Creating with a Fall Color Palette | Nathalie DeSousa

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today to bring you a new project inspired by the colors of Fall.  This week we will be creating projects inspired by color, and i wanted to show you how to build a color family background using acrylic paints.

 

The colors used here are the ones in a Fall sunset (i found the colors by doing a Pinterest search, “Fall color palette”), and were replicated using Acrylic pop paints    The key to having a cohesive look to the background -not harsh transitions between the color stripes- is to build the colors using a same color base.  This means you start with the lightest color, in this case yellow, and create the colors using this as a base.  The background color will be the one that softnes the transitions and help create a cohesive color family.   The following video will show you how this page was put together:

 

How simple and colorful is that background?!  The color stripes are the perfect base to bring the rest of the layout to live.   The simple stenciled details are just subtle enough to add interest to the stripes

 

 

The leaf cut outs and stamped flowers are a great way to create clusters in this page without losing a large part of the background.

 

 

The smalls pop of gold complement all those ephemera pieces and stickers from Vicki Boutin Field Notes and All The Good Things collection.

 

 

The title brings the warm tones of Fall into this page, and complete the golden look of a modern Fall layout.

 

Remember to stop by Scrapbook Nerd to check all the materials used in this page, and all the new goodies that are always arriving at the store.   As always please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions on how this came together.

XO,

 

Marshmallow Cardstock, vellum  – Bazzill

Gesso; Acrylic pop paint in White, Crushed Pineapple, Sugar Strawberry, Coral Macaroon, Plum Pudding, Orange Slice, Cherry Tart, Cotton Candy and Black; Art Crayons – warm , neutral sets;  Stencil Brushes  – Vicki Boutin

Shine – Stamp and Die Set – Vicki Boutin

Stamp and Die set #2 – VIcki Boutin v

Field Notes collection – Collect and Document paper, Chipboard stickers, Watercolor Stickers, Ephemera Pieces – VIcki Boutin – American Crafts

All The Good Things collection – Cardstock Stickers – Vicki Boutin – American Crafts

Gold Puffy Thickers – Sweet & SImple collection – Pinkfresh Studio

Gold Puffy Thickers – Flourish collection – Maggie Holmes- Crate Paper

 

 

Black Paint Backgrounds | Nathalie DeSousa

Hello Scrapbook Nerd friends!

Hope you all are doing well, now that Autumn is almost here!  YAY!!!

For today’s tutorial, i want to focus on using a “Black Paint Background” for your next project.  I know that the idea of adding mixed media is a tough one for many of you, so hearing of adding black acrylic paint to your page is probably making you scared.   But i am hoping by the end of this post you will take a try at this technique.

Can you see all the black paint in the back?  Well, though you can see peeks of the mixed media, all the layers of paper and embellishments also pop from the page.  It has to do with the contrast between the background and the many layers that are forming this page.  The following video will show you how this page came together:

 

Now that you have seen how this page turns out, let me give you a few tips on how to be successful on using and creating this type of backgrounds:

• Use black acrylic paint (heavy body work a bit better, as they have less water which will prevent paper bucking)
• A wide acrylic paint brush or a hard bristle brush work best when adding Acrylic paint and creating the feathering effect of the background.
• If possible use a heavier weight of cardstock.  This will help with avoiding the paper curling.
• A little bit of paint goes a long way.
• Always start with a smaller area of mixed media.  It is easier to add more paint than to cover or take it away.  A good rule of thumb is to create a background that is only about half an inch bigger than the picture you will be using.

 

 

The dark background makes all the elements pop, think of it as the blackboard we saw in our classrooms.   These were designed to prevent light reflection and  make all the color chalks pop. In this case the black paint on the page works in a similar way, and brings forward all the details in the layers and embellishments.

 

 

Don’t you just love all the details and florals in the Kaisercraft “Fleur” collection!?!  The muted palette shines on this background, and just bring the picture forward.

 

 

Even when mixed media is not something you enjoy, this technique can easily be used to create a page with a dark background, or try your hand on getting messy.  I cannot wait to see what you create.  As always, remember to stop by Scrapbook Nerd to check all the materials used in this page and pleae do not hesitate to contact me, if you have questions on how this came together.

See you all soon,

XO

 

Kaisercraft – Fleur collection:  kit, 6.5×6.5 paper pad, collectibles

Marshmallow Cardstock

Dina Wakley Heavy Body Black Acrylic paint

Maggie Holmes – Willow Lane Collection – clear stickers

 

 

Mixed Media Favourites

Welcome back friends,
I’m back to share some projects that I created using some of my favourite things.
1. Making my own background papers
2. Paint!
3. Dina Wakley stamps

I started with a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 paper that I created with paint, stamps and stencils. Then cut it down into several pieces including one tag.  

All of the focal images have been stamped, cut out, and popped up with foam tape. I added a few details to some of the cards with paint, stamps and the tube from a paper towel roll.

Some of the sentiments are from the Tim Holtz Small Talk sticker book. Another favourite product of mine. 🙂

Thank you for stopping by the SN blog.  Check out some of our previous posts about creating your own backgrounds – background papers and making my own background