Flore’s Love Layout

Materials

• Printed background paper (Heidi Swapp, American Crafts, MME)

• Cardstock paper, white, turquoise

• Tracing paper

• Stencils (Kesi’art and Crafters’ Workshop)

• Ink stamps (Lime Citron, Kesi’art, Prima, Denim Tampons)

• Stickers and labels (Pretty Little studio, Elle’s studio, MME, Cosmo Cricket, Studio Calico)

• Badge (Scrapbuttons)

• Die cutting dies (Kesi’art)

• Paper cut-outs (from a Silhouette cutting machine)

• Embossing powder (American Crafts)

• Adhesive dots (Zibuline), resin bird (Crate Paper), paper fastening brads (Kesi’art), buttons (Ephemeria)

• Sticky foam pads, staples, water mister, paintbrush, water brush

• Gesso, modelling paste

• Liquid inks (Studio Calico, Colorex, Encre de chine, Ecoline, Aquar’elles Scrapbuttons)

• Indian ink

• Ink pads (Aladine, Versafine, Versamark)

Instructions

Choose your photo and use it to inspire your choice of colour.

Start by applying a thin layer of gesso to your background then use a stencil and some modelling paste to add some pattern.

Next add your liquid inks, using different shades of one colour to create a monochrome effect. Mix some drops of ink with a little water on a sheet of acetate then transfer the ink onto your page by pressing the acetate onto it. Put each colour on separately allowing the ink to dry in between. Blot any excess with kitchen paper.

Once all your ink is dry, add some ink stamps to your background, keeping to the same colour scheme.

Then use a pattern stencil and sponge to add some more ink.

Pick some patterned paper that you would like to use, with the right colours to match your scheme. Cut out some squares or rectangles that you will be able to slip underneath your photo. Add some ink and stamps to these pieces of paper, like the ones on your background.

Work out how you want to arrange these pieces of paper then attach them to each other using your stapler and stick the lot onto your page with thin sticky foam pads.

If you have not already done so, choose the stamps and other embellishments that you are going to put on your page.

Use a die cutting machine (e.g. Big Shot) to cut out some shapes and use a Silhouette cutting machine (if you have one) for one cut-out.

Use ink stamps to make the images that you want to cut out. Emboss these with a heat gun and embossing powder then cut them out.

Glue down some of these paper elements on your page then stamp on some small words.

Take your photo and attach some more of your decorations to it using glue or staples, such as the badge, leaves and tracing paper shapes. Once you are happy with what you have attached, stick the photo onto your page using sticky foam pads and slip under or staple on any other pieces you want.

Add all your other decorations, bit by bit to your page. Add any last stamps of words or anything else that you want. Add some decorative dots and buttons.

Finish off your card by adding some small splashes of white Colorex, or if you don’t have any try some white gesso slightly diluted with water.

To make these little splashes take the handle of a fine-tipped paintbrush, immerse the tip in your ink bottle, then take it right to the place on the page right where you want it. That will stop you from accidentally making splashes in places where you don’t want them. It’s a handy tip for working with the ‘patouille’ style.

Let your work dry thoroughly and then your layout is finished.