February Freeze Art Journal Spread

      Before the arrival of Spring, I wanted to play with some Winter stencils and stamps, as shown on this art journal spread. However, it is full of mistakes, and much darker and messier than I was intending, which could be a lesson in what NOT to do. Lol!

     I started by collaging torn pieces of stamped papers and tissue paper, along with some recycled mail using Prima Soft Matte Gel. To create a resist effect, I stamped and embossed the icicles on top with the Grunge Icicle Border Stamp from Creative Embellishments using Ranger (Rainbow Sparkle) Embossing Powder, which was also used with the Snowflake Stencil. Then I colored it with (Hickory Smoke and Black Soot)  Distress Spray Stains. 

     I'm very disappointed in my trees, but decided to keep them anyways. With the Tree's Stencil I painted an ombre effect with Art Alchemy Paints, starting with Raven Black on the bottom, and Pearl White on top. The middle is a mix of the two colors, which made silver. Then I tried to do a messy double outline with a Black Ultra Fine Sharpie, and literally went through 4 brand new pens, that just stopped working for me half way through. It could've been from all of the texture on my page, but wanting to move on, I decided on a thicker line, using a Fine Sharpie, which was my first mistake. Not liking the harsh outline, I used a brush to blend it with (Black Soot) Distress Spray Stain, which helped a little. The masked trees in the background were done with cutouts from the Tree's and 3 Tree Stencil spritzed with (Black Soot) Distress Oxide Spray. But I forgot to shake it first (another mistake), so I didn't get that oxide effect. For a snowy effect, I splattered (White Linen) Dylusions Paint over both pages. 

     To mimic cracked ice in a river, I applied my new Emerald Creek (Silver) Embossing Flakes, which took some patience, and had to be done one at a time. But the results are well worth it, even though I accidently embossed two flakes together, resulting with the largest one on this page.

     At this point there was no use hiding my Sharpie work, so I did my titlework with it, using the Tim Holtz (Cargo) Stencil, and painted it with (Brushed Pewter) Distress Spray Stain. Then I went over it and the icicles with Finnabair (Crushed Ice) Effect Paste. 

     Thanks for looking, and take care! 

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Challenges Entered:

Creative Embellishments ~ February Challenge

Art Journal Journey ~ Heavy Metal

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog ~ Mostly Neutral

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge ~ Anything Goes

The Creative Crafters ~ #37

Orange Blossom Fairy Art Journal

      Growing up in Southern California, we always had different types of fruit trees, and I remember January being the month when the oranges would ripen up and taste the best. For some reason, they always tasted SO much better than the oranges sold at the grocery stores! But perhaps it was just fairy magic, as depicted on my latest art journal page? 

    The rest of my inspiration came from the Finnabair January 2021 Art Recipe. Any excuse to play with my stencils and effect pastes, and I LOVE the color combo! 

     It started as a collage of vintage sheet music, dictionary pages, lace, and stamping, adhered with Prima Soft Matte Gel. Then I painted it with Art Alchemy Metallique Paints (Rustic Brown, Fresh Orange, Deep Waters, and Midnight Sky), along with Sparks (Ginger Magic), adding lots of water to create some transparency.

     The orange color in the background was done with (Rusty Hinge) Distress Oxide Spray sprayed through the Finnabair (Floral Net) Stencil. Then I applied Finnabair (Red and Brown) Rust Effect Pastes to the Finnabair (Vintage Wallpaper) Stencil. Once dry, I added touches of (Vintage Gold) Metallique Wax, also added to the lace.

 

     All of the oranges were cut from magazines. The sliced ones were added to the flower centers that were embossed with Emerald Creek (Burnt Copper Leaves) Embossing Powder. I created a border with them using the Chipboard Lacy Border from Creative Embellishments, cut at an angle to make the corner piece. Then it was painted with Art Alchemy Paints (Deep Water and Midnight Sky), and more touches of Metallique (Vintage Gold) Wax.

     I played with my new Prima watercolors for the first time on this page, and absolutely LOVE them! They were used on the flowers and blush for the fairy. Then I finished the flowers with the new Finnabair (Crushed Ice) Effect Paste.

     The fairy was fussy cut from some older Prima paper. Her wings, which are the leftover pieces cut from the chipboard, were painted with Art Alchemy (Fresh Orange and Ginger Magic) Paints, and sealed with (Crushed Ice) Effect Paste.

