art journal

Just finished another art journal page tonight with the class using Farm House Papers.   They are from their new line 302 and I thought that I would share.  I can't remember the name of the papers individually but it was fun cutting, tearing and pasting them on a black gesso page...I know!  Another black gesso page.  Well, I think I am getting over the fear of using black gesso!

 I need to figure out how to gesso between the binder rings without getting it oozed down on the pages before and after.   After priming the page with the black gesso I used a punch and punched out the circles so I could use them as a stencil on this layout.  I then used coarse grit modeling paste and made the polka dots on the page.  Love the different cards, bookmarks, bits and pieces of memorabilia this line has!   Chipboard bits finished it up and I think I like it.  Farm House is an Oklahoma owned company out of Tahlequah, Oklahoma and they create awesome vintage papers.  Don't you just love the blue telephone...princess phone I believe they were called.  In my first apartment I had a phone just like that! 

I think I have something going here...

After I had a chance to get used to the French Country Market journal pages I decided I liked it and I thought I would try to do it again but a little different this time.  Here's what happened!

Steampunk Spells Graphic 45

Viola!!  Black gesso, Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells, and a few stencils gave me an evening of a lot of fun.  I have decided I really do like fussy cutting and collages and it gives me a feeling of accomplishment to turn out something like this.  I have also decided I am going to offer the two journal layouts in classes for my students at the shop because they are fairly easy peasy and maybe it will interest them in journaling!

How was it made?  Black gesso went on first then using some stencils I used white paint and had fun with various stencils.  I let the background dry and then did some therapeutic tearing of some of the larger pieces and glued them down with Glue and Seal (maybe use Mod Podge? certainly a lot cheaper).  Next I fussy cut all the other bits and glued them down.  I added a few embellishments and couldn't find anything else I wanted to add.

I think this will make a great class in September or October for Halloween!  What do you think?

What do you get when...

What do you get when you use black gesso in your art journal?  Well.....I realized I didn't know what I was up to after I painted the page with gesso so I decided I would try this....

I first used a stencil and white paint and made a white on black cursive writing that you  can see behind the various bits.  Unfortunately after the cat jumped up and walked across it parts were smeared so I had to come up with something to cover the most smeared parts!  Yes they are going to have to learn new habits if they are going to be allowed in the room while I am crafting.   
Next I used coarse modeling paste and mixed brown paint in and used a harlequin stencil and made the stencil pattern on the top of the pages.  I decided I needed something other and darker then the harlequin on the bottom so I did the bricks on the lower right I took a break and when I came back I didn't like the black and brick but it was already dry and decided to try something different on the left.  I frosted a layer of the modeling paste on the page let it dry a minute then laid the stencil over the top and put a layer of the lighter modeling paste on top...I like that better!  I don't know how you do it but I always work right page first then move on to the left and it sometimes looks like there is a gigantic learning curve going on between the two!  After all was dry I did some fussy cutting of a couple sheets of Graphic 45 French Country Market paper and glued them down with Glue and Seal (suppose you could use Mod Podge) then added a few embellies and called it done.

I haven't been feeling well or in a really creative mood of late so haven't been doing a lot of anything but I have decided I am going to do something artsy fartsy every day and this is my lot for today.  Hope you like it!

WOYWW #215

Is anyone having problems with keeping track of days since Google took away the Google Reader?  I am not going to say I have that problem but I have definitely having deficits because of it.  :-)  I didn't post last week on WOYWW because of missing the whole Wednesday somehow...I woke up and it was Friday!  How does that happen?  DH was in Austria and DD was busy getting ready for a Medieval reenactment encampment in Pennsylvania and being left on my own time flew past and left me rather dazed.  Outside of a couple meetings I stayed home in comfy clothes...okay night gown and did next to nothing.  I realized about 20 minutes ago I have almost missed this Wednesday also!!  So without further ado....

Welcome to WOYWW #215 on Wednesday afternoon 4:06 pm Okie time!!!  What is WOYWW and why do I keep rambling on about it?  Well Julia will give you the deets if you go to her blog Stamping Ground.  Want to play along?  Take a picture of your desk, write a post and link it on Julia's blog.  Leave me a message if you do so I can go see it!

Here is a picture of my desk last night...I did remember last night but got sidetracked!

 As you can see it doesn't look like much has been going on!  I did get some calendar pages made for my class and some tags for another class if you would like to see them click on the links. 

My desk right now.  Decided to try black gesso in my art journal and see what I can make with it.  I am not promising much but thought I would give it a try with some stencils and molding paste and collage some of the Graphic 45 French Marketplace images on it.  I will post a picture if it works out.

How is my garden growing some have asked about the beds I showed in this post so I thought I would share a couple pictures!   Sorry for the haziness but as Deeyll will attest the weather this July is different then any we have had in recent years.  Last year this time we were in a run of greater then 100f (38c) degree days and no rain and high temperatures that made you miserable.  The reservoirs got 6-8 feet below levels that continued until in February we were 12 feet below.  Then there was a change...lots of rain and cooler temps...I am happy with it.

CORN!  We have already had one meal off the ones in the back and hopefully will be harvesting for the freezer soon.

Tall things are sunflowers...about 10-11 feet tall starting to put on flower heads.  Enough to feed a bunch of our birds around here this next year.  Tomatoes, beans, and as you can see the squash has been taken over by beetles. 

Planter box and hanging baskets on the patio!

Well that's it for me I am off to see if that gesso is dry enough to play with.  I am planning on making it around to every one's desk this week but it may take all week to do so...  Everything is taking me longer to do now days.  Off to make a cup of coffee and see what the first few are up to!