The continuing sage of Chena and Escape Kitty

So when I last heard from Chena she had lost Escape Kitty when she stopped at Uncle Willie's.  Poor Chena she watned EK to meet her dear sweet favorite person (besides me of course) and EK jumped out  of the motorhome and ran away.  Well now, finally that dog is  home and it certainly is time.  As I suspected, she had been swilling champagne with her Uncle Willie as you can see in this picture.   I sent her an email and told her that EK was home with jrabs and everything was A_OK so she finally decided to bring the rolling doghouse home!!  She was quite elated to hear that EK was home as she really was worried about her dear kitty friend.  They are indeed the odd couple but I think they had a grand old time in Alaska!  But OMG, that motorhome sure does smell.  What's up with that cat that she can't clean out her littler box?  Me thinks that Miss Kitty just might be spoiled.  I believe she might be a little princess!!  I just have a feeling those two ar eup to something.  Chena is sneaking around, using my computer when I'm not watching,   I don't know what the heck she's searhcing for but I keep seeing addresses to far away places.  And then the other night, she was watching I Dream of Jeannie online.  What's up with that?  You know, why can't she lay around and chew on a bone like a normal dog??

I did this layout for a challenge at Flying Unicorn to use punched or cut paper.  See the challenge here.  I used 3 different items that I cut on my Vagabond, the Umbrella Man, gear, and the rosettes.  I also cut the trim using a Martha Stewart deep edge punch - scrolled hearts.  The papers I used are Webster's Ladies and Gents and I won this pack of papers from Flying Unicorn.  Sweet!!

I love layers and layers and I love patterned paper.  You don't usually see much cardstock on my layouts other than buried deep in the background or maybe used to make flowers.  Some of my scrappy friends tell me that they have trouble with layers so I thought I'd tell you how I approach layers.  First of all, as you begin to use layers, it is easier to work with a collection of papers because then all you don't have to worry about your colors coordinationg.  When selecting your layers you want to pick things that work together.  Generally a large print and a small print will work better together than two large or two small prints.  A stripe is always a nice mix into your collection of patterns.  Look for contrast in the colors you select too.  That helps each paper stand apart for the others.  Contrasting patterns look good together, i.e. a stripe, a check, circles, large print, small print.

Here's my selection of papers and in the order that they will be layered.  I chose the light green paper to cut a circle from.  This is where I will place my photo.  Although this paper has a pattern it is a "quiet" pattern and won't distract from my photo.  If you are layering your photo onto busy paper, it is a good idea to mat your photo with a solid color.  I chose that very lively striped paper to go behind the circle, after that the Webster's diecut that has some will reside mostly in the background and finally the blue as a bottom frame.  Notice I have cut the center out of the blue paper.  It wouldn't show so why waste that paper?  I used in on another LO.  The brown and white stripe I cut using Martha Stewart scrolled hearts border punch.  In the next frame you will notice that the blue is different and that's because I fliiped it over.  I liked the green colors in it and it sort of pulled all the colors together.

 

Next I put all the pieces togehter to see if it pleased me.  I decided I liked the arangement so next I thought about embellishments that might work.  I like this trim with  fuzzy balls on it, I think it works well on a guy layout.  But when I put the trim on the border cut, the border cut got lost on the layout. 

I thought maybe a piece of solid cardstock under the border cut would bring it out so I chose a green piece of cardstock the color of the leaves on the Websters die cut.

Yes, I think that helps alot!   I love paper rosettes, they work well on guy layouts, so I used my Alterations paper rosette die to cut these two rosettes.  I always ink the edges of those too.  Ink adds dimension, I use it on everything.  And one of my favorite things is the Umbrella Man so if I can work him into a layout, even better!!  I cut  this one using Timmy's glassine paper.  Then I brushed on some cappucino Perfect Pearls and set that with my heat gun to give the Umbrella Man a little shimmer.

At this point I am happy with my over design so I start putting my layout together.  BUT, before I adhere anything, I have to distress and ink all the edges.  I used a little water on the circle and striped paper edges so that I could curl the paper a little to give my layout some added dimension. 

You can see that after I got my papers adhered I added some extra embellishments and a title.  I outlined the letters with a brown pen after I put them down.  They needed a little extra emphasis as they were getting lost on that busy striped paper.  I added buttons to the rosettes to liven them up a bit, some journaling and the large gear which has been coated with bronze Perfect Pearls.  Willie is a car guy so I added the Tattered Angel car Glimmer chip.  Added the burlap and brown lace as those are always on the EK and Chena LOs.

I hope this gives you some ideas on layering and helps you get started using layers on your layouts!  Thanks for visiting, I really appreciate it!!