10 on the 10th: Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014!

2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10

This elementary equation is the formula I'm going to follow for my "10 on the 10th" monthly destashing project this year.

Here's a sneak peek of what's to come later in this post...

Here is how it's going to work.  For each month, I'll put together a kit consisting of: 2 sheets of patterned paper, 2 sheets of cardstock, 2 types of embellishments, 2 "throwaway" items, and 2 nonconsumables.  Unlike last year, my goal is to use up every last item in the kit, except, of course, for the nonconsumables.  I'll make a layout and a card, then use the remaining scraps to put together a collage.  (Collage is something I want to explore during 2014.)  On the tenth day of each month, I'll blog about what I've made with my kit.

These are the nonconsumables and throwaway items that I used this month.  I was trying to get rid of some Christmas stuff.

January's kit has a "peacock" color scheme, and it is made up of items that I acquired in 2013.  I figured this would be a good way to use up some of last year's pretty papers, and to make way for some new goodies at the same time. 

~peacock colors~

Here are my ten items:  

1. oscilloscope patterned paper from Basic Grey
2. moon patterned paper from Studio Calico
3. teal cardstock from Bazzill
4. white speckled cardstock from Wausau Paper
5. embellishment: cut-apart cards from Bo Bunny (already partially used)
6. embellishment: cut-apart alphabet letters from Studio Calico (already partially used)
7. throwaway item: tissue paper from Christmas gift wrapping
8. throwaway item: cardboard packaging from Advent calendar
9. nonconsumable: stamp set from My Mind's Eye
10. nonconsumable: mandala mask (actually a pendant/charm, but I'm using it as a mask)

Here are the flipsides of the papers.  Sorry that they're a little chopped up, but I had already started working on my projects when I realized I should photograph the flipsides.  :)

Are you ready to see what I made?  First up is my layout, which uses the oscilloscope paper as the background.  As an electrical engineer, my husband is no stranger to oscilloscope readouts, so this paper suited him well.  I cut out a single "E" (for electrical engineer) from the alphabet paper and based my title, "It Takes a Double E to Make a Geek," around that.  The journaling says, "Here's a photo (from the 1990's) of Scott at work.  He's a 'double E'... that is, he's an electrical engineer.  In this day and age (unlike when I was a teenager), it's cool to be a geek...and Scott's my favorite geek of all."  :)

Additional supplies: stamping ink from Hero Arts; spray ink from October Afternoon; thread from DMC; pens from Zig; household paper clip.

Next up is my card, which is for my sweet friend Tania.  I used the letter "T" from the alphabet paper to make a monogram for her.

Additional supplies: spray ink from October Afternoon; stamping ink from Hero Arts; thread from Singer; corner punch from Creative Memories.

After making the card and the layout, it was time to make a collage with my scraps.  I created a nighttime landscape.  The Advent calendar packaging forms the base of the collage.  I'm not sure yet how I'm going to use this collage.  Maybe it will become part of a scrapbook page, or maybe I'll use it for something else.  For now, I'm just going to remain open-minded about it and continue to explore the art of collage throughout the year.

So, how do you like my slightly-revamped take of "10 on the 10th" so far?  Next month I'll be working with a violet-based kit; tune in on February tenth to see what I will have made from it!