eek...boo...eek...boo...

it's almost time for my favorite holiday, and as it approaches i immerse myself in spookiness, creepiness, and new techniques.

i needed to create a project for the authentique paper color challenge this month. the challenge colors were awesome - olive, black, white. perfect for halloween. i started by painting a 6x6 canvas square in avocado acrylic, and for the paper challenge i created a more paper-focused version.

using paper from authentique's "glowing" collection foundation paper, i created tiny paper bones - misting the paper heavily then squeezing and forming into boney shapes. then i used olive green from the "freebird" series to create smooshie flowers and stems.i tried paper quilling to create the word "eek", starting with thin strips of the foundation paper. then a little tearing, a little inking, a little stickling and we were in business.

of course after i created and submitted this, i wanted to do more. so i took a curley flourish stamp and stamped the edges of the canvas. i used black stickles to cover black chipboard die cut flourishes, and then decided i needed more. so next came a tiny black stickle spider - eek! a tiny raven finished it off.

i really like the way the second version turned out, and my note to myself is to not hold back on the authentique challenges - it's ok to load up the project a little more. after all, there's no such thing as too sparkly is there?

ok, it's authentique!

yes, it's true. the gypsy is authentic, and authentique!

a couple of weeks ago i held my breath, answered the questions, and submitted myself to authentique for their new design team. AND I MADE THE TEAM!

so not only am i exorcising the ghosts of playgrounds past, when i was never picked for the team, i am creating new and interesting projects with authentique's paper.

so stay tuned for plenty of bad puns, but great work, as i embark on my newest adventure - official paper company design team member.

and it wouldn't be very gypsy of me to not give a very special and heartfelt thanks to laurie at scrapbook island in san jose, ca. i've gone from dedicated customer to a member of her store design team. because of laurie's belief in me and support, i was able to get the courage to try something bigger. i will always remember that i started because of her. thanks laurie!

i'm feeling so authentique!

my continuing adventures as a scrapbook store design team member have taken me from discovering new creative heights, to teaching my first class, to peaking this month with one of my projects getting taken to CHA by a very cool and groovy vendor - more on that tomorrow.

so each month i get a pizza box of joy, plain white on the outside but filled with color and texture on the inside.

this month's adventure is "authentique" - the new paper company everyone has been waiting for. i was lucky enough to get a whole pizza box full of their "journey" line - all blues, beiges and browns with travel-themed extras.

while i haven't yet started my "journey" yet, i was very excited to visit authentique's facebook page and website today. it seems everyone is buzzing about them, and since my design project this month is all about them, i thought i'd buzz a little for them too.

stay tuned to see what i make this month. i'll be sure to post everywhere!