Awesome Boy Layout Using Mixed Media & Art by Marlene

Hi everybody! It's Gia. I am sure you can tell this already... but I love color. Boy layouts for me can be a challenge sometimes. In this layout I decided to steer clear of  traditional masculine colors and opt for using the bright palette in the Studio Light Art by Marlene Kit. 

I made some freehand wonky circles with some of the gelatos in the kit and used a waterbrush over the lines. I also machine stitched even more wonky circles with black thread for some contrast. I used the same gelatos diluted in water to sprinkle some color all around my background. To add texture to my background I used some modeling paste from Bad Girls Couture in the Bad Ass Art Journal Kit with the Studio Light grunge stencil in the Art by Marlene kit.

Next I fussy cut some of the circle elements in the collage papers  and started to lay out a cluster to surround my photo from my son's first grade back to school photo. I used more black thread stitching to tie in the circular background with the fussy cut circles repeating this texture a couple times. You might notice that by choosing to use repetition of  some elements of your design whether shapes, motifs, or textures the layout begins to come together cohesively even with a lot going on!
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The only items I used on this layout that were not in the collage kit were some On a Whim Thickers by Amy Tangerine which were sold a while back in the Clique Kits shop and a roller stamp by Vicki Boutin to add some messy stamping to my background. When it comes to mixed media collage technique, I have 5 basic "layers" that I tend to incorporate into every project.

1. a media layer
2. a paint layer
3. a stitching layer
4. a stamping and/or handwriting layer
5. a paper layer

You will get different effects of course depending on what order you add these layers but no matter what you will end up with a rich, dimensional and textured design. You just have to play and experiment to find combinations you like.

Finally, I added some washi strips and fussy cut collage paper flowers here and there once I had my photo planted where it looked appealing to me.  Before adhering my paper pieces to the page, I varied the height using foam dots and tape. This layout did not require a lot of journaling because the photo gave away the theme of the memory I am documenting and many of the chipboard pieces served as more of my "story." 

I truly love how this layout came out and most of all the fact that it is one of a kind and no one else will use the collage papers by Marlene in exactly the same way! I think that is what makes mixed media collage a lot of fun for creative scrapbookers! 
-Hugs,
​Gia