Challenge #70 - Borders

I've never been a big punch person -- until they came out with lots of cool edge punches. It's my favorite tool these days. Edge punches are just one of many things you can use for borders. There's stickers, die cuts, and rub-ons to start. And if you have a die cut system such as a Cricuit or Cuttlebug you can get border dies as well. Tim Holtz has a new line out with Sizzix. My Favorite Things Stamps has just come out with Die-namics, a steel die that can be used in most systems. I've got a couple of these already :)

Your challenge is to use a border in your project. Any way you want. Then, post your creation here by Sunday, June 27th to be eligible for a RAK. I've got a new Die-namics die (or two) for one lucky participant. And My Favorite Things Stamps will add in one of their new sunshine die cuts!

According to their website, the Die-namics dies will not only cut through paper, but thin chipboard, cork, felt, bubble wrap, acetate, sticky-backed canvas and more.

Here's what our team did:


Deborah -

Amanda -

I tried to use borders in several ways. First, I painted a subtle white frame around my photo. I then layered a punch out border and a border trimmed from a 12x12 sheet. I used a border punch on the quote piece to get the notebook edge. Lastly, I layered a border trimmed from a 12x12 sheet as my title.

Helga

Kimmy-
I used border paper, border stickers & border punches on my layout.

Paloma:

Michelle:

Challenge #69 - Scraplift

Have you ever had "scrappers block"? You know... where you sit down with the intention of doing some scrapping, and you just sit and stare blankly at the page? Well, I have! (in fact, I have had a nasty case of it for quite awhile now). When I am stuck, one of my favorite techniques is to do what is lovingly referred to as "scraplifting."

This week, let's go ahead and scraplift. I found this fun layout on Deb's blog, and it made me want to pull out my goodies. Let's see your take on her layout. Take what you want from it.... maybe the photo placement, maybe the color scheme, maybe the embellishment placement. Show us your interpretation!

The challenge ends in 2 weeks, on Sunday, June 13. As always, there will be a RAK given out to someone who participates.

THE LAYOUT TO SCRAPLIFT:


Jennifer:

I really liked the simplicity of the design, so I stuck to the basic layout. Instead of placing a scalloped edge on the right side of the photo, I did one on the left. Instead of the vertical title, I placed mine horizontal. I also kept my embellishments very simple, although I placed them in a similar way.

Deborah:
I rotated the sketch and chose to focus on the large flower.


Kimmy:

Amanda:

I kept the relatively simple construction of the original, using just one sheet of 12x12 patterned paper and one 3.5x12 strip of patterned paper. I moved the strip of embellishments to a location behind/overlapping the photo and created the overlapping portion of the strip from layered stamping and rubons.


Michelle:

I stayed true to this sketch. I loved Deb's simple design accented with clusters of embellies.

Helga

I really loved the layout. It has inspired me a lot!

Challenge 54 - Design Ideas from Magazines

If your house is anything like mine, you probably have magazines lying around the house. And if you're really like me it's waaaaay too many magazines. And that doesn't even count the daily deluge of catalogs we're getting now that it's getting closer to Christmas.

So my challenge to you is a design challenge. Pick something from a magazine to inspire you, design-wise. It can be an ad or photo, a pattern, a color combination, a page design - whatever you like - and use it on a layout.

Here's what our team came up with:

Deborah:
I chose to mimic the array of mushrooms in the above picture. However, I used Halloween embellishments to frame my photo, instead of text.


Miwako:

I was inspired by a page of wedding catalog magazine. I love this colore, score and ribbon and feel so crassic and nostalgic. I use variouse ribbons in my layout and imagine cristimas decolation and gift package.


Paloma:

For this challenge I chose to work little flags like the ones you see in fancy fairs and other such festive gatherings and that I keep finding in scrap layouts and magazines.
To hold them together, I chose a white thread/wire because it winds and unwinds nicely throughout the bubbles. Little flags, bubbles looking like white balloons everywhere: yes, this was a festive time... but hush now, the baby is asleep!



Michelle:

I tore this ad from a boutique baby catalog several years ago and filed it away in my art inspiration binder. This week's prompt was the perfect excuse to finally work this into a layout. I was drawn to the playful circles and happy colors, and repeated both in my layout:

This page was done on a piece of duck cloth canvas prepped with gesso.

Amanda:

I was inspired by pieces in the November/December 2009 Somerset Studio magazine. These pieces were wedding themed created with a neutral color scheme. I loved the color scheme applied to the theme, but wanted to create a more urban distressed look, instead of vintage look distressed look.

I will post a layout how-to on my blog after this pose goes live.

Kimmy:

I was inspired by the back cover of my Crate & Barrel catalog. I loved the multicolored, layered circles & duplicated them with Glimmer Mist (which I rubbed on with a piece of felt). The ornaments inspired my Christmas theme & the vertical lines of the silverware inspired my title placement.


Helga:

I used this page from an airline magazine. I was really struck by its color and page layout particularly the white space on top. I used these elements as my inspiration in creating my layout.
Here is my take:

So break out your magazine stacks, rummage through your junk mail and see what inspires you! Post your creations here, and your inspiration piece, by Sunday night, November 15th to be considered for a RAK.

Challenge 49 - Simplify

I don't know about you, but I feel overwhelmed alot of the time... by my to-do list, by housework, by my kids. Sometimes, I even feel overwhelmed when I sit down to scrapbook! There are so many products out there, and sometimes I drive myself nuts trying to find the perfect embellishments.

