Snarky Cat and Alice with their Flying Friends

Snarky Cat is hiding under the brolly, held spellbound by all the birds flying about... he knows its lucky if they drop anything squishy on his head, but ew!

The quote I've written using Tim Holtz Idea-ology stickers (Halloween and Small Talk) say ... watching and waiting, held spellbound. When nothing is sure, everything is possible (so) stay curious.
Looking back as I write this blog post, I am wondering who's doing the watching and waiting, Snarky Cat, Alice or the vultures, I mean sparrows. lol :)

How this art journal page was created...

Above ... a few of my favourite things used for this journal art page : from left, Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlits 'Silhouette Birds', Dina Wakley MEdia Collage Tissue 'Flying Things' and Dyan Reaveley Dylusions Dyalog Insert Book 'Backgrounds 3'.

First, gather the outer scraps from diecutting lots of Tim Holtz Sizzix Silhouette Birds out of Tim Holtz Heavystock Kraft. 

Next, roughly cut around the flocks of birds from Dina Wakley MEdia Collage Tissue, and choose a background inside the Dylusions Dyalog Insert Book. 

Using a paintbrush, apply Dina Wakley MEdia Gel Medium to the back a piece of tissue, layer it into place on the Dyalog page then smooth it down with the same brush. Repeat for the rest of the flock. The white paper may disappear as it dries, however this result (for me) varies like the weather. Wash your brush before the gel dries!

It is best to use a craft mat or glass media mat so this next step of a painted layer doesn't stick to your table as it dries. I have used white scrap paper underneath to make it easier for you to see what I've done.

Use a paintbrush with Dylusions Acrylic Paint in Black Marble to paint, cover the whole die cut piece. Lift carefully while wet and place it loosely down again (on your mat or a drying tray), so it is easier to pick up once dry. Leave to dry.

If you used a black sheet of cardstock instead of kraft, you can skip this step and go straight into sponging shadows.

Apply lighter colours using a coarse sponge. I've used Distress Paint in Lost Shadow (shown above) and Dylusions Acrylic Paint in Balmy Night.

Dabbing lightly to keep a speckled effect, work the colours to be darkest at the top and lightest near the bottom of the piece. Leave to dry. Wash your brush and sponge before the paint dries!

After the paint has completely dried, brush on Collage Medium or Gel Medium to the back (as above). Lay this piece over the background of flying birds. Work fairly quickly so the glue does not dry before you have it in place.

Alternatively, use the Tim Holtz Collage Medium in the bottle or a glue stick. Some like to use staples or adhesive tape to secure layers too.
If you have trouble with lining up layers, keeping layers in place or glue dries faster than you can work, simply use pegs or hinge clips to hold the two layers together first. Then keeping one side attached so it doesn't move, lift the loose side and apply glue however you wish, using what works for you. Press the layer down, put the clip back on to hold that still and repeat for the other side. Remember, it is art, therefore doesn't matter if it is crooked or upside down!

Rummaging through my stash of stamped leftovers and paper embellishments, I picked out Snarky Cat stamped onto Distress Heavystock White Paper from the Tim Holtz Snarky Cat Halloween set, the umbrella from Idea-Ology Engravings Layers, Silhouette Birds cut out of kraft Heavystock, and a fussy cut Alice in Wonderland figure from the 8x8 Stamperia Paper Pad. I used a black fine pen and white gel pen to draw on birds' eyes.

Have a wonder through your alphabet Thinlits die cutting sets, alphabet stamps, quote stamps or Idea-ology stickers to say something, tell a story, share your thoughts, add song lyrics or write a poem.

Hope this creative journaling page inspires you to have a go, play with colours, use up those scraps you've been saving for that opportune moment and have a fabulous messy time!

Happy Creative Day!

:)

Jenny

Scribble Sticks go to the Circus

My latest art journal page for a swap with friends for the theme of "circus".

