Vicki Boutin

Using Mixed Media on Smaller Format Documenting | Nathalie D.

Hello there!

Nathalie here with a few ideas on how you can add mixed media to your smaller format documenting.   Well, if you were able to watch Vicki's latest Friday Night Live, then you also watch Vicki work with black paint for her background.  And, if you have seen my work, then you know that I happen to love black and mixed media.   So, I put Vicki's ideas to work on my daily documenting, and here are the results:

 

 

I started with following Vicki's technique of adding the paint with a brayer, then stencil with a white art crayon followed with a color art crayon on top; to then finish with a second stencil and texture paste. 

 

I am using cool and neutral art crayons with a new Fernwood stencil.  The gold texture paste was applied through an exclusive Vicki Boutin stencil.

 

And here is how I transformed it into a title page for my pocket spread (personal journal).  I am using Fernwood to create my pocket page cards,title, and embellishments.

 

For this page, I stated by painting the black paint with a wide brush on Foundation paper.   I mixed art crayon with iridiscent glaze and added it through a new Fernwood collection stencil.   The leftover glaze was diluted and added as splatters to the page.

 

 

I used this background in my Family Journal.  The colors in the photo were the inspiration for the iridiscent glaze colors.   A few embellishments from Fernwood complete the page.

 

For the last project, I  used a scrapper to add the paint to the foundation paper, then used gold glaze to stamp my background.  This works best with a rubber stamp (as they are firmer and give a better definition than polymer stamps),  I finished it with drops of diluted gold glaze

 

I am using the background to create my layout, then adding an entire ledger page (6x8 Fernwood paper pad) to add the long story that accompanies the photo.   In order to balance the photo, I created a large cluster at the bottom of the ledger paper.

 

IN case you missed Vicki's latest techniques, just click here to visit the video.

I cannot wait to see what you create with VIcki's new techniques and ideas

 

XO

 

 

Reworking Mixed Media Backgrounds | Nathalie DeSousa

Hi there!

Today, I want  to share with you a new project that shows you what usually happens to failed mixed media backgrounds.   I have always documented my days in small formats, and even though I create 12x12 layouts, my everyday life is documented in traveler's notebooks, 6x8 albums, and notebooks.  So let me show you how I added some Fernwood to my everyday with the help of mixed media

 

 

Simple pages with lots of space for stories, is probably what you will find on my journals.   These are actually part of my year-long gratitude journal. Let me show you the failed mixed media pieces 

 

These two pieces were part of backgrounds that did not make the cut.  They both have failed stenciling attempts.  The brown one has pieces of the stencil moved (so It gives it a fuzzy look),while the blue one doesn't have a crisp snowflake impression ( the paper buckled quite a bit, and the glaze seeped under the stencil). My solution, like VIcki always mentions...Die cut it!

 

I used Altenew dies to cut my title work from the mixed media backgrounds. I paired this with some washi tape, papers and embellishments from Fernwood. I chose to add yellow accents through the page to make it all cohesive.

 

I added a few circle marks to the next layout to bring the idea of cup rings to the page, and then complemented the page with a few extra pieces from Fernwood.  I love all the small details scattered around the page.

 

 

All I have left to do is add my journaling, and done!  As VIcki always mentions, if you are not happy with a background then consider using it as a layer or die cutting it into embellishments or in this case a title work.

 

I cannot wait to see what you create!

 

 

 

THIS IS LOVE |Nathalie DeSousa

Hello everyone!

Happy Valentine's Day!  Today, I want to share a new layout that combines a bit of mixed media, Fernwood and Warm Wishes collections in a modern way.   Here is the what I created:

 

Isn't it amazing how you can transform the feel of a collection with a bit of color and mixed media!   

 

 

I started by masking a rectangle on Foundation paper.  I used the navy and blue art crayons, along with a stencil brush, to cover the entire area with the color.

 

 

I used one of the Fernwood stencils, a bit of water, and a clean stencil brush to lift off some of the art crayon.   Then added splatter of diluted teal art crayon on the page.

 

 

I fussy cut  most strips of the Burst Forth paper, and pieced them back on white cardstock leaving a small  white space between each strip.   I then used a stitched heart die (SCT Sampler exclusive) to die cut the hearts. Then it was all about assembling the page.

