Friday 25 February 2011

EVERYDAY ( with you is cause for) CELEBRATION (Colour Combos Galore Combo 180)/ Scrapbook Challenges Sketch 242 PLUS *Glimmer misting tips*











*** Incl. lot of misting tips too***

Phew, all of a sudden I have tonnes to blog about!  I have another 2 layouts to show you (not including this one), an impromptu photoshoot when the Vervet monkeys came to visit & my son's 13th birthday story/photos to blog about too - not to mention a photo series I've been experimenting with lately using cellphone shots (kinda have their own charm in an unfoccused sorta way!)  Ooops, and I also have my first set of assignments to share with you from The Photographer's Workshop I am attending, plus some awesome links to camera bags, so yeah it's all happening baby!!


I really try to get Colour Combos Galore & The Colour Room challenges completed every week.  I find them simple to remember because CCG is due in every Wednesday & TCR is due in every Thursday.  I just find colour inspiring, and easy.  Being restricted in terms of what you can use on a page is actually very freeing as it gives you an opportunity to really focus on the design aspect of the layout without getting side-tracked.  I also love the little "twist" that CCG adds each week - The Designer's Challenge - in this case to incorporate banners into your layout.

SUPPLIES:-  Printed paper - My Mind's Eye "Fine & Dandy" Tickled Pink 'Radiant' paper
Bazzill Swiss Dot
Maya Mists - Rose Tea & Blue Hydrangea
Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist (Perfect Pearl)
Colourbox Ink - Red
Banner uses paper offcuts from KI Memories,  Sassafras Lass & others
White embroidery thread
Sentiment from GCD Artsy Urban die-cut borders
Webster's Pages Sparklers
Prima Diamante/Pearl Bling
Pink Paislee Sweetness Heart badge
Jenni Bowlin pearl stick-pins
Making Memories Vintage Findings & tiny alphas
Vintaj butterfly & bird
Crate Paper restoration 3D chipboard
Glitz Design Maya Glitzers (stickers)
Bo Bunny bling
Pink Paislee 'Fascinating" alphas

I combined this colour challenge with the weekly sketch over at Scrapbook Inspirations where I have my Design Team gig going on until the end of June.  There is always plenty of action on that site & lots of friendly fellow crafters leaving words of encouragement.  If you are ever in need of inspiration go into their forum & click on "Sketches" or "Designer Challenges" to see what I and all the other DT girls there get up to.  Nice prizes too make it even more worthwhile. 
I am determined to make regular use of my glimmer mists, which is why you may have noticed they are on almost every layout!  Initially I'll admit I was skeptical about whether they would take off but they have indeed, with many more companies than Tattered Angels jumping onto the bandwagon, in fact I will go so far as saying that personally I think the glimmer mist trend has heralded a return to artsy techniques on layouts as I have noticed a lot more "painterly" effects on layouts of late (& jumped on the wagon as I do...)

My tip for anyone out there skeptical as I was is "make a small investment" & give Glimmer Mists a go.  I started out with 3 bottles & now I have 2 dozen (yup, even I gulped at that - had NO idea - things breed in this studio I'm telling you!)  Keep aside a clean pizza box or a USPS 13 x 14 x 4 box (the one your kit arrives in every month!) & use that as a "spray box" to contain the overspill.  Honestly, mists are the LEAST messy art supply you could own, with almost zero clean up.
I often don't bother with the box any more, opting rather for plastic grocery bags, quickly slicing one open at the side & spreading it underneath & beyond (behind) my layout.  I prefer it because 1) it's quicker to grab the bag, 2) the bag is "wipe-clean", the left-over mist doesn't get absorbed into the box but stays on top of the plastic & 3) I use up every last drop for colouring flowers, trim etc (because the plastic is totally non-absorbent) so there is very little clean up by the time I have "mopped up all the juices" on the plastic bag.  I just grab a wet-wipe (I always keep a packet on my counter top) wipe the bag clean, fold & put away.  60 seconds tops...
4)  I like the LOOK of misting when it is a FINE spray & that look is best achieved when you OVER-SHOOT your paper.  5)  I can hold the mist more upright & at a lower lever & better angle if I don't have the side of the box to take into consideration.  So there you go, my top 5 reasons for glimmer misting the way I do - onto plastic, NOT IN A BOX, for a no mess, practically zero clean-up artsy experience.   

Are you up for it?  I hope so!

Another trick is to look for any potential "masks" (stencils) around the house.  The one above is NOT an expensive Heidi Swapp House of 3 Designer glimmer mask.  NOPE.  It's the egg tray from the side of the fridge....bwahahaha!!!  And no-one is any the wiser 'cos I washed it up & stuck it back in before breakfast :)

Happy weekend People!





11 comments:

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

WOWZER!!!! you are not just good at colors, you are so clever with sketches too, love love love this page, so much to look at and admire!!!!!

*re-tulips in my garden* no Helen, I do have green thumb, those beautiful tulips were on the street in NYC, I took those pic last Spring!

Heather Jacob said...

WOW OH WOW !!!!! this is a stunner!!! amazing, fantastic work .. love it all the colours are just perfect and I adore the banner ... love it all .. big hugz x

Debbi Tehrani said...

Sigh. You know I just love this layout! And wow! To see it up close in all this beautiful detail makes me love it even more!

Diana said...

I have 6 new mists. Can't wait to try them out. Thanks for the tips. They are most welcomed.

Pearl said...

ooo ! lots of great tips you've given here , grrlll ! way to go with the egg tray ! there is something abt about misting with circles . Really adds so much to the whole background . & 2 dozen bottles of mists is good ! I have at least 2.5 times that now ! sigh !!! & still adding on ....just 2 more new bottles of CHalkboard mists this week ! ack !

& love those banners too ! woot ! you are on a roll !

Bernadine said...

Lovely layout Helen. I have some glimmer mist bottles and I just need to take the step out the boat and give it a try. :)

Alia said...

AMAZING LO!

Mel said...

Oh wow, I just love your gorgeous tips on the misting, I am so going to try this when I get some, mine washed away in the floods here. But the colours are just stunning, I am going to try and buy some chalkboard mists, are these ones better you think. Melxxx

Ella Swan said...

Thanks girls! Diana there are quite a few videos on You Tube etc about misting - worth a watch if you have the time (ha ha...) o/wise you just have to force yourself to use them, be brave & experiment - the more you do it the more confident you feel, just like anything else :) Mel I don't have those chalkboard ones (yet!) so I can't say if they'll be easier - they sound more opaque so could be harder to use actually - just don't be heavy-handed & sure they will come out great :)

Lynette Jacobs said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous...everything about this layout is perfection...well done my friend.

Marilyn said...

GORGEOUS page my friend!! Beautiful details!!
Congratulations on being Featured, Well deserve it!!! and the photo....ohhh I Love It!!!!
HUGS!!!