Graphic 45 Design Team 2013 Audition

Didn't see that coming, huh?

A few months ago, I got a package with some brand new Graphic 45 papers. I opened it, and it hit me. You know, that scent of new, freshly printed Graphic 45 papers. I swear, there's no other brand out there that smells even half as good as Graphic 45. It wasn't just the scent that hit me, but also the notion that I need to give it another go, and try to get on that design team once again. So, here goes. I'm taking the plunge.

I've got seven brand new projects to showcase for this audition. The first one is a layout with a mixed media background, featuring Once Upon a Springtime.

Next up is a layout, also with mixed media background, where I've used papers from the Olde Curiosity Shoppe Collection, and some metal decorations from the Staples Collection.

 The next one also features papers and cut out butterflies from the Olde Curiosity Shoppe Collection:

I have two canvases to show too, the first one fairly simple with Once Upon a Springtime:

The second canvas is embellished with some metal flowers and chipboard buttons from the Staples Collection, and letter stickers from the Olde Curiosity Shoppe Collection.

I just had to make a spread in my art journal too, with some G45 stamps, and various Staples stickers. The patterned papers are from the Curtain Call collection. I had no idea where I was going with this spread when I started, but it turned out a tribute to Graphic 45. That's what I love about art journaling - when you start you never can tell where it's going to end.

 And last, but not least, a clean & simple-style card, featuring papers from Curtain Call and Le Cirque. Voila:

 It IS a bit scary, putting myself out there again, but I simply can't miss out on this chance. Graphic 45 is one of the best DTs to be on, and even though I know the chance is very slim, the dream of making it came true once, proving that amazing things can happen, so what's there to lose?

Have a fabulous day, everyone, and I would really appreciate if you could spend at least a couple of seconds of it keeping your fingers crossed for me. Thanks :)
//Jenny

My Heart of Joy projects

I participated in Inzpira Magazine's Heart of Joy contest earlier this year. I really loved the challenges, and I ended up in 8th place in the contest. That made me really proud, and I just realized I haven't showed you any of the things I made for the challenges. So, here goes.

For the first challenge, I created a spread in my art journal, made from an old schoolbook. I went a little crazy with my mists and pens, and I used quite a lot of techniques with paper, for instance drawing, fussy cutting, paper weaving, etc.

The birch tree was actually in the book when I started. I coated the pages with gesso, but I made sure not to leave the tree, because it fit so perfectly into the theme for my pages, and I really liked it.

I cut out a hole in the page, and kind of lifted it a bit with 3D-dots from the page behind. That's where I placed my photo, of the farmhouse. I also coated all of the embellishments with gesso, to make them blend in and stand out at the same time.

For my second project, I went bezerk with a big canvas. First, I covered it with pages from an old bible (yeah, blasphemy, I know... but to my defence, it was falling apart already). Then I started layering - multi medium, modelling paste, gesso, acrylic paint, watercolor, mists, aluminum foil, masks, embellishments, metal, chipboard etc...

I also covered the edges and worked my way around them using even more paints and inks, and embellishments. There is a lot of texture on this canvas, and I relaly like how it turned out. It still sits on the shelf above the couch, where I photographed it, and I think it will stay there.

And for my third project... well, let's just say I'm not happy with that one. Not at all. It didn't turn out the way it was supposed to, but I didn't have any time left to make something else before the deadline. I just felt wrong, somehow, and wasn't happy at all about sending it in. So, I'm not going to bother you with it...

OK, it's time to hit the sack. Today has been a long day filled with things to do, and tomorrow will just as intense, I suppose.

Good night!

Creative JumpStart 2013



I happened to join in with Natalie Kalbach's Creative JumpStart 2013, and so far, there's been some amazing input there. After watching today's video, this is what I did, using masks and different techniques to create the background. I know, the photo isn't all that great, but you'll forgive me for that, right?

My studio is such a mess right now, and I suppose I will have some serious cleaning up to do before the next video is posted tomorrow.

Have a great night, everyone!

Let's live a colorful life

Here's another challenge from the cybercrop at Mollys. The challenge was to be inspired by this photo, and the twist was not to add anything straight.

I chose to make a full spread in my art journal, where I was inspired by the colors, and the building. I primed the pages with gesso, built up some texture with a brick wall mask and some texture paste, and then I used Distress reinkers to paint my brick walls. After that I added some embellisments, more gesso, and glimmer mist in various colors. I also mixed up some mist of my own from the Distress reinkers to fully match the colors of my brick walls.

I also added some crackle accent, doodling and my fav little stamp, and voila, a spread that is totally unlike me, but it was extremely inpiring to make, and it made me go even further on another art journal project, which I'm extremely happy about, but that I cannot show you just yet. You know, how one thing leads to another, and then you are suddenly sitting in a room which is covered in mists and paints, and you find yourself covered in it too...

I think I'm finally going to go put together that other art journal that I've been thinking of making for ages. I've got the cover all ready, just need to add some pages to it... Luckily, there are still a few days left of the Christmas break, so I have plenty of more time for being creative.

My second art journal page!

I'm back with a very short post for you today with another spread in my art journal.Yes, I am getting braver like that.

I've used some papers and elements from the Fleamarket collection from Riddersholm Design, and tons of blue glimmer mist.

OK, that's all. I have a busy day tomorrow, so I'd better hit the sack!

Take care!

Oh, and by the way... I do appreciate a little comment once in a while, so I can check back with you, and see who's visiting ;)

My first art journal page!

Yes, I did check my temperature. No, it's not too high. I just remembered how fun it is to write on this blog.

OK, so a while ago, I was brave enough to share my first art journal page at Scraplagret's blog. And now I think I'm brave enough to share it here too. My art journal is in fact an old school anthology, which had been outdated and was about to being thrown away. I rescued it, because the paper in it was fairly thick and sturdy, and I thought the bookprint pages would make a great background to my art journaling attempts. So, to make it even more sturdy, I glued the pages together in pairs, and I also removed a few pages to prevent the book from getting too thick. I will glue and remove even more pages later, as I hopefully fill the book up with paint and other pretty stuff.

I then primed the pages with white acrylic paint, and got down to business with masks, mists, ink, pens, glue and even more white acrylic. This is how it turned out:

Have a nice day, everyone, and happy crafting!

//Jenny