Hi everyone, Mandy here.
I discovered an new scrapbook site called Skissedilla and they were hosting a Summer Sketch Challenge for July with lots of prizes (always a plus sign!) I made this LO about when dh and I visited the Yorkshire Sculpture Park last year....
A talented scrapper called Nabon designed the sketch...
I was inspired to get messy! First off I found a 12" by 12" piece of very thick chipboard (it was from some packaging) because I knew I was going to need a strong base for all the wet media I planned to use. I painted it with white gesso and a cheap decorator's brush...
I put a mask onto the (not quite dry) gesso layer and using a palette knife, I slathered some modelling paste through the mask, keeping it within the outer rim of the mask...
Next, I repositioned the mask, overlapping the modelling paste I'd just done. The gesso was wetter than I thought and you'll notice on the next photo the mask has lifted some of the chipboard (but it just all adds to the texture so no worries).
I totally love 'punchinella' or sequin waste. It takes the modelling paste so well and is so easy...
While the modelling paste was drying, I generously sprayed the whole thing in white Glimmer Mist. You can't really see on the photo but it was super shiny...
I did let this layer totally dry for about three days (it doesn't really take that long!).
Time to add colour :) I chose two different blue mists to begin with. The sketch had some butterflies on it so I thought I'd make some butterfly masks. The big one is a Cuttlebug die and the small ones are made with a Martha Stewart butterfly punch. I made the butterfly masks with sticky-back-plastic (from Wilkinsons) and stuck the butterflies down before misting over them.
I added some yellow mist which promptly made a gorgeous grassy green in places...
When the misted background was nearly dry, I used white Glimmer Mist to make white droplets...
I let the whole thing dry then tried out my photos on the background. This is when I decided the misted/masked butterflies weren't showing up as well as I'd wanted (I think I got too carried away with the misting!)
Also I decided it was a bit too green so I pumped up the blue with a darker blue mist through a different but similar mask...
...and sponge dabbed white paint through the punchinella.
To finish the LO I added white foam Thickers for the title and dragged the edges of the photos through some white paint to help them stand out from the background a bit better. I made some silver butterflies with kitchen foil and the same Cuttlebug die and Martha punch. I scrunched them up a bit and added a little dark blue mist and once dry, rubbed white paint over them into the creases. Only the body is glued down as I wanted the wings raised...
To complete the LO I loosely stapled some white crochet thread around in a big circle. The journaling is hidden on a tag behind the focal photo.
I'd totally encourage anyone to make a messy background every now and again as it was so much fun to do!
See you soon,
Mandy.