For this page in my vintage ledger journal I used acrylic paint in the background, kind of like a wash. Then I layered in my Manhattan and Versailles stencils that I had been using for a different project with spray paint, and just printed them on top of the page to give a negative image. I also added in a voting sticker.
As for the quote, I am not sure if it is a true Abe Lincoln one but it is attributed to him: “I’m a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring the real facts, and beer.”
“Come Visit” – and then some journaling reminiscing about how little I knew a while ago how much I love to say those words. I miss my friends in Germany and further away. Two little words – so much weight.
The “come visit” were a leftover from an old letter that I had used as collage material and the two words were in different sentences on top of each other and it was like a sign (wwahhhahaa – insert glorious music and sunshine here ;) ).
The background was stamped with my Mini Motifs and Fan-fare rubber stamps. Then I added a piece of deli paper on which I had “cleaned” a stencil that had spray-paint on it from an earlier page, creating a nice textured print of the Versailles stencil. I adhered it over the background with liquid matte medium and then sketched the lady on top.
I actually liked her better in pencil but was afraid it might not be visible enough so I added some color with acrylic paints. I am not too happy with that, as I did not think about how the acrylic paint would be taken by the glossy side of the deli paper. Oh well, it is what it is and a good reminder to think ahead sometimes. Or… just go with it… I can revisit this another time ;)
The Last Straw – There is a difference between giving up and knowing when you had enough.
This goes for many areas of life of course and sometimes you just have to declare you had enough. In this case I declared ENOUGH regarding a painting I had on the easel for a while. I just didn’t like it and it was sitting on the easel and once in a while I would do something to it and it would get worse. Funny enough, one day I looked at it and thought “you gotta go, I had enough.”
So I cut the house part out of the painting (unfinished but for me not worth the effort anymore) and thought, hey, that could be a part of an art journal spread. I mounted the canvas piece onto the background where I had used some acrylic paint and overlaid my Versailles stencil with black spray paint.
Now the page can remind me what not to do …and cutting apart the canvas actually speaks more to me than it did when it was a butchered painting.
All to say, there are a lot of things we artists usually do not show but I thought you would like to see ;)
“And though she be but little, she is fierce.” – Shakespeare
I used two gel prints that I pasted into the art journal for this spread – done years apart but I felt they would work together because of the similarities of color. On this side I used my Versailles stencil for the print, then layered my figure with markers on deli paper over top.
I added some of the colors to the other side to tie it together as well and I picked up the circles and used them all over too – I stamped the circles with white Moonlight ink pad and my Circle Jumble stamps.
Hello from my Creative Squad! Today we are continuing with our Mail Art month and today we have a wonderful project (love her envelope!!!) from Emilie Murphy using my #keepyouposted rubber stamps. This month’s theme is: Mail Art – During these times of social distancing, old fashioned mail is a fun way to keep in touch and lift someone’s spirits. Create some mail art, and then actually send it off! Address it, put a stamp on it, and put it in the mailbox. You will make someone’s day :)
Hi there! Hope you are doing well.
What can I say except that I’m totally fond of Nathalie’s new stamps set called #keepyouposted. Art mail is my favorite theme. I just love to make cards and send them to family and friends.
I decided to stay “classic” and chose a blue and red color palette for the whole project, card and envelope.
Starting with the card, I made a super easy 5×5 inches squared one.
I embossed with white embossing powder a 3 ¼ x 3 ¼ inches piece of vellum using the “you’re got mail”, “sent with love” and “#savetheusps” stamps.
I stamped “You are my NO. 1 priority” with Crimson Red ink pad inside the “blank postage” stamp and colored it with an alcohol marker as well as the “LOVE” stamp.
I cut a 4 ½ x 4 ½ inches piece of gelli print that I had made for a previous project with Nathalie’s Versailles 9×12 stencil.
To assemble the card, I first glued down the embossed vellum piece on the gelli print piece. I applied some double-sided tape only in the center of the vellum. This way, the glue is hidden by the “postage” and “love” images glued on top. I attached a brad at the four corners of the vellum. That’s a cute and practical way for not having the glue or tape showed off through the vellum. To finish, I glued the whole piece on my 5×5 inches base.
About the envelope, I made my own 5×7 one with a piece of 12×12 white cardstock. I used an envelope tool (because I have one) but it is easy to use a template from a purchased envelope. I started to trace with a graphite pencil some straight and diagonal lines spaced by ¼ of inch to get a classic “mail postal” border. Then, I stamped several time the “blank postage” stamp using the technique of masking.
I made a frame template to be able to stamp inside the postage stamp space.
I colored the border with a blue and red stabilo pencils and the postage stamps made with some alcohol markers.
For the back of the envelope, I simply stamped the “sent with love” and “you’re got mail” along the edges.
At the end, I outlined the border lines with a black micron pen. I like the look of it. And Voila!
