Saturday, February 14, 2015

LOVE ROCKS ART JOURNAL PAGES FOR COMPENDIUM OF CURIOSITIES III CHALLENGE

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  I hope that you're having a lovely day and are able to share it with those you love.
It's challenge number 22 over at Linda Ledbetter's Compendium of Curiosities III Challenges.  Our focus is on all things Tim Holtz; his products and his techniques.  This challenge is more of a product challenge although there is a bit of technique in using Tim's Dimensional Cutting Pad.  So turn to page 62 in your Compendium of Curiosities III book and check out it out.  The book does not go into detail about exactly how to load the Dimensional Cutting Pad but the packaging does have illustrations. But ...

In doing this project, I ALMOST royally screwed up my cutting pad and probably would have messed up my Vagabond, too so I feel compelled to say a little something about the cutting process with the Dimensional Cutting Pad. When you are using the pad to die cut your piece, you DO NOT have to use another plastic piece on top of the Dimensional Cutting Pad.  It serves as the top plastic piece to cover the die cut and the cardstock. The packaging shows this but I almost missed that important little tidbit. 

I will also share the steps with you that I did in creating my whimsical Valentine-ish altered art journal pages using Tim's Dimensional Cutting Pad and his adorable new Crazy Birds stamps.  I just got them and have been dying to make something with them.
Here are my finished altered art journal pages.  You can see the three teal-ish hearts that I die cut using Tim's Dimensional Cutting Pad.
I say "altered" art journal pages because they started out as this ... a soft cover paper children's book that was just sitting in a closet and really needing to be given a new life.  So these pages are the first of what will end up being an art journal.
I began by covering the pages first with white Gesso and a brayer. The brayer covered the pages pretty quickly and also left a little bit of texture to the surface.
Since this was going to be a "love" theme, I added just a touch of Victorian Velvet Distress Paint for a romantic touch on top of the wet gesso and worked it in with the brayer.
 I heat set that and then started adding on bits of this and that:  some torn papers (ledger page, dictionary text and egg images), a blue and white patterned napkin and cut out ephemera clock for background images.
All of these elements were glued in place using Matte Multi Medium underneath and then brushed over the pages to seal and hold these pieces in place. (Notice at this point you can still see some of the original page peeking through the gesso and paint? In the end, only little bits of that will remain visible).
I also recently received my new Tim Holtz Stencils and thought that particularly the Lace one would add more romance and fun to these pages.  So, with a palette knife, I mixed up a little of Wendy Vecchi's amazing White Embossing Paste with a little of her Red Geranium Archival Ink refill. 
Then I scraped the tinted Embossing Paste over the Lace Stencil in random places also providing more texture and layers to the pages.
To sort of "meld" everything together, I brushed over everything with a sort of white wash of white paint and water mixture. It softened the vibrant colors and seemed to bring everything into more harmony. And of course, I heat set between each layer. At this point, I laid the pages to the side and began working on my Crazy Birds and some of the other embellishments that I would use on the pages.
I stamped these two adorable little birds onto Specialty Stamping Paper using Jet Black Archival Ink and heat set them.  Then, using Tim's Detailer Water Brush, I colored them in using Peacock Feathers and Victorian Velvet Distress Inks on the bird on the left and Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Ripe Persimmon on the bird on the right. Finally, I "set" the colors by adding Antique Linen using an Ink Blending Tool over the tops of the birds.  I then fussy cut around the birds and set them to the side.
I die cut the hearts from Tim's Mini Hearts set onto a piece of white tissue paper that I had sprayed with some teal-ish spray and heat set. Then I glued that onto a piece of white watercolor paper using Matte Multi Medium and also brushed over the top to seal it. Once that was heat set dry, I followed the instructions for the Dimensional Cutting Pad and cut out the hearts. I love that they are not completely cut out.  Really neat dimension!  In the above photo, you can see the progression of the hearts as I marked around them with a black Stabilo pencil and then using Tim's Detailer Water Brush, created a shadow effect around the heart openings and along the edges of the teal-ish paper. As a final touch, I added a piece of vintage lace around each of the hearts using 1/8" Scor Tape.
Next I die cut two branches out of black cardstock (and reversed one of them) from Tim's Bird Branch die cut. I removed the bird from the branch on the right as that is where my Crazy Birds will be perched.  I glued the branches in place by brushing Matte Multi Medium directly onto the art journal pages, placing the branches and then brushing more Matte Multi Medium over them to glue them in place and seal them.

