Just Add Ice March 2021

I love when a layout comes together quick and easily and this one of my nephew playing hockey really did. I love the blue and orange tones on this page.

I started with a PhotoPlay base white cardstock and added Quick Quotes blue chaulking ink over a Simple Stories Winter Magic stencil. Then I used GinaK Glitter Gel in both blue and white to stencil extra snowflakes. 

Next, I distressed all the Ella and Viv paper edges with a Tim Holtz distresser I recently purchased and inked the edges... I’m not very satisfied with this product and would love any recommendations on another distresser that others use. I’d like it to create stronger edges.

I really liked using the Heidi Swapp Color Theory alphas so I could add my own custom colors (blue gelly pen and kings art orange marker). Finally, I used one of the only decorative punches I own, my classic snowflake punch to give pops of orange and baby blue contrast color. 

I submitted this layout to Lasting Memories Layout Challenges #538 and Paper Issues In Harmony challenge.

Luv the Tub February 2021

 

I couldn’t let February go by without doing a layout dedicated to my valentine. He bought a hot tub during Covid, a life long goal, and has been enjoying it ever since!

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Featured Collection: Heidi Swapp Old School: Patterned paper, tag, ephemera 

Cardstock and patterned hearts and striped paper: Stampin’up 

Pretty Little Studio Christmas Cheer Christmas stitches clear stickers

Powderpuff Coal Miner ink

Nuvo Simply White crystal drops

Date stamp: Staples

Studio Calico: Blue water washi and Alphas

Kawaii Pen Shop: Monet washi tape

Grommets and gold washi: unknown

Pavilio lace washi

Faux enamel dots: Crafter’s Square

Artist’s Loft black fine tip pen

This layout was designed to stand alone, but to be complimentary of its 2021 album neighbor. See previous blog post: https://sdmarchie.blogspot.com/2021/02/definition-of-skiing-feb-2021-single.html

Love Love Love this Feb 2021 Guest Designer

Covid has provided more opportunities for quiet treasured weekends with our boys, instead of running around to scheduled  activities and family events. This warm winter weekend included hanging around the house, getting out for a walk along a local rail trail, and making hot chocolate bombs. I always wonder what they are talking about when I see them spending time together, and pray they will always love, support and confide in each other as they grow.

Humbled to be a guest designer for Lasting Memories layout challenges for the Month of February. The theme this month is Techniques. Challenge #536 features using collage as a base or lots of layers.

I’ll be honest: I was most excited about this week’s challenge of the entire month, so I think the best was saved for last! When I think of collage I always think of one of my favorite artists, Robert Rauschenberg, and for some reason, I’ve never thought of incorporating much collage work on my layouts, but I suspect that will be changing very soon after this experience. I started by spraying the stark white Photoplay cardstock with Nuvo Antique Gold Mica Mist to dirty it up.

I noticed many of my favorite uTube scrappers were doing scrap challenges this month, and thought that would be a great place to start the collage work. I did a deep dive into my scraps stash dive and found two sets of decade old scraps that I loved: an Asian inspired patterned paper and gold foiled papers of unknown origin. I was also gifted a small package of vintage ephemera that I have been saving for who knows what... so the printed cigarette tickets, data punch card, and Russian novel pages seemed like a good random mix of fonts and soft yellow color I was looking to start with as my base. I also bought a vellum phrase from Quick Quotes recently, and I’m not usually into mushy, sappy phrases on my layouts, but I find myself getting more and more sentimental as the time for my son to leave for college gets closer and closer. I knew I wanted to layer some print or pattern under the vellum.

Next, I glued down the first few layers and mixed some water, Vicki Boutin powdered blueberry pie pigment and Matte Acrylic Gel to make a thin paste and brushed it over the three paper and ephemera layers for a subtle blue effect. Then, I couldn’t resist trying out my new Dina Wakley Leafy stencil and Picket Fence paper glaze in marigold orange that happened to arrive the day before for a pop of color. I started layering paper behind the photo instead of a traditional mat, and also did the same with the vellum, and before adhering the photo, brushed all elements with the same collage mixture as described above, except I used the Watermelon Burst green tone pigment instead. I love that I can use these pigments with any white medium to create whatever color I want.

Finally, I added more scraps and ephemera to the background, used scraps I had from the new Vicki Boutin Storyteller collection to cut out a large circle and layered the Asian inspired paper on top, then brushed the acrylic gel on top without pigment this time. Finally, I added a title from Storyteller and metal details, which is something Rauschenberg incorporated in many of his pieces, as well as some Nuvo Belgium Bluestone Stone and Emerald Isle Vintage drops. Brads by studio G and Eyelet Outlet. Freehand lines and journaling with Artist’s Loft fine top black pen. Chaulking ink edges with Powderfuff feather grey and Staples date stamp.

