This is the start of an inspiration patch, where I hope that fellow scrappers and creators will come and find some inspiration, or even leave some inspiration for me.

Monday 7 March 2016

Graphic 45 Design Team Audition 2016

Hello Everyone

I am so excited with this post! This is the first time that I am ever applying for the Graphic 45 Design Team.  It's really thrilling for me! ;-)

I am going to showcase 3 projects and a tutorial.

Firstly I have a journal page, which I created not too long ago, using the Times Nouveau Collection from Graphic 45.


I am a HUGE mixed media fan and so many of my projects include this.
The sentiment is also one of my favourites! ;-)

Secondly, here is a layout that I created for one of the Scrap Africa challenges!


I still absolutely adore this collection, it is really one of my favourites! ;-)

My last project, is an off the page project, which was actually a gift for my Mother, for last years Mother's Day.  It was a really special project for me.


This tutorial for this post is also the tutorial for the above project.

Tutorial - Altered Book Canvas

Supplies Used:
Canvas Board – Pro-Art – Size can vary and is dependant on the size of your book.
1 x Old Book
Moment in Time Papers by Graphic 45
Cardstock – 2 shades of green
Chipboard Leaves – Celebr8
Scarab Beetle & Circles Chipboard – UmWow Studio
Wood Textured stamp – BoBunny
Resin Heart - Prima
Purple Flowers – Petaloo
1 x Distress Paint – Gathered Twigs – Tim Holtz
1 x Water Spritz Bottle
Acrylic Gesso
Paintbrush
Distress Inks –Walnut Stain
VersaMagic Chalk Ink– Jumbo Java
2 x Leaf Die Cuts
Acrylic Paint – White and Greens
Sticker Title – Mother
White Craft Glue
1x sheet A4 paper

Instructions:

1. We start with the old book that we are going to recycle.  Find, approximately, the middle of the book and then really bend the book open, so that there is a good crease in the seam of the book.


2. Take a good amount of white craft glue and cover both the front and back cover with glue and stick the open book down, onto the middle of the canvas.  Place a heavy object over the book, so that the covers can dry flat onto the canvas. Allow this to dry.
3. Tear the A4 paper in half.  Put the 2 ends together and glue them but do not fold.  Now place this about 2 to 3 pages down, from the centre of the book, with the rounded end towards the seam of the book.  This allows for the book pages above it to stand up slightly.  Glue this piece in place, as well as the book pages, to keep them puffed up. See photo below.


4. For extra support, glue some of the pages near the book covers down, as well.
Take a paint brush and now gesso the canvas, along with the book, covering the ends of the pages, so that they stay down mostly and the middle of the book.  Leave some of the writing visible, as this adds to the feel of the project.  The gesso acts like a glue and seals everything down.  Make sure that you especially cover the areas in and around the book covers.  If there is too much colour on the original book covers, then make sure that you whiten out the colouring with the gesso. Allow this to dry. See photo below.


5. Once the gesso is completely dry, take some Gathered Twigs Paint and mix in a fair amount of water. Mix 1 part paint to 10 parts water, approximately.  Now cover your entire canvas, book edges and book centre with this paint/water mix.  Leave some of the writing visible on the page.
If you find your mix is to dark, use a paper towel to wipe some of the paint off or spritz some water on to lighten in.  You don’t want an even colouring, as you are creating an “aged” feel, so some parts must be lighter and some parts darker. Allow this to dry.
See photo below.


6. Make sure to also colour your resin piece (in this case I used a heart) with this mixture.
Now add some stamping with the wood grain/textured stamp, all around the book, on the canvas, using Walnut Stain Distress Ink. At the same time, use the Jumbo Java pigment ink to colour the edges of the canvas and also the edges of the book pages. Allow this to dry.
See photo below.