      I'm so glad I was able to "squeeze" this in before the end of the month! Lol! Thanks for looking! 

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Challenges Entered:

Finnabair ~ January 2021 Art Recipe

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog ~  So Delicate

More Mixed Media Challenge ~ Anything Goes with Optional Blue

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Hope Grows Everywhere Art Journal

      Hi everyone! Even though this art journal page was such a struggle that I almost gave up half way through, I'm happy with the results, and glad I stuck with it. 

      I was completely inspired by the January Challenge at Mixed Media Academy, from the colors, to the rocks, quote, and elephant!

     The background was made from torn pieces of papers, and stamping. Then I used some of my new stencils from Creative Embellishments, and played with Distress Oxide Sprays (Peacock Feathers, Rustic Wilderness, Pumice Stone, Speckled Egg, and Black Soot) for the first time, combined with Distress Spray Stains (Picket Fence, Speckled Egg, and Hickory Smoke). I painted the flowers and greenery straight from the bottles, which were stamped and embossed with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) Embossing Powder, and added (Pewter) Liquid Pearls to the flower centers. 

     The rocks were done with the Cobblestone Stencil from Creative Embellishments using a coat of Prima Heavy White Gesso. Then they got painted with a mix of sprays, and a few layers, before splattering with (Picket Fence) Distress Spray Stain. 

     My favorite animal is the elephant, so I had to include one, stamped with the Take Pride Stamp from Red Rubber Designs onto kraft paper that was wrinkled and colored with sprays first! The globe is a sticker with Finnabair Metallique Wax (Old Silver) rubbed along the edges. Behind it, I applied white gesso to the Medallion Stencil and colored it with Finnabair (Old Siver and Patina Green) Waxes.

     It's hard to see in the photos, but (Old Silver) wax was also used along the top half of the dark grey alpha stickers, and outlined with a black Sharpie.

      Thanks for your visit, and take care!

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Challenges Entered:

Mixed Media Academy ~ January Challenge

Art Journal Journey ~ Favorite Things (Elephant is my favorite animal and green and teal my favorite colors!)

Crafty Creations ~ #417 Anything Goes

Simon Says Monday Stamp Challenge ~ We're On A Roll! (Medallion Stencil, Globe Sticker, and rocks)

Simon Says Wednesday Stamp Challenge ~ Make Your Own Background

Creatalicious ~ #203 Anything Goes + Optional Kraft (Used on elephant)

613 Avenue Create ~ #1 January Anything Goes

Childhood Memories Art Journal

      Hello and, hope you're all doing well and staying healthy/safe! I rarely add photos to my art journal pages, but this one brings me right back to my childhood, reminding me of vacations from Southern California to Lake Tahoe and my late Great Grandma's cabin in Verdi, NV. I was always collecting pine cones and rocks whenever I was there, so I had to include them on this page, adding micro beads to represent the rocks. And I never left home without my Pooh Bear! Lol!

     The bottom layer was made with crumpled up pieces of kraft paper, and painted with Dylusions Paints (Melted Chocolate and Ground Coffee) to create a faux leather. Then I used my finger to apply Finnabair (Vintage Gold) Metallique Wax to the cracks and wrinkles, along with the torn edges of the beautiful Mintay Papers, including the fussy cut suitcases, feathers, camera, and birds, from the Harmony Collection, which I was lucky enough to win from a previous challenge at More Than Words. I also used the wax on the chipboard Pinecone Cluster from Creative Embellishments after embossing it with Distress Embossing Powder (Vintage Photo).

     The circles were handstitched with embroidery threads and a gold rayon, which doesn't really show in these photos because it's so thin, and the torn circle was colored with Lindy's Gang Metallic Magical Shakers (Glittering Gold, Antique Gold and Antique Bronze), and inked around the edges with Ranger Archival Ink (Potting Soil). A very old sticker sheet was finally used for the pine cones in between the feathers, and also happened to have the perfect quote.

     My favorite part of this page is the craft feathers that started out the color of the shirt that I'm wearing in this photo! I wet them with water first and used a paintbrush to apply LG (Blue Banff) Squirt along the feather lines. After a few coats, and letting them dry in between, I adhered them onto my page with Ranger Multi Medium (Gloss). Then I painted the feather lines with Art Alchemy Sparks Paint (Dragon's Eye), splattered some on the background, and finished the rest of the page with more Ranger Multi Medium (Gloss). 

