With so many mediums available to those who scrapbook one may wonder if there will ever be an end to the way we artistically express ourselves. Trying something new and different helps to keep our scrapbooks fresh and inspiring not only for us, but for those that will be enjoying our works of art in the future.
This technique (Serigraph Collage) works well with traditional photos where your subjects are isolated and there is a dominant color. Black and white and sepia photos also are greatly enhanced as well. After you have chosen your photos, let the colors within your pictures set the stage for your main event! So, now the drum roll please... it’s time to collect your inkpads and get started!
Because the wedding photos have a gold tone, choose your inks to compliment accordingly-for example: light gold, dark gold and light brown ink. Take a white piece of 12" x 12" cardstock for your canvas. With a rubber brayer in hand, start with the lightest shade of ink, cover the brayer and then roll it onto the cardstock. The color will not be placed evenly so it should reflect lighter and darker shades as you roll. You will do this three to four times; don’t worry about covering all of the white. Clean your brayer and use a darker shade of ink, repeating the same technique. There is no need to be concerned about going over an existing color; it will merely intensify the colors as you go. Using the brayer again, apply the third shade of ink making sure to cover any remaining white spots. Once your white cardstock is covered with different shades of color you are ready to start stamping! Use Versamark ink and two stamps (i.e.: a rose and branch) randomly stamp images and then emboss with white embossing powder. Once again, selecting the inkpads you used to brayer with, you will stamp your images next to the white embossed images, thus creating dimension. Pick your word and butterfly stamps, then stamp these remaining images to fill in the open spaces that are left (use the brown or darkest shade of dye ink for this step). Now you have an "elegant collaged" cardstock and are ready to complete your layout.
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In the Senior Prom layout, the same elegant collage technique was used to create photo mats to draw attention to the main photos. To enhance your page even further, use oriental writing and create your own elements to decorate. The fans are formed with a half circle of cardstock and layered with wedges of the same serigraph collage paper made to mat the photos.
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Babies are not always full of smiles and giggles and this technique works beautiful with a child’s more serious moments. The serendipity squares technique works great with serigraph collage. To make it appropriate for a little boy layout... select bug stamps. Choosing the complimentary colored inks drawn from the sage and blue outfit in the photo, really make this layout work!
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So, when you think elegance... think Serigraph Collage. Don’t be afraid to give it a try, let your imagination run wild and have fun experimenting. It’s not just for scrapbook layouts, but for tags and cards too!
