Papercloth Journal

Papercloth tutorials are all over the internet with a lot of ideas to try.  I wanted to share my version using Artistcellar stencils and my carved stamps.  I use papercloth primarily for making journal covers, although there are other uses for this fun product too.  I have another papercloth tutorial here.

I started by cutting a generous piece of muslin.  It really depends on your end use, in deciding how large a piece of papercloth to make.  I always make a pretty big piece so that I have a lot on hand.  The process takes a while, so it makes sense to make a bigger piece.  I laid the muslin onto a plastic bag, or other piece of plastic.  You want to be able to peel it up later from the surface.

Next I took tissue paper, or other thin papers, and stamped images randomly onto the tissue paper.  I used my hand carved stamps and StazOn Ink to add the images. I tore the tissue paper into smaller pieces.

Then I mixed white glue with water until I got a pretty runny mix.  It takes a bit to get the glue mixed into the water well.  I made up a small tub of this mixture.  I brushed the glue onto the muslin a section at a time and laid down the pieces of tissue paper and brushed glue over the top.  I kept layering until the entire piece of muslin was covered by the tissue paper.  It doesn't matter if the tissue tears a bit or gets wrinkled because this will just add texture.

Next I added color by dropping on acrylic inks in blues and greens.  I used some iridescent colors to add shimmer to the papercloth.  I gently blended the inks and spread them around until all the tissue had color.  I let the piece dry completely, which sometimes takes a couple of days.

I chose two of the TEXTures series stencils, Roadmap and Rivermap to add another layer to my papercloth.  I used the Rivermap stencil and blue and green acrylic paints to add texture randomly over the entire piece.  After that dried, I used the Roadmap stencil and black paint to add some pop to the piece.

After the paint dried I peeled it off of the plastic and cut it into smaller pieces.  I wanted to make several journals from the piece, so I cut different sized rectangles out.  I picked one piece that I had cut and added free motion stitching over the whole surface.  I used a variegated blue thread and added a loose pebble stitch.  The stitching adds strength and stability to the papercloth.  The more you work the piece of papercloth the softer it gets, because it starts out really stiff. By gently bending it, it will get more flexible.  You need the stitching to help the layers stay together.  It doesn't have to be free motion stitching, but I love the way that type of stitching looks.

I also satin stitched all the way around the outside edge.  I used strips of tear away stabilizer to make this process easier.  It also strengthens the edge of the journal.  After the stitching was done, I tore away the excess stabilizer.

I added the word possibilities in black thread with free motion stitching to one side. 

I tore sketch paper into the correct size and made four signatures with five folios for this journal.  I sewed them into the papercloth cover just like I did for my last journal tutorial. You can find that here.   I also added beads to the ends of the binding threads and a ribbon to keep the journal closed.  The finished size is about 8 1/2" x 11".

I hope that you enjoyed this journal cover tutorial and that you try making papercloth too if you haven't already. This journal is up for sale in my shop, so check that out if you would love to have this one for your very own.
Janelle

Playing with Yupo Paper

I got some Yupo paper for Christmas and I finally got a chance to play around with it.  Play is good for us, right?  I didn't have a plan other than to see how wet media moved around on this synthetic paper.  I tried using watercolors, alcohol inks, and Dylusions sprays just to get a feel for the paper. I loved how the alcohol inks and the Dylusions worked the best. For my page today I decided to use the Dylusions sprays.

I started by cleaning the paper to make sure it didn't have any oils or dirt that would repel the inks.  I sprayed the surface with the inks and tipped the paper up and let them run.  I also sprayed the inks with a little water to encourage them to flow and run together. I used these colors of Dylusions: Lemon Zest, Crushed Grape, Funky Fuchsia, London Blue, and Vibrant Turquoise.  I love how the inks beaded up and ran together on this paper.

I chose to use some of Tam's Whimsy stencils on this page. I used Whimsy Town and Hearts and Stars and I stenciled with black acrylic paint.

I saw a face peeking out at me from the drips so I had to include her on my page.  I drew her with Derwent Inktense pencils which I activated with a damp brush.  This also activated the sprays again.  Since I was drawing a found face I went with what I saw, so she isn't a classically beautiful girl.  She is full of quirks and oddities, which I think make her a lot of fun. I added some details and a bit of shading with the brush and the inks.  I also used some gesso to add a heart to the paper.

I added darker details with markers and added highlights to her eyes with gesso.  I also added a few smaller hearts to the page.

I added words to the large heart with my Pitt pen and added dots in the letters with a turquoise Sharpie paint pen.  The girl that appeared on my page wanted to get this sentiment across : Protect the Vulnerable.  There are many marginalized people and animals that can use our help every day.  I'll leave that thought with you along with the fun of using Yupo synthetic paper.

Janelle

You can see more of my art at: www.handsandharts.com

Lifebook 2014

I'm taking Lifebook again for the third year.  I love this class because the community is so supportive.  The teachers are all wonderful and so varied that I learn something new all the time.  It gives me purpose and focus when I'm practicing a lot of different techniques.  I end up with journals full of wonderful art too.  There is a new lesson or activity that comes out every Monday.

This January has been a bit strange for me.  First my hubby and kids had an extra long winter break due to a very big snow storm.  Then my kids got sick with the flu, and then I got the flu.  I have spent the last week and a half either very busy taking care of someone, or too sick to do much of anything.  I'm only telling you this as an explanation as to why I don't have more of the lessons done.

I plan to catch up as I am able because I don't want to miss doing any of these lessons.  I feel like I have improved immensely in the last few years and I want to keep up this practice, so that my art can get even better.

For now I'll share the lessons that I have done so far.