 This is a great step by step article about creating a piece inspired by Robert Rauschenberg... (wish I found it BEFORE I completed this page, but I’ll definitely use it for future inspiration.) https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-mediums/mixed-media/create-collage-landscape/

I’ve been inspired to pull out some of the old calendars, cards, etc I’ve been hoarding over the years and start USING them with this technique on layouts. The reason I saved them is because I loved the images so it only makes sense to incorporate them into my work, instead of random ephemera that someone else choose on my behalf.

I also submitted this layout to the My Little Scrapbook Store Winter Wonderland Crop February 2021.

I made the page below a few weeks ago to document the same weekend together, and thought the complimentary circles of the sketches worked well together side by side. Although I often do double page layouts, I always try to think about how single pages will look together when documenting different subjects within a chronological yearly album by using similar colors, collections, and/or sketches. Here’s a link to that blog post: Hot Chocolate Bomb.

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Adventures Fill Your Soul Feb 2021 Guest Designer Journaling

Continuing to work on our 2020 vacation album to upstate NY last summer. We have been wanting to travel to the Lake Placid area for years, and the pandemic’s limitations on travel provided us the opportunity to look closer to home for our family trip this year. Definitely a silver lining to a difficult year.

Humbled to be a guest designer for Lasting Memories layout challenges for the Month of February. The theme this month is Techniques. Challenge #535 features journaling. I love how this page’s journaling sits atop of the mushroom.

 

I started with the Simple Stories Great Escape collection, which is perfect for documenting the Adirondack region and used Distress Oxide ink through the collection stencil.

Next I practiced my new skills I learned from the first challenge this month, by incorporating a wet embossing technique with Distress Embossing Powder.

Next, I fussy cut and layered leaves from the Great Escape paper and mounted my photos with paper from both the Great Escape and Simple Stories Happy Trails collections, and inked all edges with my favorite Quick Quotes Powderpuff Mocha Mama ink.

Finally, I found the journal I kept during our trip on the simple iPhone Notes App, and took a screen shot of the journaling I wanted to use on this page. When you take a screenshot on this app, it creates a reverse negative image of the text. I thought dark, graphic image would be a great way of providing consistency throughout the album no matter how the designs of the pages change throughout.

I made the mistake in the past of writing my journaling after I was completely done with an album, and found myself dreading having to go back and revisit every page. I think I’m really going to enjoy using this reverse negative screenshot technique throughout this new album.

I also included bits and pieces from the Great Escape collection, as well as an ephemera sticker from a lunch we enjoyed on the trip.

Normally, I enjoy using my architectural hand printing on my layouts, but I’m only 2 pages into this album, and I already love the consistent look the dark typed journaling provides. 

See another page from the album below for how I used the same journaling technique:

 

I also submitted this page to the My Little Scrapbook Store Winter Wonderland Crop 2021.

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Definition of Skiing Feb 2021 single page layout

Just a quick, fun layout of my husband and his best friend skiing... they give themselves so little “me” time, I was thrilled these best friends planned a day off of work to meet up at Blue Mountain, PA about 1/2 way between our homes. Unfortunately, COVID requires ski tickets to be prepurchased to control crowds, so they happened to purchase tickets a couple weeks beforehand which turned out to be the windiest and coldest day of the winter this far. They joked that mask-wearing wasn’t at all an inconvenience that bitter cold day!

It was only the second time in almost a year that he ate indoors, which he said felt strange and a bit unnerving, but a necessary evil with no other options. They limited their time indoors and celebrated getting to spend rare time together with a round of bourbon shots!

The clear SRM Press #40030 Skiing vellum stickers used for the large and small titles and square boots have been hoarded in my stash for over a decade; alas, saved for plans to go back in time to scrap ski trips of the past... I’ve really tried to change my attitude this year and keep in mind what I had in mind may not be what stashed supplies were destined for. Those old experiences pages may never get documented, and that’s ok. I’m just enjoying my hobby now, and whatever I choose to document will make me happy.

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Supplies:

Background:Vicki Boutin Let’s Wander preprinted mixed media paper.

Featured Collection: Pretty Little Studio Christmas Cheer (paper: Licorice, stickers: Christmas Stictches).

Polka dot photo mount paper: Bazzill Basics Sandbox.

Patterned photo mount paper: unknown.

Sticker word black definition embellishments: Heidi Swapp Old School.

Stampin’up!: gold glitter paper, polka dot paper, gold glitz dazzling details drops.

Nuvo drops: Vintage Emerald Isle, Crystal Simply White.

Quick Quotes Powderpuff feather grey ink.

Staples date stamp.

Artist’s Loft black illustration pen.

Sticky back Foamies brand sheets: Darice, Inc.

Snowflake punch: unknown.

Fine line Red Top glue

ATG glue tape: unknown.

CM straight 12” trimmer

This layout was submitted to the following challenges:

Stick it Down Feb 2021 single page layout

Paper Issues Winter Crop Moscow Russia

Goals Jan 2021 Guest Designer Let’s get Painty

One of my 2021 resolutions is to donate blood and plasma whenever possible this year. I watched my dad benefit from an endless supply of transfusions during years of cancer treatments, and although it’s been three years since he died and I’m not ready to scrap a tribute to him in our family album, I thought this would be a good first step.

