GD: Pam Thorburn #3 Love These Two

Hi everyone, Pam here again with my third example of the fun you can have making your own backgrounds for scrapbook pages.

Today's page features my two when they were young and sweet! And it was the idea of sweet which became the starting point of this layout-I wanted sweet and pretty. So let's get started on how this layout came together.

I will let you into a little secret. I throw away nothing! It doesn’t matter if I make a mistake on a project, I’ll either work through it, or I’ll put that piece away, and start afresh. Here’s an example of a previous project that went wrong. I had just started this project, when I spilt water along the edge. It ruined the project on that occasion, but since I knew I would be doing a messy layered project today, I decided to use this damaged piece of cardstock. The squares are there from my previous attempt.

So the first thing I did was to tear up some patterned papers. I raided my scrap paper drawer and found these Hot Off The Press papers that came free with a magazine a while back. I tore them roughly and adhered them, together with some music and book paper, randomly across the page with Matt Medium.

Next I watered down some Fresco paint (Nougat) and washed it over the entire page. This knocks back the colours and helps to unify the elements.

I then used StencilGirl - FadeHorizontal 9x12 stencil across the entire page. I used a stippling brush with Irish Cream and removed excess paint before pouncing the almost dry  brush through the stencil. As this is a 9x12 stencil, I had to reposition it to cover the 12x12 cardstock.

Next I added a layer of stamping. I took the whole sheet of Hot Picks: Stamp & Die Set 02 . I painted a block of Snowflake onto my craft sheet to use as a stamp pad, and used the complete sheet of frame stamps to cover the entire 12x12 sheet of cardstock. I love that grid effect you get using the whole sheet of frame stamps. Isn’t that background so pretty and interesting? I love it!

 Hot Picks: Stamp & Die Set 2

I wanted to add some direction to the background so I added some more strips of paper.

I thought the papers jarred a bit against the background-I was looking for a softer feel, so I painted over the strips with Snowflake paint to blend it in to the background. That way I have some subtle texture and interest, and the directional strips help in the next step, which is to do some misting!

To make the mists just mix up 4 parts water, to one part Fresco Paint, and apply using a misting bottle. First I used Candy Floss I  but it seemed a bit bright, so I wiped most of it off with some paper towel. Then I tried  Sky, and Toffee which I like a lot better. (You can see here I decided to re-orientate my paper so the lines went across the page.) 

I was almost happy with the background but to tone done the brightness of the drips I did some more random stamping over the paint drips using snowflake paint and Ink and the Dog: Background Plate 2. The background did take some time, but it was great fun, and I know I now have a unique background for my scrapbook page. The next steps were to layer up the other elements and to add the embellishments. I cut out some label shapes from the free magazine paper and arranged them onto the background. You will note that the cardstock has buckled, but that's not a problem-just flatten it under some books, or just put it into your page protector and it will soon straighten out. When you add a lot of water to paper, it's inevitable that it will buckle a bit.

I added some cut up pieces of plasterer's tape and added those towards the bottom of the page. I like how the mesh pattern echoes the grid pattern of the background. I adhered some lace under the photo- little details like these add interest and complexity to the layout. And then I added the title.

So now, let's talk about the embellishments! I used the leaves from Eclectica Shapes 03 and Prima Wood Bellies as well as a chipboard heart from my own stash. I painted them all with  Rose mixed with a little snowflake. When that was dry I stamped over them using the script stamp from Ink and the Dog Background Plate 2, then rubbed Treasure Gold Spanish Topaz along the edges.

 

The flowers are Petaloo and Prima. I stamped a sentiment from Hot Picks Xtra 03  onto cardstock and framed it with a Prima Resin frame onto which I rubbed some Treasure Gold to bring out the texture of the frame. Then it was a matter of layering up the embellishments into a pleasing arrangement around the photo. The self adhesive pearls scattered around are by Kaisercraft.

Here's a close up of the embellishments.

So there you have it- one sweet scrapbook page about two sweet little kids! I do hope you will join in this week's challenge to make some unique backgrounds for your scrapbook pages or mixed media projects. Than you all very much for your comments and support during my first week as GD, looking forward to next month already!

~Pam~

Leandra Says: Well I am not a scrapbooker Pam, but this really makes we want to jump in and do some layouts, Lord knows I have a zillion photos of the kids waiting to be scrapbooked (it's my retirement plan!). Love how you have worked so well with the stamps, texture and paint this week. Truly fantastic! Thank you!

Gillian Says: This is such a pretty layout using more muted tones combined with all the fabulous textures in the background. Another great composition Pam. Thank you for all your projects this week.

If you would like to join in this week's challenge and play along with Pam's techniques, then do link up your creativity here, and go in the draw to win some PA stamps of your choice! You need to link your entry by 17:00, Sunday February 2nd 2014.