Sunday, February 15, 2015

One More Time for Inspiration Elevator!



After some thought and consideration, the time has come to retire Inspiration Elevator. But before we go, we need to hold a big retirement party, so we've invited everyone who's been involved with Inspiration Elevator back for one last reveal, and to our delight most were able to accept! We are so delighted to have so many IE alumni along this month! Thank you to each of you for helping us end our elevator ride with so much fun and creative energy!

This month's challenge is posed by one of IE's co-creators and team admin, Ann.
This month's challenge is simple, but I hope, challenging as well. 
Here's the challenge: Inspiration Elevator launched on May 15, 2012 and at that time, we explained our purpose as, "Welcome to Inspiration Elevator! What a thrilling day! Today is the launch of Inspiration Elevator (IE), a challenge blog created by my dear friend Christa Uttley and me. We chose the name Inspiration Elevator because it is our intent to raise our creativity to heights through challenges issued every month. We want to raise our designs from the ordinary to the extraordinary. We hope you'll join us on our journey!
 IE is a group of like minded scrappy friends who want to raise the bar in their own creative process through unique challenges that we issue to each other once a month. These won't be run of the mill challenges and we hope you'll join us each month and be inspired by the creative designs we've created." 
That vision has remained unchanged over the last (almost) 3 years. The challenge this month is to just create - no holds barred. Take some time, or challenge yourself to do it in 1/2 hour if time is tight, but think about what you'd like to create if there were no agenda, no design team requirement. In other words, create for you, and enjoy the process!

When Ann and I began this grand adventure I was knee deep in design work and scrappy obligations that I loved.  But as my fellow designers know, creating for others can sometimes mean we do not get to enjoy our own creative processes as much as we used to. IE was a way to bring that feeling back and to challenge myself to sometimes step outside my creative box. In the past three years, I have found the courage to try new things and create designs I love; just for me.  In recent months, my life has not left very much time (or inclination) to be as creative as I would like. But this final challenge inspired me to dig out the materials I love once again. I was inspired (as I usually am) by the pictures I find on our phones as they seem to best represent the daily snippets of life.

 I have always loved bright colours best and the tiny little embellishments from my stash helped flesh out my vision.



The big pink flower came from a bin or bracelet beads and the title is from the trusty Cameo files. (It is also and ode to a well loved phrase on Dr. Who from one of the characters Adriane loves most!)


We hope you'll take the time to hop through and visit each of our participant's blogs, beginning with our guests, then our current team, and finishing off with our co-founders. Feel free to leave comments and lavish each one with appreciation for all that they each brought to the Inspiration Elevator challenge over the last 3 years!


Thank you to each and every one of you have stopped by, learned something, and has been challenged. Thank you to my team members for great challenges, for tears, for encouragement, for inspiration and for doing what you are all so talented at doing in the name of Inspiration Elevator. Finally, thank you to my scrappy partner in crime, Ann, who never failed to keep us all on track, never missed a challenge and who never lacked for encouraging words. Love you.

Keep doing what you love!

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Bo Bunny Souvenir and Some Pages for a Friend!


Good morning! This month Two Scrapbook Friends asked me to work with Bo Bunny's Souvenir and I admit to loving the shabby, travel worn look to these papers. I asked my BFF Carey for some of her Jamaica holiday photos so I could help her capture these special moments for her family.

My favourite part of the Go Travel Jamaica design is the little bi of cardboard under the photo.
The layered chipboard and tags are awesome that come with this line, they really created flow along the edge of the photo and help tell the story.
I used some old Scrabble letter tiles and cork letters to flesh out my TRAVEL title from the Bo Bunny Line.
Some arrows and layered pennants finished it off nicely. I hope you'll be inspired by Bo Bunny's  Souvenir line to create some of your own travel pages!

Until next time, keep doing what you love!

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Inspiration Elevator November 2014: Layer It On!

Our main purpose here at IE is to challenge ourselves, each other and YOU to take the creative process to the next level;  to inspire growth and change in our scrapbooking beyond the mundane.
You can see all of Inspiration Elevator's previous challenges at on Facebook .  This month's challenge is issued by the creative Katherine Sutton. Katharine has a fabulous, eclectic style where she showcases all kinds of mediums and keeps the focus on her great photos. This month she has a  seasonal challenge to warm up your creativity this month. Here it is in her own words:

" 'cos Autumn is all about layers of leaves and layers of jumpers (in the northern hemisphere) I would like to challenge you to add lots of layers to your page....this could be layers of paints, inks, stamps, papers, glassine paper, acetate....lots of lovely layers."


