Anything But Cute- The Birds and Bees

Challenge #14 at Anything But Cute is The Birds and the Bees

Here is my take

This was one of my layout that i just kept adding to more and more luckily it worked out.  Lots going on this page, mica powder, modeling paste, stencils, pre cut textures, chipboard, tags, banners, tabs, acrylic paint, and one of my favorite- sewing.

I started with pattern paper covered in postal collage, trimmed off 0.25" from sides, punch with an edge punch.  I added some more interest by ripping out some pattern created with the punch.  At some texture with stencil and modeling paste.

I mixed some mini stones with modeling paste and randomly spread on to base page.  Next lightly paint with gesso on texture and around punched edges.

Next layer base page onto background pattern paper then layer in behind punched edges with bits and bots cut from silhouette and paper ephemera.

Added some sewing around outside.  I love sewing, one of those little details, this layout i wasn't to lazy to pull out the sewing machine.  Add on the main photo cluster, here i just layered in paper ephemera, banners, tags, and paper panels.  I liked to get the base cluster layered together then tuck in chipboard and paper texture.

I mixed mica powder with gel medium and water and painted textured areas .  I used teal, rust, green opal, soft with shimmer.

Once all the texture is painted, i tucked in all the lovely pre cut texture bits.  I used chicken wire, mesh, harlequin, and floral texture cut using by silhouette.  I know i have said it before but i love these texture bits, adds so much interest, texture and color but isn't a solid panel... and since i cut them out of paper no extra weight is added.  Winner Winner chicken dinner.  I also mixed modeling paste and gold acrylic paint and added some rugged lines with a stencil.
Now here i could of said enough but no i keep going.

I painted turkish delight with gold acrylic paint, and leafy post with black acrylic paint.  I really want to use black embossing powder on the leafty post but i couldn't find any, so i covered with glossy accents gives it a nice glossy finish. Finally splattered with some water down black acrylic paint.

talk later ladies and maybe a gentleman or two out there as well

Find your Style

Over at Anything But Cute the challenge is showcase your style.  Now if you are like me and have been scrapbooking awhile your style has evolved and is every changing.  There are few things about my style that don't change, chipboard  always use chipboard, texture I love texture lots and lots of texture and finally rarely use flowers not a big fan of flowers, I will fuzzy cut paper flowers but not a fan of dimensional flowers.  Lots of my album and pages have an industrial, steampunk look but lately i have been experimenting with layers lots and lots of layers, and creating backgrounds or mixed media.  So here is my latest very shabby chic style

Lots of layers and lots of dimension, and texture, in soft colors.

I started with blank vanilla sheet of cardstock, punched the edges with a border punch, and ripped it up a bit.

I added some texture with stencils, the pink checker is gelatos mixed with water applied with a sponge.  Next i added harlequin texture with two distress ink, vintage photo, and tea dye.

Added more texture by mixing teal gelatos with water and splattering.  Next i added some text and shapes with walnut distress ink.

Final step for the background was adding some stamping with black and teal archival ink.  At this point I kind of wanted to not add anything else i was so happy with background.  But that's happens i spent all this time creating the background so i can cover it up.  I tell myself its worth it plus is fun.

For this project i used brick, vines and postcard chipboard.  I mixed mini stones with crackle paste and applied to chipboard with a palette knife.  I painted with a combination of alchemy paint.

Here is a few of the layering components i used. Some are printed ephemera that is fuzzy cut out; I really enjoy fuzzy cutting, I know its weird but i find it very relaxing.  The other components are cut with the silhouette and pattern paper.

 I started layering my components together.  I like to layer the pieces together first then tuck in my paper and chipboard texture elements.  I also don't glue edges done, just in the center so edges still curve, gives the layout some movement.  (thats what i think anyways)

Here are some close ups.

I added some thread and splattered the layout with watered down white acrylic paint.

Corner cluster

Keep on keeping on


Followers- 42

Mixed Media Place- You were meant to SHINE

On now at Mixed Media Place is this FAB mood board

And here is my take:

This page uses some new designs i have been working on, very vintage and decorative.  I have added them to my etsy store
Bumble Bees
Chicken Wire Texture
Lace Edges
Carte Postale

The other thing I have been playing with is cutting banners, plaques, texture etc.. with my silhouette for layering. Loving these for layering unfortunately all that cutting kills my cutter blade.  Oh well the effect is worth it. Then i have found some FAB vintage ephemera from etsy that i can print at home.  Love the final effect vintage, grungy shabby chic.

I started with cutting 12x12 paper down to 12x6 and sewing the two half together, i also added tape along the seam on the back for extra strength.  I mixed rust mica powder to modelling paste and applied through a stencil.  I used Carte Postale from crafter's workshop 12x12 stencil.
Next (once dry or at least partial dry I dont have the patience to let things dry) added some color to textured areas with Lindy's Delphinium Turquoise, tiffany blue, and gecko green.  Also used prima color bloom tea stain and worn leather.

