Hello everyone,
It’s Gwen here today with a Step-x-Step to share on how I create my textured backgrounds and flower clusters.
First up we will create our textured background using chipboard letters.
Step 1 – Arrange your letters over your background. You can use any lettering you like no matter what the colour as it will be covered with Gesso.. This is a fab way to use up older letters from your stash. For this example I have covered the entire background however, if you have a layout design in mind, you only need to place the lettering where your background will show.
Step 2 – Cover your letters with a mixture of Gesso and impasto medium… do not cover the entire background; just the area around your letters building up the edges of your letters and let dry. Feel free to also add a little to the flat areas of your background for texture.
Step 3 – Once dry, cover the top of the letters generously with Gesso so they are a nice flat white – you can also add gesso to areas of the background… best results are achieved when it’s not “too perfect”.
Step 4 – It is misting time!! I have used glimmer mist in Vintage Pink and Copper. It’s important that you make the coverage uneven, this highlights the layers of chipboard and Gesso you have created. You will also notice that the glimmer mist reacts differently when sprayed onto your plain cardstock to the impasto medium/gesso.
Step 5 – Time to add some paper. Lots of layers for me 
Step 6 – Next add in the photo and we can now work on the flower cluster. I have begun with a line of the Rosettes that have been dipped in gesso added to one side of my photo.
Step 7 – Next working from largest flowers to smallest I’ve started with the beautiful Romance – Devoted flower as my main feature. Next I added in the Belief flowers which I have also glimmer misted to co-ordinate with the background and the Idyllic finished off my cluster. You will notice I have used an uneven number as I find it is more pleasing to the eye than even numbers.
Add a few more finishing touches and you are done.
Thanks for popping by today – I hope I have inspired you to give this a go.
Gwen
