A slight change, more inspiration and some May winners ...

It seems our criteria this month might have been overly ambitious so in the interest of fair play and normal blood pressure !  I'm going to change the criteria for June slightly. To the current entrants and the ARTastic creative team I give extra big pats on the back for ingenuity and perseverance and thank you for your outstanding efforts in coming up with some amazing pages :)

So for the remainder of the month we will accept any entry that has at least 3 recycled items on it.  This is really easy to do - think product packaging, buttons, lace, clothing tags, shopping dockets, junk mail, cardboard from any box, coins, tokens, old birthday cards, pieces of fabric, twine, foil, scraps of paper, etc etc.

Why not have a closer look at what our first team members used on their layouts and now the inspiration from the second group shown below and perhaps use some of their ideas.

Elaine

I used old clothing labels (tags), back of packaging, doily, buttons from old clothes, burlap, paper (and flower) is from the kids art project making recycled handmade paper (!!) and bakers twine from my kitchen. So really I only used a bought scrapbook page for my base.

 

Julie

My piece is a vinyl sample and I have used a children's book for the images. All the other elements are from the leftover stash.

 

Lesley

I have used a brochure from our hotel, money I kept, tickets and a snippet of a map. There is some cork, hessian and an old doily too. The background is actually from the backing of a Prima Alpha pack, loved the words!

 

Shazza

...using torch bulbs and string

 

Jane

I've used wallpaper in place of patterned paper, flowers cut from a vintage vinyl tablecloth, old buttons, lace and an old office invoice.

 

 

And now - our May winners and grinners ....

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 has free product giveaways every month. Please visit the site and enter your email address on the homepage or on the page indicated in the link and you will be automatically entered into the draw for $25 of free products for that month. People are welcome to enter as many months as they like, they just need enter their email address each time.

 

 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. 

 

Congratulations go to ...
  

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

 

Deb K who has won a lovely prize from Scrapbooking From Scratch.

Chris Sexton who has won the Guest Designer's choice prize from Tone-Lill

and

Lizzy Hill who has also won a small RAK - Tone-Lill loved both of your pages

 Random draw prize goes to Valerie.

We would like to offer Jackie Edwards a guest designer spot for July.

The Creative Team winner for May actually goes to me, Jane  - thank you team for your votes :)

 

The special prize for those who participated in our NSD celebrations and submitted an entry for May goes to Dale T.

Congratulations everyone.  Could the winners please email me at jjjustjane@bigpond.com with your postal details and I will see your prize gets out to you.

 

We'd love to see more entries this month and since I've made it easier for all of you there are no excuses!!   Remember we happily accept all forms of paper crafting for your entry and encourage 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 last day of the month to submit your entry.

Next week we will be introducing you to last months winner of a guest designer spot,
Renee Johnson.

 

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!!

 

A new challenge blog ...

I am launching a new sister challenge blog to ARTastic called Paper and Pixels on the 1st of July and currently I'm having a call for members for our first design team. Please follow the link to find out all the details - I'd love to hear from you !! 

Introducing Mandy Dodd ...

our first Guest Designer for June with her delightful layout using the June inspiration.

Most of the strips I used were patterned/reverse side of the barcode/title
strips of 12x12's  cut off to be thrown away, along with any other scrap
paper I could gather.

 

Hi, my name is Mandy (mandysea) and I live in Tasmania in a cottage by the sea and pretty much the sea is our way of life here.
I spend a lot of time photographing my daughters, and also capturing birds, lizards and wildlife with my camera, My scrapping style is probably Shabby Chic with an arty side using mixed media -  paints, gesso, mists, and   lacy bits along with layering and texture techniques. I love to feel these things in my hands and most of all
- I love to see the shadow they can cast. 

If I had some things that are undeniably me - it would be that I love to
match some part of my photo to my background paper.. and sometimes extend the photo into the scrapping area, rarely use pattern paper (because mostly I don't always know what to do with it), and usually draw a border around my papers edge or fold it to suggest a frame. These are not always, but mostly, and while scrapping fall unconsciously into these habits ... they just kind of evolve, sometimes it  works, sometimes it doesn't.

It's not very often I start with a photo - that usually comes last.  I know, I know - is that weird??  But the motivation from either the criteria, technique or the products pretty much takes over and with all the gazillion photos (rolling eyes here) I have stored away- something is bound to fit - right?  LOL!

I was so thrilled to be scrapping with the criteria set for this challenge - how extraordinary and motivating it is!  All those strips of paper!! Straight away, I set about cutting strips and pasting down onto cardstock. At first I thought I would cut out some butterflies from it and use just those.  But as soon as I removed the butterflies, it was the background left behind I loved the most - the negative part.  So the butterflies were set aside!

Thanks soooo much for this wonderful opportunity to be Guest Designer for June!  Too much fun already!

 

Please visit me on my blog www.teacupofscrapisms.blogspot.com


Here are some more of Mandy's amazing pages ...

Mandy, we are so happy to have you join with us at ARTastic. 

 

Remember - you have until the end of the month to get your own interpretations of this month's inspiration to us!  We cant wait to see what you can come up with for your pages for June.  Don't forget someone from amongst the entries will be given the opportunity to guest with us and it could well be you!

 

 

 

Some environmental June inspiration ...

World Environment Day is celebrated June 5th, so in honour of this day I thought we might all participate in a challenge with a difference.

Introducing Robin's Nest by environmental artist  Susan Schenk. 

 

Criteria - the use of recycled material to feature prominently on your work (ie minimal commercial products).  Hint - think ephemera and recycled items

 

If you think this can't be done then look at the amazing work our creative team has come up with this month - all without the use of expensive commercial products.  It is incredible what can be done with a little creative thought!!

