Inspiration Elevator - Challenge 12

Welcome to another Inspiration Elevator reveal!  We are thrilled to celebrate the end of our first year of Inspiration Elevator challenges and are anticipating that the second year will see that creative growth continue to go UP!

To celebrate our first anniversary and our fabulous designers, Christa and Ann decided to challenge the designers to take an in-depth look at a fellow designer's artistic portfolio via her blog, choose elements from that designer's creations and then incorporate them into her own work.  In other words, we are encouraging a scrapLIFT!  Rather than a mere copy of someone else’s work, this is a stylistic scraplift that should inspire each designer to grow creatively as she is inspired, yet remain true to her own style.

As the second year of this creative journey begins, and as the popularity of Inspiration Elevator increases, we have created a new blog for our Inspiration Elevator Challenges.  So, if you want to play along you can find the challenges and links to the inspiration all in one place!  To celebrate our first year, our hopping will incorporate RAKs along the way – how exciting!  Now, before you go hopping along, we want to let you know of a few personnel changes.

While we are so excited to welcome back most of our original design team members for Year Two, we are saddened to be saying goodbye to Audrey Yeager.  Audrey has creatively embraced every challenge over the past year, and has been a super part of our design team over the past 12 months.  We hope you will continue to stop by her blog and see her gorgeous creations.  Thank you, Audrey, for sharing our journey – we are grateful for you!

We are very pleased to announce a new member to our design team.  Join us as we welcome Jodi Wilton!!  Jodi's design style is happy and whimsical and we are looking forward to sharing this new year of growth with her and seeing how her creative muse is tickled by our challenges.

Initially, when I was informed that I would be scraplifting Joanne Burton's creations, I was thrilled.  But then, after scrolling through her body of work, the feeling waned a bit....

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE Joanne's work but there were just TOO many that I loved!!  I greatly admire Joanne's style and the ease at which she adds such wonderful details to her layouts.  I am often left with a feeling of "Wow, such a simple idea - and I would have never thought of that!"

After staring at her gorgeous artwork for nearly a month, I finally settled on one to which I was constantly drawn back:

Dream Big by Joanne Burton

I have admired these patterned paper starbursts for a while now.  In addition to the kewl starburst, I also loved the additional touches of washi tape and stickers, with the mist drops and border punches.

Here's my take on Joanne's layout:

Supplies used:  Bazzill cardstock; DCWV patterned papers; My Little Shoebox and Chatterbox alpha stickers; Martha Stewart Crafts border punches; Riff Raff Designs chipboard tree; Recollections and unknown washi tape; Sakura pen; miscellaneous watercolour paints; doilies, buttons, bling, tissue paper.

My layout is pretty much lifted directly from Joanne's - I didn't change much.  Why?  Because I am of a mind where "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"  I did move the title down and shifted the cluster to the top right of the photo, but for the most part, this was based entirely on her design.

I know you all have product in your stash that you can't bear to part with (Right?  Or is that just me!?!)  I have had these white Chatterbox letters for about 8 years!! I've used them a few times, but only the capital letters.  I'm so glad I kept them because they are perfect for this title.  I think I may add a little stitching through the title though, to make sure the adhesive sticks, as I notice the "i" is starting to lift.

I doubled up some tissue paper and free-handed a cloud.  I then crumpled it to add some texture and added it to the layout with staples.

My favourite part of the layout is this curlicue tree from the sadly now defunct, Riff Raff Designs.  Another oldie but goodie from my stash!

Thanks, Joanne, for the wonderful inspiration!  Love ya!

We mentioned RAKs or giveaways at each designer’s blog this month, since we’re celebrating our first year.  And so to thank our lovely Inspiration Elevator followers, I'm going to offer a yummy prize to a lucky reader!  Simply spread the message about our Inspiration Elevator on your blog or social media sites and add a link below to your announcement by 11:59pm on April 22nd and I will enter you into a draw for a RAK!  The winner will be announced on my blog on April 24th.

As well, please read each designer’s instructions regarding the giveaway as they will vary.  We will post a final list of all winners on April 24^th on the Inspiration Elevator blog, so be sure to pop back, and if you create something based on this month’s challenge, please link it up on the IE blog!

Here's a list of my fellow other designers - please be sure to leave them some love, too!

Christa Uttley

Laura Whitaker

Audrey Yeager

Lisa Moen

Laurel Seabrook

Ann Jobes

Cathy Harper

Lisa Spiegel

Joanne Burton

Jodi Wilton

Inspiration Elevator

Cheers,

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

Sketchy Challenge:  April 2013 (deadline:  Apr 30/13)
Leave Your Legacy: Embrace Change (deadline:  May 31/13)