Here is my take on this month's challenge.  I liked this technique based challenge very much. I have been in a creative funk and found sticking to the techniques I love really boosted my "flow". This polka dot paper from DoodleBug caught my eye at a retreat recently. The colours in brown, purple and gold seemed such a novel combination and really pulled the colours from this selfie of Adriane. I love her little dimple and all that golden light.

 
 I began my layers with the gold patterned paper and a piece of white cardstock. I added purple random stitches around the perimeter to outline the focal area of the design. I then layered a template and some modelling paste in in a few corners and added some glass bead medium and golden watercolour paint too.

 I layered the polka dot paper and a sticker edged sticker strip to keep the foucs on my photo. I added purple watercolours to a crinkled doily and layered it under my photo too.
A strip of matching striped paper stitched to the bottom of the photo and layered some pennant pieces on top. The subtitle sticker is actually the start of the whole title idea! A few layered buttons and VOILA: it is all done.


Here's a complete list of this month's participating designers!  We encourage you to check out each designer's creation this month, then come on back and give the challenge a try yourself! We would love to see what you create on the IE Facebook page!
Christa Uttley
Michelle Hernandez 

Until next time, keep doing what you love!

Monday, November 3, 2014

November Sketch and Challenge at Two Scrapbook Friends!

Hello! It is my turn to host our monthly Sketch & Crafty challenge!  We hope you are finding time in the cooler fall months to warm up your creativity. Let's begin with the sketch.



I created a nice, simple design that I hope you have fun using!

For the Crafty portion of the challenge, here's the scoop: Use something OLD, something NEW, something BORROWED and something BLUE! (I was inspired by my nephew who got engaged very recently!)

Here's my inspiration layout, using both the Sketch and Crafty challenge, featuring my daughter, Adriane. Her friend took these 'modelling' shots for fun and they really made me smile. In fact, photos were the  BORROWED element as they came from her iPad.
My something OLD was the brad on the title frame. I've had those lying around for a few summers and this chevron brad was waiting for something special! My something NEW was the Simple Stories line "Good Day Sunshine"  that I picked up this summer and haven't had the chance to use. (much...)  My something BLUE is the matting colour and the bits of sky blue in the patterned paper.

So! Share your OLD, NEW, BORROWED and BLUE while working with the sketch! Be creative and you can be entered into a random draw to win a $25 gift certificate to TSF!!!!

Please remember, in order to qualify and be in with a chance of winning, you must use the SKETCH and the CRAFTY portion of the challenge. Also, this month we would like you to identify the OLD, NEW, BORROWED and BLUE elements of your design. Just add the description to your blog or gallery post.

Here are our few simple rules:
  • Enter as many times as you like with each new entry showing an interpretation of both the Sketch and Crafty element of this month's challenge.
  • Each creation will gain you one entry into the draw to win.  Please enter a double page as only one entry. 
  • Proects must be linked using the tool at the TSF blog here in order to be entered to win.
  • Entries must be linked no later than 11:59pm on November 30, 2014.

I can't wait to see what you create! Happy crafting!

Monday, September 15, 2014

Go Big or Go Home

Our main purpose here at IE is to challenge ourselves, each other and YOU to take the creative process to the next level;  to inspire growth and change in our scrapbooking beyond the mundane.
You can see all of Inspiration Elevator's previous challenges at our blog and catch us on Facebook .
We are thrilled to welcome back as a guest designer with our team, the very talented Christine Meyer!
This month's challenge is issued by me!  Here is my challenge for you, in my own words:

GO BIG OR GO HOME: Scrapbookers as a rule use what photos they have on hand or if you are designing, whatever pictures allow you to best showcase your lines or express your paper lines. This month's challenge is to be very deliberate about your photo choice because we are going BIG! Bigger than 8x10 if you can do it. Recently, I saw a friend using a 12x12 she had printed at the local Costco and was stunned at the power this GIANT image had on her story telling. (If you'd rather not spend any extra on your photo then scrap those large baby pictures or a wedding shot you have lying around.) Think scenic vistas or think about all the details that go missing in your world and blow them up. Be brave!
Here are the MUST DO's: Must be at least 8x10 in size. We want this GIANT photo to take centre stage and tell the story in a big way.

I must say how disappointed I am that I could not get my layout completed.  I am working with a large picture of Adriane that my friend Laura Pastrik took at our final recital. It isn't your typical dance photo but shows her motion and it really speaks to her movement and dedication to long hard hours of practice to achieve this beautiful routine. I've shared it for you at the very least and plan to post the layout when I can.

