Art Journal Coloring Page and Making Embellishments

Have you enjoyed coloring your Catherine Scanlon Art Journal Coloring Pages? Martha here with an idea of how to use one of your pages to make simple paper embellishments using your favorite punches or die-cut systems.

Here is my finished mini-album. What is hard to see is the thin acrylic cover which allowed me to showcase a sentiment on the underneath page and decorate the cover with other embellishments.

Examples of other interior pages waiting to be completed.

Supplies used from Nov. Kit:

Catherine Scanlon Art Journal Coloring Page

Niji Pearlescent Watercolor Pallette

Sakura Gelly Pens ~ Souffle, Metallic & Glaze

Thanks for stopping by. I know that I'm busy getting ready for the upcoming holidays and I'm sure you are also! I'll be back in Dec. with new projects from the upcoming Frog Dog Studio Dec. Kit…you are going to want this kit {of course I say this every month}.

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Playful Musings: Thankful for Flowers

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I am thankful for nature and flowers.  Magically in patterns, breathtaking in colors.

The November kit is filled with all sorts of color, texture and inspiration to fill your mind's eye when expressing nature.  The Pearlescent watercolors gives a more transparent shimmer, and the Souffle Pens give an opaque more pearl look.  These are perfect for Catherine Scanlon's Coloring Pages!  Add Glossy Accents to adhere "Prills."

Using all the different products give many levels of color, transparency and shimmer.  I wish you could see how beautiful the different areas shimmer in various ways! I used both Souffle' Pens and Gelly Roll Pens. For the orange and yellows, I used Lindy's spray and inks from my stash and October kit. I LOVE the way the colors blend and mix.  Prills were adhered with Glossy Accents.  Just squeeze a puddle of the Glossy Accents and put the Prills in place with a small scoop. Remember, past kits work wonderfully with newer kits!!!  

The edges of the page is done in Pearlized White.  I will be mounting the page on mat board and displaying.

Although the outlines are predetermined for you, using the Niji Pearlized Watercolors, and Lindy's Sprays/Inks allow you to be more playful and free with your design.  Don't be so worried about staying in the lines - let nature flow!!!  Look at the closeup pictures and you can see how lovely all the colors are.

The splashes of color represent (to me) how the light splashes different shades picked up from the original color.  You see a rainbow.

Notice there is a mix of cool and warm colors that contrast and help balance the composition.  Warm colors are like the sun - hot, the yellows, reds, etc.  The cool colors are like the ocean and sky, blues, purples, etc.  In-between is greens!  As you work, decide which mix of colors you want to use so you that you can mix up warm and cool colors for contrast.

Optional adds:  Use the Tim Holtz Glitter in the dot areas, or centers of flowers.  Following the dots isn't important, you can do the Glossy Accents over the dots like a flourish and the glitter will stay in place there.

The weather may be turning cooler but color can make everything shine.  The Niji Pearlescent Watercolors has several shades of coppers, golds, blues, greens, so it will ALL Match every season you want to create art with.

Cre8tivelea Yours - Lea

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Fall Cards & Christmas Tags

 Happy FALL!  

The Fall and Winter months remind me of all I am thankful for!  I love this time of year and look forward to Spending time with loved ones as we enjoy Hot Soup and Chili, Logs on the fire, Homemade Caramel, Gingerbread Men, Cinnamon in the air, and Holiday decorating:)

So here are some cards and tags I created to adorn a gift or just to say thank you.

 Here are the products I used from our GREAT November Kit. 

(I happened to have these cute leaf stamps)

Wow, do I love the Niji Pearlescent Watercolor Set.  

The colors are beautiful and the shimmer adds such a special touch.

...and the Distress Glitter...well, wait til you see what a fun accent these make! 

I used a package of blank cards with envelopes.  You can purchase several different sizes from craft stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

Above, I used a Copic Marker to "ink up" my stamp.  You can use a stamp pad, or any markers you have on hand.  I used this Copic marker because I had a color that I felt matched the Watercolor Set.

Here you can see the stamped image on the blank card.

Next, I added more color using the Niji Pearlescent Watercolor Set. 

Above,  my paint brush is resting on the Gold I mixed with the Dark Mossy Green.

I find it easiest to spray all the colors I plan to use with a small mister. (filled with water)

Once you do this, you can then "grab" colors or even mix them, to make and a new color. The lid is designed to do just that:)   

I knew I wanted to add the Distress Glitter (Gold) so mixing in a little of the Watercolor Gold would compliment the Glitter.

Above, you can see that I added a "good squeeze" of the Glossy Accents, and then below...took a brush to spread it over the entire leaf.  

I did this, to create a "thin" layer of the Glossy Accents.  I just wanted enough to "hold" the Distress Glitter.  (a thin layer dries faster too)

Now for the fun part...a sprinkling of Glitter!

Such an easy application for that Wow factor:)

I used the Sakura Glaze Pen in Hunter Green to add a few accents.  Look above to see how JUICY these Glaze pens are.  They dry with a 3 dimensional finish.  

I am a crazy fanatical "PEN GIRL" & I LOVE these Pens!! 

THANKS FOR ADDING SO MANY GREAT COLORS TO OUR KIT TINA!!!

I used this same process detailed above

for each of the Leaf stamps and Acorn stamp on the rest of the cards.

I added a little more detail with an XS PITT MULTI LINER BLACK PEN.

