Thursday, August 9, 2012

BITW "Reach" (a personal challenge to myself)

**For my Giveaway, please go HERE**

Okay, first of all SORRY for being so quiet lately here on my blog! After taking off nearly two weeks last month, I'm trying to play catch-up with my DT work and a couple extra special assignments ;)- and there has been NO personal scrappy time. But last night, I put a stop to that! My husband and brother hauled home my "new" (new to me) scrap desk- so good-bye kitchen table!!!! We got it all set up and it was 9:30 at night. I was tired- and trying to make an excuse to go to bed. But I thought about my poor, neglected blog and said NO!- I'm going to make something TONIGHT- and I've got ONE hour...

Yikes. I'm more like a 5 hour scrapper- but I grabbed up the new "Romance Novel" collection from Prima, grabbed a bottle of gesso and some masks and mist- and just went to work. I didn't over-think things at ALL (I'm one of those who can stand and stare at my page for 20 minutes, just thinking)- just started throwing stuff together. And I'm pretty happy with what resulted! 

Here it is, my entry for the "Reach" challenge at Bird is the Word...

"Out of Reach"
I thought that the fussy cut elements from this range were perfect for a "reach" page. As many of you know, I've had a tough time letting my middle child Gunner grow up. So my journaling let some insight into that struggle..."It's difficult for me to admit that keeping you little is beyond my control. You just turned 2 and all the sudden you say all kinds of things...at least when you weren't talking, I could pretend you were still a baby. But every day, you prove to me yet again that you're growing up. And that stopping that is simply out of reach..."

Here's a closer look:
 The main bloom in my cluster is one of the gorgeous Winter Releases from Manor House Creations, available for purchase HERE in the C'est Magnifique store. Freaking gorgeous, if I do say so myself...


 For the hot air balloon, I took my Crafter's Workshop Reverse Chicken Wire mask and some texture paste, added some embossing powder and dried with my heat gun :).

 A little look at my gesso/mist/stamped background- I tried to create a "sky" scene here.


Hidden journaling :).

Supplies Used:
Prima Marketing "Romance Novel" papers
Manor House Creations, Prima Marketing, & Petaloo flowers
Prima Marketing Shabby Metal Treasures (goose)
7 Dots Studio letter stickers
American Crafts Thickers
The Crafter's Workshop reverse chicken wire & wall masks
Martha Stewart Texture Effect
Tattered Angels "Rum Punch" glimmer mist
Maya Road "Hydrangea" mist
gesso, cardboard, Prima packaging
So there you have my personal one-hour challenge! Basically what this shows me is that I tend to generally REALLY over-think things...and perhaps I just like to waste my own time, lol. Actually, what I think it is is I really enjoy the process of creating, and so I take my time...just so I can enjoy it that much longer. But it's nice to know that I can pull something together when given a time constraint :).

I hope you're all doing well. We're nearing the weekend- so have a safe and good one. See you tomorrow with a DT page for Scrap FX!! :D

37 comments:

cebelica said...

Girl, this is stunning, absolutely STUNNING! Hugs! xx

Erin said...

So pretty Erin! Loving balloons at the moment, and that Manor House flower is divine.

Keren Tamir said...

Beautiful Erin! Thanks for playing with us at BITW

Missy Whidden said...

So pretty, Erin! I really love the sky you created...the subtle blue is the perfect touch. I also love the textured hot air balloon! Another beautiful page :)

Evgenia said...

Beautiful!!

Romy said...

I definitely have to challenge myself to create a layout in under an hour too. I had to smile when I read that you sometimes stare at your layouts for 20 minutes, cause I have moments that I just look at my layouts and move things around for a couple of hours. It might be a nice challenge to just stick everything down instead of overthinking every single element.
Anyway, your layout is totally gorgeous:) The sky with the hot-airballoon that you made looks simply amazing! I can't believe you managed to create such a stunner in under an hour.

Alison said...

Stunning is definitely the word. the sky you created is perfect, and i love the treatment you gave the balloon!

Patty O'Malley said...

You did amazing work in an hour! I know what you mean by staring at a project for 20 minutes. I do that all the time!

Perform said...

Totally gorgeous and all those extra details are just beautiful. No matter how old Gunner gets, he'll always be your baby! :)

Linda Eggleton said...

OMGoodness...how amazing that you created this in an hour!!! I am more of a 5 hour (sometimes more!) scrapper too...and tend to do the same thing, just look at it for so long, then change my mind & move things around etc etc etc...so I know what you mean! I also cannot believe that all your gorgeous creations have come from your kitchen table...wow! Can't wait to see your future creations that come from your new desk!

Stunning layout, Erin!

Billie-Jean Beveridge said...

