Pixels and Paper Challenge Blog ~ January

Ooh, ooh, quick, quick!  Not long left and I've just finished my first layout for the Pixels and Paper Challenge Blog!  They have a fantastic inspiration photo for January; here it is!

I was inspired by several components of this photo.  Firstly - the beach!  So I selected photos that were taken at a beach, as well as including a component on my page to reflect sand.  Secondly, the colour of the thongs.  I have used purple, pink and green in my layout.  I am very much a paper scrapbooker (although I tend more towards cards these days).  My style is definitely clean and simple.  I like clean lines and symmetry on my pages.  Here it is!  (Please excuse the flash shine on the bottom photo - I've taken this photo at night after all!)

The heading has been created using American Crafts Zing Embossing Powder in 'Leaf', (and 'Denim' for the blue "B").  The blue didn't look right, so I went over it with a Sakura Gelly Roll Moonlight gel pen and the colour is much better now.  I used the Stampin' Up! 'Notable Alphabet' stamp set [retired] for the lettering.

In the bottom right I have used texture paste, coloured to resemble sand.  I used my spatula to smooth it on, and then I used an old piece of sandpaper to blotch down on the wet texture paste to raise it up and give it the feel of sand.  The photo doesn't do it justice - it feels awesome to touch!

The colour of the journalling box (from an old Creative Memories Storybox set) matches my dad's shirt and so I thought it tied in nicely with the overall layout.

In the background of the top photo is "The Eye" ferris wheel ride at Seaworld.  I have created my own sort of ferris wheel mat for that photo using kraft cardstock and the large scalloped circle die from the Stampin' Up! Circles Collection Framelits.  I then used my fine Copic Multiliner (0.03) to join the scalloped edges to give the look of a ferris wheel.  I have added black brads on alternate lines to depict the carriages.

I'm so glad I found this Challenge Blog site!  I need more inspiration to keep me scrapbooking!

Cheers!
Deb.