Summer Display Layout Tutorial (Swirlydoos)

The July Swirlydoos "Madame" main kit was so easy to create with - so many beautiful embellishments. These Prima and Kaisercraft papers look like they are already masked and stamped on too - so awesome! I decided to make this a summer display layout for my mantle so I used a stock image. Here is a tutorial of my layout made with just the MAIN kit contents - without any add-ons!

click on images for larger views

STEP 1 - PREPARE THE BACKGROUND

I cut a small bit off the edges (a quarter inch?) of the light Prima paper, heavily distressed it and adhered it to a darker Prima paper. TIP: Only glue the middle of the papers together, leaving 3 inches all around to be freely rolled back later on (easier to do this at the end).

STEP 2 - FUSSY CUT AND/OR DISTRESS YOUR LAYERS

I cut out a few photo mat layers (approx. 4x6 or 5x7 sizes) from the Kaisercraft papers (the frame and tan paper) and used the Prima flowers packaging as a layer too.

STEP 3 - START POSITIONING

I placed the 3 paper layers and one of the element sticker borders, plus a chipboard piece (splattered with gesso the Silks paint in the kit) on top of my background.

STEP 4 - ADD MORE EMBELLISHMENTS

I added more chipboard, sticker elements and a flower. The chipboard birdcage was treated with gesso, Silks paint (from a previous kit) and brown chalk ink. TIP: I fussy cut some of the sticker flowers apart.

STEP 5 - THE FINISHING TOUCHES

I added the photo image, even more sticker elements (again fussy some apart), plus added more flowers, punched some butterflies (from kit scraps) and rolled back the edges in a few places.

STEP 6 - SECURE THE EDGES

Lastly, I added a bit of glue in spots that were not rolled back to secure the edges of the layout. NOTE: I also used this month's stunning kit sketch as inspiration...

Here is a peek at the Swirlydoos July 2013 "Madame" main kit and add-ons. To become a subscriber and never miss a gorgeous Swirlydoos kit click here.