From Journal to Canvas

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Hi everyone!
Today I want to talk a little bit about a topic that the Flying Unicorn Forum members, and really the whole scrap-world is buzzing about...art journaling. I will be the first to admit, I admired the art journal process from afar for a long time, and talked myself out of it, saying that I needed to devote my scrappy time to scrapbook pages and just had no time for an art journal.
Well, I was looking at it all wrong, because for one thing, an art journal is whatever you want it to be. For two, an art journal can take up as much or as little time as you want it to! Once I wrapped my head around these ideas, I realized I needed to start!
I am someone who always has 101 ideas spinning through my mind, and at times I am really unsure of how to apply them to my crafting. This is where my art journal comes in...I have made it my "rough draft" or practice area. I realize that that is not an idea I came up with, that to most people, an art journal is a place to practice new techniques. So, when I have an idea in my head, I will first translate it to my journal, then take it from there to my next project. Below are a couple of examples of what I mean. I have used many products from the store, just follow the links :)

I had an idea, when looking at a stencil I have, (not sure of the brand, I've had it forever), to turn the random sized circles into balloons. So...the above page is what I created, using my stencil, Gelatos, and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists. I was inspired by my baby girl's skirt for colors. 

This is how I have translated this idea/technique from my journal onto a canvas. This is a stretched 11x13 canvas, that I turned over to create the framed/shadow box look.

To create this whimsical piece, I primed the entire thing first with gesso. I then built up the background colors starting with the sky, using Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in: Trunk Bay, Icicle Blue,  Jack Frost, and Sea Glass. I have noticed that when you apply Glimmer Mist using a paint brush to a gesso-primed surface, it looks a lot like watercolor painting. So, I spritzed and painted until I liked the colors, leaving a bit of the white to shine through here and there.

Previously, for another project I had used the Mini Swiss Dot stencil from The Crafter's Workshop  on cardstock with modeling paste. I had misted and used some Kroma Crackle and a bit of glitter to create a fun background for a future page...well it never made it to a page, so I tore some strips from this awesomely textured piece, and added it to the background of my canvas.

The green/grass area of my page was created using the same techniques described above, with TA Glimmer Mist in English Ivy, Meadow Green, and Inchworm. I also sprayed here and there with Sun Sisters.

Then it was time for the fun part, the balloons! I took my circle stencil, and first masked the circles using gesso. I then traced them with pen, and began coloring them, using Gelatos, Glimmer Mists (with a paint brush), Modeling paste, Viva Pearl Pens, and acrylic paint.

Up next..I am working on re decorating my kitchen, and have gone with a bird theme. I see all kinds of beautiful bird art work in the stores, and never buy, as I always think, "Well I can make that myself.." Then came the following idea, which I put down in my journal...

The birds outlines were quickly hand drawn, and cut from the new Prima Engraver collection. (Coming SOON!! Like, TODAY soon!!). I mounted them on cardboard, then created the branches from paper and cardboard scraps...then my idea for a canvas formulated.

I created this canvas, and filmed the entire thing with hopes of doing a video tutorial...but things went all wrong and the video is blurry and un-shareable, *sigh!* sorry!! The background was created with a Crafter's Workshop Woodgrain mask, torn strips from Kaisercraft Base Coat, tissue paper, cheesecloth, and lots of misting. There is tons of amazing texture and shine to this project!

The birds and leaves  for this project were cut from the amazing 75 Cents collection from Kaisercraft - I love the colors in this collection! I outlined the birds, cut them out, inked the edges, attached to cardboard, cut out cardboard...distressed and inked some more, misted a bit..

The branches were also cut from cardboard, then coated in gel medium , wrapped in tissue paper, sprayed with TA Glimmer Mist in Cork. I then embossed parts of the branches with a gold embossing powder for some lovely shine and texture. I cut the leaves from scraps of paper and cardboard as well, then inked them up a bit.

OK- thanks for listening to me gab for a bit. The point of the story is, you pretty much NEED to start an art journal, and then I hope you will try out some of that fun stuff on a layout or canvas, it really is quite the adventure!
Have a wonderful day!!!