Art journaling for Scrap Matrix

Good morning lovely creatives

I'm here today to show you a couple of Art Journaling pages created for Scrap Matrix and their current challenge.

I LOVE this month's topic......

I'm a bit of a house fan, they are just too cute.

And what better way to pass the time during this isolation time then to create with colour!!

Let's start with this one....

Totally inspired by the fabulous Jen Hall at Painty Hands.

She has been doing regular live creating classes and she is also all about colour so I've been playing along wherever possible.

I encourage you to check her out!

The quote reads:

"In the rush to return to normal use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth returning to."

Here's the products that I used to create with:

I began with my Dina Wakley Art Journal and added white gesso.

I then dug out some papers I created during a Gel Print Session.

I tore up a few into random pieces.

You could use scraps for this or collage paper.

I adhered with Gel Medium.

I then went to town with my awesome NEW Dylusions paints!!!'
I used the following colours - 'Crushed Grape', 'Sour Appletini', 'Strawberry Dacquiri', 'Tropical Sangria', 'Lemon Drop', 'Vibrant Turquoise'.
GORGEOUSSSS!!!!

I just love the new packaging and size and some of the colours are just so bright.

They make my heart sing.

Once all covered I added some 'Snowflake'  PaperArtsy paint and then added Dylusions Crushed Grape over the top and then using a dot stencil like this one, I rubbed a baby wipe through to remove some of the paint.

Next I added some washi tape - just a few torn strips here and there

Ok next step is to stamp randomly in the background.

Paper Artsy mini stamps are just perfect for this.

No need to use an acrylic block, you want the stamping to be a bit messy.

Now time to make some marks with paints. I again used the Dylusions NEW paints, I used the same colours as earlier and just went to town making marks and patterns.

Once this is complete, it's time to sketch a picture over this page with a pencil.

I went with the house theme and added some trees and clouds.

I love this part, and got so engrossed that I forgot to take a photo.

I mixed Dina Wakley 'Night' paint and Dylusions 'After Midnight' paint and then painted around my drawn shapes.

This fills in the background and leaves all that glorious colour as the shapes.

I feel this technique really suits this theme this month as so much of what we do outside of the home is cancelled, and home has become our safe space, our haven.

The world outside of home does feel a little bleak and dark at the moment.

Now it's time to add a few details around the edges of the shapes.

I used a white posca pen and a black pen to add windows, doors etc.

I also added in some flowers by adding dots of paint.

Finally a few flicks of white paint finish it off.

Oh whoops, don't forget to add in your quote.

I simply wrote it out onto paper and then cut it into sections and adhered it with Gel Medium.

I'm definitely going to reassess and make some changes to our lives when things return to normal.
What an opportunity we have to reset, reflect and re-prioritise.

Don't you just love those gorgeous colours against the deep blue background.
Stunning!!

Ok, are you ready for another Art Journal page??
I can't just stop there, especially when its about houses.

So this one, definitely inspired by that incredible moodboard.....

Aaaah all those houses and all that colour.
My heart. My heart.

So let's take a look...
Begin with gesso.
This time I used my smaller Dylusions Art Journal.

I recently ordered in the gorgeous Carabelle house stamps by Kate Crane called 'Our Street'.
I stamped them onto smooth bazzill cardstock and then cut them out.
I then coloured them in Art by Marlene Watercolours.

I cut them out and then using the stamp, I stamped them into my art journal.
Note these are just a guide - I will eventually cover these up with the ones I cut out.
So the face that they didn't stamp perfectly does not matter.

I then hand drew some houses behind these images.
Ok time to add colour.
I wanted this page extra bright so I grabbed my Neon paint by DecoArt in 'Electric Blue' and painted the skyline. The neons are just beautiful but they are very transparent so I mixed a little 'Ocean' by Dina Wakley as these are nice and thick.
Once dry I added 'Knockout Blue' by DecoArt and whilst wet I rubbed a baby wipe through a dotty stencil to remove some of the paint.

I then began to paint in the houses.
For these I used the NEW Dylusions paints as some of the new colours are so bright.
I used  'Crushed Grape', 'Sour Appletini', 'Strawberry Dacquiri', 'Tropical Sangria', 'Lemon Drop', 'Vibrant Turquoise'.

I then decided I needed some clouds.
Seth Apter's mini stamp by Paper Artsy was sitting on my desk and I knew immediately I could turn it into a cloud so I added some Dina Wakley 'Turquoise' paint to the smooth cardstock by PaperArtsy.

I then stamped it on and cut it out to resemble a cloud.

I then outlined my houses with paint pens and finally added all my stamped images using Gel Medium.
I added a few details to the windows, roofs and doors.

That step pulled it all together.

The final step was to add in the quote.
It reads:
"We will NOT go back to normal. Normal never was.
Our pre-Corona existence was not normal, 
Other than that we normalised greed, inequity, exhaustion, depletion, extraction, disconnection and hate.
We should not long to return.
We are being given the opportunity to stitch a new garment.
One that fits all humanity and nature."

I love it.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
I'm so excited to see all your entries this month.
Hopefully there's houses galore!

Here's that moodboard if you need more inspiration.....

See you over at Scrap Matrix Shares!

Stay safe
Tam
xx

Creating for Scrap Matrix.....

Hello there creatives!

I've popped in today to share my second creation for the 'Citrus Challenge' over at Scrap Matrix.

A play with some BRAND new Scrap Matrix products!!

Here's a few close ups.....

Ok let's go through the steps....

I recently got an order and was busting to try them out.