I was loving the results, so I decided to pull out some Blank Kraft Tags.

And why not go ahead and make a few Christmas Tags:)

The White in the Watercolor Set looks GREAT on a dark Kraft tag.  

(any dark paper really makes these colors POP!)

I loaded my brush with ALOT of water, saturated it with the WHITE watercolor paint, and then "flicked" it with my fingers to add the "SPLATTER" effect.

Hope this sparks some of your own ideas or inspires you to create some of these notecards and tags!

It's a joy to share with you!!

Sue

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Have You Ever Wondered? Why I Love Sakura Gel Pens!

Good morning…Martha Richardson here. Isn't the Nov. Kit incredible with so many great products to try along with the Art Journal Coloring Pages designed by Catherine Scanlon. When thinking about which product I would highlight this month I decided it had to be the Sakura Gel Pens included in the kit.

(1) Exclusive Catherine Scanlon Art Journaling Coloring Book, 4 pages
(1) Niji Pearlescent Watercolor Set
(1) Tim Holtz Distress Glitter, Mustard Seed
(1) Tim Holtz Distress Glitter, Fired Brick
(1) Sakura Glaze Pen, Turquoise
(1) Sakura Glaze Pen, Hunter Green
(1) Sakura Gelly Roll Pen, Gold
(1) Sakura Gelly Roll Pen, Silver
(1) Sakura Gelly Roll Pen, Copper
(1) 2 pack, Sakura Souffle Pens
(1) Lindy's Stamp Gang Embossing Powder, Sunrise Salmon
(1) .5 oz bottle of Glossy Accents

I've avoided Gel Pens because I was never satisfied by the way they worked but this summer I purchased several Sakura Gel Pens upon the recommendation of Catherine Scanlon. To say it's now a love affair is an understatement!!!

Let's take a look at these Gel Pens:
In 1984, Sakura  invented the first gel-based ink. Ice cream smooth® Gelly Roll® pens come in colorful varieties from medium and fine point classic gel ink to Metallic, sparkly Stardust®, fluorescent Moonlight®, and more. The history is quite interesting and you can read more here at the Sakura Website.

In the Nov. kit you received the green and turquoise Sakura Glaze 3-D Glossy Ink pen. A three-dimensional (3-D) ink leaves a distinct impression and once dry leaves a raised, line that you can feel. Great for handwritten lettering on DIY paper craft projects and non-porous surfaces such as plastics, coated papers, acetate, vellums and glass. Brings depth, texture and dimension to your project.When using remember to write slowly so the ink flows out thickly and make sure  to dry completely {about 10 minutes}. It is water resistant and dries to a glossy – glaze look. 

The Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic pens create a a reflective sheen with archival quality ink that is chemically stable, waterproof, and fade resistant. Great for use on both light and dark papers. A 3-pack of gold, silver and copper will be great for any project that you want to add a little pizzaz to!

The Sakura Souffle Pen 3-D Opaque Ink is another 3-D pen and is used in the same manner as the Glaze 3-D. The difference is in the finish that it creates is a matte, opaque color. There are several colors but you will received white which will add a great look for any craft project.

There are several other Gelly Roll pens available from Sakura and I highly recommended all of them! Here is a list of the other pens and links to them. Sakura's website is filled with wonderful information including tips, videos and project ideas. Here are links to all the various types of Gelly Pens.

Gelly Roll® Classic™ Fine & Medium Point

Gelly Roll Moonlight®

Gelly Roll® Metallic™

Gelly Roll Gold Shadow™

Gelly Roll Silver Shadow®

If you like these pens then I suggest you take a look at this Gelly Roll® 64 Pen Set…with the holidays rapidly approaching it would make a great gift.

The biggest question is how to use the Gelly Pens as they are quite different from a ballpoint pen. Here is the #1 tip:

#1. Use gel pens gently. A gel pen has an internal mechanism that works differently from a ballpoint pen. 

Make circular motions on paper with your gel pen. The motion makes the tip (ball) roll and causes the gel ink to be pulled into the ball tip chamber. Avoid hitting either end on a hard surface to keep from jamming a gel pen.

Keep the caps on gel pens to keep them from going dry. The gel ink in gel pens cause them to dry up much faster than the ink in a ballpoint pen. The cap must be closed completely so that a seal is formed in order to keep the gel liquid.

Roll the tip of a gel pen in a circle slowly in order to get the ink flowing again if a pen stops working. The movement can get the gel flowing over the roller again.

Write on matte surfaces for the best result. Gel pens don't write as well on glossy or greasy surfaces.

Let's take a look at the Art Journal pages I created for todays tutorial using the Sakura Gelly Pens with the Art Journal Coloring Pages. I used an assortment of different Gelly Roll Pens…Metallic, Souffle, Stardust. I also used the Niji Pearlescent Watercolor set {which is FABULOUS and would require it's own separate blog post!}.

I had so much fun sitting and coloring I had to add one more project, this time using one of Catherine Scanlon Designs Nature Grid Stamp found in the FDS store.

For this project I used only the pens included in the kit. 

I love the look and even though it's not evident 

I used the white Souffle pens also.

I so appreciate you stopping by and spending time with me. I can't tell you how much I loved working with this kit. Now make sure you stop by daily and see what the other design team members have created. I have one more project coming up so make sure you look out for that.

Have a creative day!

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