Twins

I had planned on getting this layout – using the June kit from Très Jolie and based on the included sketch – done by Father’s Day, but that didn’t happen.

This photo of my son was taken 6 ½ years ago, when the twins were just a few days old and so very, very tiny.

I really did a number on the sketch. While the basic elements are there, I did some twisting and turning with the tags and the flower placement.

This month’s paper collection is “In the Past” from AB Studios: perfect for masculine layouts with the grays and browns and muted patterns.

I started by cutting the center out of the base paper and put it aside. The next layer was trimmed to 11 ½” x 11 ½” and distressed around the edges.

Once that was done, I took out my sewing machine and used a zig zag stitch around the borders to attach the two sheets together.

While I had the machine out, I made a couple of tags by cutting several layers of different sizes, distressing the edges, and sewing them together. I used my Big Bite to make the holes on top and several circle punches to create the reinforcements.

I painted one of the chipboard pieces that came with the kit with black gesso and put it aside. When it had dried completely, I cut it into four pieces to place around the page.

I created several layers under the photo from corrugate and dry wall tape. I do like the way these items add so much texture to the page. I then added the tags, placing them here and there until I was satisfied and then glued the title pieces down.

The photo itself was framed with one of the 49 and Market pieces that came with the kit. I placed another of the frames over a journaling card cut from the patterned paper and tucked it underneath.  

I kept the rest of the embellishments simple, placing pieces of the chipboard around and to the side of the photo and adding a strip of corrugate, some loops of thread, a metal clock, and a few blooms from the kit.

Here are a few closeups:

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*****Supplies*****

***Très Jolie June Kit***

AB Studio – In the Past Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Sheet #1 – 12 o’clock

AB Studio – In the Past Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Sheet #2 – Something magical

AB Studio – In the Past Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Sheet #6 – Stopped time

AB Studio – In the Past Collection – Bonus Sheet

Darice – Floral Embellishments – Paper Flowers – Natural – 36 Pcs #30062068

Advantus – Tim Holtz – Idea-ology Collection – Timepieces – Metal Clock Faces #TH92831

Bottle Cap Inc – Vintage Edition – Decorative Typewriter Tiles – 26 Pcs #TYP261C

49 and Market – Vintage Artistry Natural Collection – Stitched Frames – 6 Pcs #VAC-32181

***Très Jolie June Mixed Media Kit***

Darice – Floral Embellishments – Sweetwater Roses – 12 Pcs #30062046

***Mediums***

Liquitex – Professional – Black Colored Gesso #5320251

Ranger Ink – Tim Holtz – Distress Ink Pads – Mini – Walnut Stain #132718

***Tools***

We R Memory Keepers – Crop-A-Dile Big Bite

EK Success – EK Tools – Nesting Punch – ¼ Inch Circle #54-10060

EK Success – EK Tools – Nesting Punch – ½ Inch Circle #54-10062

***Other***

Duncan Enterprises – Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue

Art Institute – Glitter Glue – Dries Clear Adhesive

Tombow – Mono Adhesive Dispenser

Coats & Clark – Extra Strong Upholstery Thread – Black

Corrugated Packaging

Dry Wall Tape

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

Beardedness

This layout is my entry in Très Jolie Kit Club’s August Mood Board Challenge, using the pattern paper and embellishments that were included in the August kit.

This kit has a very masculine theme, with papers from Couture Creations’ Gentleman’s Emporium collection and tons of metal embellishments from Prima, as well as a Tim Holtz stencil and the perfect chipboard embellishment from Creative Embellishments – all of the components that I need to create the perfect setting for this photo of my great-grandfather, August Heinick.

I’ve taken a few liberties here: this photo was taken several decades after the “1897” seen in the layers and the title was interpreted somewhat broadly. My great-grandfather seems to have worn a mustache all through his adult life, but never a beard. But I love the title and it seems to fit the photo so well that I decided to go with it.

I knew that I’d be using a lot of metal embellishments, so I began by adhering my base paper to an 11¾” square of heavy cardstock to give it stability.

I used two stencils to add interest to the background: from my stash, a favorite by 13 @rts and from the kit, a layering stencil from Tim Holtz. I love how the crackle paste looks when it dries.

Meanwhile, I cut out the cut aparts on the “B” side of Sheet #10. In keeping with a few of the images from the mood board, I rounded all of the corners before inking the sides. I arranged them on a piece of packaging to fit behind my photo; this gave the entire piece an extra bit of dimension.

I selected one of the smaller cut aparts to place in the upper corner.

In keeping with the mood board theme, I altered the chipboard piece by giving it a good coating of Color Bloom mist in Antique Gold. Once it was dried, I adhered it to the side and bottom of the photo and attached the title piece.

