Friday, 26 June 2026

Creating Texture and Magic with 13@rts - Pj

 

As a member of the 13@rts Design Team, I've had the pleasure of creating with a wide variety of their products over the year. What continually draws me back to this brand is not only the quality of the products but also how beautifully they work together. Whether I'm creating scrapbook layouts, mixed media canvases, tags, art journal pages, or home décor projects, 13@rts products help me bring texture, colour, and creativity to life.  



Today I'd like to share some of my favourite products from the range and why they have become staples in my creative process. 


One of my absolute favourite products is the Rust Powder and Rust Reagent. If you're a fan of vintage, industrial, steampunk, or grungy projects, these products are true game changers. Unlike products that simply imitate rust with colour, this system creates a genuine rust effect that develops before your eyes. Simply apply the Rust Powder with your choice of binder to your chosen surface and activate it with the Rust Reagent. As the reaction occurs, beautiful rusty textures and colour variations emerge, creating an aged, weathered appearance that looks incredibly authentic. No two projects ever turn out exactly the same, which is part of the magic. 



Another staple on my craft table is the 13@rts Multipurpose Medium. Every crafter has that one product they reach for constantly, and for me this is one of those essentials. Its versatility makes it perfect for a wide range of techniques. Whether I'm adhering paper, sealing surfaces, creating layers, or preparing a base for mixed media work, it performs beautifully every time. It dries clear and provides a reliable foundation for additional mediums and embellishments. What I particularly appreciate is how seamlessly it works alongside other 13@rts products, allowing me to build layers without worrying about compatibility.



The 13@rts Watercolour Sets are another favourite in my creative toolkit. The colours are vibrant, blend beautifully, and can be used for everything from delicate washes to more intense, saturated effects. Whether you're creating backgrounds, colouring stamped images, adding subtle details, or incorporating artistic splashes into your mixed media projects, these watercolours offer incredible versatility. 



While Rust & Rust Reagent, Multipurpose Medium, and the Watercolour Sets are some of my personal favourites, there are a few other 13@rts products that deserve a special mention. Color Glows are perfect for adding shimmer and sparkle to projects. These highly pigmented powders create stunning pearlescent effects that can be as subtle or dramatic as you like. Simply add water and watch the colour come to life. They are wonderful for creating luminous backgrounds, highlighting details, and adding a touch of magic to mixed media work. 

The Ayeeda Mist Sprays are another product I reach for regularly. Available in a beautiful range of colours, they are fantastic for adding instant colour and interest to a project. They can be sprayed directly onto surfaces, used with stencils, or layered to create unique backgrounds. Their versatility makes them ideal for scrapbook layouts, cards, art journals, and mixed media creations.


Another staple worth mentioning is the Acrylic Liquid Medium. This versatile product can be used to alter paint consistency, extend drying time, create glazes, improve paint flow, and seal finished projects without compromising colour strength. It's a wonderful addition for mixed media artists who enjoy experimenting with layers, transparency, and different painting techniques.


One of my favourite examples of how beautifully these products work together is my apothecary-inspired mixed media piece. The background was created using rice paper,  and watercolour, allowing soft washes of colour to build depth and atmosphere. To protect and enhance the painted surface, I sealed the project with Acrylic Liquid Medium while incorporating Colour Glows for subtle shimmer and magical highlights throughout the design. The dimensional elements were assembled using Multipurpose Medium, which provided a strong and reliable adhesive for the various embellishments and natural elements used throughout the piece. 

To create the aged, weathered appearance running beneath the shelves and decorative details, I used Rust Powder and Rust Reagent. The authentic rusting effect adds texture, depth. Finally, the project was brought to life with splatters and sprays of Gold Pearl Mist Spray and Patina Brown Mist Spray. These finishing touches added richness and a beautifully aged appearance while helping to unify all the elements of the composition. 

What I love most about this piece is how every product contributes something unique—colour, texture, shimmer, dimension, or age—yet they all work together seamlessly to create a cohesive and magical finished project.  



What keeps me reaching for 13 Arts products time and time again is their ability to work together seamlessly. From authentic rust effects and rich watercolours to shimmering Colour Glows and versatile mediums, the range encourages creativity, experimentation, and most importantly, having fun while creating. 

13 Arts Products
Ayeeda Mist Spray – Gold Pearl – Patina Brown 




Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Giants Causeway by Tracey B

 Morning everyone and happy crafting Tuesday

Here's a layout I've created using gorgeous Color Glow for my background.



I started by tracing some hexagons onto my background in pencil, used my pokey tool and a mouse pad to poke some holes and then hand stitched around them with some embroidery thread. 


I then added a little water to the various Color Glows and painted the hesagons.


Built up the background with some Distress ink and stencils



And some gel medium mixed with Color Glow pigment through a stencil.



Other products I've used include

Tags, eyelet, twine, plasterers tape 


TFL
cheers
Trace









Thursday, 18 June 2026

'Fragmented Beauty' - by Curated Collective designer Emma Zappone

Hello SC friends,
Em with you today sharing a canvas featuring Luckyfindings awesomeness!
Including Groundworks Imagery sheet - Worn Ledger
Quartlets sheet - Quiet Devotion
And for my background a sheet from the Miss Monarch collection.
And there is a video  😜


Lots of layers including New 49&Market Rubs and embellies.






