January's Product Focus- Mists!

So as part of my 2014 resolutions I'm gonna try to focus every month on one product I have plenty of. I really want to challenge myself to get more from my supplies. This way I don't have to tackle my whole stash, but just focus on one product, and only for a month, so long enough to play and experiment but not too long to get tired of it. Which I tend to do...
So in 2014 I'll focus on mists, stamps, paints, stencils, and more and January is going to be all about mists!
I own a few brands of mists, and I'll share my experiences with them all. I will of course also share my layouts and explain how I used mists in the process. I hope you'll enjoy and get inspired to use your own stash.

For the layout I made today, I used my own mists, that I made with Distress Reinkers. The reason I got the reinkers (I actually do not have the ink pads for the colors I have in reinkers) was specifically for creating my own mists. I find the price of certain mists quite steep, so I wanted to be able to stretch my supplies a little further. I estimate I can make about 3 bottles (let's say 1 Oz. bottles-that's the size of Studio Calico Mr. Huey's) of mist with one reinker, at least. Their regular price is 4.99$, which is around 1$ cheaper than many mists. I bought colors that I knew I would use a lot, like pink and orange. I like my mists rather bright, if you like yours more muted, you could probably get even more mist out of the reinkers.
To create the mist I just mixed a few drops of the ink with some water. That does mean you lose the reaction that distress ink has with water, but for me it's really not an issue. If you want a distress ink spray that still has those reactive qualities, then put some distress stain in a spray bottle and you're ready to go! Here's a how-to video from Tim Holtz about exactly that.
Here I used Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold (great shade of orange), Worn Lipstick (my favorite shade of pink, it's gorgeous!) and Picked Raspberry.



Here's how I made the background for the page-
I chose a patterned paper from Maggie Holmes' signature collection for Crate Paper. It's a ledger paper and has a distressed look. Sometimes I love using mists on plain white cardstock, but you can get really interesting results using patterned paper. Choose a pattern that is not busy and light in color.
I sprayed all four colors, making sure the whole page was sprayed, so I wouldn't have areas without ink, but also being careful not to overlap the colors too much. Like this-


Then I took another paper (same pattern, they are one sided papers from a paper pad) and carefully placed it on top. It's important to be careful at this stage and not move around the paper, otherwise everything might smear and move around.


I did the same thing in a previous layout, using a different stencil. That one was a double pager, this time though I just made them to use as two single page layouts. Here's the result-


I think they both make for a fun background.


I find the ledger paper really adds interest.


OK, I'll stop with pretty pictures of color:) I think I would be happy just making backgrounds, but then I wouldn't get any pictures in my albums...

So here's the finished layout-


 Since the paper I chose as background was from Maggie Holmes, I checked what other supplies I had from that collection. Found some scraps and embellishments that worked really well. That's always my next stop after I have the background- my scrap basket. I have way too many scraps, and I really try not to cut into more 12*12 papers (meaning more scraps) unless I have to. That means unless I can find something that works. Truth is, I can almost always find scraps that work...
I used 2 4*6 photos, because that's what I have at hand, and I make sure I have plenty of photos to scrap at any given time. Had I used smaller photos, or just one, then more of the background would have been visible. It is a shame to cover so much of it, but the pictures are always the most important thing for me on my pages.
I inked all the edges with Distress Ink in Walnut Stain, and also added some lighter ink, Antique Linen, to papers or embellishments that were too bright or white, so they would fit better. I almost always ink the edges of everything when I have a design with lots of scraps from different companies and collections.


I love those fabric bows!


Even though this is mists month here, I'm trying also to use my stamps more, and here I used them to give the background a bit more texture and interest (I also added ink splatters all over)-


I used a Glitz Design roller stamp, they are super fun and easy to use. I also used a small arrows stamp from Studio Calico to create a border around the page. You can see it best in the photo of the finished layout.
Thanks for visiting, and more fun and inspiration with mists to come through the whole month!

Comments

  1. Nice technique. thank you for sharing. You layout is beautiful.

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  2. This is beautiful. I need to break out my mists more often.

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  3. This came out beautiful! Love all the embellishment clusters and the misting.

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  4. Lots of great ideas here, and your layout is lovely!

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  5. Oh, I love love love! I love the colors so much. I love all the product you used and the design - all around great!

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  6. whoa this is awesome! love the colors!

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  7. Very cool technique!! Love both papers.

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  8. Great techniques with the mists. I love the look but am having issues letting go and being a little un-linear.

    Thanks for the inspiration.

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  9. love this layout and the idea to use a lot of one product for a month!

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  10. איזה יופי של דף! עשית לי חשק לשחק קצת עם המיסטים שלי :)

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  11. Pretty colors on a gorgeus layout

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