Baby Love—Journaling with Julie 2

My sister, Julie, and I are art journaling each week long-distance. We each have the same project book and each week we work on a lesson on our own and then share the pics. She lives about 9 hours from me so this is the closest we've come to actually doing a class together. It's been fun and I'm having a blast. You can see our first lesson below if you scroll down one post. 

This lesson was to do an image transfer of your picture and then add art media and some words or phrases to it. I suggested we use our baby photos (you'll notice I look ornery and she looks sweet and innocent—don't buy that).

I felt like this lesson wasn't detailed enough in general, because I wasn't clear on the photo transfer process...but it was probably my error. My first attempt was on a page I pre-gessoed and that didn't take. So I did it again and it helped to use a plain page with more tooth.

Here's the start of the process. First, just the photo.

 Then the photo transfer.

Then the first layer of gelatos and black pen.

                                

                                                 

Then the finale after layers of gelato, Pitt brush pen, white acrylics, collage and added words and phrases.

I ended up coloring over some of my face as I worked, so it doesn't really look like the original, but it's not really supposed to be a self-portrait. 

Julie did one of her baby self and I love that it still looks like her. It's adorable. I wonder if that little dress was really pink. 

So far, I'm enjoying this book and the lessons. You can dig a little deeper than we are and do the self-reflection and explore your past and your relationship to art and more. It also has different teachers for some lessons so you get a variety of instruction.

That's it for today...hope you're out there finding some solace and joy in crafting or baking or writing or whatever makes you feel happy. I'm doing all these things and just trying to find the little things to be grateful for—my family safe and sound, the sun shining, the daffodils peeking out, the noisy birds, the texts from my daughter and from friends, the 80s trivia contest my hubby and I had, the fact that my adult son baked muffins with me, my mom in good hands with her caregivers, love. It's all good. Wishing you peace.

Happy Friday!

Chark

 

Watercolor Your World

Hiya! Welcome to the Watercolor Blog Hop hosted by Pretty Pink Posh...love their store!

My watercolor entry uses the Hero Arts White/Cream paper flowers, lots of Tombow marker (in blues, purple and pink) as watercolor, and some Gelato metallics. Fun!

 1. Color on a craft sheet with metallic gelatos. Spritz with water.

  

2. Place your (7 Dots Domestic Goddess) paper facedown on the wet surface and press the paper so it picks up the colors.

 

3. Color with Tombow markers on an acrylic block, spritz with water and lay the Hero Arts paper flowers on top so they pick up the color.

4

4. Adhere everything together after it all dries. Add some bling and your title...and voila!

I added a little gelato to the photo background (of me and my daughter), because I didn't like the wall color and it looked kinda artsy, so I also added flowers to our hair too. I love that the paper already has different images and colors. It adds a lot of depth without a lot of time and effort.

And Yep! I have blog candy! 

1. Leave a comment and 

2. follow my blog 

by Monday, June 8, 2015 at 11:55 PM, PST 

 

and you'll be entered to win your choice of Stencil from a2z Scrapbooking Supplies and some Gold Outline Stickers for your crafting adventures! Open to international blog followers as well!

Giveaway Closed Now--winner: Karen LK!!

Happy Hopping!

Chark

It's A Lotta Fun Or Should I Say It's Gelato Fun?

It's a bonus post today—it's not my regular Monday, Wednesday, Friday post—but that's because I wanted to join in Take the Challenge with Mou over at Faber-Castell's blog. Each month, the very talented Mou issues a challenge and provides inspiration. This month, she gave us this Day of the Dead skull.

Love it! So I tried my best with some gelatos from Faber-Castell...love their smoothness and spreadability (that's a word, right?!). Plus they react with water (see Mou's project above).

Here's my take on the challenge...I used the cutest die cut from Imaginisce and my gelatos in tropical colors.

I used white chipboard from Tim Holtz that had embossed images on the front (that I messed up). I flipped it over and started fresh and just scribbled some color blocks and then added bits around the edges. Then I used my Faber-Castell Stamper's pen in this olive color to color the edges and corners.

Then I made a little candy or gift bag with the piece. The ribbon is just a bunch of bits from years ago (I think the Jack-o-Lantern came from Jo-Ann's $1 ribbon area). The little skull ribbon is soooo old, but adorable, right?

Over at Simon Says Stamp, the weekly challenge is to let "O" inspire you. I used October for mine...I tried to think of something unique, but other than Oprah, I got nothing. So I'm going with October and entering at the Simon Says Monday Challenge!
 

14 days til Halloween! Buy your candy and get your costume ready!
Chark

We're Off To See The Wizard!

I'm joining in with the Faber-Castell's September Take the Challenge with Mou. I love Mou's style and I've learned a lot from her on their blog. All the artists there are fab and really helpful. I love the gelatos and use them whenever I can. This month's challenge is to make something in less than 30 minutes. This little gift box definitely qualifies—it took less than fifteen, even with fussing with the washi.

It started as a kraft jewelry box and I added a gelato sky and clouds, and used gel medium to glue on an Oz die cut from scrapbook.com. I've had it for awhile, as I tend to pick up Oz things when I see them. This needed glued down, but they carry stickers as well from Paper House Productions. I had to go back in and color more sky in spots after gluing. I added some blue gingham washi tape to the box lid edges and called it a day!

I'm planning to use it for a gift, but since I looovvee The Wizard of Oz, I don't know if I can part with it. They look so happy!

Join me in the Challenge with Mou this month and check out the Faber-Castell blog for great inspiration!

Happy Wednesday!
Chark