If you, like me, are drawn to details, to colorful bits and pieces, and are hesitant to part with even the smallest scraps, then why not try a mosaic approach on your next project?
Rummaging through the May 2018 main kit, I sought out papers and accents that worked with a pink, green, and blue color scheme, and then hand-cut circles from them. Inspired by mosaic techniques, which create pictures or patterns through the assemblage of small and diverse pieces, I gathered together the circles to create a diverse yet unified background.
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Instead of using a punch or die-cut machine, I opted for hand-cutting, as I find the very human imperfection and slightly imbalanced look of hand-cut circles to be endearing. It may seem time-consuming, but it’s really not — once you fall into a rhythm, the process moves quickly. The trick is to turn the paper and not just the scissors as you cut. When clustered with other less-than-perfect circles, the effect is actually kind of charming!
Not only did I cut patterned paper from the main kit, but I also cut circles from the cacti, shell, flower, and fruit shapes from the Amy Tangerine ephemera found in the main kit.
I added a layer of curvy and loopy stitching, turning the paper as I ran it through the machine — but before doing so, I removed a few of the circles, and then, after I finished the stitching, I placed them back on the layout with adhesive circles placed under them, to lend more dimension to the page. I also topped a few of the circles with Crate Paper shimmery hearts from the main kit.
Just as the mosaic approach pulls together various bits and pieces, so does the journaling on the page. I assembled a “love list” to include some of my daughter’s current favorites.
This is a fun technique that I will definitely be trying again. It’s a great way to use up kit leftovers or kit items that you initially told yourself might not work with your style or page themes. Through the use of a mosaic of sorts, you can discover the nuances and versatility of a kit, and see with fresh eyes.
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