Thursday, August 15, 2013

Inspiration Elevator #16: Learning Something New


Inspiration Elevator

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 our new Inspiration Elevator Blog, here.

It was up to me to issue the challenge this month and I thought I was being very clever when I said:
Part of growth is learning new techniques. And I do mean NEW. Sometimes we are afraid to try something or get in a rut..but for the August reveal I am asking that you find a technique WITH a video and include the link in your post. Learn something new. Share where you learned it and then share what you learned and your creation. I hope this is challenging for you...it might take some time to think about!
You do not need to make your OWN video just share the one you used to create your technique. If possible be sure to get permission from the maker of that video so we can be respectful!


When I conceived of this challenge, I hadn't really expected that I would have such a hard time finding a technique I was willing to try but wasn't TOO afraid to try.  I have techniques I love already on my pages but have been stuck in a creative rut of late. While searching YouTube and Pinterest for scrappy inspiration, I discovered Limor Webber's Art Mixed Media video. (I attempted to contact Ms. Webber but could not find an active email address..so it is with respect and awe that I use it as inspiration here for my own creation.)


What I loved about this video was that it was fast forwarded and put to music. Ms. Webber did not feel the need to be-labour the process with too many (or any words!) What also caught my eye at first blush was the RAINBOW gelatos but it was the highlighting and low lighting that sold the finished project.  I hope you will find a few minutes to watch the genius that is Limor Webber.

I also took some inspiration from a cool kids site by Valerie. Her art project for modern art can we seen here. My kids loved it (it was surprisingly easy and cheap to do) and I so wanted to give it a try. It occurred to me to use both techniques to create something new!

Here's how I implemented the Gelatos and blending techniques of Ms. Webber and Valerie's the modern art technique.

 It was very freeing to create like the kids but use some grown up techniques with my Aquarelle gelatos. I technique I will continue to practice.(You can see how the drying caused the colour to be uneven..perhaps a larger brush? more colour..Obviously practice is required!)

So here it is..the final product.


I like how the modern art represents Adriane's love art and how colourful her personality is.A little zig zag stitching in several colours anchors the mat to the black background. I layered a black and white photo over it as I felt a colour one would compete with the bright background.

I also chose a colourful title in differing fonts and colours. I am loving the sparkle.



I chose to right a little pom to her and once I lid it out on the design it looked dull so I added a few doodles. I am not sure I like them much..what are your thoughts? Too much? out of place?
Hmmm...


Overall, this challenge was very enlightening and somewhat freeing. I hope you will stop by and see what the  rest of the incredible Inspiration Elevator designers have created:
If you feel inspired to play along with my challenge this month, please share it using the linky tool on our Inspiration Elevator blog and/or our Inspiration Elevator Facebook page. We'd LOVE to see what you made!

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Sketch Challenge (Great Prize!) and Some "Campy" Echo Park

Good morning all! I wanted to share with you an exciting new program at the online store Two Scrapbook Friends, a new sketch I created and a new design.

Two Scrapbook friends is challenging its friends to play along with two monthly challenges: a craft challenge on the first of every month and a sketch challenge issued on the 15th of every month. Each time a person plays along and links into their blog they can be entered to win a $25 online or in store gift certificate! Two Scrapbook Friends always has the newest product and the best inspiration. I hope you'll check them out and play to win!

For the month of July, I created a a sketch and a layout using Happy Camper by ECHO PARK.


I added some watercolour paint and some texture medium with my Crafter's Workshop template.
The hearts are from Maya Road and the twine from the Twinery.

I really loved the great patterns in this line. A few stamped word blocks anchor the focal points nicely.
These cute word stickers were perfect too. The sticker sheet has so many images to choose from.
At last here is the sketch you've been waiting for!
I hope it inspires you to play along! If you create and want to be entered to win (and who doesn't?) be sure to link up at the Two Scrapbook Friends blog before August 14th at 11:59 pm.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Inspiration Elevator #15: A Childhood Memory


Inspiration Elevator

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 our new Inspiration Elevator Blog, here.

This month's challenge is issued by the super talented, Lisa Moen. Here's what she had to say in her very own words:

"I have been thinking lately, that I have only done one layout of my childhood and realized that maybe some day, my kids or grandkids would enjoy looking at a few more pages and learning about my siblings, my parents and I.
So my challenge for you this month is to create a page about a childhood memory of yours. It can be a good, a bad, a funny, a photoless or whatever you choose kind of layout.
Just remember to add journaling to tell the story behind your childhood memory.
Can't wait to see your projects!"

Lisa, makes a very good point in her challenge..how many of us take the time to create pages about ourselves for our children or future grandchildren? I admit to being more than guilty. For me, one of the biggest reasons is that the old pictures of me don't often inspire me creatively and the new digital age brings so many options for creating great photos as the foundation for my pages.

Secondly, I hate to journal. I do. I hate trying to formulate the ideas or memories in coherent words and then to put them on my pages it always seems to mess with my design (wait and see!) Old memories need journalling but I guess the argument can be made that NEW ones do too. But, alas, this is what IE is all about...the challenge, the boundaries, the idea to push oneself into the uncomfortable to create (possibly) something amazing!

I'm not sure if this is amazing exactly but it certainly was challenging and I always enjoy that. Lisa has asked we choose a childhood memory and I did stretch the definition of childhood just a bit. In the photo below I am 14 years old. The photo was taken by my dad while I cleaned our pool; a job I loathed with the passion of ten thousand fiery suns. But sometimes, like this day, my dad would get out his SLR camera and start shooting. It was just him and me in the quiet of the yard and the sound of the pool vacuum and the shutter on the camera. I used to think he was taking pictures of the flowers or trees but photos like these were just as common. I cherish the memory of these times with my Dad and in retrospect there were lots of them..perhaps he found these times just as great as I did? I know a 14 year old child isn't the easiest time a parent has, but there were lots of these photos. As a parent myself of one, I know now that they reflect how he thought of me often and how much he loved me. (ok I admit to crying a bit as I type this..ack!)

So here it is! I began by using an old jar lid covered in watercolour paints to make the circular shapes and let them drizzle of the page. I even added a flick or two of turquoise as well.

I layered the patterned paper from We R Memory Keepers and machine stitched them.
I even added some Studio Calico butterflies distress with a sanding block and smudged with watercolour paints to create flow and direction in this upper right corner. The doodles were an after thought but I think I like them. They are all over the design in little bits..let me know what you think!
Finally, the title and the journalling: STRESSFUL!!! I don't usually struggle with titles as a few tried and true methods usually work perfectly..but this time it didn't flow. Finally, I decided to not write as I did above in my post, I just left the strong emotion out of it...I wrote about being 14 and struggling to find my way. It eased the pressure a bit and I suppose those feelings about my Dad will just live on here for me ...and for all of you.

I hope you have enjoyed this little bit of me and my memories. I hope you will play along with us and be challenged to dig a bit into your own memories. Maybe you to will find something that was meaningful and bring a happy tear to your eye.

 I hope you will stop by and see what they have created:
Sue Sykes

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

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

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:

Until next time, keep doing what you love!

Monday, May 6, 2013

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!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

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 unfoldsWe 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:

 
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,








Friday, May 3, 2013

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,