Little Moments ~ Dusty Attic

Hello! Helena here today, sharing my Dusty Attic moodboard layout for February. I really loved this one! I pulled out some of my old Pion Design papers and lots of beautiful Dusty Attic chippies, flowers and stencils, and started to play. I have a little tutorial on how I made the background, in the end of this post. But first, the layout, the moodboard and some close-ups!

I did a lot of layering on this layout, both papers, flowers and chippies. I love layering!!

The amazing frame is called Swirly Frame (DA1468) and I have cut it in two pieces and layered these around the picture. 

I have painted the frame and the scrolls from Scroll set #1 (DA1466) with white gesso and then with Colour Paste from Colour Blast (Just Blue). I added some water to the paste and then used a small brush to paint on both chippies and paper. Amazing colour!! You can find Colour Blasts products at the Dusty Attic website!

The title Little Moments is from Mini Captions #6 (DA1385). I kept this piece raw, just added a bit of gesso on the edges.

I have also added some Stars #3 (DA115), painted white.

Some Dusty in Blooms, Blue Bonnet (DA0807), peeking out!

And here's the background tutorial:

1. I started by tearing my papers a bit (Pion Design papers, from the For Father collection).

2. I then used the Creative Script stencil (DA1494) with clear gesso (makes paint and ink blend together beautifully).

3. Then I used the same stencil with Dusty Attic texture paste:

4. I then sprayed gray and light blue mist on the stenciled parts and let the colour run and blend together.

5. For stability and good looks: a corrugated card in the back (DA0830):

Finished! After I finished layering papers, chippies and flowers, I added the Colour Paste and some script washitape. 

Thank you for stopping by today! I hope you've enjoyed my layout and tutorial. Don't forget to add your own entry to this months moodboard!

xoxo

Helena

Swirlydoos June kit ~ Boys Night Out

Hi! Today I'm sharing my projects with the June kit, Boys Night Out. The minute I laid my hands on this kit, I knew it would be perfect for some older photos with me and my father, and also a couple of pics with my father and his younger brother. The colors of this kit was just perfect for the 70's photos!

First, let me show you my sketch page. The photos are of my father and his younger brother, in the early 50's. They look so cute! I have used pieces of the BoBunny ephemera under the photos, to build up some layers. Then lots of flowers (from the flower add-on and some from my own stash). I adore the chains from Prima, here I added one to the Cameo.

Close-ups:

Next, a layout with a photo of me and my father. He passed away in 2011, and I miss him so much. The title for this page: If I could turn back time...

I have painted the background paper with some white gesso and then sprayed with light brown/gold mist. I have also used a stamp here and there, and put some stickers from the main kit in a couple of places. Then I cut out several of the clocks from one of the papers and added them under the photo. The frame around me and my dad is from the BoBunny ephemera (add-on kit). Also from the kit; metal handle, chipboard clock, brads, dark red flower, butterfly.

When I created my third page, I decided to play with circles. I started with the diecut-paper and then added circles in different sizes. I have also built up some layers under the photo, with paper pieces from the kit. Several flowers from the kit (and some from previous kits and my stash), a metal handle, wooden pieces from Prima, chipboard clocks from BoBunny, brads, bling  and then this layout was finished. This one took hardly no time at all - everything practically fell into place :)

And yes, the photo is of me and my dad!

And now for my final layout with this amazing kit, and I also have a step-by-step on how I made this one!

Everything on this page is from the main kit, flower add-on and embellishment add-on, except two black flowers from Kaisercraft (from previous kit) and a small piece of paper (from the May kit). I have also used my own mists, a black and a gold one. 

Here is the step-by-step, and prepare yourself for lots of photos!

I started with the black corrugated  paper from Fancy Pants (embellie add-on):

Here are most of the embellies I used (added the chains and Prima wood piece later in the process).

I took two of the beautiful patterned papers from the main kit and tore the edges. Then I glued them onto the corrugated paper.

Then I applied a thin layer of clear gesso, using an old credit card. This is to make the mist, which I will show you soon, blend together better. 

I used a black and a gold mist and sprayed a few times. I let the colors run and blend together.

The pieces of paper I tore before, came to use:

I have used three pieces of paper under my photo, two are from the papers in this months kit, one from last months (needed some red color in this layout). I glued chipboard scraps in the back of each piece of paper, to get lots of dimension. 

Then I glued the paper pieces in the middle of the layout, and folded the edges a bit.

I then added my photo (distressed the edges a bit).

Then I had fun with lots of the beautiful flowers in this kit! The black ones and the larger brown one, I sprayed with gold mist. When I add flowers, I layer them and put some under the papers (which is possible since I have the chipboard scraps under the papers). This way everything melts together nicely. I think brown, gold and black is my new favourite color combo!

I then added the embellies, a metal handle, chipboard clock with brad in the middle and some bling squares. I still felt like something was missing though. The I laid my eyes on the chains from Prima, from the embellie add-on, and just had to add some! I put some glue under the edge of the photo/papers, and glued the chains there (in three places). 

Nice, huh?!

Just had to add a wood piece from Prima (main kit), a little looking glass. Then I covered the photo and sprayed with gold mist on the flowers and chains. 

Last, I added the title: Father. From the BoBunny ephemera.

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope you had fun and maybe got some inspiration! 

xoxo

Helena

Swirlydoos April kit!

Hi there! Today it's my turn to share some projects with the April kit. I have three layouts to show you today, and also a little tutorial!

 

I started with the sketch, and for this layout I actually used a photo of ME! I know, I can hardly believe it myself!

 

Anyway, here is the sketch, gorgeous as always:

 

And here is my layout:

 

 

I just love the kraft, pink and white together! I kept the cute little butterflies from BoBunny raw, to go with the Petaloo doilies and kraft flowers.

 

A couple of close-ups:

 

 

The title, Dream Passionately, is chipboard from Dusty Attic and included in the embellie add-on. I kept this piece raw too. I tucked Angelicas cute little butterflies in here too. Love these!

 

Next, a layout about love. This is a very special photo. The hands belong to my grandmother, who is 92 years old, and one of my cousins. We have very strong family bonds, and this photo says it all to me. Love completely.

 

 

For once, I didn't use any mists or stencils on the background, just a thin layer of white gesso. I wanted this layout to a bit "cleaner" than I usually make them. I painted the beautiful frame from Blue Fern Studios white and then added the white ribbon, flowers, some cheesecloth and finally the Dusty Attic title and a few pearls.

 

Close-ups:

 

 

And now for my third layout today, a page about my darling daughter and our most recent family member, our little puppy Fanny.

 

 

Lots of white gesso, clear gesso and mists on the background! I then painted the fence white and arranged the photo and flowers with the little iron piece (adore this one!!). I used Angelicas amazing butterflies here too, and the Dusty Attic title was painted white.

 

Here's a little tutorial on how I altered the BoBunny butterflies, and I call them "newspaper butterflies".

 

 

First, I painted the butterflies with white gesso, using a sponge.

 

Then I let them dry upside down on a newspaper (sometimes works with patterned paper too, but I find newspaper the best for this technique). This only takes a few seconds, depending on how much gesso you used.

 

When I pulled the butterflies away, some of the newspaper print stuck on them.

 

I finished the butterflies off using clear gloss varnish.

 

Here are the finished butterflies!

 

I used the same technique on the Dusty Attic flower stem chipboard piece that came with the March kit.

 

Thank you for stopping by today!

 

xoxo

Helena