Challenge YOUrself Negative Space "FRIENDS"

Talk about a challenge!!  When I first saw this one - I thought - OH BOY, I'm in trouble - Negative Space? Really? Me? "She who needs to step away from the layout" as my friends say - before I put 5 pounds of embellishments on it!! ??  YIKES!!

But, since I "love me a good challenge" - I stepped right up to the plate, uh, I mean scrap desk, and decided to just "GO FOR IT!"

You can find out all of the challenge details, and PRIZE info at the Challenge YOUrself Blog - but basically - you need to be in a photo on your layout, and this month - use "negative space!"

Here is my Inspiration Layout for you!  I have to say - I LOVE LOVE LOVE how it came out!! - ( if you continue to the end of this blog post - I'll show you how I made that torn background!)

This photo is of me and my BFF, Janice - at a scrapbook weekend event, back in 2013.  We always have a BLAST at these weekends  with our friends and with each other!  Even though there is lots of "Negative" Space, I am happy with how I layered the pattern papers and the embellishments I chose.

The torn, tie dyed looking background was once a piece of textured plain white cardstock! - Not anymore!!

I cut out the larger feathers with the Tim Holtz Die, and saved the inside of the cut / the actual feathers, for another day - I then cut around the "negative" of the feather and used that on my layout. I also outlined them with a black fine point marker.

We had lots of fun counting down to the New Year, a few days early!  Loving the smile on our faces, and all the torn, inked layers of different patterned papers in this close up.  I outlined the stickers and the enamel dots from the collection too!  The rosette was also made from a Tim Holtz Die.

Here is another close up of the embellishments and the torn edges of the white base paper, that I inked and spritzed with water.

So - if you are wondering how I made that white cardstock "tie-dyed" I'd be happy to share:

First - I took the 3 colors of Ranger Distress Stain that I wanted to use, and "pounced" or dabbed them here and there on a 

Ranger Inkssentials Craft Sheet.  I then spritzed them with a little water from a spray bottle.

Below you can see a close up of the Stain and the Water on the matt.

I then took the torn paper - and placed it textured side down, on top of the stains on my matt, and pressed gently.  I held it up so that there would be a bit of "drippage" from the top to the bottom. 

Here is a close up of all of the colors - cool huh?!! 

I inked all of the torn edges with the stains, and spritzed them with a bit of water to spread the color around - I have to say, I LOVE how this came out, and will be trying it again for sure. 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope I've inspired you to play along and get a little "inky" with it too!  I hope to see your creation on the MARCH NEGATIVE SPACES Challenge over at the Challenge YOUrself Blog!  You could WIN a PRIZE!!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items Used:
Photo Play - "Fun with Friends" Collection
Element Stickers

4x6 Cards
Confetti
Rosettes
Tim Holtz Feather Die
Tim Holtz Rosette Die
Ranger Distress Stains - Peacock Feathers, Fossilized Amber, Picked Raspberries
Cardstock
Recollections Enamel Dot Stickers
My Mind's Eye Enamel Dot Stickers