13 arts: "Amazing" ~ a tropical layout with Sandi Clarkson

Hello, everyone!

Sandi here with you today sharing my newest layout using the gorgeous Rose Fields paper collection and lots of yummy 13 Arts products including my fave Water Inks.

Because this photo is taken near a waterfall in Ecuador, South America, I wanted to create somewhat of a tropical, rainforest effect. (PC: M. Souza.)

Firstly, I fussy cut the large hydrangea flowers and leaves from a second sheet of the Paper Botanical Garden paper and then set them aside while I prepared the under layers. I applied clear gesso to the primary layer of the Paper Botanical Garden after distressing it and adhered it to Letters to Rose paper ... at a bit of an angle to provide interest.

Next, I further enahnced my background using Modeling Paste and pushing it through the Wonderful Nature Stencil. After the modeling paste dried, I began adding color with the olive green from the Watercolor Set 16 pan as well as Olive Green Ayeeda Ink. Later, I highlighted with 13 Arts SPLASH White Ayeeda Ink and additionally splashed with watered down White Gesso and SPLASH Glitter Old Gold.

I moved on to adding my fussy cut pieces, my photo and florals, including the yummy Green Twigs which I cut into several pieces. For texture, I included Sisal and 3D Balls in 2 sizes. To add a bit of interest, I printed my photo in a tall, skinny format and then cut it in 3 pieces and mounted them on some of the leftover papers.

Here you can see the Vintage Moments Word Stickers A4 that I mounted to paper and added here as a bit of a subtitle. Also, you'll note the additional dabbing of my Olive Green Ayeeda Ink. I used corrugated cardboard behind my fussy cut pieces and my photo to add height and dimension.

This is from the upper left hand corner of the layout. You might guess that green is my favorite color. The effect from the stencil, modeling paste and water ink, makes my heart skip a beat!

Because the family member in the photo had made comments to me regarding the beetles and other insects in this region, I wanted to include a couple of the metal Metal Insects II. I would never had imagined I'd be adding beetles to my projects!