Please stop by the other designers blogs and see what they have created with these large super-sized photos.

Until next time, keep doing what you love.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Inspiration Elevator August 2014: 30 minutes or less!



Our main purpose here at IE is to challenge ourselves, each other and YOU to take the creative process to the next level;  to inspire growth and change in our scrapbooking beyond the mundane.
You can see all of Inspiration Elevator's previous challenges at our blog and catch us on Facebook .
We are thrilled to welcome back as a guest designer with our team, the uber creative and wonderfully artsy Misty Russell!
This month's challenge is issued by the amazing Jayne Morgan. Jayne mixes classic styling with fun and funky embellishments and artistic mixed media touches. Here is her challenge for us, in her own words:
Time(d) to Change
It's no secret amongst my crafty friends that my biggest hang up when scrapbooking is procrastination. Being a perfectionist can certainly benefit the end result, but quite often, we worry so much about the outcome that we forget to enjoy the process! On a couple of occasions when I've had to complete a tight deadline for DT calls or assignments, I've been forced to throw caution aside and complete a page within an hour. This for me in itself is a miracle, but the most surprising part was that I not only thoroughly enjoyed the carefree process, but the end results have been some of my most favourite pages. Here's lies the inspiration for this months challenge - I'd like you to gather your photo's, papers and a collection of supplies you think you may need, hibernate to your creative space and take 30 minutes to create whatever you like.........not a minute more! Contrary to what you may think, the pressure is off here. Chances are the final result will not be your best ever project as the time constraint is a little extreme (!), but it's a well known saying that creativity flourishes when we are willing to take risks! Enjoy the process.

Whoa! This was a crazy ride! I tried to stay true to the challenge but really keeping an eye on the time. I admit to going over at 34 minutes but the phone rang and it sure is hard to keep focused while on the phone!  None the less..here it is!

 I had taken these photos on our Dance Photo night with Dolly\'s iPhone 5C and she has this great filtre on that blows my mind. I had Blacks photo print them in 4x4 square size. The papers from Simple Stories Good Day Sunshine line really inspired and the photo colouring worked out perfectly.

I didn't procrastinate at all just chose the wood grain piece with the title on to save time I usually spend on the Cameo cutting. Time constraints dictated a quick title which I loved! The wood veneer sun  is panted with water colour and I blew on it to haste dry time. I admit it is was still wet at photo time! (All wood veneer is by Studio Calico.)
The brads are from this line and added a few flair pieces from American Crafts #summer line.
I LOVED LOVED LOVED this challenge. I find that Jayne is right: I do procrastinate and sometimes put things off because I feel I have to give SO MUCH to each page. My BFF Ann and I always joke that we "give birth" to each and every page. We love the end products but it can be a real labour of love. It's a terrible place to be when you truly love your craft. So, I vow that I will try to give a bit LESS to the process and a lot MORE to the enjoyment. Thanks Jayne.
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Here's a complete list of this month's participating designers!  We encourage you to check out each designer's creation this month, then come on back and give the challenge a try yourself!

Meantime, if you've wanted to participate as a guest designer with Inspiration Elevator, just contact team lead, Ann at annjobes@bell.net
Now it's your turn to get creating about what is in your bag, and share your blog link at the IE blog. We would love to see what you were inspired to make!

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

July Sketch and Crafty Challenge at Two Scrapbook Friends!

Happy Canada Day to all my scrappy friends!

It's my turn to inspire you with a sketch and a challenge for the month of July at Two Scrapbook Friends!

Here's PART ONE of this month's challenge; the SKETCH. It is very simple but should inspire you to add lots of personal touches and make it your own!
 PART TWO of the challenge is to use a nice BIG NUMBER on your design. Last year my hubby and I celebrated 19 years of marriage and my daughter thought of this title based on one of her favourite TV shows "19 Kids and Counting". 






 So, remember....you must use the sketch and the crafty part of the challenge to qualify.  

Please remember a few simple rules:

1.Enter as many times as you like as long as each NEW project shows an interpretation of both the Sketch and Crafty element.
2. Each creation will gain you one entry in the draw to win. (Please enter a double page layout as only one entry).
3. Projects must be linked up using the tool at the TSF blog in order to be entered to win.
4. Projects must be entered no later than July 31st, 2014 by 11:59pm.

Until next time, keep doing what you love!