7. So now one can start adding some papers and embelishments. I firstly cut out and stuck down the patterned papers from Graphic 45 – Moments in Time.  You can use any pretty patterned papers. Turn their edges up to give them an “aged” feel.  Don’t cover the entire book, as it is nice to see some of the printed writing too. Remember to ink all the paper edges with Walnut Stain Distress ink or the Jumbo Java pigment ink.
8. I cut up the Celebr8 leaf chipboard pieces, into smaller bits, so as to trail all the pieces down, from the right hand page, over the centre of the book and then down to the left page. I stuck these down with glue and then coloured them with different shades of acrylic green paint and then highlighted them with white acrylic paint. I then added the Petaloo flowers down this cascading chipboard leaves. Glue these down with glue.
9. Die-cut some leafy bits with the leaf die-cuts from the green cardstock.  Use these are fillers between the chipboard pieces and blooms.  Allow the glue to dry.
10. Lightly add some gesso over your flowers and leaves, with a paintbrush to add highlights.
Stick down your resin pieces and your other little chipboard fillers.  They can be coloured with paints or pigment inks.
11. Lastly add a title for your project.  In this case I used the sticker “Mother” but can be substituted with any title or theme. The final result are the photo's below.


Here's another look at the completed project.


 I really do love Graphic 45 goodies and I would really love to be a part of their team! ;-)
So please hold thumbs for me and let's see what happens! ;-)

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!
Have a super Monday!
Denise x


38 comments:

  1. good luck Denise! your projects are great!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Denise, oh I truly hope you get to their team, you would suit perfectly!! Thumbs up from me!

    ReplyDelete
  3. GOOD LUCK! Your projects showcase the G45 collections to perfection! You are such a brill 'shabby vintage' scrapper:):) ADORE your 'book' & the tutorial was really easy to follow:)!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good luck, Denise!) Beautiful mixed media projects!)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your projects are all so unique, creative, and beautiful Denise! Best of luck! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. These look so beautiful.. I really love the book.. all the best with you application.. I hope you get it..

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lovely projects Denise - you show case G45 beautifully. Especially love the shabby chic book with the purple and lavender accents. I smiled at the "Hold thumbs for me", I guess it means something like our Aussie, "I'll keep my fingers crossed for you". Either way Good luck. :D

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Denise, good luck on making the G45 DT!!! Those projects are amazing! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and your lovely comments!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Best wishes for your Design Team Audition...I am pretty sure you are nailing it xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love your beautiful creation with G45 collection, good luck with the audition!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lovely projects. The last one is my favourite! I wish you all the best with audition.

    Have a great day!
    Aleksandra

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Aleksandra! Much appreciated! ;-)

      Delete
  12. Wow, your mixed media work is so incredible! What a great tutorial, too. We are so honored that you have auditioned to be on our Design Team! Thank you for all your creativity and inspiration. Happy Papercrafting, Charee and Joanna from Graphic 45

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Charee! I am tickled pink and so excited to have made the TOP 30! ;-)

      Delete
  13. So beautiful work, congratulations and good luck for us for the second round.
    Fingers crossed.
    Regards from Brasil.
    Andrea

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Andrea! ;-) Much appreciated! ;-)

      Delete
  14. Best wishes on your final audition, Denise! You are very talented!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks ever so much Gloria! Much appreciated! xx

      Delete
  15. Love your floral display on the altered book...gorgeous! Good luck...hope you make the final DT for G45!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks ever so much Martie! Much appreciated! ;-)

      Delete
  16. Congratulations on making the Top 30! Your work is lovely! Wishing you all the best!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Yay Denise! Big congrats on making it through the first round!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Congratulations on making the Top 30! Your work is lovely :) Wishing you all the best! xoxo Aneta

    ReplyDelete
  19. WOW!!!! Congrats Denise!!!!! Good luck!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Denise, Congratulations on making the top 30! I know what you are feeling right now! I love your mixed media pieces particularly the journal. So pretty. It will be exciting to see everyones' final submission. Good luck to us all for the second round! Hugs Helen x

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congratulations - gorgeous creativity - all the best for the next round.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Love you beautiful projects and that book is amazing! Congratulations on top 30 and good luck to you and all of us! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Congratulations on making the Top 30!
    Lovely projects :)
    Good luck in the final round:)
    Greetings, Padoriaa

    ReplyDelete