Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Artistcellar Black & White Challenge

The artists on the design team at Artistcellar have challenged each other to come up with a project that is only in black and white.  Whew!  That is quite a challenge for me as I have been using so much color for the past couple of years.  I decided to make an art journal with a black and white cover using two different stencils.


To begin I folded a large sheet of water color paper to make a small book and taped the open ends with black and white tissue tape.




  I stamped one of Dyan Reaveley's ladies on a separate piece of paper and cut it out.  I glued it to the front of the book with a strong adhesive.   Next I used one of Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's stencils called Blazonry.  I laid this across the top to begin with and used a dauber to pounce the Memento LUXE Espresso Truffle ink onto the paper.


When the ink was dry I chose one of the stencils from the Coral Series and spread gesso randomly all over the cover of the book.


I stamped a phrase from the Stampers Anonymous collection on a piece of scrap paper.  After tearing the edges I distressed them with the Espresso Truffle ink.  The black mat is cut from card stock a little larger than the phrase piece.  They are glued together and them mounted on the book with pop dots.  Three holes were punched on the fold and a piece of black waxed twine was threaded through the holes and tied in a bow.  The edges were distressed with the Espresso Truffle ink as well to frame it.


This was a quick art journal to make, it didn't take more than 20 minutes.  The key is to fold little books like this in advance and have them waiting for you to decorate.  Thanks for stopping by today and my thanks to my design team friends for thinking of this challenge.  It was definitely outside of my comfort zone!

Hugs~ Renee xx

8 comments:

  1. This is a cute idea. Is there a tute for the book folding? Or do you just keep folding in half until you have the size you want? Did you open the book to center then punch the holes? I'd much rather come over and "see" how it's done, but that would require airfare and then some so...... LoL

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  2. Great job, Renee. It is beautiful and it doesn't look like it was out of your comfort zone !
    Corrie x

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  3. Renne, What a wonderful cover. I love your Gesso technique, it makes for such a dramatic statement on your piece.
    :) Chris / CS Designs

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  4. Hi Annie, You can see how the book is folded if you check out my blog post on 3/7/2014. It is easy and works well. Thanks for asking. Hugs~Renee

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  5. Hi Annie, You can see how the book is folded if you check out my blog post on 3/7/2014. It is easy and works well. Thanks for asking. Hugs~Renee

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  6. Love the way you have the image is the center surrounded by all the texture! COOL!

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  7. I know that you love color, so can acknowledge that this was a stretch for you, Renee! However, that said, I am amazed at how effortless this project has seemed for you! I love it!

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  8. A very beautiful AJ cover!! Moreover it's such a challenge to not use any color except back and white!!! Also for me! But not for you my dear Renee, you just prove it :) Hugs/bises!

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