Challenge11

This month on Lets Get Shabby, the challenge was to create a layout using the quilt below as our inspiration



I love the challenges on this blog because it takes me out of my comfort zone. As a result, I have fun trying out different techniques to achieve a "shabby" look, whether it be a layout or an OTP project.

This month when I saw our challenge, I knew I had the perfect photos for a layout. Last year I was visiting my Sydney grandchildren and went along to their play group where these photos were taken. I wanted to created a patchwork country side with a fresh air and sunshine feel.

I tied a rope around my waist and dove into my fabric collection and found 5 different fabrics to create the patchwork country side. These are machine stitched and I ruffed up some of the edges to resemble grass. The path is paper from the Bo Bunny Lunch Sack Plaid range which I have had in my stash for some time. I grunged it up a bit with Tim Holtz Distress Ink - walnut stain.

The sun was printed on the background paper and I wanted to give it a 3D look. So I cut it out, and used Kindy Glitz on the rays and Dimensional Magic on the face. I then cut out a slightly larger sun shape from a warm yellow paper and adhered it to covered the hole. Then I used dimensional foam to adhere the sun.

A close up of the knot in the tree trunk.

I would have liked to use wire for the vine but as I didn't have any, I cut very fine strips of dark green cardstock and wound the ends around a paper piecer to give me the curls. I then added tiny glass beads to the centre of the flowers. The picket fence, I made from cardstock.



Since Hamish is looking a something to his left, I cut out a cute little bunny and I added it to the layout. The little bling flowers have embroidered stems.

Initially I was going to put in a barn but since the play group is held in the church grounds, my barn became a church. LOL Then I noticed that the challenge image also has a church - perfect !!! The trees, I cut out of left over fabric.


In the second image of Hamish, he is looking up into the tree so ofcause a little birdie had to be sitting up on the branches. (my art teacher always says that you need something red on your project - so this one is for her) hehehehehehehe The tree is made of felt with a few punched out leaves.

When I finished the layout, I didn't have anywhere suitable for journaling, so I created another layer for the tree, attached it to a journaling card and now it sits tucked away out of sight.

I would like to take this oppurnity to thank you for your patience. I know that this post is a long one. Now I am not admiting to anything, but, I occasionally have been accused of being a bit of a chatter box. lol

Thanks for stopping by,

Hugs, Irene xx