Layout Share: "Always Be Yourself {Be Just Elliot}

I just love my son Elliot. He is so great. I know many parents feel this way, but there is just something about this boy that pulls at my heart strings. I am so lucky that he is mine.

This layout was a lot of fun to create and really brought out my inner child, I got to play with paint and spray and make a big mess. It was inspired by an art piece my daughter created at school and recently brought home to me, and yes I am framing it. I entered this layout onto the Noel Mignon Facebook page for the super fun spring break challenges-this one was "Over the Rainbow." I interpreted this literally, and had so much fun creating a huge scrappy mess that turned into a  really adorable layout.

Here is my layout:

Some Close-Ups:

How I created this:

I just love how this turned out. I think it might be my favorite layout (at least for now.) It was really fairly easy to do, it just took some time and my left arm was a little sore afterwards. Unfortunately I created this late at night and was using both hands so I do not have any pictures for you, but I will try and explain it as best as I can (it's really not very hard,) but if you have any questions please do not hesitate to message me below and I will be happy to help.

1. First gather supplies-I used Mister Huey's mists for all of the colors except for the purple (that was acrylic paint that I watered down.) I also went through my collection of sequins and put them in piles based on color.
2. Using a piece of white 12 x 12 cardstock, hold it up vertically over a well-protected work service with one arm (I used my left the entire time since I am right handed,) and starting on the left corner, very slowly drip paint from the top. Start with a little and just let it do it's thing. I found that having a cup of water to dip your brush in really helped. 
3. The process-Drip brush in Mister Huey, drip brush in water, hold to top of paper, repeat, until desired effect and then move to the right. 
4. I did a few drips for each color and just moved left to right until I got the color concentration that I was going for.
5. Once I finished the painting part I set it down and dried it with a heat gun to speed up the process, I found that by heating it in the back towards the end of the drying process, really helped with the paper not warping as much. I then waited about 30 more minutes (to rest my arm, it was seriously sore,) before I finished the rest of the layout.
6. Once it was dry all the way, I decided to trim it down a little so that I could adhere it to a dark gray piece of cardstock. I think it ended up being about 10.5" x10.5."
7. Next I added sequins, glueing them down.
8. There rest is just placing thickers, cutting and adding layers, playing with those for a while until I got them just how I wanted them, adding my picture, and then journaling.

Supplies Used:

• Studio Calico Neverland Scrapbook Kit and Tink and Hook Add-Ons (for all of the papers behind the photo, Glitz washi tape, the cut out embellishments, stickers, and the charcoal and white cardstock.)
• Mister Huey mists: Pretty Pink, Letter Jacket, Sherbet, Taxi, Clover, Bonny Blue, and Passport.
• Purple Twilight acrylic paint Dabber by Ranger.
• Adhesives: Tombow Aqua Mono Liquid Glue for all of the sequins, American Crafts pop dots, and American Crafts This to That glue dot roller for everything else.
• Thickers-Studio Calico Sketchbook and Notebook from their new Winter 2013 releases.
• Colored Tags
• Black American Crafts precision pen .03 tip

I hope you enjoyed looking at this layout and my sweet boy and that you have a very blessed Monday.

Happy Scrappin,

xoxox

Toni