Featured Friday: Lizzy Hill!!

I told you all I had some real talent lined up for January's Featured Fridays and the charming lady who is taking this week's slot definitely lives up to that promise. Her work defines boldness and is filled with color, texture and unique style lines. 

So please welcome the amazing 

Lizzy owns the blog Lizzy Hill . She comes from the land down under and lives in sunshiney Australia. (At least I think it's sunshiney... I've never been there, but it has to be warmer than North Dakota, right?!)

Lizzy aces scrapbook layouts and her journaling always serves up a big smile and shot of warmth. She also designs amazing cards.  What really inspires me about her work is her talent for grunginess and layering - just look at these designs: 

 Beyond all that, her humor is incomparable and she frequently makes me SOL (snort out loud). Don't believe me? Just read these things Lizzy had to say about herself and her work:

1. How did you get your crafty start?

My mother! She had started scrapping & when we came home from our 1st big European Odyssey - she convinced me it was the way to go. Thank goodness for Mums!!!!

2. What is your favorite "style" of crafting?

Slap It On. What? That's not a style? Or the other I REALLY like is "It's on The Desk so Use It!!!" LOL;) Seriously, my fave style is CAS. I'm not saying I can DO it - but I ADORE it:)

3. If you could be any color, which would it be and why?

I would be blue. It's such a calming colour. It's the sea & the sky. It calls me to eternity. Well, actually, to be perfectly honest? When I wear it peeps say I look good. But the 'call to eternity' is a neat touch, right??!!!

4. How do you handle mistakes in your crafting designs?

Gesso. He & I are best mates. REALLY bad mistakes? Black gesso. Yes, it does exist. Add to your must have list! Or simply Add More Stuff. That works a treat too.

5. What are your favorite card making/scrapbooking challenges to participate in?

Oh, my! You're talking to the Challenge Queen here. I do both, too. Cards are my Quick Fix. There's an exhaustive list on the side bar of my blog. I'm gonna mention the DT ones I'm on, of COURSE! So, LESSology (for altered stuff)

ARTastic (for great inspiration

 Off The Rails (fab mood boards)

 Dusty Attic (inspiration plus!) 

then Scrapki Wyzwaniowo (fun ideas).

Stuck?! Sketches (GREAT sketches)....card faves include Cardabilities (yummy sketches), Feeling Sketchy (ditto), Mixed Media Card challenge ( for dirty fingers) & Rubber Dance Art Stamps (love their colour palettes!)

6. What is your least favorite crafting supply?

Glitter. Unless it's drowned in glue so it doesn't float idly around my room settling everywhere it shouldn't. Ribbon. Am useless at using it. Even tho I try!

7.  What is your best advice for new crafty bloggers?

It's FUN! The more you give, as in comments & joining in with challenges, hops etc - well, the more you get! As with life in general:) It's addictive, too. But in a good way. If I had my time again I'd be more planned in when I post & I'm always trying to write shorter posts... But, hey! Our blogs are a reflection of US! And I chat a lot. Oh well:/ So, my best advice? Be you - your blog should reflect this & have FUN with it. If it becomes a chore - simply stop for awhiles :)

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Beyond her talent, Lizzy has taught me some great Australian phrases that I have attempted to incorporate into my vocabulary.  Who knows? Maybe one day color will become colour and I can feel all sophisticated, and stuff. 

For my CASE (Copy and Steal Everything) this week, Lizzy sent over one of her favorite layouts, and it actually was published! I'm delighted to be able to share it here!

The Original

And a zoom in on some of the incredible elements:

Lizzy's layout was actually, in her words, "A vague-ish" New Year's resolution for 2014" meant to be about enjoying life and living in the present. A sentiment that echoes somewhere deep in the pit of my stomach.

I thought  this was such a perfect CASE to do in January!! But before I jump ahead to that, Lizzy did her own CASE for 2015 that included her sentiments to bring in the New Year. 

Lizzy's CASE:

See what I mean about the layering, style lines, and bright bold colors? Ugh! I can't get enough of it! One thing I love about art is that I don't always get inspired by other cards - some of my favorite design inspirations come from scrapbook layouts and art journal pages. 

When I sat down to CASE Lizzy's work, it just poured straight out of me. There was no hemming and hawing and second guessing. So THANK YOU, Lizzy, for being the magnificent, genuine person you are.

My CASE: 

 I flipped Lizzy's design and mimicked the splattery background with Distress Paints. I added that sweet pocket, which I made from an old paper bag and some gesso. And then I Lizzified it and layered, and layered some more.... and just for good measure I layered a little bit more. I didn't want to include a photo of me on the card, so I did the next best thing and used my own stamping dressup model - CityGirl from the Bee's Knees STAMPlorations line. I paper pieced her trench with my favorite pattern - the chevron. 

 For my "resolution" bit, I stamped a sentiment that is part of my favorite quote from Thoreau, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." I LOVE this phrase because my one word this year is "Engage". 

Nooooo I don't mean "get engaged"... much to my mother's chagrin and constant pestering. I mean truly engage.

I moved to North Dakota two-and-a-half years ago to escape an unhealthy relationship (which I've blogged about in the past). The first year-and-a-half was spent doing a little triage on my life. This year I've really been looking for ways to engage and give back to my community. I also want to truly be present in the moments I do spend with people and really appreciate the little things and blessings I've been given. 

I'm going to send my card on over to Shopping Our Stash, which has a "Hide and Seek" theme going on this week and Addicted to Stamps and More, which has a "Make your Mark" challenge (for my gesso polka dots and Distress Paint splatters).

Just a little bit of housekeeping before signing off - As many of you who follow my blog (hey thanks - you're awesome!!) know, I've made 3 design teams in the last month. To help with my time management skills, I'm going to switch my Featured Friday to a once-a-month happening, for sure, and more if time allows.

Thank you, Lizzy, for helping me to express my resolution through art! For my readers, won't you head on over to Lizzy's blog and leave her a little extra love today?