Live Life in Color

The prompt this week in the Documented Life Project - The Journal is The Color Wheel. 

I was away last weekend and this week I've been a bit tired so I haven't been in my studio. I spent the time thinking about how I might do this page. I thought about using old wagon wheels in different colors. Then I thought about tires in color. Next I researched quotes about color.  This is way more thinking than I usually do for a journal page.  LOL.  

After all that.... when I sat at my table what came to me was.... Use those yummy Derwent Inktense Blocks... So many pretty colors. I bought these last September.  Amazon had a fantastic deal...$53.87.. now they are $101.99 which is still $100 off of retail.  I really like Derwent Inktense products. I also have the Inktense pencils.  

What I like about them is that they are very vibrant and can be moved around with water. When they dry they become permanent which is my number one requirement for my art journal.  My watercolor friends laugh because my first question is "Is that color waterproof?"

So after all that thought, I went with scribbling circles of color all over my page. I spread the color with a baby wipe.  I let it dry and then added more color because I wanted it very vibrant.  

Next I used Emerald Archival Ink to stamp a Just For Fun crackle stamp background.  I've had the stamp at least 15 years.  It is one of my favorites.  I also stamped the dragonfly with definition in Monarch Orange Archival Ink by Ranger. I can't remember who made that stamp.  I have a collection of winged critter stamps.  The side view butterfly is another from my collection. It's unmounted and I don't know who made it either.  The tiny dragonflies are from The Angel Company.  All of these stamps have been in my stash for a very long time. I realize now it would have been helpful if I'd kept the names of all the companies who made them.  When I bought them, it never occurred to me that I would one day be writing a blog or art journaling.  

I have been practicing the splatter technique and I'm finding practice does help. I like how these turned out. They were made with watered gesso and a round brush that tapped on my finger.

The quote at the top is a packing tape/laser copy transfer. (sorry the photo's are missing on the link but the directions are there). I found the quote on Brainyquote.  I composed the quote at the bottom. It's also printed with a laser printer and colored with Yellow Inktense. 

The butterfly is a Sizzix die cut from a Gelli print. He is outlined with a silver Oil based Sharpie Paint Pen.

I really don't like it when I'm so tried that I don't get to the studio. Creating this page energized me. Color usually does that for me.
Link: Documented Life Project - The Journal, Art Journal Every Day, Paint Party Friday, Inspiration Avenue, Mix It Monthly Challenge

Derwent Inktense Blocks,  The Color Wheel, Just For Fun, Brainyquote, Sizzix die cut, Gelli print, Ranger

      

Napkins Make Quick Journal Page

Journal 52's prompt this week was Sparkle and Shine. I thought those berries were perfect for that idea.

I really like working with napkins in my art journal. I could never paint a bird as pretty as this one.  I love that I can take a paper napkin and collage it into a really nice page.

When working with napkins the first  thing I do is separate the layers. Most napkins are 2 or 3 ply. The top layer is the only one with a design on it.  If I don't separate the top layer from the others when I begin to glue, the top layer will peel off leaving just the white layers on my page.

Jean Parker taught me a neat treat for separating the layers.  Put a small piece of masking tape on one corner on the back side.  It will hold the white layer so you can peel the other layer off.... It works like a dream.

If you want to cut out an element from your napkin the easiest way to do that is to glue that element to a piece of paper. The paper gives the napkin enough stiffness that it's easy to trim.  

I used glitter glue on the berries and the bird's tail to give it a little shine.

Link to:  Journal 52, Art Journal Every Day