Black Magic Journal Pages...

 Working on my Discovery Journal with Roni of Ink Stains here are some photos of the "Black Magic" technique.  This post is photo heavy as I needed to show different stages.  These are my acrylic blocks for use with clear stamps.  I only own a 1" square and two 1" x 3" pieces.  However my stamp for this technique is larger than these.  Maybe 4" x 6" and I went shopping only to discover I cannot afford an acrylic block to fit.  Our little town does not offer 40% off coupons and I will not be "down the hill" any time soon.

This is a clear stamp set I won from Roni several months ago.  I just knew I wanted to use these in my page.  Hmmm...what could I use to hold the stamp? Part of the allure of Roni's class is the idea of using what we have and not rushing out to buy the latest and greatest whatever.

Aha!  I have an old 5" x 7" acrylic table frame and thought it might work as it even has a handle to hold while postitioning the stamp.  Lets see...

 Here is my clear stamp stuck to the frame.  I have also inked it with white acrylic paint for this technique.

 Positioned on the black paper. Pressed it down and...

Perfect stamped image.  I love the white acrylic stamped on the black paper.  This looks like damask fabric.

 Now to use my colored pencils.  I love colored pencils and have lots of them.  These are just my basic ones.

Here is the fun of the stamped image.  By using white acrylic paint you can now color over it with pencils or lots of other mediums which you will read about over at Roni's blog.

 Here is the one I colored.

Here is the stamped image without the coloring. 
My pages are not done.  I didn't have full size black paper as mine were all cut into half sheets.  Hmmm???  Use what I have.  I still have to mount these and include my two lists...(l) What I am good at, (2) What I'd like to learn.  This was an interesting challenge to write out the lists. 
I love the Black Magic technique and definitely will be doing this again.  I can see cards made with this technique. 
Once again thank you Roni for helping me to explore and learn new art techniques.  My colored pencils are so very happy to get used and not just sit there looking pretty. 
Are you working on your very own Discovery Journal? 
Our weather has changed and we are expecting rain.  The clouds are moving in and I for one am looking forward to rain.  We haven't had any in many months and it would be so nice for some refreshing moisture.  Our Fall colors are really beginning to show their early stages. 
Wonderful Week to all...

Art Journal Class...

I have never been very artsy with the traditional painting themed supplies.  I don't draw.  I don't paint.  I don't consider myself an artist in the truest sense of the word.  I do however love to try all mediums and I always hope something miraculous will come from my hands. 
Along comes Miss Roni of Ink Stains.  I have blogged about her before but this time she is my teacher.   Roni is actually giving tons of lessons for making an art journal.  We have no idea what we will be doing or what supplies we will be using.  This is part of the fun for me.  I have lots of supplies, especially since I won Roni's grand giveaway.  This will be the perfect opportunity for me to use these art mediums I own.  I have always thought that if I purchase and own something I will automatically become adept/skilled...like the time I bought a brand new piano and paid for it for years.  Did I ever really learn to play that piano?  No.  Same for lots of other things through the years.  Osmosis just does not work with me.  :o)

Usually I save everything.  Never opening or using just in case I need it later.  Well...I opened and inked and brushed and spread and used my supplies.  I followed Roni's technique and had a great time.  This photo above is my initial template but I had so much fun that I ended up inking it and trying different looks. 

I haven't journaled on my pages yet but this one is my how to sampler.  The embossing, the white rubbing and the inking that results in "faux rubbing".  This is really super fun and even I didn't mind making a bit of a mess...not too much mind you as I am known as Miss Prissy my entire life.  Get my hands dirty?  Ewww!

This page will be my art journal cover.  I absolutely love how it turned out.  I may add something more however not so far.  It has an ethereal look and feel and yet it was so easy to make. 
Thank you Roni for offering your expertise and sharing with us.  I am looking forward to our next lesson. 
I will be using individual sheets of papers so that I may put them into a 3-ring binder.  That will allow me to utilize lots of sizes and thicknesses and not be limited by any one type of pre-purchased journal.   I have been collecting (all my life I have been collecting!) some pertinent ephemera for this journal too as I want it to reflect me and my likes and dislikes. 
After all this is MY ART JOURNAL...

Making more cards to mail...

In my quest to honor April and Letter Writing Month I am mailing a lot of cards to a lot of people. So to keep the post office and my wallet a little happy I am trying to make my cards flatter and lighter yet still have interest and dimension. This batch of four should qualify. I have used vintage french floral wrapping paper. The feel of this paper is exquisite. To give dimension I am using some of my packing tape transfers as accents on the cards. I hope the recipients enjoy receiving these.

Then I was gathering the recycling the other day and there was a wonderful cosmetic box but it had writing and logo printed all over it which looked very tacky. So, I cut the box apart and glued some vintage gardening pages to each side. Then I shaped and punched a hole and stamped on the backside of the tag/bookmark. A little piece of ribbon and it is looking much better.

I like to think of these as finished now. I applied a packing tape transfer to the front side and did some more stamping with a subtle gold and silver floral motif. I think these will make a very fine bookmark or placeholder for someone. This was very easy and fun and saved our landfill. I have already prepared more of these for embellishing and gifting.

It only takes time and thought and not a lot of money if you use what you have to create something useful.

Enjoy your middle of the week and Happy creating...

Promise kept...

So in my creative quest to make art and have fun and follow through I have finally inked one of my virgin stamps. I bought it years ago because it spoke to me. I would always set it out on my table but never use it. I don't know why but that is what would happen.

So as you can see, I inked my stamp and set it to paper, tissue and more paper. I embossed it, colored it and glittered it. Once I began there was no stopping me. I counted 44 pairs of shoes when I ran out of time.

What a simple little pair of shoes these are. What a powerful message they have. I call these Mary Jane shoes. I love them so much that I realized I was actually wearing a pair of my favorite black Mary Jane shoes while I was stamping.

So now I have used my little shoe stamp and what shall I ever do with so many stamped pairs of shoes?!! Well, I do have one little art project in the works and more in my head for the future. Stay tuned to see my current project.

Meanwhile keep creating and don't "save" your art supplies...use them and enjoy them. :o)