Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Welcome to the Xoxo Blog Hop!

Hiya!!!

True Xoxo is a great team- welcome to our blog hop!!
It was ALL I COULD DO to keep this under wraps for this long!
Lisa Murphy Watson (a wonderful scrapper if I may say so) threw the challenge down LOVELY!
My challenge? Channel master scrapper Ingvild Bolme. WOOOOHAA!
And here it is:
Wonder Wheel- New Year's Day 2011
MATERIALS: American Crafts white cardstock, Tattered Angeles Mermaid Glimmer Glam and Patina Mist, buttons fro m Basic Grey and My Mind's Eye, Chipboard from Dusty Attic, metal gear brads from Oriental Trading
This page is very different from what I normally do and I proved to myself that I can still rock the shabby chic/romantic vibe without getting overly prettified. Still, when I saw Lisa's challenge I WIGGED OUT.
Ingvild's design style is incredibly complex and uses lots of advanced technique.
Click here to check out her blog. But come back here ok? please? :)

Ingvild's a perfect choice for this challenge. She's got a very distinctive style that isn't easily imitated but can be used as a "jumping off point" for your own ideas and style.
First I made a list of themes I loved about her work.
  • White background paper- negative space
  • Turquoise paint- splatters and swishes
  • Transparencies and sewn details
  • Lots of texture with gesso, netting and edge distressing
  • Black and white photos with blown out highlights
  • Flowers, lace and other Prima products
I tried random swishes of a paint across the page but HATED IT!
I dabbed the page with the brush but hated that too.
Then, instead of throwing the page out, I stuck it to the wall and dabbed it more "confidently"with dripping paint- that's how I got that "tree" look.
My only problem with this photo is that it appears to be out of focus.
The photo looks fine in real life but when I take a picture of it WHAM!- no faces!

I then misted it with Tattered angels "Patina" and used my heat gun to dry it off- this lessened the warp I got from using Glimmer Glam.
The Dusty Attic gears were too thick to allow for direct to the page sewing so I referenced the effect by winding some floss around them.

The big blue rose actually started out pink but some misting and glimmer glamming whipped it into shape. I also tried to stay away from edge distressing which can get really ugly in the hands of the inexperienced.

Ingvild's stark white portraits are an inspiration but I decided to take it easy on myself. Rather than start a whole new shoot, I used images from the Polar Bear Club New Year's Dip my husband and I participated in January this year. He jumped in the freezing water and I got my boots wet trying to take photos- it was a truly fantabulous day.
So cozy in the 2 feet of snow...
Did you enjoy the hop? I sure hope so- thank you so much for joining us! Your next stop is back at Xoxo headquarters- thank you for commenting and following each blog- we really appreciate it and remember- it's the best way to win the grand prize- a True Xoxo Guest Designer spot!
But WAIT there's MORE!!!!!
I have a little give away of my own for new followers (and old ones as well- just leave a comment with your email or blog addy)
These lovely flowers are all yours- just swing back to this blog to find out
 who won October 20th!
CLICK HERE for your next stop- the Xoxo home page!
My pant cuffs and feet were completely soaked here- so is the sacrifice I make for me "art".
MuChOs SmOoChEs!

37 comments:

  1. LOVE this - you did a great job gonig outside your comfort zone! LOVE LOVE LOVE the blue and the pictures are perfect :-)

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  2. Oooh so cool! And yes, you see that you are inspired by or have used some of Ingvilds stuff here. Good and interesting to read about it too. Thanks!

    And yes. Curious is good stuff. Curage may be another word here...

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  3. Awesome layout! I love the dripping effect and all the fabby mists!

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  4. dude....seriously....awesome. those gears are from oriental trading company??? jeez, they look just like maya road. Great layout.

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  5. MIchelle this is seriously beautiful! The colors, the details, the embellies - love it all!! You have an amazing style!

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  6. Purty! I love how you used the two big gears to frame your pix, and the way you mix soft and hard details (the flowers with the metal, the gear shapes with the thread). Also, the "tree" drips look so COOL! I'm going to have to try that!

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  7. Hi Michelle!!! love your page is Super Cool!!!! love the chipboard and the paints effect...looks fantastic! Take Care girl!! Hugs! :)

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  8. I LOVE*** all the details and love you put on this layout! The blue splatter, gears, and floss are perfect! I have never heard of Ingvild Bolme before just now, and I haven't visited her blog, but I am SURE you totally did this way better your style! :)

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  9. This is so sweet! the way you used the gears, and of course the fabby paint.....perfect. I love. <3

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  10. You completely ROCKED it Michelle!!!

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  11. Amazing...as usual. You just have the kind of style I wish I could pull off! The gears and paint drips...amazing. Love the colors of this as well!

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  12. WOW! that sure is a lot of techniques... so well executed. Lovely job. I know I couldn't pull it off. TFS.

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  13. I adore this page...it's freaking gorgeous! I can't wait to scrap lift you!

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  14. i think that one is one of my favorite layout right now!!

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  15. What a great layout, I am sure I could not have created something this great. Super job on the challenge.
    I am now following you on twitter and by email.
    karensneedle@sbcglboal.net

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  16. You did such a wonderful job - love your layout!

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  17. you did an amazing job channeling Ingvild! That is one rockin' layout!

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  18. WHOA! Your layout is amazing! Love it!

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  19. Hi Michelle,

    woah - tough act to follow. Ingvild's style is certainly complex! Great to write about your planning process. And the page... Dripping paint - yes! Bright, bright colours vs kraft - yes! Sewing - yes!

    Cheryl x

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  20. that is a totally awesome page. seriously. awesome.

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  21. A-mazing!so much to look at, I keep going back for more.

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  22. You out did yourself on this one! Love the color splashes and I love the twine around the gears!

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  23. I love this . You were so adventuresome!

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  24. Great job on your challenge. The colors are fantastic!!!

    Erika

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  25. Wow what a great take on the challenge, and an awesome layout!!!!!!!!!!!

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  26. great idea for a boy or man LO....

    krafybre@yahoo.com

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  27. the gear looking embellishments are super cute

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  28. I think you did a fabulous job being inspired by the master. I love the glimmer mist you used.... it's one of my favourite colours of glimmermist

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  29. So, while every single team member really outdid themselves for this blog hop, I gotta say that yours amazed & surprised me the most! You really, went for it and man, did it pay off. Well done - this one is framable.

    xoxo
    Lindsey

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  30. Inspired me so... See here http://lostinadreamofjosh.blogspot.com/2011/10/xoxo-inspired.html

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  31. interesting layouts with loads of embellies.

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  32. http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii64/scrapaholicaef/xoxoxo%20blog%20hop/?action=view&current=anotherscrapliftchallnege.jpg


    Wow way out my comfort zone I must say you DID challenge me! Hugs Alesi scrapaholicaef@yahoo.com

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  33. Wow, amazing work. I LOVE EVERYTHING about this page!

    Jasmine
    A {Little} Dab of Glue
    http://alittledabofglue.blogspot.com/

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Ok peeps lets CHAT! You tell me what you REALLY think and I PROMISE to keep it open minded here.