March 2016 Main Challenge BLISS & GESSO

Another month, another exciting challenge at More Than Words!

Our Main Challenge is based on a Word Inspiration & a Creative Challenge.

This challenge is open to layouts, canvases and art journal pages only.

Word Inspiration - BLISS

Creative Challenge - GESSO

What does the word BLISS inspire you to create?

You can choose to use the word somewhere on your project or to simply be inspired by it. Please explain in your blog post how the word inspired you
if it's not already obvious.

For our creative challenge this month, we want you to use GESSO on your project.

Chances are you have a bottle of gesso on your craft table, ready to be dipped into when it's crafty time! Be it white, clear, black or any other colour, light or thick, smooth or textured, we want to see you incorporate it in your creative process. Try it on your background, chipboard, embellishments or however you desire! If you don't have any ready-made gesso, you can even make your own!

(Google 'handmade gesso recipe' and you will find numerous alternatives!)

It's 'prime' time to get crafty!!

VERY IMPORTANT!!!  You have to incorporate both parts of the challenge, the word inspiration & the creative challenge, on your project to be eligible to win.  When we vote, we specifically look for projects that display BOTH requirements, and not just the creative challenge. Just look at our DT members' interpretation as example.

Remember that you must include our board image
and a link to our blog in your entry post.  

Please check out our RULES!  

MONA PENDLETON 

Mona: "When I'm painting, life is bliss! I was inspired to create a 'Finnabair' type canvas featuring an upcycled paintbrush reflecting my passion along with a metal plate tag reading BLISS as the title. The entire canvas was covered with black GESSO as the base coat, then white gesso was applied at the end for a highlight." 

DI GARLING

Di: "The word BLISS inspired me to scrap this gorgeous pic of my new grandson. I have also used GESSO to both seal my background as well as using it to stick down lots of laces and chipboard, etc. I also coated my title with gesso to tone down the colour as well as the little angel wings. I have also dabbed it on lots of other elements on my page to achieve a very soft look."

VALERIE OUELLET

Valerie: "BLISS reminds me of the happiness that I live every day with my little family. GESSO is the first thing that I use on my pages. Clear or white, it's essential! On this layout, I used white gesso in small quantity to seal the pattern paper. I added some drops with a mixture of gesso and water."

PAMELA ELLIS

Pamela: "When I hear the word BLISS, this photo automatically pops into my head. There is no other place on earth where I feel more at peace and happy than by the water. I used GESSO to prime my background and soften the page a bit.  I also used it to prime all my chipboard pieces."

JULIA KISSEL

Julia: "This photo inspired me to create this project. These are my husband's parents during their young courtship years. They seem so BLISS and adorable on this picture. I made the canvas myself by gluing fabric to thick cardstock and covering it with GESSO."

NICOLE DOIRON

Nicole: "The word BLISS immediately made me think of these pictures of my nieces who had the time of their lives at Walt Disney World a few years back. They are seen happily riding the Magical Kingdom carousel.  I used white GESSO with a stencil to create some swirly textures on the background. I also covered my chipboard carousel horse with a thick coat of gesso, used my heatgun to make it bubble and crackle, before covering it with gold paint and glitter. Gesso was also dabbed on all embellishments and paper edges to give the layout my usual whitewash touch."

ELENA TRETYAKOVA

Elena: "My layout is about me and my husband - this is my most favourite recent picture of us. BLISS to me is our gentle and true relationship!  I have used clear and white GESSO on my background."

ARANTZAZU SANGRADOR

Arantzazu: "When I rediscovered this picture, I just knew I had to use it for this challenge.  It is of my dear dog Koki enjoying his first day at the beach. The word BLISS is not just for that day. My 'little brother' Koki makes me one of the happiest people because I have him by my side every day. I used GESSO on the background and to create those white splashes."

VALIA KATZAKI

Valia: "My little boy is the epitomy of joy, laughter and mischief, always on the run and always happy. He really made a difference in our lives, bringing us so much joy and BLISS! I have used GESSO everywhere on my layout, clear gesso to protect my paper, white gesso to make random patterns on my paper and black 

and white gesso for splatters."

RACHAEL FUNNELL

Rachael: "I have chosen to use the word BLISS in my title. I have used GESSO on my background. I have also added a coat of gesso to some of my chipboard pieces."

HEATHER MCMAHON

Heather: "My most recent blissful event was a fabulous Summer beach holiday. I really was tremendously happy enjoying the sun and surf and sharing them with family and friends. It was sheer BLISS! I used GESSO under my photo and on cardstock as a base for my watercolour work. It also helped separate the photo from the busy background paper."

LILIBLEU 

Lilibleu: "I love this picture of my son taken after a long day dream at Disney Land Paris. Though asleep, he opens his eyes right when I take the photo. It shows perfectly the feeling of well-being, the feeling of BLISS, of my laddie at this moment! I used white GESSO on my page background, on flowers and as droplets, and black gesso on the gears and as droplets."


KAREEN BH

Kareen: "The word BLISS inspired me one quote which fits perfectly with the picture I've used. It's me, hiking the Vesuve, in Italy! As you can see, I've put GESSO everywhere! The papers, the flowers, the chipboard... everything has gesso on it. It was easy because I love doing mixed media layouts, but sometimes I am too lazy to start and clean after. This challenge was a great incentive!"

HELEN HAPSI

Helen: "The word BLISS inspired me to create this project because I think that there are some special places that make us feel serenity and bliss. I used a lot of white GESSO on my background and added some more
to highlight the details of my canvas."

We hope that you are inspired by all these beautiful creations from our DT!

All our prizes include international postage!

MAIN CHALLENGE WINNER

a $50 USD prize package from COLOUR BLAST

(exactly as shown below)

Here is more information about our 1st place sponsor this month:

"Colour Blast is an Australian based manufacturing company that produces a range of mixed media products for the paper craft industry. Our products have been developed with lots of colour and shimmer in mind - because we believe that is what all paper crafters love! Our products are sold wholesale to scrapbooking and paper craft shops throughout Australia and New Zealand."

Next, 4 runners up will each be awarded a prize as follows:

1st RUNNER UP

a $25 USD prize package from COUTURE CREATIONS

2nd RUNNER UP

a $25 USD gift certificate from THE SCRAPBOOK DIARIES

3rd RUNNER UP

a $25 USD prize package from 7 DOTS STUDIO

(image below is for illustration purposes only)

4th RUNNER UP

a $25 USD prize package from STUDIO 75

In addition, we will draw 1 random winner from all eligible entries!

RANDOM WINNER

a $25 USD store credit from THE DUSTY ATTIC

Each month, we hand pick a winner from all participants who have not made it to our TOP 5, but who has captured our attention someway, somehow. We might pick a project due to its original use of a certain product, the cleverest title, most beautiful photo, etc.  Who knows what we will be looking for?  

That's why we call it our mystery winner!

MYSTERY WINNER

a $25 USD prize package from FABRIKA DECORU

And last, but certainly not least, we will randomly award a prize to 1 lucky blog follower who has commented on any of our March BLOG posts.

LUCKY COMMENTER

a $25 USD store voucher from FLUTTERBY DESIGNS

To learn more about all our generous sponsors, click on the SPONSORS tab above.

We cannot wait to see your interpretation of our 

March BLISS & GESSO challenge!

Link up your project using the LinkyTool in the right sidebar

by March 31st at 11:59 pm EST.

(Please note that you need to share your entry for our main challenge 

via a blog post to be eligible! We unfortunately cannot accept entries 

via Facebook, Tumblr, Flickr or other.)