Hi Erin! :) Your page is fantastic, especially given the time frame you had to complete it. I love to do this often and even finding myself sticking stuff down before it has dried properly! I find myself constantly scrapping about my youngest and how i don't want her to grow up but she is off to school next year so i am even sadder :( Anyway our role as mothers is never an easy one but sure is a fun one! Take care :)

misty said...

gorgeous! gorgeous! gorgeous! Hope you had a nice time away!

misty said...

gorgeous! gorgeous! gorgeous! Hope you had a nice time away!

Vicky Alberto said...

Adore this - I over think too (gotta stop and follow my instincts... seems to work for you :)

gracescraps@gmail.com said...

Totally gorgeous girl!! I can't believe you did this in an hour. It would have taken me days. I like to stare at my LO's too!!

~ Blessings, Tracey

http://gracescraps.blogspot.com/

scrappymo! said...

Great layout. To have created this in an hour is just fabulous.

Lizzyc said...

ONE HOUR!!! It would take me 1 hour to get my paper sometimes!! this is stunning.. I love all the details.. and the gesso I am loveing that product more and more for the softness and texture it adds.. and a very emotional theme for you too.. yes our kids grow up.. and too fast I think these days... and that flower is magnificent.. a really beautiful layout.. and thanks for joining in at BITW!!

Lizzy Hill said...

Think you'd better stay on short time & keep turning them out quickly - it really works fantastically well...this is fabbo!! LOVE your bg & that balloon is amazing...so is the flower cluster...the whole lot looks wonderful:):):)

Evgenia Petzer said...

Love it so much!!!

Chantal Vandenberg said...

What a stunning layout!!! Wow!!!

Ashley Horton said...

Love it Erin and glad you got to take a break from all DT stuff!! The gesso with the reverse chicken wire on the Hot Air Balloon, is really fun!

Laurie said...

ok, I am impressed with your one hour page, just beautiful! the hot air ballon is so cute and yes those flowers are gorgeous!!

Nicole Doiron said...

I sooo know what you mean about standing there and staring at paper for too long before actually getting crafty! hehe It is amazing what you were able to create in an hour! You are SO talented and truly an inspiration! Thank you so much for your kind comments on my blog :)

Anonymous said...

ONE HOUR??? Amazing!

Elisabeth Sarkis said...

So Beautiful!!!
Thanks for playing at BITW

Ella Swan said...

What a great page Erin! Yup I did the same the other night - created 3 layouts in a day - and 2 of them in an hour each!! Just too much work on the go and too many set backs recently to waste any time overthinking anything. Not sure I can keep up the pace unless I'm forced to with deadlines though! Thanks so much for your condolence message on my blog. I have had a near death experience myself so I know first hand that death is something there is no need to fear (unless perhaps you are a serial killer LOL) so I take great comfort in knowing my Lulu is in heaven now :)

Eila Sandberg said...

Cudos to you Erin, I'm totally impressed how quickly you got this page in place! and it looks darn good too - so beautiful! that big MHC blooms is to die for! xoxo

Mrs Frizz said...

wow, under an hour ... that's an impressive layout, it's downright stunning to be honest ... now imagine how many albums you would and could fill if all your layouts were done in under an hour ... that would be some tally ... but like you, I'm a slow scrapper as well most of the time. Overthinking sounds about right.

Di Garling said...

Perfection in one hour!!! I'm impressed. Beautiful layout, as always. Cheers Di xo

Torill said...

Just love it!<3
Thank you for joining us at BITW

Jona Panesa said...

wow!!! so stunning.

MarĂ­lia Lopes said...

Love it so much!!!
Thanks for playing with us in BITW

Marilyn said...

Wow, Erin, in one hour! This is Beautiful!!! I never made a page in 1 hr. but you did a wonderful work.
Thanks for playing at BITW!! ;)

just another day said...

Pretty page Erin!!! great texture
thanks for playing along at BITW

just another day said...

Pretty page Erin!!! great texture
thanks for playing along at BITW

Unknown said...

Hahaha...you and I are so alike! I don't think I have ever scrapped anything in 1 hour and I stand over it for ages...days in fact making sure it looks okay!! LOVE LOVE this layout...its just so goregous and the mixed media feel is perfect. I know how you feel about our kids growing up..my boys are 3 and 5 and I had a hard time letting my eldest start school this year. Sigh..why do they have to grow up hey!
Take care :))xx

Rachael Funnell said...

GEE! YOU Go girl!! If I could Create Such a STUNNING layout like this... & in 1 hour!!! I would be Bouncing around the house PRETTY Proud of my self indeed!!!
ERIN it is always such a Pleasure to see your AMAZING creations over @ Bird Is The Word!! THANKS!