This is my favorite part, I made sure i didn't cover up this part.

My layering elements, some cut with silhouette and some printed ephemera.  Distress and ink edges

This is my favorite texture- circle mesh.  Takes forever to cut and the noise drives my family crazy but it is worth it.
I cut up all my texture paper and chipboard, its a waste to leave them whole since you wont see it under all the layering.  I dont have to cut as much and i can tuck into several spots so the cluster can look fuller.

layering cluster, once all the elements are in the cluster you don't see everything but thats how the nice full cluster happens.

Next i grunged up the chipboard.  I added some mini stones to modelling paste, and some plain modelling paste and applied to the chipboard. Spray with worn leather, then added some more color with alchemy sepia and opal rose gold. Did this to all the chipboard pieces.  Final look is fun, i will be doing that again.

Final cluster, my favorite part is the texture pieces chipboard and paper.  I love that you can see through the bits and they cast shadows.  When i layer together i don't glue the entire piece down just added a small amount of glue to the center or along edge, this way things kind of curve at edges and have a little movement.  Not so flat, I guess i could use pop dots but i like glue.  Usual my pages or albums are for kits and get man handled a lot, glue holds better.

Finally i splattered everywhere with white acrylic paint that i diluted with water first.



Followers: 41
Thats two more ladies Thank you for you support of this blog.

Now i am off to make bread.  Happy Sunday.

Glam Grunge

This was the perfect challenge for me Grunge and glam check it out at Mixed Media Love  LOVE grunge, LOVE shiny glimmer shimmer.  Here is my take.  Super happy with it

So many things i am loving, tissue paper, chipboard, rust paste, copper micro beads, distress embossing

powder, alchemy paints, industrial stencil, and harlequin texture.

I started by covering mixed media paper with pattern paper, ripped up some tissue paper, ephemera card and adhered with gel medium.  Next i swiped on some gesso with a palette knife.  I allowed it to dry a little then wiped off some. I sewed around the outside.

Roughed up the edges with a distressing tool and distress ink.  Added some washi tape in the top right and bottom left corners.  Added color and shimmer with Prima Blooms, turquoise and blue. Dry

I took some Lindy's gold spray and flicked it on top of the blue shimmer spray.  Dry.

Added some great industrial numbers and arrows with a stencil, applied the black paint with a sponge.  I used the paint like a versa mark and sprinkled on distress embossing powder- black.

Added some texture with a harlequin stencil,  I mixed alchemy blue/gold opal paint with modeling paste.  The paint lost some of shimmer when i mixed with modeling paste so I painted over the harlequin with the alchemy paint.  Added some copper micro beads mixed with gel medium and randomly applied around harlequin texture.

Next i added a bunch of chipboard gears then painted them walnut distress paint.  Next rust up those gears with rust paste by Prima LOVE this stuff, dries matt and is super gritty.

Final touches were to paint honeycomb chipboard with black distress paint.  I bunched up a hand full of cream thread and layered between cogs and chicken wire.

 I painted the singing the rain man with white acrylic paint, stamped with black ink and several textural stamps.  Grunged it more with art deco antiquing cream.  Finished with some banners.

Enjoy!

A few of my favorite things

This one is a kit I designed, and i used a few of my favorite things. Chipboard gears, harlequin texture, alphabet and industrial- ish stencils.

I layered pattern paper and cardstock together, I am really loving layering of late.  Here is my favorite part the color sprays with textures created with white and black acrylic paint with stencils. I love alpha stencil with an urban grunge edge.  I am working on a line of urban grunge chipboard and stencils it is all very cool in my head just need to get it out of head and make it reality.

Now more layering and layering.  Pattern paper panels with banners, ephemera and thread.  Love the layering but its always a catch 22, the layer cluster always covers the FAB background.

Now the chipboard and gears.  I painted the gears with distress paint, allow it to dry then sand and ink with distress ink.  The distress ink settles into the sanded areas but can wipe off the paint.  It gives it a very distress old look.

Follower Count -39
Thank you ladies keep on following.

Downton Abbey

I am a fan of Downton Abbey, a portrait of days long gone.  If you are looking to for something to watch that doesn't have violence, sex or swearing this is the show for you.  PLUS the costumes are AMAZING.  I love history I am been watching historical documentaries lately my head is full of useless facts, love it.

My friend Leslie created my encyclopedia album but used all Downton abbey pictures in it and i thought i am going to do that!  Here is my new album kit soon to be available at Treasured Memories as soon as i write the instructions lol.  I hate instructions.  This album uses all new chipboard designs- very decorative and frilly (outside of my usually wheel house).  Then i took some chipboard designs, plus some new items and cut them out of old paper with my silhouette.  So banners, background texture, filmstrip so many fun accents that worked FAB for layering and more layering.  did i mention the sewing, my sewing machine got a work out.  Have a peek...