Sometimes a cut file takes on such a dominant part of your design, it can be intimidating to add mixed media too! In this case, I created a mixed media layer just inside the wreath with Vicki Boutin’s Iridescent Glaze to add just the smallest detail and much needed sparkle to this page. This layout was largely inspired by this stunning Bloom street collection from Pink Paislee as well as the gorgeous cut file that Paige Evans created, you can find that here.

 

 

First, I backed the cut file with beautiful papers from Bloom Street’s 6x8 Paper Pad and then used a cardboard template I’d made in a similar size to the wreath to draw a light penciled circle on the background. This allowed me to clearly see where my mixed media should go and the cut file will cover the line later! You could also use a bowl to trace in roughly the same size as your cut file.

 

 

Using my traced circle as a guide, I filled the inside with Vicki Boutin’s Iridescent Glaze through a heart stencil, carefully keeping the design inside the circle only. I didn’t bother adding glaze where my photo would be though. Once that dried, I placed the cut file in place to check and it was perfect!

 

 

Now, a few embellishments from the Bloom Street Cardstock stickers and fussy cut flowers from Paper 12 of the Bloom Street collection finished it off! I did sneak on a few Nuvo Crystal Drops in Silver Lining just for a bit of detail too!

 

 

Such an easy and fun way to add a little extra sparkle and detail to an otherwise very simple page! While cut files are great for building your backgrounds, mixed media takes it to the next level! If you’d like to see this layout in action, be sure to check out the process video: 

 

 

-Laura Alberts
ACOT Design Team

 

---

 

Posted by Rachel Kent

 

Hey friends! Natalie here today with another Mixed Media Mix Up! Volume 3 will focus on texture paste and 7 different techniques of how to use them.

(If you missed the first 2 posts in this series, they are here:  Vol 1  |  Vol 2)

 

 

 

There are so many different options for texture paste! There are different colors, different sheens, and different consistencies. Today's tutorial will try to show a few of each, but the possibilities are endless.

 

Tools for working with texture paste:

• Gesso 
• Applicator - silicon wedge, palette knife, old gift card, etc.
• Texture paste of choice 
• Stencil
• Cleaning cloth

 

If you plan to apply watercolor or a spray of color over the top of your texture paste, gesso is a must! If you're keeping the texture paste in it's natural state upon a thick paper background, you can skip the gesso. It will make your paper more sturdy, as gesso can tend to be heavy after drying.

 

You can see the full tutorial video on my YouTube channel! We will break down some of the process here as well.

 

 

---

 

 

1) For this technique, I applied distress spray to the gessoed page. I then layered Ranger Opaque Matte paste over the top. Because of the heavily pigmented distress spray, the texture paste actually absorbed the color of the spray! Less pigmented sprays/inks would allow the texture paste to stay white, as demonstrated in the next photo using Sand Texture Paste.

 

 

---

 

2.) For the next example, I first applied texture paste to the page. After allowing it to completely dry, I spritzed a watercolor spray over the design and allowed it to run between the crevices. It gives a beautiful look! You can also see how the beautifully raise texture would be a subtle addition to a layout when remaining white.

 

 

---

 

3) Some texture pastes are already colored! Nuvo makes a few gorgeous, glittery pastes demonstrated here: 

 

     

 

The black is Nuvo glimmer paste and the silver is Nuvo glacier paste. These give a definite wow factor. I suggest immediately cleaning your stencil in the sink after using these, as the pastes are sticky and the glitter will spread with cleaning.

 

---

 

4) Prima by Finnabair has a beautiful icing paste which gives a metallic sheen. 

 

 

---

 

5) For this next technique, I applied a water color to the gessoed page, then some Crazing gel atop through a stencil. It gives an awesome crackle texture.

 

 

---

 

6) For this technique, I mixed some pigment powder with white texture paste to create strongly pigmented turquoise paste. The result was stunning!

 

 

---

 

7) Lastly, my favorite technique, and the one utilized in today's layout, is with powdered inks as well. I applied my matte opaque texture paste directly onto the page. Then, before lifting the stencil, I sprinkled powdered pigment atop the stencil. I used Ken Oliver's Color Bursts and Brusho Crystal Colors. The powders have different colors, which, when mixed, blend to beautiful pigments. But when laid atop a texture paste without blending, the individual colors get isolated and give a very awesome, pixelated look!

 

 

I utilized this technique on my layout today through the Vicki Boutin star stencil with Color Bursts in Pthalo Green.

 

 

     

 

 

I used the new Pinkfresh Studio Super Cool Collection to scrap these photos of my son and his guitar lessons!

 

 

I ripped a few strips for the top of the page from Current Mood and Choir Paper as though the stars are coming from behind them.

 

 

I used the Super Cool Ephemera, which paired well with this You Rock title from Shimelle's Field Trip collection.

 

 

I hope you've been inspired to play with texture paste in this Mixed Media Mix Up! I hope you can translate your new skills to a scrapbook layout or other craft project as well. The best way to learn is to practice.

 

xoxo, Natalie
ACOT Design Team Member

 

---

 

Posted by Rachel Kent

 

Hello everyone! Sara with you today talking about random embellishments. If you are like me, you enjoy having your scrapbook layouts be cohesive. You want the photo, journaling, title, and embellishments to compliment each other. That can get difficult when you have a beautiful collection with seemingly random embellishments. 

I have a couple tricks I use for creating with these embellishments and then I have a layout (with process video) and a few title suggestions you can use to pair with the random embellishments in Dear Lizzy’s new collection, Here And Now.

 

 

The key for me to using these embellishments is pulling it all together with your title. You can do this two ways:

- find a common adjective

- get punny with your title

 

You’ll find my favorite ways to locate puns in my video:

 

 

 

 

---

 

Ideas for random embellishment titles from Dear Lizzy Here And Now:

Sunglasses

- Shades of You

- The Future Is Bright

- I Think You Are Spectacular

Flamingos/Palm Trees

- Normal Is Boring

- You're Flamazing

- Stand Tall Darling

Bicycle/Tennis Racket

- Just Roll With It

- You’ve Been Served

- Double Trouble 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by! I'd love to see some of the fun titles for random embellishments you can come up with! 

Have A Lovely Day!

-Sara
ACOT Design Team

 

---

 

Posted by Rachel Kent

[Read More]  1 comments

[Read More]  1 comments

[Read More]  1 comments

[Read More]  0 comments

[Read More]  0 comments

[Read More]  0 comments

[Read More]  0 comments

[Read More]  0 comments

[Read More]  0 comments

[Read More]  0 comments

[Read More]  0 comments

[Read More]  0 comments