A lot of layouts

Hi to all of you,

I'm back with a massive update again. The first thing I have to tell you is that I didn't make it this year to finish the competition. I was really bummed that I couldn't complete it.
I was just too busy with work this year. In advance I thought I would be able to make it, just like last year. But I bit off more than I could chew this time. So, when I was about half way, I had to give up.
Nontheless I did create quite a few things which I want to share with you. Here they are.


SISTERS BY BLOOD, FRIENDS BY CHOICE

The first thing I want to share with you is a small canvas. I recently bought some new colours of quality acrylic paint and wanted to try them. I actually do love them in this combination. This canvas was inspired by Donna Downey.

WHAT SCREWS UP MOST IN LIFE...

Then I still had quite some paint on my palette and couldn't just throw it out. So I decided to use it in my art journal. The basics are the same, but this time the quote was the most important thing on this layout.

IT'S A BIG BIG WORLD

This assignment was the biggest challenge for me. I had to work with a sketch. Although I have used sketches in the past, I can't work with them anymore. I actually think they limit your creativity if you really have to stick to them.
This sketch was not really my style which made it even more difficult to finish this layout. But eventually I did finish it. It is not my best work ever, but I can live with it.

PELICANS

Then there was this other huge challenge. Use the ugliest paper you have and make your prettiest layout ever. Well, that didn't really work out. But I love that I only used my own handmade flowers on this layout.

NO TITLE

For this assigment we weren't allowed to use words on the layout, but had to use at least 5 letters. Although this is really difficult for me, because I LOVE words, I also like the challenge.
I have to be honest and confess that I'll probably add some words (a title and some words on the banner).

TASTE SOME

The last layout is one I really like. All we had to do is use banners. I decided to use a lot. :) I also really like the mask by TCW I used in combination with some gesso.

Well, that was all for now. Of course I'll be back soon for some more work. Enjoy the nice weather! :D

Love,
Marjan

Hi there,

I'm back with a major update. I'm currently participating in a fun scrap competition by Creabest. We get an assignment every day for 25 days in a row. It started on June 1th (which was my birthday) and we have to have everything completed by June 30th.
I'm already behind on schedule because of my birthday, but I'm on my way. For now, I want to share with you my first few projects.

The assignment here was: Create a layout with 'ombre' (varying shades of a tone) in it. You can see this in the background paper and in the butterflies (although this isn't as obvious due to the photo.



The next assignment was: Create a gift bag or box with at least three flowers and two papers on it.



The following thing we had to do was create a layout with at least five doilies on it. I used this paper by Pink Paislee for that one. It has resist doilies on it and that was perfect for this assignment.



The last one I am going to share with you today is a layout with embossing on it. For this assignment I made another page to go in my Rome mini album, which now is finally almost done. ;)



I'll share more with you soon. Now I'm going to work on my favorite assignment so far: use paint! ;)

Love,
Marjan

A walk in the woods

Hello to all of you,

I'm back with a new layout. I always like layouts on which two small photo's are included which look alike. So, when I saw I had two photo's which are almost the same, I decided to make a layout with these.

It is quite a simple layout. I used a patterned paper by Basic Grey as a basis which I misted with Tattered Angels Chalkboard mist Apricot. Then I put my matted photo's on it and slided some tags and piece of paper underneath. I also put a pink felt border underneath it all.
On top of all that, I've put some resisted canvas leaves by Prima. I misted these with TA Key Lime Pie. That way they kind of matched the felt thickers I used for the title. On the smallest leaf, I placed a homemade flower which I misted with TA glimmer mist Turquoise Blue.
The journaling was just written on the base paper. Finally I added a tag with the date on it and then I thought it was done.
Please leave your comment below. I could really use some suggestions.

Love,
Marjan

mini album: my favorite things

Good afternoon everybody (or good morning, or good evening),

I'm back with a lot of photo's. :D I always love to share new projects with all of you. I myself always get inspired by the projects other people make. So, I hope I can inspire some of you as well.

A few weeks ago I shared my unfinished mini album with you. I made the base of this album during a workshop by Birgit Koopsen. It was so much fun and a lot of work. Now, I decided to finish it. First, I had to decide which theme I wanted for my mini. I decided to put in all my favorite things right now. I like it this much, that I am planning on making a mini with the same theme every year or so. Then I can keep track of the things that I liked to do during several periods in my life.
So, every spread got one big picture (as it was intended by Birgit). Some things were hard to capture in a photo (like hanging out with my friends and family). But I think it is okay like this.
Then I decided to put my journaling on small strips, just to keep things cohesive. I added titles and embellishments (most of which we made during the workshop as well). And this is the result:

I'm also working on a new layout. I'll share this one with you soon. And my Rome mini album is getting filled more and more as well. So, please come back to see the results of that.

Have a good day!

Love,
Marjan

heart of strings

Hi everyone,

I'm back after a busy period. My sister married the love of her life last Friday. And I was the master of ceremonies, which meant that I had quite some things to arrange. Fortunately everything went well and it was a lovely day. :D The bride and groom looked amazing and the weather was great too.

The day before the wedding I created the wedding cake. It was my first tiered cake ever and I was quite tensed. But it turned out okay eventually.
I wanted to upload the picture of it, but then I realised it is not on my computer yet. So, I'll add that one later.

I also wanted to share with you the gift I made for them. I got the idea from Pinterest. It is a wooden board which I painted white. Then I drew a huge heart on a piece of paper. Then I traced this line with hammering in nails every inch or so. Once that was done, I pulled off the paper. After that I put the red string around all the nails randomly. Once I thought I had enough strings, I created an outline so the heart would pop even more.
And then it was time to decorate. You can put anything between the strings. Here I used pictures and an envelop to hold the gift. I will also show you a option without the strings. Then you can hang things from the nails. That also looks cute I think.

That's all for today. I'll show you more next time, but now I really have to go to bed.

I still believe that all you need is love...

love, Marjan

workshops

Hello everyone,

In the last couple of weeks I took some workshops. A few weeks ago I went to Creabest in Ommen. Here I did three lovely mini workshops. A friend of mine went with me and I guess she's really into stamping now too. ;)
The first label I made was created with the use of the new distress markers. It was fun to use these to stamp. And I used a color I rarely use: yellow. And to be honest: I love it! ;)



The next thing I made was this little card. We used a lot of tattered angels products. This time I used my regular color: pink. :D



And the last thing I made was another label. I've put this into my art journal already, so here is a picture of my art journal. Love this page despite the lack of color. :D



I've also created another page in my art journal. It's not one of my favourites, but it is okay. I think I'll redo it some day...



Yesterday, I was at Birgit Koopsen's studio for a full day workshop. It was so much fun. We really created a lot. And I love every bit of it. I'm still in awe when I think of all the bottles of glimmer mist and every color Stazon and Distress ink. It was like heaven. ;p
The best tip she gave was about the new use of black and white paper. When you mist it, you'll only see the mist on the white parts. Duh, I know. But I never really realised that. So, I'm totally gonna pull out all of my black and white paper now to mist it. ;) I'll show you some pictures of the album we created. It is not done yet, but I will finish it soon. Then I'll show you everything.
On the left pages there will be pictures. And I still have to put text and embellishments on the pages. But you'll get an idea of all the techniques we used.







That's all for now. I hope I'll be back soon to show some more. Take care!

Love,
Marjan