getting past the blank journal page...

I've had several requests for info on how to get started with 

art journaling...

specifically...

where EXACTLY to start on the page...

here's a little something that helps me get past all that white space

if I'm stuck...

I've heard friends say...

just start...

put something down...

anything...

I'm OK with that, to a point...

but I need some general idea of where I'm headed...

even if the finished piece does not look anything like my initial vision...

which happens 99% of the time...

it doesn't matter...

this is a very simple way to start a page...

cut your journal page to fit your journal...

hmm..that's pretty obvious...probably didn't need to say that...

DUH...

I used Ranger's specialty stamping paper...

use it once & you'll be hooked!

I scribbled these distress stains right on my craft sheet...

rusty hinge, weathered wood & faded jeans next to each other...

then misted my page with water & 

used tim's wrinkle free distress technique...

 lay the page over the inks...

I run my hand over the back of the page to pick up the ink...

then dry...

lay the page over the remaining ink to add more layers...

make sure to dry between layers...

next, I traced my grid block with a waterproof pen...

then doodled an irregular line over the traced frame...

the frame really gave me an idea of where this was headed...

and created the focal point...

I stamped the saying with jet black archival & dried it...

the page looked like this...

next I used french ultramarine to ink my unmounted 

NEW favorite...honeycomb background...

YES...NEW STAMPS HAVE ARRIVED!

and stamped it randomly in 3 spots...

then I used venetian orange archival on the unmounted 

floral background stamp 

and stamped it randomly in 3 areas...

the page looked like this...

using faded jeans on the blending tool, 

I added the striped borders, with my stencil, 

to the top & bottom...

you can create any border width you need, by changing the placement of the stencil...

now it looks like this...

I painted my Blossom Bucket star with the black paint dabber, then used the sanding grip to take the paint off the raised spots...

once I test drove the placement of the star, I could see it needed more of the venetian orange stamping...

so I added more in the naked areas...

the tiny dots in the background are easy to add,

 with the detail water brush...

just pick up some of the faded jeans distress stain & tap the brush against your finger over the page...

this creates very tiny dots of ink...

& sometimes it just what's needed...

***if you don't have the detail water brush, you WILL want it***

I had a wonderful discovery over the weekend & there will be a special tutorial coming soon...

this made me say OMG out loud!

seriously simple with a WOW factor...

to finish it off...

I used the waterproof pen to add some lines to accent the striped borders & then some glaze pen dots...

 

here's another example...

I used the same technique here...

but different distress colors...

faded jeans, mustard seed & peeled paint stains...

I was brave & journaled around the frame...

this is a page I did on Saturday...

so that's my tip of the day, 

if you're stuck for a starting point...

trace a frame...

and go from there...

several people asked about the art parts mega shipment I showed the other day...

they are for upcoming workshops...

and these fun brand new classes...

the funky art angel...

the crayon box...

and the stained, stamped & stenciled art journal...

the next stops on the art adventure are listed on the right sidebar...

I'm headed to both

THE SCRAPBOOKING STUDIO locations...

one is in Bloomington, Illinois & 

the other is Moline, Illinois...

both are an all day art parts extravaganga...

the links will show you all the info...

Amy includes lunch & a 25% off shopping spree for students...

she knows that everyone LOVES A SALE!

after that, I'm off to see THE QUEEN 

and her loyal royal subjects again

@ The Queen's Ink, in Savage Maryland...

for 3 FULL days of fun...

I CAN NOT WAIT!

the last store visit for the year is back to Florida...

for the third time this year...

this time I'm headed to

 Pictures in Time, in Fleming Island...

details will be coming soon...

if you're in any of these areas, I hope you can join the fun...

and MAKE ART!

 the winner of book #7 is...

congrats to...

 Jane said...

I wish wish wish you would teach a class in Arizona. I love your art parts! and Stamps!, books, all of it.

August 25, 2012 2:24 PM

 

please send me an email with your address & we'll get this off to you...

that's it for today...

I hope you enjoyed the tip...

give it a try...

let me know how you do...

now it's time for me to...

make art!

wendy

ps...in addition to the upcoming workshops...

I'm so looking forward to this...

it's 30 special days of stamping...

studio 490 art parts with a twist...

THANKS so much 

to everyone who ordered book #7...

