Tuesday 15 September 2015

What Matters Most: Gossamer Blue Inspiration Blog Hop

We're halfway through the month again and that means it's time to extend a very warm welcome to everyone looking for some Gossamer Blue Inspiration

Today I'd like to encourage anyone who has ever had difficulty translating what is in your head onto what is on your page..to keep going! The layout I'm going to show you was very nearly a complete failure. But I kept trying things until I found a way to turn it into my favourite September page. Here it is:


When I opened up my kits the first paper I really wanted to use was that cat pattern from Crate Paper. The yellow is a favourite of mine, so I always have a sprinkler bottle of ink that shade close at hand on my desk. I thought a school page would look good with a paint-y background and I thought it would be easy to dip a paintbrush in my ink and brush it across a piece of cardstock. But could I make it look the way I wanted? No! I tried it on Kraft card, on white 8.5x11 card, on cream card, nothing looked right until...


I took a pair of scissors and cut right round my brushstrokes on the smaller white card and put the result onto a bigger 12x12 background. Now I like it! And I've discovered a new trick: if you aren't sure where to start with an inky background, do what I did and brush, then cut before deciding where you want your ink to end up


What Matters Most: a page about starting back to school, for the last time.

I hope you've enjoyed my inspiration post today and that you are ready to hop on and pick up some more tips. Of course you'll always find plenty more in the Gossamer Blue gallery every month too.


25 comments:

Michelle said...

Great layout! I too love that particular shade of yellow--I always look forward to it popping up in the fall collections!

Susanne said...

What a great tip to paint, cut and place the messy element. Fab page!

Kathleen | ScatteredConfetti said...

Woah - the colours are awesome!! And I love that painting tip!

Unknown said...

Oh my, Sian, is this really her last year? [Beautiful, beautiful LO, BTW, but I almost feel like I don't have to say that because you know how I feel about all your LO's]....love, love, love her shoes! I'm angling after some silver brogues (saw them a few months ago, am waiting for them to go on sale!)

Lou said...

That yellow colour always reminds me of you. such a poignant moment to capture. My three all have brogues this year :) such style x

Louise H said...

I really must use that painting tip - I usually change my mind where I want the paint and have to start again! A beautiful layout AND story for a poignant moment. I struggle to use papers like that with the cats on ... and yet I had to go back and LOOK for it when I saw your mention of it. You used it so well it blended in perfectly x

Missus Wookie said...

Oh what a lovely sunshiny yellow and a neat trick too. Definitely a favourite moment to capture. Hope her last year is a good one.

alexa said...

Another little bittersweet moment ... but casually sunshine-y despite the formal footwear. You've made a super job of the kit, picking up the greens a contrast. I think there might be a lot of moments like this, Sian. It's thirteen years since my DD left home for university and it seems like yesterday.

Patio Postcards said...

You do inspire as always. Neat idea to paint then cut, sort of making your own die cut. A given that I like the yellow cat paper. I like the corrugated paper on top of the yellow painted paper, that texture works well with the shoes. Yes please to a pair of those shoes, brogues are so distinct a style, dress up, dress down and comfortable!

KraftyKaren said...

Love all the yellow - it just makes everything pop. A great tip especially as I am one who hates putting too much on my background in case I hate it and then end up wasting a sheet of cardstock. And thank you for your good wishes for Monday!!

Karen said...

I would have never thought to cut out the painted piece; brilliant! And each one of your embellishments is a perfect addition to the layout. It all comes together beautifully!

Sandra said...

Now that's genius....never in a million years would I have thought to do that. It's amazing, I love this page

Mojosanti - Pretty Paper Things said...

Wow, some yellow going on here. This is a cool layout.

Sian said...

Yes! I've seen some I love too. Or loafers? I'm quite tempted by silver loafers

Lizzy Hill said...

CLever trick! Very neat. Sort of like adding a sticker to paper then fussy cutting so you can move it around the page! my fave bits: The tied twine and those LUSCIOUS layers!!!

Patricia Roebuck said...

I absolutely LOVE this page!!!! And thanks for sharing the tip!! It really looks so amazing! Must try!

Jennifer Shaw said...

Love this page! I have to use that cat sheet somehow. It is awesome! Love the painted effect. :)

Mardi said...

Oh my goodness...LOVE ...love...love at first sight!!

Melissa said...

Such a lovely page . . . and, of course, I adore all that yellow! :)

Julie Kirk said...

So lovely Sian - you can certainly see your love of autumn [that yellow!] shining through!

And one can never have too many silver shoes! Never. [There speaks someone who has, several times, almost bought a domain name which declares a love of the silver shoe ...]

Stephanie said...

This is stunning. Just stunning. The yellow, that adorable cat paper, the wood veneer - love it!

Jo said...

That is a great idea and I love that page, it's so Autumnal x

Chantal Vandenberg said...

LOVE this page!!!

Gail said...

What a great idea about cutting the painting! Love that shade of yellow btw.

Gail said...

What a great idea about cutting the painting! Love that shade of yellow btw.

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