Our May inspiration ...

comes to you from stencil artist Michael Duncan with Tea Time 2012 (a handcut 35 layer stencil).

Additional criteria - The use of stencils/masks

 

 

A little about Michael Duncan

 

In 2010 Michael completed his Fine Arts (Sculpture) degree from The Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne. Michael started stencilling in 2009 during his spare time at the VCA. Michael’s accomplishments include being a finalist for the past two consecutive years for the Australian Stencil Art Prize, completing a multiphase commission at Tramp Bar in Melbourne’s CBD, and exhibiting in A Cut Above II: International Stencil Exhibition at Espionage Gallery which featured some of the best stencil artists from all over the world. Michael is currently preparing for his first solo exhibition which will open in Melbourne on the 17th of May at Off The Kerb Gallery.

“I always like to include a quirk of humour in my stencils, I find it helps to develop a connection to the work. Form, high detail and bold imagery are probably the main things I consider aesthetically when developing my works while at the same time with the aim of provoking thought. Many of my stencils are up to 35 layers and it is really satisfying to see all the layers build up to the final image. Each artwork can take up to two months as I have to hand cut each layer. I strive to create stencils that are extremely detailed in an effort to really push the boundaries of the stencilling art form potential”.

For more information please visit his blog at http://www.michaelduncan.com.au


Now we have some wonderful sample layouts from the first of our talented creative team.  Please call back on the 15th when we will reveal the winners for April and also more delightfully creative layouts from the remainder of our team.

Maja

 

Amanda

 

Debi

 

Sarah

 

Helene

 

 

Please upload the DIRECT link to your actual entry with the link tool on the LEFT by midnight on May 31st, 2013. We'd love to see your paper, digital, card or off the page submissions but please remember we appreciate original entries (you may combine with a sketch).

Looking forward to seeing all your stencil and mask work. 

Our first Guest Designer for May, Tone-Lill Angelskar will be joining us next week.  Please call back to see her totally stunning take on this months challenge. 

 

 

We will also be celebrating (Inter) National Scrapbooking day with some very simple challenges and gorgeous give-aways.  Please come back on the 4th May and support us.

 

Last days to get in your entry for April ...

Submissions close midnight on the 30th.  We'd love to see your work and with such wonderful prizes on offer you really need to be "in it to win it".

Introducing Di Hasthorpe ...

the winner of our guest designer spot from last month, with her stunning interpretation of the March inspiration.

.

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.

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

 

 

Here is some more of her gorgeous work.

 

 

It has been wonderful having you as our guest this month Di - thank you for sharing your talent with us.

Remember you have until midnight April 30th to submit your entries.  We'd love to see your work. 

 

March winners and more April inspiration ...

Back again and time to announce our March winners. 

It is getting harder and harder each month to select our winners.  We had some sensational  entries last month and I wish I could award a prize to all of you so thank you so much for being part of ARTastic.

We'd also like to thank our two main sponsors this month, Peta from Scrapbooking From Scratch and James from Alacraft, for their generous support.

ARTastic followers can enjoy 20% off at Alacraft with discount code ARTS20.

 

 Alacraft is a family business originating from an established bricks-and-mortar store and stocks a range of quality materials including lace, ribbon, yarn, scrapbooking supplies, stickers, iron-on motifs, quilting fabric, craft flowers and much more.

  Check out Alacraft today!

 
 

Scrapbooking from Scratch is an online scrapbooking site specialising in Designer Scrapbooking Kits but we carry many other scrapping products from NEW releases to those essential items we all need. My talented design team work with 1 -2 kits per month each to give you inspiration & ideas.

Please note my kits are never released on a set day of the month - just whenever I receive new stock so join my newsletter or connect with me on Facebook to get the latest release notifications and updates on blind challenges and monthly comps. 

............................

 

and now onto our March winners -

Congratulations go to ...
 

Mel who has won a $25 gift voucher from Alacraft.

 

Lizzy Crust who has won a lovely prize from Scrapbooking From Scratch.

 Tone- Lill who has won the Director's prize.

Random draw prize goes to Heidi Williams.

We would like to offer Kathleen White a guest designer spot for May.

Our Creative Team winner for March with her bright and happy layout is Sarah who will receive a little RAK from me.

Congratulations everyone. If all these winners could please email me at jjjustjane@bigpond.com with your postal details I will see your prizes get out to you.

 

AND NOW -  Some more amazing April inspiration from our remaining creative team members ...

Lesley

 

Elaine

Shazza

Julie

 

Jane

 

  

We'd love to see your crafty version of Warmun Mandala.   Remember we happily accept all forms of paper crafting for your entry and allow both digital and international submissions.  All we ask is that you create an original entry for our challenge although you are most welcome to combine with a sketch challenge if you wish.  You have until midnight 30th April to submit your entry.

Next week we will be introducing you to our February winner of a guest designer spot, Di Hasthorpe.  Please come back and see us and her beautiful (and may I say very different) work then.

