Create Art

Hey, it's me (Kim) again...and I'm late again and posting an older project, which I hope I haven't previously posted! LOL!  This is a project that I created to use as a make 'in take when we opened the studio (have you been down to visit us yet, if you're local?  Would love to have you stop by if you live in the NH, MA, or ME areas!)  This tag was really easy and fun to create so let's get started!

 

I started by using Art Anthology ink sprays.  If you haven't used these yet or think that they're just like any other spray...think again!  I LOVE this new product.  The colors are soft and all coordinate so well together...and the best part?  They react like Distress Inks!  Think of these babies like Distress Ink in a liquid...amazing!  You can move the color around with water and it reacts with water...that's right, water drops, picking up colors from a craft sheet, all possible with these sprays.  Awesome!  (See those fun drops at the top of my tag?  Achieved by drying the ink and then pick up more from the craft sheet!)

 Next, I used a few coordinating colors to add stenciled designs to the tag. I keep the background stencils fairly light so it wouldn't interfere too much with the face.  (Product links at the end of the post)

 

Here's the tag after adding the two stencil designs (and check out those water drips...fabulous!  That was achieved by adding water after the sprays were dry...Distress Ink in a can!)

 Next I grabbed one of my face stamps...Look at the size of that baby!  It's perfect for art journaling but I wanted to try my hand at using just a portion of the face on my tag.  Be sure to use Archival Ink when stamping images on backgrounds.

 

And here's the result!  Whoa, mama, isn't that amazing!  Looks like I drew it, which is even more exciting because I didn't need to draw (and never could have done this well!), Donna did it all for me!  (Don't you love how she has the word artist in her hair - over on the left.)

I add some color to the face, I used Gelatos.  I put a bit of color down and then used my finger to blend.  I love the addition of the color...even though there's still a strong yellow color to the tag, the eyes, lips, and checks really pop out.  So much fun!  I used a Catherine Scanlon stamp for the sentiment and a white gel pen to outline the word artist.

Enjoy today's post and find some time today to make art!!

Supply List:
#8 Manila Tags
Gelatos (Neutral& 50's Diner)
Unity Stamps (She Is)
Journal Words (Catherine Scanlon)
Classic Words Stencil (Wendy Vecchi)
Burlap Layering Stencil (Tim Holtz)
Art Anthology Sprays (Timeless and Guacamole)
Distress Inks
Archival Ink (Jet Black)

Cherish Happiness

So...will you miss the weekly Product Spotlight?  Since I include all new product details in our weekly newsletter (you can sign up at the bottom of our home page), I thought everyone would rather see more projects!!  And today it's my turn to share and I'm super excited to share my very first journal page spread...that I really like!  LOL!  Such is the case when you're just learning...a whole lot of so-so pages before you hit the one that makes you happy!

I wish I had taken photos of this project in the works but once I started going I just kept working and didn't even stop...thankfully, my memory still somewhat works so I'm happy to fill in the details! :-)

I started by finding a pretty clean two-page spread in my Dylusions Journal and then I applied a layer of Gesso.  (I've also been adding masking tape to the spine of my pages to keep paint from leaking.)  I then used Adirondack Paint Dabbers (Cloudy Blue, Aqua, Willow, Eggplant) to add a sky and grass.  Eggplant was just added to the edges....adore that color!

Then I used Archival Ink to stamp the Poppy Background images all across the bottom of both pages.  Then I got to work on using my paint dabbers again, this time adding Terra Cotta, Salmon, Cranberry, and Mountain Rose to the mix and coloring in all of the flowers.  After doing this, however, I lose some of the outlines of the flowers.  Guess what i used to add them back in...My Copic markers!  Yes, it worked perfectly!

Once all of my paint was dry, I got to work with some stencils!  I used Classic Words, along with a Viva Pearl Pen for some very cool results.  Then I threw on some designs from the Chevron, Dotted Flowers, and Blazonry stencils, by using the paint dabbers.  Next came random text from one of my fav Tim Holtz text stamps and then...rub ons! 