 

I placed the paper pieced hearts along with chipboard hearts from the Warm Wishes collection (and if you have an extra set of this hearts, I will definitely buy it out from you!).   The warm tones of the hearts played well with the colors in the background and photos.

 

I added a few embellishments through out the hearts, especially to the joining points of all the paper pieces.     

 

For the title, I am combining puffy stickers, chipboard stickers, and chipboard alphas.  A bit of diluted art crayon brings the color of the background to the letters. To finish, I sprinkled a bit of Mica Distress spray to add the pop of shimmery pink to the page.

 

 

I hope you have a great Valentine's Day!  Take the photo, and then used these ideas to create a project of your own.

 

XOXO

 

Nathalie

Mixed Media and Warm Wishes Layout |Nathalie

Hello there!

Nathalie with you today to share a new project using the gorgeous Warm Wishes collection.   There is so much to love in this collection which makes it easy to mix pieces together for your memory keeping.   I think that this is my first scrapbook layout with  the collection, and I am loving how it turned out.   Let me show you what  I have created:

 

 

It was all about combining mixed media and pieces from Warm Wishes for this page.   The stencil set of this collection is probably a favorite, and I wanted to make it one of the focal points of the page.

 

 

I created the impression of the star stencil -on foundation paper- with a mixture of gesso and iridiscent glaze.  Once it dried,  I color washed it with diluted prism glaze. Just a few splatters and set it aside to dry up

 

 

In the meanwhile, I fussy cut a few of the poinsettia flowers from the patterned paper, and worked on backing the photo with papers from the 6x8 paper pad. I wanted to keep the photo layers simple as I want everything in the page to shine nicely together.

 

I set my photo to the left of the mixed media application.  I used the poinsettias to create a diagonal line along the page.   This sets the perfect placement for more embellishments and title work,

 

 

The chipboard stars and hearts are beautiful -and ones I will probably have to hoard for life-; so, I mixed a few of them at the corners of the page.   All I needed was a title (puffy stickers) and a repeating element in each cluster (puffy stars)!

 

 

I just love how this turned out, simple yet filled with color and holiday feeling.    I cannot wait to see what you create with this collection

 

XO

 

Preparing for December Documenting with Warm Wishes | Nathalie

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today to share a few ideas for your December Documenting.   I am sure that most of us have the great intentions to document the jolliest of  months.  I love the Christmas, but it also is the busiest time of the year in our household.  So, I tend to prep as much as I can in November so that I am not as stressed come December.   So, let me show you how I killed one sheet of the Warm Wishes Specialty paper in this 3 page  set ups.

 

 

I think we all love Vicki's Warm Wishes collections, and my format for documenting December has always been a smaller format.  This year, I will be creating 2 albums, one with all our family December memories, and a second one ( I am still waiting for Vicki's album to arrive) with past December memories -this is  an on-going project-.   Let me show you what I have created for my 2021 album

 

 

This is most likely to become a title page for a large photo.  I am using a 6x8 album ( and yes it is yellow!!!).  So, I cut the specialty paper to 7'x8.5' and carefully attached it to a piece of white cardstock of the same size.  I, then, ran metallic wired string at the top of the page so that it resembled a hanging line.

 

 

I used my  Crop-a-dile to punch holes to two chipboard stars and one of the hearts.  Using gold twine, I strung them off the top hanging line.   To finish, I added one of the red bows from the ephemera pack.  I have yet added punch holes, as I am not sure what side of the album it will sit on,  But once we have it ready, I will add stickers and a title to the chipboard pieces on this page, to accompany the large photo on the opposite page,

 

I trimmed the leftover piece of vellum so that it fit 5x12 inches.  I folded the vellum in half and stitched through three of its sides to create a pocket for my album.  I used sticky strips to help me create the binding holes for the pocket.

 

I always buy lots of  mugs and holiday beverages, so I decided to create a few tags to house some of the photos and also my lines of journal.  The small cup ephemera is just perfect for this page,  Once again I will probably have a large photo, or 3x4 pocket page on the left of this pocket.

 

 

For the back of the pocket, I chose to add a few pieces of ephemera, and also created a tag for my journaling.  This again will be the title/journal spot for a large photo companion on the right of the pocket.

 

 

Now, the small piece of vellum left turned into a title for a cascade banner piece for my album.  I just trimmed the small shape at the bottom, folded about 0.5' at the top to create the flap.  

