Finishing projects part 2: a messy mini

Hello again! I'm still working on finishing up as many projects as I can this summer in anticipation of a busy school year. Here's my updated list:

1. Finish creating the boys' 5th and 6th grade school album pages
2. Edit and print photos from Custer S.P. (2011)
3. Create mini albums with thank you cards from school
4. Finish the Disney album (2010)
5. Update the Easter mini-album
6. Complete the iScrap class/album
7. Complete the Get Messy class/album
8. Ask Derick to finish journaling his London album
9. Complete 5 Vacation Faves (2015)
10. Create cards for my Dad
11. Rowan school album photos: 3rd, 5th, and 6th; class photo 4th and 6th
12. Dominic school album photos: 2nd, 4th, and 5th;class photo 3rd and 5th

I decided to kill two birds with one stone and use the mini-album from the Get Messy class for my 5 Vacation Faves album this year. Here's the cover:

I had gesso'd the cover a long time ago and finally got around to using a mask and modeling paste, punches, more gesso, and mist to finish it up. Here's the back cover:

I finished the lessons in the class--there were about 7--to do the internal pages for each family member. Here's the inside pages:

The font I used up here on the right is a nice one I should use more often called "Wolf in the City."

Most of the products I used came with a kit I bought with the class. I also used stuff lying around, like some journaling cards cut from patterned paper from Shimelle's first collection, I think.

More modeling paste and a different way to mist.

This is maybe the one part of the project I may change. We had to create a pocket with vellum and confetti punches, so I did it with my son's picture. I think it would have looked better with a photo where he was occupying more of the frame. As a result, I may add another photo of him somewhere, maybe by adding another page.

Another note about the pocket page: I put this flair on the inside of the pocket and it didn't look good, so I cut it out and adhered it on the outside, adding the number sticker to cover the cut.

This might be my favorite page spread. I stamped with a couple texture square stamps in different colors to make a photo mat. Not in the class lesson, just an idea I got.

Thank you for checking out my mini-album! I am so happy with it, even though it isn't what I typically do. The class is no longer available, but you might check out Studio Calico and ask; they do seem to bring it back or offer updated versions.

(One final confession: I technically haven't finished the class yet. I haven't done the photo transfer--there were three techniques taught--because I wasn't sure how I wanted to use them. Now I have three ideas, two for this mini-album and one for scrapbook page, so I should finish that lesson (and therefore the class) shortly. I'll share those when I get done.)

Getting a little messy

I have to admit I am a little bit of a neatnik. When I make a page, it tends to be linear, especially when I layer papers, and my embellishment clusters tend to be strategically placed around the page. I am not complaining; it's who I am, and I like my pages. However, when I see pages by mixed media artists that are a little more random and messy but gorgeous, I study them, wondering how I can incorporate some of their techniques into my style.

I tried that with the following page. I had this piece of paper from Studio Calico (the one on the right in the linked photo) that I loved, but it was a bit busy when I layered papers on top. To deal with that, I decided to get messy.

First, I painted it with gesso, mostly a thin layer to let the patterns just peek through. Next, I misted it with several colors: yellow mostly with a little orange and some drops of green. Finally, I trimmed it by 1/2 inch on either side  and distressed the edges to layer it on top of the cards paper.

Here's some misting details (note: it took a while for it to dry, so I used the heat tool to speed it up a bit):

When I mist, I get closest and messiest where I am going to put my photos so that I will be covering up the messiest, most random part.

Next I stitched down the gesso paper onto the background (it got a little bendy when it got so wet) then stitched the background paper too. I added my layers a little overlapped, then randomly stitched a frame on top.

You can see I distressed the edges of the mats too.

And here's the final page!

I used the frame to partially cover my photo. It was a tough decision: I wanted to show everything I see when I scrap, from my kit at my feet to my family in the kitchen. I couldn't do that in a square.

It made sense for the journaling to come in strips along the side. For a change, I used American Typewriter font instead of my usual Times New Roman.

Some random stamping using navy ink, not black. To cover the smeared mist, or at least to distract from it.

Random embellishment clusters around the title and photo, plus more stamping and stitching.

Thank you for looking at my page as I play around with being a little messy!

Black Friday tradition

The Mall of America is a special spot for my family, most especially because my husband and I first met there. Every year we go to the Mall of America on Black Friday. It's honestly not as crazy as it sounds! We went again this year; I'll post that story soon.

I took our pictures from last year and made a mini album using the following color combo as inspiration:

The desaturated colors are warm but not to showy, perfect for my bright photos.

Here's the mini-album:





I used paint on my stamps to make the images stand out on the black paper. I also used some gems and baker's twine to add some texture to the pages.

And here's the GCD Studios products I used:


Animal Crackers for boys Cube Leaf


Animal Crackers for boys Wallpaper Stripe


Animal Crackers for boys Fauna Stripe


Animal Crackers for boys Quirky rub-on letters


The Great Outdoors Trail Blazer


Chip Art Stars


Chip Art 5x7 mini album kit

Enjoy these muted hues, even when scrapping a bright and wild event!