Just a little MORE Summer Inspiration!

Are you tired of me yet?

I only have a few more to share with you, then  promise to leave you alone for a bit!

During my visit with Catie, a large shipment arrived to the shop - all the new Donna Downey Studios newest stencil release, Artistry Series!  Needless to say, I pulled a few to start playing with (yesterdays Iris one also one of them).

I once again pulled out my 6x12" homemade journal (made similar to the Donna Downey Inspiraton Wednesday Journal format ).  I roughly prepped a two page spread including the insert with Black Gesso.

Once it was dry, I pulled out the Cone Flower stencil.  I wanted to try two different paints to see how they would look on the black gesso'd base.  The first one was using Dina Wakley Media Heavy Body Paint in Fuchsia.  I used this on the petals, then used a mix of Elephant and Evergreen (obviously more Elephant) for the 'cone.'  The stem I used DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Interference Green.

The next one, I used everything the same except for the petals in which I used DecoArt (Americana Decor) Chalky Finish Paint in Inheritance (yellow).

Sadly, this is where these are still sitting - thinking I might want to doodle/scribble on them, but really do not want to do too much more on them.  I know they are 'flat' and could use some depth...but I am still working on that part of my painting.  I will get there one day...just not today!

INSERT IMPORTANT INSPIRATION NOTICE:  If you haven't been following along with Donna Downey (Facebook, Blog, Instagram), she had a phenomenal segment called Stencil Mania going on for the full month of August.  She had six designers/artists each do a set number of videos using certain stencils from this new release (there were 17 new stencils released in July).  Head over to her Blog or YouTube channel for all the inspiration and sharing!

This next was one I was attempting to actually do using prompts from one of the Weekend Junkets (#16 I believe).

I used my moleskine/canson sketchbook journal and prepped the page with a good coat of white gesso.  I took out a sheet of Kaisercraft printed paper from the Base Coat Series, this one was called Redwood. As I started tearing the sheet I got an idea of using the Tim Holtz Layering Stencil Woodgrain (THS023).

I decided to use some Super Heavy Gesso as I had an idea that I thought would be really cool...

I moved the stencil around the two page spread, overlapping where I could and trying to leave the center open where the torn paper would eventually go.

I adhered the paper down using gel medium, being sure to leave the torn edges exposed where I could.  Is it just me or does the paper not look like bacon?

K, now this is where the page goes a tad south....

I sprayed a mix of Stencil1 Ink Sprays and Lindy's.  I used mostly Stencil1 as they are way more potent and maintain their colors much better when dry.  

Can you say...blood bath?! Ugh, Ick, Yuck...take your pick!

Super Heavy Gesso to the rescue!

I made sure I put on a good coat, but also scraped along the previous stencil markings in hope to get more texture. 

Now I thought I might try an Ombre look, so out came the Heavy Body Acrylics.  Using my palette knife, I scraped on layer roughly of Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic in Cadium Yellow Medium Hue.  Had to let it dry an hour or so at this point. 

Next came Dina Wakley's Heavy Body in Cheddar.  I repeated the same step as above.

Finally came the last color, DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic in Burnt Umber.  I did not have a heavy body, so I simply mixed the fluid acrylic with some heavy gel medium.  Again, applied using my palette knife.

As usual, I am not happy with it, so a coat of Golden Absorbent Ground has since been applied to this page.  Beginning to sound like a bad habit isn't it?! More staining to come on this one!

Time for some fun! This next one was totally inspired by Denise Alloca's video from Donna's Stencil Mania.  I had some serious fun with it!

As usual, I pulled out my Dina Wakley Media Heavy Body Paints (simply my FAVORITE when printmaking).  As you can see I used a variety of 'pinks' (which seems to becoming a 'bad' habit of mine), Fucshia, Balckverry Violet and Magenta.  Spread it out using my brayer on the gelli plate.

First I laid out the Iris stencil then simply laid a sheet of white cardstock over top and burnished it with me hand.  If are not concerned with getting paint from your brayer (if you haven't cleaned it of in other words), you can use it...

I find I can often get two and even sometimes three images off one application of Dina paints on my gelli plate.  In this case, I just did two as I wanted the postive and negative image.  To get the negative, pull off the stencil then put a fresh sheet down, burnish.  Peel it back and look at your masterpiece!