 

I am not so sure if I will last a list or a photo here, but I couldn't throw away the packaging of the ephemera pack.  So, I trimmed the perforated top of it, created a fold, and glued it under the vellum.   I added the small tab (journaling ephemera) to help me create the next flap.

 

 

For the last flap, first, I covered the back of the package with patterned paper.  Then attached all the flaps to the back of the patterned paper (removable adhesive for the time being, until I  am certain of the picture that will go behind the flap.  I know I am going to add a large photo and title here, and my lines of journal will go on the red side of the flap, and maybe a smaller photo will go behind the vellum layer.

 

I hope these give you a few more ideas on pages for your Warm Wishes album.  I cannot wait to see your completed albums!

 

XO

 

Welcome Fernwood! | Nathalie

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today to share some inspiration featuring the new Fernwood collection.  I was able to get a few of the papers from this collection, still trying to find the embellishments, and decided to play with them for this layout...

 

I am using a Foundation paper for the background. Here, I used diluted art crayon to add the color to the page.  The colors come from the Neutral Art Crayons.  Once the first layer dried, I used permanent ink and a script stamp to add some interest to the background. Then I continued to add some texture  using  a combination of  Rose Gold glaze and gesso.   I finished  the mixed media part of the page by adding  a few drops of diluted gold glaze.

 

 

 

 

 

I fussy cut a few of the flowers from the Flora and Fauna paper, a few butterflies from the Hello Friends, and a few extra pink daisies from the In To The Woods paper.     The soft colors matched the ones in the photos.

 

 

 

I can wait for you to check how this page comes together in the following video:

 

VIDEO

 

 

I love how this layout, and cannot wait to see what you will create with Fernwood!

 

XO

 

Using Mixed Media to Document Fall with Nathalie

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today to share a new idea on documenting Fall using mixed media ( and quite a bit of it, too!).   If  you  have followed Vicki or me for a while, then you probably have heard her refer to my style as "black/dark".  Well, it probably is no secret that I love black, but what she refers to is my love for grunge.   So, today, I want to show you a small bit of my style using Color Study to document Fall

 

 

Let me start by saying that I love how this page turned out even when it took almost 3 hours to complete.  It is  a simple design with lots of layers, it is in waiting for each layer of mixed media to dry on its own, that the time just increased.

 

 

The base of my page is built on foundation paper using only the Neutral Art Crayon set to add color of the background.  I started by using a plate to create the wreath outline. then  adding diluted art crayon to give the background shape and color.  I, then, used a BoBunny stamp to create the two layers of stamping on the background ( one is pigment ink, the other art crayon).  A little bit of texture and shine followed with some Gold Glaze and one of Vicki's exclusive stencils, and then finished the look with splatters of diluted gesso on the page.

 

 

Once the background dried, I re-drew the paper shape a few times with a marker.  Then fussy cut a few Color Study patterned papers to create the embellishments of this page.  In addition, I used a Tim Holtz-Sizzix die set to create leaves and branches from one of the pre-made mixed media background paper.

 

 

I backed the picture with a piece of the 6x8 paper pad, and a piece of ephemera.  A bit of foam adhesive helps to make the picture from the page.  I used the fussy cut images to create clusters around the photo - making sure that they sit towards the inside of the wreath-, then used the die cut leaves to follow the circular design of the wreath. 

 

 

I added just a few extra embellishments to complete the page.  You can watch how the page came together in the following video:

 

VIDEO

 

 

I hope this inspires you to use Color Study and mixed media to document your Fall memories!

 

XO

 

 

 

Fall Documenting Fun with Color Study | Nathalie

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are celebrating Thanksgiving here in Canada.  We are so thankful to have all of you as our followers, and all the support you offer all the time.   What better way to celebrate the holiday than with color; and color study is ideal to bring Fall memories and traditions to life in a short amount of time.

 

 

I started with the New Ideas paper for my background.  The dark color is perfect to bring out the details of the embellishments, and make everything more vivid!

 

A bit of simple mixed media is all you need.  I added a bit of gold glaze through one of the stencils to the page.  I soften the edges of the application with my stencil brush, then diluted the left over glaze with water.  I used the diluted glaze to add splatters to the page.

 

 

I used a few papers (even a piece of premade mixed media paper) to create layers behind the photos.  My kids and sisters are wearing a lot of color, so I am bringing the large rainbow tag from the ephemera pack as a layer behind the photo.  I glued this towards the left of the page.

