Define yourself..if you dare

Sharing an Art Journal page today that started out as "oops I forgot to video tape a section" on an upcoming class.

I needed to redo one little thing and when I had done it I had a page of color just begging to be worked on.

The base is created using NeoColor IIs

and a tiny bit of Hagswort Orage Lindy's mist.

Absolutely love the bright orange with the yellow & green from the crayons.

Then some stamping with a script stamp and solvent ink.

Followed by some pigment ink through a Crafter's Workshop stencil.

Now because the pigment ink was placed on top of several mediums it was taking forever to dry so I threw some clear embossing powder over it, heated and created some neat texture.

I had some Liquitex Liquid Acrylics on my desk and decided to add them as well.

First some drips in the upper left.

Then some splots with another color all over the page.

I also stamped some circles using 2 different StazOn colors.

The doily heart was colored with Bachelor Button Blue starburst mist from Lindy's.

I also colored some white embroidery floss with the same mist, and using gel medium just kind of adhered it wherever it fell.

The words if you dare come from a Halloween kit but fit my page as I worked it.

The Define Yourself is a sticker from Teresa Collins that I colored with a piantbrush dipped in the same Lindy's mist.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Truly You

Sharing a layout today that incorporates one of my favorite colors.

It also show how you can scrap a less than perfect photo without actually cropping it.

In this photo my dd was in the far right and everything else was grass.

I pulled a piece of green Prima patterned paper and used it as my base.

Around some of the photo's edges I used Modeling Paste to blend the edges into the paper

and give it some texture.

Once the paste dried I used Silks Acrylic Glazes in Olive Vine and Gold

to color it. I used both a brush and my finger to spread and blend.

The Silks are really fun to use, they cover the paper beautifully.

Stamped over some of the paste as well using a Clearsnap acrylic stamp 

and StazOn ink in Stone Grey.

Lastly I colored a piece of twine with Pink Paislee mist and added it to the

page with gel Medium, twisting and looping it as I went.

A title sticker was stapled on as the final touch.

Next time you have a less than perfectly framed photo, try using it as is.

By incorporating mediums and color you can make it look like it was meant to be.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Modeling Paste Canvas tutorial

        Today I am sharing a tutorial that was done for THE ART STUDIO blog.



In my Modeling Paste Fun class I show you how to use Modeling Paste 

in a number of scrapbook,tag and art journal projects and the class is 
chock full of techniques on how you can use modeling paste on all your projects.

Today I want to share a quick step-by-step tutorial on how you can create 
a unique wall hanging using 
modeling paste, acrylic paint and other items often found around your home. 
By simply changing colors, textural elements and more, 
no two pieces will ever be the same.

This hanging can have as little or as much texture as you want. Just play with found objects as you scrape 
into the paste and if you don't like it, then use a palette knife to smooth it over and start again.

Supplies
Base: I am using a 5x8 wooden panel.
Modeling Paste and Palette Knife
Gel Medium
Acrylic paint in your choice of colors
Items to create texture in the paste: I use a fork, bottle cover, sequin waste, and shelf liner
Paintbrush
Solvent ink in contrasting color
Baby wipe or paper towel
Heat Gun

Step One:With a palette knife, cover the base with a coat of modeling paste.

Step Two: Immediately scratch into the paste with found items for texture. I scraped it with a fork, used a bottle cap for to make circles and randomly pushed drywall tape and shelf liner into it. Set the piece aside to dry, preferably overnight. Do not use a heat gun on the wet paste as it will cause it to bubble up.

Step Three: Once the paste is dry, cover most of the piece with your first color of acrylic paint. Now that the paste is dry, you can use your heat gun from here on out. Let the paint dry thoroughly.

Step Four: Cover the paint layer with a layer of gel medium. This will allow you to isolate paint layers as you go so you can wipe off other layers to show what is under. Then let it dry.

Step Five: Add a second color of paint and use a baby wipe or paper towel to wipe some off to let the first layer show through. Let dry and add another layer of gel medium.

