Sparkle & Shine

New day, New challenge, today i have create a 12x12 layout for August Challenge at The Studio Challenges (blog), and Sketchabilities challenge #120.  This picture is of my niece Tyler who loves to pose for photos and she is all about the sparkle and shine.

I started with creating a background using colored modeling paste (colored with distress paint) and a honeycomb stencil.  Once the modeling paste had dried i added shadows with vintage photo distress ink and a water pen.

I distressed the edges of a tag and inked the whole tag with vintage photo distress ink, then i added a background pattern with perfect pearl mist and harlequin stencil.  The background is subtle but pretty.  Of course when i made the tag i didn't realize most of it would be covered up, but that's the way things happen once a page starts to take on a life of its own.

I assembled the page using the elements- dollie, polaroid frame, tag and ticket, washi tape, metal embellishments, and chicken wire chipboard painted black with distress paint.

I clustered flowers, buttons, chipboard gears, and metal accents in top corner and along bottom of photos.  I glued really good and allowed to dry over night.  I didn't worry about what color anything was since i knew i was planning on painting.

I painted flowers and chipboard, metal accents with white gesso and allowed to dry.  i mixed antique white distress paint with perfect pearl powder (biscotti) and painted over gesso.  At first i thought i would leave it the off white  but i wanted more contrast so...

I painted flowers, buttons, and metal accents with varies metallic paint several times until i got the blend of color i wanted.  I also sprayed embellishments with Color bloom and perfect pearl mist.  Layer and layers until i got what i wanted.  Once everything was colored i re painted chipboard gears and chicken wire with black distress paint.  It just needed a pop of black for contrast.

another close up.
isn't my niece beautiful.

Finally the finished 12"x12"
I wasn't sure about how it would turn out as i was working on it, but i am quite happy with the finished product.  Man this layout is heavy with all the embellishments, metal and paint.

I have seen this technique on blog and such but this was my first attempt, i found i didn't have the patience to let things dry enough- something i need to work on for my next one.