Sunday, August 19, 2012

Mixed Media : Creative Dreams Art Journal Cover


Hello mixed media lovers.  Today I'm sharing the cover of my "Creative Dreams" art journal.  I've shared some of the pages from inside it in the past.   I finally finished the cover.  I'm really into these colors right now.  These are the colors I"m using  to decorate my studio right now and this book is sitting up on one of the shelves.


You can view all my mixed media journal pages HERE.  I have more pages started, just need to finish them up and will share later.

I started by covering the outside of the book with gesso.  The background was created by adding paint (aqua and green) and gesso til I got a distressed look that I liked.  


I LOVE using tissue paper in my art work.  I used some green polka dot tissue paper by Pink Paislee across the bottom.  I used yellow and pink tissue paper but didn't have any orange, so I sprayed white tissue paper.    I cut strips of each color, then rolled them horizontally, and then twisted each strip.  Then I used white glue and wrapped the twisted strips into circles to create the flowers. 



The stems and leaves were hand cut from green patterned paper.    I used a Sketch and Wash pencil to distress / add shading around outside edges of leaves, stems and some of the flowers.   I used a oil pastel crayons by Crayola.  I use the really cheap ones,  from Hobby Lobby, and I have a 24 ct Portfolio set as well.  They run about $10 and I ordered mine online from Amazon.  I used them to add shading to the leaves and on the background around the flowers.  You have to do your doodling (Pilot G-2 07 - Walmart) before using the oil pastels.  

"Creative" - I used a stencil
"Dreams" - rub-ons
"Dream Big"  - hand written, inspired by a doodling online class I took from Stephanie Ackerman


Inside pages
I adhere 4 or more pages together with gesso.  Then gesso all the pages and inside cover front and back.
The gesso is wet so the pages warp a little, but it's an altered journal, and I thing that just gives it character.


Some of the pages peel apart a little using the gesso to adhere them together.  Again, I like that look, so I don't worry about it.  


I have also started another one by altering a calender book.  I will share that one in the future as well.





I want to tell you about a new (looks like it started up in April)  blogozine I found that has lots of Mixed Media / Altered type projects and posts with technique tutorials.  Looks like they are hosting 2 challenges a month.  You can find them by clicking on the RAQ 1 and RAQ 2 tabs along the top of the blog.  And if you like to right "articles", then it looks like they have calls as well.  You can find out more about becoming a contributor to their blogozine HERE.  I love monthly challenges because it gives me lots of time to plan.  I'm off to work on my scrapbook project for RAQ 2 !!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
Melisa


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Fabulous Mixed Media Classes I have taken

Christy Tomlison - She Art 44.95
She Art 2  $44.99
Your Living Canvas $109  (purchased this one, but haven't had time to watch it yet)
Junelle Jacobson - The Art of Wild Abondonment  $44.99
Roben-Marie Smith - Art Journal Conversion $24.99
Stephanie Ackerman - Doodle, Too!  $35
Sue Pelletier - Burlap and Paper Clay $35


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Challenges

4 Crafty Chicks (thur) - circles
Paperplay (thur) - recycle (I used and old book to create my altered journal)
Wags and Whiskars (fri) - favorite color combo (this is my favorite color combo right now.  I'm actually creating an entire shelf of altered items for a shelf in my studio using these colors!)
2 Sisters (sat) -  In the Garden
Unruly Paper Arts (monthly) - Dear Diary (this is the cover of an Altered Joural)
Catered Crop (sun) - distressed ( I used ink, paint, and a Sketch and Wash pencil to achieve my distressed look on the cover of this altered journal / book)

11 comments:

Leanne said...

Thanks for playing our circles challenge at 4 Crafty Chicks! WTG!

Pia S said...

I love your card! Those flowers are so decorative and you've chosen such a great color scheme with lovely vibrant colors!

Linda McClain said...

Holy Cow!!! This is amazing. Thanks for getting us off to a great start at Catered Crop. I love it!

Shelly Schmidt said...

Oh my dear- I so LOVE this beautiful page! The colors are fabulous and I love the rolled flowers! I love Unruly too- it was started by Shar Briss- one of the prior co-owners of the Gingersnaps group- such a fabulous group- they have a Yahoo group too- come join in! I have taken a couple of classes and purchased an Art Journal- one page done......I'll come back and check out your class recommendations- I am taking a couple of Pan Pastel pigment classes- LOVE the pigments in this form- they are so beautiful!

LindaS said...

Gorgeus page. Love it.

kiwimeskreations said...

Stunning cover Melisa - love those flowers :-)
Blessings
Maxine

Tamie said...

Wonderful flowers and design. Loving that you used pearls in the middle. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful inspiration at 4 Crafty Chicks.

Tammy said...

WOW your journal cover is gorgeous Melisa!! I love your flowers and these beautiful colors together! Thanks for joining us at Wags 'n Whiskers!
Tammy x

Anonymous said...

Absolutely stunning! Fresh and bright and brilliant!

Thanks for questing with us at UPA!

Lyndal said...

Gorgeous journal cover Melisa - LOVE the dotty tissue paper and all your gorgeous flowers :)

mylittlecardstudio.blogspot.com said...

Wow, really gorgeous! Fabulous cover and beautiful colors. Thnk you for joining us at 2 Sisters this week. Good luck. Hugs, Jill x

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