Jolly Good Cheer | Christmas Layout with process video

Hello everyone!

Thank you so much for joining me today for another colorful, Christmassy layout. From start to finish, this layout took me about 3 hours to complete, but most of it was spent backing the cutfile and waiting for the base to dry. In terms of patterned paper and embellishments, I paired Simple Stories Holly Jolly and Say Cheese Christmas collections; and the cutfile is called Santa Hats background by Virginia Walker (I'll leave the links to her shop and cutfile at the end of this post). You'll find the link to the process video there as well.

I first began my layout by backing the cutfile. I cut it out on white cardstock, and used the text paper from Say Cheese Christmas collection to place a Christmas-themed word on the border of the Santa hats. Various papers were used to back the actual hats. For some texture, I used Dazzlerz Puttin' On The Glitz and Paige Evan's star stencil on some light blue cardstock; this was used to back the little balls at the end of the Santa Hats.

For my base, I used a Vicki Boutin Foundations papers, Shimmerz Mists and white acrylic paint. Sprayed some water onto the paper to give the mists some extra wiggle and blending space, and sprayed Cotton Candy, Jeni B Blue, and Hermit the Frog. I realized that the colors were a bit too bright when compared to the patterned paper that I had used so I sprayed some Chance of Rain and Razzle Dazzle Berry also and let them blend together. Without waiting for the mists to dry, I watered down some white acrylic paint and splattered it onto the base. This techniques creates a marbled look, almost looking like a galaxy! Before setting the base aside to dry, I watered down some Dazzlerz Puttin' on the Glitz and splattered it unto the background just to add a bit of glitter to it.

While my base was drying, I matted my pictures using the same light blue cardstock and added some craft foam behind them for some dimension. I then began to pull embellishments out from the Simple Stories Holly Jolly Collection and divide them among the pictures. Once my base was completely dry, I added in the cutfile (also on craft foam) and then placed my pictures. Glued down my embellishments and finished off the layout by adding the title to the upper left hand corner using foam thickers by Pink Paislee and a die cut from Simple Stories. And that's it! Here are a few more close-ups.

I love this layout; so much so that I've placed it in a 12x12 shadow box and it's part of the Christmas decor in my living room!

Here are the links:

- Process video: https://youtu.be/xhi6xg5HSbU

- Virginia's Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/COAPACutfiles?ref=search_shop_redirect

- Cutfile: https://www.etsy.com/listing/752391867/santa-hat-background-cut-file-svg-pdf?ref=shop_home_active_6&crt=1 

Hope I've inspired you to create gorgeous layouts using lots of Shimmerz colors. Remember, you can receive some free paint by typing in my name in the comments section of your next Shimmerz order. Thanks for looking!

Have a great day!

Stay Crafty!

- Lorimar

Boys Rule | Boy Themed Layout using Mists from November Color Kits

Hello friends!

    Lorimar here sharing a new boy-themed layout! I just loved the rich, deep color mists found in both November Color kits; and loved them even more when I saw how well they paired up with Chance of Rain (Vibez). Rather than document a Christmas picture, I went with more of a colorful, boy-themed, winter-feel layout.

     Here's how I made it: Using a 12x12 white cardstock, I added clear gesso using a palette knife to the whole sheet; set it aside to dry. In the meantime, I started pulling out boy-themed embellishments from my stash. Once the base was dry, I began adding color by spraying it on one side (enough to form a puddle) and then lifting and turning the base just so to form the drips. I did this twice with all four colors just to get a bolder look; I alternated the placement of the puddles and drips. They were: Rolling In The Hay, Rose Gold Red, Hot Fudge, and Chance of Rain. Finally finished the base by adding splatters.

     Once my base was dry, I trimmed an inch off of each side to get a 10x10 inch square of cardstock; ruffled up the edge with a distressing tool and glued it in the center of my patterned paper. For my pictures, I matted them with from red cardstock and black and white gingham patterned paper. Added some craft foam behind them and tied some red and white twine along the bottom portion of the picture.

For finalizing my layout, I used a variety of boy themed stickers, chipboard stickers, puffy stickers, sequins, ephemera and wood veneers. Wrote my journaling in black ink in the left hand corner of the layout and splashed some Rain of Chance all around the finished layout to tie everything together.

     So that's it! Pretty simple, and yet so stunning! Hope you're inspired to create something like and get your stories documented. Thanks for stopping by! Remember to type my name in the comments section of your next Shimmerz order to receive some free paint!

