Layout 'Special Friend'

Hello there!
Welcome to 2020 chez moi.
Today's project is a 12" x 12" framed gift that I made for someone for Christmas using a selection of beautiful papers from AB Studio, Lemoncraft & Fabrika Decoru.

Fussy cutting on these cold, grey, winter days has become my way fav' way of cosying up & keeping myself entertained and trust me, there was HEAPS of fussy cutting on this one.

So this project all centered around the recipient's beloved hound, Harvey.

To start, I spent about 5 years (lol) pontificating over the background sheet of paper and where on the paper to place the photo. 

Then came the easy & fun bit...

...decorating.

I started by stamping some leaves from Altenew's 'Leaf Cluster' set with 'Wheat' Versamagic ink for a subtle kinda shadowy backdrop behind the photo. I also stamped & embossed the same images with WOW's 'Mojito' glittery embossing powder, die cut them, then started piecing together the layout with my fussy cut flowers & leaves from AB Studio's 'I Love You' & Fabrika Decoru's 'Sentimental Story'.

Getting the layout just right takes slightly less time than choosing the background paper...about 4.5 years. Then it's a case of sticking it all down before adding the 3D embellishments of flowers, pearls, glass gems, art stones & thread.

The finishing touches included glittery highlights and fussycut butterflies from Lemoncraft, then the whole piece was framed. 

Ta-Da!

AB Studio - Secret Forest

Stepping wayyyyyyyy outta my comfort zone with this 'creation'.

I use the word 'creation', but seriously...if you'd been in the room when I made this, you'd think otherwise.

Despite its tiny size (4 x 4 inches), I managed to throw my toys out of the pram, yell 'That's it...I'm selling all my craft stash!' (again), shed a frustrated tear or two and have a small breakdown...lol. 

Seriously, there is a whole comedy series available just watching me create.

To cut a very lonnnnnnnnng story short....I used fussy cut elements and papers from AB Studio's 'Secret Forest' paper collection, microbeads, polystyrene balls, snowflake paste, glass stones, glitter, distress inks, Prima sprays. In fact EVERYTHING but the kitchen sink went into this. 

I then went up to bed totally deflated that it just wasn't happening, that what was in my head wasn't being reproduced on that ickle piece of paper. I started cleaning my teeth and thought...'I know what....flick Picket Fence Distress spray all over it, that's what it needs'. So just after midnight I returned to my project, flicked paint all over it and then promptly knocked the bottle over and spilt the contents all over my desk. 

Panic ensues. I should have gone to bed, but no, it couldn't wait until morning. Flicks needed to be flicked and flicked right now. Now I'm up to my elbows in wet wipes & kitchen towel frantically mopping up bloody white paint, It's carnage, but you know what...come the morning I had fallen in love. The flicks worked, gawd know how or why...but that's all it needed.

So the lesson today is... flick paint if flicks are required....but maybe wait until the morning.