"Sincerely, Loretta Young" Layout - VIDEO TUTORIAL

Hello everyone! Today I would like to share with you my layout for the Words & Paintery challenge for December, 2016. You can find the video tutorial (mostly in fast forward) at the end of this blog entry.

The picture is a photocopy of my grandfather's original signed picture of the beautiful actress Loretta Young. When he was in the military and stationed in Hawaii, many actors, actresses, and high ranking military officials (including President Roosevelt) would visit the troops stationed there.

Here is the challenge board for Words & Paintery:

Here are some close-ups of my layout:

List of Products:

• Canson Canva Paper
• Tim Holtz
• idea-ology paper - "French Industrial"
• idea-ology Baroque Frame
• Ranger Distress Spray Stain - Black Soot
• Ranger Distress Spray Stain - Picket Fence
• stencil - Stripes
• 13@rts stencil - Doily
• Prima Marketing
• stencil - Floral Petites
• Finnabair Clear Stamp - "Read to Me"
• Wire Thread - Stark White
• Wild Orchid Crafts
• White Magnolia
• Ivory Wild Rose
• Ivory Open Roses
• Liquitex Basics Acrylic Gesso
• Liquitex Matte Gel Medium
• Golden Glass Bead Gel Medium
• Liquitex Modeling Paste
• Liquitex Fluid Matte Medium
• Acrylic Paint - Satin Vanilla
• StazOn Ink Pad - Jet Black'
• Cheesecloth, beads, and gems

Here is my video tutorial:

I hope you enjoy!

"Guns N' Roses" Layout

Hello everyone! This is my newest layout titled "Guns N' Roses" and this is my entry for the Words and Paintery challenge for November, 2016.

Over the past year, I tried to do a layout for this particular picture many times. Every time I tried a layout for this picture, it seemed to lack something... so I just wasn't pleased with the backgrounds I created. When I saw that this month's challenge at Words and Paintery had to do with a Guns N' Roses song, I thought to myself, "Well, it is now or never!"

Here is the Words and Paintery challenge board:

Trying to do a layout for this picture was definitely outside my comfort zone. I am just thankful that I recently bought the 13@rts stencil "Always the Music", because that definitely added a nice touch.

Here are some of the details:

List of products:

• 13@rts
• Paper - Timeless Collection - "Good Times"
• Stencil - "Always the Music"
• Mist - Pastel Raspberry
• Lindy's Stamp Gang
• Starburst Spray - Bodacious Blush
• Starburst Color Shot - Bit O' Bubbly
• Ranger
• Distress Paint - Picket Fence
• Distress Paint - Black Soot
• Prima Marketing
• Flowers - Solid Rose
• Wire Thread - Stark White
• Color Bloom Spray - Cobalt
• USArt Quest - Mini Prills - Minnie Pearls
• Art Anthology Stencil - Cracked
• Liquitex Basics Acrylic Gesso
• Liquitex Modeling Paste
• Golden Glass Bead Gel
• Silhouette Portrait

Thank you for taking a glance today! *hugs*

"Wonderful" Layout - VIDEO TUTORIAL

Hello everyone! Today I want to show you my newest layout titled "Wonderful", and this is my entry for the 13@rts challenge this month. My video tutorial (mostly in fast forward) can be found at the end of this blog entry.

The theme for the 13@rts challenge board is "Frozen in Time", so I couldn't help but use a vintage photo for this one. Here is the challenge board:

13@rts Challenge #48 - November, 2016

I was really excited to see the challenge board this month, since I recently received some 13@rts products in the mail. The mists I got are gorgeous and have a beautiful pigment!

Using their Magic! Powder with vanilla acrylic paint made a really nice modeling paste that I could customize to the thickness I preferred. The Doily stencil was an adorable touch for the vintage photo.

Using black gesso to cover the 13@rts "Tablecloth" fabric along with vanilla acrylic paint, I was able to accent the picture.

