Friday, January 15, 2016

Follow Your Heart a journal spread by Astrid

Hello Shimmerz friends and thanks for dropping in today! I love playing in my art journals, and so today I have another journal spread to share with you.
I'll give you a quick step by step of how I put this together:
1. Cover your page with a layer of gesso and when dry add some crackle paint in places, - let that dry also.
2. Gather some bits and pieces to create a composition on your pages that will provide both different textures and some interest. I have a box of scraps on my desk where I keep bits and pieces left over from previous projects and that is usually my go to place to find some things to add to my pages.
Colours at this point, don't matter at all, as everything will be covered with gesso anyway.
3. Gather some further embellishment and something that can provide a focal point. I chose an image from one of the Tim Holtz found relative cards that I had punched out with a postage stamp punch.
At this point I just played around with the positioning, nothing is glued down yet.
4. Time to decide on a colour scheme, - I decided to go with some warm brown and rose pink colours this time.
These are the products I used:
5. Once the main elements are covered in gesso and have dried, add colour with the sprays first of all.

6. Deepen the colours with the help of the Inlingz. Add some water to the little pots with a spray bottle and when they have softened and become all creamy, use a paint brush to highlight certain areas and add shadows for more depth with your darker colours; colour the leaves with the Shimmerz paint.
7. Now for the finishing touches, - add the other embellishments, some background stamping and your sentiment. Mine was computer generated.
A bit of darkening around the edges and some doodling with a fine tip pen finishes it all off.
Below a few close ups still.
I added a bit more shadow underneath the die cuts with the help of a black Stabilo All pencil.
Edging the sentiment strip with some ink and adding shadows below, makes it pop a bit more. I also added a few white splatters with some watered down acrylic paint and an old tooth brush.
A couple of buttons (Prima) and some hand doodling around the edges.
And finally the focal image again with shadows added belwo to create some more depth.

Well, that's it for now, I love Shimmerz products for journalling and am always intrigued how they pool and puddle around different textures, so much fun to play around with.

Thanks for your visit today like always, and before you leave, don't forget, you can order Shimmerz products directly from the Shimmerz Paints Store. If you do,  mention my name (Astrid Maclean) in the «Instruction to Merchant/seller» part of your order form (just below your name and address). After clicking «add», you'll get a FREE product in the color of your choice. And for people from outside the US, Shimmerz do a really good deal on postage!

15 comments:

Carolyn said...

Beautiful journal page, Astrid. Love the colors you selected and the variety of textures.

Dorthe said...

gorgeous , love the layers of cardstock and scraps, and the alterations you did. The colors are wonderful , (me loving the softest pink,lol ) and all the texture, too.Wish I could see the paints better,if there is a little shimmer,- but beautiful spread Astrid.
XOX Dorthe

Julia S-W said...

Beautiful vintage feel. Love the colours. xx

Kathy Bradley said...

Astrid - beautiful journal pages and I love all the textures and soft and lovely colors.

Words and Pictures said...

Great composition and such lovely colours.
Alison xx

Juliz Design Post said...

Just adore these colour shades and what a wonderful layout with great textures.
Julie x

Julia Aston said...

What wonderful texture and color on this Astrid! thanks for sharing how you put it all together! Julia xx

experiments in paper said...

Fantastic, Astrid!!! Love all of the layers and textures, with those fabulous colors!! Cool how you punched out the picture also - putting that on my to-do list! xxx Lynn

mamablitger said...

Astrid you always create art which inspires me. This journal page is awesome too. I love the crackles, the texture , the selection of items you used to decorate the pages. And of course the creamy colors....waw... So soft and delicious. Thank you also for the tutorial.
Thanks for sharing your art.
Hugs from Monica... Spain

Jenny Marples said...

Oh my goodness I ADORE the design to this one Astrid! It really captures your whole style. Jenny x

Almo said...

Beautiful journal page Astrid and a lovely clear tutorial also. Love the layout. Mo x

Caty said...

Wonderful page !!! Love the colours and layers!! big hugs. Caty

Jackie PN said...

I simply adore Astrid's art and i really love the way she uses and showcases your products! Gorgeous line of colors!!!
Jackie ")

Deb said...

Absolutely gorgeous and a fabulous tutorial, love all the textures and of course the beautiful shimmer! Deb xo

Pawsitively Creative said...

Your instructions make it seem easy to Art journal! If I ever get up the nerve again I am using your tutorial as my starting point. Gorgeous design and details. Love the crackle bits and the corrugated pieces. Awesome sauce! ~Niki