Prompts : Mini-works of art

Every Monday, we will release a unique inspo prompt. Create your very own....Mini works of art
You create ATC or Index size cards created for your enjoyment, not to be swapped or traded. By the end of 2026, you will have your own collection of 52 cards that incorporated the weekly colour, quote, theme or technique.

Check out this {link}, to see the current list of weekly inspo prompts.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Participants must upload their completed projects into the MAY Albums in the Scrapping Clearly Share and Inspire Facebook Group.

Please load your entries to the albums by the end of the month. Please note: Please edit your photo caption in Facebook to give us information about your project and inspiration.

Prize boxes and gift vouchers will be up for grabs at different times during the year, but mostly we hope you are here for inspiration not the prizes!

And for all your Mixed Media and Paper Craft needs, make sure you head to our website at: https://scrappingclearly.com.au/

Thank you,

Amanda

On behalf of the Scrapping Clearly team

She drew new lines

Hi everyone, welcome back to the SC blog. Today I am sharing a simple journal page in my ABM journal that can be found on the SC website.

I always gesso my pages as it helps the next layers of colours to pop on my page. Stencil used is the DW Triangle Fence to create some bold line work and to keep the colour theme for this months mood board. Dina Wakley paints are so easy to use to create background layers.

I completed this journal page with a quote on tissued paper adhered with some DW Gel Medium and a tissue printed LF image that I had in my stash.

Thanks for stopping by.

vacay by Tracey B

 Good morning everyone and happy scrapping Tuesday

Here's another take on this month's moodboard.

Here's a list of products I've used

Dylusions Ink spray (Periwinkle Blue and London Blue

 Dylusions Shimmer Paint (London Blue and Leaf it out stencil.   See close up below.   It's really shimmery IRL.

13@rts Gel Medium and Darkroom Door stencil.

Distress ink (Walnut Stain) and stamps around the border

Heidi Swapp stickers (Old School and carefree), Puffy alphas - Teal and wood veneer

Idea-ology gauge dials

49 & Market filmstrip (Toast)

TFL

cheers

Trace

Taking My Sprays Off the Page – Using Dina Wakley Gloss Sprays on Resin - Pj

I love finding new ways to use the products already in my stash, and this time I wanted to see how my Dina Wakley Gloss Sprays would work on resin embellishments.

 

🖌️ Step 1 – Prep your resin

I applied a light, even coat of gesso over each piece and let it dry completely. This step is key — without it, the sprays can bead up on the smooth resin surface. 

🎨 Step 2 – Add your colour

Once dry, I went in with my Dina Wakley Gloss Sprays, building up colour in light layers. Because they’re acrylic-based, they sit beautifully on top of the gesso and still give that gorgeous, slightly glossy finish.

If you don’t want to waste any spray, try spraying onto a piece of paper or your craft mat first, then press tags or cardstock into the overspray — nothing goes to waste! You can also move your resin pieces through the leftover colour, just make sure to lift them out of any puddles before it dries so you don’t lose the detail.

What I love here is how the sprays settle into all those tiny details — it really brings the pieces to life!

This has become my go-to technique when I want to colour resin pieces quickly and easily. It gives great coverage without needing lots of steps, and you can customise colours to match any project.  

✨️ Step 3– Finishing touches

Once dry, you can take it further by adding waxes or washes to enhance the details even more. This helps highlight all the texture and gives your pieces that extra depth and dimension. 

💡 Final thoughts

This was such a fun experiment and a great way to stretch my supplies. Using gesso means you create the 'tooth' needed to keep all that intricate detail while still getting beautiful colour from your sprays.

If you’ve only ever used your sprays on paper, I definitely recommend giving this a try — it’s an easy way to add custom colour to your resin pieces and make them perfectly match your projects.t needing lots of steps, and you can customise colours to match any project. 

“Being strong was never optional” - Lisa Oxley Curative Collective Team

This page speaks deeply of resilience, survival, and inner strength. The quotes “Rise, fall, rise again” and “Being strong was never optional” create a powerful narrative of someone who has endured hardship yet continues to stand. The central figure, with her cracked porcelain-like face and solemn gaze, symbolizes emotional wounds, healing, and the quiet strength carried after difficult seasons.

Colour Palette

* Rich blues, teal, purple, and magenta dominate the background, bringing mood, depth, and emotion.

* Black grounds the page with shadow, contrast, and intensity.

* White space gives breathing room and highlights the vulnerability of the portrait.

* Bright green leaves at the base add a subtle symbol of renewal and growth.

Focal Point

* The young female portrait is the heart of the page.

* Her large blue eyes instantly draw attention and create emotional connection.

* The cracked texture across her face suggests damage, trauma, or pressure—but she remains whole and standing.

Mixed Media Techniques

* Layered paint application with bold brush strokes and blended colour transitions.

* Loose scribble thread-like lines create emotional chaos and tension.

* Script stamping/background writing adds depth and story fragments.

* White splatter marks resemble stars, tears, or fragments of hope.

* Collaged sentiment strips anchor the message clearly.

Composition

* Portrait placed slightly right of centre balances the heavy textured colour mass on the left.

