Serenely Joyful − Layout With Favourite Gesso Technique

Hello to you, and happy Friday!

In this layout, I'm with one of my favourite persons, and I've also used gesso in one of my favourite ways.

I had several challenges as my inspiration, firstly More Than Words: Bliss & Gesso.



The title, Serenely Joyful, is a dictionary definition of Blissful (1. serenely joyful or glad).

Bliss, the noun, would be (1. Extreme happiness; ecstasy. and 2. The ecstasy of salvation; spiritual joy.) but I loved the sound of Serenely Joyful and wanted to include the word Serene, so that's why the adjective.



The photo I scrapped is from nap time with our 2-year-old. Those are serene moments of days that are otherwise quite busy. Well, serene in most cases − absolutely not always if the little one is too excited to sleep!

I find it such a luxury to be able to sleep during the day, and cuddling with my baby, even more so. So that's why Bliss.



For my background, I wanted to use a bit of both sides of a 7 Dots Studio paper, but had only one of it. That together with the sketch I used suggested cutting a corner and replacing it with another paper. (Already done when I remembered to take a photo!)

They are from the Dreamer and Destination Unknown collections from 7 Dots Studio.

In the planning stage, I check that this is where the corner will be...



According to this sketch I used, from Let's Get Sketchy, March Week 4.



And here's a detail of what I like to do with gesso! I use it to glue layers of tissue papers or napkins, which gives a cool texture and a bit of a pattern at the same time. Lunch sized napkins usually have a middle layer that has a nice lighter version of the pattern, if it is otherwise a strong one.

This is actually a technique I invented myself (not to say I'm the only one!) just by experimenting, when I was quite a beginner with mixed media. It resembles decoupage, but the napkin is meant to be wrinkly here and the image not necessarily very clear. I learned this when I only had white gesso thinned with water, and the white gives a nice background for adding further paint.



I used the gesso and napkins to fade the line between the two different papers.



Here are some close-ups of that area in the finished layout.





And the same thing in the opposite corner. I particularly love the tissue paper with the tiny flakes of gold!



I added some golden modeling paste, using punchinella as a stencil.



I am also joining the Chevron Challenge at Challenge YOUrself!





And the 7 Dots Studio Challenge themed Parts of Your Face.



And We Love to Create Challenge 7: Anything Goes Mixed Media.

The children don't love the time I'm scrapping but they do love to see photos of themselves and their dear ones!

Those of you who have small children (or have had when you started scrapping), I'd love to hear your secrets of how and when you find time for your crafting! Do you do things together with your kids, at night when they sleep, or when the other parent takes care of them, or something else?



Thank you for your visit and comments, I appreciate them greatly!