Wednesday 1 August 2012

All our Dreams can come true! {Mixed media layout for ScrapThat! July 2012 kit}






Here's the last layout I created for the July kit at ScrapThat!
so I'm giving you an in depth look at how I created it and
listing all my supplies before I say goodbye to ScrapThat!


I used the lovely Fabscraps Organic Collection paper for the
 background & started by squeezing a blob of gesso into the
 middle of it then pulling it out to each side of the page using
 an old credit card.


There is no texture paste to be found in Durban (well not by me
 anyway!) so I had to improvise to create the texture paste
 for the background I wanted.  As you can see from the
picture above I used Modeling paste (as it is thick) - thinned
 down a bit with local acrylic paint and added some "decor sand"
 into the mix (it's sold here in all sorts of different
colours for use in hurricane vases, together with candles).


It's very synthetic and gritty rather than smooth so it worked
perfectly for my home-made texture paste.  Once mixed to the
right consistency (by trial and error) I added some colour
using paint.  Then I painted it on using the plastic palette
 knife shown, through a Crafter's Workshop chicken wire stencil.  


I hand journaled the quote onto Fabscraps Organics paper and
added more dimension to the leaves through inking.  I added the
resin window embellishment in keeping with the dream theme - 
windows of opportunity, etc... I dyed the linen flower from the
flower add-on using mists.  Below you can see it was originally white.


Once I had finished adding the photo mat, photo, circle of twine
& clusters of embellishments around the photo the whole layout
looked rather dull to me so I reworked the background to include
drops of black acrylic paint, stampings of it using bubble-wrap &
lastly I applied Peacock Liquid Pearls around the edge of the
 layout in a scrawling fashion, only rubbing it in in certain places.



The final touch was the addition of the pearls for a bit
of added texture and interest!



I matted the photo onto corrugated board that I had dry-brushed
with gesso before adding some Prima Old Road ink as well.



I had the green flower left over from my inking spree on my last
layout so I added that in too, thus creating a bright contrast
 colour aimed at lifting the whole layout out of the neutral doldrums!



The most important thing about mixed media is to be careful
not to make a mess!  Messy is not good.  For the end result
to LOOK messy is fine but think of it like Kate Moss's hair,
it takes stylists a long time to achieve that "just got out 
of bed look" !  Keep your photo well away from  your misting 
& painting & add it at the last minute possible to avoid it
 getting messed up with splatters of mist or paint drops!!


Supplies List for "All our Dreams can come True" Layout


Printed papers - Fabscraps Organic Collection
 "Lace" & "Organic Garden"
Corrugated Board
Gesso - Claudine Helmuth Studio
Liquid Pearls - Peacock - Ranger
Paint - Making Memories - Asphalt
Ink - Old Road - Prima
Modeling Paste - Reeves
White acrylic paint - Dala
Beige Paint - Shopping Bag
Decor Sand
Stencil - Crafter's Workshop Chicken Wire
Bubble Wrap for stamping
Melissa Frances Pearls
Punch - Cherish - Martha Stewart
Twine - Hardware Store
Flowers - Prima & Pink Paislee
Mists - Green - Granny Smith - Maya Road
Meadow Green - Tattered Angels
Blue Grass - Studio Calico
Leaves (from ScrapThat! Kit)
Resin windows - Prima




26 comments:

Julia Cotrim said...

awesome page Helen! love what you did with the modeling paste - so special and beautiful! xoxo

Sabrina Scrapbook said...

WOW Helen!! I admire your talent, this layout is so artsy, I totally love the background and texture! Also, I love that you keep the photo clean. Excellent and beautiful work, my friend! Ohhh I do not know how to create something like this :)

juscrap said...

Wonderful page Helen!love the background and texture!xx

Desire Fourie said...

  Gorgeously creative. Loving the colours and design.  You always put so much time and effort into your stunnung creations. Hop on over to Doing Life and stand a chance to win some lovely digi stamps. Hugs Desíre Doing Life Digistamps4Joy DT Member Tammys Scrapin Corner DT Member

topkatnz said...

Very clever making your own texture paste : you are very inventive:) I like how you have used it over the stencil to create a pattern. I have never used it myself - and hardly ever use a stencil either for that matter, even though I have a few! Maybe, maybe, I should give it a try!lol

scrapping4me said...

Love what you did with the flowers Helen and also how you highlighted the photo with the string...oo ooo and how cute is that little window frame - so many elements on the page I cant choose which one I like the most!

Gayle Price said...

What a great grungy, textural page, and your "messiness" looks perfectly "natural," there is definitely an art to creating mixed media pages and I think you've nailed this one.

Lizzy Hill said...

You are so inventive - neccessity, I know, but still....and I've got a new word to describe this style. MESS-A-LICIOUS!!!!!! Cos that's what it is:):):)

Sandi Clarkson said...

You really got your grunge on with this one! Great job .. I love texture, so this is right up my alley! I sm going to experiment more with mixed media!

Lynnda said...

WOW WOW WOW Helen... I love your mixed media on layout!!! its beautiful...you rock!!! Amazingly talented lady!!! TFS ...the process... hugs..xoxo

ANUPAMA CHOUDARY said...

I love the way you likened the mixed-media look to the controlled 'bed-head' look...so apt! Looks like you are having a lot of fun :) Those vignettes on your photographs are stunning.

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

*sigh* you are AMAZING!!! I love love love this!! LOVING that photo, the paint, the texture and loving the flowers!!! GORGEOUS!!!!

yyam said...

Clever girl. Love how you improvised to create your own paste! I love the whole composition here with the gritty textures and amazing colours! You own your style Helen!

dstandard said...

Holly Cow Helen - this is just an amazing creation - should be framed! Awesome work!

Mona Pendleton said...

WOW Helen! What a STUNNING LO! Thanks for sharing the how to!

Marelize said...

You are such an inspiration Helen! Your layout is gorgeous and I love reading how you've put it all together. xx

Heather Jacob said...

Helen this is pure magic x

Lynette Jacobs said...

I would love to just sit and watch you create these awesome backgrounds. Maybe one day....

Beautiful layout my friend.

Unknown said...

This is amazing helen!!
That is a brilliant idea what a great way to make your own texture paste! Too clever!
xoxo

Leonie said...

This is has just the most amazing texture Helen!!!
Just....WOW.. don't know what else to say!!!

Denise Price said...

You're very brave & adventurous to create your own texture paste. It turned out beautiful. Brava!

Svetlana Austin said...

wow, Helen! this totally amazing mixed media project! i love it!!!!

Rachael Funnell said...

WOW! this is FULLY AWESOME Helen...
FANTASTIC Colors & that background is
AMAZING.... L.O.V.E I.T!

Chantal Vandenberg said...

Wow!!! This is amazing!!!!!

Eila Sandberg said...

Crikey Helen this really looks awesome! if you haven't got it, you gotta invent it - clever girl! love how that green flower just pops off the page, so much yummo yummo texture on this one. He sure is one handsome bloke, just look at him dressed in his glad rags ready to escort his pretty lady to the ball. xoxo

Sharm Nidyanandan said...

Omg! This is super Helen! I love how you improvised the modeling paste and sand for texture! Very cool! :)