Embark New Adventures - an art journal spread

This post is a significant one in many ways. It's the last post of 2024 as I'm keeping the rest of the year off. On top of that, it's last post in the blog for a while as I got accepted into a school I applied and shall start my studies on January on top of my full-time job. I'm thinking I then won't have much time to create, less to blog. However, if I create anything, I will surely share it on my Instagram! So, while this blog might be on a hiatus, I'm hoping to keep some action on my Instagram. 

The other significant thing about this project is that I started a new art journal. I've been craving for this kind of page format for a while, but all the journals I've found have had binding. As I normally tend to make quite dimensional things, I was hesitant to purchase one only to ruin the binding after a couple of pages. But let's see how this now goes! At least in this first attempt I managed to restrain myself from adding too much height! 

I guess the page and process is mostly quite straight forward and need no explanation, except maybe the red thread as I'm not quite convinced it translates well. In Finnish the red thread doesn't necessarily combine fates or two people (did quick googling), but it's more about continuity, the core of things. In a messy world it's important to find and follow that red thread of one's existence. Kind of like a race horse with blinkers, keeping the goal in your sight through the muddle of it all.  

Want to see how the spread came to life? Well, then why don't you visit my YouTube channel to see the process video (link)! When I made this project, and video, I had applied to the school but the results weren't in yet so I only knew I would be taking the January off as that meant I didn't have any deadlines in December. 

I gave the spread quite a prophetical title - "Embark New Adventures". The other part of the text reads "Believe in your dreams". I'm hoping that this leap of faith will pay off in longer run, so I hope you wish me well! 

Thank you so much for your visit! Wishing you a wonderful Holiday time and great start to the new year 2025! Hopefully you won't be a stranger and we'll see each other on the Instagram! Thank you again and bye for now!

Materials: 

art journal

PaperArtsy - Fresco Finish acrylic paint Butter, Captain Peacock, Forget Me Not, Snowflake

PaperArtsy - TS065 stamp set

Tsukineko - Versa Fine Clair Nocturne

Ranger - Distress Collage Meidum Matte

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Paper Dolls Portraits TH94233

Stabilo - All Aquarellable colored pencil black 8046

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Chitchat stickers TH92998

Posca PC-1M white, black

Posca PC-3M yellow, lavender, emerald green

clear packaging tape

old book page, red thread

scissors, brushes, sewing needle

Holiday Klimt - PaperArtsy

Moikka again! Yesterday I shared a pair of cards (link), which were inspired by Gustav Klimt and done for PaperArtsy. I then hinted also, that I actually made a trio of cards and the third one would be a bit different. Today I'm sharing that third one.

While the other two were without any sentiment, I added a Christmas greeting to this card. I also used a red card base instead of white and instead of clear rhinestone stickers used red half pearls here, which reminded me of berries.

If you want to know, how I made the cards, please head over to the PaperArtsy blog (link) as I have a detailed step-by-step post there! The background is done using embossing powder resist and the character coloring prompted me to get myself a Christmas gift! More about those both here (link).

Thank you for stopping by today! Wishing you a beautiful Wednesday! 

Materials: PaperArtsy, Ranger, Tsukineko, Korttipaja, Sinelli

Gilded Klimt - PaperArtsy

Hello there! Here's something I created for the "Gilded" blog topic for PaperArtsy. You can see the original post with a step by step here (link).

Like I write in the post, it's peculiar how gold makes me think of Gustav Klimt. I've used him as an inspiration source before and also - there's plenty of painters and artists who use gold! But still my thoughts steer towards him whenever gold is mentioned! It might be the impact he had on me back in school when I was doing a presentation about the art nouveau style and stumbled upon his paintings. I also love the juxtaposition of the detailed, more naturalistic faces of the characters, and the meticulously painted patterned backgrounds or robes.

For PaperArtsy I created a trio of cards. I'm showing two of them here and shall blog the third tomorrow. These two are quite identical, but there's a slight difference in the third. The card here below is the first one, the one I made while shooting the step by step pictures. The two others I made when I had a better understanding of the composition. If you want to know to what I refer to, please head over to the PaperArtsy blog and read the post (link)! 

Thank you for stopping by today! Wishing you a sweet Tuesday!

Materials: PaperArtsy, Ranger, Posca, Sinelli, Tsukineko

The merry year is born - PaperArtsy

Hello there! The weather forecast promises a flurry during this week even in the south here in Finland, so by the end of the week the scenery might resemble the one in this little project I made for PaperArtsy. You can see the blog post here (link) at PaperArtsy's blog.

