Emotional Art Journaling

Today I am opening for you my mid size art journal page. My mixed media journey started from art journaling and it is still the most favourable part of my creative activity. I can't help it but when open up the book, smell (yes! smell!) the pages and then put the first layer of gesso- the magic simply happens!
My art journal pages are messy, intense, emotional, free and definitely not pretty but they are reflection of life the way it is. This page spread is a very spontanious creation as my room where I keep art supplies is being decorated at the moment and I am simply not able to find anything so had to create from what I found :)

The page started with layer of Dina Wakley white gesso plus some scraps of paper. Then I used two Dina Wakley paints to create the colour part. I used Balckberry Violet and Lapis.To achive  sort of ageing effect I spread paint with the old credit card.

The collage part is the technique I invented a while ago and call "left over collage" - that means that the paper is left after the image is cut out can be used as well- you can see that here as an empty person shape. Even if the image is not full you can add the rest like here by drawing the missing part.

I added some yellow accents by using Color Wash spray in Butterscotch (dropping from the bottle) and black from the Archival Ink range (Jet Black).

I wanted to somehow age the images and used Montana acrylic paint pen in white to make some scribbles, that have to say I quite liked;)

Art Journaling is a free and emotional expression so I hope you like this a little bit crazy lady looking for her soul, that happens to be on the next page...

Wishing you a Happy Art Journaling!

Honorata

April challenge winner

It's that time again to announce the winner from the latest challenge this time for April.

Thank you very much to everyone who entered. As usual the standard was incredibly high but there has to be a winner though.

For originality and beauty the winner has to be 

Number 22 Moira with her altered spoon. 

 

Moira we absolutely loved it, thank you. 

If you want to see more of Moira's work you can visit her blog here at The Altered Ego. 

Moira, use the contact form on the left hand side (scroll down a bit ) to claim your prize mentioning that you're the winner from the April challenge.

A new challenge will be issued on Friday so look out for that.

Collage "Hi there!"

Hello my friends!
This week I have prepared a mixed media collage.

I used as the base an old paper craft that was a folder before.
I began to apply different templates using Prima Color Bloom Sprays with White Gesso. I caught a herbarium and I glued it with Finnabair Art Basics: 3D Gloss gel. To create more contrast I put some freehand Background stamps and added a few drops of color.

I also cut a cardboard frame and covered it with Finnabair Art Extravagance: Gold CrackleTexture Paste. To fasten it, I turned to the stapler instead of glue. I love the effect of an old framework, with the already worn paint.

To decorate, I took a bit of lace, newspaper, raffia, flowers Prima Marketing among other things. For title I chose letters of different sizes to provide visual interest. To give an uniform finish and integrate all the elements, I went over with white gesso brush and Finnabair Art Ingredients Glass Glitter - Gold Rush.

It is an easy work, so I hope it has inspired you to create your own fantastics projects! :)))
Thank you very much and see you soon!
Much kisses. xxx

Red Shoes...

Hello!
I heard a song.... and a lyric stuck in my head, as it does. Kept going around and around in my brain, so I thought maybe it was trying to tell me something (or I'm bonkers, equally possible....)
I used the lyric as the theme for my project today...

The words dictated the colour scheme, but as a bonus it made me get out of my 'use every colour on the planet' phase I seem to be in! Lots of blue paint used for the background, along with plenty of white for blending and stencilling. I used my new favourite stamp set for the details...

This is the 'Coffee Stains' set from Prima , total bargain at £5.99 for the whole sheet! I added some black dots and white doodling to the stamped images for added interest.
My dancing lady was sketched out onto watercolour paper, then painted. I cut her out and glued her down, minus her hair!

You can see the outline of the cut out if you look closely! I knew I wanted a feather effect at the ends of her hair, and quite frankly couldn't be bothered with all that fussy cutting if I'd done it on the watercolour paper! I added most of the hair with a waterbrush ( I used black acrylic ink), then drew the end bits directly onto the background with a fineliner pen.

Of course, she had to have red shoes...

I used a black water soluble pencil for the outlining, and the ground she is standing on. I've decided I like the watercolour effect better than a smudged black effect!

I'm really hoping the next song to stick in my head has a good lyric to work with!
See you soon,
Trish xxxx

Special Guest Designer: Tracy Easson

Hello!

We have another fabulous guest designer on the blog today, the talented:

Tracy Easson

from: www.queeniesscrapmad.blogspot.co.uk

Tracy has a wonderful project to share, I'll now pass you over to the lady herself!...

"I can`t begin to tell you how excited I am to be back here at A Sprinkle of Imagination as a guest designer this month.

Not only do I get to play but I also get to share my love for a certain stamp for my first share with you all. 

