SCRAP BOUTIQUE MAY CHALLENGE

Yesterday I followed a blog hop or two and ended up finding this challenge which I've decided to enter. 


Challenge : Create a project using the mood board as your inspiration.

The project can be a card, a scrapbook layout, art journal layout or off the page project......it's totally up to you!

Challenges are a great launching pad for when your creative mojo is on a hiatus.  Happens to us all right? 

I had a couple of stamp sets in mind but ended up creating something quite different to my initial ideas.  Hardwood background stamp has always been a favourite of mine and I used it to create my picket fence.

Peek-a-boo sunshine, a little bird and a welcoming hello.  Of course there's a bit of bling too.  It's so hard to capture on camera that little Wink of Stella on the bird and booties but it's there I assure you.

GLOBAL DESIGN PROJECT #GDP035

The up to date Project Life products I've purchase have been gifted to my daughter-in-law for her birthday and so I had to use the only products I had on hand so I hope it's still ok to submit to the challenge.   I love the idea of Project Life and I think I'll be more into it once I have grandchildren.

I decided to repurpose a card I had already started making. I find dry embossing starts to break down the cardstock fibres and so a card with a top fold like this one isn't always as stable as I like my cards to be.  Cutting it down and mounting it on a Bermuda Bay card base helps give a bit more stability.    Did you know that paper has a grain?    Ever tried tearing an article out of  a newspaper or magazine and it tears lovely one way but all wonky the other way?   It is easier to tear along the grain and you get a nice even finish.  Tearing against the grain always makes the tear go astray or you end up with a jagged edge.   I once did a bookbinding class and was taught all about the grain and how to find out which way it runs.  Our A4 cardstock usually has the grain running vertically.  If in doubt, flex your cardstock or paper in half vertically and horizontally, the way it flexes with the least resistance is the direction that the grain runs. 


Anyway, hope that little bit of trivia didn't bore you too much.  Here is my card made with Every Day Adventure retired Project Life pack.

I used wrinkle free distress which is one of my favourite techniques and am quite please with the way my card turned out as I don't normally use geometric designs.

GLOBAL DESIGN PROJECT #GDP034

The other day I discovered the Global Design Project website and decided to play along.  I didn't have the patience to start a new blog specifically for stamping and this one does have some of my cards as well as my facebook page if you'd like to take a look.  https://www.facebook.com/Veronica-Treen-Independent-Stampin-UP-Demonstrator-1562553533978020/

I decided to use my Rose Wonder stamp set which I haven't had for very long.  I hesitated in buying this bundle because I wasn't sure if I really liked it to begin with or how versatile it would be.  Once I saw all the lovely projects online I changed my mind and of course, I didn't know if it would make it into the new annual catalogue!

I love using watercolour paper as it gives such a lovely subtle blend of colours.  If it buckles just use plenty of tape to stick it down when dry.    I stamped the large rose with Versamark and heat embossed in white and then did a wash with Pink Pirouette and Blushing Bride, as it was looking a little pale I added some weak Melon Mambo.   I used Wild Wasabi and Old Olive for the leaves. 

Of course over on the website the design team have created some wonderful examples for inspiration and there are more submissions from around the globe for you to enjoy.  http://www.global-design-project.com/

 

I made the yellow rose card below earlier in the day using Soft Sky for the background and I tried Tempting Turquoise  on the pink rose card so I could compare the blues.  Soft Sky is more of a powder blue in real life but the turquoise is a little brighter.   I actually like both.

How Time Flys

                       

Oh dear, I stopped posting progress photos a long time ago.  The studio is well and truly finished (it has been for a while now)  hubby is sitting in the corner admiring his handy work under the watchful eye of Ned.


The large white unit is my super Gumtree purchase and at 4 metres in length was a bargain at just $200.

       

I also have the old kitchenette that mum used in the 60's.  Poor old thing was falling apart but Garry soon worked his magic.  A coat of my favourite Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and its as good as new.

           

A good deal of storage already but I knew with all the stuff I have I still needed more.  It was back to Gumtree and I had just the colour in mind for this pine dresser,  Antibes Green, it's my Jolly Green Giant.

         

My room is pretty messy at the moment so I'll put up some more photos when I've had a tidy up.



STUDIO PROGRESS

It's been so long since I posted about my studio that I have lots of photos to post.  The backyard has well and truly changed from sandpit to studio.  The external brick wall and window was removed to allow for stud work for the new room.

Stud work in, roof on and lined with silver insulation.  Looks like a spaceship.  The next job was to install the bi-fold doors.

It's all coming along nicely.  It did look rather brown and shaggy once the Insul-Therm wool insulation was in place but it's looking much brighter now the Gyprock is up and the joins are flushed.

Now it needs sanding and sealing and then the big paint job begins.  Wooohooo, getting closer and closer.

BUTTERFLY BASICS

Mad about butterflies?  Butterfly Basics is one of the latest stamp and die combinations from Stampin' UP available during Sale-A-Bration.

I used one of the stamps from the set and this cute butterfly die to decorate my parcel which contains an assortment of cards for a butterfly crazy lady in the UK.  The cards are non specific which allows her to use them for any occasion.

Here's a peek of what's inside.

Butterfly Basics, Papillion Potpourri, Swallowtail Butterfly and others.

GOT YOU FRAMED

I have a stash of handmade paper.  Over the last couple of years, a dear lady named Peg has held a papermaking day at her home. There is a lot of preparation and work on the day and Peg who is 82 just amazes me with her energy.  She's usually pretty worn out by the end of the day.  Sometimes, she disappears for a little while for a power nap.  I love doing paper making sessions with Peg.

I must admit though, after Peg asked me the other week if I wanted to make paper again next year, I was feeling a little guilty because I had not used the stack I already had.  I decided then to put in some effort and see what I could come up with.

Handmade paper has so much character especially with the addition of plant material and interesting fibres etc.

Once I got started, I was on a roll and just kept making stuff.  Lots of cards for a start.  Simple white backgrounds with the addition of a highlight stamp here or a bit of parchment there.  I'm happy with the results.  Last year, thanks to my friend Pam, we added gold leaf to the paper mix.  The little wink of gold inspired me to add some gold stitching to my cards.  I love combining paper craft and stitching. 

Bookmark and cover

just can't throw away those scraps

   baby cards


As I started using the new Itty Bitty Accents punches from Stampin' Up, I decided to make some inchies and one thing lead to another.  From cards to a gift for baby's nursery.

inchies

White box frames are perfect for baby gifts and I had one in the cupboard.  After lots of tearing, punching and stitching, here is the end result.

Let the paper be the star.