Prima April PPP

There was a time when color challenges and mood boards intimidated me, and I would only play along with these challenges when compelled to by design team commitments. Because of these design team commitments, I developed a love of color challenges and mood boards almost in spite of myself, and they are some of my favorite challenges now.

I like pretty color combinations well enough, but striking color combinations are the ones that really grab me, and this month's Prima PPP really fits the bill. The contrast of the bold blues with the soft pinks and greys just begged me to play along.

Here is this month's inspiring moodboard:

I crammed a lot of background work into this one. I started by coating the paper in clear gesso, so that I could better control where my mediums went (or be able to quickly dab them off if they ended up in the wrong place), then added some white gesso over the area around my photo. Inspired by the image on the lower left of the moodboard (the heart wrapped in chicken wire), I stenciled a geometric shape on the background paper using the Harlequin stencil and White Crackle Paste.

 

Once the Crackle Paste was dry, I spritzed on Summer Sky and Cobalt Color Bloom sprays. To give really give the harlequin pattern dimension, I outlined the diamonds with a water-soluble black pencil, using some water to blur the sharp outline somewhat. I finished off the background by splattering on some blue and pink sprays, as well as some black and white paint, then brushed Mica Powder in Vintage Pink over the background randomly using my finger.

In order to add more dimension and flow to the layout, I added glass beads using gel medium, and tucked some gauze in amongst my blooms.

 

Some wire thread, corrugated cardboard and Junkyard Findings add some masculine elements to the layout.

Thank you for stopping by! I've been hard at work at more cards for birthdays my sons are invited to, and will be sharing those in the next couple of days.

Prima Products Used:

- Salvage District papers: Louis XIII, Palais Royale
- Royal Menagerie 3x4 Journaling Cards
- Prima flower packaging
- Gesso - Clear, White
- Crackle Paste - White (961503)
- Stencil - Harlequin (961305)
- Color Bloom: Summer Sky (573867) & Cobalt (573898)
- Mica Powder: Vintage Pink
- Tales Of You And Me: Je T'aime vine
- Mini Sachet Roses (565985)
- Something Blue flowers (575311)
- Wire Thread: Dusty (572044)
- Glass Beads: Cobalt Blue (962654)
- 3D Gloss Gel (961381)
- Junkyard Findings: Industrial Lamps (892293), Tiny Screws