Say Cheese…..

Good Morning!  Micki here and I’m pretty excited to share a “totally-outside-my-comfort-zone” 12x12 scrapbook layout.  I’m sure you could have heard my knees a-knocking while I was working on it.  I honestly don’t know why I was so “scared”, but my stomach was in knots…….however, I prevailed.
Here it goes……

Seeing Mary-Ann’s beautiful layouts really inspired me, so when I saw the Memories Captured 6x6 Paper Pad by Fancy Pants, I ordered it along with the What a Wonderful Day Decorative Tags and Patterned Envelopes.  And then I was like “now what”.  I headed to Pinterest and took adapted a layout by Laura Whitaker.
I started by taking a 12x12 Graphic 45 paper and scraped a thin layer of gesso on it using the Ranger Inkssentials craft scraper.  While that was drying, I dug out some old clear buttons which were covered with assorted papers from the Memories Captured paper pad using Tombow Multi Liquid Glue.

Once the glue was dry, I sanded the edges using the Sanding Grip Block.  To poke the holes, I used my scissors and lightly sanded the top.

Setting that aside, I had to add a touch of mixed media so I opted to add some black circles using Black Soot Distress Paint and Dylusions Chequered Dots Stencil.  I dabbed the paint onto the gessoed paper, layed the stencil on top and wiped the paint off the circles using a wet wipe.

After that it was just a matter of arranging my pieces.  I did rough up the edges a bit using my fingernail.  I added the painted arrows with a foam applicator with Rusty Hinge Distress Paint and the Layered Tickets stencil.  Once dry I added the Label Letters and then doodled around them with a black pen.

One thing that I found extremely helpful was using a glue stick to glue some of the layers down.  It allowed me to move stuff around without having a wet mess on my hands, yet once dry, the layers are nice and secure.   Plus, I left glue off some of the paper edges and then curled them up a little bit.  To add some depth, the photo and the patterned envelope were popped up using foam mounting tape.  The buttons were given some height with Glue Dots. 

I added a staple to the yellow strip using the Tiny Attacher.  I did this before gluing it down.  I wish they would make a Tiny Attacher with a longer reach because I love using staples to secure layers of papers.

For the title, I added the Alpha Parts Signmaker letters right on top of the envelope.  And for my journaling, which I have yet to do, I added a tag.  As a final ‘pop of color’, I added some splatters with watered down Fired Brick Distress Paint and a very wet brush.

So, what do you think?  I really do like the way it turned out.  I have such a hard time using pastel colors and I tend to worry about the colors matching, such as does this color go with that one, etc…. In the end I just went with the flow and I LOVE it.

I will definitely have to create two more since I have almost identical posed pictures of my other granddaughters.  I hope you enjoyed this layout and it inspired you to step out of your comfort zone to try something new!

Supplies Used:

InLinkz.com

You are Loved

Good morning, its Mary-Ann here with a little mini project honoring bright cheery colors!  My tulips have broken ground but there is still snow everywhere.  I needed these bright colors to get me out of my slump!  I was inspired by the trendy palette and gorgeous floral patterns from the Collectible collection of My Mind's Eye - Notable.  I mixed it with bright colored ribbon, twine, and a few pins.  Scotch foam tape  helped with stability and dimension.  I applied Tim Holtz distress ink to the edges of my papers. I also added a few Inkssentials tags to the album to create more pages for memories.

Check out all this foam tape I used!

Here are a couple pictures of the inside.

Hope hope your neck of the woods is warmer than mine.  Thanks for looking!  I believe you will be able to purchase this mini in the e-kit section of the website very soon!

Indecision

Good morning, it's Mary-Ann!  I would like to share a colorful layout with you.  

Indecision is a common occurrence in our house.  My son has acquired this attribute from his father.  It takes them both FOREVER to make a decision.  I can not remember how long we stood in this aisle at Wal-Mart.  I may have blocked it from my memory.  I, on the other hand, do things on impulse.  The quicker the better.  

I just love how this photo captures my son intently researching this Nerf gun.  The colors in the Echo Park papers worked perfectly to bring my rather dark, semi-blurry photo to life.  

I decided that papers from both "Scoot" and "All About A Boy" from Echo Park would help liven up my photo and they both work together really well.  Then I decided to try using Prima's Donna Downey 12x12 Art Stencil.  

CONFESSION:  This is my first attempt as using any type of Art Stencil or Mask.  I dug out my old colored ink pads (Tim Holtz distress stains would work perfectly!) and gave it a whirl!  I actually loved how it came out!

Once my attempt at masking was complete, I layered papers, stickers and chipboard.  At the end, I added some machine stitching, a Flair button and Studio Calico Wood Veneers for detail. 

Thank you for looking.

PS:  I must confess that I did not work on this project alone:o)