Now I thought I might try something a bit different and use a single color and layer it onto an already printed image.  This is where it tends to get tricky as you need to somewhat line up the image and the stencil.  I did not want a perfect image, so having it offset was perfect.

Now I wanted to go even a step further, let's try a different stencil (or two)!  I chose to use Dina's Gilt (Gold) paint this time and Love LOve LOVE how it came about.

additional stencils used: Create Truth and Scribble Script, 

You can see in this photo how I sometimes only used PART of the stencil.  Masked off sections for certain transfers.  It was a blast as you can see.

That's it for today!  Don't forget tomorrow is the next round of  Weekend Junket!

More Summer Inspiration (hope you brought coffee & a snack)!

Remember a blog post back in July that told you where I get my inspiration?  Well this was an afternoon of fun playing with homemade collagraphs! 

What are collagraphs you ask? Well, basically they are homemade short-term use printing plates!  The idea came from Dina Wakley in one of her videos from Artist Network. She uses Ranger Shipping Tags (you decide on the size you want to work on).

I made four this day, did some free hand cutting, used my punches and simple adhered them using a glue stick.

I pulled out some of my new release Dina Wakley Heavy Body Paints and started plastering them onto a tag.  Once I was happy with the application, I laid a sheet of cardstock on top and brayered it  just like it was on a Gelli Plate.

I even repeated it a few times so I was able to cover the entire sheet.  Now I will use this in a future journal page whether as a whole or cut, punched or torn up!

I did the same on the other tags I created.

These are very easy to create and the possibilities are endless in my opinion.  We all have cardstock kicking around, heck you could probably even do it some of your old scrapbooking papers! Why not?!

Worth the try as I am sure you all the the items shown if not, check out the shop via the links provided.

Here is yet another cover up project.  This is a canvas I was attempted to 'blend' my acrylic paints with acrylic inks...ya, didn't do what I thought it would.  So cover it up I did!  I used Prima's Heavy White Gesso - this stuff is da bomb! Really love the coverage I got.  I applied it using my handy Stampendous Metal Palette Knife. 

Once it was dried fully (over night), I pulled out one of my Stencil Girl Stencils (Carolyn Dube Wall of Words L318) and put Light Modeling Paste through it. I wanted the entire canvas covered, so I had to strategically move it around and layer it over top of each other to achieve this.  But must say, very happy with it! So again needed to let this dry fully before going onto the next step. 

I pulled out some Hazel & Ruby Tissue Paper - Quote Collage (believe it is a discontinued item, sorry). I torn it up and layered it across the upper center of the canvas using gel medium.

Once this step was fully dry, I pulled out another Stencil Girl Stencil (Carolyn Dube Wall to Live by L209) and this time, used some Super Heavy Matte Gel being sure to stay on the tissue paper part of the canvas. 

The idea is, once it was dry, I would see the tissue paper print under the gel as it will dry clear.

Once it was fully dry (over night), I scrubbed a layer of White Gesso over the center of the canvas, only making sure the center was covered and not necessarily the previous modeling pasted words.

Once it was dry (enough-ish), I started added some Dina Wakley Heavy Body Paints in Magenta, Blackberry Violet and Fuchsia with a dry brush (Dina Wakley Media 1" Flat Brush) 

Now I wanted to blend the edges, so I used the same colors but this time added glazing liquid to each as I worked them all together. 

I let it sit for about 2 minutes, then I started to scrub across the center so I could see the tissue paper underneath.

Not sure if I really liked it at this point, but kinda went with it and thought I might need something more...

Used my Fineline filled with Black fluid acrylic and airbrush medium...nope, didn't like it.

spritzed it with water....nope didn't like it.

Started to scrub it off yet again using baby wipes.

This is where it stands for now - not really sure what I think about it.  Love the textures, just not in love with the finished result.  Pretty sure this too will continue on to yet another transformation!  Time will tell...

This next series is from when I had a girlfriend come up and keep me company while my hubby was away for a week. Most of these you may have seen a peek of over on my Facebook page.  Here are more details of each project...

I apologize now as it will be photo heavy!!

Started off with scrapping on a thin layer of gesso using an old gift card.  Then took a piece of an old sewing pattern (tissue) and slapped it down with gel medium.

Once it was dry, I doodled on random circles using my Uniball Signo Pen - Black (which is my fave by far). Then I used an oversized stencil and traced out the word Inspired.

