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

Adore Apples Tag

      Hi everyone! I hope you're taking care and enjoying the rest of the weekend! I had fun making this mixed media tag with lots of stamping!

     

     A mix of Finnabair Stamps created the background starting with (Checkered Texts) used with Ranger Archival (Jet Black) Ink. Then I collaged some washi tape and torn pieces of white tissue paper, stamped with (Gothic Book) and an older Prima script stamp with Prima Soft Matte Gel. I went over it all with some white gesso and (White Linen) Dylusions Paint. Once it dried, I stamped the small butterflies with the Rust & Dust Stamp. 

     The heart was a leftover diecut that I had in my stash and got covered with Prima Heavy Black Gesso. Then I embossed it with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) Embossing Powder. 

     

     The chipboard Steampunk Key from Creative Embellishments was also covered with Prima Heavy Black Gesso, and rubbed with Finnabair Metallique Waxes (Brushed Iron and Old Silver). 

     The flowers, leaves, and "Apples" are part of the apple stamp, and were all embossed with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) Embossing Powder. Then I painted the apples with watercolors. 

     Finally, I used some alpha stickers from the Bo Bunny (Love & Lace) Collection to spell "Adore". 

     

     Thanks so much for your visit!

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Challenges Entered:

Art Daily Cafe ~ February Celebration of Contrasts

More Than Words ~ February Mini Challenge 

Creative Embellishments ~ February Challenge

Tag Tuesday ~ Black, White, and One Other Color

Crafty Creations ~ February Challenge #418 Anything Goes

My Time To Craft ~ #451 Tag It! 

Creative Artiste ~ #68

More Mixed Media Challenge ~ Anything Goes with Optional Red

Little Red Wagon ~ #589 Tag You're It

Blended Slimline Birthday Card

      I can't believe my only child turned 19 today! He LOVES every shade of blue, so I played with blending my Lindy's Gang Sprays on his birthday card, adding purple for his birthstone, amethyst. 

     Stamping was the first step using the Prima (Salvage District) Stamp with Ranger Archival (Jet Black) Ink onto heavy white cardstock. Then I used a flat brush to blend Lindy's Gang Sprays from the bottom with Ocean Breeze Blue, Delphinium Turquoise, Afternoon Delight Denim, and Urban Amethyst on top. The slimline  was perfect to showcase the Circuit Stencil from Creative Embellishments with Prima Heavy Black Gesso applied to it. Once dry, I lightly went over it with (Old Silver) Finnabair Metallique Wax.

     I also added the same wax to the numbers done with the Tim Holtz (Numbered) Stencil.

     The sentiment was stamped with the Savvy Sayings Unmounted Rubber Stamp from Red Rubber Designs, and embossed with Emerald Creek (Black Cherry) Aroma Embossing Powder. It's framed with black gesso added to a section of the (Rivet) Stencil from Creative Embellishments, and also finished with wax, with a strip of silver ribbon underneath. 

     Thanks for looking, and have a great week! 

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Challenges Entered:

Tuesday Morning Sketches ~ #592

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge ~ Make a Slimline Card

Allsorts Challenge ~ #611 Masculine

Just Add Ink ~ #541 Blended Background

Just Us Girls ~ #571 Trend Week

Through the Purple Haze ~ #177 1 Ribbon, 2 Word Sentiment, 3 Layers

Spring ATC's

      Hi everyone! Gloomy days call for happy, bright colors, as shown on my latest set of Artist Trading Cards. 

     My inspiration and colors came from the February Color Challenge at Lindy's Gang.

     I started by painting a strip of heavy watercolor paper with Lindy's Gang Magicals (Hi Maintenance Magenta, Yodeling Yellow, Lederhosen Laurel, and Guten Tag Teal) and Sprays (Urban Amethyst and Freaky Frankenlime). The green is a mix of Freaky Frankenlime Spray with Magical Shakers (Lederhosen Laurel and Yodeling Yellow). Then I cut four to measure 2 1/2" X 3 1/2". 

     All of the stenciling was done with Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black) applied to three different stencils. 

     The white flowers were stamped and embossed with Lindy's Gang (Purely White) Embossing Powder. Then I embossed the black ones onto white cardstock with LG (Midnight Pewter) Embossing Powder, painted them with the same colors in the background, curled up the petals, and added white puffy paint to the centers. 

     The clips were originally black, and got transformed with LG (Purely White) Embossing Powder, also used for the Spring words that were embossed onto strips of black cardstock. This one is my favorite! 

        Thanks so much for stopping by, and take care! 

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Challenges Entered:

Lindy's Gang ~ February Color Challenge

Lindy's Gang Products Used:

Sprays (Freaky Frankenlime and Urban Amethyst)

Magicals (Hi Maintenance Magenta, Yodeling Yellow, Lederhosen Laurel, and Guten Tag Teal)

Embossing Powders (Purely White and Midnight Pewter)

Country View Challenges ~ February First Signs of Spring

Crafty Creations ~ #418 Anything Goes

Art Sandbox ~ Neon Colors

Unicorn Challenge ~ #62 Use Flowers

The Crafter's Cafe ~ #259 Anything Goes

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

A Whole New Perspective Tag

      Hello again! I'm back with this colorful tag, made with stencils and Dylusions Paints. 

      It started with strips of notebook paper, washi tape, and drywall tape, that was used a mask with a coat of white gesso. Then I used a brayer and my fingers to apply some of the latest and brightest Dylusions Paints. I hope you can see the grid texture in the background, made with the drywall tape.

     To create an abstract cityscape, I applied (Black Marble) Dylusions Paint to the Distressed Patterns Stencil from Creative Embellishments to make the small squares. Then I applied black Impasto Paint to the Dragonfly Screen Print Stencil from TCW. 

     I also applied black Impasto Paint to the Tim Holtz (Plaid) Stencil, and cut 3 squares from them to resemble buildings. Then I finished it up by stamping the quote onto painted strips of white cardstock.

     Thanks for looking, and hope you're all staying safe and well!

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Challenges Entered:

More Than Words ~ January Mini Challenge

Art Sandbox ~ Neon Colors

Country View Challenges ~ January Squares

Crafty Creations Challenges ~ #417 Anything Goes

The Creative Crafters ~ #36

The Crafter's Cafe ~ #258 New (New black Impasto Paint, and New in the quote)

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