2015 #14 Scrapbooking with Flowers and Texture {by Jennie Atkinson}

2015 Topic 14: Flowers

Hello everyone! I am absolutely thrilled to be here with you all on the PaperArtsy blog. My name is Jennie Atkinson and my blog is Live The Dream and yes I do believe I live the dream! I live in Shetland, the most northerly island in the UK  (cold and windy at times but fabulous!) and my blog has been my link to the outside world and the opportunity to meet like minded stampers and crafters and of course to follow blogs, such as Paper Artsy, which have been my training ground ... not being able to get to workshops and craft events.

I love all aspects of stamping, inking, scrap-booking, art-journalling and mixed media work but I suppose my style is mainly vintage shabby chic. Those of you who know me know that I love making my own handmade flowers, this being borne out of the frustration of  never having the right kind of flower to hand and the disappointment of buying them on the internet.  So sharing a project with you on the theme of FLOWERS is just perfect for me !

Tonight I am sharing with you a mixed media scrapbook layout using some of my own flowers, but also one of my own photographs. I have recently taken up photography and am still in the very early stages.

When I saw Sara Naumann’s Wisdom stamps (ESN07) with the words 'Photographie Illuminating My Heart' I knew I had to use this stamp plate for my layout.

I used some strong linen style cardstock and got some texture on the page with texture paste and stencils and adding some tissue tape around the edges here and there. I had an idea where the photograph was going at this stage, but nothing else! Everything then got a coat of gesso.

When the gesso was dry I mixed some watery puddles of Fresco Finish Pansy and Spanish Mulberry on my craft mat and added them with a paintbrush slowly at first as it is always easier to add more than take it away. I kept spritzing with water, mopping up and then drying with a heat gun until happy with the colour.  I used Pansy on a mesh stamp here and there adding the paint to the stamp with a paintbrush. I also added splatters again in both Pansy and Spanish Mulberry.

With Jet Black Archival Ink I  used the music stamp from ESN07 and a vintage text stamp (one of those lovely freebies which Leandra is always so generous at popping into one’s parcel). Although somewhat randomly  I do try and keep these within the area of the photograph. Once I was happy with the background I used a sewing machine to attach it to the backing cardstock. I find this the easiest way of attaching the two pieces and I have added more stitching in various places as further texture.

I then started to put together the embellishments.  I used more of the stamps from ESN07 for my text and embellishments stamping with Watering Can Archival Ink and made some roses from white cardstock edged with grey ink.  There is a tutorial for these flowers on my blog HERE.  The leaf chippy was painted first with Sage Fresco Finish and then crackled with Crackle Effect and Snowflake. And then it was a case of layering everything around and under the photograph which is raised off the page on a large piece of greyboard. When everything is stuck down I usually finish off with some dry brush gesso here and there to tone everything together, especially on the metal and buttons.

I love the way the Fresco Finish paints merge together and give such a lovely light effect on the linen cardstock despite being such strong colours.  They are always my go to paint for covering chippies and the Crackle Glaze never disappoints! 

Sarah Naumann’s ESN07  stamp plate also provides wonderful opportunities for subtle stamping on the background as well as elements for layering.

I always wish I had planned things out a little more from the start. The photograph I was using was initially 4 x 6 but was too overpowering so I had to make it smaller which did expose more of the coloured areas on the background. Some gesso helped but I still think it is a bit heavy in the centre of the page.

When I teach scrapbook workshops here in Shetland I always show how turning the same design 90 or 180 degrees can make another great layout! Sorry there is no rotate button for you to try it out!

I do hope this might have inspired some of you to have a go at a mixed media scrapbook layout if you haven’t already done so. And also you might look at some of your smaller stamps in a whole new light.

If you are interested in seeing more of my flower tutorials please do visit my blog Live The Dream. You can access them either on the top bar or from scrolling down the side bar.

Thank you so much to the team at PaperArtsy for inviting me to share a project with you tonight – it has been such an honour!

Jennie

Ohhhhh Jennie, I do love how on the face of it your beautiful Scrapbook LO looks minimalist, but when you see how you have gently built layers, colour, textures, and embellished perfectly with such a fabulous eye for composition and placement, it's clear that you have put a lot of thought into this. Such a peaceful and elegant piece! Frame it! 

So lovely to have you share with us tonight! Thankyou! ~Leandra 

Bloggers and followers...we would love you to join in with challenge #14: Flowers.

If you are inspired by any of our guests who blog with us over the fortnight (July 26 - Aug 9th), or perhaps you want to just do your own thing with flowers...then please join in and link up your creativity HERE. 

All links go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The Flowers link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, Aug 9th winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.