Transforming Christmas Tree Branches into Coral

It's Tracey back to share a layout I recently created featuring gorgeous Leaky Shed Chipboard.

Vacation trips are always fun to remember. In 2012 Gary and I took a trip for our 30th anniversary to Baltimore Inner Harbor. We spent a day at the National Aquarium where I took this shot of the coral reef exhibit. The coral and fish are so colorful and vibrant. I enjoyed extending the feel of the reef onto the layout. I like to get creative and transformed the Leaky Shed 9 inch Christmas tree into coral. 

"Beautiful Reef"

Tips and Techniques

Often, I look at my chipboard pieces "outside the box." Here the coral pieces are cut from the branches of the Leaky Shed Studio chipboard Christmas tree, painted with Lumiere gold and green metallic paint. I painted and then bubbled the paint with a heat tool in several layers to build up the paint to achieve a coral-like appearance. I adhered these pieces with Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive. 

A close-up of the background which was stenciled with molding paste using the Prima Scales stencil then misted, stamped, splattered with thinned gesso, and doodled. I've also scattered some crystals around the page.

Another flower cluster featuring more of the Leaky Shed chipboard "coral."

Leaving you with one final photo.

Leaky Shed Studio Products
Leaky Shed Studio ~ 9" Christmas Tree

Other Products
Prima ~ Sunrise Sunset - Collection
Prima ~ Sunrise Sunset - Alphabet Stickers
Prima Flowers ~ Cottage Blossoms, Soubrette - Blue/Green, Metallic Iron, Divine Vine - Yellow, Guava Peony Brahms, Calypso Tin - Teal
Prima ~ Say It in Crystals - Circles Iridescent, 560577
Prima ~ Clear Stamp Script, Build-A-Frame Collections 1 & 2
Prima ~ Stencils - Static, Scales
Ranger ~ Distress Ink - Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain
Ranger ~ Archival Ink - Jet Black
Golden ~ Light Molding Paste
Liquitex ~ Gesso
Heidi Swapp ~ Color Shine - Mustard, Chartreuse
Tattered Angels ~ Glimmer Mist - Cork, Dragonfly
Lumiere Paint ~ Bright Gold, Halo Blue Gold
Pigma ~ Micron 05 Black
Prima ~ Distress Tool
Ranger ~ Heat It Craft Tool
Darice ~ Heat Tool
Liquid Scrap Dots
450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Premium Craft Glue

I hope you've been inspired to get creative with some Leaky Shed Studio Chippies!

Be sure to stop back to tomorrow to be inspired by a magical layout by Juliana Michaels!

~ Blessings ~
Tracey