To make my homemade chipboard title, I used my Silhouette Portrait cutting machine and watercolor paper (140 lbs.), cut three identical copies of the title, used mists to color it, let the pieces dry, then I glued them together to achieve more of a chipboard look.

If you get a chance and are interested, feel free to check out my video tutorial (mostly in fast forward). This video's main focus is how to create the background as well as how I painted the Prima flowers with acrylic gesso. Any comments or suggestions or questions are always welcome! Have a super week, and I hope my layout gives some mixed media inspiration!

List of Products:

• 13@rts
• Paper: "Written Stories" - Secret Letters Collection
• Magic! Powder
• Ayeeda Mist - Pearl Brown
• Ayeeda Mist - Pastel Dirty Pink
• Stencil - Doily
• Fabric - Tablecloth
• Tim Holtz
• Photo: idea-ology "Found Relatives"
• Ranger Distress Paint - Picket Fence
• Ranger Distress Paint - Black Soot
• Ranger Distress Ink Pad - Black Soot
• Stencil - Stripes
• Prima Marketing
• Finnabair Clear Stamp - Crackle
• Flowers: "Amour de Ma Vie" - Tales of You & Me Collection
• Gypsy Cord - Florica
• Lindy's Stamp Gang
• Starburst Spray - Bodacious Blush
• Starburst Spray - Midnight Rendezvous Raven
• Liquitex
• Clear Gesso
• Basics Acrylic Gesso
• Black Gesso
• Modeling Paste
• Fluid Matte Medium
• Golden Glass Bead Gel
• USArtQuest - Mini Prills - "Minnie Pearls"
• StazOn Ink Pad - Jet Black
• Acrylic Paint - Vanilla
• Watercolor Paper (140 lbs.)
• Silhouette Portrait Cutting Machine

"Together" Layout

This is my newest layout titled "Together", and it is my entry for the 13@rts challenge this month.

Here is the inspiration board for the 13@rts challenge called "Golden Leaves":

Here are some details of my layout:

And here is a list of products I used:

• 13@rts papers: Aura Rosa Collection - "Dreaming" and "Spring Flowers"
• Bo Bunny paper: Soiree Collection - "Soiree Boutique"
• Prima Flowers French Riviera Marseille
• Prima Gypsy Cord Florica
• Prima Wire Thread Stark White
• Prima Salvage District Wood Variety
• Tim Holtz Stencil Doily
• Tim Holtz idea-ology Found Relatives (the picture)
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Sprays:
• Red Hot Poker Orange
• Cowabunga Copper
• Sandra Dee Sepia
• Ranger Distress Ink Pad Vintage Photo
• Ranger Distress Paint Black Soot
• Ranger Distress Spray Stain:
• Walnut Stain
• Antique Linen
• Vintage Photo

Thank you for looking, and have a wonderful day!

"The Journey" Layout - VIDEO TUTORIAL

I just completed my newest layout titled "The Journey" using the Scraps of Elegance main kit and elements add-on kit for September, 2016.

At the end of my blog, you will find my video tutorial (mostly in fast-forward), and the list of products I used.

Here is a preview of the Scraps of Elegance kits that I used:

Scraps of Elegance "Timeless" Kit

Scraps of Elegance Elements Add-On "Timeless" Kit

Since the BoBunny papers in this kit matched the color scheme of the Words and Paintery challenge board for September, I couldn't help myself but complete my layout before the deadline of October 15, 2016.  The Tim Holtz word band says, "The journey awakens the soul," and I loved how that fit in with the challenge theme.  Here is the challenge board:

Here are some close-ups of my project:

Product List:

• BoBunny Bella Rosa Collection
• "Bella Rosa"
• "Noteworthy"
• Chipboard
• Foil Vellum
• Tim Holtz
• "Doily" stencil
• Idea-ology "Baroque Frames"
• Idea-ology "Word Bands"
• Idea-ology "Found Relatives - Occasions:
• Distress Spray Stain "Dried Marigold"
• Distress Spray Stain "Vintage Photo"
• Distress Paint "Picket Fence"
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Flat Fabio Spray "Sandra Dee Sepia"
• Prima Marketing
• Flowers
• Salvage District "Royal Hall"
• "Solid Rose"
• Gypsy Cord
• Finnabair clear stamp "Read to Me"
• Blue Fern Studios chipboard "Floral Jars"
• StazOn Ink Pad "Jet Black"
• Odds and Ends:
• lace and cheesecloth
• brads and buttons
• doilies
• mica flakes
• metal trinkets
• modeling paste
• acrylic gesso
• clear gesso
• matte gel medium

Here is the video tutorial, and any comments, questions, or suggestions are encouraged.  Enjoy!

