A Flair for Buttons | #Together

I'm stopping in today, to share a layout that went up on the A Flair for Buttons Blog yesterday!  I thought I would work a little bit of Mixed Media into this layout, using a few spray mists.  I chose a couple of Flair Buttons from the AFFB Shop that would coordinate with the new Amy Tangerine On a Whim collection and the spray mist colors that I wanted to work with.

I started the layout with a large alpha die cut for the title and added my spray mist colors where they would coordinate with the patterned papers for each part of the title.  I also hand stitch around each of the letters in the title for extra texture. 

I used both of my Flair Buttons to create small embellishment clusters on two of the letters in the title.  I decided to keep the rest of my embellishing very simple, so I wouldn't cover the large title and Mixed Media.  I had so much color going on with the patterned papers and Flair Buttons, the layout didn't really need a lot of embellishing.

I have a Process Video to go along with the layout, if you would like to see how everything came together.  You can watch it here, and head over to my YouTube channel to Subscribe!

Thanks for stopping by, and make sure you check out the shop and pick up some flair for your next layout!

Pink Paislee | Embrace Life

This is a personal blog. All editorial content and projects are intellectual property of ashleyhortondesigns.com. I do receive compensation and material product from Pink Paislee to develop my craft posts, but all ideas and opinions are my own. 

It's Mixed Media week on the Pink Paislee Blog!  Mixed Media can be really fun or really intimidating for some people.  I had a layout on the Blog on Wednesday, that shares a fun technique for expert or beginner Mixed Media users. 

I thought it would be fun to add watercolors to a cut file, and match the watercolors to the Fancy Free collection by Paige Evans.  I started the layout, by cutting the Sassy Circles cut file from The Cut Shoppe, which is a cut and fold design.  I cut the design from White cardstock, and before folding the circles to the front, I painted each one with watercolor paints.  This way, I could paint the circle halves without getting any paint on the front side of the layout.

Once the paint dried, I folded each of the circle halves over and then adding stitching with my sewing machine.  I wanted to balance the circle design at the top of the page, so I punched the fun circles from one of the Fancy Free papers and added them to the bottom portion of the layout.  I also wanted to continue the stitching, so I hand stitched around each of the punched patterned paper circles, with White embroidery floss.

After the background work was finished, I was ready to add my photo and embellishments.  I wanted to keep the photo and embellishments clustered, to keep from covering up too much of the background.  I also chose to do a Black & White photo, because I really love the contrast with the bright colors from the Fancy Free collection.  

I hope you will give this watercolor technique a try on your next layout!  It's fun and easy to coordinate your watercolors with a scrapbook collection, and create a unique Mixed Media look!

ETSY STORE

Zoned Out: Creating Outside Your Comfort Zone | Just Plain Cute

I'm back today, with my second layout in the Video Series, Zoned Out: Creating Outside Your Comfort Zone!  This week I'm taking a look at Mixing Up Your Mixed Media.  I love the look of Mixed Media, but it's not something I try a lot on my layouts.  It can be time consuming, and of course, a little messy, but the results are usually pretty awesome.  For today's layout, I decided to create my background using entirely Mixed Media, which is something I've only done a couple of times.  But surprisingly it all went well, and I really loved the end result of my layout!

You can check out my full process for creating this layout, on today's YouTube video!  And be sure to watch til the end, to see a preview of what's coming up next Monday!

Thanks for watching!

ETSY STORE

Pinkfresh Studio | May Guest Designer

I am so excited to be the May Guest Designer for Pinkfresh Studio!  I loved serving on the Pinkfresh Design Team last year, and I've been hoping to get my hands on one of the new monthly embellishment Kits.  Kinnari invited me to work with the May 2015 Kit, and I jumped at the chance!  You can purchase the Kits in the Pinkfresh Shop or sign up for a subscription.

I created two layouts with the May 2015 Kit, and they are up on the Pinkfresh Studio Blog today.  I'll share some sneaks with you, and you can head over to the Pinkfresh Blog to check out the full layouts!

These Kits are so fun to work with, and mix easily with product that you already have in your stash!  So make sure you stop by and check them out!

ETSY STORE

Journaling Bible Share

Happy Saturday everyone!  We are in for a rainy weekend and apparently a rainy week.  But I don't mind, because I would much rather it be rainy, than bright and hot!  :)  I wanted to pop in today, to share some of the new entries in my Journaling Bible.  I haven't had time to post them here, because things have just been so busy.  But I'm attempting to keep up with everything, even if I have to share it a little bit late!  :)

I won't go in to detail for each one of these, since I have so many to share in this one post.  Next time, I'll try to get them individually posted, so there won't be so many at one time.  