Don't forget - Each month we will be selecting someone from amongst our entries to be a guest designer for one of our upcoming challenges - it could be you!!

 

Introducing Anita Bownds ...

Introducing our first guest designer for April, Anita Bownds, with her lovely example layout using this month's inspiration.

 

 

 My name is Anita Bownds and I live in sunny Queensland Australia with my three beautiful girls Melissa (16) Kara (11) Eve (8) and an awesome hubby who I love to bits and who supports my crazy craft habit.

I started scraping in 2003 two years after my second daughter was born.  I enjoy taking black and white photos as I absolutely love the texture. I'd call my style as Artsy, Shabby Chic with a twist.  I also enjoy drawing, stamping, card making, scrapbooking and playing with mists and paint.

Come visit me on my blog.

 

 

Here are some sample layouts of Anita's work.

 

 

 

 

Welcome Anita - we are delighted to have you part of the ARTastic team this month.

 

Remember - you have until the end of the month to get your own interpretations of the inspiration to us!  We are all eager to see your pages for April.  Don't forget someone from amongst the entries will be given the opportunity to guest with us in June and it could well be you!

 

Our April inspiration ...

comes to you from ...

Australian Indigenous Artist, Trevor Nickolls with his piece Warmun Mandala.

Criteria - Use these colours on your entry

A little about Trevor Nickolls

Born 1949, Adelaide, South Australia, Trevor Nickolls is a significant “urban” Aboriginal artist who has been working as an artist since the 1970’s. He has inspired and influenced many artists. He is represented in collections of all of the major art museums and galleries in Australia as well as in collections in France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States of America and Canada.

 

Trevor Nickolls' work is innovative and unique. His work often shows a complex iconography with many layers of meaning. A major theme in his art is “Dreamtime to Machinetime” a theme which articulates the cultural transition which many Aboriginal people have undertaken in their journey from their traditional cultural heritage of living in the Dreamtime, into the world of mechanisation and technology. Trevor Nickoll’s work often presents various interactions between these two different worlds or shows the dilemma of living within both. Subject matter includes the spirituality of the Aboriginal people and their interrelationship to land, sea, sky and cosmos; where people and elements are seen as integrated rather than separate.

 

Trevor has had interactions with other artists, including Aboriginal artists like Dinny Nolan and Warmun artist Rover Thomas with whom he shared the spotlight as the two artists representing Australia at the 1990 Venice Biennale.

 

Click here for more information about Trevor Nickolls.

 

 

We have some delightful layouts from the first of our talented creative team for your inspiration.  Please call back on the 15th when we will reveal the winners for March and also prtesent to you more wonderful layouts from the remainder of our team.

 

 

Debi

Amanda

 

 

Maja

 

 

Helene

 

 

Sarah

 

 

Please upload the DIRECT link to your actual entry with the link tool on the LEFT by midnight on April 30th, 2013. We'd love to see your paper, digital, card or off the page submissions but please remember we appreciate original entries (you may combine with a sketch).

Can't wait to see what you all come up with for these gorgeous rich colours. 

Our Guest Designer for April, Anita Bownds will be joining us this at the end of next week.  Please call back then to say hello and see her terrific take on this month's challenge as well as seeing more of her lovely work. 

 

 

Introducing Polly Libby ...

the the winner of our March guest designer spot with her wonderful layout for this month's inspiration where she has used various beads to make the sun and the leaves are embossed gold foil. .

Hi,

My name is Polly but I prefer to be called Libby. I have been married to my wonderful husband for 26 years and we have two grown children and one grandson. We live in the beautiful Northern part of Maine (USA).

I have been scrapbooking for many years and this past year ventured into the world of blogging and have really begun to create "outside my comfort zone," which has turned out to be super fun! I love creating layouts, cards, tags and mini albums. I also enjoy challenging myself to use new techniques by entering a variety of challenges. I can never get enough paper packs, ribbons, flowers and bling.

I enjoy reading, photography, gardening, cross-stitching, crocheting, volunteering and spending time with family.

I am currently a DT member at Soul Scrappers, hosting the monthly Quote Challenge (Since Aug 2012) and also a DT member at Colorful Creations, hosting the monthly Song Challenge (Since Oct 2012).

Although I am new to the ARTastic Challenge Blog, I look forward to each challenge and the opportunity to inspire you with my creations. It is an honor to be chosen as a Guest Designer and be a part of such a wonderful challenge site this month.

My Blog: http://northernmainescrappygirl.blogspot.com/



And some lovely layouts ...

 

 

Thank you so much Libby for joining us this month.  It has been so nice to have you with us.


Still lots of time for you to submit your entries for this month.  We have some terrific prizes up for grabs as well as a chance to be a guest designer here with us.  Come on - get those submissions in.

Grinning winners and some team inspiration ...

Another month has rolled on past and it is time to announce our February winners.

We had some lovely entries last month from some really talented ladies and selecting the winners was certainly difficult.  Thank you to all who entered.

