Reveal day at The Scrapping Stamper and Scrap~Friendzy Animal Challenge

Here's a chance to win a RAK!!  

The winners have been announced.  Thanks for mentioning my name when you commented.  I was the DT with the most comments, and one of my new followers, Traci, gets the other RAK - Congratulations Traci!  Thanks Shannon!!

It is such a blessing to design layouts using Shannon's fabulous sketches.  She is holding a contest to see which of her DT can send the most visiters to view her sketch and the beautiful LO's created with it.  Head on over to her blog, The Stamping Scrapper, leave a comment, and mention that Tracey sent you.  You'll be glad you did when you see the gorgeous work there.  One lucky person leaving a comment will win a RAK too!  Thanks!  

April Sketch:

My Layout:

Here's a close-up of the muslin flower I created:

To make this flower I cut 6 petal shapes with pinking shears, hand basted the bottom of the petals, overlapping each petal slightly.  I then gathered and glued the flower onto a paper circle.  I cut a circle from muslin just larger than the center I planned to use and glued it in place as well.  I spritzed some Walnut Stain on a craft mat and then spritzed some water on that and rubbed the flower in the ink until I achieved the color I was looking for.  Set aside overnight to dry, then adhere a flower center of your choice.

Here is a tip I learned from Gabrielle Pollacco.  I keep a collection of die cut papers with nice shapes.  When a sketch calls for a large die cut, I can choose any paper that goes with my layout design, then pick out a die cut and simply trace the shape onto the paper of my choice and cut it out.  If I am going to be distressing the edges like I did in this project, I can make quick work of the cutting.

I combined this sketch with my DT challenge at Scrap-Friendzy.  My challenge is to create a layout using animals.  Animals anywhere on the layout - in the photos, on the paper, as an embellishment, or a word play in the title.  If you're up for a challenge and want to find a fun and supportive community of paper crafters, come on over and join the fun at Scrap-Friendzy!

I also joined a new challenge site, Scrapbookaholic by Abby, for their 3rd challenge ~ to use an animal and the color orange found in my photo mat.

Materials used in this project:

Basic Grey Papers

Chalk ink ~ Tsukineko Versa Magic ~ Midnight Black

Brads ~ from my stash

Snaps ~ from my stash

Design brads ~ Kaiser Grunge Brads

Ribbon ~ from my stash

EK success border punch ~ Dotted Wave

Muslin and thread ~ from my stash

Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution ~ Tsukineko 

Flower center ~ Petaloo Tiffany's Treasures ~ Topaz Gold

Ink jet transparency ~ from my stash

Gazelle ~ title cut from Viner Hand font from the internet

Distress tool ~ Tim Holtz

Scissors ~ EK Success Honey Bee

I've also entered this LO in the following:

Shannon's Sentiments DT Challenge #21 ~ Include an animal

I have worked my way through the Love Link Up Party, so you should see me as a follower.  Please let me know if I've somehow missed you.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

~ Blessings ~