The Deconstructed Layout #16- Tower of Terror

In today's Deconstructed Layout we are all about the background!Today my project is about making your own background. I have used a plain piece of solid cardstock and altered it using stencils, Gelatos®, PITT® Pastel Pencils, ArtGRIP® Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils, stamps, spray inks, and molding paste.

To see the whole series of Deconstructed Layouts click on the logo.

For the base layer I used a 12x12 stencil and filled in the circles using watercolor pencils, Gelatos, and pastel pencils. I then outlined all the circles with a fine tip black pen - one that won't run when sprayed with water! I moved the stencil and sprayed lightly with water so make the watercolors run in a few places. I also added a few sprays of ink here and there. 

The next layer is some simple stamping. I used an old background stamp that I bought years go - it's a basic shape that works well on pretty much everything. Next up is a layer with stencils and modeling paste. When the paste was dry I used a damp sponge and Gelatos to color it. This method also deposits a bit of color in other random places so beware. 

Here's a close up of the colored paste. You can see how the color is uneven and leaves some areas of the paste white. The very last layer on the background was to add some shimmer spray. It's hard to see in the photo but it's just visible at the top of the beige circle. 

Here are a few close ups of the layout. 

I used lots of layers under my photo for added visual texture. 

Lots of layers here too - eight layers total at the corner of the photo. Because they are all flat layers it doesn't add any really bulk to the layout so it will still slip easily into my albums. 

Yeah,,, that's Steven Tyler in the back row. 

I always add journaling to my layouts in my own hand writing.  I started scrapbooking to tell stories and I just can't do a layout with out telling the story! If you want to know why you should use your own hand writing, rather than a printout, on your layouts, see my post here on why it is so important.

Way back in the day, when I was a Band Mom, we went to Walt Disney World one year for competition. As a group of us were standing right at the front of the line to get on the Tower of Terror, who should walk right up to the front of the line but Steven Tyler of Aerosmith!

If you would like to see more of The Deconstructed Layouts

the entire series is shown HERE.

Deconstructed Layout #15 Timeless Memories

Hi everyone, I'm here today to share a new Deconstructed Layout with you. Today's tutorial is on paper pleating, which is a great way to add some dimension and texture to your layout using just a plain piece of paper! I have had this photo of my dad for some time, but wasn't sure how I wanted to scrap it.Since it is a black and white photo, I didn't want to overwhelm the photo so the colors of these Authentique papers were great.

To see all the tutorials in the Deconstructed Layout serious check them out here.

I wanted to use this paper, with these accent colors, but I didn't want the pattern on the paper to show. I decided to pleat the paper to distort the pattern.

I scored the paper every 1/2", then flipped it over and scored on the 1/4" intervals between the first score marks. So the paper ended up being scored every 1/4", with every other score mark alternating front and back.  Now the fun really begins!

Accordion fold the paper until it is pleated all the way across.

(This is time consuming and takes some practice, I admit. I recommend that you start with some fairly thin paper and make the score marks further apart, maybe every 1/2" instead of every 1/4" to practice. Once you get a feel for it, then work on the paper you want to use on your layout.)

You will need something extra strong to hold the pleated paper down, so I used Tear-ific Tape from Sparkle N Sprinkle. Any very strong double sided tape will work. 

I adhered the pleated paper onto several other layers of paper, then matted my photo and adhere it on top using more double sided tape. 

I used a variety of embellishments for my cluster. To color the wood leaves from Prima, I first covered with a layer of Molding Paste, using my paint brush to give it some texture. Once it was dry I used Time Travel Teal from Lindy's Stamp Gang Industrial Chic Magicals Set to color them. 

I hope you give this technique a try! It takes a little practice, but it is a great tool to have in your bag once you get the hang of it.

Deconstructed Layout #14 A Perfect Moment

 For today's Deconstructed Layout - A Perfect Moment-  we are going to talk about background texture. I love working with stencils and molding paste, but there are times when I want to add a little something more to it.