Next, using Jet Black Archival Ink, I began randomly stamping some heart images from Dina Wakley's Collaged Hearts stamp set. I love her very "artsy" hearts ... perfect for art journaling!  Everything was heat set and then time to start putting all of the embellishments in place on the pages.
I glued the three dimensional hearts onto the art journal pages using Glossy Accents. I love how they add even more depth to the already multi layered pages.
I added some black "sketching lines" around some of the images ... here around the clock.
The Crazy Birds were glued in place on the branch with Glossy Accents and then I added the sketching lines around them. I love the whimsical quality the sketching lines add.
And here are more sketching lines around a wonderful sentiment also from Dina Wakley's Collaged Hearts stamp set. 
With Tim's Detailer Water Brush, I colored in the stamped hearts using a wash of Barn Door and water to give the hearts a little more "pop".  I actually love these finished pages and can't wait to see how the rest of this children's book finishes out.

There is something very FREEING about not having a clue what you are going to make out of something and just start adding gesso and paint and "stuff" and gluing it on with Matte Medium and blending and washing and ending up with a very cool truly mixed media background!!  You should try it and see what I mean!!

Now it's YOUR turn to use Tim's Dimensional Cutting Pad and create something fun to enter our challenge.  If you are chosen as one of our TWO lucky winners, you will receive either a very generous $25.00 gift certificate from ...

http://www.thefunkiejunkie.com/

THE FUNKIE JUNKIE BOUTIQUE! 

(Click on the logo above to be whisked away to Linda Coughlin's fabulous online shop)
On top of that, she is a SUPER NICE person and wouldn't you rather do business with super nice people???

Speaking of super nice people ... our other wonderful prize package is from two of THE NICEST guys with huge hearts; Tim and Mario. They sent so many fabulous Tim products to Linda Ledbetter to divide up and give away during our challenges.  We can't thank them enough for their generosity!

So come join us!  Good luck!




49 comments:

  1. Jus had 5 mins and scanning my blog reader and this jumped out at me! Love it Candy, really fun and fabulous. Nikki xx

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  2. merci pour ce superbe pas à pas détaillé.

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  3. Love your journal pages, Candy!

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  4. It is always so HARD to tell you my favorite things about your art because there are SO many!! Your crazy birds are crazy cute! Those sketched lines you drew around them are so cool, I love that! As always, love your tutorial write up and seeing your process of layering your art journal pages. Those teal hearts are very "Candy", I love that you made them teal. You make me want to go art journal right now!! <3 <3 <3 Happy Valentine's Day!

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  5. Wow Candy, what a work of art and your Crazy Birds look delightful sitting on their branch. Thanks for your ongoing tutorial, it's lovely to see how your pages came together.
    Julie xx

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  6. Love this so much!! You are so motivating and I thank you for that.

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  7. What an amazing page Candy! There are just so many wonderful elements here, but I admit, I am super partial to birds! Your blend of colours is amazing and I love what you did with those pop up hearts! Gorgeous :)

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  8. What a fun journal layout! And thanks for the reminder about not needing the extra clear plate when using the Dimensional Cutting Pad. Love all the layers and agree wholeheartedly that sometimes just letting the playing part take over is so liberating!

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  9. This is beautiful!!! Can't wait to get those birds!!!! When you say 'sketching lines' are you referring to something like doodling free hand or is this a certain technique?

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    1. Hi Caroline. Thanks so much for your comment. In reply to you question, the sketching lines are just doodling free hand lines that I did around the birds, clock, sentiment and so forth. No technique...just a permanent black ink pen with a fairly small tip.

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  10. Your tutorials are always so informative and interesting, I love how you describe everything and I love, love your crazy birds! They are adorable and look fabulous on the tree branch. The hearts do indeed add lots of wonderful dimension to your page. Thanks for the tip on the pad, it's good to know. Mine has been gathering dust for so long now.... Wonderful art Candy, as always! Hugs, Anne xx

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  11. Awwww Candy, what an adorable journal layout, your birdies are just sooooooooooo cute and those hearts are tdf! X

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  12. Oh, I love this page! Those crazy birds are the best. Love the dimension the hearts have and I just love it all. As always, fabulous tutorial of your process that I love to see. Thanks for all the inspiration, Candy!

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  13. What fun journaling pages, love the Crazy Birds... such fun details, the stencil ... OMG, and the hearts with lace... Love it !

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  14. OMGosh...now you make me want to go pull out my art journal! I LOVE this...and the crazy birds...are my...to cute! Fabulous girly!!! Hugs.

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  15. Wow! How do you DO that?! Amazing Transformation!

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  16. Super fun art journal page! Love the colors and the Crazy Birds! Great Job on Challenge 22!

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  17. Your art always enchants me Candy! I love the "something from nothing" creations you constantly amaze us with. The colors and the fun images are a breath of fresh air. Love, love, love!

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  18. I'm enchanted...both with your results and with how you documented your process! Thanks for the tip regarding the top plate...I would have used it (because even though the written instructions give us the exact layers, the photo looks like it has a top plate on it).