I signed & Rick shipped... LOTS!

our PO guys love to see Rick come in with his arms loaded...

since it's a small town PO, 

they are worried about their jobs...

so the Oglesby, Illinois PO guys & gals say 

"thanks" too!

today I thought I'd share another art journal page,

 with an art parts twist...

since art parts are nice & thick...

they are super simple to trace around to add an element to your journal page...

with lots of art parts...

there are a million possibilities...

and an added benefit...

it's another way to use & reuse art parts...

as patterns...

I have used the heart several times...love it!

this page is cut from my fav Ranger Specialty Stamping paper...

it fits my large art parts pages journal...

I created the background with the distress stains...

I like to mist the page with water before adding the stains...

the script, the sentiment, teeny tiny text  & bubbles were stamped with archival inks, to make sure the images stayed crisp & didn't bleed when I misted water over them...

I used french ultramarine archival for the teeny text & the bubbles...

to make them more subtle & in the background...

the more layers...

the better...

I used my new stencils too...

this time with the black soot distress ink, on a blending tool...

thru the polka dot/stripe & 

the classic words for the numbers...

after my background was looking good, then I traced around my large art parts star...

here's the finished page...

it's actually flat...

but it looks textured/dimensional...

we have LOTS going on around here...

we got 3 giant boxes of art parts for upcoming classes...

here's the contents of just one of the boxes...

and we need products to use on those art parts...

like this new Rock Candy dry glitter...

12 jars should be a good start for classes...

and 6 jars for me...

this stuff is sugary MAGIC!

and besides delivering to the PO...

Rick has been drilling a few hundred of these guys...

they are a nice solid base for the funky art angel workshop...

how about a GIVEAWAY?

I have a copy of my new book for a random commenter...

just leave a comment & I'll draw a winner on MONDAY...

that's it for today...

hava a wonderful INKY weekend...

I plan to...

make art!

wendy

ps...sorry GIANTS fans...

go BEARS!

make art, studio 490 style...

 book #7 has arrived...

I heard Mr. UPS pull into the drive yesterday & 

wondered what he was bringing me...

could it be my giant Ranger order ?

could it be my giant stamp order for new classes?

could it be a giant art parts/stencil order?

could it be some clothes I ordered?

HEY...

what happens on the blog stays on the blog...

girls need to have secrets!

it was none of the above...

but a giant box of my new book!

so they're here & ready to ship...

the book has helpful tips, hints and 10 fun projects...

each project includes a supply list, step out photos and instructions to complete the project...

you can follow the steps exactly...

or use it as a starting point...

and make art...

YOUR WAY!

the books are $14.95 each & USA priority tracked shipping is $4.95...

I can fit 3 books in a mailer to save shipping $$$...

so you can split with a friend & save...

international shipping is $15.50...

to order, you can email me at

wbv1213@me.com

I will send you a Pay Pal request...

if you would like them signed...

let me know...

and also let me know if it's for you or a friend...

that's it for today...

LOTS on the TO*DO list & it's calling me...

have a good one and...

make art!

wendy

distressed stamped stenciled embellishments...

I'm glad you liked the last post with the stencil tutorial...

this is quickly becoming a new addiction...

here's stencil art part 2...

there are not as many photos this time,

 since the technique is the same...

but with a twist...

I had this little idea to make stenciled embellishments...

using my heart stencil, I laid it over heavy card stock...

then filled in the stencil with the embossing paste...

while it was still wet, I stamped my polka dots border stamp into the wet embossing paste...

I misted the stamp very lightly with water before stamping, to make sure it didn't stick to the paste...

make sure to clean the stamp & don't let the paste dry on the stencil or stamp...

I dried the heart, then cut it out...

because this is large, I used the distress stains to color the heart...

instead of the distress markers...

you'll see peeled paint on the top portion, 

mustard seed on the center & faded jeans on the bottom...

I blotted the color to create a light wash...

this is the heart stencil I started with...

after I dried the stains, I used french ultramarine archival to stamp this background stamp over the top & bottom portions...

and added a bit of walnut stain around the edges...

this creates a very flexible embellishment...

now the heart looks like this...

it's a 5am photo...forgive me!

here's another way to use the same flower stencil I showed in the last post...

I knew I wanted the flower to hang off the edge of the heart, so it needed to be unbreakable...

 I covered a piece of my clearly for art 

with vintage dictionary paper, using Glue N Seal...

(any paper will work, since it's covered completely by the paste...)