     Strips of lace were used to create belts, and were also adhered with Ranger Multi Medium (Gloss). The buckles started out silver, and were painted with Dylusions (Ground Coffee) Paint, and finished with Art Alchemy Metallique (Vintage Gold) Wax. 

     The strip of lace in the middle was the same light blue as the top one, but got dyed with a few coats of Lindy's (Banff Blue) Squirt.

     Thanks for looking, and take care! 

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Challenges Entered:

More Than Words ~ December Main Challenge

Art Sandbox ~ KoloroTon #30

Art Journal Journey ~ The Meaning Of (Childhood Memories)

Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge ~ #67 Anything Mixed Media Goes

Moving Along With The Times ~ #125 Summer or Winter Vacation

Fall Fairy Art Journal Page

      Fall is my favorite season, so it felt good to finally play with some leaves in my art journal! 

     I started by adhering torn dictionary pages, a crossword puzzle, and textured cream papers to my page, along with touches of white gesso. Then I applied black gesso to the birch Tim Holtz Mini Stencil (Set #21). Once it all dried, I colored it with Lindy's Gang Sprays (My Mojito Green and Autumn Maple Crimson) and Magicals (Tears on my Pillow Tangerine, Bratwurst Brown, and Aged Copper). I didn't like the colored trees, so I went over them with Lindy's Gang Sprays (Sidewalk Chalk and Cafe Au Lait).  The branch was a leftover die cut that I embossed with Lindy's Gang (Midnight Copper) Embossing Powder. Then I stamped the leaves with Palette Inks, which are permanent, and did the edges with (Black Soot) Distress Ink. To mimic fairy dust, they were finished with a coat of (Copper) Stickles.

     To add more texture, I colored some cheesecloth/gauze with Lindy's Gang Sprays (My Mojito Green and Sea Mint Green) and (Bratwurst Brown) Magical Shaker. I also added small pieces of copper to resemble dirt, adhered with Ranger Multi Medium Gloss. The foliage on the bottom was stamped and embossed with Lindy's Gang (Midnight Pewter Obsidian) Embossing Powder.

     I printed the quote onto cream cardstock and colored it with some of the same Lindy's Sprays and Magicals. Then I backed the strips with black cardstock and embossed the edges with Lindy's (Midnight Copper) Embossing Powder. 

     
     I think the quote is perfect for this chipboard Sitting Fairy from Creative Embellishments! After a coat of black gesso, I embossed the trunk with Lindy's Gang (Midnight Copper) EP, and the fairy with (Midnight Pewter Obsidian) EP, adding (Copper) Stickles to her wings. 

     Thanks for looking!

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Challenges Entered:

Creative Embellishments ~ November Challenge (Inspired by the trees and colors)

Try it on Tuesday ~ Embossed

Art Sandbox ~ Gauze/Bandage

More Mixed Media Challenge ~ October Anything Goes with optional Orange

Bleeding Art ~ October Challenge

International Art & Soul ~ #95 Fairies and/or Elves

Golden Days Art Journal

      Hello and happy Wednesday! I'm back with an art journal page reflecting these Golden August Days, which have been pretty hot here in Reno, Nevada! 

     I took inspiration from the gorgeous August Mood Board at Art Daily Cafe.

     The brown background of a hill was transferred from a magazine using Prima Soft Matte Gel, and was the very first step. Then I stamped some script with the Script Background Stamp from Red Rubber Designs. Wanting to use one of the new Finnabair Stencils, I chose the Oriental Wall, and applied Prima Heavy White Gesso to it. Once dry, I painted a light yellow wash over the whole page with Art Alchemy Paints, mixing (Pure Sunshine, Dragon's Eye, and White Pearl). The sun rays were then embossed with the Rays of Hope stamp, using Ranger Clear Embossing Powder, before painting the rest of the page. But because I added that clear embossing powder, and also embossed the leafy flourish with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) EP, it smudged the design where the two embossing powders met. Had I known, I would've just stamped it with black ink. Lesson learned. Lol!

     To paint the rest of the background, I used Art Alchemy Paints (Pure Sunshine, Dragon's Eye, Ginger Magic, and Fresh Orange). Then I went over the stenciling with Finnabair Metallique Wax (Vintage Gold). 

