Mikelle

This IS brilliant, I did not know to do this! I'm behind, but I can't wait to try this, thank you!

I love this photo, lol!

Layout #4, Task 3 (Wednesday, March 27th): The layouts are looking great! I've been so impressed with how everyone has handled this month's "madness!" TASKS: 1. NOW... add 4 more embellishments, but choose embellishments that complement one or both of the colors you already chose. What are complementary colors? They are opposite each other on the color wheel (I won't post a link here, but Google color wheel, and you'll be able to find your complementary colors; a basic example, red and blue are complementary, they are opposite each other on the color wheel). If you already have two colors that are complementary to each other, then instead choose 4 embellishments that are white or black, whichever you don't already have (for example, if you already chose to use white, now find 4 mostly black embellishments). Make sense? Madness, I tell you! 2. Create a title for your layout using at least one alpha. Wait... this is too easy... tilt or rotate your letters in some way, or place them unevenly on your layout. 😃

We've got a color challenge for you this week: RED! I'm seeing red! Create a layout using red, or a red theme. When your layout is complete, post it to the Weekly Newsletter Challenge Gallery, then come back to this thread and leave a link to your layout. If you're participating in March's Challenge Chase, don't forget to post a link in that thread too. Happy scrapping!

Layout #4, Task 2 (Tuesday, March 26th): TASKS - today isn't too hard! 😁 1. Frame your photo in some way (make a frame for it, or find one from a collection), OR mask your photo. 2. Find 5 unique embellishments to use on your layout. Try to match them with your chosen colors (there is a reason for this coming soon...)

The tracker is updated! I'm trying to work on my own PL layouts today a little - I'm having a hard time sitting at my computer for very long lately, too much running around.

I am off work today (Monday) - I'm hoping to get a little caught up on my own layouts, and leave some love on everyone else's! I can't wait to pore over everyone's AJ layouts from last week!

Welcome to Layout #4! This is our last week of March Madness. Prizes will be announced at the very end - oh, the anticipation! You've got until Sunday night at midnight, March 31st, to upload all 4 layouts from this month, in order to be eligible for the grand prize. Layout #4, Task 1 (Monday, March 25th): 1. Find a photo (or photos) that you think will work well, and change it/them to black and white. 2. Choose ONE or TWO main colors to use for your layout, and then choose either black OR white to use in addition to the other one or two colors. 3. Find 5 papers that fit your color theme; if there are other colors in the papers you choose, that is fine, but try to choose papers that mostly fit the one or two colors you've chosen. You may crop them, layer them, blend them, whatever you'd like, for your background behind your photo(s). Woo hoo, off to the races! 😃

Layout #3, Task 6 (Saturday, March 23rd) TASK: You made it to the end of your Art Journal of Madness layout! Last minute tweaks - move things around, add shadows, adjust opacity, etc - then upload your layout to the Slow Scrap Gallery and leave a link to your layout in this thread. Happy Saturday!

Speaking of March Madness, tonight was the first real night of NCAA tournament games - both Gonzaga and WSU (Washington State University) won! I'm in Spokane, so we've always cheered on the Zags. I remember yeeeaaaarrrrssss ago when I was in dental school in Maryland, one of my roommates (who was from Connecticut) mentioned March Madness, and said something about some random team named Gonzaga (she pronounced it Gonzaahhhga) being in it that she'd never heard of. I was so surprised - really, like Gonzaga from Spokane?!!! It was the first year the Zags made it into the tournament, they were a Cinderella team that year - and if I remember right, they made it to the final 4! Out of nowhere. I had never paid any attention to March Madness until then, but I have ever since, no matter where I've lived. Does anyone else here pay attention to the NCAA tournament? If so, who are you rooting for?

Layout #3, Task 5 (Friday, March 22nd): Aaaawwww, we've already reached Friday? Darn, I had so many more things to add to these AJ layouts. Guess I have to pick and choose... TASKS: 1. Find a quote or song lyrics that go with your theme, and add it to your layout. Remember if things are getting really crowded and/or busy, you can reduce the opacity, blend things in so they are subtle and part of the background, adjust colors to more closely match the background - all of these techniques will add texture to your layout but will help lessen the busy-ness. I love AJ pages that at first glance don't look too complicated, but then the longer you admire it, the more you notice - like hidden treasures. Of course you don't have to make your quote/lyrics subtle if you don't want to. Shout it to the world! 2. Find or create a scatter to add to your layout. Some ideas, you can find pre-made scatters in collections, or create your own using a dynamic brush or by placing several small elements (like sequins, stars, etc) scattered about in a loose cluster or line. Woo hoo, you're all doing awesome, I love these layouts! 🥰

Layout #3, Task 4 (Thursday, March 21st): Oh what fun that last task was! More fun for me, hearing all the (good-natured) grumbling! 🤣 Ready for this next weird task? TASK: I know some of the layouts are getting quite full at this point, and today's task will add even more to your page. Today we'll add a few embellishments, and same as with the words from yesterday, you may blend them in or not, make them bigger or smaller, cluster them or scatter them, etc. Here are the requirements, though: 1. You may choose however many embellishments to add to your layout, but the minimum number will be two, BECAUSE... 2. One of your embellishments must be something that starts with the first letter of your first name, and a second embellishment must start with the first letter of your last name. For example, my initials are MK, so I might choose a mulberry for M and... a kite for K. LOL, good luck finding embellishments that go with your theme... OH! Did I say that out loud? Very sorry, mic was on. 😆 😈 🥸

But Lukas is not in your generation! I'm obviously angling for lots of words... I was afraid someone might use a grandchild's age, if I didn't specify! 😄

Layout #3, Task 3 (Wednesday, March 20th): Wow, I really think everyone's layouts are looking great! I love art journal layouts... but this is March Madness, right? Let's get crazy! 🤪 Read through the entire directions below, so that you know all of your options. TASK steps: 1. For this task, you can choose to use one of a few numbers: EITHER your age, OR the last two numbers of the year you were born in; second option is to use the age or year of birth of a friend or family member who is also within your generation. Want to hear more before you choose? I thought so! What IS this craziness? See #2 below. 2. Assuming you will have a double-digit number no matter which of the above you use, you will take the first number (the decade) and find or create that number of word-arts to scatter around your page. Then take the second number of your double digit and find or create that number of word strips to use on your page. Here's an example: I'm 53, and I was born in 1971, so I can choose to use either 53 or 71. Ummmm... either way I'll have 8 words scattered around. I'll choose 53. So I need to find 5 word-arts and 3 word strips that help convey my art journaling theme. If I had chosen to use 71 instead, I would find 7 word-arts and 1 word strip. Make sense? If you're not too excited about revealing how old you are, then use the age or birth year of your spouse or other family, or a good friend - but that person needs to be within your own generation. Today is only Wednesday, so we do have at least two more crazy steps to endure (Thursday and Friday at least), so put your word-art and word strips on your page, but you may rearrange them later if you wish. You also may choose to blend them in or not, as you wish. 😬

Uuuugggghhhh, that stinks! Sorry to hear that, but bright side, at least it didn't happen further into the layout, without saving at all along the way. I've had that happen too!