The Background Takes Center Stage

 

Good Monday morning to you all! It's Amy here today, to share an art journal page, with lots of background stamping that adds a bit of flair to the pages. 

I began by stamping both pages with the cracked background stamp,

with Ranger Archival Ink in coffee. I then dotted on acrylic paints in gold, silver, and metallic green, and spread them thin with a brayer. After waiting for the first layer to dry, I added flicks and flecks of paints in many colors, and black ink, as well. When those were dry, I began stamping, first using the checkerboard background 4x3   and the star pin, in random places that seemed pleasing to my eye. 

 To add layers on top of my vintage photo of children during the great depression, I stamped on Prima cotton tape with the lace background stamp, and added it along the sides, along with washi tape, and bits of 7 Dots Studio papers.

Finally, I added embelllishments, like UmWowStudio chipboard hearts and stars, Prima Gears, and  a chipboard banner piece from Maya Road, stamped with the moon circle (I love that sweet face).

I finished off the page using the fabulous new Color Wheel Lines  and the No. 5 Tag  stamps.
I'm so pleased with how this page came out, and the way it showcases this very unique photo, in such an artistic and "different" way. Thanks for having a look, and for more inspiration, visit my blog at www.sparklinggnome.com . Have a happy, inspired, and stampy week! ;)

Sneakers In Da House!

They say that women LOVE to collect shoes!  But did you know that a lot of men LOVE to collect sneakers!!  I found these words, and found it a great creative resource for designing a wood frame.

This is my soon to be son-in-law's rack of sneakers!  Sure some maybe for sports, but most are for styling.

VLVS Images:

19292 Star Sneaker
19233 Grunge Plus sign
19171 One Way
19186 Pulse Rate
19232 Pylon
19175 - 2 Hands Pointing (one hand used)
19129 Star Pin
1067 Screw

The wood frame used was inexpensive, as such, there were a lot of rough edges.  Use a fine grit sand paper to sand the wood the way you like it.  For this project, a lot of texture was left to show through the wood.

Gesso is painted on the frame as a base coat.  This seals the wood so you do not waste a lot of your expensive paint.  One coat was used, again because the texture was wanted.  Normally, 2-3 coats works well.

Paint, stain, stenciling, and collage techniques before stamping.

Some stamp images are stamped right to the wood, and others are stamped, cut and layered on wood.  Further paint, and accenting with Gel Pens, Paint, stain added.

UmWow Chevrons added for dimension, texture and directional ques.

Pulse Rate image is genius!  Fits with the theme of music playing and adds so much to a collage!!

Sneakers used to be boring, but now they are a part of stylish fashion!!!!

Cre8tivelea Yours - Lea

Favorite Fall Jacket {12x12 by DeeDee}

Hi everyone! DeeDee here today sharing a 12x12 layout that was featured in Paper Haus eMag recently.

 

Even here in Vegas we get to wear jackets in the fall, it does get pretty chilly when the sun goes down during the coldest parts of the year! My kidzilla got to pick out his own jacket last fall, and it quickly became his favorite one. So here's "Favorite Fall Jacket" in layout form! The paper base is Echo Park's chalkboard paper, and the wood grain is by My Mind's Eye.

You can see really well in this photograph the Large Light bulb stamp in Archival ink by Ranger The buttons are also My Mind's Eye, the stars are from an UmWowStudio mask (Star Confetti) using Sakura Of America Microns, and the black drops are Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Charcoal.

I've paired the Sakura of America Microns (Through the UmWowStudio Star Confetti Mask) with the Star Pin stamp and I'm really digging it! Super stark contrast between the pen doodle and the stamped image. The washi tape is from Gauche Alchemy, the chip from UmWowStudio, the black alphas are from Michaels and the wood alphas are American Crafts. Other supplies seen above : May Arts twine, Dymo label maker.