All this week the creative team for StencilGirl Products has been joining in with Craft Hoarders Anonymous for a fun blog hop using the mixed media supplies we're all hoarding in our stashes. I know I have more than my fair share, so this particular challenge was made for me and I was super excited to join in!
The challenge: show off your inner mixed media diva using spray mists, inks, paints, modeling paste, embossing powder, pastels, chalks, etc... Pull out the "messy stuff" in your stash and get to playing. Um... I think I have some of that stuff! :D
For this particular challenge, I decided to do an art journal page using lots of different supplies and mediums with the Ripples Stencil by Michelle Ward as the main design element of the page. I had an idea of what I wanted to do in my head and decided to just give it a shot and see if it came out. I'll admit... it was touch and go there for a while, but then it started to come together and I kind of love it!
Here's my final art journal page, followed by a little (or not so little!) tutorial on how I did it.
For my "messy stuff," I used stencils, paint, spray ink, light molding paste, modeling cream, Viva Ferro (or tinted coarse molding paste), PanPastels, Silks, Liquid Pearls, gel medium, and ink / stamps / pen to finish it off. Whew! For my journal, I work in a large Dylusions journal.
So let's get started with the process!
Step 1: Crafty mise en place... gather your supplies: paint, stencils, painters tape, and the basic mediums and brushes... I picked two colors of paint and two stencils to use for background work in addition to my main stencil.
Step 2: Lay down 2 colors of paint in the background. I just smeared on a thin coat using a Catalyst Wedge.
Step 3: Use stencils to add some layers to your background. I used the Map Stencil by Mary C. Nasser and Words to Live By by Carolyn Dube. I started by spritzing Dylusions "After Midnight" spray through the Map stencil, and then I pounced white paint through Words to Live By with a stiff bristle brush. (Keep in mind that the paint will pick up the color of the spray beneath it. Kind of a cool effect!)
Step 4: Lay down the main Ripples stencil and isolate the area where you want to put down molding paste with painters tape.
Step 5: Using a palette knife, spread a thin coat of molding paste into the opening. Note again that the molding paste will activate the Dylusions ink underneath and it will tint the paste. In this case I would usually tint my paste with paint before applying, but since I knew it would pick up the other color, I waited - I added the color I wanted on top after it dried.
I repeated this step a few times until I had molding paste in all of the areas I wanted. If you work quickly, you won't need to clean your stencil in between. I did it asap afterwards to make sure I got the gunk off before it dried.
Step 6: Add Silks and Ferro into some of the other open spaces on the stencil. You could also just do all of the areas with molding paste and then paint them later... or leave them all white. For the Ferro, if you don't have this, you can use a coarse molding paste and tint it with paint, Perfect Pearls, Silks, Primary Elements, etc...
I decided to use the orange Ferro as my pop of contrasting color against all the blue... I figured this would be my main focus for the page and highlight the stamped image I wanted to add at the end.
Step 7: Collage patterned paper into the design. I picked a scrap from an old atlas page and traced the area I wanted onto the paper through the stencil just using a pencil. Then I cut out the pieces, applied matte medium to the backs with a brush (holding the pieces in my hand) and then applied them to the page through the stencil (keeping it down for placement.) Once all the pieces are down, pull the stencil back off and go over the tops with more matte medium to seal them. This part is a bit tricky - the matte medium will also activate the Dylusions, but in this case I didn't want the color to spread, so I had to be careful and washed my brush a few times during the process.
Step 8: I took off the stencil and pulled out my PanPastels and a Sofft applicator. I wanted to keep with the blues / greens so I used the Pthalo Blue Tint and carefully applied it over the dried molding paste. I love PanPastels with molding paste... they're like peanut butter and jelly!
At this point I sprayed the page with a workable fixative in order to keep the PanPastels in place.
And here's what the page looked like at this point... kind of a hot mess, huh? But I knew I had another layer coming, so I wasn't too worried... yet! lol.
Step 9: Fill in the remaining open spaces with Viva Modeling Cream... I used silver since it would give a little shine without competing with the rest of the page. You could also just use more molding paste and paint it silver or another color. Or just use Silks or straight paint. I wanted the dimension, though.
Step 10: Starting to look a lot better, but it still needed something to unify the whole page, so I went to my go-to supply... Liquid Pearls! I used Adirondack dimensional paint in Stream, plus Liquid Pearls in Platinum Pearl and Cantaloup.
