Floral Wreath Layout by Amber Mitchell

Hello crafty friends! Amber Mitchell here on Paige's blog today to share with you a layout that I created using the Splendid collection and watercolors. This was my first time using both the Splendid collection and mixed media to create a layout. It was a bit nerve-wracking but so fulfilling once I completed the project and I'm so excited to be sharing it today!

The first step in creating this layout was to fussy cut the wreath from Paper 7. I used a pair of sharp scissors and took my time doing this; it doesn't have to be perfect but the cleaner the cut the better the wreath blends into the background. To create the mixed media background for this layout, I took a sheet of white cardstock and roughly outlined the circumference of the wreath using a pencil. I then added a layer of gesso around this traced circle using a wide, rough bristled paintbrush. Once the gesso had dried, I used watercolors to create a splattered background in coordinating colors to the wreath. To do this, I took a small sheet of plastic and painted on top of it. Once it was both opaque and watery enough, I flipped it over onto the paper and pressed down to create a large splatter. I did this in the colors, green, dark green, blue, pink, orange, and yellow. I continued this process all the way around the circle. To add more texture, I used more gesso and a stencil to add a few white flowers on top of the paint. Most of these were covered up by the wreath itself, but I love seeing bits of them peeking through here and there.

To finish off the background, I used a paintbrush to add even more, smaller splatters around the outside edges. I did this again using white and gold acrylic paint to break up the mix of colors as well. I mounted the wreath onto the background using foam tape. For extra texture, I machine stitched around the wreath itself. I chose to document a photo of my nephew from a few years ago. I love how the green of his shirt and the trees in the photo highlight the greens in the wreath and the background. I added the photo to the left-hand side of the wreath and then embellished all around it using fun pieces from the Splendid collection. I fussy cut butterflies from the 12x12 Paper Pad and spaced those out across the layout, layering one of them on top of a few flowers from the Floral Die Cuts. I added a few Chipboard Stickers to add dimension and then added a title from the Epoxy Stickers. To finish off the photo cluster, I added a clip from the Heart Paper Clips. The final touch to this layout was adding a few dimensional flowers. I cut these from an orange patterned paper from the 12x12 Paper Pad using Paige's Layered Flowers Cut Files. I also cut a few Rolled Flower Cut Files from a yellow patterned paper to add next to the larger flowers. I then used a leaf punch from my stash to finish off these little flower clusters and adhered them evenly around the wreath.

I LOVE how this layout turned out! It was my first time really working with mixed media and it came out better than I could have expected. Thanks so much for stopping by my post today. I'll see you next time with another fun project!

SUPPLIES: Patterned papers, die cuts, stickers, paper clip, embellishments: SPLENDID; white cardstock; white acrylic paint; Cut files: Layered Flowers and Rolled Flowers by Paige Evans

Location: California, USA / Blog: Happy Crafty Studio / Instagram: @bambidearr / YouTube: bambidearr / Pinterest: bambidearr