I have a giant bag of rub ons and since I've been watching a bunch of Donna Downey videos, where she's decided to use up her stash of stickers and rub ons, I was reminded to check my own stash. I found this amazing "Cherish Happiness" sentiment that I just had to use on this page. I also added a "I'm learning" ('cause I am!) sentiment from the She Sprouted Wings stamp set.

My last two elements were to add this sweet dragonfly image (from this Sweet 'n Sassy stamp set, Nature Silhouettes) and a tag with the date...and the words "happy place!"  How fun is that!

I hope you enjoyed today's project and if you're just starting on your own altered journal journey...keep playing, keep experimenting, and keep working...you're going to get to your own happy place!

Enjoy!

The Butterfly Experiment

Hi everyone,

Micki here to share my little experiment using the gorgeous butterflies from Balzer Designs Butterfly Stamp set and the coordinating 6x6 TCW stencil – Layered Butterflies. I already love using stencils and Embossing Paste. Totally love that technique but I have to admit that using stencils and acrylic paint is harder for me. I never seem to get a really clear design.
As you may know, I don’t let that stop me. Pure stubbornness . Before I share some of my “experiments”, here is the final result:

I started by using Dylusions Ink Sprays, randomly spritzing these onto the canvas.  Once dry, out came the Adirondack Paint Dabbers.  I wish I could say I had a "plan" but I really didn't.   I love creating backgrounds and tend to just play.  Keep your art journal or extra papers nearby to "clean" your brush or excess paint/ink off your project or Inksentials non-stick craft mat.

  

Next I started playing around with the  Layered Butterflies stencil and different tools to apply the paint; Adirondack Paint Dabbers, sponges, foam brush, paint brush were all tried and all yielded pretty much the same result.  (However, that could be due to user error) The butterflies on the canvas were done by using the dabbers directly to the stencil.  Once that was dry, I then took the matching Balzer Designs Butterfly Stamp and stamped the corresponding butterfly stamp over the stenciled one. 

In the picture above, the green butterfly was stamped first, then did the stencil and then stamped the outline stamp.

The green butterfly is ok, but I was not happy with the orange one or the purple one.  Notice the smeared edges of the purple one?

Definitely was not happy with the orange one either.  I got in a hurry and didn't line the stamp up correctly.  Now at this point I could have used gesso to cover it up and start over.

Instead I opted to use tissue paper.  Stamped the butterflies a couple of times, then cut them out.

I did a rough cut, not worrying about cutting exactly along the stamped outline.

Using Claudine Hellmuth Matte Multi Medium and a brush, I added these right over the original stenciled/stamped butterflies on the canvas.

While that was drying, I stamped the butterflies on my many excess colored tags, left over papers and colored chipboard coaster.

I ended up using the butterfly stamped on the chipboard coaster.  Because I didn't want the butterfly to blend into my very bright, multi colored background, I used my fingers to smear some Claudine Hellmuth Blank Canvas before adding the chipboard butterfly.

Then came the really fun part... adding texture using stamps.  I used Faber-Castell Gelatos with Claudine Hellmuth Studio Doodles Foam stamps. Apply directly to stamp and mist with water.

The paint dabber was applied directly to Honeycomb stamp from Market Street Stamps and then randomly stamped all over.

Next came Donna Downey's Inspire Words stamps from Unity.  The thing about canvas, I didn't like the brown ink, so I just used a wet wipe and erased it.  

Instead I stamped the words on extra left over inked tags/papers and cut them out.

A black marker was used to go over the butterfly outline

I admit, it's colorful.  The bright pink is bright, but considering I didn't pay any attention to colors, instead just getting lost in the moment of playing, the color combo isn't half bad.

Lots of playing and the one thing I learned about stencils and paint..... LESS is more. I used brushes, foam brush, stencil foam brush, cosmetic sponge and I actually had better luck using my fingers as the tool to apply paint over the stencil.  The other thing I learned..... smudges, irregular lines, smeared paint..... it's all good and oh so much fun!  And that is the important thing, right?!   Oh and now that eP shop has the PanPastels and the new (oooh giddy with joy) Tim Holtz Distress Paints, I see more "experimenting" in the future!

I hope you were inspired to get out your scraps, paints and just play! 

Supplies used:

InLinkz.com