May's Emerald Green birthstone and May flowers challenge

[sherelm]

I had so much fun doing this with another group of gals from London, and was amazed at the outcome. So I decided as soon as Kristin asked me to host a challenge - I'd do this.

First some things to say - there is NO RIGHT layout at the end. This is done "Blindly" (but I will post my layout next Saturday) - it's to interpret the directions as YOU see them. And also, to have the right as the designer of your own page to say "Nah, that won't work for me." This is up to you to follow to a "T" or to go off here and there. But the fun is, with the same basic set of directions, to see how far and what each person does with them in the end.
I really REALLY encourage you NOT to peek at the gallery until you have finished your own layout, or wait to post until Saturday if you would rather do that, because if you get influenced, we all will have carbon copies pretty much.

I've posted the supplies first, again - and now you get the rest of the "instructions". HAVE FUN. I know I did, and was WOWED at the outcome!!



SUPPLIES NEEDED:
1. An Emerald sheet of 12x12 Cardstock
2. 2 Patterned Papers – one a very small non-specific print (dots, swirls, plaid, etc.) and the other one a bright pretty floral (flowers large enough to cut out and/or cluster – both papers should be able to coordinate with the emerald cardstock.
3. Two lettering options – one big/one small (emerald green would look great here)
4. Pull a bunch of chipboard, diecuts, embellishments, etc., that are greens and some coordinating florals - you will need a few chip boards , die cuts, or larger stickers though, no matter what your embellishments. (you can also cut them from your die cutting machine)
5. Either ribbon, washi tape, baker's twine, thread, to match that emerald – you can have one, two, or all three of these options. We are using this for texture
6. PHOTOS: you need three 4x6 prints – all the same orientation – 3 portraits, or three landscapes.





MAY EMERALD and FLORAL layout Directions:
1) Adhere your three photos tight together in a straight line on the Emerald cardstock –
a) For portraits – they will be across the page, 1" from the bottom
b) For landscapes – they will be 1" from the left hand side of the page going top to bottom



2) Cut a ½ inch strip of the small print and place it against the photos partially and merge into the one inch border


3) Cut a narrow strip from the second patterned paper. This can be cut with a border punch as well and cut really thin – about ¼ of an inch. Put this piece on top of the ½" border





4) Pick out the largest flat shape you have in diecuts (not bigger than 3x4 though!) and mat it with the small print paper.


5) Now choose two smaller die cuts that when placed side by side are roughly the same width as the large matted die cut. Adhere these three to the layout in this order: large piece on the bottom to the right of your photos but either flush against or overlapping the photo a bit, and the other two above the large one flush with pictures as well as each die cut touching. If you are doing horizontal photos – start on the far right with the big one and move across to the right from the left. (DO NOT BE UPSET if you aren't sure you are doing it correctly – THERE IS no wrong way – it's how you are interpreting these directions!)


6) Cut a flower from your larger floral paper – add pop dots or foam tape and add to the top of the two smaller die cuts. Select a smaller round embellishment that can be a center or accent to the flower. Attach


7) Now build either up or more to the left (if horizontal photos) this collection along the photo by adding another embellishment. Something long and thin works well here. . . ???


8) Use the washi tape, ribbon, or baker's wine in three places on your page: far corner of the photos, and on either side of the "embellishment area". Be creative!



9) Sprinkle some more emeralds on your layout here and there – these can be Stickles, green rhinestones, glitter, etc.


10) Add title with letter stickers. Layer it over the embellishments! (Keep it legible!)


11) Complete the page with your writing and use the smaller letter stickers for names, dates, or smaller words in your title.


12) Does it need anything else? Feel free to add what else to make it yours. Can't wait to see it!

[Babushka]

Wow I can't wait to make one of my own!

[sherelm]

You will see how much they all differ, not just in pictures. We had all designers doing it - and you would have thought we were told nothing!!

[stateless]

This is going to be an interesting challenge! I can't wait to see the results from everyone!!

[cat1393]

sounds different. and it will get me out of the box!

[sherelm]

And no one will say you did it wrong, because you didn't!! You did it your way. Maybe I should have called it the Frank Sinatra challenge!?

[suewho372]

this sounds AWESOME!! Can't wait to work on it!!

[Deanna13]

Sounds interesting!

[letumom]

Too cool!

[PezKat]

How cool! Maybe I'll have time for this on Monday - I have Christmas pics so green's good but I don't know if they're the right size. We'll see!

[VIOLETSDR]

Exciting challenge--very different!

[MoochieMama]

This sounds like a LOT of fun.

[sherelm]

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did the first time I played it. It really was fun!!!

[oceanbreezes423]

wow, I had to print the directions, this will take some work, but I am anxious to see what happens!

[writerlady]

This is gonna be fun!

[blbabe1234]

Oh wow Sher! This is gonna be so fun!

[kguercio]

So cool, can't wait to see how these turn out!

[love2stamp]

very cool challenge, can't wait to do it.

[letumom]

This is going to have to wait until tomorrow. I'm so tired I can't think right now.

[Art_Teacher]

Wow! I had to print out all those instructions. LOL! This looks like fun!