Hey friends!  Brianna Lepper here today sharing a new layout for Mixed Media Monday using the gorgeous  April 2021 Kits!  Our design team prompt was to use a cut file as a stencil.  I chose the Pinwheels April 2021 subscriber cut file designed by Kim Watson.  If you’re not a subscriber, there are free cut files available to you!  Simply login to your account or create one for free if you don’t already have one and you’ll be able to access them!  Let’s get to my layout!

 

 

To start, I cut the Pinwheels cut file out on plain white cardstock.  I prepped another piece of white cardstock with gesso and then applied modeling paste from my stash through the cut file.  Using cut files as stencils has always been a favorite technique of mine.  I love getting the most out of my cut files and I think it’s so fun to be super creative with it.  Once the modeling paste was finished drying (almost.. I tend to be super impatient with these things haha!), I went ahead and started applying some color directly onto the paste.  I used the ink pads from the Color Kit and then added in the Vibez Sweet Heart Shimmerz Spray from the March 2021 Color Kit.

 

 

I smooshed each of the ink pads onto my glass mat, sprayed some water and lightly painted on each color.  I love the texture and dimension it gives my page!  I added a few splatters here and there as well.  Once it was completely dry, I ran the whole page through my sewing machine adding stitching with gold thread.  Another fun textural element!

 

 

Next, I took some of the Pocket Life cards from the Pocket Life Kit and layered those under my photo.  I made sure to distress the edges and added some pops of black using my small stapler.

 

 

Then it was time to start embellishing!  I mainly used the Garden Party collection by Maggie Holmes for this page since I had used a lot of the Simple Stories Bunnies + Blooms collection in my last project.  I thought the pops of black in the collection went well with my black and white photo.  I used a large chipboard sticker for my title and also added in a few more chipboard stickers from that sheet into some of my clusters.  (Embellishment Kit)

 

 

I love layering different elements in my clusters.  I like to pop things up on foam and I also like to add in a bit of tangled thread.  I pulled in some of the cute mini puffy stickers from Garden Party and also adhered some of the stickers from the sticker book.  (both found in the Pocket Life Kit)

 

 

Look at how cute that chipboard bee is!!  I layered in some of the puffy Thickers (Main Kit) and also layered up a Cardstock Sticker bow (Embellishment Kit) with a puffy bow sticker (Pocket Life Kit).

 

 

And that about wraps up this layout!  Here’s another up close shot showing the mixed media, stitching and all of the fun layers!

 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by today and I hope I’ve inspired you in some way!  Have you tried using a cut file as a stencil?  If not, I hope that you give it a try!  If you haven’t picked up any of the April 2021 Kits yet, there’s still some available so make sure to snag some before they’re all gone!  Thank you again for being here and I’ll see you in my next post.  Bye for now friends!