* Quotes positioned diagonally opposite each other create visual movement.

* Scribble textures at top and bottom frame the figure, almost like emotions swirling around her.

Symbolism

* Cracks = wounds, pressure, past pain.

* Leaves = healing, new life, regrowth.

* Dark clothing = protection, seriousness, carrying burdens.

* Bright background colour bursts = hope still exists even in darkness.

 Overall Feel

This page feels raw, brave, and honest. It’s a visual reminder that strength is often born from struggle, and even when cracked, we can still be beautiful, powerful, and unbroken.

Using Tags & Journaling Spots in Mixed Media & Scrapbooking

Tags and journaling spots are one of the most versatile and essential elements in scrapbooking, junk journaling, and mixed media art. Whether you’re building layered scrapbook pages, creating mini albums, or designing expressive layouts, they provide structure, texture, and storytelling space in a way few other products can.

They are a place to write, hide, layer, and reveal — or simply allow design elements to breathe within your composition.

At Scrapping Clearly, the range of tags, die-cuts, journaling pieces, and Luckyfindings designs from leading creative brands makes it easy to build depth, detail, and storytelling into every project.

Why Tags Matter (and How to Use Them)

Tags are more than embellishments — they are functional storytelling elements that help shape your page.

They can:

• Add journaling space
• Create focal points
• Build interactive pockets
• Anchor embellishment clusters
• Introduce texture without bulk

With a little mixed media layering, a simple tag can become so much more. It can be a focal feature, a hidden journaling pocket, a cluster foundation, a textured collage surface, or even the starting point of a mini artwork.
Add paint, stamping, collage papers, stitching, and layered ephemera, and even the simplest tag becomes something richly dimensional.
Often, it’s the smallest element that carries the most story.
Once you start thinking of tags as storytelling tools rather than just embellishments, everything opens up. The base you choose can completely change how a page develops — whether you prefer raw mixed media layers, delicate detailing, or bold expressive clusters. This is where inspiration turns into creation.

      Curative Collective Team member Lisa Oxley

Tag & Journaling Spot Inspiration – Scrapping Clearly

At Scrapping Clearly, you’ll find a wide range of tags, journaling spots, die-cuts, and creative bases designed to suit every style. From raw surfaces ready for paint and ink through to decorative pieces and Luckyfindings designs, everything is designed to help you build layered, meaningful compositions.

Let’s break it down so you can quickly find what suits your creative process.

Classic & Mixed Media Base Tags

Best for: altering and building from the ground up

Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Salvaged Tags
Dina Wakley Media Square Tags &  Media Metal Rimmed Tags
Dyan Reaveley Dylusions Journal Tags
7gypsies 97% Complete range
selected LUCKYfindings foundational pieces

Decorative & Designer Tags

Best for: fast, themed, cohesive page building

Art by Marlene Luxury Paper Tags
Heidi Swapp Tags
Fancy Pants Designs Gift Tags & Labels
STAMPERIA themed collections

Journaling Spots & Ephemera Layers

Best for: layering, tuck spots, and storytelling details

We R Memory Keepers Vellum Tag Pockets
49 and Market Die-Cut Elements & Ephemera Packs  

Journaling labels

Fabric & Specialty Tags

Best for: texture, contrast, and mixed media depth

Cedar Lane Metallic Thread Fabric Tags
Fabric embellishment tags
LUCKYfindings specialty mixed media substrates

Luckyfindings Signature Designs

Best for: storytelling and layered composition work

Assemblage Tags
Mini Curiosities Tags
Curiosities Tags 
Groundworks imagery sheets
Artist Trading Collectives

These are more than tags — they are story fragments designed to be layered, altered, and reimagined.

DIY Tags & Stamping Systems

Best for: complete creative control

Dina Wakley Perforated Tag Stamps
Darkroom Door frame & label stamps
Stencil + stamp combinations that create tag shapes

Layering Tags: Where the Magic Happens

The magic happens when you start combining elements.

• a painted or stamped base tag

• a die-cut journaling piece

• a Luckyfindings mini tag

• a vellum or transparent layer

Try layering:

Then add stitching, inked edges, staples, or torn paper to build a rich, dimensional cluster.

Curative Collective Team member Rox Boyce

Final Thought

Tags aren’t just an accessory — they are a storytelling device.

They hold words, memories, fragments, and feeling… and when layered with intention, they can carry the entire emotional tone of a page.

Ready to Create?

Click on the link below to head over to the shop and start exploring the full range of tags, journaling spots, and Luckyfindings designs in the Scrapping Clearly store and start building your own layered stories today. 

OMG! by Tracey B

 Good morning everyone and happy crafting Tuesday!

here's another take on this month's moodboard

I started with a 'waste not' page, covered it with some clear gesso then added some Liquitex Ink (Turquoise Deep blue and Raw sienna), coloured some fabric tags with gelato (Blueberry, Cotton Candy & Iced Chai).   Added some TCW Stencil Butter (Chocolate) through a stencil - which I then mostly covered with my photos- and sprinkled on some flock whilst still wet.

I added some Art Stones and Finnabair Micro beads (Copper) and some threads to finish off

TFL

cheers

Trace