Step Six: Continue to add acrylic paint and gel medium in layers until you're happy with the color combination and the results.

Step Seven: Next, I lightly dry brushed white acrylic paint over some of the raised areas to clearly define them.

Step Eight: Last, I rubbed a constrasting solvent ink color over some of the raised area for even more contrast. It's important that you use a solvent ink on the paint and medium layers so it doesn't become a muddy mess. Don't worry, it will dry quickly and not smudge or rub off.

Finish as desired.

I hope you enjoyed this quick tutorial on using modeling paste and if you are interested in learning more ways to use modeling paste, head over to the classroom and check out my class.

Trust your heart....an Art Journal page

Sharing another art journal page today.

Today's page is created using

NeoColor II watersoluble wax pastels from Caran D'Arche and

several stencils.

The NeoColor IIs go on so smooth and blend beautifully which makes them a favorite 

color supply on my desk.

All color with the exception of the white (which is Gesso)

comes from the crayons.

With just a little bit of water you can blend and shade with extreme ease.

Stencils from Crafter's Workshop and Stencil Girl were used on the page.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

You...an Art Journal page

So this page was kind of unintended.

The base comes from playing with my Gelli plate.

When I am using it I often keep a piece of paper next to me

to use to clean off my stencils and brayer.

This time around I stuck a page from my art journal next to me.

If nothing else I would be getting rid of the blank page syndrome.

The paper took a while to cover.

Several different days of playing with my Gelli plate eventually 

led to most of the paper being covered without much 

rhyme or reason to it.

No more blank page,

instead it was a riot of color and pattern.

To tie some of it together I went over the page using a Harlequin

stencil and some grey ink.

Further stamping with Kaisercraft and Clearsnap acrylic stamps

added to the background.

I was kind of happy with that,

it really didn't need anything else so on to

adding the quote.

Creating the page just made me happy,

so I went with it.

The giant YOU is a clear die cut and little

letter stickers finished it off.

I first outlined the "you" with a graphite pencil but felt it wasn't dark enough 

so I went back around with a black NeoColor II water soluble

crayon to darken it up.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

another Halloween album...

I am really enjoying making these mini albums.

The 6x6 size is perfect to work with and with all the 

flaps and tags tons of room for photos and journaling.

This one is created using Bazzill card stock

and My Mind's Eye paper and embellishments.

The album is held close with a seam binding ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Collage stamping a card

Today I want to share a quick 

Collage Stamping tutorial.

Collage is a fun design element I use quite a bit. 

Most often it is with paper and images but there is another easy

way to add collage to your creations.

This is a fun way to use color and coordinating stamps 

to create a one of a kind card.

This technique can also easily translate

over to tags or ATCs.

This is the finished card.

I used the ROUTE 66 rubber stamp set from

Artistic Outpost and a variety of inks

from Ranger.

I stamped onto a base of glossy card stock cut to 3.75 x 5".

Supplies:

My base of Glossy Cardstock.

NOTE: because this is on glossy cardstock it is helpful to dry between each layer of color with a heat gun or air

Randomly swipe Antique Linen across the card.

It's ok to have streaks, they add interest.

Take your first background stamp (I use the map here) and 

with Bundled Sage stamp randomly over the card.

Take one of the small stamps and Forest Moss.

Stamp around the edges of the card 

(keeping in mind the focal image will be in the center of the card so 

we will not stamp much there anymore).

Make sure you go off the card in spots.

Take another of the small stamps and Stormy Sky ink.

Stamp as you did in the step before.

Another small stamp and Cranberry ink

(the red pops)

Stamp again around the edges filling in spaces where it is empty.

Still keeping the center rather open.

Take your Focal image stamp (here the motorcycle)

and Denim ink.

Stamp into the center of the card.

Using Espresso ink and the sentiment stamp. 

Stamp onto the card in the desired spot.

There you have it.

By using ink, stamps and plain cardstock you are able to create

a unique one of a kind card.

Matte and embellish as desired.

No go pull out your stamps and inks and get to stamping.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!