Mixed Media Layout - Colour Explosion!!

MIXED MEDIA SCRAP BOOK LAYOUT

SO I decided to take a photo of my daughter and one of my nieces and scrap book it.  I didn't want to do another "regular" layout so I thought I would combine my love of mixed media with my passion for scrap booking.  Voila!!  A mixed media layout that I have fallen in love with!!  This was so much fun to do.  I allowed myself the freedom to just play and see where my creativity would take me.  I don't usually go for using so much colour but I have to confess, I had a great time colouring outside my own lines!!  Sometimes we just have to play and create without any preconceived ideas of what we should do or use.

I used a piece of white Bazzill card stock.  Grabbed a few of my Tim Holtz Distress Inks and picked out a few stencils with different shapes and patterns.

Using a foam ink applicator I just layered the stencils with the distress ink.  No real rhyme or reason to how I did this or how it was placed.  I just placed the stencils down and ink!!

After I was satisfied with the inked stencil layers I just grabbed a few different background stamps.  Using my black Stazon ink pad I stamped the images wherever I wanted.

Next, I wanted to add a little texture to my background so I grabbed my tried and true product - white Gesso.  I chose another stencil, this one had varying sizes of polka dots which will be a nice contrast to the more linear stencils I inked on my page earlier.  Don't forget your little art spatula!!

Using spatula I spread gesso over the stencil, I made sure I put a good, thick layer on.  As you can see, even this little bit of gesso has added a texture and toned down the bright inks a little.

I wasn't quite down with playing with colour yet.  So I turned to my Dylusions Ink Sprays in Postbox Red and Squeezed Orange.  I lightly spritzed my page.  I am an ink junkie!!  It is true but I just looove these sprays.  They are so vivid and a little goes a long way.  

While my background was drying I needed to layer my photo.  I started with placing my photo on another piece of white card stock and trim it fairly close to the picture.  Then I chose different pattern papers, a doily, a piece of cut burlap, a tag, a circle die cut and a white photo frame.  I also layered on some heart stickers.  You don't want to go too crazy with the embellishments.  You want your photo to remain the focal point of the layout.  Just play around with what you've got and always check placement before adhering anything to your page.  As soon as you are satisfied with your design adhere all the layers together and to your page.

The final touches were to add a small alpha title above my photo and the journaling to the left.  I never write too much journaling on my layouts.  I usually just remark about when and where the photo was taken and something about the subject or a little something about how I feel about the photo.  You can add as much or as little writing as you like.  I know some don't journal at all on their layouts.  It's just personal preference.

I hope you can try out a mixed media layout sometime soon.  It is fun and creative.  This layout makes me smile.  I love the colours and I love the subject.  It just makes me happy!!

Until next time.....Keep Creating!!!