Let's Grow Old Together (OUAS July Challenge)

Having not been able to play along with Once Upon A Sketch challenges the last few months, I absolutely wanted to take the time to do so this month when i saw the July challenge.

Along with the "Grow" journaling theme, i had to use this fabulous sketch as inspiration...

 

I took a lot of risks when creating this layout.  Every step of the way, i had no idea how it would turn out, using layers after layers of gesso, molding paste, inks and paints.

The choice of the title and journaling was never a question for me :)  I know that Yves is my soulmate and i'm looking forward to growing old and grey alongside him. Hopefully we will be blessed with very long lives both of us.

The picture frame opens up vertically and there i have hidden my journaling.

To achieve the look of my layout, i first laid out all my chipboard, metal charms, flowers, bling, title.  I then did a little bit of masking here and there using molding paste and a stencil.  After the paste was dry, i covered the entire layout with white gesso, and i mean EVERYTHING.

Then, that's when it became quite messy! I added 3 shades of Glimmer Mist, then dabbed on some ivory acrylic paint, then some black acrylic paint, then finished it off with some Liquid Pearls.  I should have taken a picture of my fingers :P

It's a bit hard to believe that all the elements, including the background paper, were different colors at the beginning.

Hope you enjoy my little attempt at mixed media on a layout!  Next time, i will try a canvas.

Check out the July challenge at Once Upon A Sketch.  They always have the best inspiration from their DT and some fabulous prizes to be won!

Key To My Heart (SATW & Berry71bleu July Challenge)

I had so much fun playing around with the June challenge at Scrap Around The World that i couldn't pass up the chance to play along again this month. 

The July SATW Mood Board provided by Keren Tamir is beautiful!

I love every single piece of it from the pale romantic colors to the metal vintage keys to the distressed wooden texture of the birdhouses down to the wonderful sketch with loads of hexagons and white space. 

As you will see, i tried to incorporate all those elements into my layout.

I also want to link this layout into the July challenge at Berry71bleu.  The theme is : Anything Goes.  Dana from Berry71bleu DT wants to see what we feel like creating this month, and as soon as i saw the SATW Mood Board, i felt the inspiration sweep over me and knew exactly what i wanted to create.

So here goes...

Some of the products i used are 13arts' All is Love collection, loads of Prima blooms and pearls, assorted metal trinkets and 2Crafty chipboard.

Just as much as i am in love with this picture of Yves and i (and with Yves himself of course), i love the way this layout turned out.  I tried and tried to take the perfect picture of it (more than a dozen takes, i swear!) so that the colors would all come out as close to reality as possible but i have to say that it's still not 100%.  But it's close enough :)

 

I used the Key to my Heart title (above) from 2Crafty and one of the intricate keys (below) from their Vintage Keys set.  All pieces of chipboard were covered with white gesso, minty green Liquid Pearls which i also dabbed all over my background papers.

 I also dabbed some gesso and liquid pearls on the metal key which had a dull gold finish, just like the "Love" metal plate and the brads which i added here and there.

Here you can see more details of the 13arts background paper that resembles old distressed wood in the same shades as the SATW moodboard.  I couldn't have picked more perfect paper!

 I put a heavy coat of molding paste on the 2Crafty 1" Hexagon shapes using a sponge dabber to give them texture, then followed with the same gesso / liquid pearls treatment.  In the image below, you can also see the beatiful Corner Geneive pieces which i used in the 2 opposite corners of my picture frame.

 

Hexagons layered with more hexagons cut out of the 2Crafty Chicken Wire Panel!  I love it!

Very pretty blooms dabbed with gesso and liquid pearls.

 

One last look...

Hopefully i've inspired you to play along too with this regal/romantic Mood Board from Scrap Around the World.  You still have a couple weeks to link up right HERE.

Also check out Berry71bleu's Anything Goes challenge before the end of this month for a chance to win some cool prizes!

Bird Is The Word DT

Now that it has officially been announced, i can finally tweet it out loud here!

Click HERE for the official word from BITW owner, Wendy!

First DT reveal will be on July 15th!

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Also, remember to enter my 40th Birthday Giveaway going on right now until August 5th.   Click HERE for more information!  Here is the prize that you can win:

I'll be back shortly with some new creation!

My Creative Scrapbook July Kits DT Reveal - Part 2

If you've missed Part 1 of this DT Reveal, you can click HERE to check it out!

Today i'll be sharing with you some more of my creations using the July Main Kit from My Creative Scrapbook.

Let's take another look at this awesome kit filled with Summer-theme goodies:

Simple Stories paper and stickers, American Crafts mistable Thickers, Prima blooms, Prima stencil, beautiful satin and lace trims...  This kit is a must- have!  For details on how to subscribe, visit My Creative Scrapbook today! 

If you love double-page layouts as i do, i hope you get inspired by this fun design using the Main kit:

There are so many fun chipboard shapes and layered stickers with this kit - i had a blast combining them and layering them on my layout.

Now for all you cardmakers, here are a few also created with the Main kit.

I've created another single-page layout that i will be sharing with you on July 16th during the July sketch reveal at My Creative Sketches.  Here are a few sneaks:

Be sure to check it out on July 16th!  Until then, I wish you lots of perfect Summer afternoons!! :)

My Creative Scrapbook July Kits DT Reveal - Part 1

Can you believe it's July already?!

I am going to go ahead and complain... the Summer is going by WAY TOO FAST!

But no fret, today is Reveal Day (one day early :P) for the July kits from My Creative Scrapbook!!!

Main Kit

 

Album Kit

Creative Kit

Limited Edition Kit

If you love what you see and you want to learn more about these My Creative Scrapbook kits (and more!), click HERE to see the MCS Gallery.  You will also find lots more beautiful inspiration from the fabulous DT.

I was very busy with the Main Kit this month, creating 2 single-page layouts, 2 double-pages and 4 cards.

My first single-page layout contains all my favorite pieces of the kit from the fun and adorable paper and embellishments from the Simple Stories' collection I (Heart) Summer down to the pretty Prima flowers.

 Next, here is one double-page layout all about Summer Lovin'!

Come back tomorrow and i will reveal 1 more double-page layout plus 4 cards created with this wonderful kit!