Picture Perfect by Suzy Loudon

I'm afraid I've been in Christmas denial this year so just couldn't pull a Christmas layout together. So I've stuck with a nice bright cheery layout to brighten our summer days.

To begin with I tore around the edges of a sheet of watercolour paper. I stuck it down onto a random old sheet of paper (I'm sure we all have plenty of old paper in our stash). I then sewed twice around edge with my sewing machine. I marked out where I wanted to put my photos then using Stazon Ink added some stamping.

Using a tiny amount of Colour Shimmer Dust (it goes such a long way) I sprinkled it onto the paper then used my water bottle to spray.

I did this alternating between colours and drying each time. The Colour Shimmer Dusts I used were Passion, Paris, Lollipop & Peacock.

I then used Colour Paste in Snow White through a stencil.

Some small hearts were added using a stencil again with Colour Paste in Lovely Lilac.

I coloured all my flowers using the same Colour Shimmer Dusts. I used my water pens to dip into the Dust. Then mixed the colour on my craft mat. Leaving some of the colour intense I then squeezed more water out mixing some of the intense colour in to make a lighter tone. This way as I painted my flowers (with the water brush) I got different shades. (I tried to make the edges darker...I succeeded with some)

Using Passion Colour Shimmer Dust I sprinkled some on my craft mat then sprayed with water. I ran my cheese cloth through it soaking up the colour. I then dried it with my heat gun.

I gave my title 2 coats of Colour Embossing Powder in Lipstick.

In assembling my elements together I kept it pretty simple. I stuck down some lace, added my coloured cheese cloth, my flowers, a die cut and a few sparklies.

All my flowers used (apart from the one left white) were coloured with the Colour Shimmer Dusts. I am so happy with the way they turned out. I seriously love these Dusts...now to buy the colours I don't have!!! Hmmm...maybe that's the way to get into the Christmas spirit!

Hope you've enjoyed my layouts this year and you've been inspired to create some of your own.

May you have a wonderful and safe Christmas.

See you next year!

Suzy.