21 Secrets - Tools & Techniques

I am taking part on an online workshop put on by Dirty Footprints Studio trying to challenge myself with doing different techniques.  Some have challenged me and others I just can't seem to get into (yet).  That is the great thing with with (most) online workshops - they offer lifetime access.  Now understand lifetime access means lifetime of the site!  If they shut down the site/business you too lose out on the information - unless, they offer downloadable content. Now having said that, you need to have the space available to do it too.  I have external hard drives for my online courses for that reason.  Makes life so much easier.  Then I can simply go through it as I wish when I wish.

I also like it when they have downloadable PDF's.  As I don't know about you, but I am continually making notes on classes and it is a great help if there is content to relate back too.  I have several presentation binders that I have printed of the course material and info and they are my go to when I am researching info or simply inspiration.  One day I will do a post on that, but for now - let's get to the the class I did recently that was part of the 21 Secrets Tools & Techniques.

Note: as this is a paid for class, I will not go into too much detail as that would be very disrespectful to Dirty Footprints and the instructor.

This class was taught by France Papillon and called Tango with Tengucho.  If you have been part of the scrapbooking/mixed media/art journal world for any length of time, you should have heard of France - she is one talented lady and is oozing with inspiration. She is in Belgium.  The first time I came upon her talent was via the Mixed Media Place and Art from the Heart blogs many many years ago.

Any hoo, be sure to search her out - she will no doubt inspire you as well.

The product she was showcasing was called Tengucho.  Now I don't now about you, but I had to go on a few hours internet search for find out what exactly with even was.  From what I have found (aside that I can't find it here in Canada), was that it is a man made.

Tengucho Paper
For centuries, handmade Tengucho (or Tengujo) was made in Japan out of Kozo fiber and known for its transparency & flexibility in uses. Machine made Tengucho paper have now replaced most Tengucho production, and is especially sought for conservation & repair, collage, and more. 

via Hiromi Paper Inc.

After several hours of searching and trying to see if there was anything 'similar' out there to it, I decided that dry sheets were the closest I could come up with or maybe interfacing.  Is it the same? I simply have no idea, but they look the same! So hey, why not try it out!!  I had found a post on a lady using dryer sheets for something else I thought what was the worst that could happen?  Knowing that I have allergies (and scents being a large one), I washed them again after they had been used.  Yes, even though they are already unscented ones!

I will showcase the two pages I did using this product, but there are many more uses for this product.

I chose to use color my sheets using Lindy's Stamp Gang's Flat Fabios Neon Graffitti.  I sprayed my non stick craft mat with three colors and then then spritzed with water and dropped the sheets onto the mat and mushed away.  I let them dry fully before adhering to my journal.  I did not prep my journal (I used my Canson Spiral Bound Mixed Media Journal) in any way as it was simply going to get adhered down with Matte Medium.  I only did one sheet (9x12).  One thing that I thought was interesting was how the colors really popped once the matte medium was applied and stayed even after it dried.  The texture is very cool.  I went an extra step and put a stencil over top and laid out some Super Heavy Gesso through it. Loved it!

I came up with a very cool idea (or so I thought) as I was laying it down onto the paper.  Wonder what kind of texture I could get it if I was to start with a textured page first!  So I pulled out my homemade 6x12" journal and used Light Modeling Paste through a Dyan Reavely Dylusions Stencil called Flower Medley.  I laid it on both sides as I wanted to try it two different ways. 

Once fully dry, I spritzed it heavily with water then dripped on some of my Daler Rowney Acrylic Inks (Paynes Grey and Flame Orange.

These needed to dry fully before I could go onto next step.  I first wanted to adhere down untreated (colored) over top of this side that was already colored.  Then I wanted to put a colored sheet over top of the plain modeling paste page and simply see what the difference would be. 

I used the same color combo on the sheet to be applied to the opposite page.

I should have had my first clue with how the colors turned out on the sheet.  Very dark and muddy!  I decided to cut up the sheet and adhere it down that way hoping it would show even more texture.

