Starting an Art Jornal by Dana Sanchez

 

Art journaling and mixed media are fun because everyone can do it.  No skill level is required.  Supplies are whatever you choose.  No measuring is needed if you don't want to.  Art journaling is your story.  It’s that memoir you always wanted to write.  It’s that list of goals you’d been meaning to make.  It’s favorite quotes.  It’s your story and no one else's.  

I highly recommend the Ranger Dylusions art journal.  I have purchased cheaper blank page journals. However, in my experience, they don't hold up to lots of liquid use and inks bleed through the pages.  I think anyone who buys this journal will love it. My local Craft Warehouse has a lovely stack of them - and they are just so tempting. I'm pretty sure I need to stock up for the next few years.  

For this spread, I sprayed one layer of  Vibrant Turquoise, moved it around with some sprays of water and a baby wipe (also known as an art wipe). Once I let the blue dry, I used the Dylusions Shattered Stencil with a few spritzes of the white color.  I couldn’t just have one color when I want to play with so many colors. Another benefit to these inks visiting their buddies is that they do blend beautifully. I would advise against too much fraternizing between the colors to avoid an over-abundance of dirty dark brown. 

One way to use these sprays is to layer elements on different pieces of paper. I sprayed yellow and pink on a separate piece of paper, dried it, then used Tim Holtz Distress paint with Tim Holtz Hearts stencils. Lastly, I randomly applied the Dylusions Checkered Dots all over the paper.  The Distress paint is slightly thicker to hold the shape of the stencils a little better.  It’s not perfect, but this is play time. This is learning what I like and what works for each piece I create. This is not a test.  This is art.

The yellow and pink make these amazing dawn colors.  Which helped me know what I wanted to make – a sky.

I enjoy mixed media because I get to use different kinds of supplies.  

Trying new things keeps my projects new and interesting to me.  I'm don't feel like I am really great with a paint brush, but I saw the Niiji water brushes and knew there were lots of things I could do with one.  I loaded it with a little of the Pink Bubble Gum Delusions Ink and water and used it to paint my word of the year.  

Have you tried any of the Wink of Stella brushes yet?  They come in different colors, and have this lovely bit sparkle to them.  They are filled with water based ink in a pen complete with a brush on the end.  If you like stamping, these would be so lovely to add a bit of extra sparkle just in areas you wanted.  I played with the pens a bit to get the feel of them. Once I felt comfortable with their application, I used them to highlight my word and a few other things --- it was really hard to put them down.  

I cut clouds out of the peachy dawn papers, and made a bird from a free pinterest download. The next step was creating a trial layout to get an idea where I was going.

Can you see the sparkle in this picture?  These pens are really easy to use.  The ink flows without much effort, and the delicate glide of the brush is sublime.  The pens are much easier to use than I expected. As a bonus, they didn’t pick up too much of the Dylusions which was an initial concern.

I used: GL Red 029, GL Pink 027, Gl White 000, GL Clear 999.  I like the basic black as well, especially for writing but I didn’t think this spread needed it.

I also used a Uniball Signo White pen.  This is The White Pen - the pen on every art journalers must have list.  Opaque,  it glides onto a dry surface and it will write over matte or glossy gel medium or Mod Podge. There are other pens available, however I've only found them online.  Those other pens don’t matter though.  Craft Warehouse has the Signo - and that is all you need.   If you come to Vancouver I can even show you exactly where in the store.  I don’t work at Craft Warehouse, but I like to visit these pens often and invite a couple to come home with me.

My word for  year is Fearless, because I am going to live and create Fearlessly. Do you have a word for 2015? I’m learning to avoid comparing  myself to others and put myself out there.  I am so honored to share my art journal with you here on the Craft Warehouse blog.  You can see more of  my play with these products on at my blog, Dapoppins.com.    That’s my story for 2015.    What is yours? 

Design Team Member Dana Sanchez

Welcome back to our Designer Spotlight where we feature local artists like NW mixed media artist Dana Sanchez! We love Dana's style and her art completely wowed us when we saw it! We knew we wanted her to share some of her knowledge with our customers and are pleased to have her designing for our store! Here is a little bit about what inspires Dana to create...





How long have you been crafting?
 
