I know I haven’t done the Pick A Stick Challenge for a little while but didn’t realise quite how long ago it was… 2015! I’ve decided to try and do at least one ‘me-project’ each month, and this month was the Pick A Stick art journal challenge. For those that have forgotten the format, ten sticks are chosen at random, each with an instruction as to what to put in or a technique to use. The challenge Facebook group can be found here.
The page ended up darker in tone and emotion that I normally do – the quote was inspired by the raven stencil I used. There are many different things that I would call from the poem, but this is perhaps the darkest. As I was writing it onto the page all I could think of was my road with depression, my ‘black dog’.
The steps in detail:
The starting point: a page covered with brushstrokes of excess acrylic paint from other projects.
Stick 1: Use something transparent
For this, I dropped isopropanol alcohol onto the page, waited a moment and then wiped away with a wet wipe. The alcohol softens the acrylic paint and leaves a subtle watermark.
Stick 2: Put a bird on it
Using Pebeo India ink, I stencilled the ravens from That’s Crafty! [tc061].
Stick 3: Add stars
Using the India ink, I stencilled the stars through Dutch Doobadoo ‘Stars’.
Stick 4: Use a roller stamp
I don’t have any of the rolling border stamps, but thought these stamps on a revolving choice list would stand in nicely. Stamped using Ranger Archival Ink Distress Mixed Media Palette.
Stick 5: Make a pocket
This was assembled from a Sizzix/Tim Holtz Alterations die cut ‘Pocket Envelope’ [657843]. The cardstock was an old, old Tim Holtz 8×8″ paper.
Stick 6: Use a paper you don’t like
Well, for this one I used pieces of The Observer newspaper (since I didn’t have a Mail or an Express) and used matte medium to transfer the ink to my background.
Stick 7: Use sparkles
I wasn’t that keen to add too much bling to a dark page so chose to use black Wink of Stella over the ravens and some of the stars. It leaves a subtle shimmer.
Stick 8: Outline with a pencil and smudge
Using a Stabilo all-surface white pencil, I’ve highlighted several of the stars, smudging out with a paper stump.
Stick 9: Add something metallic
I added gold pinheads (3mm) by Mark Richards to the corners.
Stick 10: Use a die cut
A bit of a cheat on this one – I’ve already used a die to cut the pocket… But I did add the ‘raven’ word as well, cut using my Silhouette electronic cutter.
Finishing touches: baker’s twine and vintage photo distress ink to the pocket fastener; text using black Posca pen (PC-1M).