Hello! It’s Friday with October Afternoon ‚Silent Night’ line! I prepared next project using this collection and wrote a few words about the idea of layering. I have thought that I shall shared with you something that is a common feature of my works, still not so much complicated. I have decided to acquaint you with a âlayering” technique, or creating the composition of a work on various, multiple layers. The layers in my works are structured on various planes â these are diverse, applied layer by layer media and paper elements.
What materials can be used to create layers. The answer is - anything you have at hand, any available paper scraps, pages from notebooks, clothing labels, tracing paper, tissue paper, fabric, tags, labels, stickers, paper bags, envelopes, threads, and any other possible „rubbish”. There are countless possibilities â you are limitied only by your imagination and the contents of your drawers. To create the layers of the work described below, I used: a fragment of a folded paper bag, a half of white paper doily, a piece of pattern papers, a chipboard, one stripe of washi tape, piece of cardboard, little label and some stickers. Usually I’m using more ‚not so scrappy’ things, but this time I get so many amazing ‚Silent Night’ goodies from October Afternoon so it would be a sin not to use them on my project.
How to create layers and what is essential to make them. Layering means applying subsequent elements of composition onto one another. I prefer working „from detail to whole”. I strat with a picture. Then, using some glue or double-sided adhesive tape, I attach subsequent layers of paper under the photo. Sometimes I try to align the elements along the edge of the picture, other times I concentrate on creating a really big mess. Remeber that not all the layers must closely adhere to each other. It is sufficient if they are attached to each other in two or three places. Thanks to this, the whole work will seem more dimensional. It is also cool to stick some little 3D sponges underneath the final layers. Then, the effect of dimension is even more visible, which makes the work even more interesting. As soon as all the layers are arranged and glued, I attach them to the base. Later, I add some elements such as a title, journaling, stamps â you are always bound to find some free space that asks for a sticker or a stamp. You should follow these suggestions with no objections.
Why layering produces such amazing effects. I do not really know how to answer this question myself. When I look at such dimensional works, I have an impression that thanks to subsequent layers the whole structure is much more interesting. Something is hidden behind something else, some other thing is being pushed to the foreground as if it wanted to say: „I am more attractive”, ”My colour is nicer”, „Pay attention to me first!”. You might think that I am a bit round the bend, but these are the impressions I really get while admiring this sort of works. They talk to me, they appeal to me. Their speech leads me through the whole work, starting with the dominant elements (which is usually the photo â the main element of the composition), until the tiniest, the least noticeable details, such as miniature stamps or almost invisible, pastel colour spots. Dimensionality is an instrument that allows me to enter the word of travelling through subsequent layers, and I really think it is wonderful. And the most important thing about it is that it is so incredibly easy, which is something I hope I have proven to you in this text. You do not need much to have your layout look attractive â you do not need en excess of materials, you might even use scraps and fragments of previously cut papers. It is also a perfect way to create hiding-places for your souvenirs, or private notes.
Now just make some water-glue splatter on your surface and don’t let them dry until…
… you sprinkle them by the glitter.
(these letters are coming from different Studio Calico kits and they are not a part of ‚Silent Night’ line)
ania-maria 