Some More Swirlydoos

Just dropping off some more layouts from Decembers Swirlydoos kit. This first one I call "Angels Kisses"and it is a mixed media layout that I did using some of the Flowers, Chipboard and Stencils from the kit. I used the new spray from Smooch to create the blue and purple background. I also use a lot of Shimmerz glitter paints to create a ray effect coming down from the corner. The chipboard frame is painted with black acrylic and covered in the same glitter paint. I used some gesso over the stencil to get the white stamp effect and I applied pink acrylic paint for behind the photo. I just love the colors of this and that photo of Brooky is so sweet.
Aren't these little hearts adorable!! They are tiny cloth hearts that I found on Ebay awhile back. They went perfect with this layout because they symbolize the kisses.

Here is my "Christmas 2006" layout. I had this photo of us for the longest time and I have never scrapped it. I think it's because it's just your average everyday Christmas photo. I was actually a few months pregnant in this pic. I really love how this layout turned out. Most of the items are from the kit and add-ons. I did add my own Etsy pearls and some super cute metal objects I purchased off of Etsy.

I love the added pieces of chipboard in the kits. So pretty!! I didn't want to over do this dear so I just used some stickles on the edges of the antlers, hoofs, and tail.

I used some smooch paints on the poinsettia diecut. It was so pretty plain but I wanted just a touch of color and it turned out great. I put some gold stickles in the center.

Here is my layout that I couldn't figure out a title for. So I just used one of the stamps included in one of the add on kits that said Merry Christmas. This is a sweet little picture of Brooky just looking at her dress. I did a cut out of the paper to create this framed effect and roughed the edges up a bit. Basically the only thing I added was the large jewel, the green ribbon, and the red butterflies and leaves.

Here is a close up of the jewel work I did at the top. The easiest way to do this is use a stencil to create the swirls using a fine tip pencil. Then just lay the jewels over the line for a perfect swirls. These faux diamonds are also in my Etsy.

The extras on this layout are pretty simple. I used a lot of stickles and added one of my own butterflies.

Such a Busy Time of Year

I love the Holidays, but I tend to get really busy and not have much time for scrapping. I did get the new December Swirlydoos kit and I managed to get one layout done so far. This kit is so gorgeous and it's filled with glittery goodness. I even made one of my fancy stickpins with a Prima flower and some other items from the kit. This layout was done using Beggahuna's monthly sketch. Check it out!!
This photo is of Brooky praying. Being only 2, she usually says things like "Thank you for cheese, thank you for babies, thank you Jesus." It's so adorable to listen to her. I took this photo for my friend Katie's Etsy shop. I used it to create a banner for her and it turned out so cute.

Gesso!!

I'm loving Gesso. It's not just for painters.... but can be used in the art of scrapbooking too. Check out this layout I did using a butterfly stamp and Gesso.

Want to know how it works? I did a quick and easy tutorial over at the Harlee Quinnz blog! Feel free to check it out and also take a look at the great tutorials from other DT Members as well. Harlee Quinnz Blog!

Swirlydoos November Antique Linen Kit

Well let me see, I am going to do my best to complete this post while my 2 year old stands next to me on the couch dancing to Yo Gabba Gabba and sticking her head in between me and the laptop. So please forgive any mistakes. Ok so if you haven't already, you should really consider signing up for Swirlydoos kits. These kits are like Christmas every single month. This kit club would best be described as Shabby Chic as far as the style goes. If that is your style then you HAVE to subscribe. Here are some of the current kit layouts I have done so far.

Thanks for looking!!

