Vicki Boutin

Circle Masking with Nathalie

hi there!

Nathalie with you today with a fun new project that is all about learning new techniques and taking chances, literally.  A few weeks ago, i saw Laura create a project using masking paper on her pages.   Of course, i had to try the technique, and see how much i could push the masking paper before it stops working.    Well, let's say lessons were learned, notes were taken, and a quick/fun layout was created from testing the technique.

 

 

It is always so much fun to play with mixed media and try on new things, especially when you create without a project in mind.  Let me show you:

 

 

 Once i created my masking paper (Gina K) circles, i used the negative part of the cut to mask the circles, but added a bit of stamping (Archival Ink) to  the inside of the circles before gluing them on place.

 

 

The next step was to try how much see how the circles react to some watercolor.  I mixed a bit of Blueberry pie Powdered pigment with water and used a small brayer to spread it around the background.

 

 

The last step was to add a combination of the glazes through the hexagon stencil to add dimension to the page.   Once this application dried completely,  i used a palette knife to lift the circles of the page ( and saved them for another project later down the road)

 

 

I kept the layout very simple, and chose to create a pocket for my lines of journal.   I left the embellishments to a minimum since the background is super busy -like i mentioned i got a layout out of my practice sheet-.

 

 

I love how this turned out... mess and all, but loved learning about using masking paper and its limits when adding mixed media on the page.  The following video will show you how it all turned out:

 

VIDEO

 

Remember you can always contact me with any questions.

Happy Craftin' eveyone!

 

Documenting Winter with mixed media and cut files | Nathalie

hi there!

Nathalie with you today with  a new layout that is all about winter and fresh snow!  One of the perks of living in Canada is getting all four seasons.   Though i live for Fall, fresh snow falls are some of my favorite things, but nobody enjoys it as much as my baby.  So, i pulled some of the mixed media goodies, the Let's Chill cut file and the Wildflower and Honey collection to create thsi page:

 

I wanted a very defined background for the page, so i started by masking a 1" frame around the page ( i chose painter's tape to create the frame on a Foundation paper).

 

 

I created a mixture of blue art crayon, iridiscent glaze and water to add the color around the inside of the frame.  My choice was to splatter the pigment and them move it  towards the center of the page with my brush.  I made sure to cover all around the frame.   I set this aside to dry, and then followed up the application with a darker shade of blue art crayon.

 

 

While the background dried, i used the cut file to cut an entire sheet of snowflakes out of plain white cardstock.  Before peeling the cut outs from the mat, i diluted both gold and iridiscent glaze with water and splattered it all around the page.  I made sure to set this aside to dry completely on the mat (no need to use a heat gun -this will destroy your mat-) before separating the snowflakes.

 

 

To finish my page, i created a mixture of Texture paste and silver glaze and used  a stencil brush to add an impression of the Wildflower and Honey stencil on the background. I chose to add my glaze on a circular motion on top of the stencil, and also to stipple the glaze to add  a subtle texture on the background.

 

 

I trimmed the background by a half an inch and backed it with a paper from the collection, then glued all the snowflakes around the mixed media frame on the background.

 

 

I backed and layered the picture with papers from the paper pads, and then attached it to the page with foam adhesive.   I added just a few embellishments around the pictures using stickers and ephemera from the Wildflower and Honey collection.

 

 

To finish the page, i added my lines of journal on a small label, and then sprinkled a few enamel dots around the page.  You can see how the  page came together in the following video:

 

VIDEO

 

I love how this turned out, and the subtle texture and shimmer on the page give the feel of fresh snow.  I am sure  some of you are wondering about the cut file, but you can get your free copy of the download by clicking here.   

 

 

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions on how the page was put together.

XO

 

 

 

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Multi picture Layout with Nathalie

Hi there!

Happy New Year to you all!  I am so happy to be back with a new layout using Vicki's Wildflower and Honey collection and some of her mixed media goodies.   I am not  multi-picture-scrapbook-layout kinda of girl, but i just have so many selfie shots from my family, that i need to use them in one page... the secret make them small, and use soft mixed media.

 

 

 

I love how this page turned out!  and it all started with a really soft an simple background using art crayons, texture and gold glaze.

 

 

To create my soft background, i mixed cool tone crayons to get a light teal color.   I scribbled them on acrylic and diluted them with water, then applied them on a swiping motion to half the page.  I  made sure to soften the edges of the application.