Ya, not so much! No matter how close I get with the camera, you still can't see the 'texture' underneath.  Thinking that I if had stuck to the lighter colors I had used before, I might have had better success.

So not wanting to ruin another page, I decided to simply put a deli sheet down over the pre-color page.  Better, but still not happy with it.  

Really not sure what to do here, so for now...

Lived it , didn't love it, learned from it, moving on from it.

Remember, this was totally my idea, nothing to do with the class!  I find that many classes allow me to expand on their thought and therefore inspire me...sometimes it works, sometimes not so much!

Have a great weekend!

Inspired on a Tuesday....

I will first off apologize for the lack of photo's in this first project, was on such a roll, totally forgot to stop and take photos along the way!

Decided it was time I started playing more with the Prima Finnabair Alchemy Metallique Paints so pulled out some of my favorite colors (Fresh Orange, Pink Blush, Lime Peel, Rich Turquoise and Pure Sunshine). I applied these paints in my homemade 6x12" journal I made earlier this year.  

Once it was dried, I applied a coat of DecoArt Media (Black) Antiquing Cream.

Next, I laid an older Dyan Reaveley Dylusions Stencil  (Flower Medley) over top and started rubbing off the black paint on both sides.

I let it dry fully, and carefully tried to put a layer of Matte Medium over top.  You will see some streaking as the Antiquing Cream never sets until it is sealed (Matte Medium or Varnish).  Understand when you add wetness to a water based product there is always that risk of streaking or bleeding.  I find if you spray lightly, the results are the best - but as we all now, sprays are not always accessible.  Go over light handed with a palette knife works best for me.

Of course I couldn't be done, so I added another layer of black antiquing cream and them pulled out one of my newer Stencil Girl stencils Windswept Tree  and placed it over top and carefully rubbed away the black.

It is a tad too busy here for me, so I pulled out my DecoArt Media Interference Paints and painted the tree branches on the right page with a paint brush and Interference Green.

For now, this is how this one stands.  Not sure if I want to continue with it anymore or simply leave it as is.  That is the awesomeness of Art Journaling now isn't it!!

My next project, was playing with image transfers.  I chose to use the Donna Downey technique in which she simply uses inkjet printed images and Golden Regular Gel (Matte).  I have had 99+% success rate using this format. 

I chose not to gesso my page first knowing that I was simply putting image transfers down.  I went onto the internet and searched for images.  The clock was my favorite by far.  The butterflies are on my Pinterest board via Swirlydoos. The words....wish I knew (or remembered, probably off the internet via a search as well).  The one thing you have to remember doing image transfers with words is to open your saved image via your photo editing program and flip the image so the words will print off backwards.

Here we go....

Honestly, after this I would have easily walked away.  Totally in love with the look.  But of course, how could I possibly leave well enough alone!

Knowing this was going to be a tough one to seal - I did a bunch of research and contacted a few companies for help.  One thing I will say, is if you ever have questions regarding your Golden Artists product, never, and I do mean NEVER, hesitate in contacting them!  The information they provided me with was awesome!  Now, having said that, I did not wait for their response, but am still happy with the results.

I ended up putting a light coat of Liquitex Clear Gesso (as that was all I had on hand), yes, it did work; however, I did have some bleeding but was able to wipe a good part of it away with a baby wipe.  Once it was totally dry, I sprayed the page heavily with water then spritz and dripped Lindy's Stamp Gang Neon Graffiti (Flat Fabios) the sprayed more water over  top to dissipate and spread the colors over the page(s).

This is where I called it done.  I did several layers of the Flat Fabios to get the saturation I wanted.

Thanks for stopping by!

Experiment and Inspiration...all in one!

Hello out there...anyone there?  As usual, I must open up the post with an apology!  I have been absent for way too long.  Although I will say, it was self imposed and much needed!

I have worked really hard over the last year to build up the business and low an behold it work it!  Maybe a bit too much!  I was so burnt out by the end of June I had a hard time focusing on anything...let alone my business!  I working in the shop only because I had to and refused to create (probably because I couldn't - there simply was nothing left in the tank)!