- Lorimar

Hello Hint of Mint

Hi Shimmerz friendz! It's Julee here, popping in to share another creation I made with the June Missy Whidden Color Kit. Have you picked up yours yet? The exclusive Hint of Mint color in this kit is all kinds of gorgeous, and not to be missed! Just sayin'! 😉

For this card, I paired that glorious Hint of Mint Spritz with the Chance of Rain Spritz, spraying, smooshing and splashing to create some deep ocean vibes. To give it even a bit more depth, I splattered on some It's Mint to Be Shimmerz. Holy shine, Batman!

Once my background was how I wanted it, I pulled out the new Hey Gillfriend stamp set from The Cat's Pajamas and colored up this sweet little mermaid with Copic markers. I added some Angel Wings Shimmerz for a bit of sparkle and then coated with some crystal lacquer for a glossy finish.

I imagined her sitting on a coral reef deep in the ocean, so stamped the coral images several times across the page, embossing with white puff embossing powder for some extra texture.  I tucked in a few little stamped and colored seashells from the stamp set and some shell confetti.

Next I moved on to the sentiment. I wanted to use one of the sweet Dotz in the kit, and decided on a simple hi. To frame it, I cut some circles from paper I had colored with Chance of Rain and Hint of Mint respectively, then layered them together, popping in a few little sea creatures to add to the whimsy.  I finished with a few pearl accents on the scalloped edges. There you have it. If you haven't picked up this kit yet, you better hurry. It's a definite keeper!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope your day Shimmerz!

Heart You | Julee Tilman

Hi Shimmerz friends! It's Julee Tilman, popping in to share a little card or two I cooked up with the fantastic June Missy Whidden Color Kit.

I {puffy heart} LOVE the colors in this kit! Especially the delectable new kit exclusive Hint of Mint color. Combined with Chance of Rain, they make the most stunning ocean effects. Here's a peek of a card I shared recently using these two colors for the ocean. I just smooshed them on the top of the card with a plastic baggy and then added a few splatters for depth. Instant ocean!

Okay, back to today's card. the kit comes with four fabulous colors, a set of Dotz, plus an exclusive Paige Evans Cut File. 

I must confess I'm an old school crafter. I own a cutting machine, but it's never made it out of it's box in the three years I've had it. One of these days I'll be brave enough to unbox it, figure out where to put it, and figure out how to work it! 😀 I did fall in love with the sweet heart image for this month's cut file, though, so I resized it in my photo editing software and printed out on cardstock with alaser printer in a variety of sizes. I had a very pleasant afternoon painting all sorts of hearts in the kit colors, then fussy cutting to layer onto my card.

I smooshed a panel with the pinks and then a larger panel with the blues, then layered everything together, adding a bit of twill across the back.  I used one of the Dotz in the kit as my sentiment and tested out whether or not you could paint on them. Yes, you can! I painted the little heart with pink caviar shimmerz. It took a couple of coats to get it to stick solidly, but it worked and I love the pop of color it adds!  I finished off with some shabby edges and a regular card base.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! As always, if you're inspired to place an order in the Shimmerz Paints shop, put my name in the comments so they know who sent ya!

Gypsy Soul

Did you hear that gypsy Shimmerz Siren call out to you?

Yep, that was me, Joyce. 

I’m going to show you how to apply some gypsy/bohemian style

to your art today using Shimmerz Paints.

 I have been enchanted by Gypsy genre and bohemian art styles lately, 

 so I thought I’d take those  feelings and put them on paper.

I adored the movement in the girls dance!

And, I thought I could create such movement with some art products.

• Applications of stencil and Shimmerz Texturez Tidy Widy were applied over various areas on the 9 x 12 watercolor paper.
• Then a heat gun was applied over the textured product and allowed to rise, bubble and burst which rendered a lacy look. 
• On top of the stenciled work, drops of Shimmerz Paint colors were applied, and I quickly added drops of water over the paint colored drops.  After this application, I allowed the color to dry completely before apply several other colors using the same technique.
• Once all the colors of paint dried thoroughly, I applied a white art pen over the raised stencil work to make it look like a lacy appearance.

And what’s a gypsy girl without her baubles and chains? 

• Some Inglingz Brass Knuckles was applied over the chipboard chains and then some white art pen markings were added to each bead in the chain.
• I gently swiped some Shimmerz Celery over the chain. 
• Some gesso and Shimmerz Key Lime were lightly applied over the metal flower charms.

 Shimmerz Products:

 Spritz – Chance of Rain, 4 Leaf Clover, Plum Pudding

Vibez – Plum Tuckered Out, Blushing Bride

Shimmerz – Celery, Berry-licious, Orchid-stra, Key lime

Inkglingz- Brass Knuckles

Texturez – Tidy Widy

Listen for my Irish Shimmerz Siren call to bring you back on March 15^th,