 

 

I added a few splatters to the page using art crayons.  This time, i diluted a more pigmented teal color to add the splatters, followed by some warm tone crayon splatters (to try and match the colors in the picture) and then  a few blue crayon splatters.  These are set on a "C"formation on the page.

 

 

Once the splatters dried completely, i used a mixture of texture paste and gold glaze to create a soft impression on the background.  I created the impression by applying the mixture on circular motion through a stencil, followed by some stippling of the glaze to add a bit of texture.

 

 

To build the page, i fussy cut a few of the butterflies from the specialty paper from the Wildflower and Honey collection.   Each of the pictures were backed with papers from the collection just to create a soft shadow frame to the side of them, and then attached to the page using dimensional adhesive.   

 

 

The title of the page was created using a combination of the puffy word stickers.   One of the larger butterflies was added to the title to help balance the page.

 

 

I kept the rest of the embellishments very simple so that the focus remains on the pictures and soft background.  The following video will show you how it all came together

 

VIDEO

 

I love how soft the background turned out, and all the soft butterflies make it just etheral!  

 

Remember to check all of the Wildflower and Honey collection, it is such a lovely and beautiful collection, and be prepared to be amazed by Vicki's new collection  "Let's Wander"... you are going to  love it
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions on how this came together.

 

XO

 

 

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Best of 2019 | Nathalie

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today with the last post of the year.   It is hard to believe 2019 has come to an end... so many memories, tears, laughter, triumphs, and  losses to celebrate.  It is always fun to look back to the year and see how we have grown and evolved through the past 365 years.  So, you can imagine how hard it was for me to consolidate about 60 projects into just 4.  I can say that my journey with Vicki started in 2018, and i think we both have evolved and learned together; which makes it harder to choose just a handful of the pieces of your heart, so i added 2 extra projects to my Best of 2019 (still not enough for me!)

 

 

I have been blessed with getting all of Vicki's products to help me document my life, and I love VIcki for having asked me to join in her adventure, so it is hard to pick and chose from my projects but these are some of my most favorites from the year.

 

THIS PHOTO

 

 I think this is one of my most favorite pages of the year!  I created using Color Kaleidoscope (right after it was released!) and based on a mood board.  Having the premade mixed media pages helped to create the page, especially cause it was my first time working with the glitter glaze.  I love the colors, the shine along with the pops of black, plus my nephew is pretty cute, too!

 

 

LIFE IS SWEET

 

If you have seen my work before, then you know that our Boston Terrier baby is a huge part of my life, i love Fall, and photographing leaves.  Now, add to that a super pigmented background and lots of texture, and you have this page!  This  was one of my first pages working with Vicki's Powder pigments, and i was amazed at the colors i could create with it.  Then, i discovered that gold glaze and texture paste create matte gold glaze, and then there is the papers!  Just a perfect combo page!

 

 

HELLO COLORFUL SMILES

 

 

This is another of my favorite projects of the year! My favorite color combination is Black and White with a hint of Rainbow, and this page has it all!   What can i say,  I love working with mixed media and playing with products to see what i can create, so discovering how to create the illusion of Alcohol inks with watercolor markers was the highlight of this page, and then there is the butterflies ( i might still have a few sheets of this paper in my stash!)

 

 

THIS DAY

 

 

This was one of my first pages using the new Wildflower and Honey, and i loved the rich pigmented colors and metallic touches in the collection.  I love the leaf stamp of the collection and when paired with the new metallic ink wheel, it was just perfection for a Fall layout.  My two babies are always my inspiration, and this design just made them the focus of the page.

 

BEST EVER CAR RIDE

 

 

Another of my favorite pages of 2019!  This time i used the watercolor markers and design a rainbow background to look like an illustration.  Just love that i could translate my ideas to paper using Vicki's products!  There is so much of Vicki and a bit of me in this page, that it is hard for me to pick it apart.

 

 

 

MERRY DAY

 

 

I cannot finish my list without including this page.  When VIcki sent the cut file, i loved the chilling gnomes and quickly pulled the picture of my family waiting for Santa.   I had so much fun piecing the gnomes together, and adding small touches to their clothes using embossing, glitter glaze, and matte acrylic gel. I love this page!

 

I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your support throughout the year!  Vicki and I work hand in hand to try and bring you inspiration and introduce you to the wonderful world of Mixed Media.   I am so blessed to have met Vicki and get to work with her outside the camera ( she definitely is a keeper!), but also to be able to share a few of my crazy ideas through my pages and process videos ( still learning to slow down when speaking with my Spanish accent!).  I cannot wait to see what next year will bring, but i can tell you that Vicki has been hard at work with her new collection, and you are going to love it ( it is a new kind of sparkly!).

