Wednesday, August 26, 2015

"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.



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 ~

7 comments:

  1. Hi Tracey! Your layout is so beautiful.. the photo looks amazing, love the flowers and love the beads on the chipboard too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! This is sensational.....love the photo, the colours, the chippy you've used, those seedbeads....it's all really, really beautiful:):)

    ReplyDelete
  3. So gorgeous! LOVING those flowers!!!!!!!!!1

    ReplyDelete
  4. A stunning page Tracey. I love the microbeads on the chipboard...such a great touch. Each and every detail of your page is perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gorgeous, I adore your work, each projects has so many different elements and layers, no two alike, just beautiful!
    Hugs, Lori m
    www.littlemscraftedmind.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Stunning piece again Tracey!! Love the look of the pearls on the chipboard!! Looks so 'real' !!
    Thanks for joining in at Blue Fern Studios again !! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Tracey. So glad you joined us at Blue Fern Studios this month for our sketch challenge. YES, I see the bird houses! - but who would know? They look like fences, and you're a genius for totally re-purposing them to fit your layout. Awesome layout in every way.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and leave a message! I treasure your comments.