Hand drawn and painted onto Liquitex acrylic paper using Dina Wakley's fabulous Scribble Sticks with a waterbrush. I also used Winsor & Newton Watercolour Paint Sticks (not much this time, mostly used Dina's) and Dylusions Paint Pens (the red and white) for a few details with a splash of white acrylic paint for the fabric.

I started with drawing red and white big top stripes using the ruby Dina Wakley art stick... but I got carried away and it was way too much for what I wanted, so sprayed it with water. This just turned it all into a red mess ... I used too much water! lol Things we do!

I then added blue and purple with the Dina Wakley art sticks and smooshed it all around with my fingers while it was still wet. The swirling purples gave me an idea so I dried off the middle circle, lifting off the excess.

You can just see the remains behind some areas of the purple.

With so much water used, I had to put it aside... no matter how much I waved air over it, it just wasn't drying!

The next day it looked ok :) Phew! 

I painted brown and red stripes inside the circle with black around the edge and also over the corners of the page.

The silk trapeze artist was drawn in pencil and painted using more DW sticks, as paint rather than using them direct on the page. I added layers and layers of red brush strokes for her hair before painting in the silk. Adding more red squiggly lines afterwards with Dylusions paint pen and even more curly lines in black.

It looked a bit plain... but the star dust Icestickles glitter glue soon fixed that and added that bit of glamour to her hair and leotard. Its amazing what a few spots of glitter will do :)

I like how its turned out :) Thanks so much for reading my blog post.

Happy Creative Day!

:)

Jenny

Mixing It Up

I've not had much time to create art these days... time flies so fast! But last month, I managed to get a few hours all at once :) Very grateful! I was waiting to post the art off to its owner (its for a swap) but its hiding at the moment! I figure if I post it in my blog it might reappear :) You never know!

Having a theme of "Pink" made it hard to start... but I soon got going. 

The outside was created using both the Dina Wakley and Dylusions (white) acrylic paints through a few stencils (Tim's "Scribble" and Dylusions' "Hearts" and "Flossie"). Then I added Ranger's translucent texture paste in matte using the heart stencil again and with a spatula, scraped the paste over different areas.

The quote stamp I used is "Good Bra" by Darkroom Door, stamped with black ink after the page was dry.

The doodling was drawn with a black Graphik line maker (Derwent) and white Sharpie (waterbased). You could also ise the groovy new Dylusions paint pens :)

The inside was created in a similar way, but without the texture paste. The flowers and butterflies are a serviette while the dragonfly is a diecut shape cut out of white card.

The quote is a Stampendous rubber stamp (such a lovely statement) inked with black StazOn.

The cute little bird is stamped with white Tim Holtz Distresss ink (Picket Fence) and doodled over with my white Sharpie.

So that's my first DAJ :) I enjoyed mixing it up with paints, stencils and serviettes. Art is so much fun!

Happy Creative Day!

:)

Jenny

Journal Art - Cactus

Having a fab weekend? Hope so! In South Australia we have a public holiday on Monday for the racegoers to celebrate the Adelaide Cup horserace. So I'm going to work in the morning and get arty in the afternoon!

We had our local art journal meet yesterday (Saturday). Loads of laughs and fun as usual :) Love my friends!

This is a page I created in Yvonne's book... Handdrawn Cactus Wren on Yupo paper on a background made with paint and texture paste. I used acrylic paint and stencils by Tim Holtz, Dina Wakley and Dyan Reaveley's Dylusions, Ranger clear matte texture paste, pencil, black Fudeball pen and white Sharpie paint pen.

Distress paints are great for backgrounds, the colours blend well together! I used an mini ink blending tool to stencil with the white Dylusions paint and my fingers to stencil with the Distress paints. The texture paste I used a spatula.

Have you ever wanted to have a go art art journaling but don't know where to start? I can help you - with supplies as well as lessons :) I'm in southern beachside Adelaide, SA. Contact me via FB pm or my shop at www.shop.artbyjenny.com.au. 

Happy Creative Day!

:)

Jenny