 

We wish you all nothing but the best for 2020, and cannot  wait to share more of our adventures with you all!

 

 

Mixed Media and Cut files with Nathalie

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today with a new layout all about the JOY of the season!  I was so excited to see Vicki's latest cut file that i knew i can easily use it to create a Christmas layout.   I hope that you all have been collecting all of Vicki's new cut files.  They are the cutest and so in time to  document your December memories. Let me show you what i created with the newest Joy cut file.Preview

 

 

The lights in the cut file gave me the idea to bring color behind each of the bulbs, but first i needed to bring some color that reminded me of the warmth of the season.  

 

 

I started by adding gesso to foundation paper.  Once the layer dried, i used a combination of white and gold/yelllow (Neutral set)art crayons to create the background color on the layout. I scribbled the crayons on a piece of acrylic and then diluted it with water then splattered the mixture on the foundation paper.

 

 

Once the background color dried, i used the cut file to mark the area where the light bulbs sit, and then used a combination of art crayons, iridiscent glaze and water to create the little splatter of color on the page.  I added a bit of glitter glaze to each of the color puddles to bring extra shimmer to the page.

 

 

I decided to extend the cut file a bit so that it will fit the width of my page.  I cut a piece of the light string and attached it to the original design in my Silhouette software then  cut it all from Foundation paper -using coverstock setting in the Cameo-.

 

 

 

To back each of the the light bulbs, i used the specialty vellum paper to back the bulb of the lights .  The sockets of the lightbulbs  were backed with a piece of cardstock to which i added a bit of silver glaze.

 

 

I chose to keep the embellishments very minimal.   A few layers of paper behind the picture, and then tried to keep my embellishments to black and white with hints of gold.   I added small gold holographic stickers through the cut file, and stamped the small stars with black ink so that it looks cohesive with the picture.

 

 

I framed the layout with a piece of the Sweet Honey paper and then just finished the page with a cluster of embellishments at the right bottom of the page.  The following video will show you how it all came together:

VIDEO

 

 

I love how this turned out,using the fun cut file and mixed media.  The combination of the two bring color and whimsy to the page.

 

 

Now, we will be taking a short break to celebrate the season with our families, and will be back in a few weeks with a review of the best of the year.   May you all have a peaceful and love-filled Christmas.

 

XO

 

 

 

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Mixed Media and Cut files with Nathalie

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today with a super fun layout just in time to kick off the December/Holiday Documenting.   If you are a member of the VIcki Boutin Community page on Facebook or follow VIcki on Facebook, or have signed up for Vicki's newsletter, then you would have received the Merry Day cut file for free from Vicki.   As soon as Vicki sent me the cut file, i knew that this was the perfect background for a series of pictures of my family waiting for our neighbourhood's Santa Parade.

 

 

How cute are those gnomes!!! i just wanted to make them festive using Vicki's products, so i set to detail them using papers from the WIldflower and Honey collection and a bit of mixed media.  First i used my SIlhouette cameo to cut the gnomes and title from Foundation paper (set to double cut and used setting 5 for my blade)

 

 

I created glitter texture for my papers by stamping them with the metallic inks and then heat embossing them.  This adds texture and makes the ink shine.   I tried a few several techniques with embossing to create the papers for the hats, and even created my own color glitter glue ( acrylic matte gel, watercolor marker and glitter) to add details inside the circles of one of the gnome's hats.

 

 

To create my background, i reached for a pre-made Mixed Media background, and added a bit of interest by creating a stenciled impression using Art Crayons, a stencil brush and stencil.  I scribbled crayons of the same color as the background on my mat, picked the crayon with the brush and then created the impression by applying the pigment on a circular motion on top of the stencil.

 

 

I then used the Metallic Ink Wheel  to add some impressions to the background.  First i stamped the gold circles, set them a bit, followed by silver starburst stamped with Silver ink on top of the gold circles.  These were all heat embossed.

 

 

I used papers from the 6x8 paper pad to back and layer the picture and attached it to the page with a bit of foam adhesive.  Then surround the pictures with the gnomes ( i used different thickness of foam adhesive to attach the gnomes in place).

