love and....

hey everyone! Sherry here and I'm back after a bit of time off getting hitched!!! So get ready for an overload in projects, because my creative journal got filled with ideas and plans for projects while I was off:) It's funny how when a big moment in your life happens you become more sentimental! I have come to realize how much i need to appreciate the amazing, beautiful things that are in my life that i love and get over and forget the things that aren't in my life!!

Lets get this party started with a little bit of love for the 'Sirena' stamp and a fun candid picture form a fun weekend with our niece! I have to start by saying this is my favourite stamp from the last release and I don't think I would be able to stop using it!!! So she will be my girl for this one:) So head to your stash, pick up a few fave supplies and lets get creating!!

Step 1

Once deciding where I would place my main image, I decided where my stamp would be placed. (they would go in the top left section of the layout.) So that's exactly where I started, with a stamped image of 'Sirena". (tip: make sure to use a stamp pad with ink that won't react with whatever sprays you use to maintain a crisp clean image)

I applied Golden fibre paste through a stencil peeking out around where my photo would be, and overlapping a bit of of the stamped image. I also applied some stencilling in the bottom right corner as well. Allow to air dry.

Select 3 co-ordinating spray colors and unscrew their tops off.  Spray the stencilled areas with water. While the page is still wet use the 'straw' part of the sprayer and drag it along the edged of the paper and raised stencil areas. Dip the straw into the spray as much as needed to add more color. I made sure to apply all three colors together, while everything is still wet. I tilted the paper to allow for some beautiful drips.  This also allows them to slightly blend together.

Step 2

To add a few details and enhance the stencilling from the previous step I messy sketched around the shapes with a permanent thin sharpie pen. I really love the look of a messy outline look!!

Behind where the focal point/photo will be I arranges some thread to peek out from behind the photo.

Step 3

Next up, arrange all of the goodies I have pulled out. These embellishments were super simple but effective to the layout and photo:)

I started with an assortment of white flowers.  I sprayed then with the same spray colors from step 1.

A few tags, some scrap holes I cut off of watercolour paper pads and some flowers and I was set! I had a few leftover project life cards with the perfect sentiments for this layout!!

So the layering started, I made sure to arrange everything and generally lay it out before adhering anything down to make sure it looked good before making it permanent.

Once all of the embellies are stuck down and dry, I places a piece of scrap paper over my photo and took the same colors from Step 1 and splattered them over the stencilled areas... Then to tie it all together I added a few splatters of white gesso:)

And a few close ups!!!

The thing I love the most about this layout is that it doesn't need a ton of supplies to create!!!!
Thank you so much for popping in and checking out my first layout back:) For more from me pop into my blog or Facebook for more tutorials and product reviews and all things crafty! Also be sure to peruse around the BG blog to be further inspired by the amazing DT!

SUPPLY LIST

Prima Marketing
*Bloom Girl- 'Sirena' stamp (#980344)

*assorted white paper flowers (like these)
*white gesso (#961442)

Heidi Swapp
*citron spray (hs-01084)
*mint green spray (hs-00799)
*seafoam (hs-01080)

The Crafters Workshop
*hexagons stencil (tcw-324)

Golden
*fiber paste

Mixed Media Mini-Album Tutorial & BLOOMING on the PRIMA blog by DT Stephanie

Hey everyone!

DT Stephanie here with you today and what a surprise to see one of my projects featuring the Phrases stencil on Prima's blog!

You have so many possibilities using these Bloom stencils!

Want to know how I did this mixed media mini-album? Here are some quick steps!

Let's start by putting in front of you what you'd like to be using on your mini-album.

First thing I did was to put a thin coat of heavy gesso on my surface and let it dry.

Next, mists some of your favourite sprays and try to move your covers so that there are drops at some places.

Once everything is dried, apply your stencil on the surface and with a craft knife, put a thick coat of texture paste. Again, let dry completely before the next step.

Don't forget to do both covers!

After that, take out your ink pads and add some colours to the edges. Make sure to go all the way through the binding, or you'll see some spots uncovered and it will tarnish the whole look of the project.

Now, about that Bloom girl...isn't she fab? She's called Sirena and her dreamy look is so versatile. For this project, I stamped her on some colouring cardstock (Cryogen White) and cropped her, so that she could fit behind the resin frame.