I had ordered some PaperArtsy Stamps including the new PaperArtsy mini Stamps - a couple by our beloved Tracy Scott, and a Seth Apter one....

I teamed them with my current fave PaperArtsy stencil.

Let's break into these beauties.....

I added white gesso to the page - I applied it with the NEW silicone brush. Oh yes, that gives a lovely smooth finish. No brush strokes. Genius!

I applied some greens for the background, and a touch of yellow - I used PaperArtsy Paint in 'Slimed', 'Aqua Duck Egg', 'Weathered Copper' and 'Banana'.

I then added 'South Pacific' and lots of water and allowed it to run down my page.

Just love those drips.

I then rubbed some of the paint away with a wet baby wipe through a TCW stencil called 'Deco Leaves'

Once dry, I actually used a dry baby wipe to rub some of the paint through the stencil and add colour back in. 

This layering adds depth and interest.

I then added some more paint using the colour 'Lawn' and the PaperArtsy stencil.

Now let's add some stamping.

I used Tracy Scott 57,  Tracy Scott 63 and Seth Apter 50 to create a background. 

There's others too which I look forward to ordering. You can find them here.

I love them!!! I can see they will be making a regular appearance in my creative projects.

I focused the stamping towards the top of the page.

It's important to include some white space in your project, so the finished result is not too busy and confusing to the eye.

Now I decided to add in a touch of that deep grapefruit colour from the moodboard.

For this I used Dina Wakley's 'Eggplant'.

I watered it down, brushed it on and then wiped it off with a wet baby wipe through that TCW Stencil 'Deco Leaves' again.

By watering it down, it doesn't take over the page, but instead adds another layer and a pop of colour.

So whilst this dries, it's time to stamp and fussy cut.

Using that gorgeous 'Smooth' PaperArtsy cardstock, I stamped out some of the images from the PaperArtsy stamp EKC30.

I then coloured them in using my 'Art by Marlene' watercolours.

I love that this paper stamps so beautifully, but also allows you to add wet mediums without warping the paper at all!

Amazing!

Now's the part I don't like...fussy cutting!!

Ugh

I also cut out some butterflies from a 7Dots paper.

Now time to adhere using 'Matte Gel'

I also used this to adhere a quote from the Dina Wakley Collage Words

The final step was to add in some white.

This just ties in the white around the fussy cutting, so I added some splatters and also a bit of stenciling and doodling.

There we have it.

I hope you  have a go this month at our challenge.

Here's a reminder of it....

I hope you are finding some time to get arty and creative during this strange time.

Colourful hugs to you 

xxx

Creating with Tam

Hi creative souls

I'm here today to share my first lot of creations for our current challenge over at Scrap Matrix.

Challenge.....yes definitely a challenge for me this time.

Let's take a look and then I'll explain further....

Another creation inspired by the current pandemic.

This month I struggled - I'm not sure if it's to do with the current situation, or if it's the colours - I don't create with red and orange very often, but hey I guess that's the whole idea....
a challenge!!

Here's the inspiration:

Ok, so I lined up some Paper Artsy Paints to go with the colours.
I selected 'Red Lipstick', 'Smoked Paprika', 'Zesty Zing' and 'Green Patina'.

I was stumped, so I began by going back to an old fave style.

Just paint striped rainbow colours! Lol

I add water and let some of the colour run and blend.

Now it kind of looked like a sunset, which gave me the idea of adding a city scene.
I adore houses, in fact I've just ordered some NEW stamps with houses and can't wait for them to arrive.

So I used the following stencils -  'TCW 6x6" Floating City' and 'City Buildings'.
Vicki is out of this one right now but look at this one HERE.  (Oooh let me think - how can I justify another?!?)
I added paint through them using a dry baby wipe.
I firstly used a touch of Dina Wakley 'Fuchsia', and then 'black'.
This gives the illusion of depth.

I applied the same technique around the edges using the 7 Dots Dreamscapes stencil.
Now add flicks of black paint.

And lastly,  the journalling.

The journalling reads:
"When this is over, may we never again take for granted....
A handshake with a stranger, full shelves at the shops, conversations with neighbours, a crowded theatre, Friday night out, a routine check-up, a stadium roaring, coffee with a friend, a meeting and life itself.
When this ends, may we find that we have become more like the people we wanted to be, we were called to be, we hoped to be. And may we stay that way, better for each other. Because of the worst."

So I decided to have another play....

I began with the same colours as above, but added a touch of  'Aqua' by Dina Wakley.

Just spread the 'Zesty Zing', 'Green Patina' and 'Aqua' out randomly, 

Then with a wet baby wipe, rub through the 'Botanical Dream' 12x12 stencil by TCW.

Using the 'Floral Statement' 6x6" TCW stencil and a dry baby wipe, I then rubbed the 'Smoked Paprika' and 'Red Lipstick' through so that some of the flowers and details came through.

I then added some Dina Wakley 'Fuschia' using a dry baby wipe.
I really wanted to use that circular shape in the challenge pic so I added this colour to a Foamie shape called 'Ring Fling' and stamped it randomly.
I added white paint to the Foamie 'Leaf Vine' and added that in random spots.

I added a bit more stencil work using 'Dreamscapes 7dots' and TCW 'Deco Leaves'.
I then grabbed a black pen and a white pen, and added doodling.
Flowers, leaves etc.

This part is very relaxing!!

You can see a bit more of the stencil detail in this pic.

There you have it, a wildflower garden.

I can't wait to see what you create for this one.

Much love

xx