Best Buds | Colour Blast

Hi everyone!

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas with their friends and families!
Just popping in today to share my final Colour Blast design team project for the year. (I can hardly believe I am saying that - where did 2017 go?!) Today I have a mixed media scrapbook page to share that was actually inspired by one of my own pieces in my art journal. It features a photo of my boys and I created it using the new Colour Artist Inks; Black and White Heavy gessos; and a Colour Paste.

So, now to my process. To create my page I started with a sheet of white cardstock, which I stamped using Staz-On ink and a variety of background stamps that all featured circular designs from Viva Las VegaStamps and Darkroom Door.

Once I had all the stamping complete, it was time to start adding some colour. I used the new Colour Artist Inks, and I adore the vibrancy they add to my projects. To apply the inks, I simply painted them onto my page using a paintbrush in random colour blocks. The colours I used were Lime; Grass; Marine; and Oasis. I chose these shades, not only because they matched the photo I was using, but also because they were all from the same colour family and I knew they would blend well together.

After all the inks were down on the page, I spritzed a little extra water on to allow the colours to pool, spread and run further. I then allowed my page to dry before moving onto the next step.

The next step in my process involved stamping again. This time, I used some larger circle stamps from Prima to choose areas of my background I wanted to define and stamped some circles out (once again, using Staz-On ink).

The next step in my process was to block out the background surrounding my circles using Black Heavy Gesso. To do this, I simply painted the gesso onto the page using a paintbrush. I chose black because I wanted the intense colours amd the circular shapes to pop.

After the black gesso had dried thoroughly, it was time to add some highlights. This time I used Heavy White Gesso, which I applied around the outer edge on one side of each of my circles (kind of like a reverse shadow). I used my finger to apply the gesso because I like the look it gives, and the control I have over it; but if you are not one for dirty fingers, then by all means use a brush or sponge.

Again, I left my project to dry before returning to it; this time with a paint pen, which I used to define the edge of each circle. 

Now it was time to add some texture...and a bit of shimmer! I used some Sunshine Colour Paste to further enhance the white "shadows" on my circles, which I simply applied using a thin palette knife.

The next step was to address the space between and around my circles. I added lots of small spots using white paint pens. This gave my page that "galaxy" kind of look, and also lightened the page up a bit more. I also added a few small pieces of torn washi tape, just for some extra interest.

The final layer on my page before I added my photo, was to add some white die cut circles. (I used the recently released Scribble Circles die from Uniquely Creative.) These circles not only added an extra layer of visual interest, but they also helped draw the eye to the main focal point of my page, where my photo was going to go.

I then added my photo, which I had cut into a circle to fit inside one of the circles on my page.

Next, I added my title using a phrase sticker and some alphabet stickers from Cocoa Vanilla Studio; as well as some extra Cocoa Vanilla phrase stickers around my page.

To finish off my page, what else could I use but enamel dots? (Why ruin the circular theme now?) So I added some blue & lime dots randomly around my page and I was done.

Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to try your own page using these techniques.

Before I go, I would just like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their wonderful support this year. I love to create, and to know I am able to inspire or teach others with my work just makes it all the more worthwhile.

I will be back with lots to share in the new year! X