Getting Artsy Craftsy with Gesso!

Today, the Practical Scrappers On Trend team is here to show you that Gesso isn't used only on canvases anymore.  What is Gesso (correctly pronounced "jesso")?  Well, it is traditionally used by artists to prime their canvases before painting.  It brushes on like acrylic paint and dries to a hard, slightly textured consistency, which prevents paints from soaking into the canvas.  Gesso can also be used to create a modelling (also called molding) paste, which is exactly what it sounds like - a paste that can be molded or modelled into shapes and textures.  Scrapbookers have discovered and love it because it allows us to use painting and mixed media techniques directly on our layouts.  Want some examples for inspiration? You are in luck - just keep scrolling down...

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson used a mask with her gesso to create the brick look on the blue papers on this layout.  She also used gesso on the chevron to create an ombre look to it.

Practical Scrapper Julie used a mask and modeling paste to add dimension to her layout. She then used Faber-Castell gelatos to add color to her background.

Practical Scrapper Danielle de Konink used a Heidi Swapp mask and thick layers of modeling paste. After the modeling paste dried, she added PanPastel to the hearts to give them touches of color.

 

Practical Scrapper Lisa Peeples used gesso to create a painted background frame for her photo. She lightly pressed embossing folders into the gesso to give a slight pattern to it.

 

Practical Scrapper Marcia Dehn-Nix used modeling paste and a brick stencil to create dimension on this vintage layout of her grandparents. Gesso was also used around the photo and over this kraft clock to suit the color scheme better.

Practical Scrapper Cathy used a Heidi Swapp mask and modeling paste to create dimension and  more interest on her layout. Modeling paste is above the hearts and on the little black layer of paper behind the tag!

Practical Scrapper Charissa used gesso to paint a photo mat for her photos, softening the bright yellow Glitz Designs patterned paper. She also painted in the stamped arrows above her title with gesso, again to soften the yellow of the patterned paper.

August Layout Sketch

Happy Wednesday Everyone!  It's time for another layout sketch.  This one by Liz is just AWESOME!  The Design Team had fun playing with it and I'm sure you will too!

Practical Scrapper Julie

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson

Practical Scrapper Jennifer Haggerty

Practical Scrapper Kim Ryden

Practical Scrapper Patty

Practical Scrapper Charity

Practical Scrapper Cathy

Practical Scrapper Lee-Anne

Practical Scrapper Brenda

Practical Scrapper Danielle de Konink

Practical Scrapper Kristy MacKeen

Practical Scrapper Lucy Kelleher

 

 

Don't forget to visit each of the Design Team member's blogs to see more details on their layouts and leave them some comment love!  You will find a link to their blogs just below their layouts!

 

AND...if you play along, and we hope you will, just link up in the comments below or share you layout on our facebook page! 

Sunbursts

It's a fact - we love the sun.  We love spending time outside on a sunny day.  We love to take pictures when the sun's lighting is just right.  And, now, we love to add sunshine to our cards and scrapbook layouts!  Put on your sunglasses and come see how our On Trend Team has interpreted the popular trend of adding sunbursts to a project.

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson created a sunburst out of pattern paper and added stitching across the rays for texture

Practical Scrapper Mary Pat created a sunburst using the Silhouette and backed the negative space with pattern paper.

Practical Scrapper Cathy created a layered sunburst with the Bazzill Sweetwater Lucy's Crab Shack line!

Practical Scrapper Malika made a summery card with a Silhouette cut sunburst and an Epiphany Crafts epoxy.

Practical Scrapper Lanette covered her whole layout with a burst pattern.

Practical Scrapper Danielle de Konink made a sunburst pattern for the background and handstitched all the pieces together. She chose her photo for the dreamy effect created by the shining sun.  

Practical Scrapper Nicole Laha cut sun rays freehand from patterned paper and adhered them behind her summer photos.

Practical Scrapper Lisa Peeples used fun sunbursts to make a cover for her journal she created to record her crafty ideas and sketches.

Practical Scrapper Kerri created her sunburst with Crate Paper's Emma's Shoppe Collection.   She inked the edges of the pink/red sunbursts to highlight them.

Practical Scrapper Marcia Dehn-Nix used a Sunburst only on the top half of her layout and used stitching and sequins to accent it.

 Practical Scrapper Krissy Clark McKee used patterened paper from Pretty Little Studio's Nature Walk Collection to create her fall-themed sunburst that she accented with stitching, paper feathers, hearts, buttons, and sequins.

July Layout Sketch

If you love Layout Sketches, you are going to really love this one by Liz!  It was so much fun to play with.  We hope that you agree!

 

Practical Scrapper Lisa Moen

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson

Practical Scrappers Liz

Practical Scrapper Deborah

Practical Scrapper Jennifer Haggerty

Practical Scrapper Danielle de Konink

Practical Scrapper Julie

Practical Scrapper Alison

Practical Scrapper Lucy

Practical Scrapper Dawn Rene

Practical Scrapper Charissa

Practical Scrapper Kristy

Practical Scrapper Kim Ryden

Practical Scrapper Lisa Peeples

 

 

If you would like to play along with us this month, we would love to see what you create!  Just link up in the comments below or add your layout to our facebook page.  Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Getting Messy with Masks, Mists, and Splatters

Happy Monday, Practical Scrappers!  Remember how fun (and messy) fingerpainting was when you were a child?  Well today, our On Trend team is showing you the grown-up equivalent of finger-painting fun to create beautiful layouts.  How?  By getting down and dirty with masks, mists, and splatters!   

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson used gesso over her mask.  She then created a second layer by misting over her mask.

Practical Scrapper Mary Pat applied her mists onto a Studio Calico mask to create the large sunburst on her layout.

Practical Scrapper Jenn C used digital splatters on her layout to create a water effect!

Practical Scrapper Charissa used white mists over a triangle mask to create a subtle background on her page.  She then splattered an iridescent mist to add a water droplet look across the layout.

 

Practical Scrapper Julie used modeling paste with her mask to add dimension to her layout.  She then misted her layout with Ranger dylusion ink.

Practical Scrapper Caz Hancock used a Studio Calico mask to make her back ground.  She achieved her colour by mixing an iridescent medium with silver metallic Martha Stewart paint. She then added spatters using her Mister Huey mists from Studio Calico.

Practical Scrapper Malika Kelly used a mask and two different-colored mists.  Then she splattered drops of ink in a third color onto her layout.

Practical Scrapper Audrey Yeager used a mix of watered down mists and dripped them from a sponge brush onto her page.

 Practical Scrapper Nicole Laha went crazy with ink splatters to create the appearance of rain. She also sprayed a bit of mist onto a craft mat, using a paint brush to pick up the ink and color in the stamped image.

Practical Scrapper Danielle de Konink applied a yellow mist to a confetti mask by The Crafter's Workshop to create the background of this layout. This mask has splatter and heart shapes.

Practical Scrapper Marcia Dehn-Nix applied distress ink to jar lids and bottle caps and stamped rings on her background. The grass background was also stamped using the same distress ink. Then she splattered misting spray by uncapping the spray bottle and flicking the ink off of the plastic tube.

Practical Scrapper Lanette used Dylusion  mist with a mask to create her background.  She then added a few splatters to accent the page.