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  19. YOU ROCK!!! LOVE those birdies and the hearts...the whole spread is a WOW!!!

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  20. This is so fun! So many elements. You are a an inspiring artist!

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  21. Holy smokes, Candy, I am DYING over this!! You are so freaking talented, girl. I love everything about these pages. So much fun layering and texture to study and ponder over. Amazing!

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  22. Your journaling pages are awesome!!! Love the birds and the way you worked the hearts in.

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  23. Such a great idea to bring new life to an old book! Your art journal is so beautiful! These crazy birds are adorable and make me smile when see them.

    Carpet cleaning Clapham

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  24. What fun art journal pages, Candy!! I love those Crazy Birds!! I don't have Tim's Dimensional Cutting Pad, so I'll be sitting this challenge out, but, looking-drooling at all of the eye-candy that has been created, is getting me thinking Hmmmm...maybe I should have one of those pads!! :) :) I really do like how your hearts pop-up!! :) :) XOXO-Shari

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  25. Oh, Candy, I just LOVE this journal spread! Thanks so much for the great tutorial as you have incorporated so many fabulous techniques into this spread! The way you used the pad to do the hearts for this project is fabulous! Glad you got the bird stamps 0 they are so darling!

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  26. What a fantastic make Candy. Stunning journal pages with many fantastic techniques and an amazing layout.

    Sending best wishes
    Annie x

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  27. Oh, Candy, this is fantastic! Love your sweet birds and I really enjoyed watching your spread come together. You rocked out your journal, girlfriend.

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  28. this is so much fun!! love those crazy birds and the background is fabulous!

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  29. So much fun on this page. So many things I haven't tried. I didn't quite get the crazy birds when I first saw them but seeing them on your page made me love them too. Your sketching lines pulls everything together, Love the details. Love the colors. So inspiring!

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  30. So glad you mentioned to NOT use two cutting pads as I likely would have destroyed my pad AND my Sizzix machine! And the birds... Went right out and bought the stamp set!

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  31. What gorgeous glowing pages - such pretty colours, and beautiful layers to create depth. And your birds are just enchanting! Whimsical, quirky and altogether delightful.
    Alison xx

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  32. What an absolute joy to see so many disparate elements coming together beautifully on one page Candy. Imaginative, fun and downright wonderful! Jenny x

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  33. love this. makes me want to start one of my own. THANKS for sharing,

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  34. Fantastic fun and whimsy Candy. Super to see output from the dimensional dies. Thank-you for a brilliant tutorial as always. Nicola x

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  35. Candy, I can see how much fun you had with this altered project! I love it and those birds are adorable. Great tip with the dimensional cutting pad, which I do not have and now if I do, I will be very careful! I was in Portland over Valentine's Day, so almost missed this! Hugs!

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  36. Candy, I cannot tell you how much fun I had reading through your post! Thank you for your initial warning about the cutting pad; that sounds exactly like something I might do. I've had this pad forever, so I did a little extra research to make sure I understood it. I am loving your journal spread--of course I love birds, but didn't seeing much use for those bird stamps at first. After seeing what you have done with them, I don't think I can pass them up! I really think you have done a great job applying the challenge to your pages, and what creative fun pages they are! Thanks for sharing your amazing step by step! Hugs!

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  37. Thank you for such a detailed post: I just started journaling, so I loved seeing how you progressed! And your sketch lines do add such a finish. I haven't played with my bird stamps yet; but I'm guessing it will be real soon now! Have a great week.

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  38. Love your pages Candy, adore the texture and the colours. Those quirky birds sit beautifully in your design. Love the step by steps and your many techniques. I am hoping to play this time around, I am cutting it fine but I will make it I am determined to join in this time around. Tracy x

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  39. Great pages! So much going on. I loved all the colors and those little birds are just too cute. Enjoyed all the different textures...

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  40. Beautiful Candy! I love all of the layers and how happy and free your project looks. The birds are adorable and the colors are beautiful together. You've created a magical world and have captured a special moment of creation and carefree abandon! Your tutorial makes it look so easy. Thanks!

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  41. These pages are so fabulous and inspirational! I love your detailed tutorials! The texture and colors are awesome! Brilliant!
    Branka x

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  42. I soooo love this. This is awesome!

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  43. Candy - simply awe inspiring use of materials and techniques - thank you!

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  44. Candy, Your journal pages just make me smile. I love the colors and the birds are so at home on your pages. Thanks for describing how you put it all together.

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  45. Awesome journal page with the birds, fun background textures !

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  46. Congratulations on your Blogworthy!, Candy! Well done!

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  47. Wonderful pages Candy - so pleased to see you on the Blogworthy list. xxxx

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  48. haha...I love these birds...they're expressions are great and so is the use of each of these in your project! Love it! thanks for sharing! :)

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