This Happened Mixed Media Layout + Start to Finish Tutorial - UmWowStudio

Hello friends!  I'm up on the UmWowStudio blog today with my very first project as part of the new creative team.  I thought it would be fun to include a start to finish tutorial- I hope you enjoy it :)

I had lots of fun playing with UmWowStudio goodies to create this layout of my daughter with her cousins.  Those girls can really lay on the sass haha!

Here are the steps to create this layout:

Choose a photo and set it down on your background paper in the area where you think you will adhere it.  Once you're satisfied with the location of the photo, use a pencil to draw some random circles around it (do not adhere photo yet).  Next, select some chipboard pieces from the Arrow Title Mash! set and set them down in various places on the page to get a general idea of your design.

 Place the selected chipboard pieces onto a craft mat.

Use a paint brush to cover the chipboard pieces with white gesso, then set aside to dry.

 Layer six pieces of patterned paper (I used the Ska vi ta en Fika? collection from Maja Design).  When satisfied with the arrangement, staple the layers together.

 Time to add color!  Prep the background paper by applying a layer of clear gesso onto it (this step not shown).  Let dry.  Then use sprays/mists to build layers of color on the background paper.  It's important to let each color dry completely before applying the next color.  I like to start with light colors followed by dark colors, so I used light purple first, then dark purple, followed by light blue, then a darker blue, and finally a light green followed by a darker shade of green.

Apply super heavy gesso through the Circle Confetti Stencil as shown; let dry.

 Time to add color to the chipboard!  Use clear embossing ink with coordinating colors of embossing powder and a heat tool to customize those awesome chipboard pieces.

Now you can glue everything down!

 Here's another look at the completed page.  As you can see, I left the "this happened" Arrow Title Mash! chipboard piece and the Damaged Punchinella Background chipboard pieces white.  I love the contrast!

Some closeups:

 I tucked a fun piece of flair, "be an adventurer", from the Oh The Places You'll Go Flair set, into this embellishment cluster.

 This is a closer look at the yummy dimension achieved with a piece of the Damaged Punchinella Background chipboard and gesso through the Circle Confetti Stencil.

 Here's the heat embossed arrow, heat embossed chevron, and gesso'd title piece from the Arrow Title Mesh! chipboard set.

 This is the balancing cluster on the lower left of the page.  More stencil work topped with a punchinella piece.

 Heat embossed chevrons and gesso'd punchinella piece on lower right of page.

and those sweet, yet sassy, girls!

I hope you'll give some of these products and techniques a try!

UmWowStudio products used:
Arrow Title Mash!
Circle Confetti Stencil
Damaged Punchinella Background
Oh The Places You'll Go Flair

other products:
patterned paper: Maja Design
flowers: Prima Marketing

sprays & embossing powders: Lindy's Stamp Gang
distress ink: Ranger

My color choices were inspired by the August Lindy's Stamp Gang color challenge!

I used the following Lindy's sprays:
Caribbean Blue
Luscious Lime
Merry-Go-Round Green
Pop Rock Purple
Sweet Violet Purple Teal
TiffanyLou Blue

and the following Lindy's embossing powders:
Merry-Go-Round Green
Pop Rock Purple
Tilt-A-Wheel Teal