Kindness Unto All Creatures | Art Journal

[Challenge win: Top-5 at More Mixed Media challenge]

Ah, time for a good ol’ art journal page! After my trials with mixed media tags and ATCs, I just wanted to enjoy the incomparable fun that only playing with an art journal can provide. And I ended up with this –

While working mostly on vertical A5 pages for my self-imposed challenge – 100 Days of art journaling – I’d wondered if a smaller A6 size might work better for me. When I’m in the mood for it, I could use a 2-page spread for an A5 layout. So this time, I used loose A6 pages for a 2-page spread, just to test the waters. And I loved it! ❤ If I create an A6 layout sometime, and I love that too, I'll pre-bind a thinnish journal so I can stop working with loose pages.

For this spread, I started out with a background of acrylic colors that I used an old card to smoosh around – I love that it worked perfectly this time! (It just wouldn't during my 100 Days challenge.) I brushed a bit of white over the colors to bring down the vibrancy. I then used stencils with metallic acrylics to add some interest (and shine) in some areas. Then I stamped scribbly circles in a few places using distress archival ink.

On a different paper sheet, I stamped a scribbly birdie using dye inks, and colored it using watercolors and a water brush pen. (The more I use water brush pens, the more I find I like them!) I fussy cut the birdie and pasted it onto the page. I then journaled in the middle of the page using a multiliner pen. I also handwrote a quote using a fineliner pen, cut out the words, and pasted them near the birdie.

To complete the page, I added some splatters across the page. I then outlined the birdie, the words, and the page edges with watercolor pencils, and finally dampened the outlines with water. Ta da!

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Products / materials used: Camel Acrylic Colors•Camel Watercolor Cakes•Copic Multiliner Pens•Cosmetic sponges•CrafTreat Crocodile Crackle Stencil•Derwent Intense Watercolor Pencils•Dina Wakley Scribbly Circles Stamp•Dina Wakley Scribbly Small Birdies Stamp•Fevicryl Acrylic Colors•Finnabair Metallic Acrylics•My Favorite Things Wonky Chevron Stencil•Old credit card•Plaid ModPodge Satin•Ranger Distress Archival Ink•Sakura Koi Waterbrush Pens•Tsukineko Dye Inks•Uni Pin Fineliner Pens

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With this spread, I’m joining these challenges –

613 Avenue Create – Challenge #229 – ATG w/ optional Shiny

Dina Wakley – Show Us Your Media – A Year of Gratitude – #5 – Kindness

More Mixed Media Challenge – ATG w/ optional Blue

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Anything Goes

Stamplorations January Stencil Challenge

Stamplorations January Theme and Photo Prompt Challenge – Stamps & Splatters