Flowers, Trims and Washi Tape by Maria Featon

" The Happiest Of Days "

 

Hello all! Today in my first blog post for Green Tara this year I have three

 layouts to share with you. I've made it a tradition to photograph my family

 together every New Year's Day so it was lovely to have some new photos

 to work with. My kids have grown so much in the last twelve months!

 I wanted a summery feel to suit my photos on this layout

 so chose a white "Azalea", ivory "Apple Blossom"

  (re-coloured with a Distress Marker), and a peach/cream

"Cherry Blossom". The feathers were created with
 "Green Tara washi tape". See the bonus tutorial at the end of my post. 

A layout without some sort of ribbon or trim just doesn't seem

 finished to me. On this one I've used ivory "Burlap Ribbon",

 white "Raffia" and some white "Polka Dot Organza" ribbon

 I've pleated on my sewing machine.

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"Mama Loves You"

With this layout I was inspired by the colours and bohemian style

 print in my daughter Holly's dress. The "Batik Vintage Petals"

 were cut in half and sewn into the border all around the page.

 I've used a gorgeous "Poppy" in dusky pink as the focal point of

 my cluster, teamed with a pink and white "Azalea", ivory "Apple

 Blossom" and some ivory "Mini Rosebuds".

 The layers of "Lace Ribbon" below the photo were 

adhered to the page with Claudine Hellmuth Multi Medium.

The "Metal Embellishment Heart" in silver didn't suit the warm tones

 of my layout so I re-coloured it with Tarnished Brass Distress Stain.

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"Sielunsisko (Soul Sisters)"

My third layout is one I recently shared as my entry for the December 2013

 Scrap Around The World mood board challenge. I just love mixed media

 and it was fun to use some of those techniques on this page. I've adhered 

"Lace Ribbon" with Multi Medium and staples to the top and bottom of

 the page to echo the lace design on the paper. I added dabs of gesso to the

 lace and flowers to suit the mixed media theme.

This time I went for a colour combination I wouldn't normally use.

 It's good to try things outside of your comfort zone now and again. 

The turquoise "Camellia" and lavender "Damask" flower just

 looked right together. I've popped in an ivory "Apple Blossom"  

 (re-coloured with a Distress Marker) and a white "Floral Spray"

  which I have cut up and used in pieces. 

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*BONUS TUTORIAL* 

Green Tara Washi Tape Feathers

Step 1: Stick two lengths of washi tape together with a piece

 of beading wire in the centre, between the two layers. 

Step 2: Add more layers of tape on either side (front and back)

 until it's as wide as you want your feather to be. 

Step 3: Trim the tape strip into a shape resembling a feather. 

Step 4: Make a series of little cuts all along either side of the

 feather, stopping just before the wire. Trim a bit more until 

you are happy with the shape. Voilà! You have a funky feather!

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Thanks so much for stopping by the Green Tara blog

 today to check out my post. See you next month! 

Maria xx