We'd also like to thank our two main sponsors this month, Peta from Scrapbooking From Scratch and James from Alacraft, for their generous support.

ARTastic followers can enjoy 20% off at Alacraft with discount code ARTS20.

 

 Alacraft is a family business originating from an established bricks-and-mortar store and stocks a range of quality materials including lace, ribbon, yarn, scrapbooking supplies, stickers, iron-on motifs, quilting fabric, craft flowers and much more.

  Check out Alacraft today!

 
 

Scrapbooking from Scratch is an online scrapbooking site specialising in Designer Scrapbooking Kits but we carry many other scrapping products from NEW releases to those essential items we all need. My talented design team work with 1 -2 kits per month each to give you inspiration & ideas.

Please note my kits are never released on a set day of the month - just whenever I receive new stock so join my newsletter or connect with me on Facebook to get the latest release notifications and updates on blind challenges and monthly comps. 

............................

 

and now our February winners - congratulations go to ...

 

Anita Bownds who has won a $25 gift voucher from Alacraft.

 

Jen Fawkes who has won a lovely prize from Scrapbooking From Scratch.

Kathleen White who has won the Curator's Prize. 

Our random draw prize goes to Sarah Schultz.

We would like to offer Di Hasthorpe a guest designer spot for April.

Our Creative Team winner for February is Maja who will received a little RAK from me.

Well done everyone. If all these winners could please email me your postal details I will see your prizes get out to you.

 

NEXT - More fantastic inspiration from our remaining creative team members ...

Elaine

Julie

Shazza

Lesley

Jane

 

We'd love to see your scrapbooking version of  Girl in Pink. You have until midnight 31 March to submit your entry.

Next week we will be introducing you to our January winner of a guest designer spot, Polly Libby.  Please come back and see us and her delightful work then.

Don't forget - Each month we will be selecting someone from amongst our entries to be a guest designer for one of our upcoming challenges - it could be you!!

Introducing Sarah Schultz ...

Introducing our first guest designer for March - Sarah Schultz with her delightful submission for this month's inspiration.

Hi,

 

My name is Sarah Schultz and I am a mum to a beautiful 3yr old daughter Caidin. I have been scrap booking for nearly 10 years but only seriously for just over a year. I am starting to get into card making as well and I'm a keen photographer. I love making my own embellishments and using found items on my layouts. My style is to keep adding "stuff" until it looks right and I'm happy.

 My blog is scrappysarahjs@blogspot.com

Here is some of Sarah's lovely work.

 

 

Welcome Sarah and thank you so much for being part of the team this month.

 

Please don't forget you have until the end of the month to get your own interpretations of the inspiration to us - we'd love to see your work especially since someone from amongst the entries will be given the opportunity to guest with us in May.

 

 

Our March Inspiration ...

comes to you from ..

Australian portrait artist Julia Sattout with her painting Girl in Pink.

 

 

Added criteria - use a portrait photograph

A little about Julie Sattout

I have always been fascinated by the process of creating a portrait. As a child, I used to watch my artist neighbour turn a blank sheet of paper into a moving rendition of her sitter with what seemed to me to be a few strokes and smudges of pastel. I loved her expressiveness and the life that jumped off the page.

 

After a few unconvincing attempts to replicate her efforts, I abandoned the idea of ever being able to draw and instead became a lawyer. As one does.

 

In 2006 my interest in drawing was reinvigorated by some incredibly supportive artist friends, particularly friend and mentor, Enid Ratnam-Keese. Inspired by the creativity around me, I joined a life drawing class and haven’t looked back.

 

During 2010 & 2011 I completed (and thoroughly enjoyed) the first year drawing and painting components of the Diploma of Fine Arts at Meadowbank TAFE. Sadly, my paid work has had the temerity to intrude on my time and I have had to suspend my studies.

 

To keep my skills fresh, I join Sydney Community College classes when I can. I have also participated in a number of intensive portrait workshop weekends with artist David White.

 

I prefer portraits and the figure as subjects and would describe my style as loose and expressive. I love all faces, from the cherubic wonder of the very young to the undulating landscapes of the very old. I am particularly drawn to faces full of character and have included some of my favourite character-ful faces in my Gallery.

 

http://juliasattout.com/

The ARTastic creative team layouts are amazing this month.  I think you are going to love, as well as be inspired by, the first of our team members pages.  Our remaining creative team will showcase their work on the 15th so please remember to call back then and to also find out our winners for February.

Debi

 

Helene

 

Amanda

 

Maja

 

Sarah

 

 

Please upload the DIRECT link to your actual entry with the link tool on the LEFT by midnight on March 31st, 2013. We'd love to see your paper, digital, card or off the page submissions but please remember we appreciate original entries (you may combine with a sketch).

 

 

We are looking forward to seeing more delightful entries this month.

 

Our second Guest Designer, Sarah Schultz will be joining us this month.  Please pop back at the end of next week to welcome her and see her lovely take on this month's challenge as well as more of her beautiful work.