I was surprised to learn recently that only 2% of the population donates blood. If you are reading this, please consider donating to your local blood bank.

Thank you.

Sdm-

Humbled to be a guest designer for Lasting Memories layout challenges for the Month of February. The theme this month is Techniques. Challenge #534 incorporates paint or other mixed media such as texture paste or sprays. Time to get messy!

 

Some progress photos below:

My original vision was a white Ranger texture paste with Vicki Boutin Storyteller stencil over white background with Nuvo Mica Mist Antique Gold to highlight the texture.

But... I’m always tempted to add color and perhaps I went a bit too far and then tried to overcompensate, but I’m satisfied in the end. I really do just enjoy throwing mixed media on the page and seeing what happens. The Vicki Boutin CreativeFX from the Let’s Wander collection is a beautiful smooth color, and I watered it down to spill and roll around my page, hoping it would get caught in the texture paste pattern.

I’ve seen this technique before on videos, but I think I was too timid and should have spilled more liquid, so I ended up trying to compensate by using two distress oxide inks over another Storyteller stencil, as well as my favorite Quick Quotes powderpuff chaulking ink over the textured pattern as well as all paper edges to soften the bright blue color.

The rest of the papers and embellishments were from the Storyteller line, with the exception of Nuvo Emerald Isle Vintage Drops, kingart fine tip brown #102 pen and unknown grommets and ribbon.

I do want to highlight a new (to me) supply company I used for this layout: The acrylic “2021” embellishment was purchased from Inner Creativity Let It Flow shop as recommended by Heather’s Crafty Life. I purchased a few acrylic embellishments from them that I look forward to using soon.

I also submitted this to the Scrap our Stash February 2021 Remix and My Little Scrapbook Store 2021 Goals challenges:

 

Frat friends forever Jan 2021 Guest Designer Embossing

 

Humbled to be a guest designer for Lasting Memories layout challenges for the Month of February. The theme this month is Techniques. Challenge #533 is all about embossing, which couldn’t have been more intimidating to me because I’ve NEVER, ever, used embossing powder or folders before!

This was truly a “challenge” for me.

When I received this assignment, I realized I would have to purchase my first jar of embossing powder, a technique I’ve been wanting to try for a while, and figured it’s about time I tried! I used a new Stencil Girl pattern I’ve been wanting to use, and inked the negative spaces with a Nuvo Clear Mark Embossing Pad, sprinkled the embossing powder on and impatiently waited while heating each location. I have to admit, the time, work, and mess involved with embossing powder will likely keep me from using it often, but I really loved the soft peeled paint color, which in turn inspired all the diverse shades of green in the layout.

I feel like I threw the kitchen sink of mixed media at this page. Inspired by the lush summer color in the photos, I took all the green shades of mixed media out of my stash, perhaps hoping scrapping a summer photo would make me feel warmer on this freezing cold, windy winter day here in the Northeast US.

I started with a Vicki Boutin preprinted mixed media foundation and printed paper from the Let’s Wander collection, and added more texture with a second Stencil Girl stencil, a Vicki Boutin Kaleidoscope stencil, and mesh drywall tape. Mixed media products included Distress crayon, Crestivefx Prism Glaze and Distress embossing glaze in Peeled Paint. Using two Distress Oxide inks, I brushed two different tones over the drywall tape. For those who don’t know what drywall tape is, you can find it in any hardware store. I often use it as a technique to create very small checkered patterns.

 I also sprayed three water color paper tags with two different colors of Nuvo Mika Mist and used four different color inks with water to create a softer color effect on two of the tags. I love how the Distress crayon with stencil resist overlay looks like a piece of burlap. Finally, Powderpuff chaulking inks and two different types of Nuvo drops completed the mixed media party, and a Nuvo glitter marker and craftsmart oil based pen made the journal strips on the CTMH cardstock pop.

This layout documents the dedication of college friends, even during a pandemic. My husband’s fraternity brothers were so desperate for some time together last summer, they each drove almost 2 hours, from three different states, in order to play a simple (and socially distant) round of golf together. I’m grateful he has such good friends to lean on during difficult times.

In the end, I’m so thankful this opportunity forced the purposeful effort of exploring a new media, but with my limited craft area and storage space (that doubles as our dining room) I’m not buying more embossing powder anytime soon... what a mess!😳 Every time I sit down at the table I’m convinced I can find powder remnants.

I also submitted this to the Scrap our Stash January sketch challenge, which is where I got the geometric inspiration for the layout, and the Paper Issues January Memory challenge.

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In addition to the products mentioned above, I also incorporated the following:

Heidi Swapp color theory alphas, chipboard stars, and watercolor paper tags.

Studio g epoxy brads and Doddlebug boutique brads

Joilees diecuts

Staples date stamp

Pretty Little Studio Document Life Stitches clear stickers

kingart brush tip and artist’s loft fine tip pens

Boxer Scrapbook Productions Palooza Transparency (how many remember this scrapbook supply company? I dug deep in my stash for this title!)