 I hope you are enjoying these tutorials as much as I am!

For this layout, I wanted to really play up the color of the We R Memory Keepers paper, which was a beautiful  orange. So I grabbed a stencil, my Molding Paste and knife, some DISTRESS GLITTER and a jar of LINDY'S STAMP GANG FLAT SHOT  in Mango Mania.

I mixed some Distress Glitter (Clear Rock Candy) and My Mango Mania Flat Shot together in a small cup and set it aside. Once I had spread a THICK coat of molding paste and removed the stencil, I poured the mixture over the paste, letting the excess run off onto a scrap of paper. 

This is what you end up with. Now, the background will be PLAIN. The reason mine is orange, is because I sprayed it with Dylusions White Linen- the residual Flat Shot that was on the paper will turn colors when the spray hits it. If you don't want the paper to be colored, just don't spray it!

Set this aside to dry, like over night. Seriously. Then you will need to seal it. REALLY. 

You will need to seal it, or it will get all over your hands every time you touch it. 

Trust me on this. 

I use Helmar's Crystal Coat Matte Varnish, but any spray sealer will work.

I added Glitz 77 stickers, flowers, and resin accents from the Summer's End Kit, some lace and a chipboard from Blue Fern Studios. To color the chippie, I used plain old pan watercolors then misted with iridescent ink. 

I used Midnight Copper Embossing Powder from Lindy's Stamp Gang for my title.

Thank so much for stopping by today!

I love You More - Frosted Designs Friday Challenge

Hi everyone and happy Friday!

We have a new challenge over at Frosted Designs today.

This week the theme is Graffiti/Doodling/Hand Journaling

Here is a look at my layout

I love the golden tones of the new We R papers (from the Summer's End Kit).

 I used a stencil and ink to create my graffiti here on the side of the page. After it was dry I used my Signo white pen to add some detail to the dots. I also doodled around both the layers seen here using a contrasting pen

I used a second stencil and  modeling paste colored with Gelatos to create some texture around the page. The chippie from Blue Fern Studios was inked, then I added flowers and bling.

I used one of the stickers from the Summer's End kit and cut it into several pieces to tuck behind the photos.

My title was embossed with Lindy's Stamp Gang powder, then I lightly rubbed
StazOn Cotton White ink over the top.

 Here's a list of items used from the Frosted Designs Store

Summer's End Kit

Capture the Moment Kit

White Signo Pen

Black Gelly Roll Glaze Pen

Lindy's Stamp Gang Autumn Leaves Embossing Powder Set

Faber-Castell® Gelatos Tropical Set

Molding Paste

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

I'm linking up at the following challenges:
Quick Quotes Blog: Use BLING
Berry Bleu: Things You Love
 Lasting Memories #208: Add Leaves



Be sure to hop over to the blog and check out the fabulous
projects made by the Design Team.

Deconstructed Layout #13 Happiness Is,,,,

Today's Deconstructed Layout - Happiness is,, -  is about using repeating patterns and colors. I really wanted my photo on this layout to stand out, but I still wanted to be able to use a fair amount of detail and embellishments on the page. In order to do this, I kept the colors to a minimum and repeated the same shapes over and over.

To see the more in the Deconstructed Layout series go here.

My goal was to have lots of detail on the page, but make it blend into the background and let the photo shine in front. 

To make this happen, I 

1. repeated the same basic shape of the KRAFT DOILY several times.

*doilies

*stenciled background

*brads

*flowers

2. I REPEATED the pattern of the KRAFT DOILY on the edge of my punched strip

3. I picked a color from the photo (Golden Yellow)and went several shades lighter for the color of my embellishments/background

These Petaloo flowers were the perfect color, and I used a  We R paper from to mat my photo.

This is the same cardstock I used to mat my photo with, I punched both edges and added a strip of glitter down the center.

