September highlights ...

It's that time again this month when we highlight a layout (or two) which has caught our eye over past weeks.  We hope you will find time to join in with us in our colour challenge.

Here are a couple which have caught our eye ...

Raelene Cous

Jannike G Larsson

You still have a couple of days in which to submit an entry and be in the running for some great prizes - we'd love to see your interpretation of our challenge this month.

Team training for September ...

Welcome to our August edition of  Team Training brought to you this month by team member Phillis Walrath.

Each month one of our team will inspire you with a little tutorial, tip or trick to help you in your scrapbooking pursuits.

Making your own background by Phillis Walrath

Today I am going to show you how you can make your own background using stamps, versa mark,  heat  embossing, and ink spray.  I was making the top of my page on a white background.  I used a back side of a colored piece of paper that wasn't my favorite.  I tore the paper so that it was about a third of a 12X12 piece of paper.

I first chose 3 stamps, of various sizes.

Start with the largest stamp.  On white paper stamp with the versa mark in several places.  you can also stamp off the paper (just be sure you have some scrap paper underneath).

Then pour some heat embossing powder onto the paper.  I chose the gold. Pour the excess powder back into the container.

Next use the heat embosser to heat up the gold.  As you see here I now have several gold flowers on  my paper.

Then I use the versa mark with the next biggest flower.  I add another color of heat embossing powder.  I chose white.  Once this has been heated stamp the paper with versa mark and then add a third color or one of the same colors.  I used halogram highlight for my third color.  Heat these flowers. 

Here is my paper with the three flowers.  The middle sized white ones can not be see here.

I waited until these were cool and then I sprayed ink on my paper.  I used a green and yellow.

This paper should be dry before you try to handle it.  You will see that the spray does not  stick to the flowers. 

I wanted to have a contrast in my background so I used purple paper for the rest of my background.  I sprayed gold, silver and white ink on this paper.

I Glues my "white" paper to the top of my purple paper and then added my photo and embellishments.   Here is my final creation.

I hope you give this a try sometime.

Don't forget to have your entry in for our challenge this month.  Some lovely prizes on offer - one prize by vote, another completely by random draw and a guest designer spot with RAK to offer one lucky entrant. You have until 11.55 on the final day of the month to have your submission linked.

Say Hi to our September guest ...

This month we welcome Elaine King from England, UK with her take on our inspiration image for September. 

 I used the black and yellow of the bee as my first inspiration and then also knew I wanted to include an insect in my layout. I had this photo from a couple of years back that I have been keen to scrap since then but as it is a striking photo it was difficult to know how best to use it. 

I first took the black CS and cut the star/flower on my Silhouette Cameo. I then added the purple, yellow and green papers behind each 'petal'. I deliberated long and hard about whether to have a title or not but in the end I went with a purple tissue paper butterfly instead let the photo speak for itself.  The little orange flowers were stamped, heat embossed then punched using Stampin' Up Petite Petals stamp set and punch. 

Hi..I'm Elaine and I live at home with my lovely husband, of 36 years, Mark, and our three dogs. I have two adult sons one of whom is married to my lovely daughter in law and they have a gorgeous baby daughter, Amber who was born in March 2015 and is the light of my life. I have recently taken early retirement and I am now enjoying more time spent doing what I love.. scrapbooking and mixed media and of course, playing with Amber!  I also dabble in a little card making from time to time too. I love meeting new people through this hobby, both online and in person and I just love this crafting community. 

Please visit me on my blog - http://chidkids26.blogspot.co.uk

Here are a few of my recent projects ...

Thank you for joining the team during September Elaine.  It has been a pleasure having you with us :).

Everyone has until the end off the month to play along with our Pixels and Paper challenge. We'd love to see how you are inspired by our colour challenge.

Next week we have something special to share with you from a member of our design team.  Please call past on the 22nd for some Team Training.

August winners ...

Thank you for playing along with us during August.

We were working from this photograph ...

CRITERIA - The use of tiny embellishments

While our main monthly prize is selected by creative team vote, one of our monthly prizes is completely done via random draw so anyone, regardless of style or years of experience can be a winner here on Pixels and Paper - you just need to have an entry in :)

Our MAIN winner for August is Gocchi - what an amazing layout, we all loved it!!

We would like to invite Sandra Scott to guest with us in October and will send her a small prize for her efforts.

and our random draw winner is #1 Monia

Ladies, please email me @ jjjustjane@bigpond.com

 with your address and I will make sure your prize gets away to you.

Please pop back on the 15th when we introduce you to our guest designer for this month.

And don't forget you have until the end off the month to play along with us with our challenge.  You may combine with a sketch challenge only.

We'd love to see how you are inspired by our photograph this month !! 

Hello September ...

Welcome to September and hopefully the start of some warmer weather.  I love Spring so bring it on I say!!

This month we have a colour challenge for you  but as always please find other inspiration from our image as you would like - you might like to focus on flowers or include some insects on your page.  Perhaps you would like to do a spring related page - whatever inspires you about our image, please share it with us.

Our team have some fantastic layouts to inspire you ...

KAREN

I've taken the inspiration at face value going with the bee theme. I took a bunch of photographs on an outing to the park earlier this year, experimenting with my camera settings and not ever intending to print the photographs. I'm so glad I kept the photographs now!

DI

This month, besides the colour palette, I have also chosen to use photographs of flowers. I my case, waterlilies, which themselves showcase the colour palette perfectly. This is a series taken  to include close-ups of the flower structure.  I've also tried something new for me.. layering pages to form a small album on the layout.

DEB

is having a small break this month but will be back with us in October

LYNNE

 I was inspired by the flower theme and added a bee to my page as well...and I just happened to have gorgeous papers in my stash with purple, yellow, and green in them! :)

PHILLIS

I was immediately drawn in by the flower. I used my only purple flower and lots of smaller yellow and white flowers. I loved working with these 3 colors.

REBECCA

I was inspired by the large flower

JANE

I don't think any guesses are needed to work out where my inspiration came from - bees - you have got to love them!

and introducing a brand new member to our team

SHAZZA

 I  took my inspiration from the colour palette and used a bee quote and added a bee! Title is Skyla, you are the bees knees!

NOW IT IS UP TO YOU ...

Please upload the DIRECT link to your actual entry to the link tool on the LEFT by 11.55pm on September 30th.

You are welcome to submit traditional paper layouts, art journals, divided page protectors, smash books, a mixed media canvas. Digital entries are welcomed and encouraged.  All entries must be new for this challenge and no back-linking please.

  You may combine with a sketch challenge only - no other combining will be accepted. Please include our inspirational picture as well as provide a link back to Pixels and Paper on your blog post and don't forget to tell us how you were inspired. International submissions are welcome.

This year we will have two main prize packs - one will be selected by Creative Team vote and the other purely by random draw - so anyone could be a winner, no matter your style or your level of experience.  All these prizes will be available to anyone, no matter your country of residence.  We will also offer one entrant a chance to guest with us for the following month and they will also receive a small prize.

Please come back on the 8th when we will announce our winners for August.