art journal page tutorial...

this is one very L O N G post...

I got carried away with the photos...

but I do think they help 

to get the picture across...

ok...that was corny...

***at the end of the post, 

there is a special SALE code...***

I had no real page plan when I started,

 except to show a new technique...

"stamping with rubbing alcohol"

it starts like this...

here's one of my original stencils...

the large heart...

it comes with both the stencil & the mask...

this is a large art journal page,

 for my art parts art journal...

it's specialty stamping paper, 

cut to 8 ½ x 6 inches...

***IMPORTANT INFO***

specialty stamping paper has a magical coating on it & the coating makes every ink you add to it MUCH slower to dry...

it's VERY important 

to dry each ink layer that you add...

if you don't...

even the smallest amount of ink will smear...

trust me on this!

DRY EACH LAYER!

for this technique, it's important to use 

specialty stamping paper 

for really good results...

the other benefit to the specialty stamping paper is that the fluid we add does not penetrate the paper...

I like that because when I work on the back of this page, I don't have to deal with color in the wrong places...you have a nice clean page to work on...

here's my process... 

I laid the stencil on my page & it's a bit to the left...

not exactly centered...

the bottle you see below is filled with rubbing alcohol & I have a CLEAN polka dot background stamp...

a CLEAN stamp is important for this...

if there is residual ink on the stamp, the alcohol will reactivate it & the color will transfer...

I stenciled the heart with tea rose archival & removed the stencil...

for this step,

I DID NOT dry the ink...

I misted some rubbing alcohol onto my craft sheet & moved it around (with my finger) to make a wet area large enough for my background stamp...

then I placed my unmounted stamp into the alcohol...

do this ONLY ONCE...

more than that & you pick up way too much fluid & you loose the stamp pattern...

I stamped randomly over the page...

not pressing it everywhere...

you can see the alcohol is bleaching/lifting the archival ink...

you can also see the wet alcohol dots outside the heart...

the rubbing alcohol does not harm

the specialty stamping paper...

you'll not see any warping, 

piling or bubbling of the paper...

also, because the stamp was clean, 

there is no ink outside the heart...

now it's dry...

with the mask on, protecting the heart, 

I used sky blue archival with 

the vintage ledger stencil & ...

stenciled 3 areas...

you can't go wrong with the triangle theory...

3 areas will make the eye move & it makes the art more cohesive...

(I sound like I know what I'm doing...huh?)

next, I stamped my sentiment with jet black archival...

what a surprise...

my next image will be a flower...

I stamped it onto the newsprint side of a piece of clearly for art that is covered 

with newsprint paper...

I only use glue n seal to adhere the newsprint paper to the CFA...

glue n seal is best paper adhesive in the world...

I cut out the flower and inked the polka dot background stamp 

with tree branch archival & 

stamped over the flower...

I used just 1 flower for this page, 

but it's nice to have the others 

ready for another day...

I inked over the flower with sky blue...

I used my custom DIY archival pad to stamp the stem/leaves onto newsprint/clearly for art,

then cut it out...

I find it convenient to label the bottom of the pad with the archival reinker colors,

in the order that I used them, to create the pad...

and here's the color variation on 

the leaves/stem stamp from being inked with

 the custom pad...

nice subtle transition...

love it!

next, I like to test drive the pieces to see where I want to add more to the background...

(if you like clean & simple...

you could quit right here)

I inked the new vintage text background with tree branch...

then placed the heart mask over the heart & stamped the text randomly, again in 3 areas...

for random background stamping,

 I like to use the stamps unmounted...

to add the next background layer,

I used the polka dots/stripes border stencil 

with sky blue...

to create a border along the left side...

to add some shading around the heart, I replaced the mask and inked around the heart 

with brushed corduroy...

this time I didn't dry the distress ink...

I misted some water onto my craft sheet, tapped the new splatter brush into the water & spread the bristles over the distress ink

 to create water spots...

distress ink is formulated to react with water...

but...

here's an 

oopsie...

I had used my brush with tumbled glass distress stain a few days ago

 & didn't rinse off the color...

so you'll see I got both water spots & some BONUS color!

unplanned...

but cool...

you'll also see that the archival inked heart does NOT react with the water, because

archival ink is waterproof when dry...

