So Grateful – An Art Journal Spread – Mini Tutorial

Hellooooooooooooo my friends!  I am feeling so completely inspired lately.  I love it when my muse is happy, and I can create stuff that I actually like.  On the heels of taking two in-person classes with the fabulous Joanne Sharpe, I pulled out my Dylusions art journal, and some of my new products from the Art House Studio, and this is what happened.  I only wish that I had made a video of my process.  I am doing the next best thing – sharing lots of pictures, and see below for a description of all products and techniques used to create this spread (a mini tutorial).

First, – I am NOT affiliated with any of the blogs, stores, or products mentioned and linked in this post. Since I often get comments/questions about where I get my products –  I purchased all products mentioned in this post from The Art House Studio, in Cambridge, Ontario Canada.  

I started with a spread that had already been sprayed with my Dylusions Ink Sprays, and pulled out one of my new Crafter’s Workshop Stencils and glass bead gel, and stenciled the buildings across the bottom. That is the COOLEST effect!  (If you would like to see this technique demonstrated, check out my Youtube video here) After the glass bead gel had fully dried, I added some pan pastel over the top of the glass bead gel (LOVE!).

This is what the stencil looks like (designed by Rhonda Palazzari) -

I used a variety of black permanent markers to draw the circle in the corner, and journaling lines.   Then, I pulled out a few of my favorite shimmery paints – some Silks, as well as some Perfect Pigment Pure Liquid Acrylic (in Green Pearl – *YUM*).  I painted each journaling section with a different shimmery paint.  Then, I did the journaling,  using several different permanent black pens.  Then, I outlined in white with my Uniball Signo white pen.  A little doodling around the edge, and I was finished.  :)

Art Journaling Video!

I am really enjoying my instructor role over at Art Geeks!  I have another Finish in Five challenge up – Episode 3 is a tribute to my awesome art friends.

Speaking of awesome art friends, I attended a couple of courses with THE lettering diva, Joanne Sharpe at The Art House Studio in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada yesterday!  I had such a fabulous time, learning from the best, and meeting (or seeing again) –  some AMAZING and creative, and talented women.

Joanne Sharpe, and Effy Wild:

Joanne, and me:

 

Me with Joanne, and Linda Kittmer:

Linda and Joanne:

I wish I had taken more pictures!  I was too busy doodling and lettering, and socializing!

 

 

Busy This and Busier Than That

Whew!  What a busy few days.  And, the next few are looking just about the same.  This is one of the reasons:

They are growing so fast!  OMG…Summer has doubled in size in just over a week.  Wilson is growing at a bit slower pace, but growing he is!  I am so in love.  They are so entertaining, andsuch  little buggers purry love muffins!  lol  We had company last night, and they were the hit of the party!  

This is another reason why I’ve been busy:

The above blingerific projects were inspired by Joanne Sharpe’s Bling it On class.  Sadly, the class came to an end this week.  But, her classes are available forever, so I can always go back and watch the videos again to get re-inspired.  That is just one of the things that I love about Joanne’s classes.  If you have never taken one, I highly recommend it!  Not only is her instruction absolutely fabulous, she is one of the sweetest people I have ever “met”!  AND, the Facegroup  ladies are the best!  I have never been part of a community like this group of artists!  They are all so willng to share their tips and tricks, and many have even shared tutorials after Joanne’s classes end!  AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING!

This is another reason why I have been so busy:

I am trying to get some Christmas cards made before we leave for a two week vacation in Jamaica (we leave this Friday!).  EEK. (That is yet another reason why I’m so busy)   I’m excited, but we won’t be back until December 8, so if I want to get these cards to their recipients before Santa arrives, I need to get them at finished!  I am making them totally from my own artwork this year.

Next reason for busy-ness:

We got a new car!  But, because we are leaving in a few days for our (previously mentioned) vacation, I need to get it in for snow tires, and rustproofing.

I have also been working with my personal trainer again, so I’m trying to train every day (before bikini-time-vacation).  *whew*

Drawing Faces and Making Paint

That’s what I’ve been up to – drawing faces, and making paint.  I’m taking a couple of online courses – one with Jodi Ohl, over at the Luminarte “Dreaming in Color” website – she is calling it “Painterly in Pink”, and we are doing a couple of portraits, one on canvas, and the other on watercolor paper – using the Luminarte watercolor paints - Twinklng H2O’s, and their new acrylic shimmer paint – Silks.  I started late, so I am a little behind the other students, but I am enjoying drawing faces again.  I started by making some color charts in my art journal, to test the paints.  I made some of my own (link to my tutorial on Youtube):

And, here are my faces – drawn with graphite on bristol paper:

And, my canvas – work in progress:

I’m also taking Joanne Sharpe’s latest course - her first mini course.  She is calling it “Bling it on”, and we are also playing with the shimmer paints by Luminarte in this course.  I will be sharing some of my work soon.  My camera battery is dead at the moment.

So, that’s all for today.  Thank you so much for stopping by!

So Sad to See it End :(

So, Joanne Sharpe’s most recent course  - “The Magical Marker Mystery Tour” – has come to an end.  I’m sad.  I always get a bit depressed when a course ends.  But, she is running another one starting on November 5….called “Bling it on”!  Woo hoo!  I’ve already registered.  So, I thought I’d show you the finished art journal.  One of the things I love most about Joanne’s courses is that you always end up with a hand made, full to the brim, art journal full of color, ideas, and just plain fun.

This first pic shows the binding.  I ended up with more pages than what Joanne had intended, though, so I had to bind it a little differently to accommodate the thickness.

Magical Mystical Markers with Joanne Sharpe

Another project completed in Joanne Sharpe’s marker class.  Another one of the creative geniuses in this class created a “ball tree” with alcohol markers, and I loved it so much that I totally copied her idea, but used Tombow markers, dissolved with my waterbrush, in my Strathmore watercolor journal.

More Letter Love

These are a couple of Letter Love exercises that I haven’t had a chance to post until now.  The phrase was my own thoughts.

*Updated to add – The second page (green with grid) is a page in my SMASH book!  I’ve had so many enquiries about it, I thought I would let you all know. 

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Letter Love Layers

Today’s post is brought to you by one of my many  Letter Love journals.  Thanks for stopping by.   Mwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Letter Loving – White Pen on Red

More Letter Love with Joanne Sharpe.  White Uniball Signo pen on red cardstock.  A little washi tape on the side.

More Letter Loving

Today’s goal, as part of Joanne Sharpe’s Letter Love class, was to find the perfect white pen.  I have a few of them in my stash, and haven’t really done a true experiment to find out which ones are my favourites.  As part of this class, I pulled out all of my white markers, pens, white-out pens, paint pens, etc., and played on dark paper.  My top five turned out to the same as Joanne’s.  My favourite?  Hands-down – the Uniball Signo.  The trick is to write SLOOOW.  These pens are finicky.  The other 4 faves?  Well, you’ll have to take Joanne’s course to find out.  And, no, I am not affiliated.  I just love the class, and for $35, it’s fabulous value.  So just do it.   Now.