Thursday, February 17, 2011

Across Generations

Holy technique Batman! I went to town on this background page and created a mini work of art. The prompt for which came from this month's Paperclipping Community, Monthly Challenges. The challenge was to use heat embossing on a project.
Here are my design thoughts:
  • I wanted to create something green and lush, much like my Grandpa's garden. I used a Tim Holtz stamp and 4 different green/gold/teal embossing powders to achieve the background effect.
  • Then, seeing that the stamped images were a bit disjointed, I hit it with 2 shades of green Maya Mist, to create a more cohesive background.
  • It's a busier background that what I traditionally use but I think that's ok. I really think it makes my Grandpa, in his blue shirt, and my nephew Urijah pop off the page.
  • I went for a very linear, very simple photo arrangement because there was already a lot going on.
  • In adding journaling, I wanted it to not carry as much visual weight and wanted it to blend into the background a bit more. So I printed it out on a transparency.
  • Embellishing was the hardest part! I didn't want to add too much, but also knew it needed something more. The orange "tag" pieces are what I came up with. I stamped and hand wrote a few sentiments on orange cardstock, and using pinking shears, added a decorative border to the top. The bottom piece really conveyed "garden" to me, since I used Tim Holtz's metal memo pins like a plant marker (can't think of what they're called!!)
  • The final touches were Martha Stewart's adhesive backed ribbon along the bottom edge and against the side of the focal photo.
I love these photos. I love seeing my grand parents with their great-grand baby. I love seeing them in their garden. It's my Popo's pride and joy. I can't not think of him in this garden.

I love seeing these two guys next to each other, in their matching cut off shirts. It makes me smile. That's 4 generations right there. How can you not love that?!

xxbesos

3 comments:

  1. Cool page! Background IS awesome! :-)

    Thanks for your comment on my blog! Yup, we moved to Austin in June 2008. We bought a house here in Cedar Park in Nov 2009. We LOVE it here. :-D

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  2. Wow Jamie, I absolutely LOVE this page! This is my first visit to your blog, and I am already so inspired with new ideas for embossing. (and for updating my pretty old blog) :) I am looking forward to visiting your blog often. Thanks for posting. ...Kim

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  3. I LOVE those little orange tags you made! I have never tried anything like that. And your background is also awesome! I need to start using my tons of embossing powders.

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