Guest designer and student

From Screen to Scrap Feb. Guest Designer

I'm happy and proud to announce that I was asked to be the February guest designer over at "From Screen To Scrap". I've been following this challenge site for quite some time now, and I'm always inspired by their prompts and amazed by how many entries they get, and always so many so fast! Those of you who know me a bit better, know that the fact that I'm such a slow scrapper is the one thing I would like to be able to change, so when I see people finish LO's in a record time, I'm impressed!

Here's the inspiration poster for this month's challenge:


Now normally, every time I see their inspiration poster, images of a LO and pictures I want to use immediately pop into my head ... NOT this time though ... I was completely lost!! I don't have any "pirate" pictures, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what to make. I looked at the poster more closely, and noticed the bandana ... Now I DID have pictures of the kids wearing some sort of bandana. Going through these 2004 holiday pics, an idea started to grow to make a pirate's story from these pics. So that's what I did, I made a children's mini-album.

The journaling is in dutch, as I made this album for my kids. However, since it's a story, the journaling is important, so I'll give you the translation of each page:

"The Pirates of Crete"

"After thoroughly studying the treasure map, the courageous pirates start their quest."

"The adventure is tough ... Mountains have to be climbed, angry seas have to be crossed... But the little pirates don't give up!"

"The pirates are being attacked by the feared old mummies with their water guns, but our littlest pirate immediately counter-attacks, and she shows no mercy!"
(Little side note: I don't know if my mom will appreciate being called an "old mummy" but I thought it was kind of funny LOL)

"Finally arriving on their place of destination, the pirates zealously start digging."

"Exhausted from all that digging, the pirates decide to take a little break..."

"That nap did wonders! Now a little bite to eat, a drink and a dessert, and then back to work!"

"... And all of their hard work is rewarded: they find the treasure! Just look how proud and happy they are!".

This is actually the most fun I've had since I've started scrapping, I was so excited throughout the entire making of this album, and once I had worked out in my head what I wanted to achieve, the album seemed to make itself... This is what challenges are all about, making you think outside the box, making your imagination work, even if at first you don't have any clue as to what to make! So thanks for the inspiration Shazza, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to design for you!

I'm so hoping I will see some familiar faces participating with this challenge ... not only because I wish Shazza's site a lot of succes, but also because

I get to choose a winner this month!!!!!

who will win a choice of items from Keandra's etsy shop "Aptly Titled" for the amount of $15!! (thank you Kean for sponsoring!)

Here are some examples of Keandra's lovely work:
That's a cool prize, don't you think? So come on my friends, go visit FSTS, be inspired and create!!! You can find the FSTS February prompt here.


Marit's workshop "Let it Loose"

Now, from guest designer to student, keeping me with my two feet on the ground LOL. My sweet friend Marit (I know a lot of you know, love AND admire her) is giving her first ever online workshop "Let it Loose". Thanks to her first lesson, I made my very first art journal page ever. This lesson concentrated on the journaling part. I'm really happy with the result.

I used gesso and acrylic paints for this page, and I used a gel medium for the first time ... it worked very well, it doesn't show on the pic, but the title has a nice glossy shine to it ... I like it!
I had fun doing the journaling, though I had to add a few last minute lines due to too much words, which is why around the center the journaling is so close together ... you know me, I always have a lot to say LOL.

The prompt was to go and sit at our windows and describe what we see and let our thoughts and feelings flow ... I mostly talked about my neighbours and how I feel about them. For those of you who'd like to know more, here's the translation:

"Title = I see. I'm not really happy with the view of my front window ... I look directly upon the decrepit backside of my neighbours. During summer it looks like a small jungle, weeds then grow abundantly against the side of the wall. Last year our street was reconstructed, but not for the better ... we don't have a sidewalk anymore ... hard to understand, especially when you know that we live in between two schools which are only 50 meters apart. Parking also occurs right against our wall now, so more often than not I look straight at some car when I look outside my window. Looking to the left, I see Jean and Maria's house, two lovely elderly people. During winter we don't see each other all that much, but during summer, we regularly enjoy little chats. Next to them on the left is the house of an elderly couple as well, Elmer and Miriam. Elmer is a sculptor, his work is very popular and quite expensive. His wife is a very sweet beautiful woman. Though she's about 7O years old, she doesn't look a day over 60. About 30 years ago, Elmer got throat cancer, which made him lose his voice. He now speaks by pressing a little microphone against his throat, and the vibration of his vocal cords produces sounds/words. But most of all, I love looking to the right, then I see the house of my best friend. It feels nice having her so close to me ... love her!

There's still time to join us, registration is open until February 6th ... we're all having so much fun!

And in the meantime, my pile of ironing is doing a pretty good imitation of the "Mount Everest" ... that's right Jenneke, I still haven't started on it LOL, maybe tomorrow hahahahaha!

Love xxx Peggy