Sunday, June 13, 2021
Fractured and Crystalized
Be Alive in Everything You Do
Friday, April 2, 2021
Love
As I mentioned previously, I took an on-line Art Journaling Challenge back in August in the hopes of getting some fresh inspiration or maybe learning some new mixed media techniques. There were 5 hour-long lessons in which we learned how to create 10 art journaling cards. The instructor showed us the basic idea and she strongly encouraged us to use what we already had on hand (substitute, substitute, substitute!) instead of investing in a bunch of new supplies. It did not disappoint! I only wish I had the luxury of working in real time along with the videos, but the reality is that I work very slowly. It takes me forever to figure out what color palette to work in, what look and feel I want to create. My OCD insists that everything be coordinated just right. If you knew what my craft room looked like at the moment, you would understand that it is very difficult to find what I am looking for right away. I have a good idea of what supplies I have, just not where I stashed them. And yes, sometimes I surprise myself when I find something I had no idea I had. Can you relate?
So, this LOVE card used a technique from one of the cards we learned to make. It uses a corrugated cardboard background. I had no idea it was so easy to make your own corrugated cardboard. You simply mist the cardboard and after a few seconds, it's very easy to pull off the top layer exposing the corrugated texture below. Now I know what to do with all of those Amazon Prime boxes...
Next, we applied three colors of acrylic paint to the corrugated cardboard. The instructor used white gesso as one of her colors, but I chose I neutral palette and applied ivory/cream, sienna brown and muted gold acrylic paint with a cosmetic sponge.
Next, I took a manila tag and inked the edges with tea dye distress ink. I stamped the background of the tag with a text stamp for added interest. Since I was going to use a bronze-colored "love" charm as my embellishment, I chose a heart stamp for the tag. I affixed the tag with a piece of adhesive foam to give it some dimension.
Lastly, I took some hemp fiber and wrapped it around the card three time (rule of 3's) and added the "love" charm. That was how my March Artfirmation LOVE cards were born.
Remembering a dear friend
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Distress Ink Wildflowers
I ordered a number of mini distress ink pads and was curious to see what the colors looked like on cream cardstock. I made several sheets applying a random swath of colors like Peacock Feathers, Mustard Seed, Pickled Raspberry, Tumbled Glass, Crushed Olive and Spiced Marmalade. You can see how the cream colored cardstock mutes the colors.
Saturday, December 26, 2020
And A Few More Christmas Cards
I had so much fun making these one-of-a-kind cards. I hope each special recipient will love them as much as I do!
Book Folding Continues...
I decided to fold a few more books to give away as Christmas or January birthday gifts. Part of the fun is finding a book with enough pages for your chosen design with the perfect title!
I chose "The Gift" and folded a heart into the pages for a grab bag gift: