Better Living Through Scrapbooking Ugly Paper Challenge

Here is an, errr, ummm... "fun" challenge.... using UGLY paper (oh, yuck!!).  LOL  Seriously, this week at Better Living Through Scrapbooking the challenge is to use ugly paper (you know you got it .... we ALL do, don't we?) and I actually did have a great time trying to make ugly paper not quite so ugly.  It's a fantastic way to bust that stash too! Here are the full details for the challenge.

“The ugly paper challenge”

Search your stash for sheets or scraps of paper that aren’t your favorites and that you might not reach for first, and use them on a layout!

Choose at least 2 of the following:

1. Use a 12×12 sheet of “ugly” paper as your layout background.

2. Use at least 3 scraps of “ugly” paper somewhere on the page where they can be seen.

3. Use 2 4×6 photos, any orientation.

4. Use “stitching” somewhere on the page. It can be actual sewn stitches, or your stitches can be hand drawn, created with a template, or stamped.

5. Use color mist (such as Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, or a homemade ink or paint mist) anywhere on your page.

If you need inspiration be sure to visit the Better Scrap blog and check out all the Design Team reveals too... (the finished products show you that ugly isn't really always ugly in the end... more like the Ugly Duckling turned Swan thing!)

Deadline to enter Challenge #4 (and all other August challenges) is midnight EST August 31st, 2010.

and now for my reveal...

Believe it or not I actually had to turn the pretty printed side of this 12 x 12 background piece to the “ugly” side. It's okay actually though as I had two sheets of this particular paper and I already used the flip side for a different layout of my youngest grandson Seth (the one also featured in this layout!).

As if using ugly paper wasn't challenging enough, I decided to just go for it and incorporate all 5 items to choose from for the challenge. I used the ugly 12 x 12 background paper, at least three additional scraps of ugly paper, two photographs, stitching and glimmer mist. Despite the use of ugly paper on this layout, I personally feel that you just can’t help but find the project to be cute… given the photographs of my youngest grandson and all… I mean, just look at that FACE! Is it not one of the most adorable things you've ever seen (just nod in agreement).
 
Okay, so now it's time to step outside of your comfort zone and use that ugly paper in a layout of your own!  Like I said, it's a great way to bust the stash, and it helps to realize that you can use ANYTHING and still end up with a layout you will gladly add to your album. (adding cute photos helps...trust me! LOL).  Head on over to Better Living Through Scrapbooking now!

  
Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Apple Jack Wee Bundle and Paper Collection (Sassafras)
Cardstock: Pure Poppy and Kraft (Papertrey Ink)
Other Tools: Cricut Gypsy, Expression and Gypsy Wanderings cart (ProvoCraft), Thrift Shop Label Stickers (October Afternoon), Navy Candy Dots (Pebbles Inc.) Carribbean Blue Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), Rustic Button Twine (Studio Calico)Vintage Button (Papertrey Ink) Stick Pin (Tim Holtz), Sewing Machine (Singer) White Thread (from Stash)