Art Journaling: A Cover and Some Happy Accidents

The January Cards, Tags and More kit from Très Jolie reminded me that I’ve been neglecting my art journaling over the past couple of months. Kim sent us a variety of products to alter the chipboard cover of the Finnabair album that got us all started.

Here’s how I altered mine.

I began by covering the front with the AB Studio rice paper included in the kit, using gel medium.

I then covered the back with some Tim Holtz tissue paper that I’ve owned for a while.

The burlap roll was a nice addition; I glued it down the spine (again with gel medium), cutting a hole in the center for the band that I wanted to continue to use.

I covered the inside covers with dictionary paper; this will make a nice base for future journaling.

I kept the cover “flat” because the band would end up loosening any embellishments that I added.

I simply added a few strips of the tissue and dictionary papers scraps.

Next came some of the Washi tape, applied here and there around the cover.

Using a moistened sea sponge, I applied one of the Finnabair metallic acrylics through one of the Tim Holtz stencils (these came in the Mediums kit).

I added one of the prompt cards that came with the album and did a bit of doodling around the borders before sealing it all down with gel medium.

Once the medium was dry, I used a water pen to paint with the Watercolor Confections.

Here’s the back, left plain.

******************************

And on to the “Happy Accidents”

I had pretreated a number of pages with clear gesso to take on any mixed media that I want to use. When I opened my journal, I discovered that the bottom of these pages were not only stained, but had slightly stuck together. This was the first of the “happy accidents” that ended up making this a page that I like a lot in the end.

The next was not quite an accident. I had fussy cut a variety of images for my previous project, not being sure where I wanted to go. These just didn’t fit, so rather that put them aside to never be seen again, I decided to make them part of my journaling.

I was determined to use a few of my old stamps here, grabbing a few that would fit with my cut images. Well, that wasn’t an accident, but I did discover that Memento Ink is NOT permanent. (See that stamped cup in all of its blurriness…)

And lastly, I don’t know why I decided to use crackle medium through a stencil; it’s not thick like paste, so a thick application will simply run and blob and bubble up when dried with a heat tool.

I took out one of my Oxide Ink pads and used a water brush to treat the mess and liked the results enough to color more of the “bubbles” around the cups…

Meanwhile, lesson learned: I used another Oxide Ink pad and a blending brush to create stenciled texture around the clocks.

A little Washi tape here and there, and I was able to declare this month’s journaling “done”

(BTW, you can see the dictionary pages that I referred to around the edges of these pages.)

***************************************************

*****Supplies*****

***Très Jolie May 2019 Cards, Tags and More Kit***

Prima – Finnabair – Art Daily Planner Collection – Booklet – Creation – 6 x 7.7 #964962

Prima – Finnabair – Art Daily Planner Collection – Sticker Pad – Sentiments #964849

***Très Jolie January 2020 Cards, Tags and More Kit***

AB Studio – Rice Paper – A2 – Shabby Love

Prima Marketing – Watercolor Confections – Refills #14 – Coconut #596118

Prima Marketing – Watercolor Confections – Refills #18 – Palms #596156

Prima Marketing – Watercolor Confections – Refills #24 – Tiki #596217

49 and Market – Rustic Collection – Burlap Ribbon Roll – Cream #CR -33521

Prima Marketing – Art Daily Planner Collection – Decorative Tape – Wanderlust #964788

***Très Jolie January 2020 Kit***

AB Studio – Shabby Love Symphony Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Bonus Sheet

***Très Jolie January 2020 Mediums Kit***

Prima Marketing – Finnabair – Art Alchemy – Metallic Acrylic Paint Set #965471

Stampers Anonymous – Tim Holtz – Layering Stencil – Mini Set #39 #MST039

***Stamps***

Stampers Anonymous – Tim Holtz – Wood Mounted Stamp – Brush Collection #P2-2111

Hampton Arts – 7 Gypsies – Wood Mounted Stamp – Weathered Clock #P50679

Prima – Finnabair – Wood Mounted Stamp – Collect Moments #962111

***Other Mediums***

Liquitex Professional – Matte Gel – Gel Medium #5321

Prima – Finnabair – Art Extravagance – Texture Paste – Clear Crackle #961541

Tsukineko – Memento – Dye Ink – Tuxedo Black #ME-900

Ranger – Tim Holtz – Distress Oxide Ink Pad – Broken China #TDO55846

Ranger – Tim Holtz – Distress Oxide Ink Pad – Worn Lipstick #TDO56362

***Tools***

Picket Fence Studios – Tools – Life Changing Blender Brush Set #BR-100

Prima – Mixed Media – Watercolor Brush Pen Set #580421

Kruetake – ZIG – Photo Signature Pen – Black #PS220B

Sea Sponge

***************************************************

As always, I want to thank you for peeking into my blog; your visits mean a lot to me.

Let Your Heart Be Light

I’ve made a wall hanging using the January Très Jolie Mood Board, items from the January kits and a few items from my stash.

And here is the Mood Board. I was inspired by the weathered window frame and the shabby shutters. One look at the tray set that came in the Mediums Kit gave me the basic idea of what I wanted to do. The papers and flowers and teacup drawings that came in the Main Kit were a perfect match for the other images, so I was all set…

I start by covering the trays with black gesso.

I’ve had a bottle of crackle medium for 4 – 5 years. Unlike most mediums, it has a pretty long shelf life once opened, but I want to be sure that it still works. I paint a thin layer on the back of one of the trays and allow it to air dry.

I cover the crackle section with a layer of white gesso. (Crackle medium works best when air dried. You’ll still get the effect using a heat tool, but the cracks will be a lot smaller.)

