My Pisa de Resistance for The Robin's Nest

Hi everyone.  I am back with another with another scrapbook page layout (and a little play on words) for The Robin's Nest that I think will surprise you when you find out how I did it.  I am so excited to share this with you, and I absolutely love how this turned out.  

Would you believe this paper was once black?  This is a fabulous technique that I learned from Tim Holtz when using his Kraft resist papers, but I am using it on black card stock paper from The Robin's Nest.   This paper is certainly beautiful as is, but what if I needed some colored paper?  Well, I have lots to tell you so let's get to it.

After applying Picket Fence Distress Stain all over the gold on black paisley paper, blend 3 to 4 distress ink colors with your blending tool.

When completely covered, your paper will look like this.

Voila, black paper no more.  Isn't that fantastic?  Hard to believe this was ever black paper.  

After a wonderful visit to Italy this year, I chose this picture taken of the Tower of Pisa.  It goes so well with this paper.  I adhered the picture to a piece of corrugated cardboard, then added some hard molding paste for a shabby look.  I also added hard molding paste through a brick stencil along the edges, which appears in this photo, too.

I used a tag from the Blue Glitter Journaling tag sheet and fussy cut around it to make a decorative tag for journaling.  After determining where to place my journaling tag, I punched two small holes on either side of a straight cut I made through the paper.  

On the back, you can see where I have inserted the tag through the slit and placed double-sided tape around it.  I attached another piece of card stock to close the pocket and prevent the tag from falling through.

I inked an embossed chipboard butterfly with the same colors used on the background paper, then covered it completely with 3D Crystal Lacquer.  Halloween and Fall Foliage Dew Drops were added to form the body.  I love the dimension achieved with Dew Drops.  The butterfly was attached at the top of the tag and acts as a pull tab.  

I used letter rub-ons to spell out "Pisa" on the tag.  

Now for even more fun.  I am going to show you how you can take a seemingly uncoordinated piece of paper and make it work with another.  In this example, I used Tulip Wheels paper to make flowers to add to my page.  After punching five-petal flower and scalloped circles, I made quite a beautiful bouquet, don't you think?  Pictured below are several five-petal flowers punched from the Tulip Wheels paper, then inked with the same colors of ink used on the background paper.  A little bit of folding and curling the petals give these flowers lovely dimension.  The further addition of Cherry Chocolate and Christmas Dew Drops to the centers also make them even more lovely.

My scalloped circle flowers were made by punching five circles, removing sections, as shown below, and gluing each piece into a cone shape.  Insert the cone shapes inside of each other results in a beautiful rose.  These were also punched from the Tulip Wheels paper and inked.

For variety, I used some of the scalloped circles individually, snipping into the center to lift and curl each petal for more dimension.  I again used Fall Foliage and Halloween Dew Drops for the centers of these flowers.  The green sprig is a piece of a tree branch from one of my bushes that was being trimmed.  (NOTE: No trees or bushes were harmed in the making of this page.)  I sprayed it with a clear sealer and attached it to the arrangement.  I also die cut a leafy border using the back side of the Tulip Wheels paper, which is actually a stripe.  I simply placed the die within the stripe of color I wanted, added a bit of ink, and adhered one to the top and one to the bottom.  Add a bit of ribbon, and I think this turned out to be a beautiful page.  

It just goes to show you how easily we can change the look of our papers and other surfaces with simple things as ink and foam.  I am so very happy with the way this turned out.  I love The Robin's Nest papers and embellishments, and I know you will, too!

Robin's Nest Products Used:  (with quick links below each image)

Gold on Black Paisley

Tulip Wheels

Glitter blue journaling

Dew Dew Glue

Halloween dew drops

Fall Foliage dew drops

Christmas dew drops

Cherry Chocolate dew drops

Please visit The Robin's Nest online store to check out their fabulous papers, dew drops, rub ons, and other wonderful embellishments to use in your scrapbooking and altered art. They have new things every month that I know you will love and just have to have, so please check out their website.  

I hope you enjoyed my project and will come back often, as well as visiting The Chattering Robin's blog to see what the other wonderful design team members have cooked up for you.  In the meantime, I hope you have a wonderful week and happy crafting!


Barbara