Sunflower

I've had this layout ready for a bit now, but haven't yet blogged about it. So, here it is!


I made this layout for my CRII monthly challenge. The challenge was to make a layout based on this sketch.

I used hardly any papers for this layout, just some Kraft and yellow cardstock and some TLC green patterned paper from a 6"x6" paper pad that I had in my stash. I also used three little dragon fly brads, and some Tim Holtz plain grungeboard alphas for the title. I coloured the alphas using bronze Versamark ink. I also inked around the sides of all the papers.

I made the flower embellishments myself. They were made from three different kaleidoscopes I made from the subject picture. I printed them off on 4"x6" (10cmx15cm) photo paper, cut them out, and then layered them on top of each other. I put them in the palm of my hand and rubbed in a circular fashion in the centre of them to make them pop up a bit. after making sure that the points were all offset, I used a small yellow brad to attach them to the page. I actually couldn't decide whether I liked the three layers or not, so one of them is just two photo kaleidoscopes on top of a yellow cardstock scalloped circle that I made with my Stampin Up! scallop circle punch. Do you know which one?

The only problem with using the scallop circle is that there are more points on my kaleidoscope than there are on the scallop circle so they don't quite line up right.

The photograph was taken on our trip to New Zealand in January. On touring around the north island we saw quite a lot of fields bounded by a row of sunflowers. The bright yellow of the flowers against the green crop, in this case corn, was just too good a photograph to turn up, so we stopped at the side of the road and I took my picture. This one was to the north of Waitomo Caves, on our way to Hamilton.

I thought I'd post a freebie for you too! If you want to make your own layered kaleidoscope embellishment, just right click on the photo and click on "Save Picture as" to save it. You can then print it at your regular print shop, or on your home printer and cut out the pieces and make this too. It's scaled to fit a 4"x6" (10x15cm) print. I'd love to see what you use it on, and how you use it so please leave me comment and/or link. If you want to see more of my kaleidoscopes you can see them on my website: www.MemoriesInKaleidoscope.com

If you've seen my previous posts about my CRII monthly challenges, you'll know that as well as the layout challenge, there is also a card challenge. This month's card sketch was this one. I went through my stamp collection and found one (from Stampin Up! 'A little Bit of Happiness' set) that was the right shape and then designed the card around that. I stamped the design with Stayzon, then coloured it in with watercolour pencils. I masked the rest of the stamp so that I could stamp just the part that said hello onto the tag, and coloured that in with the watercolour pencils as well. I added a strip of yellow cardstock and a floss bow and voila, a finished card! It was really quick and easy, and I like how it turned out.

I've just discovered that an online friend, Ingeborg, has her own competition blog! Ingeborg and I were both in the same group of consultants who used to sell TLC scrapbooking products. The group had it's own online MSN group where we would all share ideas and inspiration and help each other when someone had a question. Ingeborg also started her own online store selling scrapbooking supplies, but then she moved from Australia back to her native country, the Netherlands so stopped her business. It was a sad time as there were a large number of people who regularly "met" on her forum. But now, I've rediscovered her beautiful work on her blog. You really should have a look as she does the most wonderful layouts.

I digress however. The point was that Ingeborg also runs a monthly layout competition from her second blog, and she even has prizes! She picks the winner using a random number generator so everyone has an equal chance of winning - much fairer all around I think. So anyway, being one who likes to "kill two birds with one stone" so to speak, I entered my sunflower layout in her competition as well. Mostly it was because I only had 2 days before the end of the month and no time to make another layout. I intend to do better this month!

Well folks - I think that's it for today, other than to tell you that the kaleidoscope with the yellow scallop circle is the one at the bottom of the layout in case you were wondering. Till next time, happy days!