Smell the Sea and Feel the Sky: Layout for Scrap Africa

Happy February everyone!

It's sketch time again at Scrap Africa.



I always love a sketch with hexagon shapes! But if you don't, no problem. You don't have to interpret the sketch as literally as I did. Do check out what the other super inspiring DT members created here!



I wanted to use a previously Gelli printed paper for my background, and was also feeling like using a dark background to go with the dark wooden wall in my photo. So I took a dark gre/brown polka dot paper from an old Basic Grey collection, and gessoed most of it to fade the transition to the Gelli paper.



Machine stitching is a great way to attach a thick paper onto another. I placed it with small pieces of double sided tape first.



And used the stitching as an embellishment as well.



This was my first time trying the acrylic inks from Daler-Rowney that I got a while ago. The colours are very strong so I used some water not to make too dark spots. I would have wanted the blots a bit bigger, but couldn't think of a tool to try it with. I'd love to hear your favourite tools or techniques are for splashing inks and mists!



Adding some bling, flowers and old rub-ons from my stash...



I am also joining the challenges at Challenge YOUrself!, where Anything Goes this month, as long as it includes a photo of YOU. If you're quick you can still join it, as it's open until the 4th of February!

And a new challenge for me, Scrapcraft.ru from my neighboring country, Russia − their cool prompt is to combine corrugated cardboard and lace, up until February the 9th!





The photo is a selfie from our last day in California last June, before returning home to Finland. I am so grateful we got to stay whole two weeks with my sweet relatives. This is from the back yard from their almost-beach house just a few blocks from the ocean.

The title is from the Van Morrison song called Into the Mystic, and it describes so well my feelings at that moment, grateful for the unforgettable trip but knowing I'll miss all the people I met,

and the ocean.

"Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly
into the mystic"

Van Morrison: Into the Mystic