I outlined the areas I colored with Silks in the blue, then the molding paste area with Pearl, and then I added the cantaloup dots around the silver areas.
Step 11: Add stamping and journaling. I stamped a sentiment from a Tim Holtz set with black Archival Ink and then added journaling with my white UniBall Signo pen (it has to be SUPER dry before you do the writing so you don't ruin the pen.)
Step 12: Finally, (because this truly is a 12-step program,) I sprinkle the dry page with baby powder and then kind of buff it in so that you can't see it. This does a pretty good job of making it so the pages don't stick together which you really need, especially with the Liquid Pearls.
And that's it! A completed journal page full of lots of fun, messy mixed media goodies from my stash.
If' you've made it this far, don't forget to check out the rest of the blog hop! Here's the run-down of today's posts:
I hope you're enjoying this week's blog hop! I can't wait to see what everyone else does for this challenge :D If you participate, come back and link me up! And make sure you visit each of the blog posts on this week's blog hop because...
What would a Blog Hop be without a GIVEAWAY??!!!
StencilGirl Products will be picking FIVE winners this week--one from each day!
Take your time and visit each blog showcased every day this week and leave a comment.
The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to WIN!
One comment per blog please.
You will have until Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59PM Central Time to leave your comments. The winners will be announced on the StencilGirl Facebook on Tuesday, June 24th.
What a wonderful piece! Thanks for sharing your process.
Posted by: Raine | June 18, 2014 at 02:28 AM
Love this stencil!
Posted by: Victoria S | June 18, 2014 at 03:06 AM
Gwen, this is so FABULOUS!!
I'll have to try PanPastels with molding paste...thanks for that tip! And thank you for incorporating my stencil into you amazing project. I love maps and all those layers and textures! Awesome!
Posted by: Mary C. Nasser | June 18, 2014 at 05:19 AM
Gwen- what a fabulous piece! And your layers are just incredible- thanks so much for sharing all of your steps- truly inspiring!
Posted by: Jackie P Neal | June 18, 2014 at 06:20 AM
What an amazing process! And a really glorious page!
Posted by: Linda Gibbons | June 18, 2014 at 06:24 AM
Glad you persevered. Great!
Posted by: elle | June 18, 2014 at 06:43 AM
I would call it circle magic - gorgeous!
Posted by: Ruth L | June 18, 2014 at 07:10 AM
thanks for the tutorial the colours really pop they go so well together
Posted by: ros | June 18, 2014 at 07:27 AM
Thankyou for sharing how you created this wonderful journal page I was fascinated by the whole process and how great it turned out!
Posted by: Ina Good | June 18, 2014 at 08:12 AM
Absolutely love the circles on the page. Great use of Pan Pastels, I always love seeing them in action. Thanks for hopping with us.
Posted by: Christy Butters | June 18, 2014 at 08:42 AM
Stunning!! Love this page and love this stencil!!
Posted by: Michael Trent | June 18, 2014 at 08:59 AM
Thank you for showing me some great ways to use supplies that are new to me (even tho I have them :) )
Posted by: textilerecycler | June 18, 2014 at 09:06 AM
Wow. Love the dimension. Great tip on using baby powder!
Posted by: michelle starke | June 18, 2014 at 09:12 AM
absolutely love your lots of circles layout with so many techniques and textures!!!
Posted by: vinita | June 18, 2014 at 09:22 AM
This is such a fun piece, both to look at as well as create. You did a wonderful job explaining your method. Thanks!
Posted by: Marsha | June 18, 2014 at 09:40 AM
This is amazing! I LOVE that stencil!
Posted by: Tasha F | June 18, 2014 at 09:57 AM
Wow, love the page and all the layers. So glad you are part of this hop!
Posted by: Denise | June 18, 2014 at 10:16 AM
Very impressive page! I like it!
Posted by: Shanti Day | June 18, 2014 at 10:39 AM
You put a lot of thought and a lot of work into this -- and it paid off in a fabulous finished product! So beautiful!
Posted by: Cecilia Swatton | June 18, 2014 at 11:56 AM
What a great page,love the colors and all the mediums you have used.
Thanks for showing how you did this.
