Happy Fall Y'all ~ Eclectic Ellapu Sketch Challenge

I don't normally follow sketches when I make a project...not because I don't like them. There are some amazing sketches out there that I'd love to follow. I just find it difficult to work that way because for me it seems backwards to my normal process. Lately, I have been trying to learn how to work from the finished concept to the finished piece instead of just letting it evolve without a plan so I was delighted to learn that Jacki, our wonderful host for this week's Purple Team challenge at Eclectic Ellapu, had chosen to make it a sketch challenge. Here's the sketch she has chosen for us to follow:

Instead of a card. I began with a 5" x 7" canvas board, Using a black on cream text paper for the center panel and cream on black text for the torn side panels, both from DCWV's The Timeless Type Stack, the entire canvas face was covered using Matte Medium as the adhesive. The medium was also spread over the top of the adhered paper to create a good bond. A band of Graphic 45's Olde Curiosity Shoppe paper was glued  horizontally across the middle. Another scrap of kraft coloured text paper was cut into a rectangle and placed at an angle over the center piece. A chunk of manilla tag was inked around with Black Soot Distress ink and layered over the kraft coloured text, both to follow the sketch and to allow the focal image to stand out.

This sweet little scarecrow is a Rick St. Dennis digi called It's All About Balance. I just love his facial expression and the detail that Rick always captures in his images. Sammy the scarecrow was coloured with Prismacolor pencils and then fussy cut before being adhered center stage as befits a scarecrow of his obvious talent and good looks :) He makes me smile.

Now here's where I deviated from the sketch a little...you knew I would, right? I crisscrossed two pieces of natural jute twine on either side and fastened them to the back. I still had two of those Dylusions ink sprayed, Distress inked and fussy cut leaves left from another project so they were popped up on foam tape and placed at the center of the jute Xs. The last piece of the puzzle was to add the sentiment which was computer generated onto a small tag. Inking around the edge with Black Soot, faux stitching, and a jute tie were all added before the tag was tucked between the jute on the left side. And...Ta Da...I did it...mostly. I followed the sketch and ended up with something I like. Hope you do, too.

Thanks for popping by today to meet Sammy and hang out with me. I always appreciate your good company. When you get a minute, pop over to the Eclectic Ellapu Challenge Blog to see how the rest of my wonderful Purple Teamies interpreted Jacki's sketch. It's always so fun to see how different the results are when we all start from the same place. I'd love to see your take on this, too, so join us if you can.

Check out the massive Treasure Hunt starting October 1 on the Eclectic Ellapu blog. Details are over there...it's going to be fun!

I am entering this little fellow in the following challenges:
2 Sisters ~ #163 Anything Goes
Di's Digis Designs ~ Colouring Skills
Simply Create Too ~ #47 Fall/Autumn
Designed to Color ~ #20 Anything Goes
House of Gilli ~ #54 Anything Goes/ Fall

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie