The Robin's Nest - Growing A Snowman

I recently applied to be an international layout member for The Robin's Nest  design team. As part of that application process the requirement was to create a project and upload it on 20th May.

 

 

 

For my layout I chose a photo from this March of my youngest at the allotment making a snowman.  Absolutely crazy that at the time when we should be planting crops we are growing a snowman.

 

So here is the project:

 

 

and the step by step

 

 

I started with a sheet of off white cardstock and used a glass beads texture gel through a Dylusions stencil.  I love this gel. The glass beads give an amazing effect but it is hard to pick it up with a camera.

 

Once it had dried I used some mists randomly.

 

I mounted my photo onto some Prima patterned paper and inked the edges. I added some Websters Pages ribbons

 

I made some flowers from some old book pages and sprayed them with the same inks I used over the texture gel.  I added some Candi dots in random places, some Prima flowers and a butterfly.  I also used a grey ink pad in the top left hand corner to create an area for my title.

 

 

A close up of the book print flowers

 

 

A close up of the misted texture gel

 

 

and the Prima flowers and butterfly.

 

 

The Robin's Nest also have a blog called Chattering Robins where all their lovely design team work is displayed. 

 

Thanks for looking.

 

 

Apple Blossom

I'm chuffed to bits that one of our apple trees at the allotment has blessed us with some blossom in the very first year of planting.

 I don't care whether we get any apples this year or not. I'm just SO HAPPY that it has blossomed. Nothing except a few leaves was expected for at least a couple of years. 

Punky Scraps May

Time for the Punky Scraps May challenge.  Full details are at Punky Central and here is my take on it:

I chose a black and white picture so it didn't distract from the pops of colour the challenge dictated. 

Punky Scraps April Challenge

Our Punky Scraps challenge this month was from a sketch (full details over on the blog) with an easter theme.

I chose to scrap the bunch of daffodils I bought on Good Friday which blossomed on Easter Sunday.  Bearing in mind there was still snow on the ground on Easter Sunday it was a nice cheery sight to see them blooming.

Artful Readers Club - March

My choice for March was Without Fail by Lee Child

As with all the Jack Reacher series of books I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. 

If you aren't familiar with the character he is an ex military policeman who drifts from place to place with very few possessions.  The plot for this particular one is Jack Reacher giving a helping hand to the Secret Service in a murder threat against the vice president elect.  It builds and builds, with a few surprises along the way, to a crescendo which is worth waiting for. 

I've read this series in order and I have to say that you really don't need to have read any of the other books to read this one as it explains the history you need to know as you go along. 

The only thing I don't particularly like about this series of books is that he always has to sleep with the leading cop/agent/whatever and I don't think there is always a need for it, however in this book it is probably more important than the others but in a weird kind of way as the Secret Service agent used to live with his dead brother. 

I've yet to see the Jack Reacher film.  I've mentioned it before but I really don't see Tom Cruise in the role.  The author makes a big point in every book of describing Jack as 6ft 5 and blond which Tom Cruise certainly isn't.

Anyway his description is what inspired me this month.  I have my own Jack who is 17 and rapidly approaching the same size as Jack Reacher and his younger brother who is over 6ft at only 14 so I knew I would be using their annual back to school photo.

I am really struggling with photographing my layouts.  When one part is in focus the rest is a blur. More practice needed I think.

I found a stencil that is supposed to be an ink blotch but looks like a bullet hole and since the stories always involve guns I thought I would use that.  I used glass beads texture gel but it hasn't gone quite to plan so is more of a splodge up in the top left hand corner.  I do like the gel though and will use it again.

Artful Readers Club is here.  Pop on over to see lots more books and artwork