 As a mom of four and creative person I've been scrapbooking since 1998 when I decided to personalize my son's baby book.  I searched for weeks for post-bound book that I could add my own pages to.  Baby books are filled with questions to answer and pages for specific photos. This felt so confining to me.  I wanted to be able to add my son's story and all the things that were important to me, plus, I didn't want to be confronted with the guilt of leaving spaces empty.  As three more children were added to the mix, they each needed a personalized baby book, by the time I had my daughter,  I'd moved on to the 8 ½ x 11 albums and started working with 12x12 and I had more than enough of a “stash” to start making a family album.



What inspires you to be creative?

There are so many things that inspire me to be creative.  First it was this need to “remember and save” the memories.  I've read articles on how sometimes it is important for mom's to come out from behind the camera,” But I have to say, with four children born one right after the other, their days pass in a blur.  I cherish every photograph I ever took and wish I had taken more -with a better camera.

These days, as I become more comfortable in my creative skin, I find everything inspires me.  My Faith, my family, bright colors, Pinterest, illustration, new technique videos- my ten-year-old daughter is an amazing illustrator. The scraps and comics she just leaves laying around the house often inspire me and I've created a couple of mixed-media canvases with them.

I have to be careful, I see a different style, or something with bright colors, or something wonderfully altered, and I'm just, “Oooh shiny!  I want to make that!”

 What Craft Warehouse products do you love to use?

There are just not a lot of local art resource options and Craft Warehouse is my go-to spot.  I love walking into that store.  They have lovely home decorating displays to explore, (which often inspire the mixed-media craving in me)  but the big draw for me is the scrapbook and Arts section.  Pretty much everything on the left side of our Vancouver store!  Craft Warehouse carries Tim Holtz, Thickers, Pima flowers and Petaloo, Teresa Collins, and We R Memory Keepers to name a few.  I  love the Tim Holtz Ideology line, and I think both boxes of the Tim Holtz tissue papers that I use in my collaged-mixed-media were purchased from Craft Warehouse when I found them on sale. 

Plus, there is a great selection of wood that can be altered for projects.  My absolute favorite surface right now for mixed media and collage is this 12 x 12 that set in a little box frame.  I can't find it anywhere else, it's a locally made product and only Craft Warehouse has it.

How can you encourage others reading this column?

When I started my first scrapbooks and my first mixed media project I kept telling myself that it was for me, and nobody else.  I am the audience I'm making this for me and I'm the only one who needs to be satisfied.  I would encourage others to make art for themselves, as a way to tell and express their own personal story.   Stories are everywhere around us, in our families, our history, in our day.  Knowing where you come from helps you know where you are going. The story is everything.   Even if we don't have time for eloquent journaling or finding the perfect quote, the story is in the photo.  Once you have your story, don't compare yourself to anyone else. It's your personal story!

I am just a home crafter who has never even taken a class because of time restraints and financial reasons . I've learned as I go, and I love learning new things.  Anyone can do this.  Everyone should do this.

Creating with myself as my audience helped build confidence to start creating for others.  When one of my boys took special mini book I had made him to show and tell while simultaneously reading through it so much it became dog eared- It's hard to describe how pleased that made me.  Or when I made my eleven year old laugh with a story/mini-album I had made for him.  Or that time I made my husband cry...

I am more than just someone who plays with paper- I have lot's of stories to tell, share, and give away.  My Grandma always wanted to write a book, my mom says someday she still might write her book, but I have two shelves of albums stuffed with already written stories to share with my family and cherish the rest of my life.

There are so many ways to ease into this paper-love hobby, so many ways it can go, that there is no reason anyone can't do it and feel like they have accomplished something wonderful.

Visit Dana on her blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Flickr, and Pinterest to be even more inspired!

She Created Magic All Around Her Mixed Media Art by Design Team Member Tamara Dinius

She Created Magic All Around Her was painted in honor of the special people that bring joy and magic into our life; the kind of magic that creates life-long memories. It takes a certain person to create these kinds of moments  and this painting celebrates that person.   My hope is that you will look for the magic that lies within you and bring it to life in your painting.  

