ARTastic provided an amazing poster depicting the Australian beachside lifestyle of the 1930's as its inspiration for July, with the criteria of using striped pattern paper. As an added challenge, ARTastic combined with CSI, providing the extra criteria of using polka dots, scallops, distressed edges, the colours of the poster and journalling on stripes.
I found a wonderful photo of my mum at the beach, looking stunning, taken in the late 1940's, so I decided to create a beach layout. I wanted it to be stylised like the images in the poster so I drew simple shapes to depict the sun, clouds and waves. I used an unadorned bright blue background to reflect the clean lines of the poster.
I used striped pattern paper to create a beach towel, I punched a scalloped edge along each end, and used the holes to tie stranded embroidery thread to create a fringe. The stripes on the towel provided me with the perfect spot to do my journalling.Scallops were also used on the sun and clouds and I used yellow polka dot paper to depict the sand on the beach, which I inked, then distressed round the edge for added texture. I also distressed the edge of the clouds.
I added some blue mesh to depict the sea and some chipboard shells, which I painted with Liquid Pearls.
As a finishing touch I used two tones of yellow embroidery thread to hand-stitch a border round the page, then inked the edges.
I love how bright and colourful the layout is, and how all the elements reflect our Aussie lifestyle. I really enjoyed the challenge.
Cheers, Chris.
