Stamping Your Own Background

The Layout
I have to admit that sometimes I'm not entirely satisfied with a layout, but I just have to let it go as it did its primary job of preserving a memory. But then there are other times, when I'm really happy with how things all come together on a page. With today's layout, I thought, "This is so me" when it was all said and done.

The Challenges
I am guest designer with Life.Paper.Scrapbook. for their color challenge which begins today. Aren't the autumnal colors simply gorgeous?

I'm also a guest designer for Sketches in Thyme and used their sketch #120.

It seemed like a perfect pairing to combine the fall color palette with the sketch. 

I'm also entering this layout in these challenges:
The Artistic Stamper: Postcards, Travel, Holiday
Five Simple Things: Inspire Me Fridays #116 Anything Goes 

Just for Fun: Anything Goes
Yumi & Fumi Handmade: #21 Anything Goes

The Process
I searched through my stash hoping to find a collection that had all the colors in it already. I guess that would have been too easy. I couldn't find anything with just the challenge colors without adding new colors into the mix. I decided to make my own background paper.

I have a rainbow collection of used Stampin' Up inks that I acquired through Craigslist. I obtained many colors at a fraction of the cost. I wanted to spend less money on specialized colors that only occasionally come into play. From my collection, I chose inks in the color combo. I didn't end up using all of these colors.

I drew lines across my page where I wanted my designs to go. Since it was an archery theme layout, I chose arrows for the design. I stamped across the page leaving a space for the photo area. The Fiskars Stamp Press made it easy to line up my arrows. Since two of my stamps were thinner, I had to stamp them separately from the other arrows.

Here are the finished arrows which perfectly match the color challenge. 

To further my archery theme, I made my own target embellishments. I had some round chipboard stickers that I altered with Copics and gems. 

I also colored in some plain wood veneers with Copics. You don't always need to purchase supplies in your exact color scheme or exact theme, just alter and use what you have. 

This is a look at my title block where I mixed and matched alpha stickers, chipboard letters and wood veneers.  

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Patterned Papers: Basic Grey

Chipboard Die Cuts: We R Memory Keepers, SEI, Basic Grey

Alphabet Stickers: Doodlebug Designs, Authentique

Chipboard Alphabet: Basic Grey

Ink: Stampin’ Up

Stamps: Studio Calico, Sandylion, Lil’ Davis Designs

Stamp Press: Fiskars

Wood Veneer Shapes: Studio Calico

Glitter Glue: Ranger Ink

Gems: Doodlebug Design

Markers: Copic

If you also love this color combination and want to join the color challenge, please see Life.Paper.Scrapbook.'s blog post. If you love this layout sketch, please see Sketches in Thyme's post. 

I learned that I don't need to purchase specific themed embellishments or papers, I can probably make my own from my existing stash. 

Thanks so much for stoppin' by,