Heart-to-Heart Chat From Me to You

My art is my art. Your art will be your art. They do not need to look alike, nor should they. I want you to do your thing with this. You can use the colors, stencils, and stamps that you already have. Of course, we can all use a few new items in our craft stash so if you want to experiment with what I am using, then by all means do. Craft Warehouse has a unique selection of Dylusion Ink Sprays in some yummy colors! I will warn you though, once you start using Dylusion Ink  Sprays you will want them all!

Quick Note For Following My Step-by-Step Process

Much to my daughters chagrin, I think a recipe is nothing more than a suggestion. If I am out of tomato sauce then I will substitute ketchup. If it calls for sour cream and I have mayonnaise in the fridge, then  mayo it is. It's either a hit or a miss. I enjoy mixing it up a bit, and who knows, one day I may come up with a killer new recipe. So please use my instructions for this project the way I do a recipe. Experiment, substitute, and just have fun!

This is the right time, the right format, and the right products to begin your journey into mixed media art.

Onward We Go, Let's Get Started!

Step 1

Wet down your substrate (another term for painting surface) with water using a Ranger Mini-Mister. I am using Dylusion's Creative Journal as my substrate but you may want to use watercolor paper, canvas, or something similar.  The next step is to apply your favorite ink sprays, I have used Dylusion Ink Sprays in Vibrant Turquoise and Funky Fuchsia. Once applied, I smoosh (I know this isn't an actual word but it is the only word I can think of that fits the action)my two pages together  by laying one page on the other and rubbing my hands over them. Separate the pages (here you will ooh and ahh because they look so cool) and let them dry. Once completely dry, take a paintbrush (I used a #4 round) dipped in clear water and let drips of water run down your page. The clear water will remove the inks, leaving some really cool drip lines on your substrate.

Step 2

Create some background interest by applying white acrylic using your favorite stencils randomly throughout your painting (I have used Luscious Leaves and Letter Jumble stencils from Dylusions). I have also used Daler Rowney Metallic Brown 721and Violet 450 to add some contrast.

Step 3

I have added  random circles for additional  interest and texture. You can use bubble wrap, stencils, needle punch canvas, and just about anything that creates a pattern.  Stroll the aisle of your local Craft Warehouse, dollar store, or thrift shop to find some really cool items. Apply white acrylic paint to create contrast against the darker background. Please don't get too concerned about the product used in this step, you are just creating background interest. Texture good, striving for perfection bad. Remember, this is about having fun!

The great thing about Dylusion Ink Sprays are that they re-activate with water allowing you to obtain some dynamic movement within your painting. However, there are times when you don't want this to occur. To eliminate the inks from re-activating we need to create a barrier. This can be done by using a spray fixative or applying clear gesso or matte medium over the inks. I have lightly brushed matte medium over the entire painting. Use a light hand or your inks may start to move and cover your drip lines. Allow to dry.

Step 4

 

Use a dye based ink pad (this will eliminate the ink from smearing later) to stamp flowers and leaves on regular typing paper (I have used Dylusion's Fancy Flowers rubber stamp set DYR40941). Using Tim Holtz Distress Ink Minis Kit #1, quickly and haphazardly color the leaves and flowers. Don't cover every inch of the stamped image as we want some highlights to show through. I know it can be hard to leave some white showing, but this will add some interest to your painting. Trust me on this!

Step 5

Cut out your leaves and flowers. Notice they are not precise, we are looking for a random artistic approach at this point. Repeat after me, "Random artistic approach good, symmetrical spacing boring"!

Step 6

This step is optional. I drew a rough sketch of a girl and based her in with Daler Rowney Portrait Pink 573 acrylic paint. I colored her hair with Burnt Umber. I encourage you to be fearless and give this a try. If it doesn't work out, cover her up with a large flower and keep on going.

Step 7

Start gluing down your flowers and leaves.  You can use glue, gel medium, modge-podge, etc. The choice is yours. Remember to think "random" at this point. We don't want wall flowers. Remember your middle school dance? We don't want all the orange flowers lined up against one edge, and all the pink flowers lined up against the other. Add brown to the center of the flowers.

Step 8

Hand lettering! I used to teach calligraphy and yet I struggle with simple hand lettering on my art work. I think it's because I am afraid of ruining a piece by misspelling a word or having goofy spacing. So this is my secret (and millions of other mixed media artists), we write on tissue paper, deli paper, rice paper, vellum paper, etc. and then adhere it to our artwork. Isn't this AWESOME! If I make a mistake lettering I just throw it out and start over.

