My first attempt at Scrapbooking

Good afternoon, peeps!

For some years I have been wanting to scrapbook some old family photographs and, whilst having bought some papers and other stash for the purpose (as you do!), I have never felt inspired to create any actual layouts until I found the work of Gabrielle Pollacco.  Do follow the link and have a look at this lady's blog, her work is amazing!

Anyhoo, I wanted to use her work as inspiration and not slavishly copy so this is what I did:

It's not perfect but I'm reasonably pleased with it for a first shot and I really did have the most fun doing it!  The photograph is of yours truly (I'm the one in the middle but without the big ears!!) at age three and a half on holiday in Rhyll, North Wales with my parents.  It was ever after known as 'Windy Rhyll' in the family because everything we ate on the beach came accompanied with quantities of sand because of the wind!  Perhaps that's why I'm not over keen on ice cream to this day - the memory of the sandy kind is imprinted on my memory!

Here's a close up of the very flowery bit to the right of the photograph:

The twine bow and the little scrap of cheesecloth/butter muslin (it's known by different names in various parts of the world) are two of Gabrielle's signature touches and I just love the way they add texture.

Obviously, for this layout I was working with stuff in my stash but I have been collecting a few stencils and bits to help out.  Here's the list of what I used where I know where it came from:

Designer Paper:  Foundation paper (pink)  Graphic 45 'Botanical Tea' Collection.  The rest from my stash
Flowers:  These are largely from my stash and were bought from Wild Orchid Crafts.  They also have some similar flowers to the hydrangea ones I used here.  The Flower Vine I bought from The Craftz Boutique years ago and they still have some similar ones here.  They are really helpful at this shop and they have a very efficient mail order service - don't go there unless you're prepared to spend - the temptation awaits you there!
Stencils:  Dylusions Luscious Leaves, TCW Mini Art Is, TCW Mini Specimen
All other bits and bobs are from my stash - it's amazing what you find when you root around!

I do hope you've enjoyed looking at this - it's a complete departure for me so do please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Thank you for looking today and I hope you've enjoyed your visit,

Hugs

More mixed media

Good morning, peeps!

Well are you all ready with a cuppa to sit down and watch wor Sheena?  I'm so looking forward to the shows!  If you are watching, look out for these samples:

This is painted on a stretched canvas and I think I just about chucked everything at this before I finally painted it with the Pebeo Acrylics (on the shows today if you're quick - they often sell out!).  There are plasterboard tape, butter muslin (or cheese cloth as some call it), crumpled tissue paper, modelling paste, die cuts, grunge board shapes (Tim Holtz) and silk flowers....oops! nearly forgot the beads!  When the paint was dry I dry brushed over the highlights with gesso and finally added some Pebeo Gilding Wax to other highlights.

This box could be for a man because it's not fussy at all but is painted with the special effects paints that are in the mixed media kit launching today on Create and Craft TV.  The shape stretched diagonally across the lid is one of the new stamps that you'll see today.

And finally:

A door hanger for the lady herself.  The wood is primed with gesso and then painted randomly with Spectrum Noir Aquatints.  The stamps used for the tree and leaves are new for this weekend's shows and the leaves are painted with H2Os.

Enjoy the shows and thank you for looking.

Hugs