Bold Papers Tamed

Okay, does this happen to anyone else but me. you find a really neat paper, like the 7-Gypsies paper below. And then one of two things happen it's too bold and bright or there's a large image on you have to work around in order to include it. I love this paper, because of the shoes and wanting to showcase the shoes. however, when buying it I didn't think about how it would limit my options of design. So this is what I do with papers that need tamed a bit.

I dedicated all yesterday to crafting and let me tell you it felt amazing! Hadn't done any layouts in a while that were nice and simple so these were alot of fun not to have too much "fuss" about them!

First I applied watered down Gesso to the entire paper. To make the images more so in the background then in the fore front.

I then applies some blue gelatto to the top and used it as a watercolor to tint the page unevenly.

Alittle bit of bubble wrap followed by more Gesso. Like I said I wanted all of the elements there, but I didn't want them so bold and in your face.

Use it All!



For this layout I choose to not only use some echo park papers but also their packaging!! All over this page are pieces used from this packaging!



Helpful hint with cutting transparencies when their smaller or need trimmed, use masking tape, to tape them to the trimmer.




Desiree crafting at her desk has become a regular occurrence. So, much so this weekend we bought her first ever paper pack.



Under the mustache papers I cut a stip of the packaging papers to be unter it. The title is also fromthe packaging!

The No. 1 flag there is also fromt he packaging!

These little flag stips I also cut from the packaging!

MIA

I know this week I've been MIA alot. I ask for your forgiveness. While I would love to bluntly lie to you and say how much stuff I have been getting done and all these great projects and ideas I can't wait to share with you.........................

The sad truth is I haven't been in my craft room unless it's been to put something away or clean it up a bit. I've been working on trying to maintain it in a working condition.. I often and will probably go back to failing at this. However, I have been trying.

Spring is the busiest time I have at work. I work for a landscaping company and this is when the shit hits the fan with stuff to do and people to please. I LOVE IT.

I really do, love being so busy the day just sweeps out from under me. But this week Eric... (the long time boyfriend) also got a job to tide him over from boredom until he's out of school in a month in a half. I'll admit I have become soooo rotten! When I got home most nights, my son has done the dish's from the night before as well.. I gave birth to him so he can pay me back a little with some dishes. Eric had vacuumed and swept and even done some laundry most day when he was home. So, I got a little spoiled just have to do a few things and make supper. However now that he's working we both leave first thing in the morning and I don't see him and he doesn't see our house until about 10:30 that night when hes done with school. IT SUCKS. Hell it sucked before because I didn't get to see him but now I take on household crud again. lol So it sucks more now! So that's where I have been Monday I had my colon checked out to make sure no more cancer has tried to sneak in and while I'm sure I would have been thrilled to blog about it, it would have been unreadable to the unhigh person. lol  For the record Mondays post was pre written so you could read it.

I'm also selling Mary Kay now which, ummmmmm is not like me at all, but I'm enjoying it even though it takes up some time.. need naything.. let me know.. hee hee. Also hosting finace classes each week. Oh how busy the week has become!

Anyways, I'm looking to get into my room this week and get some crafting done, I'm at the point of foaming at the mouth to create something and I have a fun new prompt to use for my journal so I may begin there and get the crafting juices pumping through my veins again!

But I have missed you all. I have soo much to check in on. I haven't even had time to catch up on all of your wonderful blog posts other than here and there. I've also been brainstorming some new challenges! YAY

Motivation Monday- fun layout

So as I stated I played around with lifting a little style from one of my new fave artists. Here is the results. I shared Finn's work with you all last week. Now I adored doing this. It was soo much fun. Took some patience for things to dry and set up the way I wanted them. But totally worth it. The only downfall I did see is depending on the neat findings you include you could find yourself doing something very expensive! I used a mix of fun bought vintage type items as well as some little findings and this and that items, so I didn't think the costs went overboard too much.

I hope this little tutorial motivates you in some way.

I'm also playing along wtih Berry71Bleu Challenges. you can check out their blog here:   http://berry71bleu.blogspot.com

I pasted my cardstock to a piece of cardboard because with how heavy and messy this gets I wanted the added durabilty.

I then used gel on the paper. I let it sit for a bit, 30 minutes or so and then placed things inside of it. This allowed things to sit well in them, yet still moveable. Think of it as putty like for tiles.

These are the pieces I included. Odds and ends and misc. findings.

NOTE to all, I put some leaves on it and regretfully so, they bled alot! Avoid at all costs or spray with a fixative first!  I covered this first with watered down gesso. In a spray bottle 3 parts gesso, 1 part water, to give it a primer. After each layer dried I used a sprayable fixative that helped alot on color bleeding.

I them took some mists to it. At first I loved it all white but then after playign with the pink I loved it more.

After all od the pink I applied more gesso on it.  To bring in more white.

Added some embellishments and the picture and this is how it looked so far.

A little Prima words and pearls and some india ink fun.

Altered Tin

So, my dear neighbor is on the verge of beginning her own business and is a bit nervous as any future self-employed person would be. I thought it would be nice for her to have something that will offer her encouragement, motivation and a little bit of inspiration for when she's feeling down about things or stressed or whatever. So, last night in about 15 minutes I created a simple tin for her to keep. Included in it are about 500 quotes and sayings. So there will be more than enough for one a day or many a day depending on the day.  Like I said maybe took me 15 minutes to create the tin, now........ cutting and folding and hand picking each and every quote that went in it to make sure it was relevant to her.... much much much LONGER. But all worth it in the end.

I'm hoping to get lots done this weekend but we'll see how it goes. I have a few Mary kay parties and then a finance class I'm teaching tonight.. and every Thursday night for the next 12 weeks. Sooooo I may consider moving Tutorial Thursday's.. but not sure yet.