I used a waterproof pen to doodle wiggly lines around the heart...

even this tiny bit of pen ink 

MUST BE DRIED...

now some watering can archival, with the  checkmate stencil, 

to add another background layer...

again, in 3 areas...

the bow was stamped onto newsprint/clearly for art with jet black and cut out...

I inked it with sky blue and stamped over

it with the vintage text stamp...

that was inked with tree branch...

those stenciled dots needed to be accented, so I found the little tip in our junk drawer & tapped it onto the watering can archival pad & stamped around the dots...

to add dots to the centers, I tapped the ball end of the remnant rub tool onto the leaf green pad...

I LIKE when a tool has multiple uses!

I also used the design  ruler to add some lines to the left side...

and a black glaze pen dot to the ends of the lines...

now I like the border...

I used my white magic mat board & 

die cut these hearts...

inked them with leaf green, and stamped over them with the polka dot background, 

using fern green...

the flower, stem/leaves, bow and hearts are now glued on...

 I ***thought*** was done...

but...

I decided that the background 

still needed more, so this time I added inky dots with the splatter brush &

brushed corduroy distress stain...

just dispense some onto the craft sheet...

tap the splatter brush into the stain...

the heart mask was replaced to protect the heart...

then I spread the bristles over the background

and now the background has another layer...

I added a line on each side of the page & 

a 3 x's  to the right side of the heart & this time it's really done...

here's a better look at those tiny ink dots...

and LOTS of polka dots!

so think about this...

#1...

normally a page (or card) starts with the background & you build upon that...

this time, I had my main image down & added the background layers right where they needed to be...

it's a different way to look at things... 

the process is fun...

try it!

#2...

it's a great new technique,

stamping with rubbing alcohol...

any % of rubbing alcohol you buy 

will work just fine...

70% or 91%...

just buy the cheapest one...

stamping with alcohol works best

 on specialty stamping paper, 

because the ink stays wet & sits on the surface...

I bet you're wondering...

does the alcohol damage your red rubber stamp?

NOPE...

I rinsed it off with water...

that's it...

Ted said there are 2 main REALLY

harmful things for red rubber...

one is prolonged exposure to direct sunlight...

so don't leave your stamps sitting outside on your deck, baking in the sun all summer long...

and the other is petroleum products ...

they are not friendly to red rubber...

#3...

mix & match old & new products to create something brand new and get even more use from what you have...

look at what you have & how it can be combined with something else for a new look...

#4...

even after stamping with alcohol, 

the archival ink is still permanent, when dry...

so, I could have added distress ink over the whole heart & it would NOT smear...

distress and archival inks like each other...

#5...

you could use this page as inspiration for a card...

just choose a smaller heart stencil and go from there...

#6...

look around your home 

for things you can stamp with...

today, I used the little tip I found...

all sizes of jar lids make great stamps too...

I bet you'll find fun possible stamps in your home...

so that's an art journal page...

studio 490 style...

I hope you enjoyed it...

I hope you'll try it...

and I hope you'll

have a great weekend and

make art!

wendy

ps...the funkie junkie is offering a

 special SALE CODE 

to celebrate sending out 10,000 orders!

CONGRATS Linda & staff!...

here's the code to enter at checkout for 

an extra 10% off your order...

10000

inspiration from...

the home improvement store...

a recent trip to our local 

Home Depot gave me some ideas...

Rick was looking at something boring...

so I wandered up & down a few aisles 

and found these "things"...

I have no clue what their real purpose is...

but I know what I'll do with them...

I think I'll do a little "series" of posts

over the next few weeks using these items...

today's project starts out with this

black plastic "fence post cap"...

it's a nice solid piece & after using the one I got, I will be getting a few more to use with different products...

I have been so anxious to play with tim's new distress paper mosaic kit & I thought this fence post cap would be a great base...

my original plan was to leave a black border/frame around the bottom, so I masked off around the  base with painters tape, to protect it from the grout & give me a nice clean edge...

you'll see later that I changed my mind...

girls can do that...

grout...glue...glaze...

everything you need is in the kit...

the first step is to spread a layer of grout over the base and set it aside to air dry...

while the grout was drying, I decided to use this  sheet of yuletide paper stash...

you sure could use up paper scraps...

and I know I will...

but I've had my eye on this paper since it arrived...

the small patterns were perfect for this project...

