Closer...

Fun collage and layering today.  I got 2 new stencils so they had to go in my art journal.  I have been after that Balzer Designs Mini tiny circle one for a while. I just love the way it looks. Think there is something about circles and splatters yep, I know, I am hooked on stencils.  

Started off with DecoArt Media Line Gesso on both pages. Then I used the DecoArt Americana Desert Turquoise and the Margarita coloured paints and painted that on with a paint brush, blending together with a bit of Blue Mist here and there. Then it was stencil time and used the Tim Holtz Argyle stencil with the Blue Mist paint and a makeup sponge. I very lightly went over the background on both pages, leaving some spots empty.  I then grabbed the Balzer designs Mini Tiny circle stencil and the Lamp black paint. Just randomly stenciled here and there. Then it was time for a focal point. Some collage today. So I found this great quote in amongst my stash of papers from Kaisercraft and painted some book papers to match my background. I went around all the papers with Tim Holtz distress ink in Tea Dye adding a layer of hessian and a piece of a hexagon die cut, torn into pieces. I used Helmars Tacky craft glue to piece them together let them dry thoroughly and then sewed around the quote and in random places. I then used more Helmars Tacky craft glue and stuck them down in my Moleskine art journal.  To finish off I covered my collage elements with scrap paper and used some watered down Gesso and a fan brush to add white splatters. I always think it ties it all together nicely at the end. Then with my round blending tool and black momento ink I went around the edges of the pages. That's it, all done for another double page spread. I really like the way these colours blend and the way the Argyle stencil in the Blue Mist used both in the background and through the stencil looks so like it is supposed to be there.

I am linking this up with Balzer Designs, Art Journal every day. 

Have a great day 
Sandy :)

Bloom...

Spring has sprung here in Australia and I am loving all the flowers and colour in my garden. So decided to paint some in my Molskine art journal. 

I used the DecoArt Americana paints in Petal pink, Vivid Violet and Wild Orchid in my first layer. Then I used Wisteria with the Andy Skinner stencil Tornado and a make up sponge. I used one side of the stencil and moved it across the page on both sides. Then I drew in my flowers overlapping the petals and painted them in a layer of DecoArt Media line Gesso. Then painted over them in Sea Breeze such a lovely blue they really popped. I did a swish of Primary Yellow in the middle of the flowers over the Gesso then I added more Gesso to blend it in. I doodled flower stems in and went around the flowers in black pen adding stamens to my flowers and filling in bits here and there with my Signo white pen. The stamping was with a tiny set of stamps I have from Studio G. Bloom where you are planted, seemed the perfect quote for this page. Went around the edges of the pages to frame it with my blending tool and the Momento black ink. 

I am popping this in the link over at Balzer Designs and over at 
Mix it Monthly its Mixed media flowers this month. 

Have a great day
Sandy :)

Excuses...

I wanted to practice more faces. So I tried out one with a bit more of an angle to her head. 

I used my Neocolor IIs and my waterbrush in my Moleskine art journal. I added some highlights with some white and skintone acrylic paint to her face.  I only have the 15 pack of Neocolor IIs, so really only the one face tone colour in that pack.  I cut the banners out of book paper and gave them little highlights with the Neocolours.  Used some sequin waste and sponged some Gesso through it in the background and then a little stamping with my France Papillon cube stamp. Added a little doodling with some dangle hearts with pens.  

She woke up one day and threw away all her excuses. Thought that quote kind of suited her, she looks very carefree. 

Going to link this up at Balzer Designs, Art Journal every day. 

Have a great day
Sandy :)

Steampunk Canvas...

Happy Fathers Day to all the Dad's in Australia  and New Zealand. 

For this special day I made my husband a Steampunk inspired canvas. He loves trains, cars, gears and anything mechanical.

I used Lindy's sprays on my canvas to get the sparkle and that great grungy brown background colour.  

To get the copper look on my canvas I used Helmars Tacky craft glue and black card stock. I layered the black card stock in an overlapping pattern and then rubbed DecoArt Gold Rush Metallic Lustre onto the card stock with my finger. Making sure not to cover it all up so I get some black showing through. Then I added brads to all the corners so it looked like rivets. 

For the finished steampunk canvas and more details pop over to the 

Helmar Design Team page.

Have a great day 
Sandy :)

A Beautiful Heart...

It was Friday craft and art morning with my friends and today I did this background page in my Moleskine art journal. 

I cut a heart out of book paper and painted it in DecoArt American Blue mist and Advocado dip. Some Lamp black for the little circles through some sequin waste. Then I grabbed a little top from one of my sprays and did some circles. I used a card for the background and my finger for blending, just using the same colours I used on my heart. I used a bit of the Americana Flesh tone on to start and worked in layers from that neutral colour and then used that same colour on the top layers. 

When I came home I wrote the quote. I have been wanting to use this big quote. I have had it in my little quote book for ages, just waiting for the right page. 

A Beautiful heart can bring 

things into your life that all the

money in the world couldn't obtain. 

By Dau Voire. .

Posting this over at Paint Party Friday 

and over at Art Journal Journey Monthly

Have a great day

Sandy :)

Faithful Friend

Misty my cat has been very interested in what I have been doing the last few days. So it was inevitable that she would inspire a page in my moleskine art journal. 

I always use DecoArt Media Gesso on my pages first it gives it a great base to work on and makes my pages really sturdy. I used a flower stencil and some DecoArt  Modeling paste over the Gesso. I then used the DecoArt misters in Shimmer Turquoise and Yellow and the Primary Magenta over the top of  the flowers.  I went around that with the DecoArt Americana Turquoise Blue with a paint brush and grabbed a small sponge and dabbed in places. I then re sprayed the flowers over the top. I liked the layers it added. I used the side of a card and some Americana Snow white paint to add some lines. Added some water to a little Gesso and added the splatters.  I drew my cat on watercolour paper and painted her in Americana Vivid Violet and more of the Turquoise Blue in patches blending them together. I then cut her out and glued her on the page, shading around her and adding whiskers and more lines for details in black and white pens. I stamped some words around my cat just to add a little detail. Then I grabbed my pen and wrote the quote. I am liking writing my quotes and this one worked out well in the spot on the left there. I enjoyed drawing and painting my pink cat so this will not be the last one of these you see. Maybe a purple one next. 

Have a great day
Sandy :)