ATCs and Mini Art Journals with StencilGirl & Inchie Arts

Hi everyone, welcome to my stop on this week's blog hop with StencilGirl and Inchie Arts! Talk about products that are made to work together...

I got to use black and white sets of 4x4" Art Squares, cream colored ATC Art Squares, and a lovely gray 2"x2" set of Art Squares along with my StencilGirl Stencils. I love that Inchie Arts makes their products from mat board - that makes them perfect for pretty much whatever I wanted to do with them! In fact, they were so much fun to work with that I couldn't stop with just one project. I made two 4x4 art books / mini art journals with the 4" art square sets, and of course I had to make some ATCs!

 Here are the individual projects, starting with the ATCs. If you're looking for the tutorial for the ATCs, that has now been updated and moved to my website.

 

Of course, just making ATCs wasn't enough for today... as I said, I had a few packages of 4" Art Squares in different colors. Since the Art Squares are made out of mat board, they're absolutely perfect for making into books, so I took each set of Art Squares and bound them into mini art journals using single-sheet Coptic binding. Here are the two books that I made - one with black pages, one with white (maybe next time I'll mix them!)

Here you can see what the binding looks like - it's actually very easy to do! I use the tutorial from Boundary Press - I find it very easy to follow.

Here's a close-up of the first cover - I used my Ornamental Petals Screen stencil along with some of the gorgeous new copper texture paste from Art-C as the base layer for the covers. Then I used the Ornamental Petals Mask and stenciled onto black cardstock with copper paint, cut it out, and mounted it on the cover with foam for some dimension. Finally, I had a polymer clay flower thingy that I'd made during my jewelry-making phase a few years ago. I'd tossed it in a bin as a failure, but pulled it out and repainted it and I love it on my cover! Naturally I added Liquid Pearls for my dots, and I tucked in some bits of DicroFibers (Angelina Fibers) for a little extra texture and bling.

Finally, here's a close-up of the second book. I painted the covers, put down a layer of gold crackle paste (leaving a few places where the background shows through,) and then used Archival Inks and some turquoise Luxe paint from Art-C to add extra dimension and interest. I actually stenciled with my Ornamental Compass Screen and black ink after doing the rest; it gives it a softer look and it feels to me like it's more a part of the whole rather than an obvious stencil design on top.

Now I'm just working on filling the pages of these fun little books :)

If you missed it, you can now find the tutorial for the above batch of ATCs on my website, or you can see all of my mixed media tutorials.

You can also still see the links for my day on the original blog hop below:

January 26
StencilGirl Talk
Maria McGuire
Gwen Lafleur <-- tutorial now on my website
Dina Kowal

Comments

[Annie]

Love the ornamental petals stencil and the little books.

[[email protected]]

gorgeous :0

[Patty Bocciarelli]

Just gorgeous!

[Pamela Levingston]

Gosh I love you work. These look just fabulous. Thanks for the link to the binding tutorial. I might have to bind my lifebook this way!

[Mary Beth Shaw]

So luscious!!! These are truly swoon worthy.

[KP]

Oh these are fabulous! Love every single one.

[Cecilia Swatton]

I love these books -- especially the cover with the crackled look! Gorgeous!

[Maria McGuire]

Ha Ha!!! Great minds think alike!!! Absolutely GORGEOUS projects! Those book covers are amazing as are the pages!

[Carole Carlson]

I love what you did with the 4x4 boards. They make a good foundation for your work.

[Kathryn]

What gorgeous depth and colour. Thank you for sharing. I'm inspired to go play now!

[Lori Schoen]

Gorgeous!! Thank you. Lori
[email protected]

[Alisa]

Wonderful! Thanks for the tutorial!
Alisabarott(at) gmail (dot com)

[Beverly]

Wow!

[Frieda Oxenham]

All so beautiful. Like treasure trove.

[Gwen Lafleur]

I know! I was going to come over to your blog and say the same thing... I bet we even used the same Coptic binding type :D And thank you!

[Kathy W]

Beautiful mini art journals!

[Bea Savellano]

I'm always looking for book making ideas. Thank you...b

[Terrie Lutz]

Love these little books of art.

[Cindy in Boise]

Great projects & great stencil designs! Thanks for the chance to win!
seekr8pal (at) yahoo (dot com)

[Denise Spillane]

I so love your style. We're your ears ringing? I was telling my friends about your art just the other day.

[Judy Shea]

Gwen - these are absolutely stunning. I think I have to get your ornamental stencil. Maybe I'll save that for when I win... lol. Thank you.

[Dotti C]

Great job...love all the color...it amazes me how many elements you have managed to use on such small substrates!

[Gwen Lafleur]

haha... so that's what that was! ;) Thanks Denise!

[Marilyn H]

Absolutely gorgeous!
Marilyn

[mjmarmo]

Wow - just amazing! I wish my brain thought like this!

[Sandy kortan]

Great details in your tutorial. the tips are helpful. Looking forward to trying the techniques! Thanks for sharing your ideas.

[Susan Warder]

Oh my goodness these tiny books are precious!!

[Margaret Griffiths]

The book is wonderful, love the cards also

[Tommy McDonell]

I love this but I always always love your work.

[Kathy Adams]

Your ATCs are breathtaking! It is such a unique style and I am truly inspired to try it!

[Tracie]

Beautiful and inspiring as always Gwen!

[A Facebook User]

Your ATCs and small journal covers are just gorgeous. I love the jewel tones (and jewels!). Thanks for sharing your beautiful projects:)

[Wendy W]

What fantastic ideas!!

[Gilda (McStamper)]

Amazing atcs and journal covers. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Catherine Lenoci]

Your projects are all beautiful!

[Lisa Dobry]

Just wondering, is"polymer clay flower thingy" a technical term? Tee hee... love your work Gwen!!!

[Jacklyn Young]

Beautiful collages and texture! shamhat208(at)yahoo(dot)com

[Karen T.]

Another great project.

[Judith]

It's hard to think coherently after having had one's mind blown. Gwen, all of these are wonderful. Thank you for sharing and I know I am going to have to go paint and stencil something right now! weaverclarke (at) gmail (dot com)

[Eva Gronroos]

I really liked the idea with seipa in over turquise...have to try!
Really lovely projects

[Nancy Sapp]

Your Oriental-inspired ATC's are exquisite! You ARE a Master of using bling & embellies! I NEED some ATC's & Inchies to work on!! OMGosh, you just make it look easy & I want to make some pretties like you made!

[annie]

Beautiful layered richly colored work...all on an inch or 4.Amazing! ann_choate(at)yahoo(dot com)

[Carol K]

Awesome! Love the little books. . .

[Linsey]

Wow!! Such stunning and beautiful creations, Gwen!!! Ultra inspiring stuff!!! Thanks so much!!! :)

[Gwen Lafleur]

haha... it was a polite term for what I really wanted to call it :D Thanks Lisa!

[Nan Leiker]

Thanks for posting your beautiful projects. The colors are rich and I truly got the feeling you were going for!

[lilotte]

Your book is gorgeous. I love book binding, thanks for the tutorial.

[Elise]

i love your art and your stencils...I think I have almost every one of them! ha! I especially love the really small stencils...so versatile and easy to travel with!! Thank you!

elisebuskey at yahoo dotcom

[Gwen Lafleur]

Thank you Elise! The little ones are some of my favorites too :D

[Carol Labuski]

Oh my gosh! You blow me away with your creativity! It's amazing! Thanks for sharing and for the chance to win some awesome prizes!