My art journal page was designed to go in my on going spiral bound junque journal. To see more of this journal check out my Instagram (link on the side bar) #100daysofkarensart. The fun thing about this project is I can use all kinds of substrates.
One of my favorites is Crescent medium weight Art Board. I used the backside as I wanted to use molding paste so I saved the front side for inks. This board is perfect to hold up to heavier pastes yet The Cinch can easily punch through it for the spiral binding.
I don't know about you but I tend to over do things. I am picturing my friends laughing at this statement as the words come out of my mouth. When I was given the challenge "what a mesh" I had an immediate thought of what mesh I wanted to use. Next came color & ideas, finally theme. As I sat down to create however it became I could use a mesh stencil, with actual mesh & oh look I have chipboard mesh!!! The wonderful places my brain goes! Ok let's go!
Start with a layer of gesso, to give the paste something to grab onto, as the backside of the board is untreated. Once dry, anchor the mesh with a thin layer of molding paste. Let this dry. I usually have multiple projects on the go at one time so I am not waiting on drying paste which can take quite a bit of time. Next layer was through my net stencil with more of the light molding paste. As this board is going in an art journal I use light so it doesn't add physical weight to my piece. I also added some crackle paste just with a spatula in random spots. I am a tad obsessed with crackle right now, love the effect in can bring to a piece. Let dry completely- do not use heat gun.
Time for color! Adding Glimmer Mist & Glaze in blues, purples & green seemed a good place to go. I wish I had taken a pic at this point because my project looked like a hot mess. Mix media tip: just keep adding layers. Almost all my pieces have a case of the uglies at some point. I made a glaze using paint & acrylic glaze- 50/50, covered the whole piece, waited a few minutes & wiped some of it off. This help blend my color together in a cohesive piece but still let the multiple colors show through. Then went in and added back glimmer glam on the crackle spots which most of the color had lifted off. Much better! Once that was dry I dry brushed some metallic paint on the high points. This gives amazing shine to the piece.
Time for embellishments. I didn't take step-outs of these but rather did close ups of how they look on the finished canvas. The seahorse was die cut from corrugated cardboard with the top layer pulled off, gessoed, and painted with glimmer glam. Glitter glass & microbeads were added using decoupage glue. The metal helm looking gear was added using glossy accents. For the cattails, simply add multiple colors of glimmer glaze. Glitter glass was also added with decoupage glue.Once the canvas was assembled all that was needed, more microbeads.
Here is a close up where you can see some of the mesh in the piece & the rusty helm. I debated adding some fishermen netting with some shells & still may try that out to see how it looks. I have to say this is one of my favorite art journal pages & I may have to turn it into a canvas. Thanks again to Frilly & Funkie for letting me be a designer for this challenge. I hope you join in the fun!
Time for embellishments. I didn't take step-outs of these but rather did close ups of how they look on the finished canvas. The seahorse was die cut from corrugated cardboard with the top layer pulled off, gessoed, and painted with glimmer glam. Glitter glass & microbeads were added using decoupage glue. The metal helm looking gear was added using glossy accents. For the cattails, simply add multiple colors of glimmer glaze. Glitter glass was also added with decoupage glue.Once the canvas was assembled all that was needed, more microbeads.
Here is a close up where you can see some of the mesh in the piece & the rusty helm. I debated adding some fishermen netting with some shells & still may try that out to see how it looks. I have to say this is one of my favorite art journal pages & I may have to turn it into a canvas. Thanks again to Frilly & Funkie for letting me be a designer for this challenge. I hope you join in the fun!
Supplies:
Crescent Art Board 5x7
Tattered Angels- Glimmer Glam & Glaze
Southern Ridge Trading Co..- cattail bushes chipboard
Finnabair for Prima- acrylic metallic paint, Mechanicals, microbeads.
DecoArts- crackle paste, Americana acrylic paint
Sizzix -Sand & Sea Die
Netting from fruit package
Hipstamatic & RhonnaDesigns- photo editing
I love this, and the jewel like colours are incredible.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Helen!
DeleteWe are delighted to have you guest designing for us this week over at Frilly and Funkie, Karen. Your art journal page is fantastic. Such beautiful jeweled colors and the texture you achieved is amazing. Thank you for a lovely piece of eye candy for our visitors today.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Linda
Thank you so much Linda!
DeleteCongrats on your guest DT over a Frilly and Funkie. I love this Karen. I especially love the fruit bag mesh that creates such amazing texture in the background. I've been saving my bags as well and just haven't found the right piece(s) for them yet. Gorgeous colors. Love that glaze! -- Mary Elizabeth
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary! I know!! I save those bags all the time & was really happy to finally use them. Glimmer Glam & Glaze are some of my all time favorites!
DeleteKaren, it wonderful to see you as Guest Designer at Frilly and Funkie, and boy, did you rock this theme! I love your creative stroke of genius to use the mesh bag embedded in your paste. Your colors are fabulously delicious and the entire project is lovely! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sara!! It was fun to play along!
DeleteOh dear....this is a fabulous piece of art. I LOVE the colors, the texture and the overall design. How clever to build up the texture using different kind of mesh.
ReplyDeleteYou are considering if you should add netting and shells. It might look great. But honestly your lovely project does'nt need more. But I know how you are feeling and the problem to tell when enough is enough. I guess that you will try to add the items without fixing them with glue........and take your final decision from there....lol
Thank you for sharing your wonderfull work and your mini tutorial.
Hugs from Monica.... Spain
Thank you so much! Yes I probably will see what it looks like as soon as I find my dang fishermen net pkg I bought for another project! Glad you liked the tutorial! Happy crafting.
Delete