The Dusty Attic Blog: Love - Aneta Nasionkowska

Hi there!

Today I'll describe the creative process of the layout which I'm very pleased with. I know that it doesn't sound too modest and that it's considered indecent to praise myself.. However, I don't really like this rule, because why not say out loud that I'm really proud of myself?.. I'd like to point out that I'm at the beginning of the cognitive path of mixed media, I'm surprised by the various reactions in which the media react together and sometimes my hands drop and creativity runs away for long hours, when the cool background turns into slush. Fortunately, not this time. And least it weren't that I'm just complaining - I really like my job! Let's begin.

I was supposed to create a delicate, romantic layout for the 14th wedding anniversary in shades of blue, gray and white. This time a mother chose this form of a gift for her daughter and son-in-law. My mum has been dead for 17 years and sometimes I'm thinking what kind of mother-in-law she would be.. I'll never know the answer to this question, so at least I can use my imagination. Anyway, THIS mum - she's a very nice mum and mother-in-law as well.. Layout is based on a wooden frame covered with canvas, additionally stiffened from the bottom with a sheet of beermat, which you can get from the Dusty Attic store, cut exactly to the size of 12' scrap paper. On the back I have put private wishes for a happy couple. And now I'll discuss the front step by step with you.

This time I chose the background from the Love me tender collection by Margaret Paper Design . The paper's edges are torn, clean and create a thin frame around the work, sewn three times on the machine with a gray thread. I secured the sheet with a clear gesso, waited for it to dry and applied the pattern of the dotted mask with Snowflake paste from Finnabair - I used it for the first time and I'm satisfied - the effect is very delicate, fluffy, it shimmers delicately like snow on a sunny day. After drying, it looks graceful, and the pattern itself is simply amazing! In three places I added a pattern from Threaded beads mask with Distress Crackle paste by Ranger. I left the original colour.

The romantic photo of the couple on their wedding day takes center stage. Paper sticks out from under it, creating a thin frame, each layer is glued with beermat for a 3D effect. From the same collection of papers I chose a few accessories for cutting out: on the sides - baroque ornaments, and at the bottom the inscription "Zawsze razem" (always together) and small paper tags below. I decorated them with Nuvo drops in the color of chalk stick and tiny, silver balls. Under the photo, you can see protruding pieces of frayed, beige linen and beige-blue lace.

The composition around the photo is built on grapevine leaves, which have been color-matched to the client's requirements. The chipboard is about 30 cm long, I cut it into two pieces. With the white Gelly Roll pen from Sakura, I sketched the outline of the leaves and their innervation and then colored them with Cool Gray and Powder Blue pastes from Finnabair. I treated the edges of all the chippies gently with Finn's Blue Lagoon wax. Among the leaves, I put a lot of flowers made by me with the Spellbinders die and the remains of papers from the Breeze of dreams collection. I dyed the flowers inside with the same wax and fastened the stamens, and then I stuck some paper leaves from the die. There are also tiny X-Cut punch flowers decorated with blue beads. In the upper right corner you can see three large, white flowers - also from a die, made by me, few paper leaves around them, torn gauze, silver threads, colorless beads and even more tiny silver balls from Finnabair. A magnificent blue lace bow sticks out from under the flowers, stained with Powder Blue paste and then lightened with white acrylic paint. The same lace can be found in two other workplaces accompanied by snow-white lace.

On the left side of the photo I've placed a beautiful wall clock on lovely two-level swirls. Clock is painted with Powder Blue and Cool Gray pastes, stained the edges with a mist in the shade of espresso by Ranger, and finally brightened with white acrylic paint. I coloured swirls with silver Sizzix wax, and I applied Cool Gray paste partially. The icing on the cake is the inscription love in ecru colour - I used hot embossing here.

There are three badges in the center, two of them are the beginning of the marriage vow, and on the third is a quote from the Bible. I cut them out with a die, thickened them with cardboard, and covered the edges with a Distress in the shade of Salty Ocean. I glued the bottom with 3D foam. There are a lot of silver beads on the entire work and 3D pearls in several places, I splashed the whole art work with white acrylic paint. Remember to cover the photo before you start splashing, this part of the work should remain legible. And again... I almost forgot to mention butterflies, and I like them so much! This time there are three of them and they shine slightly silver. Thank you for your attention. :*

Products used this time: