Just a quick post today. I wanted to share this colorful tag that I made recently. The background is super easy - done with watersoluble crayons, stamps and acrylic paint pens, and topped with a stamped leaf motif.
it's almost two weeks into February, and I naively thought I'd see some signs of spring to brighten my day. Alas, it's more of the same with icy winds, grey skies and rain. The birds have been busy at the feeder outside my studio and I'll need to replenish it, and our resident squirrel seems grateful for the nuts and seeds I put out. He/she is quite shy, and I can never get close enough to get a good picture.
Personally, I have a lot going on at the moment, so I'm grateful I have my art to turn to when I feel overwhelmed. Time and again simply playing in my journal with collage, a bit of paint, a few colorful crayons and my favorite stamps has a calming effect on my mind. I thought I'd share my recent art journal pages here.
I was short on time so I grabbed my handmade junk journal, with pages that already have some background patterns on them. I don't mind making a "mess" in this journal. I find it rather freeing to slap on paint with my fingers and there is just something relaxing about tearing pieces of collage paper...you can see some of the process below:
I have a bunch of "collage fodder" at the ready, such as leaves, flowers, mushrooms and various stamped images that I make in batches when I have time to spare. They make great focal points in my journals or on cards. If you haven't seen them already, check out these short videos:
In the below close-up you can see how I chose a mix of papers and patterns and played with lines and other marks. Variety is key and instantly makes the page come alive. I like adding uplifting quotes.
The full quote reads: practice reckless optimism and kindness.
I felt more energized after creating this art journal spread. I like the juxtaposition of lights and darks, round and angular shapes. Splatters always make for interesting marks. If you'd like to watch the full video (around 4 min.) click here.
As always, thank you for reading along. Perhaps I have inspired you to try some "messy art" for stress-relief yourself! Have a beautiful day wherever you may be.
Hydrangeas are the quintessential summer flower! I simply love their large, showy blooms that come in a variety of pretty colors. My recent walk in this garden inspired me to create this art journal spread. There are lots of yummy layers including washi tapes, inks and texture paste. Here is a step-by-step plus if you scroll down you can check out the full video.
Step One:
Cover the page with assorted washi tapes and painter's tape. You can find the latter at hardware stores.
I added a light coat of clear gesso on top and let it dry.
Step Two:
Pick up three different shades of green acrylic paint* with a brayer and quickly roll it onto the page making sure to leave some areas for the washi tapes to show through. Let dry. *I use them sparingly.
Step Three:
Add texture paste through a stencil and let dry completely. This takes several hours better yet overnight, so patience is required. Add dark green ink to the stenciled areas.
Step Four:
Stamp various hydrangea images onto white drawing paper and use watersoluble crayons to color them in. You can get stamp sets online and at craft stores. I used a black stamp pad and let the images dry for a bit before coloring them in.
Step Five:
Once dry I fussy cut all the images out. Again, patience is required.
Step Six:
Arrange the images as you would like and glue them down with a glue stick. Add a title or sentiment if you wish.
Making tags is one of my favorite paper crafts. Type "gift tags" in the search bar at the top right of this blog and plenty more tag tutorials will show up.
Today I am creating my tags from scratch or rather from one of my gelli prints. The paper I used is 160 gsm, as I find this is a good weight for making tags. Scroll down to watch the video, which also explains how I made the gelli prints. Be sure to read the info in the description box as well. Today's craft is all about layering. I adhered tiny paper scraps including ticket stubs, which I found in the back of a drawer the other day. Looking at the date...wow, they are so old :)
Here's a step-by-step instruction - unfortunately it was an overcast day, so the photos aren't the best. Scroll down to watch the video, which is a lot brighter.
Step One: measure a rectangle 7 x 14 cm on the gel print, mark with a pencil and cut along the lines.
Step Two: flip the tag over and using a set square align the top edge with a parallel line and until the corner meets the edge. Mark with a pencil and snip off.
Step Three: Add stamping
Step Four: Add marks with crayons
Scroll down to watch the video in full.
Step Five: Glue down pieces of collage.
Step Six: Embellish with a focal image (leaves, flowers, animals, words etc.)
Step Seven: Loop a ribbon through the hole
Tip: Plan a gelli printing session a day or two beforehand, then flatten the prints with a stack of heavy books. This way they are ready to go when you decide to make those tags. Happy crafting!
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