Inspiration Elevator - Challenge 10

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 super talented Lisa Spiegel.  Lisa lives in California with her family and this month she asks us to think about our growth in 2013. This is what she wrote:

"Create a layout about your One Little Word. You know, the word that we scrappers choose in January upon which to reflect for the year. This word should have special meaning to you and be selected for its' potential to help you reach and grow...the only hard part - you must use a photo of yourself and add journalling to the layout explaining the significance of the word..."

Each year, I carefully choose a word to reflect on for the year.  And in the past, I've never really followed through with the next step - actually living my life centred around that One Little Word.

Don't get me wrong - each year, I start out with the best intentions.  But I seem to have a knack for overcommitting in some areas which leads to underachieving in other areas.  In searching back through blog posts, I realize that I haven't really followed my OLW at all.

So, initially this year, I didn't even choose a word.  Not to be pessimistic, but realistic.  However, with Lisa's challenge, I went back to my 2011 OLW post and realized that my word that year reflected my life goals for this year.

So once again, I am choosing the word, JOURNEY.  And I didn't create a layout, but a title page for my journal, in which I will keep track of my fitness goals and achievements.  I didn't get a chance to finish it over the last few days but will share it on the weekend when it's finished!

ETA:  Here is my page!

Supplies used:  Liquitex gesso; Stamp-In Australia stamp (Time In Paris); Unity Stamp Co. stamps (Chicken Wire Background; Reversed Punchinella; Vintage Handwritten; Lovely Little Wings; Enjoy, Explore, Believe); My Favourite Stamps stamp (sentiments); Memento ink; Clearsnap's Stephanie Barnhard mists; The Crafter's Workshop and Christy Riopel templates; Spectrum Noir markers (see below for palette); DecoArt paints; Fine-Tec watercolour paints (splatter); Crate Paper rub-ons; Paper Adventure letter stickers; toilet paper roll; jar lid.

Spectrum Noir palette:
Heart:  BP2, BP3, BP4
Wings:  BT2, BT4, BT5

I'm really excited with how it turned out!

I laid out a thin film of gesso on some palette paper (wax paper works well too!) and using it as a stamp pad, I stamped my images onto the bare journal page.  Once dry, I misted the page and the gesso acted as a resist!

I then added layers of paint using stencils, jar lids, toilet paper rolls and paint brushes.  To get the "drippage", as Donna Downey calls it, at the top of the page, I stood my journal up and scraped paint from a loaded paintbrush onto the top of the page.  I then misted it lightly with water (over rags or paper towels!) until I liked the result.  I love how the mists blended with the white paint:

This stamp has one of my favourite sayings:

Trust in your potential, enjoy the process, try something new, 

explore possibilities but most of all, believe.

Lastly, I stamped the heart/wings image on white cardstock, coloured with my Spectrum markers and fussy cut it out.  I stamped a second image and coloured and fussy cut the heart only, attaching it to the other image for some dimension.  I love the contrast of the turquoise with the pink/orange of the background.

One of Lisa's requirements was to include a photo of ourself, and I do have my starting photo, but I couldn't find it in the mess I call a desk!  I am hoping to add both the "before" and "after" photos to the front page, when finished!

I hope you will join the rest of our Inspiration Elevator team to see what word best reflects their plans for change and growth in 2013.

Lisa Spiegel

Joanne Burton

Christa Uttley

Laura Whitaker

Audrey Yeager

Lisa Moen

Laurel Seabrook

Ann Jobes

Cathy Harper

Sue Sykes {- you are here!

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenge on my blog for a chance to win:

Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)