Some short notes to share:  

* The first two entries from Exodus and Matthew were sermons from a couple of churches that we've recently visited.  And we have decided to move from our current church to 3 Circle Church (the first image is from this new church, and it was a series on the Names of God).

* The next two entries were created, based on the Easter story.  The double sided entry, was created based on the Palm Sunday sermon.  He is not here, He is Risen was created, just based on reading over the Crucifixion, Burial and Resurrection.  I love how everything on that single page encompasses everything that Jesus did for us.

* I was inspired to create the 2 Corinthians entry, when I received the Illustrated Faith Newsletter, which included the Grace Alone card.  I printed the card on Vellum, and used some Washi Tape and my tiny attacher to adhere it to the page.  Even though it is layered over the verses on the left hand column, I can easily lift it up, and still see the scriptures.

* If you would like to receive the Illustrated Faith Newsletter, just visit the website and enter your email address to sign up!

ETSY STORE

Hip Kit Club | Mixed Media Layouts

I'm back today to share two new layouts for Hip Kit Club, using the March 2015 Hip Kit & Add-On Kits.  I’ve been having a lot of fun lately with the Color Add-On Kits, and adding a Mixed Media look to my layouts.  I love the look of Mixed Media, but haven’t used it a lot in the past.  But after seeing how much fun Irit and Missy have with the techniques, I’ve been using it a lot more and the Color Add-On Kits are perfect, whether you’re a beginner at Mixed Media or a pro!  This week, I incorporated some Mixed Media onto my backgrounds, using the March Color Add-On Kit.

For this layout, I started out with the fun chevron patterned paper from Crate Paper, that is included in the March 2015 Main Kit.  Then I used the Tim Holtz Cracked Pistachio Distress Paint with the Dylusions Circles Small mask.  Once I had just the right amount of circles, I used some of my watercolors, and added the color to plastic packaging and then rubbed it onto the background paper.  And then I added some Black spray mist, for a touch of contrast.

Once my background dried, I added a lot of layers, using embellishments from the Main Kit and the March 2015 Embellishment Kit.  I mixed in some of the Pinkfresh Studio products, as well as Elle’s Studio, and My Mind’s Eye.  I also used one the cards from the Project Life Kit and cut it into strips, because I loved the fun script look on the card.

Next up is a layout, using the Tim Holtz Cracked Pistachio Distress Paint and the Dylusions Lemon Zest Ink Spray.  I mixed both of the colors with Modeling Paste, and layered it over the Bubbles-Small Dylusions mask.

I love how the colors blended together in the center, and they really picked up the colors from my photos.  I layered one of the Project Life Cards in the center, to use as a base for my title, and embellished with several of the Chipboard pieces from the Crate Paper Chipboard sheet.

I also have a new Process Video, to go along with this layout, if you would like to check out my process for creating the background!

I am excited to share more with you, in the upcoming weeks using the March 2015 Hip Kit & Add-On Kits!  I’ve already created four layouts, and it’s only made a small dent in my kit!  There are still so many goodies to play with, and I am having so much fun mixing all of the different products together!

 ETSY STORE

Color Theory Layout Share

I am still squeezing in time for the fun Color Theory Class at Studio Calico, taught by Wilna Furstenberg!  Today I wanted to stop in and share my layouts for Lessons 4 & 5.  I'm going to keep it short and sweet, because it's been kind of crazy since last Wednesday.  My grandmother's been in the hospital with pneumonia (hopefully being released sometime today), we celebrated my FIL's birthday this weekend, took the girls to see Cinderella, and now I have several mouth ulcers and I am not feeling too hot right now.  Plus I think I might need at least 30 hours in the day, instead of 24!!

First up is my layout for Lesson 4: Cool Colors.

 

And my second layout, for Lesson 5: Achromatic Colors.

 

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you have a great week!

ETSY STORE

Happy Days

Since I only dabble a little bit, and not very often, in Mixed Media, I thought it would be fun to sign up for the Color Theory class at Studio Calico, taught by Wilna Furstenberg.  The first lesson was posted on Tuesday, and I couldn't wait to get started.  I wanted to stop in today and share the layout, that I created using the Impasto technique and the primary color, Yellow.

Yellow is my favorite color, so I just couldn't resist using it as my primary color.  I used a Lemon Yellow acrylic paint, several different Yellow patterned papers and I dug through my embellishments and chose coordinating Yellow pieces.  Since the Elle's Studio heart wood veneers were not colored, I used a bit of the same acrylic paint, to add the Yellow to them.  The title is from one of the cut files that Wilna provided for the class, and I also used some of the flower cut files from the Funky Florals set, that is available in The Cut Shoppe! 

I had so much fun putting this layout together, and I'm looking forward to the upcoming lessons!  If you didn't get a chance to sign up, Studio Calico extended the class deadline, if you would like to check it out!

ETSY STORE