I mentioned all of the metal embellishments that Kim packed into the kit; I actually used something from every package, starting with the clock faces. The smaller piece was tucked under the upper corner; I placed a small nail head in the center.

I placed the large piece in the opposite corner and embellished it with a few more pieces.

Next, I embellished the chipboard piece with a few of the trinkets.

I finished my layout by scattering more of the trinkets around the page.

A few more close-ups…

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*****Supplies*****

***Paper***

Couture Creations – Gentleman’s Emporium Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – 03A #CO726816

Couture Creations – Gentleman’s Emporium Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – 10B #CO726823

***Embellishments***

Creative Embellishments – Laser Cut Chipboard – Steampunk Clock Corner

Prima – Ingvild Bolme – Tiny Junkyard Findings – Vintage Trinkets – Special Screws #891626

Prima – Ingvild Bolme – Tiny Junkyard Findings – Vintage Trinkets – Nail Heads #891657

Prima – Finnabair – Sunrise Sunset Collection – Mechanicals – Vintage Trinkets – Clock Face – Small #96278

Prima – Finnabair – Mechanicals – Steampunk Gears #963453

***Mediums***

Prima – Art Extravagance – Texture Paste – White Crackle #961503

Prima – Color Bloom – Spray Mist – Antique Gold #573843

Ranger Ink – Tim Holtz – Distress Ink Pad – Mini – Ground Espresso #TDP47353

Ranger Ink – Tim Holtz – Distress Ink Pad – Mini – Hickory Smoke #TDP47339

***Tools***

Stampers Anonymous – Tin Holtz – Layering Stencil – Screwed #THS087

13 @rts – Mixed Media Stencil – His Time

***Other***

Duncan Enterprises - Aleen’s Original Tacky Glue #NM810

Beacon – 3-in-1 – Advanced Craft Glue

Tombow – Mono Adhesive – Permanent Dispenser #62106

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

My Hero

In my last post, I told a story about the album that my father kept while serving in World War II. Most of the photos were of family and friends “back home”, but he also included a lot from his life in the Army Air Force: various bases, leisure time, planes that came back damaged and his fellow crew members, on the B-17 “Esky”. There is a series of single photos of each of the members, dressed in flying gear, across several pages, with names and ranks inked in. Dad inserted his own photo in this group; he captioned this “My Hero”, hence the title that I chose for my layout.

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I decided to print out my photo “as is”, with the photo corners and the caption in my father’s handwriting included. I did change the color to a sepia shade to blend in with the colors of the layout.

The Lemon Craft Grow Old with Me collection that was included in the May Très Jolie kit is filled with pinks and peaches and images of flowers and laces, with just enough vintage rustic elements to make it perfect for feminine layouts. I selected the “B” side of sheet 06 for my layout and let myself be guided by the colors and design…

I knew that my final layout would be heavy with metals and mediums, so after coating both sides of the paper with clear gesso, I used Scor Tape to adhere it to a heavy piece of packaging so that it would end up with a minimum of warping.

I took another piece of that heavy packaging, cut it to fit as matting, and ripped it down one side. Before I taped it to the page, I tore off most of the top layer to expose the corrugate underneath.

And now the fun began… I used gel medium to adhere layers of metals and buttons under the matting and allowed it to set. I placed the die cut half left over from a previous layout down the side and embellished it with a clock face and star from my stash.

I used two sizes of Art Stones to add texture and interest here and there around the layout, starting with the larger ones and allowing them to set before adding the smaller stones.

 Next, I went over all of the metals and stones and some of the corrugate with Rust Effect Paste, starting with a heavy application of the darkest color, and dry brushing the succeeding layers to allow all of the varied hues to come through.

 

 

Before adding my photo, I watered down a little of the dark paste and used a fan brush to create splatters all around the page.

As a finishing touch, I added a metal band to the bottom corner…

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*****Supplies*****

***Paper***

Lemon Craft – Grow Old with Me Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – 06 #LP-GROW06

***Embellishments***

Prima – Wood Embellishments – Decorative Clocks #554613

Hobby Lobby – Rusted Metal Star – Small

Metal Clocks and Gears

Buttons

***Mediums***

Prima – Finnabair – Art Basics – Clear Gesso #961466

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

Prima – Finnabair – Art Ingredients – Art Stones #963705

Prima – Finnabair – Art Ingredients – Mega Art Stones #964672

Prima – Finnabair – Art Extravagance – Rust Paste Set #963576

***Tools***

Sizzix – Tim Holtz – Alterations Collection – Bigz Die – Weathered Clock #657190

***Other***

Corrugated Packaging

Scor-Tape – ½”

Beacon – 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue

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