Tutorial on pages........

Treadmills

Several of you have asked me how I get the effects that I have in Hunter's baby book! I am not sure exactly what you would like to know, but I will explain the best I can.......gladly I might add:):):) First, I have to have a picture of some sort. Many times I take a colored picture and turn it to sepia or b/w. I do this to make it look a little more vintage and not fight with the colors I want on the page. Once the pictures are glued down I start with paint. I also like to use gesso. Gesso covers alot better than most acrylics and makes a good ground to add color on top!
The pages you see above are the starting of two new pages devoted to Hunter's cousins, Margo and Milly. So far I have transposed the pictures to B/W and cropped them. Once glued into the book I have painted onver the background with gesso and a little pink paint. I have painted over the background probably 3 times to get it blocked out enough to please me!
Now I am going to design the rest of the page. That would include the shape of the center of interest and the elements that I will add for color and detail. I kind of work one layer at a time. Once that layer is dry I can start adding more. Sometimes I have the entire idea in my head before starting.....while other times I work a little at a time! I will post the next step tomorrow when I have started adding......stay tuned!
oh yes, at the upper left of the pic of Margo you see some hats I have already cut out for the girls. I may or may not use them......not sure:)