Kaisercraft Off the Wall - Embrace Imperfection....more grunge!

Hi there & Happy 2015 to you all!  Michele here again with my second Off the Wall layout.

This time I let myself get really grungy and chose what I think are three VERY suitable photos to match the papers. 

We all have that friend who brews their own, right? Because it's cheaper, stronger, or (supposedly) tastes better. Usually it's beer, sometimes it's a liqueur - maybe something like Baileys Irish Cream, occasionally it's wine made from strange plants like Elderberry, Dandelion or Pear. 

This time it was just straight spirits...like Vodka or Schnapps - only much worse. LOL! My layout tells it like it is.

This year I really need to stick to my NY Resolutions and use up the TONS of stuff I have in my stash! I started this layout with just that in mind.

Who else has dozens of sets of unused alphas? Fortunately someone clever came up with the idea of using them to create texture and interest on the background, so I happily embraced that idea on this layout.

There are three layers making up this background - all inked on the edges with Black Soot Distress ink and an Ink Blending tool. First a sheet of Kaisercraft Navy Weave Cardstock, followed by a sheet of grey corrugated cardstock from my stash with one edge torn off and a sheet of the reverse of Attitude , also with the edge torn off. I cheated a bit and used this last edge to tuck between the cardstock and the corrugated card so that it looks like there are four layers.

Then I started to play. I can't remember in what order I did this, but I don't think it matters much either.

Around the edges are some torn printed tapes....Kaisercraft Dominos and Happiness, and Darice Black and White Script. I randomly pushed Viva Decor Mother of Pearl Light Blue Modelling Cream and Matt Multi Medium through my Dots template and then I added some American Crafts Thickers in small groups around the page.

Over the top of these is a light, watered down coat of black Gesso, just to take the shine off the letters and to make sure the next layer stayed on - the next layer being a coat of Clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint - very thin on top of the letters - but quite thick in the spaces between them. This took ages to dry, but when it was completely crackled I added some Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink. A splodge of the ink pad on my craft sheet, a spray with water, then I applied it in and around the crackled areas with a paintbrush.

Before adding the photos I laid a few vertical strips of paper and some Idea-ology Film Strip Ribbon down the side of the page. The paper strips are the cut off manufacturers edges from the Off the Wall Attitude and Tag papers. The Film Strip ribbon is out of stock right now, but I need some more, so I will be asking Tracy to re-stock.  ;)

My photos are all mounted on Dimensional Tape. In keeping with my resolution, I have used eyelets and Silver Iron Chain to join them up. It must be years since I used my Crop-a-Dile and eyelets!!

Embellishing this one was fun. There's some tangled blue embroidery thread, Gadget Gear Cog Charms, Silver Typewriter Charms, Rhinestone Dots (both Black and Clear) and Licorice Twist Sugar Beads.

In amongst it all there are also some small watch parts my hubby found for me on eBay, an Ideaology Word Band - ''Embrace Imperfection'' and a small bottle. Inside the bottle is some water with Chipped Sapphire colour added (Shhh ... I rinsed my paintbrush in it). A small white Ideaology Remnant Rub - Halloween Apothecary was perfect as a label for it. I love that these come in both black and white :)

My journalling (as usual - not really expansive, but descriptive of the photos) is on printable canvas. In case you can't read it (I know it isn't very clear) it says:

''a - Politely agree to taste your friend's home brew''

''b - Savour the flavour''

''c - Give him a considered, honest opinion''

Since I have used less than three whole papers from this range on my last two layouts, I still have stacks to use. Look out for some cards and tags coming your way soon!