A GD post for ARTASTIC

Come the first of every month, I religiously visit the ARTASTIC Challenge blog to check the featured artist. Its always interesting to read about artists, their work and along the way, it almost always tickles my imagination, inspiring me to create.

So, when Jane asked me if I was interested in being a guest designer for her blog, I jumped...with joy :) Head over to their blog, to read about the creator of - The Jam Session  and browse through the creations the talented team at Artastic have prepared inspired by this painitng and inclusing the criteria : distressing. 

From the painting, I picked the colours of blue and red for my layout and the theme of music. Ive created a mixed media 12X12 layout using gesso, paints, mists, tissue paper and whats becoming my favourite off late - gold texture paste. I tried a lot of new techniques to make my background and quite happy with the way it turned out. 

On a plain piece of plae pink cardstock, I first free hand painted the lyrics of our favourite song. Then went over with several layers of gesso and paints, mists and tissue till I was happy with the background.

In Feb this year, I won a challenge at Artastic and was given a voucher to Alacraft - this store has some really gorgeous lace and Im loving the soft look it adds to layouts. So next on my layout came the lace followed by stamping, misting and finally gold texture.

 

My layout is based on the June Purple pumkpin sketch. Ive replaced and added a couple of elements so that my page looks balanced. Instead of the circles in the top right, Ive added them in the bottom. Also, didnt have two photographs so included tags and a jar of hearts from behind the main photo similar to the sketch. Again instead of the fish cut banners on the right, is a vellum pocket with a tag which has my journalling. The banners pointing downward along the length of the sketch have been replaced with lace and horizontal lines made with gold texture paste.

Also playing alongwith Simon Says Stamp - Monday Challenge - Anything goes

Beyond Grey Challenges - Stamping (on lace) & Misting (to create background and also on the final layer dark magenta mist made from paints)

Kraftzone - Anything goes with die cuts and pattern paper (The poloroid photo frame and chalk board sentiment are die cut and PP used - Crate paper)

Imaginations Online - Distress Inks (The jar of hearts has been stamped and fussy cut. While the outline is stamped with two permanent inks. The inside of the jar was painted with watered down distress ink and then again, the hearts have been stamped with distress ink  for a soft look. Also stamp several times before re-inking for a more dimensional look)

Lulupu Gets a logo makeover - challenge #33

Its time for another challenge at Lulupu and this fortnight the DT is taking inspiration from the store's new logo. The challenge is to use atleast 4 colours from the logo and also use a pennant. Head over to check all the rules and also the huuuugeeee array of new products in the Lulupu store. 

 

 

A while ago, I ordered some gorgeous lace from Alacraft and badly wanted to use it. Pretty much that was how this layout came to life. The matted photo led to several layers of PP behind it and then I started wondering what kind of a background to give it! Working backwards.... totally crazy! First I tried an A4 bg and somehow it didn't work well, then another mixed media bg but it became too busy. Finally on my third attempt, managed to get close to the look I was after. 

 

 

 

My layout is based on the June Once Upon a Sketch. I admire Nadia's work and love reading through her blog for inspiration. This is my way of thanking you Nadia for being an inspiration and sharing your work, bringing together so many talented scrappers and providing a platform for many like me to learn and join the fun.

 

 



My journaling is attached on a sheet of paper behind the layout. This photographs was taken a week after my little one came back from hospital and I finally mustered the courage to document it only now. Here is a jist of the journaling that I am willing to share - 

For me the best things in life are those felt from the heart - those special memories that warm your heart and bring a smile to your face. Im grateful to God to have given me many such memories and ask for many more through you. I will always hold these dear to my heart and cherish them. My dear darling baby 'S', you've touched my life in more ways than you can ever imagine.

 

 

Also playing alongwith,

Beyond Grey Challenges - Misting (on the background with blue tattered angel mist) and Stamping (on the lace behind the photo layers with script and stiches stamp)

 

 

 

13arts - Make a Splash. Love the DT inspiration on this blog. The very first time I'm joining the challenge here.

 

Thank you for visiting me today. Hope you enjoyed reading through.

Lulupu Sketch Challenge - Mixed Media layout tutorial

This fortnight we have a sketch challenge going at Lulupu and Ive created a mixed media layout based on the it. I also tried my hand at windows video player and managed a rather beginner version of a slideshow video. Hope to do better next time and maybe even record a live video someday :)

Head over to the Lulupu blog and you can also check out the pretty canvas made by Jaya for the sketch.


Also entering this into Itsy Bitsy's challenge  - Anything but a card



My layout is inspired by the Life Paper Scrapbook May Moodboard



From here, Ive used the teal, light blue, yellow and white, hearts of gold, tissue to mat my photo, garland of punched circles

Its a short video so may not even be enough time to sip a cuppa...lol.... but Id love to hear your feedback, tips and hope to have inspired you in some way.