On the kraft doily I inked the edges and added some faux stitching- and I cut them in half before I tucked them under the photo mat. Now, I still have 3 to use again on another project. The stamp I used here is from Elle's Studio stamps.

I loved these resin accents, but they were white, so to make them blend in I used the same ink on them as I used else where and buffed with a dry cloth. I added some ribbon and more pearls here. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. 

I hope you have enjoyed this installment of my Deconstructed Layout series! 

Deconstructed Layout #12 Newborn Photo

For the Deconstructed Layout #12 - Newborn Photo - I want to talk about using a LOT of the same color, without overwhelming your layout with it. You CAN do it! The secret is to layer the color same color with a neutral to help break it up.

To see the entire Deconstructed Layout series be sure to check this page.

This is my second layer from the bottom, and I love the pattern, but wanted more color. So after I punched the edges, I inked it- and I mean I really inked it! The ink extends about 2- 2.5" in from the edge.I started with the lightest color of ink I wanted to use, then added a darker color of ink just along the edge of the paper. 

Next up, I used my VersaMark  around one side at a time, and added a bit of texture with Lindy's Stamp Gang Hibiscus Rose Orange Embossing Powder. 

I also used Lindy's on my Blue Fern Studio's Chippie- this time Golden Angel Wings. You can see on the upper layer of paper, just under the chipboard, I stamped using the Heart Flourish Splash stamp and an ink one shade darker.  I added the small burlap flowers to the centers of a couple of larger flowers for the corners.

 I added more flowers, butterfly, and a brad to the lower corner. I also added some faux stitching with my Signo White pen. 

This photo illustrates how I wanted to use my color how it all came together. For the most part my layout is a monotone, mainly PINK. However, I separated each layer of pink with a NEUTRAL.

Starting from the corner there is;

1. The background page

2. the PINK punched page

3. the neutral flower die-cut and chipboard

4. the PINK edge of the punched paper

5. the white portion of the punched paper

6. the PINK cardstock

7. the photo

So, the moral of our story is this:

if you want to use one color in abundance, be sure to place it between layers of neutral colors

and it will be fabulous!

I hope you give this a try, and I would love to see how it turns out!

Deconstructed Layout #11 Green Island, Antigua

For The Deconstructed Layout #11 - Green Island, Antigua - I want to talk about using one large centerpiece photo on your layout. This was one of my favorite shots from a recent vacation and I really wanted it to shine.

To see the entire Deconstructed Layout Series hop on over to this page.

It has been a while since I cut a photo up into strips, and I have been itching to do it. I have soooo many photos from my recent trip from the Caribbean- beautiful photos that I really want to showcase on my layouts.

Being an engineer by trade, measuring and having everything straight is right up there on my list!

I used a piece of washi tape across the top of the paper - it is hard to see in the photo because it is very light. I placed it two inches down from the top of the page and used my ruler to make sure it was level. 

Next up I marked the center of the page and then marked 1" on either side of the center- remember the strips are 2" wide. I wanted 1/8" between the photo strips, so working from the center of the paper towards the edges, I measured 2" then 1/8". Repeat on the other side, again working from the center towards the edge.

Here is what my page looks like after I have everything measured. Adhere the photo strips using the pencil lines as a guide. 

I started with an 8x10 photo and I cut it into five 2" wide strips. I added a frame in PSE before printing to give it a little something more.  Adhere the photo strips using the pencil lines as your guide. Once you have everything in place, trim the cardstock with a 1/8" margin on all sides then erase any visible pencil lines.

Mat it on a dark blue cardstock, again with a 1/8" margin then adhere to the background paper. I used the Everyday Moments stamp set from Elle's studio to add detail to the upper corner of the photo. I stamped it with white StazOn, then traced over the words with a Signo White Pen..

I finished the layout off with two smaller photos at the bottom, a few embellishments, and some journaling. 

 

I hope you are enjoying my set of tutorials- I am having a lot of fun putting them together.

I would love your feedback too- please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Thanks for stopping by today!