A ScrapFIT Reveal: It All Adds Up

ScrapFIT Workout #54:
It is time to flex those muscles and participate in another ScrapFIT workout. This time the rules are as follows:

"Numbers, numbers and more numbers!  Let's see a layout or card with lots and lots of numbers.  Can you use them in your title?  Can you add them as an embellishment?  Can you stamp them?  YES, you can do all of those and more!  Show us how your numbers add up!" 

Just link your project using numbers to today's post by October 31st for a chance to win this all inclusive summer photo album kit from The Paper Bakery. (If only I was eligible...)

The Fabulous Prize for this workout

My Interpretation:
I was trying to think of a clever way to use numbers on my layout and nothing was really working for me. I recently bought Pink Paislee's Vintage Vogue line and wanted to use it for this challenge.

Pink Paislee's Vintage Vogue

My favorite aspect of the line, was the cute packet of spool tops. There were twelve spools in a pack, and I started thinking there were twelve numerals on a clock...one thing lead to another...and this little creation was born. I didn't end up making a card or layout as I initially intended, but you never know where the creative process will lead you.

Workout #54: It All Adds Up

The Process:

I started by purchasing the cheapest clock I could find, which was a $6.00 wall clock from Big Lots.

Original Clock

I disassembled the clock and used part of the frame to trace a circle on the patterned paper that would cover the face of the clock.

I placed all the pieces I wanted to use on the face of the clock to make sure it would fit, and not touch the clock hands as it rotates. 

I used Mod Podge and glued the paper to the face of the clock. I coated both sides of the paper. 

The bronze frame of the clock didn't match my decor, so I repainted clock in with craft paint. 

Most of it is in an antique white but I also used accents of lavender, pink and a pale green, which I drew from the colors in the patterned paper. 

After the paint and the Mod Podge was dry, I hot glued on the spool tops. The spool tops didn't have any  numbers so I placed glittered number stickers on them. I also traced them in white to make the numbers stand out a bit more. 

I then decorated the clock with chipboard stickers and gems. Lastly I added the hands and reassembled the clock. 

This is what it looks like with everything back in place, including the frame and glass front. 

Here are two close up shots. 

One of the chipboard stickers in this collection had a clock design, so I placed that in the center of my clock. 

I hope you were inspired to change the ordinary into something extraordinary. 

If you want to see this in person, it is at Pages from the Heart right now. In a few months, it will be back on my craft room wall. 

Take care,

Last Sassy Lil' Sketch Reveal - Ever!

A Sassy Lil' Send Off

Sassy Lil' Sketches will be closing its virtual doors on October 27th, and this will be the last week of reveals. If you like their sketches, then download them in these last few weeks. If you like the inspiration from the DT, then browse through the gallery. If you want to participate in the sketch challenges, you have until October 23rd to upload your projects. There are 8 separate challenges happening right now, so you have 8 separate chances to win a  prize. 

Sketch Challenge

Today's reveal at Sassy Lil' sketches is based on the following sketch, Sassy Send Off Sketch #7 (which has been removed since the website is now closed). I stretched out the sketch and made it into a double pager. Instead of so many background squares of patterned papers, I filled the squares with smaller photos, journaling, captions and titles. I also combined some of the squares to get a larger rectangle for longer photos or more journaling space. Here is my interpretation of the sketch:

Siam Cooking School Layout

The Background

When we were in Thailand this summer, we took a local cooking class. The school was located at the teacher's house. We each had our own woks on the patio. We chose an individual menu and prepared a Thai dinner as guided by the instructor. Before we even started cooking, we went to an outdoor market to purchase the fresh ingredients. 

The Details

Here is a view of each page:

I popped up some of the flowers on the patterned papers for a 3D effect. I printed captions for some photos on transparencies and interspersed them throughout the layout. 

This paper collection had some matching silk flowers and glazed brads, so I utilized the embellishments. 

Next to the main title, I printed out the cooking school's name, and made that into a flower to blend the subtitle with the embellishments. 

I found a translation in Thai for one of my captions. 

This is the journaling block.

I used a bubble themed border punch along the two sides of my photos. Inside the holes I used a clear paint pen so it is actually a puffy bubble. In some of the smaller holes I added some metal Glam Rocks. I stapled on three ribbons for an accent on one side. 

Thanks for stopping by,

ScrapFIT Reveal: The Journaling Goes Round

ScrapFIT Workout #53:
It is time to get up and get moving, or is it time to sit down and get scrapping? Either way, there is a new workout for the month of October over at ScrapFIT to help you get your creative juices flowing. Here are the details from the challenge site:

#53-  The Journaling Goes Round and Round

Its important to add journaling to our layouts so generations after us will know the details and feelings of the pictures.  For this Workout I want your journaling to ‘go around’ the outside of something.  It can go around the outside of you page, around your photo or even around an embellishment.  Show us how you journal around! 

Open air markets, vegetable section

The Background:

When we were in Thailand this summer, Kevin really wanted to find some silk Muay Thai kick boxing shorts. When we were shopping around the street vendors, we did find him a pair, and we also picked up a pair for Isaiah. When we returned home, they wore their matching Muay Thai outfits, proceeded to box or rather push, and thus this layout was born. Isaiah actually really enjoyed putting on some boxing gloves and learning to punch. At the end he even attempted some kicking and posed naturally for the camera. 

My Reveal:

My Muay Thai Guys

I combined different lines from Bella Blvd., but was drawn to their pet collection, Tail Waggers & Cat Naps and the boy line, Man of the House because of the masculine yet bright colors. 

There were some printed words that matched my theme, so I used a section as a word collage. I was surprised that Uncle was on there already, so I highlighted that along with a few others by placing a Glam Rock in front of them. The strip was a stark white while the other colors were a cream base, so I stippled some ink from various stamp pads using a paint brush. This made the white blend in better with the other colors. 

I wanted some 3-D embellishments, but didn't buy any that came with the line because those are always the most expensive part of a collection, so I made my own. I punched out various circles, stacked some together and hand stitched around the edges. I left some plain and  made some hollow and then layered them. 

For the title I used three different sticker styles. To bring the circle motif to the top of the page, I placed the first word inside one circle using tiny stickers, and had a small cluster of circles for the beginning of the title. 

To incorporate the challenge guideline of making the journal go around, I printed out my journaling in strips and arranged it around the central photo like a frame, so it looked like part of the design. I find that journal blocks sometimes stand out too much and detract from the layout's artistic merit. But I also want to incorporate the information and thoughts and feelings along with the photos somehow. I thought this challenge was an interesting way to combat that problem for me. 

Here is one last look at Isaiah in his Muay Thai splendor. 

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize:

If you'd like to workout with the rest of the gals over at ScrapFIT, just link your entry to today's post by October 31 to be eligible to win the following kit from The Paper Bakery Kit Club, which is a monthly project based club with detailed instructions. 

Happy boxing, or

Happy scrapping,

either way it is a workout...