Rachel Jefferies Mixed Media Challenge September 2020 - Shadows

Hi! Welcome to the Rachel Jefferies Mixed Media Challenge for September. This month’s challenge is to use shadows to give the illusion of depth to your layout.

But first, let us congratulate the winners from the August Special Edition Challenge:

Rachel was touched with all of your wonderful comments and best wishes and she was blown away with your talent, creativity and the diverse range of layouts created with the same kit! She couldn't resist picking three winners seeing as so many layouts were entered for the August Challenge!

Post numbers were chosen at random to each win a $15 coupon to Rachel's shop and the winners are . .


Post 64 - @busywoman139
Post 40 - @mmbstaley
Post 29 - @nfenchak

Congratulations!!! Rachel will PM the coupon to each of you.

September Challenge:
This month’s challenge is to use shadows to give depth, and therefore, a more “organic” look to your layout. To qualify for this challenge, you must use shadows at two different depths or more. For example, if you were to glue or sew a “flat” item, such as a journal card or paper strip onto a background paper, the shadow will produce a dark, flat, sharp line. That dark, flat line counts as one depth. Now, if you were to add a dimensional flower to the journal card, the flower’s shadow will be softer with less defined edges. That softer shadow counts as the second depth. Keep in mind, elements close to the background paper produce hard, dark shadows with well-defined borders. Elements further away produce softer, lighter shadows with less defined borders.

There are many ways to create the illusion of depth in your layout through the use of shadows. You may create a new “shadow layer,” then use the warp tool to create different depths to the shadow. You may clip a gradient to your element to give the illusion of depth. And, you can use the burn and dodge tools to give elements added shadow and light. These are Photoshop techniques; therefore, you are not required to use them. To qualify for this challenge, use techniques compatible with your software; BUT make sure you create the illusion of depth by using shadows at two or more depths. You are also welcome to create a hybrid project. You can create different shadow depths by using dimensional tape, glue, staples or stitching which will cause your elements to be at different heights from the background paper. You can also fold up a paper or element edge causing it to produce different shadows. Folding up a paper or element edge can also be created digitally by using the burn and dodge tools.

Challenge Requirements:

• Create a page or project using shadows at two different depths (or more).
• Your layout must be 100% Rachel Jefferies products; 90% must be currently available in her store. You may use up to 10% retired products.
• Upload your layout to the Rachel Jefferies Designs Gallery at TLP and list the products used in your credits.
• For your challenge entry to be counted, you MUST upload your finished layout to this thread. Please link your thread to your gallery image as it helps us leave love on your layout (and, validate your project).
• For your challenge entry to be counted, you MUST describe (point out) two different shadow depths (or techniques) used in your project.
• No double dipping…your layout must be used for this challenge only, no others.
• You must create a new layout for this challenge.
• This challenge closes at midnight 30 September 2020 according to the timestamp on your thread post.

Prizes:

• One lucky artist will be randomly drawn to win a $10 coupon to Rachel Jefferies store.
• New Release Bonus Entry! If you use one of Rachel’s products released in September 2020 (a new release, M3, BYOC and even SOSN released in September 2020) you will get a bonus entry for a chance to win a $6 coupon (should you not be the $10 winner). Please let me know if you are eligible for the $6 entry by stating “New Release Bonus Entry” when you post in the forum.

Good luck and I look forward to your shadows!!!

Armygrl—Lisa. Over the next three months I will develop and share shadow tutorials. The first tutorial, Using Shadows to Create Depth is located here in TLPs Learning Pad.


@ajm —Aly used the warp and burn tools. (Gosh, isn’t this a stunning layout!?! Aly truly nailed the illusion of depth. Her layout looks very organic and life-like.)

@mcurtt —Marilyn, “I used Misc Collage Bits & Bobs 1 and The Path I'm On.
I separated the shadows on my photo, the vine, the ribbon. I used burn & dodge on my photo, the vine, the flower.
The photo was taken in Chicago, eight days before 9/11, on 9/3/2001. The word art "Things Stopped Being Easy" rang true...”

(I especially like the added depth Marilyn added to the vine by using burn and dodge. It’s those extra touches that make Marilyn’s layouts oh-so-FABULOUS!)


Rachel Jefferies—Rachel, “ I stapled down my photo mounting at the top and side and so I warped the shadow in the bottom right hand corner. I stitched down the label and the paper ribbon so kept those shadows tight around the area where they are stitched down but warped the shadows on the right-hand side where they are lifting off the page. I kept the shadows on lower layers very flat, a flower and a label and the leaf to suggest they were glued down. My flower on the right-hand side that's exposed under the warped photo mount has a deeper shadow as there is more room there for the light to hit seeing as the photo mount is lifted off the page. I warped the shadows on the tails of the loose threads.”

Credit List:
Mixed Media Monthly May 2020 (Template which I modified a little)
Mixed Media Monthly July and Aug 2020 (Elements)
The Path I'm On (M3 July 2020 Add Ons - Mixed Media Artistry, Paint and Solids from the Paperie pack)
Messy Threads 3
Messy Marks: Dates 2019/2020



Dady—Geraldine used the Step By Step bundle and separate shadows on the butterfly and leaf.

(I love the shadows under the leaves. They give Geraldine’s layout a soft and feminine touch—it looks like I can reach right through my computer screen and touch those leaves. AMAZING!)



@cinderella --Cindy, "I played with the shadows of various pieces, like the card, the stitched banner, the brown tag with the string and the yellow paper piece above it, and the thread and yellow paper piece on top right corner.
I used Fear Not: Bundle and Messy Threads 3."

(See what I mean by organic? This layout does not look digital!)


I look forward to your layouts this month. Please post questions below and tag me @ArmyGrl

 

Hello all. I updated the challenge thread with the link to the shadow tutorial. But, in case you missed that link, here it is again: Using Shadows to Create Depth - Shadow Layers

The tutorial is posed in the Learning Pad.

 

My greatest "fear" with this challenge is that those who don't have Photoshop may be limited. Photoshop is so diverse and has a multitude of ways to play with shadows. I am very ignorant of other platforms and I truly hope all will be able to participate.

 

Yea! Thank you for the share.