October 31 - by GDT Kathy Clayton

Hi, Kathy here . . . I'm back again!!! Last time I showed you a mixed media layout I did, so I thought I would show you a mixed media "tag". As many of you know, I am still pretty new at doing mixed media . . . but I am in LOVE with it. I try to add something extra to everything I do now, even to most of my CAS projects. :)

Since I absolutely LOVE Halloween, I decided to combine the best of both worlds . . .mixed media and Halloween. After a couple false starts, I finally got it together. Here's how it turned out:

VLVS products used:
Kids with Giant Jack 'o Lantern stamp #19209 http://www.vlvstamps.com/latest-releases-summer-2013/kids-with-giant-jack-o-lantern-3-1-4-x-3-1-4.html
Brick background #19077 http://www.vlvstamps.com/brick-background-2-1-4-x-5.html
High Gloss Embossing Powder
Miracle Tape


Other products: Mischievous by MME, wood paper from MME, UmWowStudio October 2012 kit, chipboard, cardboard, plastic lid, block letters from Tim Holtz, Vintage Photo and Black Soot distress ink, gesso, orange glitter, Timeless, Taupe & Tattered Leather mists, geltos (banana & blood orange), black Pitt pen, sandal & latte alcohol inks, cheesecloth, misc. flowers & grass, Tim Holze bottles, misc. dictionary pages, and misc. bottle labels,

The first thing I did was take and 2 of the orange pieces of paper from the Mischievous by MME and cut them to 9 1/2" x 12. Then cut the top two (2) corners to make them into a big "tag". Then using miracle tape adhered the paper to each side of the chipboard and then distressed it. Then using the brick background, I embossed it here 'n there on the front of the tag. Taking my dictionary pages, I distressed them with distress inks and then glued them on each side of the tag. Then using three (3) sprays (Timeless, Taupe & Tattered Leather),sprayed around the tag. I also sprayed some misc. pieces of cardboard and using glossy accents, put glitter on my lid . . . then adhered to my tag along with the cardboard pieces..I also colored my stamped
image and adhered it above the lid.

I used some wood paper and made my fence. But since I didn't like the color, I used Sandal and Latte alcohol inks and changed the color. Once it was dry, I adhered it on each side of the tag so it would bow out.

I fussy cut "O-C-T-O-B-E-R" from the block letters and used my geltos on them to help them match my tag a bit better. Using a glue gun, I adhered the letters to the outside edge of my lid. I also glued bats in three (3) places.

Using a burlap-wrapped toilet paper roll, I placed it behind my fence to use it like a table. I adhered several small bottles and added some fake grass and flowers.

I also sprayed some cheesecloth . . . then added that and a small book & tag from UmWowStudio Oct. 2012 kit. Added a few more drops of spray and I was done.


Thanks so much for stopping by today. If you want to know how you can win a $20 gift certificate from VLVS from ME, visit my blog "UpintheNightwithKat.blogspot.com" for details. Thanks again!!!

October Guest Designer : Kathy Clayton!

Help us welcome our October Guest Designer Kathy Clayton!

Hi!  Kathy here today and I want to share with you a mixed media layout I did . . .  it is actually the 4th one I have done this month.  I had received a big package of flowers that I had been dying to use, so I finally took the plunge and decided to use them with some VLVS stamps and along with some techniques I learned online a few weeks ago.  I am so excited (and more than a little nervous) to be a Guest Designer here on the VLVS! blog.  I mean, I have seen what VLVS's designers have done . . . and they are so A-W-E-S-O-M-E and so inspirational.  I just hope I don't trip in their shoes. lol 

But first, a little about me.  I live a little town outside of Des Moines, Iowa, with my husband and 17-year old daughter. I am a 2x cancer survivor . . . the 1st time being 17 years ago and the 2nd time 10 years ago.  Being a 2x cancer survivor and dealing with other life-threatening illnesses, I've learned to take chances whether it'd be a new treatment, meeting new friends or trying new techniques/projects (like I did for this project).   What's the worse that can happen if doesn't work? I have to try again?  There are worse things in life.  I love to craft, can, cook, read, garden, quilt . . . well, just about everything working with my hands while being creative.  My blog is http://www.upinthenightwithkat.blogspot.com

 

Now on to my layout:

For this layout, I got my inspiration from one of my favorite designers, Czekoczyna.  I used a few of my favorite VLVS! stamps along with one of my daughter's favorite colors . . . also a picture she took of herself and sent it to me.

I used the following VLVS! products:

Chicken Wire

Pure imagination

Be an ADVENTURER

Miracle Tape

Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder

Other items:

UmWowStudio flair, May Arts lace and jute, black Archival Ink, misc. washi tape, various patterned cardstock from Basic Grey, Prima & Pink Paislee, gesso, Glimmer Glazes & Mists from Tattered Angels,  masks from Prima (dots & checkerboard), assorted flowers; a stick pin (I made this for a swap I was in), rub-ons & a key from Tim Holtz, chicken wire chipboard from Dusty Attics and black drawing ink

Since this was a long process (as least for me), I am only going to highlight the most important parts of what I did.  The very 1st thing I did was use my Miracle Tape and taped some Super Stock behind the cardstock I was using . . . this was to help stiffen it so it wouldn't buckle under the weight of all the embellishments I was going to use. Then I adhered strips and squares of different papers using Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive (it is important to use a liquid adhesive for this first part so the paper doesn't wrinkle as much).  Once I had my paper down in an assortment that worked with the picture I was using, I added some washi tape.  After that, I applied gesso over it using a square piece of plastic (this is to help pull of the papers together) and added small clusters of checkerboard throughout.

I then added my picture using foam tape. (I did cover my photo with a blank piece of cardboard as not to get ink or glue on it . . . I just wanted it there to help with placement of my flowers and such). Then I started adding clusters of flowers, pieces of chicken wire chipboard, lace, and rub-ons.  Then I went to work with my mists and glazes till I was happy with the results.  I added some jute, a stick pin and a key to my clusters of flowers.

Once I was finished with all the adhering and misting, I stamped my VLVS! images here and there.  I added the chicken wire stamp in various places around my photo and lower flower cluster. Stamped "Pure Imagination" below my photo and stamped "Be an ADVENTURER" to the right of my photo . . . I ended up trying to double stamp it, trying to "shadow" it, but it didn't quite work the way I wanted.  But I am happy with it anyway....as I always say, "There are NO mistakes, only creative discoveries . . . nothing is right or wrong."

Added some bling and some droplets of black drawing ink and VOILA! I was done.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope I was able to inspire at least one person today . . . if I did, my world is complete (well, at least for today it is - lol).   I can hardly wait to share my 2nd project in a couple of weeks.