I’m seeing cracks, so the medium is still good. I’m going for something more weathered, so I create a second patch using a thicker coating of the medium between the layers of gesso.

Perfect! This is just the effect that I want.

I continue to cover the trays with black gesso. While I don’t need perfection, I do want to make sure that all of the surfaces are coated.

Once the gesso is dry, I coat the sides with the crackle medium. I don’t bother with the insides; I have other plans for them. I allow the trays several hours of drying time.

Once I’m sure that the crackle medium is set, I coat the trays (including the untreated areas) with white gesso. I am going for anything but perfection here, so I make sure that this layer is uneven.

I begin to alter my chipboard arches with Brass patina effect paste that I’ve watered down.

I coat most of the surfaces with watered-down Blue paste.

I cover the bare areas with the Mint Green paste. I use this one full strength to take advantage of the gritty texture.

I allow the chipboard pieces dry completely, and then give them a coating of distress ink to make them look aged.

I cut three squares from the Aurora sheet. I ink the edges and glue them into the insides of the trays.

Next, I select several tags from the Bonus sheet. I cut them out and ink the edges.

After deciding how I want to arrange the trays, I glue the two larger ones together.

I add some seam binding to the larger tags and back them all with  layers of packaging for dimension. I arrange them so that they will show once the project is assembled. And whoops! I forgot to ink the edges of the trays.

Okay, the edges are inked and I ran the applicator down the center where the frames are joined. I glue on the smallest piece, making sure not to cover the tags.

I adhere the chipboard arches so that the edges line up with the teacup images on the tags.

I need instant adhesion for the embellishments, so I dust off my glue gun. I start with the vine that came in the kit. I add a few of the small blooms from the Enchanted Petals package.

The birds came with the December kit. I never got a chance to use them, but once my January package arrived, I was so glad; they’re a perfect match for the soft colors and images of these papers. I also add the cluster from the Petals package here.

I create a title piece with a quote that I cut from the Pearl sheet. I simply attach it to a bit of packaging, ink the edges, and glue it to the bottom of the frame next to that beautiful bird in flight.

***************************************************

*****Supplies*****

***Très Jolie January Kit***

AB Studio – Shabby Love Symphony Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Bonus Sheet

AB Studio – Shabby Love Symphony Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Sheet 2 – Aurora

AB Studio – Shabby Love Symphony Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Sheet 6 – Pearl

49 and Market – Flower Embellishments – Enchanted Petals – Ballet Slipper #EP-89074

Creative Embellishments – Laser Cut Chipboard – Arched Windows

***Très Jolie January Mediums Kit***

Prima Marketing – Relics and Artifacts – Archival Wooden Tray Set #1 – Square #941765

49 and Market – Flower Embellishments – Garden Vine – Blush #GV-4741

******Other******

Hug Snug – Seam Binding – White

Prima – Ingvild Bolme – Shabby Chic Treasures – Resin Embellishments – Birds #892470

 Beacon – 3-In-1 – Advanced Craft Glue

Art Glitter – Dries Clear Designer Adhesive

***Mediums***

Liquitex – Professional – Black Colored Gesso #5320251

Plaid Enterprises – Folk Art – Crackle Medium #694

Bad Girls Couture – Gesso – Premium Quality White

Prima – Finnabair – Art Extravagance – Patina Effect Paste #964351

***Tools***

EK Success – Mini Punch – 3/8 Inch Circle #72-95073

We Are Memory Keepers – Crop-A-Dile – Big Bite

Darice - Low Temp Mini Glue Gun

 

***************************************************

As always, I want to thank you for peeking into my blog; your visits mean a lot to me.

Christmas Cheer 2019 Style

My final layout using Blue Fern Studios’ Christmas Cheer collection features my grandchildren playing with their Christmas loot. Yes, Santa managed to deliver electronics to all of them and so here they are on Christmas afternoon: quite a contrast with years past when the favorite gifts consisted of dolls, play kitchens, Lego and Star Wars toys.

I matted my photo pretty simply for this page, using a couple of layers of stripped corrugate with pieces of chipboard in between to lend some dimension as well as stability.

I tucked a length of crochet trim underneath, forming slight ruffles here and there as I glued it down.

So I’m really trying to put a dent in the stash of flowers that I’ve managed to accumulate over the years. I still have a few packages of the Victorian Christmas blooms and I started to pile them on here, adding a few other small flowers to fill in the gaps.

I added a berry stem and cut up another and tucked the pieces around the flowers.

The last of the trim and a few more flowers, along with a half berry stem were placed in the upper corner to give my page a little balance.

And that’s it: time to pack away the few leftover items and to clean my scrap room and get ready for another project…

 ***************************************************

*****Supplies*****

***Très Jolie December Kit***

Blue Fern Studios – Christmas Cheer Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Cheerful #BFS-P-69617

***Other Embellishments***

Prima – A Victorian Christmas Collection – Flower Embellishments – Twelfth Night #583392

Prima – A Victorian Christmas Collection – Flower Embellishments – Holiday Lights #583415

Prima – A Victorian Christmas Collection – Flower Embellishments – Red Stocking #583477

Prima – A Victorian Christmas Collection – Flower Embellishments – Rudolph’s Nose #583446

Petaloo – Penny Lane Collection – Forget Me Nots – Antique Beige #1837-053

Très Jolie – Crochet Lace – Cream

***Other***

Ranger Ink – Tim Holtz – Distress Ink Pad – Mini – Walnut Stain #TDP40279

Corrugated Packaging

***************************************************

As always, I want to thank you for peeking into my blog; your visits mean a lot to me.