Mixed Media Layout - Texture and Bling

Hi everyone, Anita here today to share a layout with you. I love to add a lot of texture to my layouts. Normally this means that I add way too much stuff to my pages and then I can't fit them into the page protectors. I have gotten so bad that I can only get 12 layouts into a D-ring album!! Soooo,, I am trying to use less of the fat embellishments and use more in the way of visual texture with paint, color and such.

Today I want to share with you how to use a stamp and gesso to add some texture to your projects, and how to create your own custom bling!

I started my background by adding color with Gelatos® - seriously, I don't think I start a project these days without reaching for these creamy little sticks. For this look I sprayed a small square of Cut'N Dry with the tiniest bit of water and blended the colors together.

I used a foam brush to lay on a fairly good coat of Gesso on my stamp, even a little thicker than what is shown here. Then you just stamp it on.

As you can see it is thick in some places and thin in others - I have never been able to get it even! But it is art, right? Set it aside and let it dry, I tried using a heat gun once - the results were not spectacular lets just leave it at that.

When the gesso is dry, apply Gelatos® directly to a piece of Cut'N Dry a little bit at a time and swipe over the top lightly. Build up your color little by little until you are satisfied with how it looks.

Did you know that you can use your Stamper's Big Brush Pens to color your bling??? Well you can! Use the ones that are labled "highly lightfast" and plan ahead a little bit. They do take a little bit to dry. I run the side of the brush over the top of the stones until they are all colored and then set it aside to dry. Voila` - a custom match to your project!

I used my PITT® Pastel Pencils to make the colors on the clock piece more dramatic, Art GRIP® Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils on the flowers of the same piece to make them stand out, I added details to the fussy cut butterfly with PITT® Artist Pen in Black XS,  and a Stampers Big Brush Pen to stamp the title piece. Last but not least I added my journaling with my PITT® Artist Pen in S.

That's it - I added a ton of color and visual weight to my layout, but I managed to not add a ton of bulk. I have really been working on that one :)

Supplies used:

Gelatos®: Teal Metal, Snow Cone, Aqua Dolce, Rose Metal, Butterscotch

Stamper's Big Brush Pen: Light Cobalt Turquoise #154, Cobalt Turquiose #153

PITT® Pastel Pencils: #170, #199

Art GRIP® Aquarelle Watercolor Pencil: #124

PITT® Artist Pens: S, XS

Other: Paper: Prima, Bazzill/ Adhesive: Glue Dots®/ Stamps: Judikins, Technique Tuesday, Other/ Flowers: Prima, other/Bling: Want2Scrap, Prima/Buttons: Fancy Pants/ Thread: Karen Foster/Butterfly: Prima

  Anita is a SAHM whose kids have flown the nest. She is currently driving her husband crazy redecorating the house and hoping to get her first flock of chickens this spring. She keeps busy doing freelance design work for a variety of manufacturers and teaching at the local  scrapbook store.

Comments

[Sharon Young]

Nice layout! Thanks for the steps. Cool tip on coloring the bling!

[Judycs]

Very Cool! Thanks for the great instructions.

[Barbara MacAskill]

Thiis is beautiful! I just received my first jar of gesso and am going to try this! TFS

[jpscraps]

Beautiful! I've tried that technique with paint but now I want to try it with gesso.

[Cathy Stutzman]

What an inspiration you are, Anita, I love the gesso instructions and the finished product. Thank you for such wonderful ideas and product recommendations.

[Teina]

Thanks for the clear insight into how you achieved this look. What is the best way to clean the Gesso off the stamp?