Smile by Denise van Deventer

Hello Everyone!

Denise here today to share my page with you for the April Challenge.



I decided to go with layered die-cuts for my handmade flowers and really liked the way that these came out. As I was making them, I thought to myself, that it was really an inexpensive way to make flowers and must really do that more often, as using lots of store-bought flowers tends to make a dent in the wallet somtimes! ;-)

I created this page, using the wonderful papers from 7 Dots Studio. I so loved the thickness of these papers, they were just awesome for a mixed media project.

The background was created with gesso paste, 7 Dots Studio stamps, JustRite Clear stamps and some BoBunny washi tape. I layered strips from the 7 Dots Studio Illumination collection, and stickers and also word strips from Darkroom Door. The round circle and ring chipboard are from UmWow, which I first painted white and then spritzed with "Bermuda" from Enmarc. I loved how the colour pooled in some places and just dotted in others....it gave a super effect!

As I said previously, my flowers were made with die-cuts and layered together.  I added some watercolour, spritzing and ink for dimension. I then also placed some thready cotton underneath to soften them.

This photo gives you a closer look at all the layering and various techniques used to bring this page together.

So we really hope that you will play along with the challenge and really be bloomin' creative!!!! ;-)))

This month we challenge you to create a project using handmade flowers!

There must be at least ONE homemade flower on your project.

 This challenge is not limited to a scrapbook page - think canvas, home decor, headbands, anything your creative mind can dream up! There are hundreds of flower tutorials out there for flowers made out of paper, felt, cloth, twine, burlap, coffee filters, etc. For links to all of the flower tutorials pictured above, and many more, see Tracey's Pintrest page here.

First Prize:

Studio Shirel Pop & Colours Workshop

Second Prize:
Studio Shirel Pop & Colours #2 Workshop

3rd Prize:
Darkroom Door Paper Collection

Sponsors:

Studio Shirel

http://shirelstudio.blogspot.ch/

Facebook Page

Pop and Colours Workshop #1 - Art of Background 

Six weeks of workshops with step-by-step detailed examples and videos! Do you like to play with inks? Dirty hands, paint in the hair and stains on the apron don’t scare you? Then this workshop is for you! Whatever your style, learn how to create backgrounds very personal using the techniques presented in this workshop! I requested internationally famous guests who will share their secrets for making scrapbook pages from A to Z. Each week two different step-by-step (videos or photos and written explanations) will be presented. Each week, icing on the cake, sample pages created by the various artists using each technique will be shared. These examples will show you that the techniques are adaptable to all styles! The workshop will focus on scrapbooking pages, but the techniques are obviously suitable for other media (Art Journal, Project Life, mini-album, canvas Mixed Media etc.). There is no time limit to subscribe to the workshop and it will be available for a period of one year from the beginning of the workshop (ie 18 October 2014).

Pop and Colours Workshop #2 - Around the World

10 weeks of workshops in video! Did you like Pop and Colours Workshop #1 - Art of Background and you want more? Well...we do have more! Pop and Colours # 2 - Around the World is based on the same principle. Our team of renown international artists will share their secrets for making scrapbook pages through exclusive videos! Different styles will share the spotlight: freestyle, shabby, mixed media or graphic style, you will find types for all tastes! Class started on January 3, 2014 and all the content will be available for a whole year. You can join us at anytime within this year!

Darkroom Door
Website: http://www.darkroomdoor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkroomdoor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/darkroom_door
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/darkroomdoor/
Flickr Group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/darkroomdoor/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/rachelgreig
Blog: blog.darkroomdoor.com

Darkroom Door is owned by photographer Rachel Greig and graphic designer Stewart Yule who combine their talents to design a unique range of rubber stamps and papercraft products suitable for card making, scrapbooking, invitations, collage, mixed media and altered art. As the name suggests, Darkroom Door products have a strong photographic element in their design.

Products include: Rubber Stamps, Photo Stamps, Background Stamps, Frame Stamps, Collage Stamps, Word Block Stamps, Montage Sheets, Photochips, and Filmstrips along with a wide range of accessories for all type of paper crafts.
 
Darkroom Door also has a fabulous blog that is updated regularly with projects created by many talented artists. Check out the Darkroom Door website to see their full product range along with a gallery full of projects and ideas!

Design Team Sponsors

Website: http://umwowstudio.com 

Facebook: http://facebook.com/umwowstudio 

Blog: http://umwowstudio.blogspot.com

We're a US based company who has recently changed directions and moved to chipboard embellishments! Our designs are fresh, new and on trend. We pride ourselves in the quality of our chip and our dedication to the trade. With our passion for paper crafts and our knowledge of industry we can safely say you'll love our goods and their high quality!

  7 Dots Studio

http://7dotsstudio.com/

We are a team of creative women who cannot image their world without paper, glue and the creative process. Scrapbooking is our passion and we love to share our passion with other scrapbookers. For this reason, 7 Dots Studio exists. The quality of our products is our top priority. Our collections are made from thick (250gsm), acid-free, lignin-free, archival scrapbooking paper. We also offer high quality cardstock stickers.

Please note that if the winner(s) of this challenge are international they will be responsible for shipping costs.

Make sure you follow our CHALLENGE RULES.

Thank you and we hope to see your beautiful creations this month!

Guest Designer Shirel!

We're thrilled to have the super talented Shirel with us today! Shirel is the creator of the Pop and Colours Workshops that are offered as prizes this month!

Hello, my name is Catherine but I also use my nickname Shirel. Belgian origin, I am 35 and live in Switzerland with my son and my companion. Adept creative hobbies forever (I got up at night to paint at the age of 5 years), I discovered scrapbooking in 2004 and, like many of you, have been contaminated by the virus produced from the first page! I discovered Mixed Media in 2007 and I am now split between these two passions! A journalist by training, I dedicate myself entirely to my life as an artist and teach many workshops all around France, Belgium and Switzerland. In 2011, I created Studio Shirel to launch a concept of online workshops and videos. This is in line with this project that I decided, a few months ago, to create the online workshop Pop and Colours. I’m one of several DT: L’Encre et L’Image, Scrapbuttons, 4h37, Inspiration Création, Kit de Somni and Dame de Kit. You can see my work on my blog : www.shirelstudio.blogspot.com

Here is more information about the April Challenge:

This month we challenge you to create a project using handmade flowers!

There must be at least ONE homemade flower on your project.

 This challenge is not limited to a scrapbook page - think canvas, home decor, headbands, anything your creative mind can dream up! There are hundreds of flower tutorials out there for flowers made out of paper, felt, cloth, twine, burlap, coffee filters, etc. For links to all of the flower tutorials pictured above, and many more, see Tracey's Pintrest page here.

First Prize:

Studio Shirel Pop & Colours Workshop

Second Prize:
Studio Shirel Pop & Colours #2 Workshop

3rd Prize:
Darkroom Door Paper Collection

Sponsors:

Studio Shirel

http://shirelstudio.blogspot.ch/

Facebook Page

Pop and Colours Workshop #1 - Art of Background 

Six weeks of workshops with step-by-step detailed examples and videos! Do you like to play with inks? Dirty hands, paint in the hair and stains on the apron don’t scare you? Then this workshop is for you! Whatever your style, learn how to create backgrounds very personal using the techniques presented in this workshop! I requested internationally famous guests who will share their secrets for making scrapbook pages from A to Z. Each week two different step-by-step (videos or photos and written explanations) will be presented. Each week, icing on the cake, sample pages created by the various artists using each technique will be shared. These examples will show you that the techniques are adaptable to all styles! The workshop will focus on scrapbooking pages, but the techniques are obviously suitable for other media (Art Journal, Project Life, mini-album, canvas Mixed Media etc.). There is no time limit to subscribe to the workshop and it will be available for a period of one year from the beginning of the workshop (ie 18 October 2014).

Pop and Colours Workshop #2 - Around the World

10 weeks of workshops in video! Did you like Pop and Colours Workshop #1 - Art of Background and you want more? Well...we do have more! Pop and Colours # 2 - Around the World is based on the same principle. Our team of renown international artists will share their secrets for making scrapbook pages through exclusive videos! Different styles will share the spotlight: freestyle, shabby, mixed media or graphic style, you will find types for all tastes! Class started on January 3, 2014 and all the content will be available for a whole year. You can join us at anytime within this year!

Darkroom Door
Website: http://www.darkroomdoor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkroomdoor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/darkroom_door
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/darkroomdoor/
Flickr Group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/darkroomdoor/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/rachelgreig
Blog: blog.darkroomdoor.com

Darkroom Door is owned by photographer Rachel Greig and graphic designer Stewart Yule who combine their talents to design a unique range of rubber stamps and papercraft products suitable for card making, scrapbooking, invitations, collage, mixed media and altered art. As the name suggests, Darkroom Door products have a strong photographic element in their design.

