"Bliss" Layout

My newest layout is titled "Bliss". I created it for two challenges this month: the More than Words challenge and the Blue Fern Studios challenge.

Here is the challenge board for More than Words:

More than Words Challenge for March, 2016

This is the sketch for the Blue Fern Studios challenge:

Blue Fern Studios Challenge for March, 2016

For the More than Words challenge, I used Liquitex Basics Acrylic Gesso in several spots on my layout. First, I used diluted gesso on the whole background. I also used it on the Blue Fern Studios chipboard pieces, the centers of some of the flowers, a layer of gesso on the large rose by the picture, and on the metal piece by the picture. When I thought of the word bliss, I thought of a picture of a father and his first-born son.  I can't imagine that kind of bliss – it must be undescribable. 

For the Blue Fern Studios challenge, I did something unique with the sketch so that it would be softer to match the softness of the theme. I wanted it to cradle the newborn child. I used Blue Fern Studios chipboard on my layout – "Chelsea Vines".

The paper is the back of the Prima's "Timeless Memories" collection 12"x12" paper pad, and the black ink is Prima's Color Bloom Spray in "Precious Stone". The texture paste is homemade texture paste – the recipe can be found on Gabrielle Pollacco's blog. I used a Hero Arts stencil pair with the texture paste.

The small roses on the page are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and the other flowers are from Prima Marketing: Seashore collection "Sand Dollar", Valentina collection "Simona", and Parisa collection "Aspen White".

I embossed the title twice to make it extra shiny, used Distress Paint in "Picket Fence" over the gesso for the chipboard vines and the layers of matting behind the photo, and Distress Paint in "Black Soot" on one piece of the matting.

Thank you for taking a look at my new layout! I hope you have a lovely day.