Next, I pulled out my Prima Water Based Oil Pastels and colored the page! Yes, really, that easy!  I blended using my wet fingers. 

added a few doodles and scribbles again using my Uniball Signo pen. I think this page took me a whole 35 minutes start to finish! Sweet right?  Took inspiration from a post on Prima's blog.

This next one...ya - hot mess! Catie had brought her KRINK's for me to play with.  Along with the stink and the crazy long drying time... I didn't get far! 

They have some serious drip-age without adding anything to them.  Just take forever to dry enough to actually do anything with them in a journal!  Guess that is why they were made for street taggers! 

After three days, I finally ended up covering it with gesso and that is where it stays for now!

This next one I thought would be a fun experiment.  I used a Dyan Reavely Dylusions Stencil  (Circles 9x12") and put DecoArt Media Crackle Paste trough it and allowed it to dry! 

Once it was fully dry - I started applying Dina Wakley Heavy Body Paints in Lemon & Sky 

Then softened it up wiping off some with baby wipes. Then added more colors (not shown) in Lime and Magenta

Next came a Stencil Girl Stencil (Traci Bautista Circles Circles L301) and applied black gesso through it.

This is a stamp from Dyan Reaveley called Write Between the Lines (DYR34544) 

I simply started stamping and doodling across this two page spread.  Used bubble wrap, stickers Katie had brought (I added and inked some more), and just let go.  Here it is now...

 Next came me making some of my own labels!  These are a matte finish that measure about 3.5x6" My apologies as I forgot to take pictures along the way! I used my DecoArt Chalk Finish Acrylic Paints and a boat load of stencils! Stencil Girl Stencils (by Rae Missigman), Tim Holtz, Donna Downey and Christie Tomlinson stencils too.

Next we pulled out the Yupo and Alcohol Inks.

What happens when you are tired, and add too much rubbing alcohol (or maybe is this scents they emit)! You see a sloth! 

I then added India Ink with a brayer and then started rubbing it off through a stencil. 

Not happy, that's okay, just rub it all off or in my case...layer on some more India Ink! If you look close, you can see the textures under the India Ink.

I pulled out one of the new Donna Downey Stencils - Iris to see what I could create.

Rubbed off the ink using a baby wipe.  Love how it pulls so much of the alcohol ink off too...gives it almost a watercolor look.

Now I started to go a bit crazy, but boy it was sure fun!  I added paint using a textured roller from American Crafts I picked up when I was in the states this past spring.

Used the same stencil, and offset it a tad and rubbed off the paint.

now I pulled out some Donna Downey stencils - Mini Number Repeat and Mini Alpha Rerun and again rubbed off some areas (some harder than others).

If I wasn't happy with an area, I would simply roll on some paint or ink and then proceed to rub off again through a stencil.  I even tried using the textured roller with rubbing alcohol and rolling it along the page to see what would happen (pretty cool, I know)!

Here I wasn't happy with how grungy it looked, so I rolled by brayer through some alcohol ink and went over the entire page. Then wiped off some making sure not scrub too hard as I wanted the color to still stain the piece. 

I then added more black paint through a variety of stencils.

This is how it stands now - I ended up adding some white through stencils too.  Like it, but now sure if it is done...or ever will be! 

Once last journal page for the weeks visit!

This one I did in my Moleskine journal (8x11.5") - missed taking photos again (sorry), but the page started off with using dictionary papers.  I then added layers of Dina Wakley paints using the dry brush effect.  I then added a few layers of colors through some Stencil Girls Stencils (Traci Bautista Flower Party L306).  You can see I have once again stayed in my go to Dina Wakley paint palette colors - Magenta, Sky, Lime and Yellow (there might be some Turquoise and Tangerine added in there too)!

I added a few punched circles of dictionary paper along the way and of course a couple more of Katie's stickers. I once again pulled out the Donna Downey and Tim Holtz stencils to add more layers.

I free hand cut some dictionary pages into the scalloped edge that is so popular. I also pulled out my coveted Christie Tomlinson stencil.

You can see I added a lot of everything to this spread.  There are layers and layers of stencils, paints, stickers, doodles and whatever else I thought to put on it!  It was a great page and love how it turned out.  Here is a sampling of the finished page.

Well, I think that is enough for today!  Hope you were able to stick with me to the end of this post!

You never know...I might be back with even more tomorrow!!

Note:  I have added links to many of the products available at the site, simple click on and it will take you directly there.  You can always start a Wish List and then process once you are ready.