Tips and Techniques by Zoe Nemburt, our June Featured GD

Hey there, Zoe here with you today, and I have a few techniques to share with you. I love details in scrapbooking, and I've always believed that it's the little things that count. We always start with a plain piece of paper... so lets start with the background. I just so happened to order this checker stencil not knowing I would receive the Sunrise Kit from ScrapThat! I was pretty happy when I found out, as the stencil is designed for the same line by Prima... I love it! I think it's my most fav stencil to date. 

So I used this stencil to add ink first, I know it sounds simple but do you have any idea how many times I've used the modelling paste or gesso and then wished I had of inked first?? Well that's just me... I see the final piece in my head and try and get there as fast as I can and forgetting all the steps. So always stencil with ink first and then add your paste. Trust me! I like to use Tim Holtz distress inks and applicator, I gently swirl the applicator sponge in a circular motion to get a nice even coverage a little bit of ink goes a long way.

I also use old credit cards for my modeling paste, and my favorite brands are Liquitex and Golden usually whichever is discounted :) 

We received this awesome ribbon in the kit. It is wired... which is great as we can have some fun with this... I wanted to scrunch the ribbon up, securing the scrunches with a sewing machine is usually the best way to hold them in place but we don't all have sewing machines (I do, but for now lets pretend I don't) so this ribbon you can slide it down on the wires and then tie once you have the right amount of scrunchiness!! 

Once you are happy you should have something like this :) just add dabs of glue to adhere it to your layout or sew it in place, if you sew, make sure to sew closer to the edges so it will not flatten your ruffles.

Ok I admit it... I'm a frugal scrapper... but I also enjoy layers and embellishments and flowers and and... you get the idea. So here is an idea to make your supplies go further. In the Main Kit you will receive this awesome chipboard swirl. Well why dont we make that TWO chipboard swirls :) VERY carefully you can pull apart if you slide you nail or fine scissors around the outside edge and slowly peel away.

Now, lets get some paint going and make these chipboard pieces become part of our page. I used a yellow heavy body paint by liquitex, you don't have to use heavy body but it was the closest to my desk!  And I know it's bright... it won't stay like this for long :)

Once your paint has dried you can add some alcohol ink. I don't have many colours but these are hazelnut and wild plum... they actually worked really well for the colours of my page.

I decided the bright yellow was wayyyy too bright so I dulled the colours down by using a white distress stain... love this stuff! Just dab it on.

Last but not least I added crackle glaze this is definitely an optional stage, keep in mind the drying time is overnight for this stuff to crackle fully. Once dry add to you page.

Add some dimension with pop dots and pop your titles off the page.

One of my most favourite things to do with wire stemmed flowers is to twist them into spirals... again... details :)

And here is my final page and a couple of detail shots.

I also LOVE to add little spots of Gesso to my finished layouts, you can really see it in my detailed shots here.

I really hope you enjoyed my tutorial.

Happy Scrapping.

Be sure to stop by Zoe's blog, Designs by Zoe, to be inspired by more of her gorgeous work!