Japanese Garden

I seriously love origami!  When I saw that Child's Play was doing an origami challenge, I had to make time to get that one done.  I also saw the magazine cover challenge at Paper Crafter's Corner and fell in love with the design!  Unfortunately, I was too late to play along there, but decided to use the inspiration anyway.

I visited the Japanese Garden in Portland about a year and a half ago, so I found some photos that fit the design and laid out the layout.  I folded some origami grass, fan, and flowers, added interesting bits of paper and stamps, put the origami on top.  Really loved this challenge!

Sonic

After a month of guest designing with Child's Play Challenges, I am back to playing along.  The first week's challenge was Xylophone.  Honestly, I sat on this for weeks, with no clue what to do!  Then my friend Adele came.  We exchanged Christmas presents early and one of my gifts was a sonic screwdriver.  We are BIG Doctor Who fans and every fan NEEDS a sonic screwdriver.  Then I was flipping through her stencils and came across this awesome technology one and I suddenly knew what I was going to do for this challenge.

I went with the bright colors and lines of design that are found on the toy.  I used a gel medium through the stencil, waited for it to dry, and then used a variety of colors of spray ink to make each item a different color.  I think I need to procure this stencil for myself!

Love

Try as I might, but the only thing I could think o,f for this month's inspiration photo, was Thanksgiving.  That is ok, because I still hadn't done anything with last year's pics.  I didn't take a ton; just a few with my phone.  But with all the fun apps you can get on your phone now, you get some pretty awesome photos without having to haul around a large camera.

As well as thinking about Plymouth Rock and the first Thanksgiving, I also love the warm colors and the lines on the ship, which I used stitching to mimic.  To create my layout, I first took some watercolor paper and sprayed it with spay inks, two colors, and misted with water.  Then I misted with a brownish ink on my craft mat and pressed the paper into the dots and splats.  I added a stamped water ring and two film strips.  Then I laid my photos into the grid and stitched in between.  Next, I matted the watercolor paper, which was under 12x12 to a piece of dark brown card stock, adding more stitching around the edge.  Finally added the extra bits and journaling.

Be sure to link up your page by the end of the month for a fabulous prize!

Mt Hood

My last Guest DT layout for Child's Play.  It was a fun month and look forward to playing along again next month.  This month was the game, Risk.

I was inspired by first, the name Risk and taking risks in life and second, the world map.  So I went on a hunt for photos that had to deal with risks and travel.  I came across these photos of the hubby and his friend climbing Mt Hood.  Talk about a risk!  In fact, a snowboarder died this day, after they were done with their climb.  They had never been up this mountain and didn't have a ton of time to put into planning either.  Talk about the view and they have some fabulous stories to share. And they are smart people and don't take unnecessary risks either.

Remember

My first thought was, "This is going to be really hard to be so monochromatic" for this CSI  case.  Turns out it was quite easy once I had the subject.  One of the journal prompts was to journal something sad.  It's been just over a year since our family lost someone way to soon and too young.  Simple really was the best.  This fountain is right next to his grave site and I like to think that it brings comfort and peace to him.

Evidence used: paint, distressing, wood, tie something, and tearing.

Testimony is something sad and is on the little tag, peeking out of the right side of the photo.

The case file

Cool Cat

Such a fun and funny inspiration photo this week at CSI!  Totally made me laugh!  We had my son's cat living with us for about 6 months, he is hilarious.  I found him lying in front of of my mirrored closet looking as cool as can be.  I thought it was the perfect photo for this case.

Evidence used: book pages, stacked elements, black background, something crinkled.

Testimony: is from the cat's perspective on the tag, just peeking out from behind the photo matte.

The case file

I {Heart} Fall

It's the first ever ScrapStuffz Inspired By blog hop, Hooray For Fall!  You should have come here via Shirley's blog.  If you get lost along the way, be sure to go to ScrapStuffz to find the full hop list.

We were given this inspiration photo

And this sketch

This is what I came up with

Seriously, Fall is my favorite time of the year.  I think the new year should start September 1st, not January 1st.  I love the crispness in the air, the color in the trees.  I love football and school starting just seems like a new beginning.  We have these concrete sculpture things at a park in town that have shape cutouts in them.  I lined up my shot, through the heart shape, to include the pretty leaves in the background.  

To make my background, I die cut some leave and applied some gel medium through the negative.  Then I pulled out my new gellatos and scribbled color in various places, wet, and spread around.  I set it aside to dry and when I pulled it out, I almost chucked it to the side because it was really bright and not quite the look I was going for.  Instead, I pulled out my distress ink and stamps and went to work grunging it up.  I like it a lot better!  It gives that rustic feel that comes with Fall.  The leaves not only turn colors, but start browning and have a cool distressed look about them.   I added some burlap and paper, a fun embellishment, cute title letters and a bit of journaling.  

I hope you have enjoyed your stop here.  Be sure to play along by leaving comments, making your inspired by layout and joining ScrapStuffz.  Your next stop on the hop is Devra!  Be sure to find our what creative genius she has for you!