The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

 

This layout, featuring one of my grandsons trimming the tree back in 2015, is my entry in the December 2023 Mood Board challenge.

December is a busy month: making and sending cards, baking, shopping and all that, but I was determined to create at least one layout before the end of the year.

This was an easy one! The papers and die cut ephemera pieces make a perfect background for my photo, and the chipboard ornaments make a wonderful embellishment cluster.

I started by altering the chipboard pieces by applying a Finnabair Metallic wax with a stipple brush. I added some bows using twine from my stash.

I selected a sheet of patterned paper to use as my background and another sheet to cut up as layering pieces behind the photo. After distressing and inking the edges, I glued them together using packaging in between to add dimension. I selected a few pieces of ephemera to form a cluster in the corner. There seemed to be something missing on the side. I cut a small piece from the sheet that I had selected to use for the title and placed it on the side. I like how the relative brightness adds to my composition.

I finished my layout by adhering the chipboard ornaments down the side, using foam tape.

 

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*****Supplies*****

 

***Paper***

3 Quarter Designs – December Wishes Collection – Designer Paper and Diecuts Set

 

***Embellishments***

Tres Jolie – Laser Cut Chipboard – Ornaments

Waxed Twine

 

***Mediums***

Prima – Finnabair – Art Alchemy – Metallique Wax – Vintage Gold #963958

Ranger – Tim Holtz – Distress Ink Pad – Aged Mahogany #tim21407

 

***Other***

Beacon – Fabri-Tac – Permanent Fabric Adhesive

Scrapbook.com – Double Sided Foam Adhesive Shapes #SBC-BCADH-3122

 

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As always, I want to thank you for peeking into my blog; your visits mean a lot to me.

 

(Feels Like) Armageddon

 

The wildfires in Canada have been unusually severe this year; the smoke has been traveling hundreds of miles south into the United States and east into Europe. A few weeks ago, the air in large parts of the Northeast turned orange and the atmosphere was deemed extremely hazardous. This is a view of New York City the afternoon of June 6.

In the meantime, I had received my June kit from Tres Jolie, containing a lot of ingredients for masculine projects and a Mood Board Challenge with a Steampunk theme. I decided that this would be a perfect chance to scrap this event.

This was an easy page to put together. The patterns of the 3 Quarters Designs Vintage Men collection are so filled with images and textures that little needs to be done as far as embellishments go.

After selecting my base, I cut up another sheet to form layers. I tore some of the edges using a tear guide, then inked them all around. The photo and the layers were each backed with USPS packaging to give them some depth, then glued down.

My basic embellishment was the pair of chipboard gears from Tres Jolie that came in the kit; I also used one of the gears and two of the wings from the Finnabair packages. I finished it off with a few clay pieces from my stash that were coated with black gesso and then with metallic wax.

A few closeups:

***The wildfires are still ongoing, especially in the Quebec province. I’ve been keeping our Canadian neighbors and all of those who are working to control and put them out in my prayers. ***  

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 *****Supplies*****

 ***Paper***

    3 Quarters Design – Vintage Men Collection

***Embellishments***

    Prima Marketing – Finnabair – Mechanicals – Metal Embellishments – Winged #962432

Prima Marketing – Finnabair – Mechanicals – Metal Embellishments – Steampunk Gears #963453

        Tres Jolie Kits – Chipboard – Steampunk Border – Black

***Mediums***

Prima – Finnabair – Art Basics – Heavy Gesso – Black #961459

Prima - Finnabair – Art Alchemy – Metallique Wax – Aged Brass #963965

Ranger Ink – Tim Holtz – Distress Archival Ink #AMPK77947

***Tools***

Prima – Finnabair Collection – Moulds – Rusty Pipeline #968601

Prima - Finnabair Collection - Moulds – Vintage Light Bulbs #969578

We R Makers – Basic Tools – Tear Guide #660082

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As always, I want to thank you for peeking into my blog; your visits mean a lot to me.

 

A Spoonful of Love

 

I’ve been wanting to get back to mixed media for a while, and Dawna’s Mixed Media Challenge over at Scrapbook.com has been the perfect opportunity. I’ve raided my stash for all the materials and mediums to create a vintage-type canvas with lots of mechanical elements for the Valentine’s Day season.

 I started by adhering the tissue paper to a 9” x 12” canvas, using matte gel medium to glue it down and then on top to seal it. I ran an archival ink pad around the edges to give it some definition.

When it was absolutely dry, I added some texture by running paper texture paste through a stencil.

While this was setting, I made a few heart and mechanical embellishments using a Finnabair mold and cast resin. I selected a few metal embellishments and a bit of lace to add to my piece.

I started with the lace, cutting a few pieces, and adhering them to the center and arranging them to create the basic flow of the design. Next, I glued down the spoon and then I began to add resin and metal pieces here and there until I was satisfied with the results. I filled in some gaps and added a bit of interest with art stone. (I used matte gel medium as my adhesive; it works with any and all surfaces.) I covered all the components with white gesso. This does double duty, sealing all porous surfaces and adding “teeth” to the smooth ones.

Time to add a little color! I started with the Butterfly Spells acrylic, painting it here and there and spraying it so that it would lightly run down the canvas, using my heat tool to set it. I repeated this step, using the French Lavender shade, then going over and over my piece, alternating the paints, until everything was covered. Next, I watered down some Burnt Sienna paint until it had a consistency of a thick ink and lightly spread it over my assemblage to tone down the colors and give it a shabby look.

I finished my canvas by adding a little bit more of water to the paint and, with the aid of a fan brush, applied splatters over the entire surface.

 

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*****Supplies*****

 

***Paper***

Prima – Finnabair – Decorative Paper – Romantic #968090

***Embellishments***

Prima – Finnabair – Embellishments – Mechanicals – Metal Blooms #968496

Prima – Finnabair – Embellishments – Mechanicals – Grungy Gears #968519

Prima – Finnabair – Embellishments – Mechanicals – Tin Hearts #963361

Prima – Finnabair – Embellishments – Mechanicals – Machine Parts #967109

Prima – Trims – Magnolia #583019

Reneabouquets – Drop Leaf Lace - White

***Mediums***

Ranger – Distress – Archival Ink – Ground Espresso #AMPK77947

Prima – Finnabair – Art Basics – 3D Matte Gel #961398

Prima – Finnabair – Art Basics – Heavy Gesso – White #961442

Prima – Finnabair – Art Extravagance – Paper Texture Paste #965259

Prima – Finnabair – Art Ingredients – Art Stones – White #963705

Prima – Finnabair – Art Alchemy – Acrylic Paint – Sparks – Butterfly Spells #964122

Prima – Finnabair – Art Alchemy – Acrylic Paint – Metallique – French Lavender #967796

Prima – Finnabair – Art Alchemy – Liquid Acrylic – Burnt Sienna #967222

***Tools***

Prima – Finnabair – Stencil – Victorian Tiles #968946

Prima – Finnabair – Imaginarium – Steampunk Hearts #969448

***Other***

9” x 12” Canvas

Alumilite – Amazing Casting Resin - White

 

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As always, I want to thank you for peeking into my blog; your visits mean a lot to me.