Introducing our final design team member ...

I'm delighted to introduce you to the final member of the Pixels and Paper design team, Alicia Somers.

Hello, I’m Alicia,

I am predominantly a paper scrapbooker, but I am a huge photo editing geek. I love how just a few clicks with my mouse can completely change the focus of a shot, add to the story of a moment, or enhance the mood of the photo. My style is tailored, although I have been branching out recently and adding more “stuff” and over embellishing some layouts just to try my hand at the style that is so popular right now. I began crafting as a kid with my mom, and have been scrapbooking since the 90s when we only had 8 ½”x 11” printed paper. I have a vast variety of techniques that I have picked up over the years from things as simple as creative layering to complex and time consuming quilling pieces.

In the case of the DT call inspiration photo I saw three girly girls who love each other and animals. I saw them living on the edge of the outback on a ranch where they were free to roam the gardens after chores, playing together all day long. I was drawn to the wrought iron chair the youngest was sitting on, which inspired me to use the metal looking corner pieces that I die cut. I wanted to bring focus to the three girls so I cropped and created another photo to use on the page that shows each girl better, and I tinted it pink to bring out a more feminine feel than the black and white shot allows. I kept embellishments to a minimum so that the focus remained on the photo and the story I created for them about how important and close they are to each other. I titled it “Together” because as a girl who grew up in a rural area myself I know nothing is more important than family being together. Journaling reads: Growing up on the ranch at the edge of the wild outback my sisters and I had only each other and our animals for playmates. Our animals are like family, and my sisters and I are the best of friends. Helping out on the ranch, or exploring the gardens we did everything together. I can’t imagine a more perfect way to grow up.

 

 

Here is some more of my work ..

 

 

 

 

 

The close up photos of the baby layout is of a metal foot I handmade, and the other is a tiny foot I drew.  I believe wholeheartedly that I am creating art to leave behind for the future generations and so I do a lot of personalized things like this. I like to put pieces of me into every layout, and even though my handwriting is nothing special I know one day someone will cherish all the handwritten stories I include.

 

Please visit me on my blog http://taylordscrapncraftreview.blogspot.com/ 

 

 

 

 

Introducing the lovely Tone-Lill Angelskar ...

... the second member of our design team.

 

 

My name is Tone-Lill, a young at heart Norwegian  who loves "artsy" stuff and create with papers, scissors  paint and glue. It started with card making, but now it's more or less only Scrapbooking I do. I don't think I have any particular style when it comes to scrapbooking, but I do enjoy trying out new things and ideas.  I love my gesso and misting sprays  making tags and using  different things not meant for scrapping. I  also love colourful projects and use art as inspiration, as well as visiting other blogs for new and fun ideas and connect with other scrap bookers who share the same passion for scrap booking and paper craft.

 I currently live in England and have been here 7 years. I have a son who is 18  and a 12 year old daughter (going on 20) and it is mainly their faces that end up on my layout pages. To me it is a fun and a memorable way to record their lives by scrapbooking events into memories.

I hope you will find inspiration here on this challenge blog and that you will join in on the fun and share something that is special for you.

 

Please see more of my work on my personal blog.

 

Here are some more layouts from Tone-Lill.

 

 

 

Introducing the first of the design team ...

I'm delighted to introduce you to the first member of the Pixels and paper design team, Di Hasthorpe.

 

 

Hi,  I'm Di Hasthorpe. I'm married (almost 40 years) with one son. We live in far north east NSW. I've been scrapping for about 5 years and started my blog last year.

I don't really have a set style, layouts are very much dependent on what mood I'm in and what I've been playing with at the time. I really love experimenting with different mediums and quite often use fibres on my work.

 

I enjoy visiting other blogs and attending classes to see what others are up to. I also enjoy reading (again quite varied, depending on mood, but always thick books... the thicker, the better!), photography (mostly natural environments and wildlife), painting (acrylics and watercolours), travelling in Australia (still heaps to visit), gardening and cooking (focus on gluten-free as I'm a coeliac, and using Australian native plant foods).

I also love catching up with friends and fellow crafters.

 

When I first saw your DT call inspiration photo, my first thoughts went immediately to Mary Grant Bruce's books which I enjoyed as a young teen. These books, so Australian were firm  favourites. I had other books also written by early Australian authors, given to me by my mum. She grew up in  this era, having been born in 1911. My other favourite way of sourcing these books was to visit the local Quota shop on Saturday mornings and searching through their preloved book section, and the joy of finding a bargain for sixpence.

 

Looking at your photo, I wondered who this group was waiting for. Could it be grandparents visiting?  a loved one returning from war?  Is the young girl sitting down nursing a doll?

The setting reminded me of stories mum told, of her early married life, working on share farms and living without any form of electricity, during the Depression. The tumbled-down buildings, overgrown with vegetation was also reminiscent of any area I visited as a teen.. an old , once thriving mining town north west of Tenterfield on the new England tablelands... heaps of old, deserted overgrown buildings.

 

This layout is my take on your photo. This is a photo of my late mother-in-law's family and sadly, the only thing I know is that one of the boys is her father. 

 

 

 

Secondly one is of self taken by a school photographer some years ago 

 

 

 and of an old home in the Midlands region of Tasmania.

 

My blog is: http://mytawnyinspirations.blogspot.com.au/  named for some little feathered friends, tawny frogmouths, which reside in my garden during summer.

