Here is the March layout for Stick it Down. This month we have a 9×9 square layout, this time in a grid configuration. I had so much fun with mixed media on this layout. Get ready for a long post with lots of pictures!
The sketch is here, and it leaves itself pretty open for interpretation about where to place your photo.
I decided on a central photo though, to keep the focus on it. The first thing I did was create a bunch of frame cut files, as well as the meowmeowmeow cut file. I arranged everything in Silhouette Studio to be exactly how I wanted it, and then cut the frames out of white cardstock, and the meows from patterned papers. The meows count as my title and my journaling. What I’m trying to say is that we have a chatty boy!
I covered all the frames in white gesso and then painted them with watercolors. I also painted gesso in 9 spots on the background paper, so I could apply mixed media to the background under each element. For the cute frame, I used purple polka dot washi tape in random directions, and splattered mint shimmer ink. I also used a hello stamp. I staples the frame on, the gesso and watercolor warped it quite a bit, which adds dimension.
Here I taped down the title with the see through washi tape, and splattered on the background with watercolor. The cat face was fussy cut from Crate Paper’s Curious paper, from the Wonder collection. The purple polka dot paper is CTMH
This one I splattered purple shimmer ink and used chevron washi tape, that I then gesso’d over to mute it down. I then stitched the frame down and added some sequins. The mEow alphas are from My Mind’s Eye Necessities in Wood.
I painted this frame in watercolor, and then doodled on it with Sharpie. I painted the heart with watercolor and then stamped a little one as well. The hearts are dollar store stickers.
For the main photo, I layered gesso, yellow watercolor, purple polka dot tape, more gesso, then the frame which I painted in cornflower blue to make it contrast the photo, and stitched and doodled on. I popped the photo up on foam. Look at that sassy face!
For this frame, I tried to stitch over the word with my sewing machine. I had to go super slow with the hand crank. I added some enamel dots here, from Michaels.
Here I added a sploosh of watercolor and splatters to make the paper stand out. I added a bunch of lines of stitching, and then outlined one of the meows to emphasize it. And I just realized I didn’t completely outline the bottom part, I will have to go back and add that in. Wait, I mean… you saw nothing :P
More of the same, splatters, gesso, washi, and stiching. I tried to switch it up as much as could in every square, while using the same tapes and techniques and sticking to a color scheme. Which was yellow/orange/cornflower blue/minty blue/purple.
This is one of those layout where you really don’t know when to stop. I keep thinking oohh I can add more doodling here, or stitching, or more sequins, or more cat faces. I really struggled over that, and this layout took me about 3 weeks to complete, as I had to keep going back to it. But I’m really pleased with the end result. The beauty of gesso is you can really go back to tone things down, or to change the color if you’re not happy with it. And it creates a really pretty layered media effect.
I hope I inspired you to take such a regimented sketch and make it all soft and flowy with mixed media!
xoxo
-A
