Art Journaling

I've been working a lot in my art journal lately and wanted to share some finished entries.  I love the idea of an art journal and strongly believe every creative person should have one. This is the place where I play with new techniques and different color combinations, or try a new products, without the pressure of a canvas or scrapbook page. I have at least 2 art journals going at the same time because many times I have extra paint that I don't want to waste, or stencils that I clean off on one journal while working in another journal.  I've worked in Strathmore Mixed Media spiral bound journals but more recently love working in the Ranger Dylusions journal.   Ok, enough jibber jabber!  

Strathmore journal cover that I altered.

My altered Dylusions journal cover.  I highly recommend this journal since the pages lay flat giving me a larger area to work with since it is not spiral. Sometimes I tape the middle to keep the paint from seeping through to the other pages.  You can buy them here:

 http://store.scrapbook.com/pp-dr-dyj34100.html.

                        

 

I used my January Stencil Club peacock stencils to create these pages in my Strathmore journal.  Such beautiful stencils!! Here is a link for more info on Stencil Girl art stencils.  http://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/Default.asp

Below I used a The Crafter's Workshop arrow stencil.  

Ride

The bicycles are napkins that I glued to the painted background using  matte medium. Then used molding paste with the arrow stencil and glazed over the whole thing with Cobalt Teal Golden paint.

I started with a very colorful background and used a gate stamp and Dylusions vine stamps.  LOVE how this one turned out!

Used the December (I think) Stencil Girl stencils to record our freezing weather we had a few weeks ago.  It was below 10 degrees and our heat stopped working in the middle of the night!!! We had it working by the next day but I froze my tail off!!!   Record lows for South Carolina!

So, what do you think?  Let me know below.........

  

Happy Girls Canvas

I made a canvas for my daughter, Jordan, for her dorm room and decided to make a bunch of different ones to sell.  Here is the one I made for Jordan:

If you can't read the quote, it's a Dr. Seuss quote:

You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose.  

I decided to change the quotes to black on the next ones I made so that it's easier to read.  

So here is another one that I made:

I love this quote, and black lettering really stands out against the background.  

Here is a detail:

I used a stencil and modeling paste and lots of layers of paint on the background.  

I'm entering this canvas in the "Autumn is in the Air" October mood board challenge at 

http://berry71bleu.blogspot.com.br/ .

I've got some more backgrounds that are ready for quotes:

Stay tuned!

Thanks for visiting me today!  Please comment below.  

Inspiration Is Everywhere

It seems I can't make a scrapbook page without modeling paste and stencils these days!!!  I used my favorites on this page:  watercolor paper, modeling paste, The Crafter's Workshop  Subway stencil,  Golden acrylic paints and homemade sprays, stamping, some random painted tags, and black fiber.

When I found this tag in my homemade stash, it was definitely serendipity.   

I wanted the layout to be a bit grungy, like the subway.

I hope you can really see the raised areas I created using the stencil and modeling paste.

I ran my Archival ink pad over them to really highlight them.

I also added the "graffiti" stamping to add more texture to the background.

I used a Cover-A-Card large, square stamp that looked like graffiti with black Archival ink.  

 When I do this technique, I don't have to add much else to the layout. I love the process of creating all those vibrant colors and patterns from a simple white piece of watercolor paper.  It's so much more enjoyable to me than buying matching pattern paper, stickers, and embellishments, then trying to figure out how to put it all together with my photos.  I guess you could say that my "muse" is the photo in this process. I'd love to hear from other scrapbookers and mixed media artists about what inspires you to create a certain layout or project. I love reading your comments, so don't be shy!!!

I entered this layout in the Boy Meets Girl Scrapbook Challenge Blog and here is the link:

http://boymeetsgirlchallenges.blogspot.com/2013/10/aag-october-15-texture-challenge.html

 Thanks for visiting my blog!  

More Creative Chemistry Technique Tags

I've had so much fun playing with all the techniques I've learned in Tim Holtz's online class. I highly recommend it, and it is still available.  Here is the link for more info about it:
http://www.onlinecardclasses.com/
Here are more technique tags:

Stencil Stamping

I used the stencil with molding paste

to create the background. 

Stencil Stamping Detail

Paint Monoprint using Distress Paints

Paint Monoprint Detail

The bee is a Tim Holtz rub-on.

Ink Monoprint using Distress Inks and stencils

Monoprint using Alcohol Inks

Rusting with Distress Embossing Powder

I used Tea Stain Distress EP and added some copper EP.

Rusting with Distress Embossing Powder Detail

Mixed Media Layering

Embossing Through Stencils

Embossing Through Stencils Detail

Eroded Metallic

The background is the technique but the

embellishment was a happy experiment of my own.

Eroded Metallic Detail

I used a die cut chipboard piece and randomly applied crackle paint.

After it dried, I applied black Distress Paint and then I sprayed it with copper

Perfect Pearls mist. I was surprised that the mist was so visible

on the black paint. I LOVE the effect. 

 

Chalkboard Technique

Faded Layers using alcohol inks

Shabby Chic

Tarnished Silver

Faux Patina

There are lots more techniques that I haven't finished yet!  Thanks for visiting my blog and make a comment below if you like what you see.    

Just one more!!!!!

Brayered Distress Stains

Don't know if the photo picked it up but I had to

"bling it out" with metallic stain here and there.    

Tim Holtz Creative Chemistry Online Class

I just finished a 5 day online class that is chock full of techniques using Distress and Ranger products.  For only $25 there was so much information that I think it might be the best value out there!  Below are some of the technique tags from the first day of the class using the Distress Paints. (yes, this was just the first day!!!)  There were more techniques that day but I forgot to photograph them. I have lots more to share, so come back soon.  Please comment below if you like what you see.

Industrial Technique

Using embossing folder and Black ink

Altered Surfaces (the letters)

 Colored Crackle (LOVE this technique!)

 Stamping Resist 

Mixing Mixed Media and Scrapbooking

I am a bad, bad blogger!!!  I won't bore you with how busy I've been, blah, blah, blah.......... From now on, my goal is to do at least one or more entries per week.  However, I have been busy creating and I would like to share some of my summer work. 

Lately, I enjoy incorporating mixed media techniques with scrapbooking.  My favorite thing to do is to add dimension by using molding/modeling paste through stencils to sturdy watercolor paper cut to 12 x 12 size so the finished product fits into a page protector or frame.  I used this technique in the following two layouts:   

Detail

Detail

I add lots of gesso, sprays, paints, even hot glue, and let everything dry completely before I add my photos and embellishments.  

Stay tuned for a tutorial on this technique in the near future! 

Cards

I've been making cards with my Gelli prints, adding some stamps and sentiments.  I punched out some butterflies from one of my prints, which is one of my favorite things to do with leftover pieces that I might have otherwise thrown away.  Hope you like them!