"Hidden Staircase" for C'est Magnifique

I'm back to share my second layout with the gorgeous November C'est Magnifique kit featuring the Blue Fern Montage papers. 

We recently took a vacation to Iowa and while there, toured the capitol building. The architecture and attention to detail was amazing. Every inch of the building was covered with carved marble, gilding, and hand painted surfaces. There are five domes atop the building and this ornate hidden staircase rises to the top of one of these domes.

"Hidden Staircase"

Tips and Techniques

This Main Kit Ironwork Arch is gorgeous, and I placed it above the photo to continue the feel of the dome where the photo ends. I painted with white crackle, and when dry, dry brushed with bronze metallic paint, then a bit of white gesso to highlight the cracked texture. You can see the Mixed Media Kit clock hands peeking out from the top of this cluster. I brushed them with adhesive and Prima Art Sugar to distress.

The Mixed Media Kit includes the new Prima Art Sugar in Charcoal. I brushed glue across the flowers, then sprinkled with glitter. I found that this glitter appears dark against a light surface, and lightens a black surface. I wanted to lighten up the feathers just a little, so used a small paint brush to place spots of glue in the direction of the vanes to adhere more glitter. 

Here's another view. Below the feathers, I spread extra heavy gesso with a grain striping comb for texture, then when dry painted. I mixed grey into the mint green gesso until it was the color of the background behind the vintage woman ephemera piece, then used it with the Mixed Media Kit Fleur de Lis stencil. I tucked some sisal from my stash around the flowers for texture. 

I layered lots of pieces from the Main Kit Ephemera pack and Mixed Media Kit journaling cards around and under the photo. The background paper is altered with Twinkling H20's, then splattered with drawing ink, mist, and more of the Twinkling H20's. I printed the title onto ink jet transparency paper. 

Product List

Main Kit

Blue Fern Studios ~ Montage - Now and Then

Blue Fern Studios ~ Montage – Calling Cards

Blue Fern Studios ~ Ironwork Arch

Prima ~ Cigar Box Secrets - Humidor #578596

Prima ~ Ephemera ~ Epiphany #575885

Mixed Media Kit 

Walnut Hollow ~ Clock Hands, Black #23086

Prima ~ Cigar Box Secrets - Londsdale #578626

Crate Paper ~ Notes & Things – Journaling Cards #683542

C’est Magnifique ~ Gesso - Mint Green

Plaid ~ Chalkboard Paint, Green

Touch of Nature ~ Feathers - Black

Momenta ~ Stencil (Fleur de Lis) BL-341

Prima ~ Art Ingredients Art Sugar – Charcoal

Manorhouse ~ Black Tea Roses

Brass Clock Charm

Stash

Ink Jet Transparency Paper

Brown Sisal 

Viva ~ Crackle Paint – White

Ranger ~ Distress Ink – Antique Linen, Pumice Stone

Liquitex ~ Extra Thick Gesso

Jacquard ~ Lumiere – Pewter; Metallic Bronze

LuminArt ~ Twinkling H20’s – Autumn Butternut; Mandarine Citrine; Cedarwood

Daler-Rowney Pearlescent Liquid Acrylic Ink

Higgins ~ Drawing Ink, White

Tattered Angels ~ Glimmer Mist – Woven Burlap; Graphite

Helmar ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive

Helmar ~ Zapdots White ½ in. Round

Helmar ~ Liquid Scrap Dots

Helmar ~ Craft & Hobby PVA Glue

Art Institute Glitter ~ Designer Dries Clear Adhesive

Tombow ~ Multi Mono Liquid Glue 

Martha Stewart ~ Grain Striping Comb

Ranger ~ Heat It 

Font ~ Before the Rain

Thanks for stopping by today! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~