Bloom with Joy

Hi Friends!  It's been a busy day but I wanted to squeeze this post in before the night got completely away from me.  I'm proud to announce I've joined the digital design team at Polkadot Orchard and I'm thrilled to be part of such a talented team.  

I've had a play with Dyan Reaveley Ink Sprays and the Bloom with Joy digital image from Polkadot Orchard to create an Art Journal Page.

To start my page, I sprayed watercolor card with yellow and orange colors, let dry and sprayed white acrylic gloss spray over a Weave patterned stencil.  I did a bit of stamping and added Washi Tape I recently purchased from Love My Tapes on Etsy.  

While allowing the background panel to dry completely, I went to work on the floral image.  I printed on mixed media paper as I wanted to water color the image; the journal page measures 5.75" x 7.75" so I printed the image to fit across the entire bottom of the page.  I loosely watercolored the florals, fussy cut and adhered to the panel.  

The sentiment is included in this digi set and I printed it large so I could trim it into 2 sections, which were adhered flat.  To finish the design, I splattered the entire piece with white acrylic gloss spray and gold watercolor paint. 

Thanks for visiting and I would like to invite you to visit Polkadot Orchard.  There are lots of lovely and adorable designs.  I'm certain you'll find something you love!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

TTCRD

Make My Monday

Use Your Stuff

2 Sisters on a Blog

Crafting Happiness

Happy Little Stampers Watercolor Challenge

A Perfect Time to Craft

Sogando Scrap

Mixed Media Lovers

Crafty Catz

613 Avenue Create

Creative Artiste Mixed Media

Spring Rolls

Hello and Happy Monday!  I hope your weekend was wonderful and you had the opportunity to have some fun.  This weekend I had a chance to play in my Art Journal.  I've created a page featuring some quirky images from Studio Light Art by Marlene. 

I prefer to cut a panel of watercolor card and create the page outside my journal; once complete, I then adhere the panel inside the journal.  The journal pages are thick watercolor paper also and can handle water, paint, etc. but I prefer this way of creating my pages.

To start the background, I adhered a piece of Collage Paper from Art by Marlene.  The paper is blue so I had that much of the background ready to go.  I stamped images, words and did a bit of stenciling with texture paste and brushed watered down pink acrylic paint over the panel.

Washi Tape was added as a place to "ground" the images.  I've added splatters with white and black acrylic paint.  The images were arranged on the panel and picked up with Press and Seal Plastic Wrap.  This is a great way to pick up images once you have them arranged the way you want.

Using Matte Gel Medium, I've adhered the images and went over the entire panel with the gel medium.  I needed the panel to become non-porus so I could do some highlighting with my Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens. 

Once the gel medium was completely dry (it must dry completely or the tips of the markers will be ruined), I highlighted around the images and touched up the colored areas that became a bit subdued with the matte medium.  

Lastly, I've adhered the sentiment strips, which are from the Art by Marlene Sticky Quotes Sticker Pad.  I absolutely love the sentiment and when paired with this Curvy Lady (who resembles me in my swimsuit although I don't have the courage to wear a 2 piece), it puts a huge smile on my face...and that's what Art Journaling is about for me...having fun, experimenting with techniques and letting the creativity flow.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

SSS Mon Challenge Movie:  Barb & Star Go to Vista del Mar

Double Trouble

4 Season Challenge

Hero Arts Stay Crafty

Crafting Happiness

Mixed Media Lovers

Lost Coast Portal to Creativity

All Sorts

Crafter's Cafe