Inspiration Elevator Challenge #5: Something Old

You may recall from last month's challenge that the purpose of this challenge group was 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. 

This month our challenger was the very talented Laurel Seabrook. Laurel loves flea markets and garage sales and would love to incorporate more of those items into her art. In fact, we have invited a valued guest designer to join us this month; her name is Christy Riopel. We welcome, Christy from her regular writing and creating job at Canadian Scrapbooker magazine.

Here's a bit of what Laurel had to say in her challenge this month.

"I love going to garage sales, flea markets and thrift shops to find fun items for me to upcycle into something else either for my own home or to give as a gift. I also love just to pick up some old things that appear to have some sort of story to them. I love the shabbiness of old, worn items and the warm comforting feeling they evoke.

My challenge for you is to scrap an old photo/photos. Not only that I want you to incorporate something that is not normally a scrapping item, upcycle/recycle something to include on your layout. Vintage is definitely not my style when it comes to paper crafting. I like clean and simple so this will be a challenge for me."

If you are following my IE journey, you'll know that I seemed to struggle with the last few challenges. It's not that I can't whip up something artsy or vintage, but is it really "ME"? It is so important for me to remember that when Ann and I started IE, we kept saying to each other: "We have to stay true to our style, no matter what the challenge is." That is what makes the IE a process, not just a challenge. Growth and genius can only arise from the ashes of inspiration, and good old fashioned hard work. Maybe a bit of hair pulling and gnashing of teeth...maybe.

Well, this month certainly resulted in lots of that!  Laurel's challenge to use an old photo really got me thinking about what "old" is, exactly and I am, as a rule, motivated and inspired to scrapbook my newest photos with the newest products. It's almost impossible to get my mojo flowing on old old pictures. But since it's for my own good and further develops my creative brain, I picked up all the clumps of hair I'd torn from my head, cleared my scrappy table and got down to business. I decided genius was not going to create itself!

In the end, I decided that my very own Kindergarten photo was certainly 'old' enough and in addition, since I was in the Back To School mood and couldn't seem to get anything else on my mind, I would go with this BROADLY chosen definition of "OLD".

Then came the hard part. (What?!! you say? It hasn't been hard already??!!) I needed to choose and old item to be upcycled into the design and still make it 'meaningful' for my back to school theme. Fortune struck and I discovered a set of old report cards in my own memorabilia stash. There was that inspiration I spoke about before!

 

My Kindergarten photo is a bit damaged and yellowing. In fact it has a few spots of orange ink on it! My mom (who is a redhead) likes to tell me that FINALLY she has a ginger haired child! :o)

In the end, I decided that if I kept my goal in mind and put away the Prima flowers, I could stay true to my more classic style even when working with vintage (yes, I admit to being a bit vintage!) photos. I added pieces of the report card via glossy accents, in collage format, to a large letter "K" in my title.

A few strips of Simple Stories paper, buttons, and twine finished the little owl off and made a fairly meaningful design. Am I in love? No. Genius? HARDLY! Was I challenged? You betcha! Have I grown in the process? I feel that I have and I want to thank Laurel for another great IE challenge.

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

Laurel Seabrook

Cathy Harper

Sue Sykes

Lisa Spiegel

Joanne Burton

Ann Jobes

Christa Uttley

Laura Whitaker 
 Audrey Yeager
 Lisa Moen
Guest Designer, Christy Riopel 

We would love to see what you are inspired to create. Add your comment below with a link, I will be sure to drop by and say hello.

hanks so much for joining us on this journey. Until next time, keep doing what you love to do.

Christa