I just love this focal image, she is 1 of 4 stunning images from the Foundations sheet.
Check out the video here to see how it all came together.






I hope you also get to create with some of these gorgeous designs from Kylie soon.



I will catch you all again soon.
Till then, Happy crafting!

Em x







Tuesday, 16 June 2026

Uyuni Bolivia by Tracey B

 Good morning everyone

Don't you just love the colours in this month's moodboard.   They're so my jam.

Here's a layout I created.

  


And some close ups






Products I've used include
13 @rts gel medium mixed with Color Glow (Golden Calcite) scrapped through a stencil
Color Glow (Labradorite and Pearl)
Cadence Relief paste and stencil
(eyelets, fiber, bow, chipboard buttons and wood veneer face from my stash)

TFL
cheers
Trace




Thursday, 4 June 2026

'Whispers from Wonderland' - by Curated Collective Designer Emma Zappone

Hello Friends.
Em with you today, sharing a little Art Journal page with you.
It features some of the New Foundations Fragments papers.


I also added a few layers of rub-ons for my background and then added Distress oxides to add colour to compliment the focal image of our 'Hatter'.





I hope you get the chance to play with some of these papers also.
You can check them all out here.... https://scrappingclearly.com.au/?s=foundations&post_type=product

I hope to catch you all again soon.
Till then, Happy Crafting.
Em xxx


Monday, 1 June 2026

JUNE CHALLENGES

  Welcome to our JUNE 2026 Challenges!

June is here and it's cooling down! Here is plenty of inspiration to keep you inside, tucked up warm to play at your craft desk!

JUNE CHALLENGES

Our JUNE Moodboard: Winter Ember

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! :)






ColoursUse shades of charcoal, rust, burnt umber, & frosted grey
VibeCampfires, smoke, moody winters
Technique: Sooty textures, dry brushing, grit paste

JUNE - 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 My Inner voice: self-talk, intuition & truth.




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 JUNE 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

Friday, 29 May 2026

Retro Carnival Mixed Media Tag - Pj

 


For this mixed media tag, I took inspiration from the May Retro Carnival mood board and its beautiful mix of vintage circus imagery, harlequin patterns, and warm retro colours. I loved the combination of mustard, teal, tomato red, and soft neutrals, along with the whimsical carnival feel that tied everything together. 



I started my background by painting the tag with acrylic paints to create a warm vintage base. Once dry, I randomly stamped using red archival ink and the Stampers Anonymous – Hodgepodge stamp set to add subtle texture and visual interest. This is one of my favourite ways to begin building layers because it instantly creates depth without overwhelming the background.




Next, I used the Finnabair Theatre Night stencil with a blending brush and brown archival ink, softly adding more detail across the tag. I then layered in even more texture using a darker brown ink through both a harlequin stencil and a flourish stencil. By combining different stencil patterns in soft layers, the background begins to feel rich and detailed while still remaining cohesive. 
 

To age the piece further, I blended brown Distress Oxides around the edges of the tag and lightly blotted with water to create those beautiful oxidised effects. This simple technique is such an easy way to add softness, movement, and an aged vintage look to any project. 


One of the things I really wanted to highlight with this tag is how easy it is to create detailed and interesting backgrounds using simple techniques. Stamping, stencilling, blending inks, splattering paint, and layering texture gradually builds depth without needing anything overly complicated. Each layer adds a little more character, and before you know it, the background becomes just as important as the focal images themselves.
To lighten the centre area and help draw the eye inward, I used the 13@rts Multipurpose Medium mixed with a cream acrylic paint and randomly stencilled it down the centre of the tag. I then splashed red acrylic paint across the surface to bring back some playful carnival energy and movement.
Once my background was complete, it was time for my favourite part — building the focal cluster. I raided a Tim Holtz Halloween pack for many of my images and embellishments because they perfectly suited the quirky vintage carnival aesthetic. I also incorporated resin pieces that fit the theme, painting them first with black gesso before dry brushing red and white paint over the top. To finish them, I added touches of gold wax which really helped highlight all the raised details beautifully. For the frames, I went straight in with the gold wax to give them an aged metallic finish.
To tie the project back to the mood board, I created small pieces of bunting and stamped them using one of my favourite mini text stamps — Sunrise. I love how tiny stamped details can add another layer of texture and storytelling to a project. 

 
Finally, I added hessian string, tags, tickets, and number pieces throughout the composition to create texture and help build dimension between the layers. These little details help guide the eye around the tag and bring the entire carnival-inspired story together.
This project was such a fun reminder that beautiful mixed media backgrounds do not need to be complicated. By slowly layering simple techniques, colours, and textures, you can create rich, detailed surfaces that become the perfect foundation for storytelling and focal elements.
 
Products Used
Available from Scrapping Clearly
• Acrylic paints