 

 

 

 

Welcome to July ...

Firstly you are going to notice we have had a slight name change - my apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.  I noticed a few days ago there was an online magazine out of the US with the same name so in the interests of fair play (and self preservation) I've opted to switch things around now rather than risk having to do so further down the track. 

So a very big welcome to the very first challenge on Pixels and Paper.  It is great to have you join us.  Please make sure you view our rules to familiarise yourself with the how it all works here.

Our July challenge ...

 

When I look at this photograph I see many different things:-

 A child (girl) alone or a child (girl) and her dog (pet),

Someone fishing,

A bridge,

A river or lake on a sunny day,

Hair in plaits,

Rolled up jeans and sneakers,

 

If I look more closely I might see ..

A hand knitted cardigan/sweater (made for love or necessity?),

Intense concentration,

Companionship and/or love,
 

You may well see other things. What story do you wish to tell using this inspiration piece as your starting point?  Please explain this link when you submit your entry.
 

Introducing our inaugural Creative Team and their wonderful interpretations. Please welcome Di Hasthorpe, Tone-Lill Angelskar and Alicia Somers.   I will be presenting each team member individually and in greater detail throughout the month.

 

 

 Di Hasthorpe

used  a photo of her husbands grandfather and his dogs taken at a beach ...

 

 

Tone-Lill Angelskar

 

depicted the love of a girl for her horse

 

 

Alicia Somers

 

recounted a fun-filled day of a family fishing trip

 

 

Jane Howden

 

shows a tiny girl with her own fishing rod

 

 

 

Please upload the DIRECT link to your actual entry with the link tool on the LEFT by 11.55pm on July 31st, 2013. We'd love to see your interpretation of the photograph. 

 

I am still on the lookout for another digital based team member for Pixels and Paper - please contact me if this might be of interest to you.

 

 

A big thank you ...

to those who applied to be on the first design team for Pixels and Paper.  I so appreciate you taking the time to do so.  Decisions are never easy but have to be made so I would like to invite everyone to stop by the blog on the 1st of July when we will reveal the design team along with our very first inspiration.

I am still on the look out for one other design team member who works in the digital format.  If this is you and you would like to be part of the team please email me with your interest.

It's nearly time ...

Last days to get your DT applications in.  Remember I'm not looking for masters or a world of experience - everyone is welcome to apply.  Applications close midnight Friday, 14th.

Welcome to Pixels and Paper Challenge Blog ...

Hello Everyone,

My name is Jane Howden and I have run the ARTastic challenge blog for the past eighteen months. 

This new challenge blog will be a sister blog to ARTastic and is for anybody who likes playing with paper - the real or the digital variety.   It shouldn’t matter whether you are a traditional paper scrapbooker or prefer to create your layouts via software on your computer – scrapbooking is about memory keeping, preserving those photos and stories of our lives and the lives of our loved ones for future generations.  The way you do this isn’t relevant, nor is whether you are a beginner to the craft or someone vastly experienced.  It shouldn’t be about how much product you can afford to use on any given page or if you follow the latest industry trends or not.  It doesn't matter if you scrap 12x12, 8.5x11, 6x6, in plastic page dividers, smash books or art journals.  It should be about enjoying what you do while you do it !!

 

Pixels and Paper challenges will be released on the 1^st of the month and you will have the entire month to submit your entry.  Your inspiration will come from public domain vintage photography and you are welcome to interpret this any way you wish just so long as you explain how the photograph inspired when submitting you entry on your blog.  Initially there will be one randomly drawn winner each month who will have the choice of a pack of paper scrapbooking supplies or a voucher for digital supplies from a site of their choice.  As numbers grow I will introduce both a paper and a digital category winner and additional prizes.

First actual challenge will be uploaded on the 1st of July.

 

In the meantime I'm looking for 3-4 design team members who might like to start off on this new adventure with me - I'm looking for both paper and digital scrapbookers - if you do both like me all the better!  More team members will be added as the participation grows.

 

So would you like to be part of the first Pixels and Paper design team ?

 

 

Create a layout based on the inspiration photo above and tell me what it was that inspired you.  Obviously we can look at this image and see it is black and white, it is vintage, it has girls in it and an animal but I'd like you to look deeper than the surface and weave your own story from what the image portrays to you.

 

Then please let me know you would like to be part of the team - send me two of your favourite layouts (they must be recent) with a short Bio telling me about your style and your current commitments if any (no experience needed to apply).  Please include a link to your blog. 

As a P&P team member you will be required to complete an example layout for the monthly challenge.  You will need to commit to commenting on all entries received and have an active blog that is updated regularly and be prepared to post our challenges with links back to the blog soon after reveal day. You will need to advertise P&P whenever and wherever you can !  Having Facebook would be helpful.

For this you will have the opportunity to help and inspire others with your work and gain publicity and recognition for your creations.
 

The first term will run from 1st July to 31st December with a possible option to extend for an additional 6 months.

If you would like to apply please email me at: jjjustjane@bigpond.com by the 14th June, 2013.  Successful applicants will be notified on the 15th and you will have 2 weeks to complete your first assignment.

 

If anyone would like to create a layout using the inspiration photo but not wish to apply for the design team you are most welcome to do so.  Please leave a comment on this post with a link to your layout.  I will offer a randomly drawn RAK if there are sufficient entries.