I didn't expect the embossing paste to stick to the CFA, 

since it's a slippery non porous surface...

that explains covering the CFA...

then, same procedure...

apply the stencil over the CFA on the paper side...

add the paste...

dry & cut out...

then ink the petals with the distress markers...

this time my base color was mustard seed, then spiced marmalade, then rusty hinge, closest to the center...

next, I lightly painted the petals with Glue N Seal...

remember distress inks always react with water, so your brush will pick up a bit of color...

no problem...

just run it under the faucet to clean the brush, 

before putting it back in the bottle...

now...

sprinkle this yummy sugary magic glitter over the flower...

any clear drying adhesive will work...

so if you have Glossy Accents or multi medium...

you'll get the same results...

now heat the flower on the CFA side & shape while it's warm......

to finish it off, I added some of tim's new paper string before I glued down the flower...

the flower is accented with 

my small Blossom Bucket bottle cap...

inside is a mini gear & some glaze pen dots...

here's the finished heart...

I hope you can see the awesome effect of 

the new rock candy glitter...

it is so pretty....

now...I have lots of options...

I might use it on the front of a journal...

or it can be framed...

or added to a box...

or...since it's flexible...

I think I'll find a cool jar candle & glue it to the front...

hey...these would make great hostess gifts for the holidays...

and it's not too soon to get started...

they can easily be customized for any decor!

cutting the stencils out is another way to get more use from your stencils...

I can see me using this technique for lots of projects...

I bet you're wondering if this will work directly on art parts...

me too!

lol...

I HAD to try it...

and I'm happy to report...

it does!

here's the cover of a new journal, 

created with my art parts small pages...

there are 6 pages in the package...

2 each of 3 style edges...

so enough to make 3 journals...

I also used the dots/stripes border stencil...

and a different flower from the flower stencil...

 here's what I did, instead of making dinner...

hey...gotta help the local economy & eat out!

I used my new star knobs & bee...

these Blossom Bucket pieces will be here next month...

here's a few more tips...

this time I stamped this tiny text stamp over the flowers...

(I had the stencil in place...)

I found it easier to use the stamp unmounted...

it was easier to press & cover the petals & get a really good image...

to get a nice straight edge on the cover...

I use a strip of tim's tissue tape...

then run the black soot stain (or paint dabber) over the art part & partially over the tissue tape...

remove the tape & the edge is perfect...

today I have some Blossom Bucket goodies to share with...

congrats to...

 Debby said...

Thank you for the tutorial! I want these new products!!! Hope they will be there in Bloomington when you teach. This looks like so much fun.

August 17, 2012 4:53 PM

 

please email me with your address & we'll get these postal...

that's it for today...

talking about this stencil stuff makes me want to run to the studio to...

make art!

wendy

distressed, dimensional stencil art...

I've got a cool technique tutorial to share...

today, I'll show you how to create this

distressed, dimensional stencil art tag, 

using my new 

studio 490 stencils for art...

distress inks, distress stains & distress markers...

a little archival ink

and of course some studio 490 stamps...

just a reminder...

always work on your non stick craft sheet, 

to protect your work surface...

ink a small #5 kraft tag with broken china & brushed corduroy distress inks...

apply these with the blending tool...

then add some shading to the tag edges, using walnut stain on the blending tool...

your tag will look like this...

lay the polka dot/striped stencil over the tag as shown, then lightly mist with water...

allow the water to sit on the tag for a few seconds...

remove the stencil...

STENCILS DO NOT LIKE THE HEAT TOOL!

then dry...

the water will lighten the ink & create a subtle polka dot pattern...

your tag will now look like this...

choose your favorite flower from the

3 fresh flowers stencil & place it over the tag...

use post-it notes to block off the area around the flower...

this will protect those areas from the next step & the post-its also hold the stencil in place over the tag...

using a palette knife with embossing paste...

it's the secret ingredient...

spread the embossing paste over the stencil...

use the palette knife to scrape away the excess paste

(put it back in the jar)

the paste should be as thick as the stencil...

for this sample, I kept the texture smooth...

lift & remove the stencil...

***clean your stencil & palette knife with water***

DO NOT let the paste dry on the stencil or palette knife...

 dry the paste with your heat-it tool...

