"Wonderful World" Mixed Media Layout ~ Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots; Blue Fern Studios Aug Sketch Challenge

"Wonderful World"

Hi everyone! Our youngest daughter, Maria, has spent time in beautiful Montana country. She loves the wide open spaces. I've created this layout with a photo of her and her Australian shepherd, Tori, on the snowy prairie. I just adore the contrast of the golden prairie grass against the winter sky. 

Flowers of all shapes and sizes are often found on my pages as you see on this layout. Arranging and positioning them can be a challenge. One of my favorite Helmar products, Liquid Scrap Dots, makes this much easier. This thick, slow drying adhesive allows me to position flowers that look better turned at an angle and also allows me to pop up other flowers to better fit into the cluster. So let's take a look at my layout and how I've used the Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots.

I was inspired by the August sketch challenge over at Blue Fern Studios and have used their gorgeous paper, chipboard, and stamps to create my layout. Please scroll down to view the sketch.

Photo Credit: Joanna Martin - Choteau, Montana

Tips and Techniques

It's so easy to use Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots. Simply squeeze a nice size dollop onto the back of your flower, then place it into your cluster. Because it is so thick, you can position your flower just how you want it. In case you're wondering, it adheres well to mixed media backgrounds. It does dry slowly, so when using Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots, I typically arrange my clusters in the evening and let them sit overnight. By the next morning the adhesive is set, and the flowers won't move around if you bump them while applying the finishing touches to your project. If I'm eager to finish my project, I work around the flowers then when done, go back and re-position any flowers that may have been nudged out of place.

I've tilted and arranged flowers with Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots.

I like to think outside the box. The "fence" chipboard pieces on either side of the photo are Blue Fern Studios bird houses. The grid design looks like an old wooden fence. I just tucked the curved top part under some flowers.

Helmar Super-Tac EVA Glue is a strong, thin glue that dries perfectly clear, so it's perfect to brush around my clusters. While wet, I sprinkle lightly with chunky glitter and microbeads, to add a touch of sparkle.

I've also used the Helmar Super-Tac EVA Glue here two ways. I brushed the Blue Fern Studios Wildflower chipboard liberally with Helmar Super-Tac EVA Glue a little at a time and used tweezers to apply seed beads to give dimension to the flowers. 

I like to experiment and had a bit of an accident with clear crackle paint. I applied it over tissue tape and discovered that once dry, it doesn't adhere well to the tape and was chipping off. I lightly (and carefully) brushed Helmar Super-Tac EVA Glue over the loose crackle. Problem solved ~ the crackle isn't going anywhere now.

Larger items that lie flat like my chipboard "fence" and butterfly are adhered with Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive.

A drop of Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive for each of these little blossoms and leaf holds them in place.

Although the resin flower was self-adhesive, it didn't stick well to the painted surface on this gorgeous Blue Fern Studios medallion, so a drop of Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive keeps it secure.

I hope you've been inspired to try out

Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots on your next project.

Helmar Product List

Liquid Scrap Dots

Super-Tac EVA Glue

 450 Quick Dry Adhesive

Blue Fern Studios Products

Deja Vu ~ Petites Cartes

Stamp ~ Forever

Chipboard ~ Ornate Medallions

Chipboard ~ Seasonal Wildflowers

Chipboard ~ Veranda Cage Set

Chipboard ~ Brigitte Butterfly Set

Other Products

Prima Flowers ~ Butterfly - Chenille #655350

Prima Flowers ~ Parisa Mayfair Mix #557607

Prima Flowers ~ Arco Iris Flowers #544379

Prima Flowers ~ Guava Peony Brahms #542771

Prima Flowers ~ Serenade #561444

Prima Flowers ~ Princess - Happily Ever After #574406

Prima ~ Resin Icons - Feathers #573355

Prima ~ Debutante - Say It In Crystals #644350

Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Sweetheart Blossoms, white

Wild Orchid Crafts ~ 8mm Rosebuds, white

Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Tuscan Rosebuds, white

Wild Orchid Crafts ~ 25mm Cottage Roses, mixed purple/lilac

The Paper Studio ~ Spare Parts - Brights Paper Flower Assortment

Recollections ~ Embellishments - leather flower

Stampendous ~ Fran-tage - Glass Glitter, Lavender

Iced Enamels ~ German Glass Glitter - Chocolate

Martha Stewart ~ Micro Beads - White Gold

Idea-ology ~ Tim Holtz - Remnant Rubs, Botanical

Jewelry Findings ~ Stash

Idea-ology by Tim Holtz ~ Tissue Tape - Symphony; Sketchbook

Liquitex ~ Matte Medium

Liquitex ~ Gesso - clear, white

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® ~ Pigment Powder - brown, gold

Clearsnap/Colorbox by Donna Salazar ~ Mix’d Media Inx - Berries

Clearsnap/Colorbox ~ Top Boss Embossing Powder - clear

Ranger ~ Tim Holtz - Distress Ink, Dusty Concord, Walnut Stain, Brushed Corduroy, Pumice Stone, Forest Moss

Viva ~ Croco Crackling Colour - Transparent

Stampers Anonymous ~ Tim Holtz - Layering Stencil, Latticework, Splatters

The Crafter's Workshop ~ 6x6” Mini Coffee Splotch 

Stampers Anonymous ~ Tim Holtz - Grid Blocks

Darice ~ Heat Tool

**Please note ~ the paper and a number of other products on this page

came from the June 2015 Scraps of Elegance kit.

You can subscribe to Scraps of Elegance Kits HERE.

I turned the gorgeous Blue Fern Studios August Sketch for my inspiration:

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~