 

 

For my title, i added a bit of foam adhesive to that it will add that soft shadow underneath it, and pop it from the background.  The embossed details in the background make it all stand out nicely on the page.   Just a few small embellishments complete this page.  I have created a video that will show you how this came together, enjoy:

 

VIDEO

 

I love how this turned out, and how fun the cut file is.  You can find a copy of the cut file in the VIcki Boutin Mixed Media community page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1909604669353255/, or check Vicki's Facebook page for more information.

 

 

You can always contact me with any questions on how this came together.

 

XO

 

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Circles and Mixed Media with Nathalie

hello everyone!

Nathalie back today with a new layout that focuses on a few of Vicki's Artful Technique Prompts to create this layout.  As it is my norm, i start with no plan in mind, my only idea was to pick the Circles and Cut it Up prompts and go from there.    Once i pulled some of Vicki's products it all came together super easily.

 

This page was built mostly with layers of mixed media for both the circles and the background. Let's get started:

 

I used waterproof ink (staz-on, memento, or archival ink) to stamp a few images along a column of a pre-made mixed media paper.   I used different color inks and chose stamps from three of Vicki's collections.

 

Next, i used a stencil brush and some texture paste to create a circle impression on top of the stamped images.  I set this aside to dry completely.

 

 

A mix of Sugared Strawberry Powdered Pigment and Iridescent glaze was diluted and then splattered on the page.  This was set to dry completely, then i used a set of circle dies to create the circles for the page.

 

For the background of the page, i created a watercolor background using Blueberry Pie Pigment powder and water.   I used the kissing technique and splatters to complete the background.

 

 

Once the watercolor dried, i used Rose Gold glaze, the same circle stencil and stencil brush to add a bit of color and texture to the background.   Though this dries quickly due to the thin glaze layer, i made sure it was completely dry before building the page.

 

 

I clustered the circles on the watercolor background, and used dimensional adhesive to attach the circles so that they create dimension on the page.   Along the way, i added a few stickers and phrase embellishments so that they repeat the pink color of the circles and shape of the picture.

 

 

To finish the page, i added the title (the circle ephemera piece under the picture) and connected the two areas of watercolor in the page with the chipboard banner and phrase sticker.   I love how this came together,and have created a video with the process video.

 

VIDEO

 

Remember to check Vicki's products, there is an infinite number of possibilities when you mixed the products and Vicki's Artful Techniques.

 

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions on how this came together.  

 

MATERIALS USED:

 

Layering mixed media with Nathalie

Hi there!

Nathalie here to share a new layout created with Vicki's Wildflower and Honey collection and a few of Vicki's Artful Techniques prompts.   Today, i decided to create a page that uses the Drag, Drips and Drops, Texture, and a semi-monochromatic  approach.   I combined all the techniques into this fun page all about my son!

 

 

Let me first show you how i went about creating the background for this page using different techniques and layer them together.

 

My first layer for the DRAG promp uses a combination of Matte Acrylic Gel and Daiquiri Ice Pop Acrylic paint. The mixture was applied to a non-gesso foundation paper using Vicki's art wedge, and then set aside to dry.

 

 

| used the DRAG prompt to add a layer of texture to the  page by dragging Texture Paste through the Script stencil. I made sure that the impression formed a diagonal design on the background,  and then set this aside to dry completely before continuing with the page.

 

 

It is time for the DRIPs and DROPS prompt.  This time, i mixed a bit of the Powdered Pigment with Iridiscent glaze and dilute them to a fluid consistency.  I deposited a bit of the mixture at the top of the page, lifted the page towards me, and then tapped it on the desk;  This creates the drops, i added a bit if Blueberry Pie pigment to the mixture, then picked some of the mixture and create the drops by squeezing the bristles on the page.

 

 

 

I played with different paper and pieces of ephemera from the Wildflower and Honey collection as layers behind the picture of the page.  I chose to limit my color palette to match the background but also added a bit of neutral papers so that it helps pop the page.

 

 

To embellish the page, i chose to continue the look of stacked layers, and chose small word stickers to form small clusters around the corners of the page.   The following video will show you how this all came together:  

VIDEO

 

I hope this inspires you to check VIcki's Artful Technique prompts and play along with them, there is so much you can create with one technique and Vicki's products.

 

 

Remember you can always contact me with any questions or concerns on how this came together.  

Til next time,

 

 

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Documenting Gratitude with Mixed Media | Nathalie DeSousa

HI there!

