March BAP and some fun chipboard tips!

Hi, everyone! Sandi here with you today sharing a very, very quick Build-a-page and then some tips on how I altered my chipboard for my designs this month using the gorgeous Limited Edition Kit. (I do apologize for my photos this month. Even though I work right by the window, these Winter storms are cramping my style! Please bear with me, Spring is right around the corner!)

First, I prepared the paper with some gesso on both  sides of the paper, heat set and then I added texture with a stencil and molding paste. Heat set again. 

 Next I got a general idea what layers and embellishments I wanted to use and where they would be placed. 

 My Blue Fern Studios Grid Pieces chippies were gessoed, misted with Lindy's Stamp Gang Steampunk Sepia mist and then treated with Stampendous Aged Gold Embossing Enamel. This photo shows where I have sprinkled the embossing powder on before pouring the excess back into the jar.

As you can see, I did not emboss both sections until they were totally shiny.  On one of them (on the left),  I have keep large parts of it still chunky because I wanted a gritty kind of texture. Then I later dabbed and flicked my pieces with gesso. See the difference between the two pieces? 

As for the layout,  I next stamped my paper with a text stamp to frame the photo area. I chose a peach Gelato that I intended to use for the project. This photo demonstrates the gelato in 3 states: (far left) scribbled on  and undiluted, (middle) thoroughly diluted as I wanted, and (far right) partially diluted and still in progress. 

Then I worked on my layers in earnest. 

I've inserted this photo because I got this shot during a brief period of sunshine last week.  I changed the LO afterward so I couldn't really use it but I thought it really gives you a better idea of the chunkiness of that embossing powder in it's semi-heat set state. Good enough that it's not going anywhere, though!  

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On this Lucille Ball layout, my square Blue Fern Studios Grid Pieces chippy was gessoed and then inked with black Staz-on ink. I set that with a heat gun. After that was good and dry, I add some glossy accents in a few random places so that I could adhere some black crushed glass glitter. Yummy! The crushed glass glitter added some fun texture and I am all about texture! 

Can you see it better here? An "in progress" photo. 

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For this one my Blue Fern Studios Grid Pieces chippies were gessoed, then sprayed with LSG Steampunk Sepia mist which interestingly almost gave it a silver color. Remember that while gesso gives your chipboard "tooth," it also acts as a resist for certain media.  So, I followed with a bit of biscotti ink. I did some spot embossing with Recollections Sparkle Powder. Love that it is subtle but still sparkles and catches the light. 

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On this last layout I simply used the very flat shiny gold chipboard piece that I created earlier. 

There are endless ways to prepare, alter and treat your chipboard and that is half the fun! One of my favorite things to do with chipboard is to use gesso as my base, then ink or colorize. Finally, I coat it with Glossy Accents and add micro-beads in random spots while your GA is still wet. Oh, so pretty! Ombre-ing with inks is also very effective and pretty in titles! I have a friend who loves using her chipboard in their bare, naked form and they always looks great on her projects!

That about wraps it up for this month! Please let me know if you have any questions!