Inspiration Elevator Challenge #13: New Beginnings

You may recall that the purpose of this challenge group is to take our scrapbooking to the next level, to stretch our creative process and to grow as artists by embracing challenges that make us think, work and grow. You can view all of the challenges on my blog by clicking here or check our our new Inspiration Elevator Blog, here.

This month, our challenge comes from the talented Laura Whitaker. Laura's challenge, in her own words, is as follows:

"As we welcome spring, scrap something to do with a new beginning, it could be an opportunity, a relationship, or even the world's reawakening after it's long winter's nap. Don't forget to journal and describe why you have chosen your topic."

 We would also like to welcome our May Guest Designer, Denise Morrison. Her arsty, eclectic style inspires her followers to see how "Life is Yummy" at her blog!

New beginnings. Well. I must say this WAS a challenge for me. I am fairly happy to say that we aren't as a family really experiencing much by the way of NEWness. :o) I have always equated newness with a bit more stress than I prefer in my fairly contented world. So finding photos really proved a challenge.

I finally uncovered these pictures of us on the Magical Express bus on way to Coronado Springs at Walt Disney World Resort. This was our very first time staying at this resort and we were there 10 days! Both FIRSTS for us. So in a way this was a new beginning and an adventure!

In the Inspiration Elevator tradition, I wanted to try a little something new and challenge myself to create in a new way.

Here's the finished result:

I am quite pleased with the end result actually! I began with a smear or two of light texture past from LIQUITEX and used regular kitchen plastic wrap to smudge it all around. If you've ever wondered if you can use your heat tool to dry it? You can!

I then  used my LYRA aquarelle gel crayons and some water to finger paint my coloured back ground. The paste resisted in some places and I really appreciate the texture.

 

I added bits of wood from STUDIO CALICO and twine from DOODLEBUG plus a few more little bits and pieces

My journalling is brief but I did hand write it which I never ever do. I like the pop of black and how it anchors the page.

So overall, thank you Laura for this great challenge. In many respects, it made me stretch and grow: YAY!

 I hope you will stop by and see what our designers on this adventure have created:

Laura Whitaker

Michelle Hernandez

Jodi Wilton

Lisa Moen

Laurel Seabrook

Ann Jobes

Cathy Harper

Sue Sykes

Lisa Spiegel

Joanne Burton

Christa Uttley

Until next time, keep doing what you love!

Progressive Blog Hop Reveal: How You Doin'?

Did you get a chance to hop around and see what the designers as Two Scrapbook Friends created for our Progressive Blog Hop this weekend?

Here's that sketch from Joanne Burton again:

I had left you with my half finished design and had yet to add my final elements:  Distressing, a quote and three buttons.

Here's what the finished result looks like:

I used my sanding block to sand away at the stitching a bit and inked the edges for the DISTRESSING requirement. See those little buttons? I tried to use the colours from the patterned paper to tie it all together.

 I added the little story about Max being a clown and quoting Joey Tribiani from Friends with his: "How YOU Doin'?" quote.

I really enjoyed this challenge ti really made me think about HOW I put a page together and how it all interconnects! It was very hard to do bits and pieces and lay it out for the 'halfway' photo.

Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope you will head over to the Two Scrapbook Friends Blog to see what we all made!  Remember there's still time to play along and be eligible to win that great prize! Until next time, keep doing what you love!

National Scrapbook Day Progressive Blog Hop

Never heard of a progressive Blog Hop before?  Well, its brand new for us too!

All you need to do is move from blog to blog and see how our progressive layout challenge unfolds.  We will begin with a stunning sketch from Joanne Burton, and then each designer will incorporate the previous elements and then add a new element to the challenge requirements in her own creation.

If you complete the entire Hop, and you leave a comment on each Friend/Designer’s blog and the Two Scrapbook Friend's blog by 11:59 pm on May 6th,  you will be entered in a random drawing for a great prize! In addition, if you accept the challenge and create a design of your own and upload it to the Two Scrapbook Friends Gallery by 11:59 pm on May 31st, you will be eligible to win ANOTHER fabulous prize!

Finally, all the FINISHED TSF/Designer creations will be revealed on the Two Scrapbook Friend's blog on Monday, May 6th.

Here is a list of all the Blogs in order:
 

 Joanne
Shelby
 Jayne
 Christa
Carolyn

Ann

Amanda

Two Scrapbook Friends

I love this idea of challenging designers to use the same elements in a design sketch. You will never know what crazy things we'll have to show you!

I wanted to use this really cute photo of Max being a silly guy. I used the Instragram app to edit it and then PICASA to print it in two different sizes. The smallest photo is actually printed in sepia. 