We need some patterned papers too...

And here's the whole thing assembled with a piece of trimming. 

The final step is to put it on 3D adhesive and glue the whole thing on your cover. Now, all you need to do is add some embellishments here and there, circle some gems with a black pen, and you're DONE!

List of products used:

Prima Products: 6"x12" Bloom Stencil - Phrases, 980436, Bloom Girl - Sirena stamp, 980344, Seashore 6"x6" paperpad, 813642, Spiral Bound Mixed Media Journal, 960209, Say it in crystals - Cartographer, 573157, Oatmeal weave trim, 577094, Color Bloom spray - Precious stone, 573812, Color Bloom spray - Storm Cloud,573768, Color Bloom spray - Summer Sky, 573867, Color Bloom spray - Pearl White, 573751, Art Basics Heavy Gesso White, 961442, Art Extravagance Texture Paste Platinum Crackle, 961527, Chalk ink - Tin Can, , Chalk Ink - Black Coal, , Watercolour flowers, 577551, Flowers, 577520, Frost Snow Drop Roses, 565759, Mini Sachet Sure Flowers, 565598, Metal trinket - Engraver, 563554, Resin embellishments - Baroque Frame, 892098

And the final look!

Thanks a lot for being with us today and if you have any question at all, feel free to pop it on the Bloom Girls Creative Facebook Group  :D

Stephanie xx

About you ATC!

Hello Beauties!
Zoey's here again after a few weeks I took off to "deal with life" -- and as always everytime I need to find myself, here's come "the ART" that saves me and put me back on my happiness cloud!
And today's post is all about celebrating the fact we all need to step back sometimes, take a deep breath..and most of all take our time!

With these words in my head, I created two ATCs. Jamie Dougherty Design stamps are perfect for ATCs even if they are bigger than a normal stamp -- who said you HAVE to stamp the whole image? Sometimes all you need is a small part of the stamp!

What I used to create these ATCs :

From Prima Marketing:

- Bloom Cling Stamp Sirena (#980344)

- Bloom Cling Stamp Hope (#980047)

- 6x6 Stencil Spark (#980399)

- Cartographer A4 Paper Pad (#990152)

- Art Basics 3D Matte Gel (#961398)

- Art Basics Heavy Gesso (#961442)

- Bloom Sun Kissed (#575182)

Other: 

- Stickers

- Cheesecloth (thanks Lisa!)

I started off by cutting two pieces of cardboard into an ATC size and then I covered them with a piece of paper from the collection Cartographer.
To glue the paper down I used Art Basics Soft Gel and then I ripped off few pieces here and there. I have to admit that it was a bit hard to do as the paper are thick but I somehow managed to get the paper off how I wanted them to!

I watered down a bit of gesso with some water and with a brush I applied it to the background -- what I wanted to do here was toning down the brown paper. As much as I love that paper, I had to tone it down in order to make the beautiful girls shine. To stamp the image I used archival ink...and I know I say this everytime, but I see stories in these girls, everytime I use one stamp from Jamie, I imagine different stories -- maybe my feelings gets into the story too, but, it always leave hope in my heart...

I then started adding colors, I used watercolors to do so. I am not a master when it comes to coloring, but I try it anyway! When the color was dry, I used one of my favorite stencil (Spark) to add 3D Gel.
I let it dry and become completely transparent.

(NOTE: I got carried away into coloring the image above that I forgot to take a photo of the next step...so here you see a photo of the other ATC)

When the 3D Gel was dry and completely transparent I started adding colors. I used again watecolors -- lots of them!

I added some pieces of cheesecloth, a flower and the stickers with the quote!
Here's the first ATC....

I am totally in love with this stencil, love that it creates dimension without being "too much" busy.

Here's the whole photo of the first ATC...

...and here's the second one! I used pinkish tone....

This stamp is one of the new CHA2015 release from Jamie, isn't she absolutely beautiful? Make sure to check out the whole stamp, it will blow your mind!

Here's a photo of the whole second ATC...

And here's the two ATCs together!

So, does your ART lift your heart too? I hope it does...and I also hope you will like the result, as always for any comments, questions, suggestions please leave a comment!

Stay happy, stay creative....till next time!

CIAO Zoey