{ did I mention it`s on offer right now, whoop whoop }

She`s been inked and stamped onto many projects from wood, mobile phone covers, bags to salt dough and today I`ve used her to create a piece of whimsical jewellery that I hope you will enjoy.

Such a simple project to pop together using ~ 

 Scraps of pretty paper for the background

Distress Ink Stains and Ink Pads to colour her in ~ just add a touch to your craft sheet with a little water before using a brush to apply it.

Oh, did I mention how much I love the Pocket Watch by Finnabair . . . swoonworthy . . . don`t forget to hold onto the plastic packaging to create your window, either use a circle punch or draw around an object before cutting it out.

 Nothing goes to waste!

Thank you so much for looking, catch you back here on the 19th with another project!"

We love it Tracy, thank you so much!

Supplies used: 

Christy Tomlinson She Art Stamp ~ She Leaped

Finnabair Vintage Mechanicals Clock

Ranger Archival Ink Pad Jet Black

Tim Holtz Distress Stain Broken China

Tim Holtz Distress Stain Fired Brick

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad Tattered Rose

Rangers Non Stick Craft Sheet

The Story Begins - Layout

Hiya My Lovelies!

Georgie here, and today I'm sharing a layout with you. This picture is of my friend at her hen doo, she had a Country Bumpkin day at the races! :) Even though we dressed in fashion to look over the top, we ended up not looking out of place at all hehe!

The Hen had been dolled up with all these gorgeous balloons but they weren't allowed to be taken in (in case they popped and spooked a horse), so we did some cool snap shops just before going in...

The layout was set on 'News Flash' 12 x 12 Messy Head paper collection by 7 Dots Studio.

I wanted to create lots of layers and depth, yet keeping the overall design quite clean... (ish - haha)

I love these wood chip Words by Prima and it took the Barn Door Distress Paint so well, and that was without gesso. The key is from Prima's Resin Collection of goodies 'Keys'.

The black Word Stickers on the page are from 7 Dots Studio Illumination collection - so perfect for sentiments!

Lots of layering from the 7 Dots Studio Messy Head collection 6 x 6 paper stack, the colours are so beautifully feminine but funky at the same time. The 'Simple Things' circle is from the Elements sheet from the same collection. I used a mixture of pop dots, Inkssentials Collage Glue Stick and Glossy Accents to adhere everything.

Art Basics 3D Matte Gel with some purely divine Art Extravagance Glitter in Ebony and Ivory, it's the white one with the touch of colour in the sparkle - I promise, it.. is.. lovely!! I put this through the Dots and Stripes Stencil by Finnabair.

To get the water-y colour background,  I used Art Basics Clear Gesso and applied to the areas where I would be putting the paint. The I took an acrylic stamping block, dabbed a little bit of Barn Door Distress Paint, sprayed with lots water and just placed it randomly where I wanted the colour to roughly be. I dried between each layer so gain a stronger shade of red in areas. Then I brush-splattered the paint for an extra artsy feel :)

The poppies you see randomly on the page are also by Prima, called Sculpture Flowers. The string style frame was carefully wrapped into a circle to draw focus to the picture using Prima's Wired Thread in Cardinal - a gorgeous shade of red.

Another Prima Wood Icon, from Flowers (9680) - love these too!! They just help to add the pop of colour with the Barn Door Distress Paint, you get this lovely vibrant shade. Finished up with tiny dabs of Rock Candy Distress Stickles on them.

That's it from me for today, hope you had a lovely visit here and I will see you soon!
Hugs
Georgie xx

Closing eyes, dreaming big...

Today I created for you a joyful tag with mixed media painting and drawing.







 It’s created on the cardboard piece which was left over from one of Finnabair products (maybe mechanicals?). So instead of throwing it away I started with thick layer of Dina Wakley Media Line white gesso and then applied some random papers and bits of newspapers using gel medium from Dina’s range again. I love that gel medium as it also creates a very good surface for application of inks, sprays and any wet mediums. Here is work in progress photo just to confirm that there is nothing like clean desk when creativity hits!

This tag was a gift for a work friend who was leaving due to end of the contract and asked me to do something for her. I decided to make a dreamy girl with closed eyes so it’s all left to interpretation.
















Drawing was done by using combination of Neocolors II and Inktense pencils and again white gesso. To manage smaller elements and all details I used my beloved Posca pens in white and black.
I imagined her hair in some sort of chaos but still in shape and after building small buns with Noecolors I used Bombay India Inks in Aqua and Teal to draw same sort of snail shapes. By adding a little bit of water spray, then letting it dry and then repeating process I built layers of her funky hair. In this project I used Neocolors in two ways- wet and dry. Wet for more full background result (full colour on hair) and dry for volume effect (thick lines on her hair). Playing with Neocolors is such fun!:)

Finishing touches were stamps and distressing edges with Adirondack Dye Ink Pad in black. I also added bits of jewellery for her earings and wrote some thought in my messy handwriting style.
My girl left me now but will stay happy with my friend - so she is in good hands…

Hope you like her too!

