How to Create Simple Mixed Media Scrapbook Page Backgrounds

I'm excited to share some stepped-out background work photos to show you how just a few simple mixed media techniques can take your scrapbook pages to a whole new level.

I start all of my backgrounds with a layer of clear gesso.

  

Then I apply color with spray mists.  Here I'm using products by Lindy's Stamp Gang and Heidi Swapp.  My favorite way to apply the mist is to spray it onto some plastic packaging (like the packaging that most embellishments come in) and then "stamp" the sprayed plastic packaging onto the background paper.  This allows nice control over where the mist will go on the paper.  It is important to let each mist color dry completely before applying the next color, otherwise the colors will just mix together, and, the paper will warp a lot.

I like to add black for contrast.  Here I used some background stamps from Prima and Viva Las Vegastamps with black ink here and there on the page.

For even more contrast and texture, I applied super heavy gesso here and there through a Prima stencil.

I started the next layout the same way- first clear gesso then layers of coordinating spray mists using the technique of spraying onto plastic packaging and then stamping that onto the paper.

Here I also sprayed some water onto the mists near the bottom of the paper, then stood the paper up vertically to allow the mists to run a bit, resulting in a drip effect.

Black contrast with random background stamping (stamp from Viva Las Vegastamps) and white contrast with random placement of gesso through a stencil.

I added my paper layers and then some more color with mists.

Next layout: clear gesso painted onto the background paper, then colors with spray mists.

I picked up the idea of drawing random circles on the background from some very talented scrappers out there, Riikka Kovasin and Terhi Koskinen.  So simple yet so effective!

Here I added a layer of white thread on top of my paper layer pile for more texture.

Black contrast to complete the layout, using a chevron stamp with black ink.

Below is the kit that I used, the gorgeous My Creative Scrapbook August Limited Edition kit:

I also used Lindy's Stamp Gang and Heidi Swapp sprays with my Main kit work:

Contrast was achieved by using white cardstock for the background.

and on this layout as well:

Don't worry that a lot of your background work will get covered up by other layers and embellishments.  Just have fun!

Below is the awesome My Creative Scrapbook August Main kit:

For full descriptions of the kits, subscription information, and more, please visit MyCreativeScrapbook.com

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

Quick Clean & Simple Cards from Scraps: Ruby Rock-It

Hey there, today I would like to share some quick tips for creating sweet handmade cards when time is of the essence.

While many of us love to add layer after layer of paper and embellishments to our projects, sometimes life just doesn't slow down enough to be able to devote a lot of time to crafting. Still, giving a handmade card over a store bought one is almost always preferred.

Ruby Rock-It understands how quickly life can move and offers a whole line of pre-cut, scored, embossed card bases with envelopes, called Imprints. Awesome, right? Such time-savers they are.

Here are the Imprints that I chose for today's cards:

If you're like me, you couldn't imagine tossing your scraps, and you've got quite an assortment of them in your stash just begging to be used on a project.

I pulled some scraps that I had saved after my last Kinda Krafty project and laid them out on my table.

I grabbed a couple of my favorite punches and punched out a handful of shapes from the scraps.

For my first card, I glued 7 of the punched butterflies directly onto the Imprints card base. I adhered the "Good Job" sentiment, which was cut from the Kinda Crafty Chatterbox cardstock, using a foam square for dimension. Then I pulled some pearls from a Bella! Bling Borderlines pack and glued one to each butterfly.

For my second card (hey! challenge yourself to make your cards in pairs or sets- you'll be glad to have the extra cards in your stash), I glued the larger butterfly directly to the Imprints card base, added a little pearl, and then used foam squares to adhere the smaller butterflies in a whimsical fashion. I added a sentiment again cut from the Chatterbox cardstock sheet and called it complete.

So quick and easy but still handmade!

Pennant Edged Flower Tutorial: Ruby Rock-It

Hi everyone, I have a simple flower tutorial to share with you today using Ruby Rock-It goodies.

The flower that we're making is a beautiful focal point on a card, but it would also be a lovely embellishment on a scrapbook page or other project.

Cut 40 pieces of 1 inch by 1/4-inch Cherry Rock Sugar Candy Glitter cardstock. These will be the flower "petals".

Punch one 1-inch circle and one 2-inch circle from a scrap piece of cardstock.

Adhere the 1-inch circle to the center of the 2-inch circle.

Cut a notch into one end of all 40 petals.

Apply adhesive around the outside portion of the 2-inch circle. Liquid adhesive is preferred as it allows a bit of time to position the petals before it completely dries.

Using the edge of the 1-inch circle as a guide, adhere 25 petals to the circle in a slightly overlapping fashion to form the first layer.

Form the second layer by adhering the remaining 15 petals onto the first layer. Be sure to overlap the petals slightly so that the white cardstock circles beneath them do not show through.

Punch a 1-inch scalloped circle from the Cherry Rock Sugar Candy Glitter cardstock.

Adhere scalloped circle to center of flower.

Punch a starburst shape from white cardstock.

Layer white starburst onto flower center.

Adhere a white w/ gold rim Wedding pearl onto flower center.

(Substitute a flat embellishment for the pearl to keep the card "mail friendly".)

 

Trace or freehand draw two leaves- I traced around a catseye inkpad!

Cut out the leaves and adhere to the back of flower, slightly overlapping one another.

The flower is ready!

Cut out the "Thinking of You" sentiment from the Kinda Krafty Chatterbox cardstock to use as the card front sentiment.

Adhere the flower and sentiment to the card front using foam squares for dimension. Now send the card off to a loved one!

For links to the Ruby Rock-It products that I used, please visit the Ruby Rock-It blog, here.