Products include: Rubber Stamps, Photo Stamps, Background Stamps, Frame Stamps, Collage Stamps, Word Block Stamps, Montage Sheets, Photochips, and Filmstrips along with a wide range of accessories for all type of paper crafts.
 
Darkroom Door also has a fabulous blog that is updated regularly with projects created by many talented artists. Check out the Darkroom Door website to see their full product range along with a gallery full of projects and ideas!

Design Team Sponsors

Website: http://umwowstudio.com 

Facebook: http://facebook.com/umwowstudio 

Blog: http://umwowstudio.blogspot.com

We're a US based company who has recently changed directions and moved to chipboard embellishments! Our designs are fresh, new and on trend. We pride ourselves in the quality of our chip and our dedication to the trade. With our passion for paper crafts and our knowledge of industry we can safely say you'll love our goods and their high quality!

  7 Dots Studio

http://7dotsstudio.com/

 

We are a team of creative women who cannot image their world without paper, glue and the creative process. Scrapbooking is our passion and we love to share our passion with other scrapbookers. For this reason, 7 Dots Studio exists. The quality of our products is our top priority. Our collections are made from thick (250gsm), acid-free, lignin-free, archival scrapbooking paper. We also offer high quality cardstock stickers.

Please note that if the winner(s) of this challenge are international they will be responsible for shipping costs.

Make sure you follow our CHALLENGE RULES.

Thank you and we hope to see your beautiful creations this month!

April Guest Designer, Cathy Lane!

Today we would like to welcome the winner of our March challenge and our guest designer for April, Cathy Lane.

Hi everyone!! My name is Cathy and I’m a scrap-booking addict of epic proportions but then again I think most of us fall into that category.  I live in a little sea-side village off the east coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa. Together, my husband and I run our own construction company. I do the admin and he is out in the field. I share my life with my hubby and seven dogs who are my constant companions and I cannot even begin to imagine my life without them.

I am Mom to a beautiful daughter who is now 25 and godmother to my little niece Isabella and the two of them combined with seven pets are my favorite scrapping subjects.

Whilst scrapping is my number one hobby, I am also an avid reader and I devour one book after the other. I love my kindle and buying books is seriously starting to compete with my scrap-booking budget. If you had to ask me what my scrapping style is I really couldn’t answer that one. I don’t think I have one. I’m pretty much a mood scrapper and I love working with sketches as it gives me a kick start.

 I am extremely honoured to be guest designer this month and a huge thank you to the team for having me!

Here is a link to my blog: http://a-stroll-down-memory-lane.blogspot.com/

Cathy created this beautiful layout for Debbie's April Challenge: Flowers

The colors are so pretty and Cathy's eye for detail is amazing:

Thanks for joining us this month Cathy!

Guest Designer - Patti Hamil

Today we have a special guest designer, Patti Hamil.

Hello, my name is Patti Hamil. I have been scrapbooking for over 10 years now. I am a wife to a very supportive husband, and Mother to three beautiful grown children. We also have 3 dogs and a 17 year old cat! I live in the beautiful North Georgia mountains. I scrap almost every single day. I am on several design teams that I love and get to share my hobby with lots of “online” friends! The best part of this hobby is the lasting friendships that I have made over the years. I am happy and honored to have been asked to guest design here. Thank you so much for having me.

You can visit Patti's blog, My Pieces of Time here.

Let's see what Patti created for our April Flower Challenge:

Here is the project that I did. Since the theme is "flowers", I used some different flowers of the same color. I also used Marivic's beautiful tag. I added a little strip of the trim to tie it together with the rest of the page. I wanted to work with the beautiful melon color in the trim and flower spray.

Here are some closeups showing a little more detail. Here you see where I added the multi colored Prima blooms and also a rub-on sentiment that went with the title. I also added some "faux-stitching" around the border with my Zig marker.

Here you can see more detail of the beautiful hand-made tag. I just loved these colors!!!

Here you see two smaller blooms with the title. The title sticker is Anna Griffin, Inc. The color was a perfect match!!

Here is one last closeup of the flower cluster. I thought the colors in the photo (our dd when she was little) went perfectly with the colors of the paper and embellishments!

I was so excited to be asked to Guest Design for this month! I enjoyed working with this beautiful tag, and hope I have inspired you to use your favorite colors!!! Thank you for looking!

Patti