This is a simple card/envelope project to make just for the pleasure of stamping and coloring. I really enjoyed playing with this new stamps set. Once again, the possibilities are endless, only imagination is the limit.
Have a good rest of the week and see you in December!
Thank you Emilie! What a fantastic way to layer up the stamps to create something really special!
Give it a try: you can find all my Rubber Stamps and Stencils in my Online Shop and here are some of the other supplies Emilie used:
Feel inspired? Working on something yourself that you’d like to share? I love to see how you interpret our monthly themes. Email me how you used my stencils and stamps with the theme and email me an image – I would love to share your projects in my next “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.
It’s Halloween… Are you wearing your mask? Not just your spooky costume mask, but also that PPE? I hope so – as we know it is one of the most important things we can all do to help stop the spread of the virus. It’s been on my mind a lot lately, so I took it to my art journal.
I started my background with some new soft pastels that I have been playing with lately (link below for those), mixed with fluid matte medium. Then I used my Versailles stencil with blue water based spray paint. To highlight the design more, I added a Posca marker outline and my Fan-fare rubber stamps.
I sketched the skeleton lady with acrylic ink on deli paper and also added in my You are my No. 1 Priority stamp from the #keepyouposted set because that is the whole point right? I am wearing my mask to help protect everyone around me :)
Ready for some inspiration? Today we have some projects from around the globe. It’s always fun to see how you’re using my stamps and stencils and I am so happy to share some examples today. So let me know if you’re doing something cool with my products, tag me on social media, and you might see yours on the next Inspiration from Around the Globe!
First we have Addi Mahajan from India using my Versailles stencil as a background in her vibrant art journal page.
Linda Edkins Wyatt from the US is using my Broadway foam stamp on this index card composition for a bold focal point.
And here is Karen D’Angelo from the US using my Amsterdam stencil for some unifying all-over pattern.
And Marsha Valk, a Creative Squad alumni from the Netherlands, and a funky blue bangle bracelet she decorated using my Batik stencil.
And finally, my friend Liz from Germany who made a card with my Lady Liberty stamp. Love it!
If you’re working on something fun with my stamps or stencils, be sure to tag me and share! I’d love to see! You can find all my stencils, rubber stamps, and foam stamps in my Online Shop. Here are some of the supplies used in this post:
Ready for some inspiration? Today we have some projects from around the globe. It’s always fun to see how you’re using my stamps and stencils and I am so happy to share some examples today. So let me know if you’re doing something cool with my products, and you might see yours on the next Inspiration from Around the Globe!
First from the US we have a gorgeous little book for Earth Day by Tina Walker (who was a member of our Creative Squad and you can check out some of her other projects HERE). On this page she is using my Versailles stencil for the background.
Here she uses my Toledo stencil as a background pattern for another page.
Next is an art journal spread from Mary Thoma in the US also. I love this portrait and the use of my Batik Pattern 4 foam stamp for the bold background and that little chain border is my Chain Link rubber stamp from the Embroidery set. What a beautiful page!
Loving all these patterns from Kate Crane in the UK! She’s using my Marks stamp set for those red and black xxx marks and hash marks.
Here is a beautiful page from Ellen Captijn from the Netherlands, inspired by this year’s Creative JumpStart online workshop. Be sure to visit her Instagram page to see the full art journal spread. I love how she’s incorporated by Buenos Aires Border foam stamp along the bottom in blue and my Valley Road foam stamps along the right side.
And finally we have an “oldie but a goodie” from Louise Nelson in Australia. She reposted this layout from 2013 so we thought we’d give it some love too :) That awesome texture in the background is none other than my Crackle stencil – one of my first stencil designs and always a fan favorite after all these years! Thank you Louise!
Thank you to all the talented artists! If you’d like to give some of these ideas a try, here are the stamps and stencils that they used:
Don’t forget to tag me when you post your projects! I’d love to include your work in my next Inspiration From Around the Globe post!
“Make sure you marry someone who laughs at the same things you do” J.D. Salinger.
Agreed :) and that is one of my favorite things about my marriage- my husband and I can laugh at the same silly things together which probably have other’s just roll their eyes.
I used the Versailles Stencil oversprayed with different acrylic spray paint colors on the top.
For the bottom part I used the Toledo Foam Stamp stamped with some acrylic paint. and then journaled on top.
I used a catalogue image and painted over it with acrylic paints and markers. The faces are a bit …ahem- scary- LOL- but hey…another thing I can laugh about and I am sure my hubs would too ;)
Here are some of the supplies I used in this spread- some links are affiliate links:
P.S. I cannot believe my wonderful friend Birgit Koopsen from the Netherlands is coming already next Thursday and we cannot wait for our workshops at The InkPad there are still a couple seats left – check it out when you are in the area and join us!!!!
Love love love Ellen’s page and the way she used your supplies for the border!
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