Posted by: Hetty | June 18, 2014 at 12:01 PM
Terrific page!! Love the colors. Thanks for the tutorial. Great idea with the baby powder to keep things from sticking. Love learning basic tips like that!!
<3 J
jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com
Posted by: Janis in ID | June 18, 2014 at 12:03 PM
Great page and tutorial. I would have lost patience (and my mind) by step 4. Your build up of layers is fantastic.
Posted by: Susie F | June 18, 2014 at 12:54 PM
Love the circles and such great colors! Thanks for being part of the hop!
Posted by: Glenda | June 18, 2014 at 01:08 PM
You did an amazing job of intertwining the circles.
The colors are bright and the whole page vibrates with energy. Great job.
Posted by: bearsmother | June 18, 2014 at 01:24 PM
What a stunning piece! Admire the colors!
Posted by: Lula | June 18, 2014 at 01:33 PM
this is absolutely amazing, thanks for the tutorial!
Posted by: Amante Del Papel | June 18, 2014 at 01:42 PM
I love the circles - thank you for sharing !!
Posted by: Gill | June 18, 2014 at 01:42 PM
Beautiful work, love the colors and the use of stencils.
Posted by: Glenda Hoagland | June 18, 2014 at 03:03 PM
Absolutely stunning page - and thank you so much for sharing all those process photos - such fun seeing all those layers and textures and colours building up - big wow!
Alison x
Posted by: butterfly | June 18, 2014 at 04:20 PM
Wow...this makes me think of stained glass....I love all the yummy color and texture. Thanks for hopping with us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!
Posted by: kathy/NorthCarolina | June 18, 2014 at 04:32 PM
Awesome page! Love all that color and texture!
Posted by: Rebecca Billard | June 18, 2014 at 05:03 PM
WOW! ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!!!!!!!:D It NEEDS to be FRAMED!!! :D
Posted by: Becky Green | June 18, 2014 at 05:40 PM
Utterly cool!!!
Posted by: Caroline Duncan | June 18, 2014 at 05:49 PM
I am stunned at this. Very gorgeous. I really want to try this. Great pictorial.
Posted by: Heather Thompson | June 18, 2014 at 07:21 PM
Oh my gosh, this looks like so much fun to make! And your piece is spectacular!
Posted by: Beverly | June 18, 2014 at 07:37 PM
Pinned: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/118641771408950201/
Posted by: Beverly | June 18, 2014 at 07:41 PM
Gwen, oh my, just beautiful! Love the colors and the circles, just all the textures you have added. Thanks for hopping along with Craft Hoarders!
Posted by: D Idlet | June 18, 2014 at 08:10 PM
love all the textures you added to your page. the circles look great! Love those STencil Girl stencils.
Posted by: susan schultheis | June 18, 2014 at 08:33 PM
Love this! The circles are mesmerizing and the colors are just perfect!
Posted by: Janice | June 18, 2014 at 09:46 PM
Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Suzanne goding | June 18, 2014 at 10:51 PM
So amazing! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!
Posted by: jwb@asis.com | June 19, 2014 at 11:13 AM
Awesome art journal page! Love seeing the steps as the layers built up!
Posted by: Carolyn Dube | June 19, 2014 at 11:21 AM
Amazing work, love this one! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!
Posted by: jwb@asis.com | June 19, 2014 at 11:36 AM
absolutely love your project. Have a great day
Posted by: yogi | June 19, 2014 at 01:12 PM
Wow! I think I have all of these things except the Ferro. I LOVE the look of molding paste. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Karin Boulanger | June 19, 2014 at 03:56 PM
This is so awesome! I love all the different mixed medias you incorporated. The silver is really pretty with the liquid pearls.
Posted by: Amber Milone | June 19, 2014 at 06:58 PM
Looks great! Everything came together and the words just make it perfect!
Posted by: Kirsten Reed | June 19, 2014 at 10:40 PM
A simple design made complex by the colors you choose. I like that effect.
Posted by: Melody | June 20, 2014 at 01:17 AM
My motto too -- if it doesn't look good yet, add another layer. This turned out beautiful.
Posted by: ShannonWL | June 20, 2014 at 10:05 AM
So many layers, so many steps to the finish line! This is so cool. I love the circles and all the colors! Thanks for being part of the Craft Hoarders Anonymous Blog Hop!
Posted by: Gloria Stengel | June 20, 2014 at 12:02 PM