Tuesday Tutorial with Karen - Using an Art Medium - GESSO TECHNIQUE

Hi everyone! Karen here and today I'm sharing a simple tutorial on how I used GESSO to create a subdued background. I created this layout using the January 2017 Scrapbook "Oh Darling" Add-On Kit & the "Pattern Play" paper add-on kit.

I love creating with 12x12 patterned paper however the photos and embellishments can get lost in the background. And then someone invented GESSO - how lucky! I like to think of this art medium as a blank canvas, because technically its giving you a chance to 'rub' out some of that background. 

Hint: do not use too much GESSO, start off with a small amount & work your way to more. I use make-up sponges to work with GESSO rather than a brush, it gives it leaves a great texture on the paper. Spread it out across the patterned paper & then wait until it dries, which really isn't that long.

Once dried you then can start adding your layers, photo & embellishments. For this layout I used more GESSO to create an area to stamp on to. I think it turned out great. GESSO is really easy to stamp on. 

I also added a smaller amount of GESSO to the bottom of the page where I planned to add embellishments. I loved how it turned out.

Watch the video below to see more details on how this layout and technique came together.

I hope I've inspired you to try something new.

Karen xx

Hello Fun / Oh Darling Add On Kit

Good morning! I hope you are doing well. It's Claudia here and today I'm sharing a layout I made with this month's 'Oh Darling' Add On Kit and the Pattern Paper Play Kit.

For this layout I'm using a somewhat larger photo than usual and didn't trim it down. The reason I didn't do this is because the photo has some open space which I thought would be the perfect place for my title to go.

I knew I wanted to make a somewhat colorful layout and the paper with the watercolor circles from the Pattern Paper Play Kit was the perfect one to get started with. I cut out the circles (about half of them ones that were on the paper) and put them to the right side of my layout.

I then went through the embellishments in the kit and selected some that matched the colors of the circles. I couldn't find enough matching ones, so I thought that it would be nice to add some of the foam number thickers to the ones that didn't have anything on them yet. If you struggle with using numbers this might a great way for you to use them up! :)

For my title I used one of the gold foiled pieces from the ephemera pack (Hello) and for the other part I used those beautiful black foam thickers again. I love mixing titles - it just makes them look a little more interesting to look at.

Thank you for joining me today, I hope you enjoyed seeing this layout and that you feel inspired to start creating! Have a great day!

xo Claudia