![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-7YsGJUQ54b8/VGkBHADD9AI/AAAAAAAAAcY/t93wjv_XDMI/s1600/The-Four-of-Us.jpg) |
My husband and me with our two boys on October 5th, 2014 |
I made this page for my mother-in-law who asked for a layout of my husband and me with our two boys. I knew I didn't have any recent photos of the four of us so we went for a walk along a nature trail for a scenic backdrop and used the timer on my camera. Picture me pressing the timer button then madly stumbling across the rocks to get in position. I actually started this layout a while ago but had to put it on the back burner for a while because of my other commitments. As it was to be a birthday present I had to switch it to a priority to finish on time.
The background of this layout is a piece of 13arts paper,
Always Reach Higher, from their
Fly Away collection. I added some colour with a green Faber-Castell Gelato and diluted Flat Fabio mist to the background, did some stencilling with molding paste overtop, applied a clear crackle coat over parts and did a light grey wash over the crackled areas
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13arts paper, "Always Reach Higher" |
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![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-8HuZlGWnsUI/VGkKkyxAXEI/AAAAAAAAAc0/GZupgRZoOyU/s320/kasbah.jpg) |
The Crafter's Workshop mini template - Kasbah |
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The old paper doily behind the photo was coloured with a green Gelato and Flat Fabio mists then glued to the paper with matte multi-medium . I punched around the edges and added a bit more red to some areas of the paper to balance it out and sprayed the paper with a coat of Krylon Low Odour Clear Matte finish (to tone down the glossy look of the crackle which I didn't like).
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![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/-QdJ8Z11_v_g/VGkNnI7URzI/AAAAAAAAAdI/QhYjrZZAAes/s320/round%2Bbinding%2Bedge%2Bpunch.jpg) |
Ek Success punch - Round Binding Edge |
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The rocks were made from oven-baked clay using a mold and then painted. I did a basecoat of grey and played with washes and dry brushing overtop until I got something I liked. The clay stays somewhat flexible when cured so I was able to cut pieces of it off and place some of the "rocks" on top to make it look more natural. The acorns were also made using a mold and clay.
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/-pE9AOKyXXY8/VGk47o6j1fI/AAAAAAAAAd8/u_gVpNzryBo/s320/cobblestone%2Bpath%2Bmold.jpg) |
First Impressions Molds - Cobblestone Path |
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![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-BWhaYq02fks/VGk5BcAgk2I/AAAAAAAAAeE/DOV12nTRI8U/s320/oak%2Barbor.jpg) |
Best Flexible Molds - Oak Arbor |
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These are some of the other products I used:
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Dusty Attic chipboard - French Flourish |
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![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hq7wMU_-CR4/VGlDbEOYZWI/AAAAAAAAAek/jyxtmH0LemE/s320/french_flourish_border.jpg) |
Dusty Attic chipboard - French Flourish Border |
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![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/-VzH9qU_q1QI/VGlDh7LOR_I/AAAAAAAAAes/Bynu91u_SxQ/s320/Flourish%2B10.jpg) |
Creative Embellishments chipboard - Flourish 10 |
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![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/-_vpTvenKPk8/VGlEZxTepHI/AAAAAAAAAfA/dwpoJP9Yrlo/s1600/Autumn-Gatherings.jpg) |
Sizzix Sizzlits die - Autumn Gatherings |
And some more close-ups:
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The chipboard leaves were painted green and sprayed with brown mists, then lightly inked around the tips with black. |
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The lacy die-cut leaves were made using Prima dies. |
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/-x6ygQZxcM_o/VGlFtfk7y6I/AAAAAAAAAfM/V6yLXJzEnqg/s1600/closeup4.jpg) |
I sprayed the die-cut maple leaves with red mist then inked around the edges in black |
Thanks so much for looking.