I’m having a go at catching up with some of my art journal online challenges and classes I’ve been neglecting for a few weeks (actually probably months). I’ve caught up with the Wanderlust One Collage Challenge, but part of the deal with that is that I can’t show you it until the last stage at the end of the year. But I have been taking pictures of each stage, so it’ll be worth waiting for!
Then I moved onto May’s Pick A Stick Challenge – ten prompts drawn at random and completed in order. I pulled out the very first journal I started way back in 2011 and found a background to work on – oh how my art journaling has developed!
Here’s my start point. I think, judging by the way the colour moved with waterbased medium, that the background is smudged/brushed water-soluble wax crayon. It was a long time ago!
Step 1: Cut and tear your page or images
I added torn magazine photo of lavender beds. Some of the tears allowed leaving gaps between, which I love the look of.
Step 2: Add at least one piece of ephemera
In this case two pieces from Kaisercraft Collectables Storybook.
Step 3: Add a crossword puzzle
My cross word puzzle is the purple text. After all, crossword puzzles can be cryptic and not as obvious as you’d like…
Step 4: Use a ‘non-tool’
I used a spoon handle and Dusty Concord Distress Paint. Ended up looking like finger prints, which was my alternative idea anyway!
Step 5: Add glitter
Using Stickles Lavender and Stardust I added a bit of bling.
Step 6: Use washi tape
My washi tape is from various sources, not least of which was Ikea of all places. I trimmed it to get the look of it going behind the ephemera on the right hand side.
Step 7: Use scrapbook paper to create borders of other elements
I cheated slightly – my borders are self-adhesive scrapbook elements: Basic Grey Porcelain element stickers.
Step 8: Add a piece of fabric
I added a fabric tab, sticking and sealing it with matte multi medium, which hopefully will stop it fraying.
Step 9: Add mountains or trees
I added the trio of trees using an Art Impressions stamp for the outline using Wendy Vecchi Leaf Green and Watering Can Archival Inks. Opacity was added with Posca pens, and shading with Faber Castel Pitt Artist Pens.
Step 10: Add black marker or pen
Added detail to the tree and finally added today’s date. C’est fini.