Midweek Makeover

This month, the sketch challenge is along the left-hand column. It is a different type of layout for me and as I said in the blurb, I was inspired by some other very popular, single-photo layouts. This is one of them. Please forgive me, though; I don't have the name of the designer to credit! I had saved this in a file just for my own inspiration, and inspire me it has! I wanted to show you what inspired this sketch and my own take on the layout. So if anyone knows from whence this layout came - the website or the designer - please let me know. I really want to always give credit where credit is due!

Now anyone who knows me, knows that I am a self-proclaimed CTMH snob! I have rarely used any other supplies in any of my artwork since I started my business in October of 2004. But for this layout, I ACTUALLY splurged and used some embellishments that my mom got me before my CTMH career started. The blue jean jacket, bandana, and pockets are from Joleyn's. The papers that I used were from a limited edition from last winter. I've had so many comments on the paper that I'm hoping desperately to see it or something like it become part of the regular line! I used paper strips and ribbons to criss-cross the background design. Outdoor Denim organdy, Colonial White, and Outdoor Denim striped ribbon were clipped and sanded to fray. All the paper was sanded and after looking at it, I'm thinking I should add some eyelets or brads in pewter.

Midweek Makeover

This is the end of the month, and we have a winner in the sketch challenge for July. Even though all the entries received votes, this didn't end up being near as close as I thought it would be. The winner, for the second month in a row is Cindy with her layout entitled, "God's Gift."

Some of the comments she received included:

• I love the "feel" the page gives and the artwork just "fits."
• I really love the simplicity of (it). I would have never used paper garden like that in a monochromatic page. This has inspired me to relook at that set.
• I was immediately drawn to it!

These two layouts were offered by Maria and Shellie, both of them new to our little challenge, but certainly not new to the artistry of our craft. I love how in both cases, the pictures dance with the other elements perfectly!

Brandy took the challenge with this great layout from a cruise. She added shells from a necklace and stitched it together with Citrus Leaf Sassy Strands. She even graced us with a companion piece of her own, shown below.

There were several comments about all the layouts as well.

• All the layouts are so amazing!
• Thanks for sharing!
• It was really hard to choose the best one!
• They are all really nice!
• I love the dimension on the layouts
• There is such a wonderful job with the colors!

August challenge sketch will be up soon! Won't you consider joining us??

Mid-week Makeover

June Sketch Challenge Results!


You might remember seeing this sketch posted in the left margin. This was the June sketch that I offered and challenged my customers to create their own layouts using it.

We had 3 great entries seen below. The consultants that voted LOVED them and I've posted some of their comments as well. Not everyone who voted left a comment, but the vote was very close! Only one vote made the difference this month.

And the winner is . . . "Crazy Cousins" by Cindy Hardy!

This layout was made using some darling pictures that Cindy took during the difficult time when her family gathered together just before her mom passed away. Cindy has some awesome lifetime memories and I'm looking forward to seeing her creations all summer long!

• It just flows with the eyes very easily.
• The title tied in so well with the photos – crazy faces, crazy actions – yes, crazy cousins.
• My pick would be A, because of the appealing color scheme
• The first one exuded enthusiasm and really showed the 'personality' of the papers as well as the pics.
• Wonderful job !
• They stepped out of the box & made the sketch their own.
• This is so cute!

Brandy, who made the "Brotherly Love" layout, is an amazing scrap-booker. She can visualize her layout faster than anyone I know and even put together 87 of them at the last retreat we had! With her two sons graduating next May she has a LOT of scrap-booking to do and she is just the gal to do it!

Kevin, who created "Springtime," is new to scrap-booking but you would never know it! She owns a beautiful little florist in Addison called "May Flowers and Gifts." A lot of her layouts have to do with her business - arrangements, special occasions, and, of course, gorgeous weddings, so that she can show her clients real examples of her work. She has always been a true artist with her floral creations and now it is spreading to her scrap-booking creations!

• All the projects were great!
• Ok --- my vote…wow, this is hard….they each have good points about them.
• First of all I wanted to say that I love all three of these designs!
• They are all beautiful!
• Great use of color and techniques!
• They are all lovely!
• I really like how they used the sketch to scrapbook some difficult (at least for me) pictures.
• Nice, clean with sharp images and not too busy.

Be sure to check out the July sketch challenge on the left hand section. I'd love to see your take on this layout!

In case you are interested, I have also added my samples below. The first is my sample of the challenge sketch, but I've also added a companion sketch and samples of that as well.

:-)

Challenge Art

I started to just delete this from the right-hand section, but I really don't want to delete all my challenges. I decided I would just move them over when the month was over and the new sketch challenge begins. I didn't have any takers on this challenge, but I will post all the collected art along with the sketch each month - giving full credit, of course. If you are a consultant with CTMH, please feel free to join my challenges for bragging rights. (CTMH consultants will be voting on the challenges.) If you are a consultant with another creative company, you're invited, too. Even though I'm rather a CTMH snob (not the snooty kind, just the don't-use-any-other-products kind), I don't want to be exclusive on this site! All ideas are delightfully welcome!

March's sketch information: This was fun to do, but it takes a very long time to complete. Mine had to dry over the whole weekend before I was able to finish it.

First stamp the front of the transparency card (make a sharp fold in the middle of a 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 sheet) using White pigment ink. I used White Daisy ink from Close to My Heart. I also used CTMH stamp sets for the background, "Victorian Snowflakes" and "Playful Flourishes". Set that aside to dry completely.

While it is drying, stamp a 3 x 4 white card with a snowy scene. I used a limited edition CTMH stamp set, but any snowy scene or items will do great.

Also, stamp a sentiment on a light blue 4 x 4 1/2 card. That will go on the inside of the back of the card. Cut one other card, a dark blue one, measuring 3 1/2 x 4 1/4. This one will go on the inside of the front of the card.

Once the card is dry, assemble it putting the white card on the front, and placing the dark and light card on the inside of the card in such a way that they create a mat for the white card.