FREE SPIRIT layout (Dusty Attic DT - August Mood Board & Art Playground - Be Authentic Challenge)

Sharing with you today a whimsical layout inspired

by the beautiful in blue August mood board from Dusty Attic 

and the August Play on the new Art Playground challenge blog.

Below is the Dusty Attic August challenge with very lovely and elegant images

in different shades of blue and faded vintage greys and whites.

I absolutely am in love with it! Click HERE to find out how to play along!

I was also inspired by this gorgeous colour palette and the Be Authentic theme 

from this challenge from the Art Playground blog. Click HERE for details!

As you can see, I incorporated many of the colours from both mood boards. Grey, black, white and lots of blue of all shades and hues! I found that using a grey woodgrain pattern as my background fit perfectly and I fussy cut lots of beautiful butterflies from patterned paper. I chose to add the Layered Flourish, simply embossed with white, as they went along great with the butterflies in flight.

Following the Be Authentic theme, I opted for the Free Spirit impact title, coloring 'free' with navy blue embossing powder dabbed with white paint, and treating 'spirit' with lighter embossing powder, dabbed with white paint and then several shades of blue distress stain.

I thought that the Indian Arrow and Feather would go well with the somewhat bohemian feel

of the layout.

You can see here two of the newer chipboard sets available in the DA website, 

Iron Garnish #5 and Driftwood #2. Don't you love the details on those wood pieces?

You may find it strange how I overlapped the paper over the picture, as shown below.

Well, it just goes to show that creating doesn't always go your way. I accidentally put glue on the photo, right on the little girl's pretty cheek, and was unable to remove it. In fact, whatever I did seemed to make it worse. So dead set on using this photo, I just decided to hide the glue. Ha!

I hope you like my layout. I would love to read your feedback in the comments!

Now let's take a closer look at all the Dusty Attic chipboard featured on my page.

Chipboard

Driftwood #2 - DA2193

Feathers - DA0651

Indian Arrow - DA1355

Iron Garnish #5 - DA2135

Layered Flourish - DA1731

Mini Butterflies #2 - DA0893

Free Spirit Impact Title - DA2017

Make sure to check out the extensive collection of chipboard and other products

available on the Dusty Attic website and share with us your DA creation

on the Dusty FANattics Facebook page. We love to see what you create!

And you can perhaps combine your inspiration with the Art Playground challenge too.
It's like a match made in heaven. :)

Until next time!

BIRTHDAY NOT OLD BUT VINTAGE card (More Than Words DT - August Mini Challenge)

It's Mini Challenge time over on the More Than Words blog,

and this is my card created especially for it, using the August mini word!

Take a look at the August Mini Challenge board:

 Click HERE to find out all you need to know about the Mini Challenge

and to see gorgeous inspiration from the More Than Words DT.

Remember that in order to participate, you have to share your project

on the More Than Words FB page right HERE by the end of the month.

As you know, the August Main Challenge at MTW was to be inspired by YESTERDAY and to incorporate a VINTAGE style to our project. Well, I did the same for this card for the Mini Challenge. I wanted to create a more masculine card with an antique rustic feel.

I thought that a kraft base would be perfect with some kraft stickers and twice 

to contrast with the bright blue of the tag and chipboard with some black accents. 

The fancy chipboard door hinges are from Dusty Attic.

Will you play along with us at More Than Words?!

I am looking forward to see your Mini creations using this word!

CUTE Layout (Sketchabilities DT - Sketch #152)

I am back today to reveal a brand new sketch challenge at Sketchabilities

and this fun girly layout that I created, inspired by it.

Take a look at this fabulous new sketch:

To learn all about the Sketchabilities challenge, click HERE.

When I started to brainstorm for this layout, I had thoughts of fun bright colours and lots of girly accents. I first went in search of a photo of my nieces and found one from a few years back which absolutely makes me happy when I look at it. They were (and still are) as cute as can be! I then went in my paper stash and found this old collection from My Mind's Eye, The Sweetest Thing, which incorporated exactly the theme and colours in my head.

I really went old school with this layout and even took out my old border punches to create the vertical borders inspired by the sketch.