Warm up page.

These next ones are all quick creativity exercises, not finished pieces.

I'll continue sharing my Lifebook lessons and my other art journal pages as the year goes on.
Janelle

Valentine Bunting

Here is a Valentine's Day project for you.  I'm putting this out early so that people have time to make this to decorate before Valentine's Day.

I have a nasty strain of influenza, so I'm going to make this a quick post.  I will answer questions about anything in a few days when I'm feeling better, though.

Supply List

Watercolor paper
Dylusions Post Box Red and Funky Fuschia 
Gesso
Amourosa Metamica Paint
Hemp Flower Stencil
Hole Punch
Cotton Fabric and Felt
Yarn
Thread
Twine
Acrylic Iridescent Medium
Tulip Fabric Spray in Glittering Diamonds
Heart Template in Two Sizes

Spray a piece of watercolor paper with the Dylusions sprays and the Tulip fabric spray.

Brayer over the piece with gesso after it is dry.

Use the stencil and Metamica paint to add a pattern.

Apply iridescent medium through the stencil with a card.

Spray another piece of watercolor paper with the Dylusions sprays and the Tulip fabric spray.

Cut out hearts in two sizes from all the dry paper plus both fabrics

Stitch the cotton fabric to the felt.  Punch holes in the tops of the hearts and tie on yarn. Tie the yarn to a piece of twine in varying lengths and hang up the bunting.

I hope you have fun with this little project and I'll see you next week.
Don't forget my Birthday Sale, make sure to check out my shop. 

http://www.handsandharts.com/shop.html

Janelle 

Birthday

Happy Celebrate Happy Celebrate Happy Celebrate

Tomorrow is my Birthday and I wanted to celebrate with all of my readers.  I am having a sale on everything in my shop.  From January 17th through January 31st everything will be 30% off.  In the note to seller just put in the code "celebrate2014" and I will refund the 30%.  If you have been wanting  to buy something from me now would be a good time to save a little money and get a beautiful creation. 

Birthday Birthday Birthday Birthday Birthday Birthday Birthday

You can find my shop with information and all the categories here:  http://www.handsandharts.com/shop.html

Float

This week I really wanted to play around with mixed media and stitch, so I combined the two on this canvas.  I call it Float.  When life gets rough and sends icy stormy seas your way, just float on top and stay calm. I started this canvas by using a mixture of white and ultramarine blue and the Sea Foam stencil.  I covered the whole canvas, varying the intensity of the blue.  I let this dry. Next I brayered a heavy body white paint over the pattern to push it more into the background. I let this dry. I wanted the next layer to add some shine and to look like icy cold waves.  My area of the US got hit by a massive snow storm and everything is freezing and covered by ice and snow.  That cold look came out in this painting.  I used the Surf stencil and iridescent pearl paint to add the waves.  It isn't a really obvious layer, but it does add shimmer and the wave pattern really shows from the right direction.  I let this layer dry too. Next I added waves with yarn and fibers.  The blue yarn is truffles yarn and I used fibers from the Sky mix.  I sewed them on with thread in a wave pattern.  I ended up cutting them off at the edge of the canvas and using gel medium to glue down the edges.  I covered the ends of all the fibers and yarn to make sure that they wouldn't fray.  I added a boat cut out of my hand dyed fabric that matched the colors in the fibers and background. I glued this down with gel medium too and smoothed it out well to avoid bubbles in the fabric.  I didn't put gel medium over the top of the fabric because I wanted it to stay soft. Next I painted the sun, sails on the boat, and a girl riding in the boat.  I used Derwent blocks and pencils to paint the sun and the sails, and the girl's dress.  I mixed the yellow with gesso to give the look of a pale winter sun.  I also used this mixture to add a touch on sunlight to the tops of the waves.  I refined the girl's face.  I used a salmon pink Neocolor two crayon for the skin tone and a variety of Sakura pens to add details to her face.  I used a white Sakura Gelly Roll pen to add highlights.  I used a mix of gesso and ultramarine blue to paint over the sky area.  I love how a bit of the stenciling still shows through.  I scraped Payne's grey paint with an old plastic card to give the painting a border and I did this on the sides of the painting too. I painted the edges of the canvas with Ultramarine Blue. For the final touch I used embroidery thread to add some stitching to the sun and the boat. The more layers of collage and paint that you have on the canvas the harder it is to sew through.  It is possible, though, to add stitches to a canvas to give it extra texture which I love so much. I hope that my painting helps you float above your troubles even when everything outside is icy cold and miserable. Janelle

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

I decided to make a small art piece to hang in my sewing room this week.  I was inspired by the Bird stencil designed by Jill Berry and one of Maya Angelou poems, "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings". You can read the whole poem here. I started with a small piece of watercolor paper and a wood cutout of a bird in a cage.  I painted the cage with silver paint and the watercolor paper with Twinkling H2O's. After the watercolors were dry I scraped glossy gel medium through the bird stencil so that the pattern would show up on the background.  Make sure that you wash off the gel medium right away, so your stencil doesn't get ruined. The stenciling shows up much better when the photo is taken at an angle. I painted over the bird and the perch with metamica paints in moonlight and willow blue. I glued the wood piece to the watercolor paper with more gel medium and weighed it down while it dried to ensure good contact. After it was dry I wrote the parts of the poem down that I wanted to use onto tissue paper. I glued them to the page with fluid medium and let it dry.  I also punched holes into the top of the paper and tied on a ribbon for hanging.  The last step was to go over the words again with a Pitt pen so that they showed up better. The twinks and the glossy gel medium shimmer in the light. I hope that I have inspired you to go and make some art to beautify your creative spaces. Janelle