When that happens, and I feel like my products are ganging up on me (!), I try to simplify. What do I REALLY need? Some paper. Some photos. The rest is all just icing.

So here is your challenge.... SIMPLIFY.

Specifically, I mean you need to limit yourself this way for this challenge:

(1) You may use cardstock (however much you need) and ONE sheet of patterned paper (double-sided is ok).
(2) You may use as many photos as you like
(3) You may use pens, markers, pencils, paints.
(4) You may not use any other embellishments unless you make them with that cardstock or patterned paper.

Remember that simple does not have to mean plain ... you can do alot with a sheet of patterned paper - I swear! After this challenge, go back and use chipboard, stickers, jewels, the works. But for right now, give it a try. Simplify!

This challenge concludes at Midnight on Sunday, July 26th. Link us up here or send us an email to qualify for a RAK donated by Piggy Tales ... A complete collection of one of their newest releases, Row, Row, Row Your Boat:

To see more of this collection, go to: http://piggytales.typepad.com/piggytales/2009/05/index.html

Jen's Layout:

The title was made by doodling inside some leftover Piggy Tales Chipboard letter forms.

Deborah's Layout:

This Sassafras Lass paper is double-sided and border on the bottom of the paper. Deborah used her Slice to cut the flowers and letters.

Challenge #41 - Monochromatic Color Scheme

This time around... I want to issue a color scheme challenge... Here it is... Simple, straight forward, and very versatile!

Use a monochromatic color scheme on your page... Period!... Any subject, any materials, any journaling, any title, any size... Just make the page a "one color wonder"!!

Monochromatic color schemes, by definition... Use one hue (color), plus tints and shades (lights, mediums, and darks) of that chosen hue, and possibly, achromatics (whites, blacks and grays), or possibly neutrals (browns, beiges, tans, etc...).

How do you choose your hue?... Randomly, inspirationally, emotionally, etc... Or, the hue you choose can reflect the "feel" and or theme/subject of the photos... Red for love, blue for sadness, green for nature/serenity, etc...

So... Remember to have fun, check out the FAB DT examples below, and then LINK your take on the challenge here, by Sunday, April 5th, 12 midnite EST... And, I will pick a winner from the participants, and I will send a RAK off to the LUCKY WINNER!!

Good luck and make some art!!


PAMELA's layout...




BRENDA's layout...




JENNIFER's layout...




DEBORAH's layout...

Challenge # 30 - with Bad Girl Guest Hostess... Wendy Rago!!

A little bit about me...

My love of art began as a small child. Instead of playing with dolls, my choice was weaving potholders, painting by numbers, and cutting up paper. I always knew I would be an artist, and of course I followed that dream, and became an Interior Designer. Here we are years later, and I followed another dream…I now own BAD GIRLS KITS. I wanted to create an artistically nurturing place where all artists would not only be welcome, but where you would not be allowed to stay stagnant…you are constantly pushed out of your comfort zone, with kits that are not just inspiring, but constantly different. It is a constant inspiration to watch so many artists grow. It is my belief to become the best artist you possibly can, you must be constantly challenged, and this is what we hope to accomplish. I hope you will come and visit soon!

When I am not diving into some medium of art, you are more than likely to find me haunting antique stores, shopping at the JUICY boutique, curled up with a good book, or out taking a drive somewhere in Southern California where I live with my husband Peter and my 2 children


My challenge to you...

Break Your Dimensional Barriers - "Experimenting with layers of corrugated cardboard, chipboard, patterned paper and ribbon to successfully create depth galore on your pages!"

When I first started scrapping I knew something about my pages bothered me, and it took me a while to realize it was dimension that I was missing. It is no secret that flat artwork just drives me nuts!!! There are many ways to create interest in your artwork with dimension, and some of them will even help you to recycle. Let’s explore a few of my favorites!

I love to recycle, so one of the first things I reach for when I want to add lots of dimension is currugated cardboard. I love to glue stickers, cut outs from patterned paper, alphabet stickers, etc. onto this and then cut out. Sometimes it is really interesting to leave a border around your piece and tear to show the texture.

Another one of my favorites is chipboard…and don’t worry if you are not gaining enough dimension…keep layering it until you achieve the look you want.

A lot of the time, I just like to stamp or paint directly onto the cardboard or chipboard for an aged look instantly.

Always a must for me to create lots of depth and dimension is to use lots of layers, ribbons, bows. Try layering lots of different papers and then creating even more dimension on top of this by raising your elements with either the above methods or by using pop dots or foam dots.

In the LO below, I have used lots of dimension using the techniques I have talked about. I am so excited to see what you create and you will be amazed at what a difference this makes in your artwork.












My RAK to the winner of this FAB challenge...

The Bad Girls' October Kit - "Studio 54"!!!



Good luck ladies!!! Let's see those gorgeous and "loaded" pages... Post your take on my challenge by Monday, November 3 at midnite PST to get in on the chance for this AWESOME RAK...


In the mean time, take a gander at what The Method Playground's DT created with my "Break Your Dimensional Barriers" challenge! Enjoy!


Jennifer's layout...





Becky's layout...




Deborah's layout...





Brenda's layout...





Paloma's layout...





Pamela's layout...