Color Theory Class - Lesson 1 - Primary Colors and Impasto

A while back I signed up for Studio Calico's Color Theory Class.  There are 8 lessons all dealing with different color theories.  It's not available at Studio Calico anymore but you may be able to purchase it from Wilna Furstenburg's blog - she is the teacher.  I love her style, she creates and sells beautiful cut files like the ones in this layout and offers other classes as well.

I finally got to play - the 1st class is titled Primay Colors and Impasto.  Impasto is the technique I used to create the Happy title using acrylic paint mixed with a heavy gloss gel. I can't say enough how much I loved making this.  The texture is incredible and it feels kind of like rubber now.  The cut files were part of the class.

Look at this texture!!!  I can't wait to do more of this.

Something else I loved about making this layout was creating the background with an ink pad.  I always rely on patterned paper when scrapbooking and a that's big reason why I wanted to take this class as it focuses on using acrylic paints and inks.  Here is another digital cut from the class that I used the Impasto technique on - you can't see the texture as much in this photo though :)

U Did It!

I can't believe the time has come - my daughter is graduating from high school!!  It seems like yesterday she hopped on the bus for the first time!!

I've had this Stamping Bella stamp 'Diplomabella' for a long time and always imagined making her grad card with it.

Art Journal Reveal - Make the Time to Listen to Your Heartsong.....

Well it's time for another Art Journal Reveal - put on your sunglasses, it's a bright one!!!  I can't believe this is my fifth entry in my Art Journal already.  If you want to see the others you can click on the label Art Journaling Journey at the bottom of my post and it will bring you to all my Art Journal pages.  Tracy and I decided on a Dylusions Background Theme this round.  You can see Tracy's Journal page here.  There were several techniques we could try but I was really looking forward to this one.  This was the perfect opportunity to use this Donna Downey/Unity stamp set - love these sweet flowers especially since I'm seeing May flowers pop up everywhere now :)

Applying this colour was so much fun!!  I generously spritzed the right page with a water mister, applied really good sprays of colour randomly and then spritzed with more water.  I tipped the book to set the colours blend and then closed the left side page over and pressed until the colour was seeping out at the edges.  Oila!!  I was SO impressed :)

** Sidenote - this was my second attempt in my good art journal page.  Yes - I didn't like the first one.  I kinda screwed it up and then I was feeling like I liked my test page better, so I made another one.  This one I was happy with, though I still think I like my test page background the best lol.  I've been thinking I may go back and use my first attempt anyway.  If you saw my test page here you'll see the super cute bird from Tim Holtz's Bird Crazy stamp set.  I really like him and I may go ahead and use him there.  

Next I did some ghosting (misting water through a stencil and lifting out the colour) and then adding some more colour through the stencils.

I was torn between a black border and the gold border.  The black really popped (I tried a bit on my test page using the stencil and a sponge dauber with the black archival ink) but I was so drawn to the gold and I love the texture.  My daughter loved the gold too.  I think because of the yellows and oranges in the background.  And then the stamping........

I'm entering this in the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #12 - May Flowers.

I'd also like to share this at Unity's Friends With Flair this week.  

Stamps:  Donna Downey & Unity's Be Still Watercolor Kit
Ink:  Dylusions Ink Sprays - Squeezed Orange, Lemon Zest & Bubblegum Pink; Ranger Archival Ink; Big Brush Pitt pens, White Gelly Roll pen
Accessories:  Faber Castell Gold Texture Luxe, Dylusions 5 x 8 stencils Diamond Border and Number Jumble

You Wonderful Thing You

So here is the last of my cards I'm sharing this weekend.  This is the other Taylored Expressions image I stamped and coloured while watching TV.  I kinda liked it and maybe I'll use my copics more.

Here you can see Wink of Stella on the feathers and the shimmer of the Pewter Liquid Pearls on the flowers.  

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge 146 - Anything Goes

Simon Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Stamps:  Taylored Expressions You Wonderful Thing

Paper:  My Mind's Eye Stella Rose 'Mabel', PTI Stampers Select Choice White cs

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Accessories:  MFT Pierced Circle Stax die, Wink of Stella Clear, Hero Arts Gems, Pewter Liquid Pearls

Enjoy the Little Things

This is my second post today!!  Go me!!  To see the sneak peek of my art journal pages click here.

I just love how this turned out.  One evening I stamped some images and coloured them with copics for use later.  This is one of the images from Taylored Expressions.  Although it doesn't say it, it is a birthday card for my BF in Minneapolis.  I better get it in the mail too!!

You might be able to see here that I used Clear Wink of Stella on the tiny bees' wings.  I love those coloured pearls and they matched the paper ribbon perfectly!!

I am joining in the following challenges with my card:

Simon Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #146 - Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes

Stamps:  Taylored Expressions The Little Things
Paper:  Basic Grey Hello Luscious, CC Designs Copic Quality cs, Stampin Up Baked Brown Sugar cs
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, copics, Stampin Up Melon Mambo
Accessories:  Taylored Expressions Label Stacklets 2 die; Basic Grey Hello Luscious paper ribbon, Wink of Stella Clear, Hero Arts Pearls and Gems,