For the 4/28 Art of Memories challenge, we were asked to create a layout using only the papers and elements from a provided Pickleberrypop collaboration Mystery Box Kit. We were also challenged to use at least 4 of 8 techniques on a provided list, and I used #s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

To create this layout, I started with a graphic aqua and white background paper by Akizo. I overlaid a solid green paper by Heartstrings Scrap Art and used a layer mask to brush it over the first paper, like paint. Then I overlaid a paper with flowers and a butterfly by CarolW Designs, twice, and painted them in using a brushed layer mask.

Next, I placed Sekada Designs' second paper from the kit on top and used the Overlay blending mode. This had the effect of giving the entire layout some texture. I placed a paper by CarolW Designs with stars all over it on top of that and set the blending mode to Color Burn. This had the effect of making the stars only show up on the green paper as darker green stars.

At this point, I placed Palvinka's paper on top, rotated it 90 degrees clockwise, and then set the blending mode to Exclusion. This basically reverses all of the colors, and took a light colored background and made it a dark one. (See the before and after here.) Six papers were blended to create this background.

Then, I took my photo and used it two ways: one as an extraction and one with a photo mask from the kit. I placed glitter and scribbled circles behind the extracted girl. And I placed some painted fish behind the photo mask, and used a motion blur on them. I created a cluster and repeated it 3 times. The scribbled circle, fluffy pink flower, blue flower with a glitter center, and the leaves are all recolored. And I created my own shadows for the yellow dangling ribbons to make them appear lifted.

I repeated the little yellow flower with some leaves and a striped bow extracted from a button in the kit. Finally, I added two pieces of word art from the kit. The first says: "always dream in vivid color; believe in your dreams." And the second says, "happy to be me."