Do More With Less

Thursday

Mixed media eye on canvas

After doing so many eye sketches in my sketchbooks, I decided to challenge myself to go bigger and do a mixed media eye on canvas. This eye was painted a 16 x 16 canvas.

The base of the canvas was covered with crumpled wrapping tissue for texture. Then I went in with acrylic paints, watersoluble crayons, gesso and stencils before drawing/painting my eye.

At first, I struggled with blending the paint colours to create the depth in the eye. Then I went in with old faves - paint markers and acrylic ink-filled waterbrushes and it somehow came together....after a while. I think. *winks*

What do you think?

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Monday

A Christmas gift box in September?

Christmas-gift-box-for-Maya-Road-by-Yvonne-Yam

Yep, apparently so. I'm starting on my Christmas projects early this year...(yay, go me!).

I started with a really nice tea box from TWG (all my decorated boxes come from recycled packaging). Since the brand was only on the top lid and back spine, I went with a strip of patterned paper that covered just those areas. And added a strip of pearl trim for a decorative edge.

I went with one big decorative cluster along the bottom right of the box, right down to where the lid of the box opens for a waterfall effect and it does help guide the eye to where the opening of the box is.

Now to find things that would fit into this box. What? I'm supposed to do the Christmas shopping before doing up the gift boxes? *winks*

Happy week ahead friends!

P/s: For a complete listing of the products I've used on my project, please head over to the Maya Road blog.

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Wednesday

How to use seemingly disparate elements on your layouts

Well friends, I've been told that I've a knack for putting seemingly disparate elements in a somewhat cohesive manner on my layouts. Really? I've been scrapbooking for so long now and my only goal is just to use up my stash! But I did a run-through of my layouts to pick out some commonalities that might help you use seemingly disparate elements on your layouts too. *winks*

Are you ready?

The layout with lots of stuff

1. Try using paper strips of similar width.

Even if the papers don't match, the paper strips provide a cohesive feel that help tie the pieces together. On this particular layout, the paper fish tails really aid in guiding the eye throughout the layout.

Let's make pancakes today

2. Have your patterned paper characters look at your subjects.

This is a technique I use a lot - having fussy-cut patterned paper characters look at my subjects. It is a fun way "frame" your photos.

Someone has a crush

3. Try working with just three main colours.

Keeping to a trio of harmonious colours makes it easy on the eyes even if the patterns seem to clash.

How-many-paper-scraps-did-I-use-on-my-layout

How many paper scrap pieces did I use on my layout?

4. Keep patterns in small doses.

Play with little bits of patterns so they serve as little accents and don't distract the eye from your photos.

The one with lots of brads

5. Use a grid format.

Somehow laying elements within a grid structure just works because the eye has a "framework" to guide it through the elements.

Bandage buddies

6. Go whimsical.

Well, nothing has to make sense in a whimsical scene so just have fun! Here, I went with a postcard scene and even added props!

So we won tickets to see Kooza

7. Use repeated shapes.

Repetition of shapes - circles and rectangles- provide the eye relief to this seemingly messy layout.

Everybody loves cheesecake

8. Create a decorative "frame" around your photos.

Place all your decorative elements along the perimeter of your photos. This creates a "frame" that ties everything together.

There you have it, 8 ways to use seemingly disparate elements on your layouts. Have you employed any of them on your layouts?

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Monday

Paper scraps and rub-ons on an envelope...another mail art piece

I've been having fun with my (recycled) bubble pack envelopes recently.

For this particular one, I tore paper scraps and did a "collage" on the envelope before throwing it with mists, acrylic paints, gesso and ink splatters. You know, getting messy.

And then "attacking" it with most of my rub-on stash! *winks* They no longer "rub-on" properly but work perfectly for my messy, grungy style. :)

Happy week ahead friends! :)

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Friday

4 against 1

It's hard to win when it's 4 against 1. Four members of the Gangster Gang (aka 3 nephews + 1 niece) versus one aunt....when playing a game of catch at the playground.

Evidently the youngest two are easy to "catch" but once they are out of the game, they start thwarting your attempts to catch their older siblings. And it gets really tiring for the aunt...*LOL*

A mix of new and old stash....

Found my old sticker collection so I had to incorporate a couple of them...including the faux stitching. :)

Playing along with Stuck?! Sketches.

P/s: Happy weekend friends!

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Tuesday

Travel Journal Pages - Japan Part 1

Hello friends! Today I'm sharing Part 1 of my travel journal pages from Japan....I was initially hoping to share them all in one post but I took soooooooo many pics and apparently have lots to write about the trip that I've only completed Day 1. *LOL*

I wanted to incorporate something from Japan in my travel journal pages so I bought fabric tapes from Daiso Harajuku to use on my pages.

And if you spy a Basic Grey bird, *#%^* I found 6 more of them in my stash...eh I was celebrating too soon in my earlier post Projects featuring the infamous Basic Grey birds! *winks* .

Lots of stickers and journal blocks/tags were used...along with bits of fussy-cut pieces from my stash.

P/s: Sorry for not returning blog visits - I was travelling last week and caught the flu bug...I will play catch-up soon I promise.

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Monday

The result of makeup shopping...winks

Well, yeah, I might have gone makeup shopping recently. Since I was "bad", I decided to do something good with the paper bag....like decorate it. *winks*

I'm currently obsessed with this Spellbinders die....interestingly, I've had it for years but only recently started using it....[I'm such a hoarder! *LOL*]

And go me, working on a Christmas project in August! *High fives all around*

P/s: Happy week ahead friends!

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Tuesday

Double page spread for Maya Road/ Photo Play Paper swap

Double-page-spread-for-Maya-Road-Photoplay-swap-by-Yvonne-Yam

This week the Maya Road Design Team is sharing projects featuring Photo Play Paper. Mine is a double page spread using the Mad Plaid Christmas collection.

If you didn't already know, I have a thing for banners...which explains why the first sheet of patterned paper I reached for was the one with the Christmas banners. I just had to fussy cut them all. *winks*

I embellished the banners with Maya Road snowflake diecuts and pearl center trim.

I also decided to work on my glitter stash...which was a good idea at that time but you know how glitter is, it goes everywhere. *LOL*

If you have time, stop by the Maya Road blog to leave a comment on any of the Maya Road/Photo Play Paper swap posts for your chance at a $20 gift certificate to the Maya Road store.

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Monday

Projects featuring the infamous Basic Grey birds! winks

Now that the last few Basic Grey birds have been used up (although I won't discount finding a stray one because they "breed" so rapidly in my stash...hahaha), I thought I should show just how much mileage one can get from a single 12x12 sheet paper full of little birds. *winks*

Are you ready to check out my projects using the Basic Grey birds? Grab a hot tea/beverage of your choice and enjoy...