"Happy" Layout and Build-A-Page Tutorial by ~ Helena Johansson

I simply fell in love with this months Girlie Grunge Sketch-n-color - a fabulous sketch by Mistra and amazing colors to go with it, I had so much fun creating my layout!

Come visit us at Donna's Ning-site and the fantastic gallery there! If you create something using our Girlie Grunge Sketch-n-color, do upload it into the gallery so we all can admire it!

I flipped the sketch 90 degrees:

Before I show you close-ups, I want to share how I did the background on this page, using a brick stencil from Want2Scrap and Donna's with Mixed Media Inx in the colors of this month: Pewter, Peridot and Patina.

I started with three papers from GCD Studios & Donna's, the Natural Beauty Collection and the Family Jeans collection. In the bottom I have Blue Fence from Natural Beauty, then Casual Elegance also from Natural Beauty (used a border punsch for this one) and finally Heirloom from Family Jeans.

After gluing the papers as shown below, I painted with some white gesso using a sponge, just a thin layer. Then I used a brick stencil from Want2Scrap & Donna's with texture paste. 

After the paste had dried I took out my Mix'd Media Inx, colors Pewter, Peridot and Patina. The Colorbox tool is perfect to use when working with these inks!

I started painting on topp of the bricks and gesso, using the darkest color, Patina, first. When painting I use circular moves and then let the ink fade out. I didn't care too much about how it turned out in the middle, since I already knew I was going to have a piece of paper covering this spot.

I then repeated with the Pewter ink, trying to let the gray melt into the dark blue.

I finished the background with the Periodot color, using the same technique as before:

Amazing colors together!

Then I added a piece of paper, Family cards, from the Family Jeans collection, a piece of cheesecloth and my photos (these are of my darling nephew, Malte. Isn't he just adorable?!).

The title, Happy, I cut out from the 12x12 pad image sheet, Family Jeans collection.

The brick background peeks out behind the wood paper. Bricks and wood - gives a rustic yet romantic feel!

I made two flowers using Spellbinders Rose Creations dies and Heirloom paper from the Family Jeans collection. I have distressed the edges of each flower layer, sprayed some Smooch Spritz, River Mossy, and then painted the edges with a bit of gesso.

A couple of close-ups from different angles:

Thank you for stopping by today!

xoxo

Helena

Products used:

Paper

GCD Studios: Donna Salazar - Natural Beauty collection, Blue Fence

GCD Studios: Donna Salazar - Natural Beauty collection, Casual Elegance

GCD Studios: Donna Salazar - Family Jeans collection, Heirloom

GCD Studios: Donna Salazar - Family Jeans collection, Family Cards

GCD Studios: Donna Salazar - Family Jeans collection, 12x12 pad image sheet

Stencil

Want2Scrap: Donna Salazar - Bricks (small)

Inks

Mix'd Media Inx - Pewter

Mix'd Media Inx - Peridot

Mix'd Media Inx - Patina

Smooch Spritz - River Mossy

Dies

Spellbinders: Donna Salazar - Rose Creations

Other

Gesso and texture paste

Flowers from Petaloo and Prima

Chipboard from Dusty Attic

Cheesecloth