Well, this past week, I have been motoring along have really done some wonderful pages and projects.  Today I will focus on one that took me a few days (due to drying times) and share with you the results.

This spread was inspired by Gayle Price (a design team member over at Mixed Media Place and Creative Team Member over at Finnabair).

Here is Gayle's piece that caught my eye:

Now, I don't know about you, but most of my spreads are definitely inspired by something or someone, sometimes they look similar and other time you shake your head and say "o - kaaay?"

Here goes mine:

Let me start off by saying I find it very similar, but this is my finished spread mainly because  there is so much texture and the idea of putting some collage on it doesn't sit will with me (the texture is totally my own fault)!  I may try doing a stamped image or image printed on tissue paper at a later date.

Here is my process and the hidden experiment!

I started out by attaching a cut up Newprint Bag from the shop to fit the page.  Added some older 7 Gypsies Paper Tape in a pattern that appealed to me.  I used Golden Fluid Matte Medium to adhere it all down.

Next I applied a wash of White Gesso. 

Now comes the experiment!  I thought I would do one side of the spread using Liquitex Light Modeling Paste.  The stencil is (Prima) Finnabair Elementals Harlequin.

And the other using Golden's Coarse Molding Paste!

Can you see the difference?  I can not only see it, but you can actually feel it too!

Here are a couple close ups....

This is the coarse one...can you see the tooth?

Once the first layer was totally dried, I laid over a second stencil - (Prima) Finnabair Elementals Alpha.  I continued using the same pastes on each side as I did in first application.  You really can see the difference can't you!

Now it is time for some sprays!  I decided to use Lindy's Stamp Gang Moon Shadow Mist Mystic Malachite, then topped it with Starburst California Poppy Gold and Mission Bells Brown (these color are from a variety of Little Lindy's). I used my water bottle along with each color for dilution and or movement.  I also tried to dry with my heat tool between each application of color so that they would not become too muted.

Can yo see how the colors have reacted to the two different pastes?  So far I have noticed that the Liquitex is more to my liking for the sprays in this format as I am able to manipulate them more.  The Golden, seems to absorb the color more and therefore making it appear more 'bright' and true in color.

Was thinking it might be a tad to dark, so added some Heidi Swapp Color Shine in White to tone it down and now I really like it.

Now, once again time for yet another layer.  This time some more washi & paper tape and stamps.

This stamp is from an older Wecndy Vecchi set I have and of course the ink colors of choice are Wendy Vecchi's Archival Inks in Tree Branch and Potting Soil.

This stamp is a Tim Holtz one (think it was the reverse script image one) and again, used Wendy Vecchi's Archival Ink in Potting Soil.

Once I allowed it to dry(ish), I started with Faber Castell's Gelatos in Coconut, then moved onto Cotton Candy and finally Cinnamon.  I blended along the way with my finger using just it, or the addition of some water via the spray bottle or dabbing my finger on a baby wipe.  As some points, I actually used the baby wipe to tone down the colors as I felt they were too bright.  I then finished it off by shading with my Black Stabilo All Pencil on the bottom right of each diamond (blended with my finger).

again, there is a real difference with the two pastes while using Gelatos.  The same rules apply.  I was able to blend easily on the Liquitex side (left) and the Golden side, I really had to use more pressure and a lot more water.  You can really see it in the above photo in the white.  There is a lot of Gelato there that needed to be blended.

Thinking there really should be something else on it - like a collage piece, but at this point I am simply going to turn the page.  One never knows, I will probably end up back at it one day! 

Final thoughts....

Liquitex Light Modeling Paste - smoother texture; blends colors easily; colors do not stay as true

Golden Coarse Molding Paste - very rough (coarse) texture; holds the color more, does not blend as easily; colors absorb more and true.

I will try this format again, but will try it using a different color format...perhaps acrylic paints.

Thanks for bearing with me over the summer.  I will do my best to post more often.  I do have several projects to post over the next week, so be sure to some back and check them out.

Loads of new product is arriving almost weekly now as all the new summer releases are being shipped from the manufacturers so be sure to head over the the shop to see all the goodies!

Have a great day....stay creative!