Remembering Mom with An Elegant Lady Layout: Graphic 45 Portrait of a Lady

Hello, G-45’ers!  Today’s post is very dear to my heart, as it is all about my mom.  If you’ve followed my blog for a while, then you know that my mom was my personal hero.  The minute I laid eyes on Graphic 45’s Portrait of a Lady collection, I knew I would be creating this elegant lady layout using one of my favorite photos of her.

My Mom: An Elegant Lady

The minute I laid eyes on Portrait of a Lady, I knew I would be creating a project featuring this vintage photo of my mom.  This is her graduation portrait, taken in 1939, and I love to see the bright smile, compassionate eyes and hopeful expression that this photo captures.  

She loved the roses in her flower gardens, and I can still see her coaxing them to grow and blossom in spite of the hard clay soil.  Pink was her favorite color, so she would have loved the beautiful images and patterns in this gorgeous collection.

You’ve Been Framed!

To make this photo of mom stand out, I framed it with the Tim Holtz Ornate Frame die.  You can create a dimensional frame like this one with ease:

• Find an old shipping box.  Priority mail boxes are great!
• Flatten the box and cut into smaller pieces.
• Cut a piece of the corrugate material with your favorite frame die.
• Die cut a piece of designer paper with the same die.
• Ink the edges with Walnut Stain Distress ink.
• Use the open center of the frame to trace around your photo.  Trim this out and place it behind the designer paper frame.
• Glue the designer paper frame to the corrugate frame.  Voila! Dimensional designer frame!

Tear Some Paper!

To create interesting paper layers, I combined punched paper layers with torn paper layers.  Tear the paper away from you if you don’t want a white edge.  Tear it toward you if you do.  Either way, ink the individual layers so that they will stand out.

Sharpen Your Scissors

This collection lends itself to layers of fussy cut images and roses.  To save time, I did all my fussy cutting before I began this project. All the edges are inked with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  I used bits of chipboard scraps or foam tabs to create lots of depth and dimension.

Don’t be afraid to use your own handwriting on journal cards, even if you don’t particularly care for the way it looks.  Not only does it personalize the project, but your children and grandchildren will cherish having something written in your own hand.

Custom Color and Paint Spatters

I adore these Petaloo Botanica Blossoms, but the color was not quite a perfect match for the pinks in this paper.  This is easily fixed!  Just spray with mist or glimmer in a shade that works.  I tested several sprays out on scrap paper, and settled on Tattered Angels Rich in Mocha.

To add a shabby, vintage feel to the layout, you can spatter it with white paint.  Thin acrylic paint with water, pick it up with your paint brush and tap the end.  I love the spatters on this Champagne Silky Crush Ribbon!  You can spatter metal embellishments just like I did on this ornate key hole.

I hope I’ve shared some ideas that inspire you in your creative time.  If  you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comment section below, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Supply List

Please note:  I will provide links whenever possible, but some items have been in my personal stash for a long time, and are no longer available online.  Substitute when necessary.

Portrait of a Lady 12×12 Collection:

• Signature page from Portrait of a Lady
• Josephine
• Victoria
• Grace
• Isabella
• Alexandra
• Maria
• Blanche
• Alexandra
• • Graphic 45 Staples Metal Ornate Key Hole
• Petaloo Pink Botanica Blooms x4
• May Arts 1.5” Crushed Champagne Ribbon
• Vintage Lace from my stash
• ½” Pink Velvet Ribbon from my stash
• Olive Green Frog Trim from my stash
• Tattered Angels Rich in Mocha Glimmer Mist
• Vintage Photo Distress Ink
• Diluted White Acrylic Paint and paint brush for spatter effect
• Martha Stewart Decorative Edge Punch
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Ornate Frame
• Spellbinder Nestabilities Grand Labels Four Die
• Corrugated Cardboard
• Peach, Pale Pink and Olive Green Cardstock for matting