The "progressive" process began with this great sketch from Joanne:

and I added Shelby's Striped Paper by GRAPHIC 45, and Jayne's Something Wet: some acrylic paints.   The acrylic paint was mixed with water to allow a bit more splatter spray. I substituted the circle paper for the chevrons in the sketch too.

I chose STITCHING as my item, because let's face it..it's not fun til the sewing's done! Am I right?!

I used a navy background paper from GLITZ DESIGN and sanded some of the edges, to toughen it up a bit (in a manly way). I used my machine for the sewing in a random pattern. The pattern papers from THE PAPER LOFT. Those tiny corrugated circles, in lieu of the banner, are actually the letter "o" from JILLYBEAN SOUP.

Now, I put all the other elements on hold! (Even though the Sketch includes a title, I didn't add it yet because some of the other elements are layered underneath). Be sure to stop by the Two Scrapbook Friends blog to see ALL the designs in their finished glory, Monday, May 6th!

Off to Carolyn's blog to see what she has added..(probably guessed it, I stole the STITCHING idea right from under her little nose!) So you'll have to go check it out to see what she came up with.

Until next time, keep doing what you love,

Celebrate National Scrapbook Day with Two Scrapbook Friends!

Today, we launch our National Scrapbook Day online crop at Two Scrapbook Friends forum! Each designer and Friend will be offering a great scrapbook challenge to inspire you to create and honour the world's most AWESOME hobby!

Here's my challenge inspiration:

 
I challenge you to be inspired by this colour challenge

This PEBBLES line  called Family Ties really inspired me. It has so many great patterns and these colours really scream spring/summer. You can find it at Two Scrapbook Friends online store here.

I used water colour paint splatters and added the summery papers with a polka dot to emphasize my photo. Some stitching and some pennants also add focus and create flow.

I fussy cut some flowers from the patterned paper and added some STUDIO CALICO butterflies and twine..

The title came from a song on my iPod (as they often do) but it really fit how these "selfies" reflect Adriane in REAL LIFE... The green title font is from Fancy Pants and the corrugated one is unknown


I hope you'll pop by the forum, say Hi! and play along. There are always lots of prizes, games and laughs to be had.

Until next time, keep doing what you love,

Root Beer

I think Scrapbooking is about capturing the every day moments as well as the big events like Birthdays, Holidays and vacations. This layout is about one of those moments. The little ones; a tiny little bit of time that I wanted to remember for ever. We were in Florida at a Cracker Barrel (of all places) , just after our visit to the Dali museum. Adriane had ordered a Root Beer in a bottle (which she says always makes her feel grown up) and she then proceeded to act anything BUT grown up. Silly faces, giggles and general tom foolery!

 

I used Echo Park's SWEET GIRL collection and cut several patterns into strips. With some water colour splatters for dimension and some cute pinwheels by Queen&Co. I tried to capture the silly fun of the moment. The little blue frame from by Studio Calico is a perfect colour match. The package had so many options it was hard to choose.

 

I used my Silhouette to cut my favourite font Lollihop and covered it in Crystal Effects for shine. A few American Crafts Thickers finished it out perfectly.

This is an amazing collection with so much versatility. The sticker sheet has some vintage elements but also some great borders and words.  You can find more of this collection at Two Scrapbook Friends online store, here.

Until next time, be sure to enjoy all your silly moments, and keep doing what you love.

Up, Up & Away

I wanted to showcase these really cute pictures of my family from October 2012. It's not that often that Max lets me take a really good shot where he's not making goofy teenager-boy faces, so when I do get a few I want to immortalize them in the best way. But they sat around in my photo bin just waiting for inspiration to strike.

It's not often that I get inspired to create from products alone. In fact, usually my photos drive my creative process. But on this rare occasion, I was inspired by Studio Calico's wood veneer travel pack (none of which is shown here!) which has a very cute little jet and the map-like patterned paper from their Here and There Collection brought to mind a globe and..VOLIA the plan was struck!

 

I found this little jet digital shape on Silhouette and placed them around my globe shape.

 

 It's a simple yet effective design which really expresses movement and the idea of travel.

You can find more of Studio Calico's Here and There and the wood veneer at Two scrapbook Friends online store, here.

Until next time, keep doing what you love to do!

Inspiration Elevator Blog Hop Winner

Thanks to all who stopped by to say hello over the past few weeks from our Inspiration Elevator blog hop. The winner of the Echo Park Hello Sumer paper pack is non other than JoAnn Heinbuch.
Congratulations!