Big hugs...

Honorata

Getting Dylusional !!!

WOW !!!!!

Have you seen the new dylusions acrylic paints ???

Fabulous colours, very versatile and work perfectly in conjunction with the existing sprays !!!

Just got my set and couldn't resist having a play to see what they could do.....

These colours are just amazing !!!

For these pages all I needed was the fabulous dylusions paints along with a black, white and gold gel pen. 

I painted the colours on randomly in my large dylusions journal and allowed to dry completely. Once dry I started to add doodled flowers with a black gel pen, continuing with white highlights and adding some more of the paints in some of the flowers to make them pop. Easy peasy and you don't need lots of supplies to give it a go !!!

I love these new paints, the colours are vibrant and fresh and the consistency is perfect for drawing and sketching over. I think I'm going to have a lot more fun experimenting with these !!

Have a fabulous day my arty friends

Tracy

X

Sketch book project

 

At the end of May I'm lucky enough (or crazy enough, not sure which) to be going to Austria with my best friend on a week long hike of the Tyrolean mountains. Despite having to carry our stuff in our back packs (real hiking) there's just no way I'll be able to last the whole seven days without journaling it.

I decided the easiest and lightest way was just to purchase a small A6 size sketch book but it was just far too plain and crying out for a bit of a tart up.

An earlier Gelli Plate session had given me some great background fodder so I chose this piece which had an amazing retro feel to it. Just created with two Distress paint colours Peeled Paint and Salty Ocean and a Dina Wakley stencil from Ranger called Mod.

I had originally planned to do lots to this one but on seeing it peeled from the Gelli Plate I fell in love instantly and was reluctant to add anything at all to it.

So it became my starting point to cover my book. To add some detail and interest to my cover I used the Echo Park kit Capture Life which has some brilliant stickers and great papers to layer and also has it's own retro feel.

I think this and a couple of pens will be sufficient and should take up no space at all in my back pack even if I have to throw out something else like a pair of socks!

Jaine x

Bank Holiday Special

Good morning to you! 

For this weekend only 

CHRISTY TOMLINSON 

stamps made by Unity

have a WHOPPING

30% off!!

We have a fabulous selection of stamps that are perfect for all your mixed media projects, be it a spot of art journalling, or scrapbooking. 

You don't need any special codes, 

the prices are already reduced for you on the website. 

We won't be repeating this offer

and we won't be restocking the designs either 

so this is your chance 

to grab a bargain! 

This offer will run 

from 

Friday 1st May 

until 

10:00 Tuesday 5th May

Have a wonderful Crafty Weekend !

Vicki 

Unusual page, recycled material.

Hello, my dear friends!

My DT project this week is a very unusual, round layout!
How I like to experience, renew and recycle things! :)) Yes!!! and do you know what I have used as a base for this page?
Sooner or later every thing reach the end of it useful life. I'm not Frankenstein (the opposite, pretty and nice lol), but the other day I did revive a "dead" and forgotten object that had pulled in a drawer in the kitchen. It was a mold to make cakes, old and almost rusty because it has not used for a long time. So, instead of throwing it in the trash (which would make any other woman seeing a white elephant in the kitchen lol), I rescued it and transformed it completely.

The first thing I did, was cover the surface with Black Gesso.

Then I used some Stencils with Finnabair Art Basics: Modeling Paste. When it comes to the colour, I resorted to sprays of Prima Color Bloom Sprays.

The next step was to add a few strips of different fabrics and laces, to achieve more texture and enrich the background.
I created a composition by mounting a few layers of paper, flowers, different embellishments, Finnabair Vintage Mechanicals: 961121 Plate & Label, dies cut and tags. To give a few finishing touches, I added Finnabair Art Ingredients Glass Glitter - Gold Rush

And the result is a different and very special layout :))  You can find all the materials in the store  A Sprinkle Of Imagination.
I hope you liked the idea and it has inspired you to try to do something different:))
 See you soon! Much kisses!
xxx

The Butterfly

My latest journal page was inspired by a crafty session in the garden, with the weather being so wonderful I really couldn't stay in the basement to craft. I grabbed my journal and Inktense pencils with the pages already prepared with gesso and set about adding colour.

 I created the framing around the outside with Finnabair stamps called Lace and Doily and a Prima Stencil. The texture paste is also from Finnabair and has a fantastic sparkle to it when it's dry.

For the butterfly, I drew it onto a sheet of music score paper and used the Inktense pencils to colour it in.

If you needed any convincing about how vibrant the colour is, just take a look here at the before and after adding water. I think it speaks for itself.

I put a crease in the butterfly wings before adding it to the page so it would add dimension.

Happy crafting

jaine xx