Thank You

Hi everyone! I'm finally back after having some pretty serious surgery. Then, after the surgery, my mother in law passed away, which gave me the perfect timing to do a layout about something learned from her. I couldn't have asked for a better mother in law, and learned a lot throughout the forty-three years that we had this wonderful relationship. In the journaling portion of this post, I will explain. 

Here is how I solved the case: 

Scheme: All five colors used 
Evidence: Grid pattern, stripes, book pages,     
       animals, people, airplane, frame
Testimony: School or something learned

It wouldn't be my work if there weren't multiple layers in the layout, and that holds true here, as it does with all of my layouts. First, I used a Crafter's Workshop stencil to get a grid pattern, as called for in the prompt. Just a few strokes of an old credit card and modeling paste gave me the look I wanted. When doing my layering, I create scaffolding to hold up the various layers. I use pieces of cardboard and pop dots to create the scaffolding. 

Here you can see that there are various layers: the little cut out vintage advertising pieces were inked, adhered to the paper first, then came the beautiful gold heart with crown and wings. Next, came the scaffolding that I used to raise up the doily, the two pictures, the jute frame and the oval resin frame. I love to be able to tuck pretty little bits and pieces here and there, such as leaves, chipboard pieces and flowers. 

After I was satisfied with the placement of all the embellishments, I got out some gesso, poured less than a teaspoon into a little paper cup, then thinned it with a few sprays of water. Using my fan brush, I sprinkled small splatters of white gesso to give a rather etheral feel to the layout. 

Next, came the chipboard pieces that were heat embossed, cut up and also tucked into spaces that needed just a little more interest. 

Last, I spray painted the mini art stones using Color Bloom Spray. I used a paper cup here, too, and gave the stones a day to dry, so I started early here. Using a medium small paintbrush and 3-D Matte Gell, I "painted" the Art Stones onto the paper in strategic places. The Matte Gell dries clear, and with no trace, as you can see here:

Products: 

Blue Fern Studios: 
          Wanderlust, Pacific Coast Paper
          Wanderlust, Seascape Paper
           Memories, Tale of Treasures
           Chesterville Collage
           Snow and Poinsettia Embossing Powders
Frantic Stamper Dies: 
            leaves and "Thank You"
Prima: 3-D Matte Gel
           Art Stones, standard and mini 
           Color Bloom Spray
           Flowers
Petaloo: Flowers
Spellbinders: A Gilded Life (Heart with Wings
           Charm)

The journaling reads, "Thank you, Lavoys, for having been my friend, mother in law and teacher. Some things you have taught me are: Be kind to everyone. Dedicate yourself to your family. A smile is the most beautiful thing a woman can wear. Live life to the fullest. Thank you for teaching by example."