Inspire then Crate + Quick Giveaway!

 

There's a fashionable hue out there that I can't seem to get enough of these day - maybe you're already well familiar with it being that it's lapsed the cover and interior contents of just about every magazine and home decor blog this year. It appears that we still very much love the color "turquoise", though not of it's lighter side, but of it's darker side. Any guesses as to which "hue" I'm referring to?  Lets just skip to the chase, shall we? Today's inspirational source only perpetuated my obsession with the bold, robust hue..

 

Say "hello" to my new friend, Dark Green-Blue! I'm crazy about this color. Every bit of it. It's the primary reason for my deciding to use the cover of House Beautiful as today's "Inspire then Crate" inspiration source. I knew the minute I saw it, it'd land on a layout for sure..and here's how it went!

 

{Click on image to see larger size}

A layout contrived in one weekend and this is where House Beautiful brought it - though pitched with a dark, less-than-white background. In creating the layout, about halfway into the project, I realized that maybe a lighter background probably would of been a better option, though by then, it was too late to make such a dramatic change. Still, it's similarities to the cover are apparent and for that, I'm thankful. 

I recently took a trip to the local city zoo located in the heart of the Twin Cities, St.Paul. While there, I visited the toasty (felt so good!) interiors of the zoo's historic conservatory. Inside one of it's rooms was housed a special showing of varied gardens which I couldn't quite escape without a photo or two (maybe more) and so as you can imagine, I brought home lots of flower pictures with me from the place. This is just one of them, x 8 - Each applied to it, a separate Photoshop action.

 

It's time to talk Crate Paper! You know what I love about Crate the most? It's quite simple really - I love that you can mix n' match Crate Paper collections easily and that doing so leads to beautiful results. Very rarely do I use a collection by it's lonesome. In truth, my stash of CP goods is sorted by color & embellishment type on shelves and in drawers. I find that by storing it this way makes it extremely convenient for me to create a unexpected, non-traditional Crate Paper layout! I only reference the colors required for the layout's chosen color palette!

 

I keep it all - that being both old and new Crate Paper collections. Remember the days of rub-ons? Technically, that's all of six months ago, but this flower is a little older than six months - it's a member of the Cottage collection! I applied it onto a small section of tracing paper (art supply store or craft store) and then adhered it on the backside of a self-made black frame. It's attached to the layout with tiny snippets of pop dots. Yes, a tedious process, but by doing this, I was able to give it a "window" feel. 

 

A Portrait chipboard flower makes a nice addition to an old wooden flower {Making Memories} from ages ago - the two textures are a pretty pair!

 

A smaller version of the previous flower, this one is from a completely different Crate Paper collection, Emma's Shoppe! With a Toy Box label sticker, Portrait chipboard circle and Toy Box eclectic button, I created a smaller version of the large flower - it's best feature is most certainly the button - It's woodsy hue is a nice contrast next to all that color!

 

I'm thrilled that Crate continues to produce their ever-popular phrase/word stickers. I use them frequently for filling in empty spaces and for the sharing of small messages. 

 

Speaking of messages, I transformed Neighborhood's birdhouse into a mini billboard here. Atop of it is both a Neighborhood and Emma's Shoppe sticker, along with two rich fuschia colored rhinestones.

 

Another play on words via stickers....

 

I occasionally add digital elements to my layouts, even to the ones you'll find here from me. Sometimes, it's easiest to create a title using this method or a simple message..it saves a step or two. Digital also lends a unique feel when blended with traditional scrapbooking supplies. It can sometimes be difficult to decipher the difference between digital and real, which makes for an semi-interesting effect!

 

The sleek lines of these characters are well suited given that I had all of four inches to spare to place the four-letter title. I overlapped the letters to some degree because I didn't really care for the way they looked when spread apart. I tried to spell the title out with space between each of the letters and it ended up feeling "chunky" to me. This set-up has a more unified appearance and readily captures the attention of the viewer since it requires a second read. 

