Inspiration Elevator - Challenge 5

You may recall from last month's challenge that the purpose of this challenge group was to take our scrapbooking to the next level, to stretch our creative process and to grow as artists by embracing challenges that make us think, work and grow.  You can view all of the challenges on my blog here.

This month, our challenger was the very talented Laurel Seabrook. Laurel loves flea markets and garage sales and would love to incorporate more of those items into her art.  In fact, we have invited a valued guest designer to join us this month; her name is Christy Riopel. We welcome Christy from her regular writing and creating job at Canadian Scrapbooker magazine.

Here's a bit of what Laurel had to say in her challenge this month.

"I love going to garage sales, flea markets and thrift shops to find fun items for me to upcycle into
something else either for my own home or to give as a gift. I also love just to pick up some old things that appear to have some sort of story to them. I love the shabbiness of old, worn items and the warm
comforting feeling they evoke.

My challenge for you is to scrap an old photo/photos. Not only that I want you to incorporate something that is not normally a scrapping item, upcycle/recycle something to include on your layout. Vintage is definitely not my style when it comes to paper crafting. I like clean and simple so this will be a challenge for me."

I have many vintage photos - when my mom was diagnosed with cancer, she and I spent many hours going through her photos and jotting down names and dates of those that she could remember.  In the end, though, I ended up using these original photos of me, taken when I was a year old:

Supplies:  Bazzill cardstock; My Mind's Eye, Basic Grey and Echo Park patterned papers; EK Success, Kreaxions and Martha Stewart Crafts punches; My Mind's Eye doily sticker and paper clip; Crate Paper alpha and tag stickers; Ranger Distress Ink; Martha Stewart Crafts fringe scissors; Prima paper butterflies; Stampin' Up! button brads; Recollections washi tape; Glue Dots;  Sharpie pen; vintage lace and patterned papers.

I had a lot of fun adding bits of this and that to this layout.  I could have probably added more, or maybe used some more stamping in the background, but I used what I had at the crop.  I finished the stitching when I got back home.

Here are the detailed photos.  The mini flowers were punched with a Kreaxions punch borrowed from Bev Code, their DT coordinator.  I then spritzed them with water and wrinkled them up.  Once dry, I layered them, poked a hole using my paper piercer and then held them together with teeny tiny button brads - thanks to Candie for sharing!

The large border was punched with my new Martha Stewart punch - LOVE it!  I attached it to my layout at the top only, and then using my Glue Dots, attached the fringed pattern paper underneath.  To make the fringed paper, I cut strips of pattern 12"x 1.5" long and sewed them together along the top to keep them together.  Using my MS fringe scissors, I snipped the strip all along the edge, taking care not to cut through the sewed edge.  Ruffle a bit and BINGO - instant fringe!

One of the Echo Park tickets was the perfect size and colour that I wanted to use for my layout.  Sadly, it had MEAT MARKET written across the top of it!! Not really appropriate for vintage baby photos! :) So I had to strategically place another ticket, a paper clip and some lovely paper butterflies over it!  Happy accident!

The title was simply a layering of alpha stickers, phrases and some new washi tape that I picked up at Michael's for 50% off - love a good deal!

I hope you hope along and see what the other designers on this adventure have created:

Laurel Seabrook

Cathy Harper

Lisa Spiegel

Joanne Burton

Ann Jobes

Christa Uttley

Laura Whitaker 
 Audrey Yeager
 Lisa Moen
Guest Designer, Christy Riopel

We would love to see what you are inspired to create.   Add a comment and a link below and we will be sure to drop by and say hello.

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog (deadlines in brackets):

It's a Sketchy Challenge (Sept 30/12)

Leave Your Legacy (Nov 30/12)