Friday 25 January 2013

Craft Barn Alpha Challenge. . . . . . . . .

The Craft Barn Alpha Challenge has moved onto the second letter this fortnight. The letter we have to use is C and I've chosen the word 'compass'. I started with two compass stamps, one from Tim Holtz and the other from Oxford Impressions. I then just played with inks, die cut letters, a stencil and some glossy accents. It's such a fun challenge and I like the freedom it gives you to just 'play'!

Here's what I produced:

I'm having trouble with achieving a neat finish where the pages meet, a length of jute twine sorted that one out! As well as the large compass image, you can see two smaller compass pieces in top right and bottom left. They were produced using the same method as described later for the larger images.
The letters were diecut, stamped with the main compass image with a toning shade, inked and then coated with glossy accents. The arrows were stamped, cut out and they received the same glossy treatment.
The Tim compass was stamped onto the page and then onto spare card. The image on card was coloured with a mixture of distress ink and water soluble wax crayons. The centre of the image was cut out and given a glossy finish. Some smaller letters were cut, stamped, inked and glossed for the main compass points. The smaller compass images can be seen in the background here too.
Tim compass image was stamped in archival and in distress as shown in this image. The borders were created with a dylusion stencil, distress markers and the water soluble crayons.
The word and definition was left white and further highlighted by some black pen and more arrows as discussed earlier. Another stamped compass was coloured, cut into appropriate sections and then given the glossy makeover.

As well as the background stamping, the pages were inked with distress and spritzed with water.

Thank you so much for the wonderful comments I received for my ATC (previous post). It really means so much to know that you like my work - we all have doubts at times and although I'm enjoying what I do, sometimes I wonder why I'm doing it. Then I remember (or remind myself ) that it's FUN!!



40 comments:

  1. I just pressed the refresh on my dashboard and what should pop up but this!
    An amazingly creative set of pages Julia. The colours are fabulous and the embellishing just stunning. Love them!
    Have a great weekend.
    Hugs, Fliss xx

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  2. Well you should no doubts whatsoever about this stunning creation Julia - it is utterly amazing! The colours are so rich and vibrant, the compasses (I have not even used that stamp yet) are beautiful and the letters are - I am stuck for words now! So, so very beautiful!! Someone should 'Pin' this... Hugs, Anne x

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  3. I could just look at this forever! It is truly amazing...I have been watching these Craftbarn items for a while and have been quite interested, even thinking I should get a dictionary so I can join in! You have done an awesome job here Julia - the colours are so vibrant and all the detail is just wonderful. It is....WOW!!! Hugs Laura xxxxxxxx

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  4. This is fantastic.I cannot believe the lovely dimension, colours and textures that you have created in this page that has a real wow factor and for all the right reasons! I love this hugs trace x

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  5. I'm a fan, you know that, and this is why. From a plain couple of printed pages you create magic. Love the echoed stamping in the background, on the letters and then as the focal point. The colour combinations are also perfect. That compass must be pointing south towards the tropical weather!! Love this to bits. Hugs, Jenny x

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  6. Love the rich colours and your choice of word, great pages.

    Sylv x

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  7. love the colours and the embossed letters. x

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  8. Completely delicious... the colours are glorious, and those glossy stamped letters are to die for! What a fabulous solution in the hemp twine down the centre - it looks so great, as well as covering anything you might want covered!! Amazing pages, Julia, extraordinary art.
    Alison x

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  9. Amazing journal pages Julia. The colours are just fantastic and you have achieved so much dimension and texture on the pages. I am beginning to wish I had started playing along with this challenge myself. I am glad you are enjoying playing!

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  10. Wow, how cool - that's the most wonderful dictionary page I've ever seen.

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  11. So much to take in I'll have to go back for another look! This is just fantastic! Chrisx

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  12. Love it Julia and Pinned it already :-)
    A great border, looks so great on these compass pages!
    Every time you can create something unique...lovely...

    have a great weekend, Alie :-)

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  13. This is fabulous! Great colors!
    Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

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  14. Just fabulous Julia I'm lost for words! I love the manuscript effect and all the embellies:)
    Val x

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  15. Awe Julia this is gorgeous sweetie, you can truly see how much fun you had playing. Lol another blue and orange fan, one of my fave combos.
    Huge hugs x x x x

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  16. Fabulous page Julia love the colour combo you have used with your "C" word Compass!

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  17. It looks like great fun and. Is really neat.

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  18. What a wonderfully vibrant DPS it's so clean looking IYKWIM.

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  19. Incredibly artistic gorgeousness!

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  20. What a fabulous spread, Julia! I must admit I'm a bit of a fan of compass/navigation images anyway. And I love your die cut, stamped and glossy letters.

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  21. Fabulous pages!!! Love the vivid color and what fun with the compass! So cool!

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  22. Wonderful pages-so much colour and great shapes to admire.

    Love Chrissie xx

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  23. How bright and beautiful... I love this!!

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  24. Wauwwwwwwwwwwwww Julia this is beautiful.
    Great piece of art with beautiful colors and details.
    Greetings Janny

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  25. I can see you are loving this challenge Julia. Truly fabulous pages!! xx

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  26. Lovely pages this week - love how the background looks like treaure island and it's a great idea to glossy accent your diecut letters. Great bright pages!

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  27. Oh Julia! What gorgeous vibrant colours you have used here.....they are gorgeous pages my lovely! Thank you for joining us over at The Craft Barn again, HUGS xxx

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  28. What an absolutely fabulous page and well done for keeping the compass definition clear from ink - lol

    Great page - Sam xxx

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  29. Fantastic piece of work, there is always so much interest on your work. Each time I look at it i see something else. Have you seen the new Gelli printing blocks? Something to spend your birthday cash on!

    Cassidy xx

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  30. This is SO AMAZING. The colors are fabulous and I ADORE the way you highlighted the definition!!! If you have time, I'd love for you to play along with our challenges at Inkspirational and Technique Time Tuesday! :) HUGS!

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  31. Wonderful Julia - great design and gorgeous colours.
    xxx Hazel.

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  32. Wow, really love the colours you've chosen, what a great page this is

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  33. WOW Julia what marvellous page...I love your bright colours and composition....Stunning!!!
    Hugs from Slovenia

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  34. This is a beautiful altered dictionary project Julia! I just found my way here from Shirley Deatcher´s blog. Beautiful work!

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  35. OMG - this is amazing in every way! Love all the details and inking! Fabulous journal pages and great inspiration!

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  36. Hi Julia, wow your pages for C are great. Congrats on your placing on the first challenge for V as well! Claire x

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  37. Wow!!! Stunning !!! the colours are striking.
    Thanks for playing with us again at the Craft Barn
    Izzy

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  38. OMG those colors are so wonderful together. Gorgeous use of the compass. I especially love the borders.

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  39. OH!!!! LOVE this! The colors are so bold and the technique on the letters is fantastic!

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  40. wow! The colours are amazing!!!! And I love how you have prepared your letters as well!

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