 

 

A little about Susan Schenk

 

My art is an invitation to see beyond the apparent. From a distance, my collages appear to be paintings. Up close, they are complicated jumbles of disparate parts. These collages are similar to our own lives; appealing when viewed from afar but somewhat fractured when inspected more intimately.

My use of discarded materials as paint fosters the idea of finding beauty in the overlooked. I find treasures hidden in the trash. By using recycled magazines, maps and other ephemera, I leave a small carbon footprint and more importantly, carve out a trail of enjoyment for others.

 

Now some inspiration from the first of our talented creative team.  Please call back on the 15th when we will announce the winners for May and reveal the creative layouts from the remainder of our team.

Helene

used product packaging from her daughter's play toy

Maja

the only scrapbook supplies used is the background paper, a stencil
and the title :)

 

Debi

used a Goldmark jewellery flyer to make the two flowers and the woven pattern under the clothing/packaging labels, plus ribbon off the shoulder of a new top

 

Amanda

absolutely everything here is recycled except the tiny alpha stickers - the base is a torn pizza box and I've used a mix of clothing tags and toy packaging

 

 Sarah

used an old encyclopaedia and a brown paper bag from Typo

 

 

Please upload the DIRECT link to your actual entry with the link tool on the LEFT by midnight on June 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).

Looking forward to seeing what you all create. 

Our first Guest Designer for June, Mandy Dodd will be joining us next week.  Please call back to see her very creative and inspiring take on the challenge this month. 

 

Introducing Kathleen White ...

the winner of our guest designer spot from last month, with her delightful interpretation of the May inspiration piece.

 

Hello, my name is Kathleen White although I go by the name Kath.  I live in the Dallas, Texas bedroom community of Wylie with my hubby and baby girl (Boston terrier) Eloise.  My three grown children have long since flown the nest.  It was due to them that I started scrap booking over 12 years ago. I wanted them give them a scrap book of high school memories as a graduation gift.  They love it.  Although looking back on those earlier pages I must say my skills have vastly improved.  I love to travel and photograph my adventures then come home and put them to paper. 

 

 

Please feel free to visit my blog at: http://kathsdesigns.blogspot.com

 

I look forward to seeing you soon. 

 

Here is some more of Kath's beautiful work ....

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for joining us this month on ARTastic and sharing with us some of your amazing work.

Remember you have until midnight May 31st to submit your entries.  We'd love to see your work.  You could be a guest designer on ARTastic too.

 

April winners and more May inspiration ...

Here we all are back yet again to announce our April winners.  

I said last month that it was getting harder and harder each time to select our winners and this has proved the case yet again.  We had more amazing entries for April and I want to thank all of you so much for taking the time out to be 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 has free product giveaways every month. Please visit the site and enter your email address on the homepage or on the page indicated in the link and you will be automatically entered into the draw for $25 of free products for that month. People are welcome to enter as many months as they like, they just need enter their email address each time.

 

 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 April winners -

Congratulations go to ...
 

Deb K who has won a $25 gift voucher from Alacraft.

 

Lynnda who has won a lovely prize from Scrapbooking From Scratch.

 Stephi who has won the Director's prize.

Random draw prize goes to Helena.

We would like to offer Renee Johnson a guest designer spot for June.

Our Creative Team winner for April with her adorable layout is Helene 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 gets out to you.

 

AND NOW -  Some more beautiful May inspiration from our remaining creative team members ...

Elaine

Julie

Lesley

Shazza

 

Jane

 

 

We'd love to see your arty stencil and or mask layouts.   Remember we happily accept all forms of paper crafting for your entry and encourage 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 last day of the month to submit your entry.

Next week we will be introducing you to our March winner of a guest designer spot, Kathleen White.

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!!

 

NSD winners ...

Thankyou to all who played along with us for (Inter) National Scrapbooking Day.  I have placed all the entrants names into a bowl and asked my son to draw out three.

Congratulations go to Alicia Somers, Julene Matthews and Tone-Lill Angelskar who are our lucky winners.  I have addresses for Julene and Tone-Lill but will need one for Alicia.

Don't forget there is a special prize for those who entered the NSD celebrations and also submit an entry for May.

Introducing Tone-Lill Angelskar ...

our first Guest Designer for May with her stunning layout using the May inspiration.

 

 

My name is Tone-Lill, a young at heart Norwegian who loves to create and make the most out of life.

After making cards for a couple of years, Scrapbooking became my number one passion.  I was introduced into it when I was home in Norway about 3 years ago, by my best friend Bente and a friend of hers.

I currently live in England and have been here almost 7 years. I have a son who is 18 and a 11 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 scrapbook events into memories.  I don't think I have any certain scrapping style, but I do enjoy trying out new things and ideas. I love my gesso and misting sprays making tags and using different things not made for scrapping, and I also love colourful projects with a different twist or angle towards it, like here at ARTastic where different type of art and artists are the inspiration.

On my pages you can find everything from shells from the coast of Cornwall to stones from the Swiss mountains or memorabilia from the mountain shops, to bits and bobs bought from little local stores in villages around the fjords of Norway or my local florist here in Buckingham. But then again to me it is all about using those scraps ;)

 

If you would like to see more of my work please visit me on my blog ...

 

http://tone-lillpapirdill.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 

Here are two additional examples of Tone-Lill's work.

 

Welcome Tone-Lill,  it is our total pleasure to have you with us on ARTastic 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 May.  Don't forget someone from amongst the entries will be given the opportunity to guest with us and it could well be you!

 

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!