AIRs July Challenge... "Wet" made me think of rain

When I was looking at the Imagine AIRs DT challenges for July one caught my attention...WET.  Of course, living near the ocean I immediately thought of the beaches here in South Carolina.  We have had an unusual amount of rain this year so I decided the StencilGirl stencil designed by Jessica Sporn might be more apropos since it is title "Rain".  I ended up doing cards that look like water colored panels, placing the stencils on top of the colors and using white gesso to make the images pop out.  It gave a chance to use one of my new Andrea Ockey Parr's new stamps, they are so adorable!

With that theme in mind I also incorporated our color of the month, Pineapple yellow, into another design.  It is the same technique just adding bright yellow or Pineapple to the umbrella.

I would love to embrace the rain like that but, you know, my hair.  If I had hair like hers maybe it would be different but my is too curly. ( lol)

Here are the directions and a supply list:

1)  Cut a piece of master board measuring 5” by 6 ½”.  Place a stencil on top and using a palette knife push white gesso through the stencil, dry thoroughly. Be sure and wash the gesso off of the stencil immediately before continuing.  If need be repeat the gesso stenciling until the coverage is sufficient.

2)   Reapply the stencil to the panel. Use colored ink with a small dauber to enhance the phrase. While the stencil is in place use a VersaMark pen through the stencil on the umbrella and the boots, remove the stencil and apply Imagine Iridescent Embossing Powder on the umbrella and the tops of the boots. 

3)  Melt powder with heat tool. Stamp words in black, emboss with Clear Embossing Powder and melt with a heat tool.

4)  Continue to enhance card with pens, attach sequins with On Point Glue and add additional inks. Ink edges and attach to a card blank with Tear It! Tape.

Supply List

Imagine Supplies

Fireworks! Craft Spray – Bahama Blue, Dandelion, Tangelo, Lilac Posies, New Sprout (for master board)

Brilliance – Pearlescent Rust

Memento Dual Marker pens – London Fog, Peanut Brittle

VersaMarker watermark pen

Imagine Embossing Powder – Clear and Iridescent

On Point Glue

Tear It! Adhesive tape

Craft Mat

Sponge daubers – large and small

Scotty palette knife

Other Supplies

Strathmore 140 lb. Water color paper

Stencils – Stencil Girl (Rain by Jessica Sporn)

Washi tape

Spray bottle of water

Micron 05 black pen

Sequins

Heat Tool

Paper towels

Paper trimmer

Thanks for stopping by, leave me your thoughts if you have a moment.  Hugs ~ Renee

Jane Davenport's Mermaid Markers are so fun!

I've been making faces with Jane's Mermaid Markers which I found at Michael's the other day.  I used a Stencil Girl face stencil designed by Andrea Matus DeMeng called "Eve, a modern woman".  I traced it with a pencil and then applied the markers sparingly, they are intense.  I used a water pen to drag color around and Gelatos to adjust the colors. A few parts were brightened with Imagine Crafts Fireworks! spray, also poured into an empty water pen for easy, precise application.  It will take me awhile to learn how to use the markers and not flood the paper with too much color.  A little goes a long way with these pens.

It takes some time to find Jane's supplies, they sell out quickly, but they are worth the wait.

Have a great weekend!  Hugs ~ Renee

Working my way through Karen O'Brien's book Imaginary Characters

Do you buy books by your favorite artists and work your way through the techniques in search of the magic that spills out into their art?  One of the artists whose work I truly love is Karen O'Brien.  She has a book out called Imaginary Characters which I adore.  I've been having fun trying to imitate her wonderful creatures.  Her technique tips use all of those hoarded supplies like watercolors, Distress Crayons, acrylic paints and of course my ever present, Stabilo pencil.  Today's project was executed on a wooden canvas from Hobby Lobby that measures 8" by 10" that I first coated in white gesso.  Then I drew my image in Stabilo pencil and painted it with watercolors using a water pen.  When it was dry, stamps were applied with StazOn black ink and the edges were distressed with MementoLuxe Gray Flannel ink.

Supplies used:
Peerless Watercolors
Gesso
Stabilo pencil
StazOn Black ink
MementoLuxe Gray Flannel ink
Delicata Gold ink

Ranger Distress Crayons

Stamps:
Stampendous
Dina Wakley
Stampers Anon

Stencil by Momenta

8"by 10" wooden canvas

Let go of expectations and just dive into a book by your favorite artist.  Use new techniques and tips with abandon, have fun.  We don't need anyone's permission to play and art is a great place to exercise that right.
Thanks for stopping by, I always appreciate your visits, leave a comment if you have the time!  Hugs ~ Renee