I'm very excited to be sharing my first project as a Helmar "Hottie" with you today, and I love that it's something that features all the loves in my life on one page. My boys, ages, 1, 3 and 5 all helped me to make this decoupage layout for their dad. We carefully traced hands, and I took notes as the older two told me what they loved best about daddy. All our littlest could say was "mmm…tay tee! (tasty)", although that may have been in direct response to the statement that daddy makes the best breakfasts ever. Too bad it'll be Mama making breakfast this morning.
I couldn't decide between a canvas and a layout when I started the project. Since we made Dad a huge frame for his office last year, I figured a layout would be best in case wall space was an issue. I treated this much like a canvas though, and after placing the main layers together using Acid Free Glue, I broke out the Decoupage and Craft Paste. Since the paste is acid free, I wasn't worried about using it on a scrapbook page. The benefit to using the Decoupage medium over my papers was two-fold. It sealed them, making the page sturdy enough to be hung as is, and I was able to create this cool texture:
I first layered the Decoupage and Craft Paste on top of the newsprint patterned paper. Once dry to the touch, I layered on some Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam, and then waited for the magic to happen. As the Glam dries, it crackles on top of the Decoupage and Craft Paste, and then acts as a resist when you add more ink to accentuate. ( I added some Dylusions mists and then wiped them off).
I layered the two larger hands, and then used Scrap Dots on the smallest hand to add dimension.
When these were dry, I sealed them with more Decoupage and Craft Paste. Once my title and journaling stickers were in place, I returned with more paste, sealing the small letters to the page. Although it doesn't change the immediate appearance of the layout, I really love how a coat of the paste helped to integrate all the elements on the page, and gave it a sturdy finish. It also gave a pretty neat effect when it hit the Dylusions mists around my journaling. The fine overspray was hardly visible until the Decoupage and Craft Paste "amplified" it.
While this isn't an approach I would take to every scrapbook page, and it did make for a few lumps and bumps on paper. It is definitely a cool and cost effective alternative to creating a canvas in a similar style.
I hope their daddy likes it, and I really hope that breakfast meets everyone's expectations too!
Happy Father's Day today to all the North American Dads!
Erin Morehouse, Helmar Design Team Member
