Hi all! Welcome to my stop on our blog hop with StencilGirl and Colourcraft! I was so excited to get to try some new-to-me products with stencils; I was able to just play and experiment and have a lot of fun in the process!
For my project, I used the Brusho starter pack with 12 colors along with Aztec Lustres Craft Paints in Aquarmarine and Dark Blue. I also got to try a very cool medium - EXpandit 3D Expanding Fabric Medium - you can see how I used them all with StencilGirl stencils in the tutorial below, but first... here's the art journal spread that I made:
Ready for that tutorial?
I started with a spread in my handmade journal (my book is 11x11) and the elephant was actually a large patterned diecut that I bound into the book - it was fun to work that into the spread! I coated the pages and the elephant with gesso, then when it was dry I took out some of the turquoise Brusho crystals and sprinkled them on the background. I spritzed with water until it looked like they were dissolved.
There was a good amount of water, which made for a great vehicle to move the ink around the page and get a cool look in the background. I dried that layer, then repeated with purple and dried it again.
I pulled out my Aztec Lustres Craft Paints and used a paper towel to dab them around the page - it added a subtle difference in color and some shimmer.
With that layer dry, I took the EXpandit 3D Expandable Medium and mixed it on my palette with some Leaf Green Brusho crystals and then used a cheap bristle brush to stencil the mixture through my Ornamental Peacock Feathers stencil.
Then while it was still wet, I used my heat tool to do the magical expanding! I have no idea if this was what it was supposed to look like when I was done, but I really liked it - it feels like it's been flocked, and adds such cool texture to the background! (I think a thicker coat of the tinted medium would give you a more solid expanded surface, but I liked it this way.)
Next, I mixed up some orange Brusho crystals and airbrush medium in a glass dropper bottle and dropped tiny puddles around the page. I waited a minute - just until I could see the color underneath start to reactivate and come to the surface, then I used a paper towel to blot it back off. This is a fun reduction technique; it pulled out the blue / purple colors but left a bit of an orange stain, which looks pretty cool!
Next I used some white acrylic paint with my Ornamental Floral Screen stencil and randomly added some pattern to the background. I like white for this since it brightens up the page and unifies everything all at the same time.
With the background pretty much done, I moved on to the elephant inclusion. I used sepia and black Archival Inks to edge it on the outsides...
Then on the inside - when I opened up the diecut, I painted it with aquamarine Aztec Lustres Craft Paint, stenciled "TIME" from the Story Time stencil by Seth Apter and added the rest of the title with small alphabet stamps.
I decided that the title area needed something more, so I used my Art Deco Sunburst Background stencil and sepia ink to add a bit of pattern.
I had originally planned to do my journaling on the background of the spread, but after some trial and error I decided to add it as an outline around the elephant instead which I think worked really well. From there, I pulled my orange Brusho acrylic ink back out and added a few splatters, then let it dry.
To finish up the entire spread, I pulled out my washi tape - I love to use this to add just a little something to the edges of my pages.
I sealed the tape with a coat of matte medium, and voila! Completed art journal spread with fun new techniques and products.
Here you can see either side of the spread when the elephant is folded over:
Just a few close-ups so you can see some of the cool effects I got with the Colourcraft products...
That's it! I hope you enjoyed my project for today. Now, without further ado, it's time for the giveaway!
GIVEAWAY!
One lucky winner will receive both a $25 Gift Certificate to StencilGirl Products AND a $25 Gift Certificate to Colourcraft!
Visit the fabulous designers from both teams and comment for your chance to win! The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to WIN! (One comment per person per blog please.)
You have until Sunday, August 20th at 11:59PM Central Time to leave your comments.
The winner will be announced on StencilGirl's Facebook page and Colourcraft’s Facebook page on Monday, August 21st.
In case you missed it, here's the list of all of the blogs in this week's hop:
August 16
August 17
August 18
- Gwen Lafleur <-- you are here!
- Kiala Givehand
- Susanne Rose
- Kate Dachovska
Wow! That is a most incredible project! Gorgeous colours too
Posted by: Glennis F | August 18, 2017 at 02:11 AM
Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Annie | August 18, 2017 at 02:19 AM
Beautiful journal page
Posted by: Katie Lamb | August 18, 2017 at 02:57 AM
Wow - I love the depth of colour you created on your pages. Wonderful!
Posted by: Teresa Morgan | August 18, 2017 at 03:14 AM
Amazing project
Posted by: Terri Koszler | August 18, 2017 at 04:34 AM
I love this spread, the colours are just gorgeous.
Posted by: Melanie | August 18, 2017 at 04:41 AM
I loved how the look the art deco stencil gave the Elephant. So much character from the pattern and subtleness of color.
Posted by: Sheila Rubino | August 18, 2017 at 04:59 AM
Stunning, as usual your work is mind blowing
Posted by: Glenda Hoagland | August 18, 2017 at 05:40 AM
I love your choice of colors and the elephant is a gorgeous focal point!