So grab yourself a pastrami on rye sandwich and keep the deli paper it's wrapped in. Or better yet, check out the Craft Warehouse paper section for some really cool vellum papers.

I typically use waterproof Sharpie markers for my hand lettering  but you will find many other brands work well too. This is where experimenting on different papers using a variety of pens will be important. Once you are happy with your lettering, adhere it to your artwork. Again, experimenting with the different papers and glues is crucial. I find that a less watery adhesive works better on lighter weight paper. I will brush on my adhesive and then use a credit card or room key to smooth out the paper. This works really well for me and seems to eliminate bubbles and wrinkles.

Step 9

We are almost at the finish line. Hydrate and keep up the good work(water, coffee, or  a nice red wine will do the trick)! I used a regular gel writing pen to add cross hatching and outlining to my flowers and leaves . The white highlights have been done using a fine and extra fine white Sharpie marker. The white markers were also used to add highlighting to the lettering. I used some water-downed white acrylic to add the splatters and background markings.Lightly spray your finished product with a clear fixative.

Take a step back and look at what you just created! You can now become a magical moment collector and start spreading magic of your own.

See the companion to this piece, as well as photos of my other artwork using Dylusion's Fancy Flowers rubber stamp set DYR40941 on my blog!
 

Craft Warehouse Design Team Member Tamara Dinius

Meet design team member and local artist, Tamara Dinius. When I saw Tamara's work I just knew she could teach our customers so much mixed media techniques that I couldn't wait to get her started! Tamara just loves to play. A lot of us could use a little free spirited play time! I can't wait for you to see her tutorial tomorrow, but in the meantime, here is what she has to say about her process...

How long have you been crafting?

I have been crafting for over thirty years and cannot imagine my life without having some form of creative expression. My creative endeavors have included macrame', pottery,  life drawing, watercolor, cold plaster, oil painting, fabric painting, sewing, glass painting, pen and ink, and so many other art forms. Although I have enjoyed numerous forms of creative expression, I feel that mixed media art has allowed me the most artistic freedom.

What inspires you to be creative?

To be honest, I find inspiration in just about everything. It could be the shape of a cloud, the color of  my daughters eyes, the way a leaf falls from a tree, or the texture on a wall. Once I am inspired to create a particular subject, I reach for materials that will add color and texture. I am a texture magnet. I truly love how texture can add movement and dimension to my artwork .

What Craft Warehouse products do you love to use?

My favorite Craft Warehouse products are Dylusion Sprays, stencils, rubber stamps, and scrapbook papers. Dylusion Sprays are vibrant and depending on how you use them, you can achieve quite varied results. I like spraying them through a stencil and then going over them with white acrylic paint on a brayer. I also like adding clear water to the dry inks to reactivate them and add drips to my artwork .

The variety of stencils and rubber stamps that Craft Warehouse has in stock is fabulous. I like using products that aren't season-specific in my artwork. I prefer my stencils and stamps to be geometric, script, or flora and fauna. I have found my favorite rubber stamps at Craft Warehouse.
I love the variety of scrapbook papers in the Craft Warehouse stores. I use quite a bit of scrapbook papers in my artwork. I like using music paper, script paper, vellum, and papers with texture. I can typically find exactly what I am looking for in the paper aisle.

How can you encourage others reading this column?

I think the best way to encourage other artisans is to give them permission to play. I think it's important to remind other artisans that we want to learn a process and not be overly concerned about the final project. Each and every person who completes a step-by-step project will have dramatically different results...and that's okay! That's what we want to achieve. We don't want  a carbon copy, if we did, we would just buy the original artwork. What we should be instilling in each other is the freedom to express ourselves in our artwork. Each of us has a different point of view and we should encourage one another in exploring our uniqueness.

The following quote is my reminder to make my own kind of art and stop comparing my artwork to others. "A flowers does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms". source unknown.

Make sure to visit Tamara's blog and etsy shop to see her mixed media work and visit her on Facebook! Be inspired! Then join us tomorrow as she shares a little of her knowledge with a mixed media tutorial!

Craft Warehouse Design Team Member Denise Johnson!