~*~ Mixed Media Layout ~*~

What is mixed media art... Well here is the definition of that; in visual art, refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed. In other words it's a lot of different things that normally you wouldn't throw together on the same piece of art. I'm SO loving that. For example if you take a canvas and apply inks, paints, and collage style art. It's such an awesome way to express yourself without boundaries!! This layout was done on 12x12 sheet of acrylic. I have never worked with an entire sheet of acrylic before and I made such a crazy mess and can't wait to do it again!! As a whole here is a quick description:

I call this layout "Spirit". Brooklyn's spirit just shines through this photograph and practically leaps out of it. I just love this photo. Here is what I used to create this page:

12x12 Sheet of Acrylic

Assorted Color of Tim Holtz Alchohol Inks (Pinks, Blues, Greens)

Silver Metallic Tim Holtz alcohol ink

Assorted Colors of Tim Holtz Ink Reinkers (Blues, Purples)

Blue Mesh Material

Black Acrylic Paint

Sewing Machine

Flowers

Wire Mesh

Brads

Black Pink Paislee Pixie Stix Sparkles

To get this affect on my acrylic sheet I splattered drops of my non metallic alcohol inks. Then I used my can of air to spread all the inks all over the areas of the sheet I wanted it. The nice thing about alcohol inks is they dry quickly. After that I took my Ranger blending tool and dropped some silver metallic alcohol ink on that. Then I daubed it all over my page (I actually used this on my photo as well before I placed it on my page). I smeared a little hear and there as well.

After I inked I layed down my blue mesh and used a large dry brush to smear and coat it with black acrylic ink. Some of my mesh is raised and some lays flat. The two together make an awesome textured look. The two following pictures show what the mesh looks like up close. I also added a bit more silver alcohol ink to the top of my mesh next to the photo.

Next I played with some yellow flowers I got at a local craft store. I soaked them in reinker ink and cover them in black sparkles. This was a bit messy but they look so cool. It took a little while for these puppies to dry but when they did I placed them sporadically on my pages. The butterfly mesh was actually left over from a diecut I used on another layout. Why waste right.?

That is pretty much it for my mixed media layout. I did do some stitching to the top with my sewing machine for added flare.

~ Never Enough Bling ~

When in doubt, bling it out!! Sunday I made a vow to not get on the computer for the entire day, so I cleaned some of my house, watched some tv, played with my kids and worked on a couple of layouts. Both of the layouts I was working on were at this point of "now what". I mean they were both pretty, but they were both missing something in my eyes. So like I said, when in doubt, bling it out!! And so it began.... out came the wire, the beads, the stickles, the rhinestone flowers and imagination.

This first layout was done with some beautiful Websters Pages paper. I cut the butterflies and the little well off on one piece of pattern paper and applied it to this page. I used stickles to enhance the butterflies. I also wanted to bling up my floral spray so I alcohol inked some beads and made some page jewellery. Look how awesome the dark blue and gold look together. I also stickled on parts of my flowers.

I love this page. The paper came from a royalty free photo off the internet that I blew up to a 12x12 size and printed it out. All the blue is a gorgeous pearlized paper that has a metallic look to it. So anyway I had this done and ended up with some vines and a big blue circle. Boring! I had to break out the bling... Let's start with the Prima berry spray that I cut up into pieces and wound around bits of my floral spray, then I had these gorgeous rhinestone flowers in different sizes and colors that I stuck all around the circle, above and on the photo, and at the end of my ribbon. By the way that little fairy is a Harlee Quinnz stamp that can be found at their online store.

Let's not forget this awesome butterfly. I LOVE this butterfly and pretty soon it will be made available to purchase in one of Katies Kreations 4 U 's Etsy kits.

~Creating a Fairy Land~

I like drawing, but I am not the best at it. However, I still like to sit down with my kids and draw pictures. The other night I drew this scene of a fairy forest and had to make some 12x12 paper out of it. I added sparkles in the branches and bushes for added details as well. I really didn't add a lot of embellishments to the page except for my butterfly page jewellery and some Tim Holtz grungeboard flowers. I think it turned out so sweet with this photo I took of Brooky. She makes the cutest little fairy with or without wings. The paper and the butterfly can be found at my Etsy. TFL!!