"French Riviera" Layout - VIDEO TUTORIAL - Scraps of Elegance "By the Sea" Kit

Hello friends!  I have finally finished my second layout with video tutorial using the Scraps of Elegance "By the Sea" kit for August, 2016. The list of products I used for this layout along with the video tutorial (mostly in fast-forward motion) can be found at the end of this blog entry.

Here are some pictures to show the texture details:

List of products used:

• Blue Fern Studios - Seaside Cottage - "Regalia" paper
• Blue Fern Studios - Seaside Cottage - "Calling Cards" paper
• Blue Fern Studios Flowers - "Seaside Lilies"
• Blue Fern Studios Flowers - "Attic Charm Daisies"
• Prima Flowers - French Riviera - "Marseille"
• Prima French Riviera Chipboards
• Prima Vintage Emporium Epherma
• Finnabair Art Ingredients - Microbeads - "Black"
• Finnabair Clear Stamp - "Crackle"
• StazOn Ink Pad - "Jet Black"
• Tim Holtz Stencil - "Doily"
• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous - "Blackbird COM017"
• Tim Holtz Idea-ology "Special Moments - Occasions"
• Ranger Distress Spray Stain - "Walnut Stain"
• Ranger Distress Spray Stain - "Antique Linen"
• Ranger Distress Paint - "Picket Fence"
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Color Shot - "Blue Hawaiian Blue"
• Heidi Swapp Color Shine Spray - "Navy"
• Liquitex Basics Acrylic Gesso
• Golden Modeling Paste
• Golden Regular Gel Matte Medium
• Liquitex Fluid Matte Medium

I hope I was able to give you some inspiration today! Thank you for stopping by to take a look. :-)

T. T. F. N.!
Ta-Ta For Now!

"I am Machine" Layout

Hello friends! Today I would like to share my newest layout titled, "I am Machine".

This is my entry for the Words and Paintery challenge for September, and here is the challenge board:

I hoped that I would have been able to finish my layout for the 13@rts challenge - the theme is steampunk this month - but I was unable to get to finish it until today. Since I was going for some sort of steampunk theme when I began, I immediately thought of the song "I am Machine" by Three Days Grace. In the main chorus, the lyrics that remind me of the Words and Paintery challenge board are: "...I am machine.  I never sleep until I fix what's broken...". So with the interesting colors in the challenge, I just went for it!

Here are some pictures showing the little details:

The steampunk theme was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I still had some fun making the gears.  (I painted my Tim Holtz idea-ology Sprocket Gears with black acrylic paint, randomly applied brown acrylic paint, and while the paint was wet, I sprinkled cinnamon randomly over the paint, allowing it to be thicker in some spots. I dried it with a heat gun, put Mod Podge over the gears, more cinnamon, and some Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals in "Red Hot Poker Orange". When you dry this layer with the Mod Podge, the gears bubble to give that rust effect.)

Here is the general list of products I used:

• 13@rts paper - Aura Rosa collection - "Dreaming"
• Tim Holtz idea-ology "Sprocket Gears"
• Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain - "Dried Marigold"
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Magicals - "Red Hot Poker Orange"
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray - "Bodacious Blush"
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Flat Fabio Spray - "Sandra Dee Sepia"
• Liquitex Basics Acrylic Gesso
• Golden Glass Bead Gel Medium
• Golden Regular Matte Gel
• Finnabair Art Ingredients - Microbeads - "Black"
• Prima Flowers - "Solid Rose"
• Prima 6x4" ATC Pad - "Time Traveler's Memories"
• 'Hampton Art Studio G Alphabet Stamp Set
• StazOn Ink Pad - "Jet Black"
• The Crafter's Workshop Stencil

Thanks for taking a look today! I like having visitors to my blog. :-)

"The Sea" Layout - Scraps of Elegance "By the Sea" Kit

Hello Everyone! This is my latest layout titled "The Sea".

