lil monster layout

It has been a while since my last layout, however, Dawn (Inked Stamper: Design Challenge #2 Bo Bunny Lil Monster) and Kreative Koncepts Sketch Challenge #23 provided the right motivation.  I have been planning to create a layout for these photos of Alex in his monster towel for over four years (my little monkey was six months old when the photos were taken).

I used the Bo Bunny Lil Monster cardstock as the foundation for my layout.  I love the black and white stripes and you'll get a better look at the little monsters and stars peering over the lines in the photos below.  I circled some of them in the layout to highlight their adorableness. And creepiness; thank you Alex for the correction.  Monsters are not adorable, they're creepy.  Backseat blogger. 

I splattered the background with Dylusions Ink Spray (calypso teal)and green acrylic paint before adding the layers of other stuff.

My favourite part of the layout, if I had to choose one other than my adorable monkey, is the top right corner with the mismatched eyes peering out of the ripped page.  I haphazardly tore shapes on the top right of the page and on the bottom right of the page and layered corrugated cardboard behind both openings.  On the top opening I stapled the cardstock to the cardboard, added embellishments from the Bo Bunny Ephemera pack (pompom string, buttons and google eyes) and two thin bark shavings.  Alex has a genuine interest in nature, particularly rocks (harder to scrapbook), and he picked up a couple of bark shavings under one of the trees outside of his daycare one day.  I thought the authentic bark played nicely with the campy feel of the Bo Bunny adventure sign, treeline and the memory box die cut birch trees on the bottom of the page.  It tied the page together and gave it balance.

Notice the five-eyed monster peeking out in the photo below?  Bo Bunny is one of my ultimate favourite designers.  Somehow, for me, they always seem to get it right.  I'm pretty sure if I took account of my stash I would find Bo Bunny tips the scales in what I own.

While I'm praising Bo Bunny for their designs let me also mention that the Ephemera pack is LOADED with stuff.  No seriously.  It is loaded.  Paper, playing card, ribbons, eyes, brads, buttons, dimensional stick-ons (see the teal one under the pom-pom?) and much much much more.  Loaded in one little pack.

 

I love the little yellow monster peeking out from behind the tree.  I added some definition to the memory box birch tree die cuts with my black gelly roll pen and my Viva Pearl Pen (ice white and red). 

There is something fantastic about the adventure post and the treeline part of the Bo Bunny cardstock and I played for a bit before deciding to use it as a frame for the two smaller photos of my monkey-monster.  I added Alex's initials to the post as part of a everythingshetouches family tradition of sign carving. 

Mr. everythingshetouches and I traveled to Banff one summer and took the photo below.  I have an absolute fascination with the mountains and love to take bazillions of photos whenever we get a chance to get to the Banff or Jasper.  On this trip we made a few stops along the roadside and I captured the Mt. Kitchener sign in one of my many (bazillions I assure you) photos.  Mr. everythingshetouches digitally added our names to the signage and now keep the photo framed in our living room.

I created a collage out of old magazines and an old tattered anime book and used the Bo Bunny monster shape for a template.  I then highlighted the monster in Dina Wakley style with my black gelly roll to ground the image onto the page.  Have I mentioned that I will be attending a Dina Wakley class this summer at the Inked Stamper?  I am so fabtastically excited.  Already have my Art Journal Freedom ready by the door to bring for signage.  Geek. 

I added texture with gel medium, the memory box mesh stencil and Viva 3D Stamp-Paint (moss green - metallic) under the photos for a little sparkle and pop.

Feels great to be able to squeeze a layout into my crafting (still working on the journal).  I'm close to a year in the blogosphere and my (largely self-imposed) craft obligations are soaring.  I had another idea in the car earlier for an Etsy Shop product.  Did I mention that building an Etsy Shop is on my to-do list?  I would love to get it up and running by the end of October. 

And on a more personal side note, I just selected Alex's K - 6 school.  Hard to believe looking back on these photos that my monkey is ready for Kindergarten.  Hmm.  I should try to schedule that layout for October or November so it doesn't take another five years before I craft his first day at Kindergarten.