OUTLAWZ GREETINGS CHALLENGE - HAPPY NEW YEAR! - USE SOMETHING NEW!

Hello, Crafty Peeples!
OUTLAWZ MONDAY GREETINGS CHALLENGE
THEME:  HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The Outlawz is a NING site, so you will be required to join!  It is a fun group with 7 weekly challenges, plus a cool Progressive Challenge.   We would love to have you!
Since I do not celebrate New Year ( I celebrate Rosh HaShanah),  I decided to approach this challenge from the USE SOMETHING NEW point of view.

My current notebook is full, so my inspiration project is a new mixed media cover.   

Considering the amazing haul of supplies I received for my birthday back in November, added to

 "INDECENT" amount of money I "SAVED " by taking advantage of the "December Deals," this should have been an easy challenge. The sheer volume of items proved to be a bit overwhelming.
I settled on a new 6" x 9" Spiral Notebook.
Other new items include 3D paint (used on the rose die cut) new inks and sprays.

MIXED MEDIA NOTEBOOK COVER
THIS IS MORE "Chana's Creative Process" THAN A TUTORIAL
Click on Images to enlarge

 De-construct a Plain Notebook

Schematic Design

Not a patient crafter, when working with plastic covers, do not deconstruct, 
because you cannot use a heat tool and must wait for paints, etc., to air dry.
Instead,  cut a lightweight piece of chipboard to size.
 (do not include punched border in your measurements.)

Design Development

Final design rarely ends the way it starts.  These pictures keep me from straying too far 
from my initial Concept, in this case Chevrons, Birds, and Roses.

Initial Composition

APPLY GESSO/PAINT/TEXTURES/PAPERS
(I use a homemade texture paste.)  Recipe : This is a YouTube video by Luvleescrappin

This is just one layer of Gesso.  I applied three.  Black Gesso would have required fewer coats.

APPLY BASE COLORS/PAPERS
I used four cut out from Graphic 45's Botanical Tea Collection.  I wanted to decoupage the entire front, but I would have lost most of my textured cheverons.  
DD is the place to make these decisions.
Play around wtih your elements before you lay anything down permanently.

Don't worry about colors.  One fun part of Mixed Media is that you can paint over any and every thing with Gesso or Spray with inks and achieve some pretty fabulous results.

Construction/Composition
COMPOSITION
This is where I make all my final decisions.  I take time to try several configurations before finally placing and adhering my elements.   I also add color during this phase.  Follow your creative eye!

You can see how the composition has changed from Schematic Design.

CONSTRUCTION

The Final Frontier

(I'm a trekkie, what can I say!)

This is the best part for me.  It is when the design really begins to take form and that restless feeling tha comes over me, when the design is in my mind and not on paper, begins to abate.  I think this is when creativity is at its highest.  Just go with what you feel, I say!

The Final Placement

I became so involved in the project I forgot to take photos as elements were placed in their final postions.  I alway add a coat or two of Mod Podge to each layer of elements.

THE 3D ROSE

To make the rose, I used Cheery Lynn Designs "Lace Rose and Flourishes" die cut. I separated the rose from the flourishes ( I used the flourishes on the front edge of the cover,) decoupaged the rose with Mod Podge (2-3 coats) and then filled in the petals and leaves with Crystal Color Lacquer.  After the lacquer dries, apply 1-2 coats of Mod Podge.

 

The project needed to be darker, so I inked the edges with Vintage Photo and Black Soot DI. 

 I sprayed the cover with Dylusions Melted Chocolate and blotted immediately with soft cloth. 

(be careful when spraying an almost completed project.)

 Blue acrylic paint was mixed with a small portion of my homemade texture paste and smoothed over the Weathered Clock Die Cut.  Play with your colors.  Avoid allowing your colors to get muddy.

OFF TO PHOTOGRAHY

Always present the best possible image!
Simple adjustments to Contrast and Brightness can make a huge difference in the appearance of your project.  Never post "blurry" or "dark" pictures.  

It is not necessary to "Stage" your projects.  
When done properly, clear, sharp photo are just as impactful. 

No matter how much hard work you put into a project, it will be meaningless if you project is poorly photographed.  As a Design Team Member, I have seen so many "fabulous" projects that were so poorly photographed they could not be considered for prizes.

Hope this hasn't been too much of a picture overload!  Thanks for stopping by!

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Challenges Entered:

Amusing Challenge - ATG

Dragonfly Challenge - Vintage

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge - ATG

Robyn's Fetish Challenge - ATG

Order of the Opus Gluei Challenge - ATG

Scribble and Scrap Challenge - ATG

That Craft Place - ATG

The Corrosive Challenge - ATG

Imagination Crafts Challenge - ATG

Through The Craft Room Door - ATG

Card Mania - ATG