 

I'm going to leave you with this final image. I've had a tremendous amount of fun putting this together and will be looking forward to joining you once again in a couple of weeks! If you've a favorite color to share, I'd love to hear about it...mention it in the comment section below and you might possibly win a free collection kit (CHOICE)! Crate will announce the kit WINNER on Thursday! Good Luck and enjoy the day! ~ Christine Middlecamp

Comments

[Maisa]

WOW! Wonderful inspiration! Thanks a lot! Portrait is my favorite collection. No doubt!
hugs

Maisa

[Karen Williams]

My favourite colour to scrap with is what I'm calling teal for me its a great unisex colour and can use it for all my children ( and I am wearing it today too)

[Laura]

Completely loving the inspiration! Thank you!! Totally into blues right now. With a touch of yellow for happiness!

[DeeDee Catron]

I've been loving the color commonly referred to as Watermelon.. or a bit prettier coral! Can't get enough of it, paired with a nice rich black it's to die for!

[Kline]

Love the details on that layout :D My favorite color would have to be coral pink and turquoise! :D

[shannon]

I am truly inspired! My fav color combo is pink and turquoise!!! :D Thanks for the opportunity to win such a great prize!

[judean]

I'm loving turquoise right now, especially w/ yellow and grey!

[Lindy]

Absolutely stunning layout!!! I'm into browns and yellows lately!!!

[Asil]

It's green for me - in all kinds of shades. I should be Irish. :D

[Amy Kilgore]

coincidentally, this is also my new fave color! I just painted a shelf in my (black, white and yellow stripped)dinning room and a wicar planter on my front porch! although, I've been calling it Robin's Egg blue! thanks for the chance to win!

[Tanya W]

I love the colour combination of teal blue (aka dark green blue) and brown and it fills my house and wardrobe at the moment. Love your layout and it's "teal blue" features!

[Kimberly B.]

Love your color inspiration :) It's truly gorgeous and the dark green-blue is a great color :) Thanks for the chance to win!

[Agnus Kasprzak]

Simply gorgeous layout, and while I do love a little (ok maybe a lot) of turquoise on my layouts...dark lime green is my all time fave :)

[Cim Allen]

I'm also in to the blue family right now .. For the last 5 years it was lime green everything, but now I'm into a nice soft blue. Thanks for a chance to win !

[Laurence]

Fabulous page ! If I'd pick just one color it would be blue fo me, but I'm am more a fan of color palettes for scrapbooking, and your combo is really great !

[Lara Carson]

I love the teal. It is such a great pretty color! I think it is such a warm coolor an invokes a comforting color.

[Amy S.]

I love grey and turquoise together right now. I have to say I go through phases with color favs but I've heard creative people sometimes do. I also love green. And blue. You can tell by the shirts in my closet. A good half of them are either green, blue or turquoise and my toenails are a turquoise as well. Lovely project and how brave to mix and match all the collections that way. :)

[Kelly Massman]

The layout is stunningly beautiful! I like all shades of green (well, most anyway)! :-) Thanks for a chance to win!

[Julie Tucker-Wolek]

That lo is ABSOLUTELY gorgeous! I loveeeeee all the details!! And my FAVE color is PINK... but I tend to work with GREENS more!!! Thanks for the chance! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

[T Marie Wever]

Beautiful! I am liking grays right now to go with all the bright springy colors!

[yainea]

My favorite color is green. When I'm crafting I like to use yellow and teal, I think It's a very happy combination :) Thanks for the giveaway!

[Dawn]

I think that the color that I go to most is teal or just recently orange...don't know how I got there...but I love it.

[Scrappin Shonie]

Beautiful page! Right now I'm in love with Tiffany blue and very light turquoise. I'm redoing my bedroom in these two colors with grey as the backdrop.

[Fifi-T]

I love that soft greeny blue that you see as the background on the pottery with the branches and the japanese cherry blossoms - very specific I know.

[Cherubs]

Absolutely beutiful LO. I woul like to have a copy :))))
My favorite color rigt now is white and some grey tones :)
Thanks!