When in search of decorative pieces for my page, I came across this little cutie...

to go along with these cute little faces that I love so much! A perfect match!

Are you feeling inspired by this sketch as well?  Then, make sure to play along by the end of the month and share your creation on the Sketchabilities blog HERE!

FIND BEAUTY IN THE EVERYDAY Canvas (Dusty Attic DT)

As my first August DT reveal for The Dusty Attic,
I created this mixed media canvas that I hope you will like.

I started off with a black canvas and covered it with a thin coat of black gesso.

I then added some texture and design using the Dusty Attic Dragonflies stencil with some stencil paste and then I dabbed a bit of paint with a makeup foam to create a marble effect.

I used one of the new impact titles which I love - they are large and bold and come in different fonts. They do make an impact, thus the name chosen for them!

Below you see a Decorative Hinge #1 which I covered with black pearl and amber gold velvet paste. 

I also did the same on the 'everyday' part of the title as well as the butterfly from the Flutterbies #1 set and the Mini Dragonflies.

Dusty Attic has a multitude of beautiful intricate frames to choose from. The ones that I used on my canvas are the Fancy Frames #8. I painted one in Faded Denim with some dabs of Lavender Blush, and the other one was painted with a mixture of Pesto and Crushed Olive. I then very lightly dabbed some white paint as well as amber gold paste on them, giving them a more distressed look.

All the flowers that I decorated my frame with are from the Dusty Attic Dusty in Bloom collection. I chose to go with the Grassy Knoll and Blue Bonnet sets which became the inspiration for my canvas colour palette. After the canvas complete, I misted the flowers with gold. I then sprayed the canvas with adhesive spray and sprinkled some Dress My Craft Crystal Clear Sequins, also available at the Dusty Attic website.

I really hope that you have enjoyed seeing my canvas and reading on my creative process as much as I enjoyed creating it myself. Playing with Dusty Attic chipboard pieces is definitely the best part of it!

Now, take a closer look at all the Dusty Attic products that I used.

Chipboard

Find Beauty in the Everyday Impact Title - DA2020

Fancy Frame #8 - DA2128

Flutterbies #1 - DA0389

Mini Dragonflies - DA0518

Wordplay #3 Black - DA1787

Quoted Sentiments #1 Black - DA1568

Stencil

Dragonflies - DA1311

Dusty in Bloom

Blue Bonnet - DA0807

Grassy Knoll - DA0809

Dusty in Colour

Faded Denim - DA0913

Lavender Blush - DA0911

Pesto - DA0918

Crushed Olive - DA0917

Sequins

Dress My Craft - Crystal Clear - DMCS3250

Make sure to visit the Dusty Attic website to see lots more of their chipboard, stencil, flower and paint collections as well as many other accessories for all your crafting needs.

See you back in a few days!

GOOD OLD DAYS Layout (More Than Words DT - August Main Challenge)

I went vintage this month with this layout!

It was inspired by the August Main Challenge from More Than Words!

Word Inspiration - YESTERDAY

Creative Challenge - VINTAGE

You can find all you need to know about this challenge and the fabulous prizes

up for grabs as well as inspiration from the very talented MTW DT right HERE.

The word YESTERDAY obviously made me go back in the past, and this old picture came to mind. It's of my mom when she was only a teenager posing with her youngest brother in an old photo booth. She was a spitfire, as people tell me, and you can tell by this picture. She still is actually. I absolutely love the hairstyle! 

To incorporate the VINTAGE creative challenge, I chose the sepia photo and decorated my page with old-fashioned buttons and brads.

Let's look at some details:

I added lots of layers behind the photo and added flowers with a vintage print on them

as well as an old library style tag and a chipboard antique keyhole.

As you can see, I used many old-style patterns on my page.

Although they may be considered 'passé' by many, I still have lots of brads

in my stash and I still love to use them on my layouts.

This one seemed particularly perfect for the theme of this challenge.

This photo puts a smile on my face everytime I look at it.

I am so happy that I finally found the perfect opportunity to use it in my work.

Did I mention already that I just love that bow?! hehe

Make sure to visit the More Than Words blog for lots more inspiration

from my fellow DT members. The August reveal is a true classic beauty!