Winter White Out! Masking Technique

When we had 12-14" dumped on us in mid-December we had not only a snow day, but a bit of time outdoors. Lots of time, actually, for my husband who probably spent 4 hours minimum shoveling the driveway. Abby had a small shovel and was happy to be a helper. One of our snow shovels broke, so Kyle seems to be getting out of shoveling snow this year. He did venture out to take out compost and get the mail, and as he returned from the mailbox, one of many large gusts of windows gathered up snow and blew it right in his face. I happened to be out photography helper Abby, and was able to turn quick for a few "white out" snap shots.

Scrapbook.com has a cajillion challenges ever month - I can't believe how many there are! Good news...one layout can qualify for multiple challenges. I took care of quite a few with this layout, challenges include: border punch, paint, no patterned paper, loose glitter, stamp with embossing, and possibly the doodling challenge if dotting and tracing count. A Cherry On Top also had a number of challenges to spur your mojo each week. "White Out" covers the one word challenge, having used "winter" in the journaling.

Steps to create this layout:
1. Position photos with temporary adhesive. Trace around photos lightly with #2 pencil.
2. Stamp and emboss white snowflakes as desired on white cardstock. Using white stamp ink pad rub over raw chipboard snowflake.
3. Position title letters as shown with temporary adhesive, using pencil guides as an aid to position letters. Letters were obtained from a variety of manufacturers.
4. Spritz with a pearlescent blue mist (Glimmer Mist, Shimmerz or in this case- a homemade brew). Spritz chipboard snowflake as well. Allow to dry completely.
5. In lieu of photo mats trace with black fine point marker over top of pencil marks. Adhere photos.
6. If the layout does not show enough white after misting, use white paint marker or other to dot white snow randomly.

7. Punch snowflake borders from white cardstock. Coat heavily with sparkle Mod Podge and sprinkle generously with coarse white glitter. Allow to dry completely, tear one side – then position as shown.

8. Stamp journal spot, add writing, cut out, and position with foam adhesive.

9. Use sparkle Mod Podge to add bling to a wintry layout. For “White Out” the title letters were brushed with Pod Podge, the cardstock sticker and journal spot had dabs painted on, thicker amounts were used in lower corner and area to right of first photo to add glitter medium, and sparkle Mod Podge was used to adhere small snowflakes, scraps from the border punch, randomly on the layout with top coat to ensure snowflakes stay in place.
10. Layer snowflake chipboard with cardstock, add bling to center and position with foam adhesive.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Masking Alpha: BoBunny, Basic Grey, Scenic Route
Snowflake Chipboard: Magistical Memories
Cardstock Sticker: BoBunny Winter Serenade collection
Acrylic Snowflake Stamps: BoBunny Winer Lace, CTMH
Journaling Stamp: Stampology by Autumn Leaves
Ink: Brilliance White Cloud and by Tsukineko, Prussian Blue by Colorbox
Embossing Powder: Stampendous Detail White Opaque
Mediums: Pearl Ex mixed with Posh Rainbow Dye Ink in Denim by Ranger, water (topping off pre-mixed portion of Ranger Stream Alcohol Ink)
Glitter Mediums: Sparkle Mod Podge by Plaid, Crystal Scintillement Brillo Glitter by Glitterex Corp
Gem: BoBunny Bling
Border Punch: Fiskars
Paint: Liquitex titanium White, Sharpie white paint pen
Pen: American Crafts

I admit, when I first saw the "no patterned paper" challenge at Scrapbook.com I thought, "whoa nelly!" - don't know if I can manage that one! However, it encouraged me to get out my messy mediums and have fun. I hope you do, too! Happy creating.