lovin' seven

another amazing kit from the ladies at the Urban Scrapbook. this month the challenge was to use Faber-Castell Gelatos on our layout. i first used them on this layout for one of my classes. i loved them then and i still love them now.



this time i wanted to try a watercolour look on the background that i saw on a layout by Anabelle O'Malley. if art has a watercolour technique i almost always fall in love with it. i just love the look of the imperfect and free form it gives the subject matter. i could have made the colours darker by adding more layers, but i preferred to have the lighter colour.

i used a gesso/gelato mix to paint one of the photo frames. the same mix was used to give a wash to the other frames. i am totally loving these trendy photo frames. now you can get a variety of sizes, styles and colours. they are a must-have.

another use for the gelatos is to rub them onto the surface of your embossing folder. mist with water and then wait a few seconds while the water mixes with the colour. add paper and emboss as usual. i used the doily embossing folder that comes with this paper line. {doilies by Crate Paper Styleboard} after it dried i cut out a few of the doilies and added them randomly.



this is one of my favourite stencils. they need to make more like this design!

i also used the gelatos to add colour to the ribbon. then i darkened a few areas of it with some Distress Ink.



some paper ripping. then some more gesso.



you can rub the Gelato on your non-stick mat, then add any multi-medium of your choice. it will always be colourized to a tone of the gelato. for the flowers i mixed mine with gesso. using some of the white gesso allowed me to mix the white and pink to make these flowers more interesting. although they were still very pretty by themselves!

see the ribbon tucked behind the flower and bow? it started out as a length of bright yellow ribbon. i changed mine to a pastel by adding gesso. on another strand i used my pink gelato and gesso mix. the third strand had gesso and a green gelato.



i added a few words to describe my daughter at this age.

see that little green banner under the photo? they are from Basic Grey. ever have a special document that you want to include in an album, but it didn't fit with the layout or in a page protector? these are designed to fold in half, be attached to the item - use at least 2 of them - and then it has holes to be held in place by your binder rings. they are sold in at least 6 colours. if you are a fan of project life, then these would come in very handy. i'm not a project life fan, so i cut mine in half and used them like an embellishment.

thanks for stopping by. i enjoyed creating this layout and accepting the challenge this month.

i hope you have made plans to stop by Urban Scrapbook and check out the layouts in person. so much inspiration in one little place!