I chopped it up into lots of little irregular sized pieces...

this takes WAY LESS than I thought, 

so I'm ready for a few more holiday pieces...

like about 20 more!

yikes!

after the grout is dry, you add the paper "tiles", using the glue that's included in the kit...

I used a small paint brush to add the glue...

then add the "glaze" over the tiles & 

allow it to air dry...

the "glaze" comes in the kit too...

I outlined the edges of the papers and filled in the center with the glaze...

it was at this time that I decided that the black plastic didn't create the frame that I expected... 

it still looked like cheap black plastic...

imagine that!

so...

I used my gold metallic embossing paste to create a more faux gilded effect...

I scooped out a small amount of the gold paste with the palette knife & put it on the craft sheet...

I like to apply a VERY thin layer using my finger...

a thin layer looks best & dries almost immediately...

it takes very little paste...

the less...the better...

just smooth it on...simple...

and then it dried & looked like this...

goodbye cheapo plastic...

hmmm...

now it looked a little too perfect...

so to make it more vintage & distressed, I used a foil sheet in random areas...

the foil will magically stick to

 the dry metallic embossing paste...

the remnant rub tool is an easy way 

to add/rub the foil...

I like to use the flat end...

remember...

pretty side of the foil goes UP...

now it's very vintage/random/worn looking & 

not looking like cheapo plastic...

to alter the mirrored star, 

I added a thin layer of my fav

glue n seal and pressed a piece of 

the foil sheet 

over the wet glue & allowed it to dry...

when it was dry, I ripped off the foil & got this cool metallic/rusty effect on the surface of the star...

reason #887 why I LOVE glue n seal...

now on to the large woodlands tree...

that mister on the right is holding rubbing alcohol and about 6 drops of the potting soil reinker and about 6 drops of the tree branch reinker...

(I made this to mist over a bare wood frame & it's cool!)

I misted the tree & allowed that to dry...

I used the ground espresso distress marker 

to color the wood tree base...

quick & easy!

next up...

something to jazz up under the tree...

I inked the holly stamp & pressed 

the holly mat mini onto the inked stamp...

then inked over it with fern green archival...

adding another layer is always a good idea...

so, I inked the new vintage text stamp with watering can archival & 

stamped over the holly...

I used red geranium to color the berries, after they were stamped with jet black...

but forgot to take a photo...

oops...

the grout was looking a little too stark, so I added just random little bits of tree branch archival 

to the base, using the blending tool...

now it looks better coordinated with the tree...

to assemble, I used an awl to make a hole in the wood tree base & inserted a nail thru the hole from the bottom side of the fence post cap & filled the hole with multi medium for more stability of the tree...

I first added some hot glue under the base to hold the nail in place...

here's a look at the base...

you can also see the holly & berries under the tree...

the tree is decorated with the 

new jingle bell brads...

I cut off the prongs & hot glued them onto the tree...

believe is a tim/sizzix die...

to make this a sticker, 

I used the adhesive sheet on black cardstock,

 die cut it, removed the backing sheet & added it to the tree...

I did add a tiny bit of multi medium too, since I'll be taking it on the road to 

the convention in Madison, 

later this month...

it's hard to show the cool effect that 

the metallic embossing paste

 creates in a photo, so here's a mini video...

or as Rick called it...

a silent movie!

***edited the video, so you don't get sea-sick!***

you can also see that the paper really does look like mosaic tiles...

this is a GREAT FUN KIT!

so...

the moral of this post is that inspiration is everywhere...

even Home Depot...

sometimes we just need to be open

 to SEE it...

if you're out & about...

check out the other pieces in the first photo...

check out local hardware stores too...

they might have other cool shapes...

I had a blast with the metal pieces too...

because...

I used them to...

make art!

wendy

oh..one more thing...

I've gotten some emails about people not seeing all of my FB posts...

it's my understanding that when you go

 to my page, 

you hover the cursor over the LIKED button, 

then click GET NOTIFICATIONS...

then you should see everything...

hope this helps...