Smile Page using Hazel & Ruby Tissue

The moment that I saw these gorgeous tissue papers from Hazel and Ruby I knew I wanted to use them on a page, so I sat down to play with a few of the newer items in my stash and this is the result - I think it would also make for an excellent 12 x 12 layout.

To recreate this you will need:

• Hazel & Ruby - Pass the Tissue (Chevron Newsprint & Quote Collage) and Wrap It Up (Crazy for Chevy - Teals) plus Stencil Masks (Everyday Words)
• Copic Markers: Copic Blending Fluid, N3, N5, N7 and BG57
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Flat Fabio Sprays from Fab Scraps: Cafe au Lait, C'est la vie Cerise & Merci Beaucoup Mint
• Distress Paint: Black Soot
• Matte Medium and Gesso 
• Stencils - I used Crafters Workshop - Specimens, Splatz and Mini Confetti.

Instructions: 

Tear strips from the Hazel & Ruby papers and use matte medium to glue down onto journal page - I covered the entire page.  I also overlapped some of the designs to add a bit more colour and interest.

While matte medium is still damp, start applying the gesso - apply heavier in some areas and lighter in others to allow some of the background papers to show through.  While still wet, take a baby wipe and use this to blend some of the gesso into the background (for a softer effect) or if any areas have too much - use a clean baby wipe to remove some of the gesso and reveal what is underneath.

 While the gesso is still damp begin spraying or flicking/dripping colour on top - because both spray and underlayers are wet they will mingle a little giving a different result than if you had waited for the gesso to dry, rather than puddles of colour (on top of the dry gesso) the spray sort of soaks into the gesso and blends a little - it's a really beautiful effect that I encourage you to try for yourself.  If any areas of spray are too dark or large - blot with a paper towel to remove a little colour.  I semi dried this with a heat gun.

Allow to dry thoroughly before you begin working over the painted surface.  Use matte medium to glue down the photo and then very carefully spray over the background and photo using Copic Markers (BG57 and N3) and an airbrush, starting with lightest colours first.  Remember to protect the bits of your page to prevent any overspray - I just use scrap paper.

I used the stencil patterns to create a frame for the photo.

I then added the word 'smile' using stencil masks from Hazel and Ruby.

I sprayed my darkest colours (N5 and N7) over the word and added a few more dark areas around the photo to bring the page together.  I then sprayed and flicked a little Copic Blending Solution over the whole page to create some very cool patterns in the Copic inked areas.

Carefully peel off the letters to reveal the finished page!

I hope you like this style of page, I really enjoy trying out new products and finding ways to make them work with other stuff I already own - I just had a ball making this!

From the stencil mask to create the word,

the Copic ink around the photo, to the

amazing patterns from the blending solution!

This whole page just made me smile!

Back with more soon,
Kate