     Some of the bundles of wheat were stamped with Ranger Archival (Potting Soil) Ink, and the rest were embossed with Emerald Creek (Ancient Amber) Baked Texture. The sunflowers were embossed with Ranger Distress Embossing Powder (Walnut Stain) using the My Sunshine Stamp from Red Rubber Designs. Then I added Finnabair Mini Art Stones to the centers with Soft Matte Gel for some texture. Again I used Art Alchemy Paints to paint them (Pure Sunshine, Fresh Orange, Rustic Brown, Red Wine, Ginger Magic, Golden Moss, and Fairy Wings), and went over the centers with Finnabair Metallique Wax (Vintage Gold). Wanting more sparkle, I added Stickles (Golden Rod).

     The tag is made from muslin, and had been in my stash for awhile now. It was colored with Distress Spray Stains (Wild Honey and Fossilized Amber). Then I embossed it with the Finnabair (Rust & Dust) Stamp using Ranger Distress Embossing Powders (Walnut Stain and Aged Mahogany). The 8, for August, was done with the Tim Holtz (Numbered) Stencil, using Finnabair Rust Effect Pastes (Red and Brown) with a touch of Wax (Vintage Gold). The calendar page was stamped with a Prima Stamp from 2009, which just happens to align for 2020. I highlighted the 11th, for my 19th wedding anniversary, with Stickles (Golden Rod), also added to the butterflies and bees, embossed with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) EP, using the Finnabair (Rust & Dust) Stamp for the butterflies, and the Be Fabulous Unmounted Stamp from Red Rubber Designs for the bees. 

      Thanks for looking, and take care! 

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Challenges Entered:

Art Daily Cafe ~ August Mood Board

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog ~ Stencilmania

Try it on Tuesday ~ Words or Numbers

Art Journal Journey ~ Pockets and Tags

The Artistic Stamper ~ August Anything Goes

Let's Craft and Create ~ #162 Lots of Layers

Mix It Up ~ #40 Anything Goes + Embossing

Summertime Blues

     Who says there ain't no cure for the Summertime Blues? For me it's the beach or lake, painting/creating, and music, which inspired this art journal page. 

    I also took inspiration from the July 2020 Time Mood Board at Art Daily Cafe.

     I started by adhering torn strips of old sheet music onto my page, and randomly adding Prima white gesso. Then I embossed some script and clock stamps with Ranger (Clear) Embossing Powder. 

     If you're familiar with my work, you probably know how much I love an ombre effect, and painted one here with Lindy's Gang Sprays starting on the bottom with (Tiffany Lou Blue, Ocean Breeze Blue, and Delphinium Turquoise). 

     The paintbrushes were stamped with the Prima (The Archivist Collection) Stamp Set, using Ranger (Jet Black) Archival Ink, embossed with Emerald Creek (Chunky Rust) Baked Texture onto white tissue paper. After tearing around the edges, I adhered it with Prima 3D Matte Gel. 

     I love the rusty effect I got with the paintbrushes, and did it again, minus the tissue paper, to the Creative Embellishments Steampunk Clock Stamp, and the gears and cogs using the Artistic Stamper (Tick Tock) Stamp! The clock hands are from another older stamp embossed with Emerald Creek (Mirror Platinum) Embossing Powder.

     The tiles were embossed with Ranger (Blue Glass) Embossing Powder onto white cardstock.

      Ranger (Blue Glass) Embossing Powder was also used on the Prima Stitched Circles Stamp. To resemble bubbles, I painted them with Art Alchemy Metallique (White Pearl) Paint, and added splatters onto the background. 

     More stamping and embossing was done for the titlework, again, using Ranger's (Blue Glass) and Emerald Creek's (Mirror Platinum) Embossing Powders.

     The wood strips mimic a window, looking out to the sea, and were made from a recycled cracker box, covered with Prima white gesso. Once dry, I applied the same gesso to the Tim Holtz (Woodgrain) Stencil, and painted it with Art Alchemy Metallique (Royal Blue and Midnight Sky) Paints. Then I added more texture with Prima Patina Effect (Blue) Paste and Rust Effect (Red) Paste.  The brads were embossed with Emerald Creek (Mirror Platinum) and also got touches of (Red) Rust Paste. 

     Thanks for dropping by, and stay safe! 

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Challenges Entered:

Art Daily Cafe ~ July 2020 Mood Board

Try it on Tuesday ~ Summertime

Simon Says Monday Challenge ~ Art Journal

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Crafty Creations ~ #411 Anything Goes