This was made as a "With 3 Things" post. This feature on the PaperArtsy Blog is where 3 bloggers are sent 3 items in the post. We bloggers have no clue what PaperArtsy headquaters is going to send us, there might be a slight variation but generally 2 of the 3 things will be identical. This time I had an inkling which designer's stamp set would be sent as it's Alison Bomber highlight! Along with a Alison Bomber stamp set "Hawthorn Edition" I was sent two colors of Infusions and a piece of Grey Board.

I wanted to keep the materials list somewhat short on this project, so I tried to limit myself with them. I used the Grey Board as my base and used the stamps to pattern the background and make the big branch as well as add the little text strips. As colorants went, I mainly tried to use the Infusions I was sent only adding white gesso and black stamping ink to the mix. Well, to be honest I did add a green ink as well, tweaking the Infusions that way. Should you want to see how I made the project, please head over to PaperArtsy blog (link) as you can find a step by step there!

Thank you for stopping by today! Wishing you a fantastic week! 

Materials: PaperArtsy, Tsukineko, Prima Marketing, Ranger

White angels - PaperArtsy

Moikka moi! It's not only another new week but a totally new month as well! Happy October everyone! 

Today I share my first Holiday cards for the year. I made these for PaperArtsy and the theme this time was "White". As you can see from the photos, my cards aren't totally white, but have also a brown tone included, but the main colors are different shades of white. You can see and read the step by step process here (link) at PaperArtsy's blog.

The focal point of these cards is a Lynne Perrella stamp. I first thought to use black stamping ink, as I often do, but that seemed too harsh of a contrast in these. That's why I chose the brown, which went nicely with the overall weathered and vintage look.

Have you started the Holiday makes yet? Or is it first Halloween and then Christmas on your craft table?

Thank you for stopping by today! Wishing you a wonderful October!

Materials: PaperArtsy, Ranger

Happy gatherings - a YouTube live recording

Hi there! It's the last whole week of September and here I'm blogging the card I made during the September YouTube live. If you were unable to attend it while the live was happening, you can watch the recording here (link) on my YouTube channel.

This time the live didn't have that much technique, but more I was trying to share my passion for clustering and using different elements in my projects. I just love to add different textures to a card! In this case there's sleek paper, delicate gauze-like fiber, fluffy thread and solid molded embellishment, for example. I also used embossing powder resist with acrylic paint in this make.

I used PaperArtsy stamps as my focal point and made the little flower-like embellishment using Prima Marketing Re-Design mold. You can see the complete materials list in the announcement post here (link).

Thank you for stopping by today! Wishing you a nice autumn week!

Materials: PaperArtsy, Prima Marketing, A.B.Studio, Ranger, GelliArts

Margaret, Louise and Sheryll - an art journal spread

Moikka moi! This Friday it's an art journal kind of process video! This spread had a couple of inspiration sources, one of them being putting cut items to use. The other was that wonderful group of ladies. 

Last Friday I made a pair of cards and die cut circles out of a patterned paper. I then stashed the left over - or in all honesty, was going to, but instead thought to use it immediately. I used that as the top part of the background and covered the bottom part with strips. On top I then layered acrylic paint and inks, using them like watercolors. 

When I had the background done, it was time to concentrate on the layers coming on top. I first die cut a bunch of little houses and painted them with acrylics. I used the same inks I used in the background to turn them a bit weathered, then. The focal elements are mainly from Tim Holtz Idea-ology. The car and the group of ladies made me conjure a story of these ground breaking mechanics, who opened the first garage in their part of town. That's why I added the gauges around the spread and tried to choose the little labels also fitting to the theme. 

As always, you can see the process video here (link) on my YouTube channel.

Thank you for stopping by today! Wishing you a fabulous Friday and weekend!

Materials:

Fabriano - Accademia 160g cardstock

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Backdrops volume 4 #TH94308

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Collage Strips #TH94328

PaperArtsy - Fresco Finish acrylic paint Chantilly, Sand, Blah Mange, Butter

Stampers Anonymous - Brush Arch stencil THS168

Stampers Anonymous - Sticks stencil THS172

Sizzix - Thinlits Ghost Town die set 664194

Ranger - Distress Ink Vintage Photo, Scorched Timber

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Paper Dolls Poses #TH94376

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Layers Photo Studio #TH94374

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Gauge Dials #TH94225

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Snippets ephemera pack Number strips #TH94222

Ranger - Adirondack alcohol ink Butterscotch, Rust

clear tape, washi tape

art journal

craft glue, foam tape, double sided tape

scissors, brushes, sponge, paper cutter