BE DAZZLED BY JANICE NICHOLLS

Our amazingly talented guest artist exposé this month is this wonderful and sweet scrapper...

Janice lives in a small country town in South Australia. She has been scrapping since 2006 and her muses are often her grown kids, family being her main feature. Janice has a gorgeous style that crosses between a soft vintage look to a more bold graphic approach. She almost always uses flowers and washi tape which in many ways is the common thread between all her projects but its her eye catching photos that are the hero in all her work, and so they should be.

SO LETS LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT HER....

Since starting scrapbooking my love of photography has grown. I don't go anywhere without my camera and I look at things through the lens differently now. I have been very fortunate to be part of a few amazing Design Teams and the opportunity to guest design as well has been fun. I am also lucky enough to have had some of my layouts published!

HOW DO YOU USE SKETCHES?

When I started my own blog in 2012 I began participating in some challenges. It was whilst doing a challenge at Paper Stories (no longer running) that I first came across Page Drafts Sketches. I loved the sketch and instantly became a follower of the Page Drafts blog. I then found the Color, Stories and Inspiration (CSI) site where Em is the resident sketch designer.

Following them can get me back on track to creating the perfect pages for my family memories. 

I often flip or rotate a sketch to suit a photograph I am working with and recommend you try it too.

Artist Tip: Don't be afraid to change things up to work for you!

'Pretty Face'

by Janice Nicholls

Credits:

Page Drafts Sketch for CSI #93 by The Nifty Pixel

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SCRAPBOOK STYLE?

My style is always changing. At teh moment I love double photos, grouped and layered clusters, chipboard and white space. I also like to add depth to my backgrounds by using stencils, gesso, mists, inks, washi tape and rub-ons. I scrap mostly 12X12 layouts and enjoy trying out new techniques...not always successfully but it is fun trying!

'Bloom'

by Janice Nicholls

Page Drafts Sketch for CSI #80 by The Nifty Pixel

'Lost Lagoon'

by Janice Nicholls

Page Drafts Sketch for Paper Stories #1 by The Nifty Pixel

'1234 In Our Happy Little Family'

by Janice Nicholls

Page Drafts Sketch for CSI #122 by The Nifty Pixel

CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE TIP OR TRICK WITH US?

Do you feel like your pages are a bit flat? Or do you wonder how some of your fave scrappers are easily able to create what seems like lots of dimension to their work? 

My tip is to think in layers when you are constructing your page.

 Start by lay out your project, stacking everything as you go without actually adhering them. Once you are happy with the configuration try using foam tape or pop dots centred on the underside of your embellishment to adhere the the top layers this then allows you the space to tuck other elements and embellishments underneath easily and in turn adding lots more dimension to your artworks. 

'Happy Birthday'

by Janice Nicholls

Credits:

Page Drafts Template #18.2 by The Nifty Pixel

Artist Tip: Grab those punches you have stashed in your craft drawers and punch out some shapes. Try inking or distressing the edges to give them more definition before adhering them to your project. This is a great way to include a graphic visual interest and use up that ever mounting pile of scrap paper pieces.

Janice it has been an absolute pleasure having you on board and learning more about you and your scrapbooking process thank you so much for being our July guest!

If you would like to get to know Janice more and swoon over her projects head to her blog you will also find all the links to her current Design teams, so click on those too for even more inspiration! 

Thank you again Janice! x

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RELEASE #32 IS LIVE ALONG WITH TIPS ON HOW TO ADD MOVEMENT TO YOUR DESIGN!

It's July and we have another set of sketches to share with you. This months release is Volume 3 of a series called 'Just a Little Different'. They are not too OTT but are just a little unusual to help showcase some papers or photos depending on which one you choose. There are two more Volumes that have yet to be re-released so will keep you posted on those as they are completed.

To help make this one jaw-droppingly swoon worthy our July Page Drafts special guest designer, the lovely and talented Janice Nicholls has created an incredibly beautiful page to showcase one of this months sketches, so lets check out the templates, this months Tips and Tricks and Janice's masterpiece!

So lets 
CHECK OUT OUR JULY 

ON HOW TO ADD MOVEMENT TO YOUR DESIGN

Tip 1: Want to add a modern twist to your layout?  One very simple way to achieve this and elevate your page into a more bold and eye catching design is to add contrasting papers on the angle. So why not try positioning your paper diagonally on your base. This is also an incredibly simple and effective way to add movement to a page thereby directing the viewers eye across your whole design from top to bottom or in reverse. Imagine scrapping photos of a mountain climb or rolling down a sand dune, By pairing photo's like these and emulating the motion with the placement of your papers will create a fantastic sense of adventure and really cement the idea that adding movement to your pages is tonnes of fun!

Tip 2: Most of us apply the basic principle of 'Rule of Thirds' to our page designs. But if you are not familar with this principle of composition here is a great introductory article on how to apply it and should help with understanding the concept. So next time have a play with your composition apply this to your page so as to create tension, energy and a powerful emotive point of interest.

Tip 3: When taking action shots dont discard all the blurred ones, keep a couple you wont regret it. Motion blurs (striations seen in action shots) are perfect suggestions of something having taken place in a moment just passing by. The sense of movement is far greater achieved than the still shots of a cyclist riding by. Think about adding filters like a sun flare or a vintage overlay to help create the perfect mood and elevate what initially may feel like a bad snapshot to one that is more intended and considered.
Check this great tutorial on 'How to Capture Motion Blur in Photography'.

'Such Good Friends'

by Janice Nicholls

'Hold My Hand'

by Emma Stafrace

Page Drafts Template #32.1 by The Nifty Pixel

'Always an Adventure'

by Em Stafrace

Page Drafts Template #32.5

April Story Teller Collection by Just Jaimee

Some of you may have noticed that I have been re-releasing the earlier sets. The reason has been to update the new logo and bring them inline with the current style. I also figured that since some of the earlier releases only included 3 sketches that I should create extra templates to keep the packs uniformed with 5 sketches per reveal which is an added bonus for you guys as you get some unexpected extra templates in time for a weekend of scrapping he he.

Here is the preview of the RELEASE #3 'Pretty As a Picture Vol.1' To check out the re-released sketches click on the image below to be redirected to the blog post.

So thats it for this post hope you like the new sketches...I can't wait to see what you create using them and this months Tips and Tricks on Adding Movement to your projects. Ooh and don't forget to keep an eye out for Janice's GDT interview post in a fortnights time that goes live on the 15th July!

Happy scrapping everyone!

Em xo

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