Step by Step with Nicolee

Hi there,

We're pleased to present this fantastic step-by-step tutorial from March/April Guest Designer Nicolee Cable!  I'm sure you'll feel inspired after seeing how she put together this layout, and we hope you will share what you were inspired to create in the Polly! Gallery.

For this layout I wanted to create a fun, textured background. Its all about our son Cam turning into a teenager (we have a family tradition of taking our boys on a special date night with mum & dad when they become a teenager....he was about 15 at the time! Better late than never they say!)

Step 1
I like to use products in ways different to the ‘norm’. I really loved the Basic Grey sticker letters and was inspired to take them apart and use them for a background stencil. Care must be taken or all the letters will lift, but with patience, a paddle pop stick to push stubborn letters through and lots of slow peeling, it will separate nicely.

Step 2
After letting some swiped gesso dry on the paper, I mixed texture paste with black paint and positioned the stencil where I wanted it, swiping the black paste over random areas of the letter stencil.

I carefully repositioned it a couple of times so it didn’t have the rectangle look, adding a few more black letters.

Step 3
When paste was dry, I stamped a small typed alpha stamp in a few places with Stazon ink. When stamping, to make sure I don’t get the ‘straight-sided’ look, I only place my thumb in the middle of the stamp gently roll it and it leaves a lovely smaller image.

Step 4
I then flicked some spray ink in a few places on the page.

Step 5
I randomly cut out the triangles and strips of patterned paper and layed them out where I thought would suit.


Step 6
Next step was sticking all the elements down and doodling around the letters & cute orange dots, adding the peg, small amount of washi tape to the photo, buttons, sequins & stars.


A very simple but eye-popping cool layout!


Hope you enjoy and try this sometime – would love to see your take on this technique.

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see another layout reveal using the March/April kit Shoreline that sold out in hours.  The April/May kit is due to be released very, very soon - have you subscribed yet to reserve your awesome Polly! kit?