Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Inspiration

Where do you find inspiration? Many people are pinning like crazy these days, putting away photos of cards, quilts, scrapbooking, things to do in your home, ideas for the next children's party...you name it you can find it on Pinterest! So what do you do with all those bits and pieces of inspiration? How do you turn it into something you want to see in a card or on a scrapbook page?

As I contemplated how to explain translating something in one form into another form I suddenly had a flash! That's exactly what they do every year at the Oklahoma Sugar Arts Show at the Tulsa State Fair Grounds. The year we attended and participated the big competition, the Wedding Cake division, was Hollywood Glamour Cakes. The contestants were required to chose a film or Hollywood theme to use as their inspiration...something cake decorators often do for their clients. Everything on their tables were to relate to that same point of inspiration. A photo of the inspiration was to be displayed as well, so that people would know your creative process.

I thought I'd begin by posting several cakes that had the same movie as their inspiration to show how different people interpret important elements from the movie...or what they thought of first when they thought of the movie.

Do you know which movie inspired these six cakes without looking at the photo clue?










If you guessed My Fair Lady you are right! Now try this pink cake....




From Gentlemen Prefer Blondes...the pink dress worn by Marilyn Monroe inspired this!


And now this one....yes, the dress worn by Padme in Star Wars (whatever episode it was...I don't know!)




This Hollywood Classic...Gone With the Wind...and another memorable dress as inspiration!
 
 
This gorgeous cake was inspired by yet another dress, this time another Audrey Hepburn film...Sabrina.
 
So, as you see, each person found elements from their movies that they thought would best represent it. In the Hepburn movies black and white were the stand out color choices, some chose bands of colors, others bows, some included feathers or hats, but when they were done, you had a good idea of the movie.

Now another type of inspiration...this time in quilt fabrics. As soon as I knew I was going to be a grandmother, I knew I wanted to create a baby quilt with fabric I had aquired with Shaun the Sheep, one of the characters in the Wallace and Grommit claymation series. So I gathered fabrics and began my merry journey.  While in the process of the quilt making I had a card challenge for DeNami Design Stamps. I used the fabrics as my inspiration for the card.

I used the circles, the swirls, the colors and patterns...and of course the sheep to make this card.

Here's the quilt finally finished!



Now for one more example this time from a book. Hannah had a client request a birthday cake for a little girl that loves Fancy Nancy books...that was the starting point. Pouring over a multitude of books for a feel of the character and her style she presented this rough design for a simple cake.

design by Hannah Fisher of Story Girl Cakes
 
and after fine tuning the clients additional input (we want WOW!) this is the cake they received...and loved!
 


 
Well, do you have something that is waiting to inspire you for your next project?  Are you able to see how you can pick various elements out of your starting point and create something entirely new? I hope so. Why not put something together and then come on over to www.Journella.com and share your work there...we'd love to have you join us! Come see what's going on!

thanks for stopping in....

andrea 

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Need a little inspiration for Valentines Day card making? I do. I have so much that needs done around here I am backed up on my "free" time to create new stuff. So I thought I'd pull this card out for a re-run for some much needed motivation.
 
This is a 3-D card using Cor'dinations cardstocks. A layer of embossed dot whitewash with a pink under layer. the chocolates in the box were made using the Chocolate Box Collection in several shades of brown then embossed with the D'Vine Swirl embossing folder, and sanded to reveal the color layer.  The lid of the box is stamped with DeNami Design stamp P88 Love Script Heart.
 


 
 
 
Well that's today's valentine moment...more to come in the days ahead!
 
thanks for stopping by,
 
andrea

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

A New Year With Mosaic Moments

January 1st began a second term with Mosaic Moments and a move up to Team Captain. With nine new designers, one addtional returning designer and myself, this year there is bound to be lots of creative things happening on Journella.com for everyone to see.

Our first challenge for the month was to be about US. Each designer put together a layout to tell us all about themselves...or at least what they wanted to share about themselves!! You will find many new looks on the team for 2013. Here's a peek at my layout...for the full look and details click here!

 
and yes...I spelled occasionally wrong in the layout...
 
The second challenge for January begins posting today through the 21st so be sure to stop by and check in on my latest...here! Meanwhile here's a seek peek! Can you tell what we were to be inspired by for this challenge?...no...really? well it was Dr. Seuss...go check it out!

 
 
Don't forget to check out all the specials at www.snapncrop.com where the STORM 12 x 12 grid paper is being featured. Be sure to read the newsletter  for all the latest! You too can join in on this challenge...so don't delay!


Challenge
We are very excited to introduce the Mosaic Moments Challenge. This year not only will the Mosaic Moments Design Team be completing challenges, but YOU can also participate in the challenges.
January's Mosaic Moments Challenge is Photos inspired by Dr. Seuss
The Design Team will post their Dr. Seuss inspired pages starting January 15th. You can join in the fun by also posting your pages in January on Journella.com.

Directions: Choose a Dr. Seuss story and let it inspire the photos you take/use. In addition, let the story inspire the following:
 
  • Page Title
  • Journaling
  • Fonts used on your page
  • Colors used
Design Requirements: use 1 inch (photo or paper) squares as a design

In your Journella Post you should include the name of the Dr Seuss book that you chose for inspiration.
Here is an idea for a Dr. Seuss inspired Mosaic Moments Page:
SeussbookOne of Dr. Seuss' books is "In a People House." This book can inspire you to create a Mosaic Moments page about your house. Photograph everyone who lives in your house. Photograph the rooms or your favorite things about your home. You can also take photographs of your home through your pet's perspective. These are just a few ideas to help you get started. If you need more inspiration, check out Seussville.com to see all of the books written by Dr. Seuss. We can't wait to see what ideas and inspiration you have created!







Hoping to get a few Valentine designs up soon, but until then...
thanks for stopping by today,

andrea