Posted by: Renee Zarate | August 18, 2017 at 05:44 AM
What an interesting journal spread - so much color & patterns going on!
Posted by: Cathy Frailey | August 18, 2017 at 05:45 AM
Cfrailey64 (at) gmail (dot) com 😊
Posted by: Cathy Frailey | August 18, 2017 at 05:52 AM
Love this page especially the elephant
Posted by: Zoe B | August 18, 2017 at 06:02 AM
Creating all those layers is the most fun...how many patterns can we add and see all the details of each. Love the look
ej.luyk (at) Yahoo (dot com)
Posted by: Eloise Luyk | August 18, 2017 at 06:19 AM
Wow! So many cool techniques! Beautiful!
Posted by: Laurie | August 18, 2017 at 08:34 AM
Amazing project - love the layering!
Posted by: Allison Church Bird | August 18, 2017 at 08:55 AM
Beautiful! I love the subtle stenciling on the elephant!
Posted by: lynda | August 18, 2017 at 09:12 AM
I love all the products you bravely used! Great imagination… beautiful!
Posted by: Kathy Bernier | August 18, 2017 at 09:34 AM
Wow what a knockout journal page! I love love love tge colors you used and am very imterested in tge crystals you used! Nice job ♡♡♡
Posted by: Christine Slay | August 18, 2017 at 09:59 AM
This is absolutely awesome! xxx
Posted by: Christine Smith | August 18, 2017 at 10:30 AM
I love the elephant inclusion! Great page!
Posted by: Patty | August 18, 2017 at 11:25 AM
I always love what you create!
Posted by: Andrea | August 18, 2017 at 01:27 PM
Love this. The colors are beautiful. Your style is a favorite.
Posted by: Denise Spillane | August 18, 2017 at 01:39 PM
Totally love this spread, Gwen - colors, elephant, texture, everything! Thanks for the inspiration! Janisgraham (at) yahoo (dot com)
Posted by: Janis Graham | August 18, 2017 at 03:30 PM
Wow! Your piece is so fun and Beautiful!!! Every part is so inspiring. Thank you for the tutorial.
Posted by: Amy Martin | August 18, 2017 at 06:50 PM
Really amazing Gwen. Those colors and all the details are astounding.
Posted by: Seth | August 18, 2017 at 06:55 PM
breathtaking!
Posted by: KatheD | August 18, 2017 at 07:01 PM
Just spectacular! Your laying of color is so beautiful!
Posted by: Shelly Hein-Simmons | August 18, 2017 at 09:54 PM
Wow! This is a stunning layout!! I love all the vibrant color and stencil combinations in the background. So muCh amazing texture. Love that elephant!
Kate
Posted by: Kate | August 19, 2017 at 05:17 AM
Gwen that is a fabulous page with lots of new techniques and products. The elephant is beautiful I love that he is inserted into the journal.
Posted by: Susan | August 19, 2017 at 06:56 AM
Another awesome spread Gwen. I'm going to have to get some EXpandit 3D Expandable Medium to play with. Love the idea of flock.
Posted by: Jill McDowell | August 19, 2017 at 07:26 AM
I have a collection of elephants so
I'm always happy to see someone
feature them in their project.
The background is fantastic.
the coloring is so vivid.
Love the pages.
thanks for sharing.
txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Posted by: Mary Holshouser | August 19, 2017 at 12:23 PM
WOW! I have no words. Very, very interesting. I like using a wonderful Brush powder. And the whole concept is new. Great inspiration. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: veverka.Hela | August 19, 2017 at 01:33 PM
very cool!! Thanks
Posted by: helen markee | August 19, 2017 at 08:16 PM
This is fabulous - I love it!
Posted by: Gill | August 20, 2017 at 08:19 AM
Love this project.
Posted by: Ivana Pekova | August 20, 2017 at 09:33 AM
Those are beautiful colors and layering.
Posted by: Resa Joy | August 20, 2017 at 09:53 AM
Such gorgeous colors and love all the layers.
Posted by: Jean marmo | August 20, 2017 at 10:37 AM
Amazingly gorgeous!
Posted by: Linda Tagg | August 20, 2017 at 11:33 AM
Such wonderfully rich colours and layers. I love the elephant in your journal, what a fun idea, and it fits so well with the background and feel.
Posted by: Lucinda | August 20, 2017 at 02:05 PM
So very amazing, Gwen! The color, dimensions, details...everything!
Posted by: Mary C. Nasser | August 20, 2017 at 05:44 PM
Beautiful colors on your journal pages!
Posted by: Denise Bryant | August 20, 2017 at 09:42 PM
Such a gorgeous spread! I want to get my Brushos out and give them a try! Amanda (at) meadowdance (dot) org
Posted by: Amanda Walden | August 20, 2017 at 09:45 PM
Wow!
Posted by: Ann-Marie | August 20, 2017 at 11:10 PM
Fabulous elephant inspiration! Thanks for shraing!
Posted by: Michelle Logan | August 21, 2017 at 10:23 PM