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Friday, March 14, 2014

Graphic 45 Design Team 2014 Audition

 Hello Lifers!

Today, I have something a little different on the blog.

I decided to take a BIG leap and audition for the 2014 Graphic 45 Design Team and they require something a little different from any other DT I've ever auditioned for: a blog post dedicated to your audition projects.

Oh....and did I mention...you have to submit at least 6 (!) projects?

So grab a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine, depending on when you're reading this!), get comfy, and hopefully be inspired. :) 

Steampunk Spells

When I decided to audition, I decided to design all new projects (as opposed to using older ones) and I wanted to challenge myself to use things I had on hand.

My project featuring Steampunk Spells by Graphic 45 uses a 8 x 10 Chunky Canvas from Canvas Corp that had just not worked out. So, I turned it around and turned it into a shadowbox. 


I've always LOVED the look of Steampunk, but it's never been a style I could embrace easily. However, I think G45's use of oranges and turquoise brighten up the usual neutral steampunk pallet and made it much easier for me to work with.

My favorite part is at the center...gears from Want2Scrap that I altered using nothing but Tattered Angels Paints


Gears--naked and dressed:


So fun, right? :)

Here are a few close-ups: 
My flowers were made 2 ways: (1) the colored flowers are cut using Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die for Sizzix from Tim Holtz Nostalgic Kraft-Core Collection from Coredinations. I then embossed it with a gear embossing folder from The Paper Studio and Distressed it with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Walnut Stain. (2) The Metal looking flowers are cut using Spellbinders Dies and then colored using Tattered Angels paints (like the gears.)



 


French Country

Still feeling fall? Next up is some beautiful G45 French Country.


This project was made by doing a mixed media collage background using French Country Paper, Liquitex Matte Gel Medium and Tattered Angels Paints all on top of an 8 x 10 canvas from Hobby Lobby that I had on hand. 

I then cut about 40 flowers using Tim Holtz's Tattered Florals, wet them, scrunch them and Tattered Angels them (is "Tattered Angels" a verb? LOL)

I used a stack of mat board to lift my wrought iron piece up so that I could then tuck the flowers all around it.



Nutcracker Sweet

From Fall to Christmas!

For this project, I found an empty ribbon spool that once held 2 inch wire edge ribbon.


How "sweet" is this little scene!?

To make my 3-D scene, I fussy-cut out my characters from a sheet of G45's Nutcracker Sweet paper. I distressed them and then used pieces of bend mat board in the same of an "L" to make them stand. I was very strategic on the size and placement so the supports were not easily seen. 

A Place in Time 

G45's A Place in Time had so many options for styles-12 to be exact! Since I am tired of winter and longing for spring, I decided to use the paper for April, as well as a little throwback G45 line "Romantique."

For my base, I had this small 9 x 9 wooden tray that used to hold wooden veneers. (I've been hoarding this one for over a year just waiting for the perfect project!)

I colored my plain wood with Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Chartreuse


The green/gold color went perfecting to make this:


A few of my favorite close-ups:



The flowers are stems from Petaloo and the butterflies are from Heidi Swapp (colored with the same Chartreuse Color Shine as the base.)


Wanna guess what's in my little bottles? CHIA SEEDS! Don't they almost look like little pebbles?!

Phew! Are you doing OK? Do you need a break? 
No? Let's Keep going!

Magic of Oz

This collection has long since been one of my favorites from G45. They did a BEAUTIFUL job interpreting "The Wizard of Oz." I was so inspired by it that I made 2 projects with this collection.

First...I was inspired to make this amazing (if I do say so myself!) mini album.


From the outside, it just seems like a mini album, but the inside holds a secret...


Both the front and the back covers have 5 little flaps featuring the good on the front and then bad in the back, BUT...that's not the secret...do you see it?


All 5 of the center pieces open...making 5 even smaller albums. Each on has a small magnet to keep it closed and features one character on the cover.






Can you tell I LOVE this collection? No...then this one will change your mind.

This was the last project I made and I have to say it is one of my favorites of all time because it is so out-of-the-box...or should I say "out of the closet!"


Yup...that's a high heal shoe. It started out as an ugly plain black pump (purchased at my local thrift store for $4.) Then...came the glitter. I used the AMAZING Glitter Blast Spray Paint from Krylon in Cherry Bomb to transform it in to my own ruby slipper. 


Inside my ruby slipper is a mini tag album: 


And of course you can't talk about the "Wizard of Oz" with the Yellow Brick Road:


Or high heal shoes with bows and bling:



So there you go! My 6 audition projects for the 2014 Graphic 45 Design Team. 

To my readers...I hope you enjoyed looking at them as much as I enjoyed making them. These were definitely a labor of love. I hope to use these as tutorials soon, so check back to see how I did it!

To Graphic 45...thank you so much for this opportunity and for visiting my little blog. I hope you had fun.

To All..I will leave you the way I leave you every time we are together: Remember...choose to make your art intentional...not an afterthought. 

XOXO,

KERI  

P.S. Thank you for forgiving me for some of my pictures going outside the limits of my blog frame. I wanted my pics to be SUPER big! :)

27 comments:

  1. Hi Keri, your projects are fabulous!! Absolutely adore your altered 'ruby slipper' and Sweet Nutcracker scene. Good Luck!

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  2. Thank you so much Trudi!! I appreciate your stopping by and taking the time to write a comment.
    The slipper is my favorite and it seems to be everyone else's too! LOL.
    Thanks again. :)

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  3. Keri, your projects are just jumping off my screen. Your photos, and projects breath beautiful life into our products. Thank you for auditioning for the Graphic 45 Design Team. -Charee

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    1. Thank you so much Charee! I'm so happy you enjoyed them. They were so much fun to make and I LOVED being able to stretch myself and think out of the box.

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  4. Your nutcracker piece is a so cute! Congratulations and best of luck to you!

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    1. Thank you Nichola...I'm up for Christmas anytime. :)

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  5. Lovely work! Congrats on making the top thirty and best of luck!

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  6. I love your detailed work, it's just amazing. Congrats on making the top 30 and best of luck.

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  7. Your fussy cutting is fabulous, I loved your nutcracker piece! Best of luck in next round!

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    1. Thanks Bobbi. I find fussy cutting relaxing...is that weird?! LOL

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  8. Kerri, what incredible creations you submitted! Congratulations on making the top 30!! I wish you the very best of luck in the final round!! xoxo

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  9. Your work gives me chills...the good kind! The display box...wowza! Congrats on your G45 Top 30!

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  10. Holy crumbs on a cracker! You are one major talent lady :) That shoe is off the chain. Congrats and lots of luck in round two :)

    Paula

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    1. hehe...I think we could be good friends Paula! :)

      Thanks for stopping by!!

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  11. I'm so enjoying your projects! They are all just outstanding. How exciting to be in the top 30 at Graphic 45.....a well deserved honor : ) Wishing you the best of luck in the next round! Ginny from Polly's Paper

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    1. Thank you so much pollyspaper. I am very honored just to make the Top 30. :)

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  12. So many pretty projects - that shoe is brilliant! Congrats on making the Top 30, and best of luck in the finals.

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  13. I love the slipper!
    Congratulations on making the team.

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