Friday 11 January 2013

Craft Barn Alpha Challenge - Letter V

Hello everyone, sorry I haven't been around much for the start of this year. Hopefully, I am now back on track and will be posting and visiting you all very soon. Thanks to everyone who left comments for my last post - the tag at Artful Times. They were much appreciated and I'm glad you liked the piece.

Today I have made a piece for the new Alpha Challenge at the Craft Barn. The challenge will last the year (I believe) and for each challenge a new letter will be given with which to create. Pop over to the Craft Barn blog for further details as I think it will be fun!

I've chosen the option to use a dictionary inside which my creations will be produced - there are other ways you can join in but I like the idea of using a discarded book and the challenge of keeping my creations as flat as possible - not an easy task for me at all!

Here's the dictionary I bought in a local charity shop:




I really wanted to find an old version with a lovely hard cover but, in the four local charity shops, this was the only one available.











Here's my first spread using the letter V which we were given for the first challenge:


For my letter V I chose the word 'Visage' and have left it uncoloured in the bottom left hand corner of the left page. I have also used an arrow to link the definition on the right page with the printed text on the left. You can see the effect in the next photo:

I used a variety of stamped faces for my images including Lynne Perella, Oxford Impressions and one which I can't remember!
The background on both pages was created with two stamps, two masks and distress inks.

I die cut the letters for the word and treated them with several techniques including resist stamping and inking until I was happy with them.


The definition word was stamped in various directions on the facing page with the chosen word in the centre. In some areas I used a white pen and some gold pen can be seen in others on some of the main stamping.

Thanks so much for looking and if you like it, please do leave a comment as I love to read them all.

42 comments:

  1. Love your altered page Julia, the stamps are brilliant and the way you used both pages is great.
    Val x

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  2. This is so cool, I love all the details ..the way you can still see the chosen word on the page, the colours and well I just think this is fab! Hope you are okay sending his trace x

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  3. A great page :) Love all your faces. I'll post my page tomorrow ;)

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  4. Fabulous stamped detail on these two pages, looking forward to seeing this challenge through to the end I'msure we will all have fun with this one!

    Sylv x

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  5. What a great idea Julia...so nice to see the words through your stamping and colouring!
    A lovely artpiece...

    Have a good weekend, hugs, Alie :-)

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  6. Gorgeous page my lovely, your layout is perfect and really takes your eye around to savour everything. Hope you are well sweetie?
    Huge hugs x x x x

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  7. A great page. Love your choice of v word.

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  8. Now this is a seriously clever idea. You are making a start on bringing that dictionary to life. In fact it may never have been so loved! Gorgeous colour choices and beautiful lettering. Can't wait to see more. Hugs, Jenny x

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  9. Wow... this is going to be an extraordinary journey for the year... hope against hope I'll be able to find the time to join in! May just do it at my own pace rather than trying to hit deadlines!
    I love your V page, Julia - the LP images look glorious, and that altered lettering is breathtaking - wonderful, wonderful stuff, and superb inspiration, thank you!
    Alison xx

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  10. Hi Julia, this is such a clever way of fulfilling the challenge. I love that you are using a dictionary and the way you have incorporated the stamping with the letters and the word and it's meaning is just inspiring. Your tag in the last post is equally fabulous, though quite different - can see why you think creating flat pages is going to be difficult but so far you're doing great :) I hope you're well and wish you a wonderful weekend. Elizabeth xx

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  11. ohhhhhhhhhhhh, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh....this is stunning! I love all the details, as I was reading I kept looking back at the pictures to refer to...you are one clever cookie! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

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  12. Gorgeous page, Julia! Thanks for be on board on this adventure!

    p.s.:Same problem here for the hard cover, we'll find a way :-)

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  13. Hi Julia, this is breathtakingly beautiful! It is perfect with the word visage on the left and Face on the right and the touches of colour here and there. Truly fabulous! Hope you are well... Hugs, Anne x

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  14. ooo I am so excited that you have joined us in this Julia! Your work is always amazing and this page just proves it!!!! xxx

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  15. Stunning, so much to look at on your page, I love it!

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  16. Gorgeous altered page Julia ! Love it. Have a great weekend, Shirleyx

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  17. Stunning altered page Julia :) love all the faces
    Von ♥

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  18. You've chosen a great word Julia and the stamping is fabulous. I've been thinking about this challenge, my main concern was how 'fat' will the dictionary be once 26 pages have been altered but I can see you're going to end up with a fabulous piece of work. Very inspirational! Suze xx

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  19. Fantastic Julia, I love how you've done your word and the gorgeous stamps you used too. Chris :-)

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  20. Your 'V' page is simply stunning Julia! I love those images!
    It was good to see you last week, I hope your cold is now gone.
    Alison xx

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  21. WOW Julia, this is stunning xxx

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  22. Stunning page, I love the stamping and images and colouring, I just love it all

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  23. Amazing page Julia.
    Great images and colors.
    love it.
    Greetings Janny

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  24. Oh, Julia... it's gorgeous! Love the images and I just can't take my eyes off those amazing letters. Stunning!

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  25. This is amazing xxx

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  26. Just stunning and a great word to chose

    Love Chrissie xx

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  27. Hello there! You are the reason why I started this challenge! Thanks for your nice words and thank you for reminding me of the challenge! It IS nice to have a challenge like this and it DOES keep us all together somehow... Your "visages" are perfect - lovely pages!

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  28. This is stunning Julia. I love the attention to detail on your letters and your composition is as superb as always sweetie. Lol secretly coveting your Lynne Perrella stamps again!!
    Huge hugs x x x x

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  29. This is great - love the fact you've included lots of different faces!

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  30. Fabby pages Julia...love all the stamping and colouring :)..looking forward to seeing your next alpha challenge now! :) x

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  31. What a great word to choose, and your page is really great.

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  32. Amazing pages Julia - love all the detail.
    xxx Hazel.

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  33. Julia, this is so incredibly wonderful! I love the original page seeping through the images and how you chose to highlight your word and implement it into your artwork! Can't wait to see more!

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  34. FANTASTIC, truly gorgeous work.
    Looking forward to the next one
    Thanks for playing with us at the Craft Barn
    Izzy

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  35. Wow! Your spread just blows me away! Totally awesome!

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  36. Oooh very impressive entry ... love how you've stamped and coloured it! Will be looking forward to more of your entries!

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  37. Hi there.
    Wow you've had fun! Glad to see you playing along with the challenge!

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  38. Ultra cool use of this book...what an awesome layout of images and words! You are brilliant!

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  39. I sure hope you are feeling better by now, Julia. I'm so sorry to hear you were 'down for the count' with whatever got you. Let's pray that 2013 will be a healthier year for both you and me!

    Love this dictionary spread...everywhere you look, there's much to see, with layer upon layer of interest. :) Have a wonderful weekend, my friend!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Juliax