I focused on using various elements from the Scraps of Elegance "By the Sea" main kit and elements add-on kit for August, 2016.

Here are some close-ups of my layout:

Here is a list of products I used for this layout:

• Tim Holtz Idea-ology Collection - "Found Relatives - Occasions" (the picture)
• Blue Fern Studios' papers - Seaside Cottage Collection - "Voyage" (main background paper), "Embark" (strips cut out for the background), and "Calling Cards" (the journal cards behind the photo)
• Blue Fern Studios - flowers - "Seaside Lilies" and "Attic Charm Daisies"
• Blue Fern Studios - "Jeweled Frame"
• Vintaj Vogue Solid Brass Dragonfly
• Prima - French Riviera Collection - Chipboard Stickers
• Prima - Finnabair - Clear Acrylic Stamps - "Read To Me" (to make the background)
• Prima - Epiphany Collection - Clear Acrylic Stamps - "Two" (to make the tag)
• StazOn Ink Pad - "Jet Black"
• Ranger Distress Ink Pad - "Antique Linen" (to make the tag) and "Vintage Photo" (painted around the journal Cards)
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Color Shot - "Fuzzy Navel Peach" (on the background)
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Flat Fabio Spray - "Sandra Dee Sepia" (on the background)
• Ranger Distress Paint - "Picket Fence" (mixed with the two Lindy's products)
• Prima - Vintage Emporium Collection - Ephemera (the glass jar filled with glass beads and sand)
• Silhouette Portrait (to make the disposable stencil with mixed media paper to use on the background)

Thank you for taking a look today! Any comments or suggestions are much appreciated. xx

"Allure" Layout - VIDEO TUTORIAL

Hello everyone! Today I have a layout to share with you titled "Allure".  I also made a video tutorial, and you can find it at the end of this blog post.

The first set shows my layout with my camera's flash on while the second set shows my layout without the flash.

The camera's flash really brings out the Golden Glass Bead Gel's shine and the Blue Fern Studios Imagine Ink "Watermelon" glitter.

Before I go any further, I want to share this strange coincidence that happened when I began this layout... 

While working on the background, I decided "spur of the moment" to use my knife to apply gesso - one of my goals is to one day be able to create the sorts of backgrounds that Lisa Griffith makes in many of her layouts. I have tried so many times on scrap paper, yet I haven't had the guts to just try  it on an actual layout until this one. Right after I did that part of the video, I took a break, went on facebook, and saw that Lisa will be designing for 13@rts! You can see Lisa's first 13@rts layout using the Aura Rosa collection here. So congratulations to Lisa for being the new addition to the 13@rts DT.  (Now three of my most favorite mixed media artists design for 13@rts!)

Anyhow, here are pictures of my layout without my camera's flash:

Here is a list of some of the products I used:

• 13@rts Aura Rosa Collection - "Blue Roses" paper and "Spring Flowers" paper
• The Crafter's Workshop Stencil - "Mini Victorian Sketchbook"
• Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - "Stripes"
• Golden Modeling Paste
• Golden Glass Bead Gel
• Liquitex Basics Acrylic Gesso
• Liquitex Clear Gesso
• StazOn Ink Pad - "Jet Black"
• Finnabair Clear Stamp - "Read to Me"
• Blue Fern Studios Imagine Ink Glitter - "Watermelon"
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Color Shot - "My Mojito Green"
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray - "Midnight Rendezvous Raven"
• Prima Wire Thread - "Stark White"
• Prima Salvage District Flower

And now for the video tutorial. I hope you enjoy! Have a wonderful day.