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

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

Sea Artist Trading Coins

     Hello and hope you're doing well! I've been playing with my newest and brightest Dylusions Paints on this set of Sea Artist Trading Coins from Creative Embellishments. 

      The background 2 1/2" circles were covered with white gesso, and before drying, embedded with wavy threads. Then I applied white gesso to the Creative Embellishments Seaweed Stencil, and painted the water with Dylusions (Blue Lagoon and Blue Hawaiian) Paints. To bring out the wavy threads, and the rest of the texture, I lightly went over it with white gesso. 

     After painting over the stenciling, I cut rings from cheesecloth, and adhered them to the backgrounds with Prima 3D Matte Gel. 

     

      I also painted the scalloped circles that were die cut from white cardstock. 

     The Sea Artist Trading Coins were covered with white gesso, and painted with Dylusions Paints.  Then I used Prima 3D Matte Gel to adhere them to the backgrounds, and to mimic sand with Finnabair Mini Art Stones. 

     So fun to make! Thanks for looking! 

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Challenges Entered:

Creative Embellishments ~ August Challenge

Try it on Tuesday ~ Summertime

Country View Challenges ~ beside the Seaside

The Crafter's Cafe Challenge ~ #248 Anything Goes

Creative Crafters Challenge ~ #30

Prom 2020 Mini Album

     A few months ago, when my Son told me his Senior Prom was going to be March 7th, I thought it was strange to be having it so early. But then the state of Nevada went into quarantine the very next weekend, so I'm so happy and thankful that he had that experience, unlike so many others during these times. He had such a great time, so I wanted to preserve those memories for him in this 6" X 6" mini album. Part of his graduation gifts, which was just a couple of days ago, and one that he will always cherish! 

     The original accordion album was old and ugly, so I covered it with a coat of black gesso and Emerald Creek (Black Cherry) Aroma Embossing Powder. The chipboard letters also got black gesso, and were embossed with EC (Midnight Sparkle) EP.

     I was so pleased with my first order @ Creative Embellishments, and my first project was this 2020 Shaker, window included! After coating all of the pieces with white gesso, the back piece was embossed with EC (Midnight Sky) EP, and the sides and top pieces with EC (Silver Sparkle) EP. Then I filled it with blue and silver confetti. Silver Sparkle Embossing Powder was also used on the base with the pearl, super glued over a metal flower, with silver elastic cording to hold it all together.  

     Now for the inside! The first two pages were made with some sprays and a stencil to replicate ripples, embossed with Emerald Creek (Fractured Ice) EP. 

     The wooden camera was covered with black gesso and Finnabair Metallique Wax (Old Silver). 

          I used EC (Midnight Sky) Embossing Powder again on the date, and paper edges behind the middle photo. 

     A staple was added to the ribbons. 

     The next two pages were also done with sprays (Lindy's Afternoon Delight Denim and Blueprint Sketch Distress Spray Stain).

        The stars were done with the Tim Holtz (Falling Stars) Stencil using Dylusions (After Midnight) Paint with a Mini Blending Tool. 

          Then I used the same paint to mask a strip of drywall tape across the bottom. 

     To add more photos, I made some tags with pockets made from black cardstock and the Tim Holtz (Stripes) Stencil, embossed with EC (Silver Sparkle) Embossing Powder. 

     Both tags were covered with colored tissue papers, and stamped with the Prima (Art Daily Planner Collection) Stamp Set, embossed with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) and (Hammered Metal) Embossing Powders.

     The last two pages are on the back. 

     Lots of stamping and stencil work on these pages, with EC (Silver Sparkle) Embossing Powder around the edges and matting a couple of the photos.

     The chipboard music note had been in my stash for awhile, and was previously painted with glossy black paint. 

     

     Thanks for looking, and hope you're doing well!

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Challenges Entered:

Mini Album Makers  ~ June Challenge

Crafty Creations ~ June #410 Anything Goes 

Unicorn Challenge Blog ~ Challenge # 55 Masculine

The Crafter's Cafe Challenge ~ #244 June Anything Goes

The Creative Crafters ~ Challenge #28