I dry it from the top & from the bottom...

this helps prevent warping of the tag...

from the moisture in the paste 

sitting on the tag too long...

if you just let it sit & dry...

it takes about 45 minutes (depending on the humidity in your area)

& the warping under the paste is much more significant...

 your tag will look like this...

when the paste is dry, use the peeled paint distress marker to ink the stem & leaves...

use the tumbled glass marker to ink the flower petals...

use the wild honey marker to ink the flower center...

it will look like this...

working from the flower center out...

use the broken china marker to add shading to the petals...

color right on the petals, then

use your finger to spread the ink outward from the center...

now your flower looks like this...

with very cool shading...

next, use the faded jeans marker to ink the petals...

staying closer to the center of the flower...

spread the ink with your finger...

your flower should now look like this...

with another layer of shading...

and your blending finger will now look like this!

oopsie!

better get used to it 

if you're going to hang out here!

 place the stencil back over the flower &

 mask off the surrounding area with post-its again...

using jet black archival, stamp any background stamp over the flower...

I used my polka dots...

but any small patterned background would be fine...

I like this text...

the stencil/post-its protect the background from the stamp...

the background remains clean & unstamped...

REMOVE the stencil...

stencils will distort & melt if heated!

you won't be happy...

trust me!

dry the ink with a heat-it tool...

AFTER you have removed the stencil...

using a waterproof pen...doodle around the petals...

the stem & leaves...

make it irregular & artsy!

it should look like this...

trace around the petals with the old paper marker...

this adds shading under the petals...

then use the pumice stone marker to add darker shading around  the flower center...

it will look like this...

it's kind of stark...

but the next step will fix that!

lightly mist the flower with water, 

to blend the flower colors & the shading under the petals & dry...

keep in mind that if you use too much water, it will lighten the distress inks on the petals...

remember...

distress inks always react with water!

BUT, if that happens...

just go over the petals again with the markers...

it's an easy fix!

for more controlled blending...

use the detail water brush to blend the colors...

instead of the mister...

after misting...

you'll see the blending & softening of the colors around the petals...

use jet black archival to add some stamping...

I used my new numbers stamp & the word ART...

to add more water spots,

mist a bit of water into your hands & drip onto the tag...

let sit a few seconds, then dry, to add more texture/depth to the background...

it now looks like this...

shake the tarnished brass distress metallic stain to mix it completely...

with a barely moist dabber top, 

randomly ink over portions of the stamp...

do not cover the whole stamp...

(this is an excellent stamp for random stamping & art journals...

the text is really tiny & it can easily be combined with other backgrounds)

press the unmounted, randomly inked stamp

 over a few areas of the tag & dry...

the tag now looks like this...

for the finishing touches, add some doodling around the perimeter of the tag...

add more walnut stain shading to the edges if needed...

add some glaze pen dots to accent the flower center...

I added a tiny bit of brushed corduroy (on the blending tool) over the flower to tone it down a bit...

use the tarnished brass stain to edge the tag...

it's a great finishing touch...

with the barely moist dabber top...

just run it along the tag edges...

and when in doubt...

put a bird on it!

that little blackbird is a new piece from Blossom Bucket!

he's arriving next month!

I LOVE this look...

it's very dimensional...

very vintage...

very lightweight...

and very easy to create!

PLUS...

there are LOTS of options...

look closely...

below is the same stencil...

same technique,

same distress marker colors...

 but done on a lighter background...

it's Ranger's specialty stamping paper...

and the background is created with the distress stains...

I'm finding the stencils to be very versatile...

here's another variation...

this is the original test drive tag I made...

instead of smoothing the embossing paste, I tapped the palette knife over the wet paste to create peaks...

these petals have a REALLY lumpy texture...

same stencil again...

no embossing paste this time...

just trace around the stencil to create the basic shape...

doodle a bit...

ink with the distress markers...

for a quick journal page...

do you see the possibilities?

what are YOU thinking?

got some fun ideas?

shoppers alert!

if you don't have the distress markers...

they are ON SALE for 20% off 

with this code at checkout...

 BSPM 

it's good today FRIDAY & SATURDAY only!

clicking on any link will take you to the product I used...

this post is getting really LONG...

so I'll save the other options for another post...

just wait to see what I did with 

the HEART stencil...

it was so FUN!

and TOTALLY different 

than the samples I showed today...

 it's coming soon...

 to a blog near you!

one more thing before I go...

I didn't hear from the winner...

so I have a prize package for...

 Helen said...

Loving all the art - and well done Susan! My list of must haves is growing every time you share more art!

August 15, 2012 10:15 AM

 

please send me your shipping info...

wbv1213@me.com

CONGRATS if you've read the whole post!

some lucky commenter may win a prize...

just sayin!

I still have new stamps & art parts ready to ship...

I hope I've sparked your imagination just a bit & that you'll be inspired to...

make (stencil) art!

wendy

ps...have a wonderful weekend...

GO BEARS!

 I always have high hopes...

sad but true...