You are going to LOVE Design Team Member, Denise Johnson! She has just the style that our customers love! Denise loves to layer paper and create something special and unique! When she isn't crafting, she is having fun junking at antique faires!







I have been a crafter pretty much my entire life. I made scrapbooks when I was little, making my own glue with flour and water, adhering found objects into a book I hand-crafted from construction paper. I also used to love to make things from discarded items...(today we call it upcycling!!) I remember constructing a "camera" using a small box and a paper towel roll. I rolled up paper inside that would dispense...as I took the "photo" I would draw the image with a pencil. (wish I still had that little creation!).

I am inspired by everyday life, I see things throughout my daily routine that inspire or spark new ideas. Striking color combinations on the laundry soap box, unique design elements or use of fonts on a billboard, even a discarded "good bones" box can ignite that creative fire for me. My handbags and pockets contain scads of little scraps of paper, napkins and gum wrappers scribbled with sketches and reminders. Sometimes I even dream about new designs!

I love Craft Warehouse's paper inventory, truly a paper junkie, I can get lost in the paper aisles for hours!! My favorites are the lines that feature a vintage or retro vibe. I also covet flowers, ribbon and paint supplies...all of which Craft Warehouse supplies en mass!! (Golden Paint is my favorite and I am so happy I can find it locally!!) Exploring Craft Warehouse is always a motivating adventure, a new inspiration awaits around every corner.

I hope to encourage readers through the passion I have as an artist and through the creativity in all of us! In my classes, participants are encouraged to branch out and inject their own personal creativity and design into our projects. I just love to see what everyone comes up with...all with the same supplies..unique and personal interpretations, this is my very favorite part of teaching and sharing.

I thank you for this fun and wonderful opportunity to share, learn and create!!

Make sure to join us tomorrow for a full tutorial and video by Denise to create a one of a kind gift that will knock your socks off! In the meantime, visit her at her blog and Facebook!

Graphic 45 Envelope Mini Book by Design Team Member Keri Sallee

Hello Craft Warehouse Friends!! Keri Sallee here and I am so excited to be here with you today. One of my favorite things to make is mini-albums and when I saw what was in my Craft Warehouse box, I knew exactly what I wanted to make.

In my box was: 

Graphic 45 "By The Sea" Paper Pad

Matching "By the Sea" Chipboard 

 Teresa Collin's Basically Essential Stencil in "Scallop"

OTHER MATERIALS:

* Aleene's Tacky Glue

* Modeling Paste

* Acrylic Paint (Navy Blue)

* Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Walnut Stain) 

* 6 x 9 Manila Clasp Envelopes 

* EK Sucess 3-D Dots 

* Fiskars Scissors 

To make the base of your album, grab your envelopes, glue and scissors. You can make this album with any number of envelopes. For the completed project, I used 4 envelopes (for this sample tutorial I used 3.)

Cut the flap off of one of the envelopes and set that envelope aside. 

Taking the rest of your envelopes, lay them end to end, with the opening pointed towards the left. 

Apply adhesive to the envelope flap on the right and then lay the next envelope on top. Be careful not to cover the flap crease (it will make it difficult to close your album if you do.) Continue this process until you have used all of the envelopes (except for the one you cut the flap from.)

Now grab the trimmed envelope and turn it so that the opening is facing the right. Add adhesive to the envelope flap and adhere your final envelope to the beginning of your string of envelopes. 

Fold your album in an accordion shape. 

For your front, cover your front envelope with the Graphic 45 Seashell paper. To make the scallops on the cover, mix equal parts modeling paste and acrylic paint. Using a small spatula, scrape your mixed through the Teresa Collins Scallop Stencil. (NOTE: This stencil is thin, so if you have a stencil adhesive available it is very handy.)

To complete your album, fussy cut shapes of your choice and add chipboard shapes from the Graphic 45 Chipboard embellishments. I chose to use Tim Holtz Distress ink in Walnut Stain to give it a vintage feel and EK Success 3-D dots to add dimension. 

The envelope pockets allow for TON of extra space for journaling and pictures!

I hope you have enjoyed seeing this project come alive as much as I've enjoyed making it. I can't wait to see how it inspires you!

Until next time friends...remember to make your art intention...not an afterthought.

XOXO,

KERI