Nathalie back with you to share a new layout all about combining a few of Vicki's Artful Technique Prompts and Gratitude.   We are working all our projects this month using some of VIcki's Artful Techniques.   For my page, i decided to use the KRAFT, BOOK PAGE, TEXTURE and GOLD.  Just in case you missed Vicki's challenge announcement, then the following list will give you a better idea of what is included in the challenge:

 

 

There are 50 prompts to get you started into practicing mixed media, or in this case  mix a few of them to create a project:

 

 

To create the background of this page, i opted for a Kraft cardstock and a combination of the new VB Texture past with a an Iridiscent glaze to create the impression of the beehive on the page.

 

 

 

 

Once this first layer of mixed media had dried, i starting adding color to the page. For this i mixed a bit of the Powdered Pigments with Iridiscent Glaze, then diluted the mixture with a bit of water, and splattered the mixture around the stencil impression.  Then repeated the process using Gold Glaze, and adding it to the small cluster at the bottom of the page.

 

 

 

In addition, i chose to work with the Book Page prompt; this time i used the Powdered Pigments and some water to add color to a page of an old book.  I simply splatter some of the diluted  watercolor to the corners of the page, and set it aside to dry.

 

Once all the mixed media had completely dried, then i started to assemble the page.  First i backed the pictures with papers from the Wildflower and Honey paper pad, and also fussy cut a few of the flowers from the Full Bloom paper.   These were all glued to the Book page and then a few extra embellishments (stickers and ephemera pieces from the collection) were added around the page.

 

 

 

I made sure to add a bit of distress to the page by folding some of the edges of the book paper, this ensures that the background and fussy cut flowers show

 

 

To finish the page, i used a stamps set from the Woodland Grove kit from Scrapbook & Cards Today Magazine and Altenew black ink.  A small chipboard sticker completes the title.   All was left to do was add my journal and added those cute fussy cut bees.   The following video will show you how it all came together:

 

VIDEO  

 

 

My hopes are that the project has inspired you or given you some ideas on how to use Vicki's products and Artful Techniques to document your gratitude in your next project.  Remember we are always around if you have questions on how this came together.

 

 

Remember to check Vicki's Wildflower and Honey collection and the Artful Techniques challenge, you will love both!

Til next time!

 

 

 

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Combining Artful Techniques in a layout with Nathalie

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today with a new layout that combines a few of Vicki's Artful Techniques Prompts to create a new layout.   In case you have not heard about Vicki's new challenge;  she has created a list of about 50 prompts that can be used to kick start your mixed media mojo.

 

 

The DT will be using a single or combination of the prompts to create their projects.  So, today i will combine DECOUPAGE, TISSUE, WATERCOLOR, TEXTURE and GOLF in this page.

 

 

 

I started this project by DECOUPAGING a piece of Tim Holtz's TISSUE paper to a foundation paper using Matte Acrylic Gel.   For this, i applied a thin coat of the gel to the paper, then glued the tissue paper and added a coat of the gel on top of the paper. 

 

 

This coat secures the paper and covers the tissue, thus preparing the page to more layers of mixed media.  Once the background had dried, i added splashes of WATERCOLOUR using the Powdered Pigments and water.

 

 

After the watercolor had dried,  a bit of black art crayon was added to the edges of the tissue, so that it darkens some of the background images.    I chose, then,  to add TEXTURE to the page by running some ROSE GOLD and GOLD glazes through the  bee hive stencil  on the page. Once again i added the impression just to some areas of the background. I diluted the remaining gold glaze and use it to add splatters to the page.   To finish my mixed media layers,  i diluted a bit of gesso and add splatters all around the background.

 

 

 

 

I kept the layers of paper simple as i want the background to shine in this page, but chose pieces from the WIldflower and Honey collection to add embellishments and layers to the picture.

 

 

 

To create the title for this page, i chose a simple phrase from the puffy stickers , and then placed some of the layered butterflies as a means to join the title to the picture area of the page.   I made sure to place the butterflies on  areas that will guide the eye through the layout, thus creating movement on the page.  The following video will show you how this page came together:

 

VIDEO

 

The layout is filled with Artful Techniques and layers of mixed media and WIldflower and Honey goodness.   I really hope that it inspires you to join in the challenge.

 

 

As always, remember you can always contact us if you have questions on how this came together.   I hope you can join in the challenge and take a few minutes to try a new of the techniques.  I cannot wait to see what you create.

 

Til' next time,

 

 

 

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