Gold finger

 (wah waaaah wah)
is almost literally what I had after making this layout what with the mica gold flakes I used.  And lots of things that weren't to start with ended up gold as well... just call me the woman with the Miiiii-das touch.

The papers in the main kit were just perfect for framing this selfie.
(coughwasn'taselfietostartwithbutlikeditsomuchIcroppedmyhusbandoutcough)
I used the Websters Pages These are the Days Daily Essentials Grid paper as my background paper. (obviously not the main grid side!) I smeared on some gesso and when that was dry added gold, mint green and pink gelatos by smearing some onto plastic, adding some water and smooshing it on the paper. When that was dry dots of gold, peach and aqua glimmer mist were sprinkled over as well.

For the photo mat I cut increasingly large squares from the various papers, ending with the vellum to keep it looking light. I did the old Sharpie pen thing as ever. I do like a consistent edge to papers when I am using lots of patterns. I didn't add it to the base paper, again to give a softer feel to the whole page.
Two of the cards from the cut apart sheet came into play. I do find it quite hard to use 4x6 cards on my layouts so I was very pleased with this. It helped that I could layer them up, hiding the wording on the bottom card as it said "June" on it and the photo was taken in May.

Then came time to add yet more gold. I decided to try out the Prima mica flakes and gel medium I have bought in an attempt to be more artsy. You just lay on a little gel medium and stick the flakes down! 


I also painted the "selfie" die cut and three of the Elle Studio labels with gold glimmer mist. And those gold gems? They are the red ones from the kit covered over with Gold Beads in a Bottle.

The title came from the Chickaniddy Crafts 365 alphabet stickers which were mounted with foam pads, as were the labels and the photo. 
Result - a lovely summery feel (if only every day was like that in Devon!)

Gift it up

Hi!

Just a quick share for you with an idea for gift wrapping. I was looking around for something to wrap my fathers day prezzie with this morning and the first thing I grabbed was the new washi tape from the May/June lite kit but then when I was scouting around for what paper to use I just thought, why not just use other things I've got in my kit? I picked out the 'Stay Awesome' paper to use and set my gift out on it to measure it and then trimmed a little off the edge so it wrapped up nice and neatly, (you don't want too much bulk on the ends so it folds up easily). The edge I cut off had the cut off strip on it with the alternative pattern so it was a no brainer again to use that for the gift tag so I ended up only using one sheet of paper for the whole thing. A few of the alpha stickers for the tag and then a quick wrap around of twine to fix the tag in place and all done!
Now I just need to whip up a card as quick!

Hope you're having fun with the new kits!
x Leo

Oh my inky fingers

I had finished my first layout with the fabulous new Quirky Kit Saltwater Smiles and was just about to take the photo of it when I noticed this...

That is not dirt on your screen on the right hand side of my beautifully white card stock. That is a great big dirty mark on the actual layout. Sigh. So some emergency surgery later and...

I adore the bokeh paper and its fine dotted B side. And - oh, that cloud vellum is amazing. So they had a big role on the page. The green stripe paper and gold patterned are both from the cut apart sheet..
As there was already a great deal of gold on its way onto the page I sprinkled gold lame glimmer mist over the page and the papers. While that was drying I die cut my title using a Lawn Fawn die and the B side of the cut apart sheet (Websters Pages These are the days). Then the letters and some of the Bella Blvd Little Bits stickers were painted with the gold lame mist as well

That gold word. My word. Love it.

To start with the two Elle’s Studio Let’s Eat Lil’ Snippets Blank Labels were going to be left blank but then I realised that I wanted to add the detail about Beatrix Potter so was very pleased with myself that I had added them in. (Go me)

All that was left to do was to add a Freckled Fawn wooden blank ticket and some of the puffy stickers and I called it done. Until I spotted the dirty mark and decided I had to cover it up, at least a little
The smippet of yellow gold paper I found on the floor in my room but felt it suited very well. I wonder what layout I punched it out for originally and then couldn't find it (I'm sure that never happens to you)
  
 I would have preferred the layout as it was before but you can't leave a dirty mark that big left alone - so there we are. Remember to wash your hands constantly folks :)