 

 

I pulled a few of the flower pieces from the ephemera pack, and also fussy cut a few more, and tucked them under the photo and to the right of the photo.  This large cluster of flowers balances the page.  

 

 

I brought the large "LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS LIFE" ephemera piece to  be the title of my page.  There was no need to add more embellishments to this side of the page as it is filled with color and large elements.  Instead I added  gold foiled vellum butterfly and a few pieces of ephemera to the top corner of the photo.  

 

 

I love how this turned out. Fall is filled with color, and Color Study is a perfect way to document it!

 

XO

 

Fall Documented with Color Study | Nathalie

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today to share a fun and quick idea to document Fall.  Autumn is my favorite season!  The texture, colors and coziness of the season are probably what I look forward the most during the year.   After watching the past two Friday Night Lives with Vicki, and seeing how she created her layout.  I decided to create my version of it with a shortcut and Color Study,  

 

Love the colors of the page, and how easy the leaves were created.  My secret/shortcut... Pre-made Mixed Media Backgrounds.

 

 

I used Vicki's  latest cut file to cut a 3 sets of the leaves out of one of the premade mixed media papers using my Silhouette Cameo (double cut setting).  Before peeling the leaves off the mat, I added a few splatters of diluted gold ink, and set it aside to dry.

 

 

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In the mean while, I started working on the background for my page.   I chose the Palette paper for this.  First, I used Archival Ink (Watering Can) to stamp a few script lines around the page .  Right after, I used Gold Glaze, and a Stencil Brush to create the impression of Vicki's Dots stencil atop of the stamped images. 

 

 

I started to assemble my page with the photo (a few paper layers frame the photo), I set this in the center of the page.   Then it was all about building clusters of leaves around  the area with the gold dot impression.

 

 

I made sure to leave a bit of space between the leaves.  A bit of foam adhesive helps to create the dimension you see in the leaves.   Also, I was careful not to cover all the mixed media work in the background.  Since the leaves have already plenty of interest, I only added a few embellishments around the clusters.

 

 

Finally, I used a few of the Alpha stickers to create the title for the page.  I set these to the left of the photo. A few extra stickers and phrase stickers is all I needed to complete my page.

 

 

I love how this turned out. The colors are just amazing; a clean, modern, colorful, and fun way to document Fall!  I cannot wait to see what you will do with Color Study and Fall documenting!

 

XO

More Pre- Made Mixed Media Paper Pad Magic with Nathalie

Hello everyone!

Nathalie here with with a fun project featuring  a new idea for the pre-made mixed media paper pad and Color Study.   I love the new paper pad, especially as it makes it so easy to create a layout in a a short amount of time with beautiful results.    In the past weeks, I have shown you ideas on how to add extra to your pre-made backgrounds to make them your own.  Today, I want to show you an idea on how you can make it your own without any extra work.

 

How about cutting your pre-made page to make it the focal point of your page!   Well, this is  a great way to add a pop of mixed media in a contained way to your pages in seconds.    I started by trimming my premade mixed media background (This paper is the one with the blue background and the gold foil bubble impression).  I trimmed my mixed media paper to 6.5x10", and make sure that the cut focused on the area of the paper that had the most interest, and showed a variety of colors.

 

I attached the trimmed premade mixed media paper to the b side of the Abstract paper, and added the small scalloped border edge from the chipboard stickers to add a bit of interest on the yellow side of the paper.

 

The picture of my niece and nephew if pretty neutral, I decided to bring a rainbow of color layers to make it pop from the page.   I first framed the photo with a piece of Pretty Things paper, then used one of the 4x6 cut apart cards, and a piece of the INspired paper as layers behind the photo.  The yellow of the layers works great with the yellow border in the background.

 

 

There is so much interest in the background, so I kept the embellishing very minimum by adding a few pieces of ephemera to the left top corner of the page.   The small stickers are always a  personal favorite, they add just the perfect pop of color 

 

 

To balance all the rainbow, I used a few extra pieces of ephemera and chipboard alphas to create the title of this page.   There is plenty of space to add my journal lines after.  To just add a bit of extra pop, I diluted some gold glaze and splattered it around the page.

 

 

I love how easy it was to put this together.  The key was trimming the premade mixed media paper to work for  the page, the rest is just the magic of Color Study!

 

XO