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Monday 12 November 2012

UK Scrappers Weekly Challenge - Make it Different!

Good morning folks; welcome to Monday and my own UK Scrappers weekly challenge. 

These challenges always consist of three elements and this week, they are to use:
  • a colour scheme that is unusual for you to use
  • delve into those scraps bags and use up some scraps
  • do something "arty"! (whatever that terms means for you)
I have directly scraplifted a layout that I really liked by April Foster called "Smile".  It was published in a "Create - Stamping" edition of Scrapbook Trends sometime in 2010 and I always admired it. 



 
I did lots of spraying with cosmic shimmer mists, and every piece of patterned paper has been used from my scraps bags.  The largest piece (behind the photo) is Cosmo Cricket "Tea for Two" range, called Tea Towel. 
 
I painted around the edge of each semi-circle with Cosmic Shimmers used like paint and added some stitching too - as I said - an exact scrap-lift of April Foster's.  Very different from what seems to be my style these days, but I like the end result - and I love to try new things - when I get the time! 
 
Lots of people have helped me create sample layouts over at UKS:
 
Jess, aka Jessbaby:
Ali, aka Alits:
Karen, aka Badgerleader:
Sarah, aka Scrappy-Sarah:
Jo, aka Wonky:
 
Thanks so much to them for their time and friendship in helping me out.  I will add blog links when I can later.  Why don't you have a go and join in with the challenge? 
 
 


Thursday 1 November 2012

November Scrapology Layout - chicken wire and Lou Collins

Well, goodness, goodness, goodness!  Where has this year gone?  Welcome to a new month, and a new layout challenge at Scrapology.  This month, our newest design team member, Lou Collins, created this layout, and challenged us to use chicken wire:



Isn't this layout pretty?  Such delicate colours and the use of that size photo works so well here ....

This layout took me sooooo many hours - it probably doesn't look it, but most of the elements were handmade and I had to break it down to many, many stages.  For the longest time, I thought I would never finish, but I do believe in pushing on through adversity .... (queue rousing music here .... ) ha!
So, here is the result.  I distressed the green ledger paper with a combination of texture paste, and loads of different stamps, mostly stamped with white brilliance pigment ink. 

 
 
For the backing paper, I used a whole series of distress inks and stamps to give the layout some contrast and a bit more stability.  Every edge has been distressed with s.e.i. cocoa chalk ink which is a lovely dark chocolate colour. 
 
Because the background was so dark, I decided to experiment and colour the chicken wire with a black Promarker.  Apart from being a bit dangerous, it worked very well!  I didn't want to use brads to adhere the chicken wire down, so I used copious amounts of Pinflair silicone glue, with something weighty on top and some time overnight to make sure everything was secure. 
 
With the alpha brads, I cut off the long legs from the back, and again, stuck everything onto the label with the Pinflair glue.  I coated the brads with Glossy Accents to secure the finish - hence why you can't read the title, because of the tilt on the way they've stuck!  I used some ancient 7 gypsies paper and cut out the letters for the "Views" word. 
 
The antique stickers cover up a car that was in the picture of the sculpture - and again - everything was edged with cocoa chalk ink. 
 
Supplies:
Patterned paper:
  • Green ledger paper - love elsie "forrest - H2o" by ki memories
  • Basic Grey Granola "Seed"
  • 7 gypsies "Scrabble"
 
Stamps:
  • American Crafts "Sentiments"
  • Waltzing Mouse "Chicken Wire"
  • My Mind's Eye "Wild Asparagus"
  • Technique Tuesday "Postcards from Paris"
  • Fontwerks "Clear Ticking"
  • Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz collection "Odds and Ends"
  • Paperartsy "Ephemera Plate 2"
  • PSX "Celtic" alphabet stamps
Inks and Colouration Tools:
  • Brilliance Moonlight White Archival Pigment Ink
  • s.e.i. cocoa chalk ink block
  • Ranger Distress Inks: Wild Honey, Scattered Straw, Bundled Sage, Pumice Stone, Tea Dye
  • Walnut Stain,
  • Black Promarker
Embellishments:
  • 7 gypsies Gaffer Tape "Paisley Brown"
  • MM "Passport" metal clip
  • Letraset Helvetica Medium Condensed 3mm rub-ons
  • My Mind's Eye - Kraft "Funday" layered stickers
  • Label from K & Co "Re-Make" pad
  • Chicken wire
  • Sticko and K & Co "Life's Journey" antique postage stickers
  • Various Prima Leaves
  • Joanne's Courier Antique Alpha Brads
  • Tim Holtz Sizzix decorative die "Tattered Banners"
  • Tim Holtz Sizzix decorative die "Autumn Gatherings"
I do enjoy a challenge, and am highly relieved that I managed to finish this layout.  However - I don't think I will be working with chicken wire again - too lumpy, and too difficult to stick down.  Chicken wire doesn't have to be temperamental though - there are loads of lovely stamps available as a substitute.  Why don't you join in with this month's challenge and have a go? 

Jill at Cardinal Colours has come up with another fabulous prize this month:

WIRE!
1 pair wire cutters, 4 Prima Vines (wired) 2 wire embellishments, 3 wire frames and 4 inks - Imperial blue, orange, magenta and fresh green - wow!  You've got to be in it to win it!