Happy Day | Julie Taylor

Hello Magpies

I choose to use one of the new Simple Stories collections this month, Simple Vintage Essentials & like it says it has lots of staple colours, icons & images that would go with many collections. The predominant colours are black, white & kraft, hard colours to use on their own but when paired with other primary colours they really pop!!!

I went very mixed media heavy, on my background, but wanted to add the colour there & ALL the items are available in the store.

I first gessoed the Be Curious patterned paper as I knew it wouldn’t hold up to the amount of liquid added if not!! Using 2 Aall & Create stencils, #115 & #28 I added texture paste to either side of where my photo would sit. Once dry I brushed over Wild Honey & Rusty Hinge distress oxide inks & sprayed liberally with water allowing the ink to run & pool where it wanted. I dried that & went round bits with a black fine liner pen, to bring out some detail & then stencilled over the top with Aall & Create stencil #10, the coffee rings & added a few numbers from Stampers Anonymous Typo stencil. On top of that I added a bit of stamping, in black, using Aall & Create stamps #457 & #304 ( I use these stamps loads & would recommend you get them as staples in your craft rooms!!!)

Now I know this sounds like lots of work but really it’s not, probably took around an hour, & totally worth it to get a lovely unique background!!

I layered strips of the papers, 49 & Market film strips & trims from my stash vertically down the page & machine sewed into place.

I made my photo mat using pieces from the Take Note & Captured bits & pieces packs & die cut a piece from the Aall & Create die#21 Number Crunching & layered that underneath, just peaking out. I placed the photo mat centrally & added the title onto & just off the photo.

I found a few things out the 49 & Market Spectrum Gardenia Ephemera pack in the right colours & a few of the fabric tags, resin & woodgrain dots & a suede smily face finished the page off.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my layout today & that I’ve broken down the MM for you. Don’t be put off, just give it a go & see what unique backgrounds you could make.

Until next time,