Scribbly Butterflies Art Journal

Hello crafters! Today I have a fun art journal page to share, but you can also turn it into a card instead. 

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

I love butterflies and the lemon butterflies are always the first ones to be seen in spring, so this page is inspired by them. There is something so joyful about butterflies and I also really like the design of these Simon Says Stamp Artsy Butterflies. The page was done in my Stamperia Happiness Mix Media Journal 4x8.5 in.

Start by stamping the butterflies on the page. If the stamping isn't perfect, which might happen since the pages are textured and there are also other pages behind which makes the surface uneven, fill in with a black pen.

Mix watercolor paint and paint the butterflies. Let some of the paint flow outside the lines and then quickly paint the blue, so that the colors will blend on the paper. I dropped in three darker spots of blue at the end. I used Daniel Smith: Phthalo Blue (Red Shade), Quinacridone Coral and Hansa Yellow. 

Paint Winsor & Newton Permanent White Gouache in some of the areas of the butterflies.

White emboss dots on the background, using Tim Holtz Grunged.

Next, I decided that I wanted some glitter and applied Star Dust Stickles to some areas of the butterflies.

I stamped only part of a sentiment from Tim Holtz Tiny Text in this wing. 

I was particularly pleased with the three darker spots of blue in the background.

The title was die cut with Tim Holtz Handwritten Journey from Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Perfect Velvet paper and Sapphire Blue Glitter cardstock. 'Moments' was stamped with Archival Ink Prize Ribbon using Tim Holtz Simple Sayings.

Don't worry if the gouache and glitter isn't perfect, it just adds to the playful look.

I stamped more sentiments with Tim Holtz Tiny Text.

When watercolor blends on the paper, you get nice and sometimes unpredictable results. 

Sometimes I leave a blank page here and there in my journals, but in this Happiness Mixed Media journal, I have decided to fill each page. 

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

Ladder Tag

Hi crafters! I hope you are well! Today I have a mixed media tag to share with die cutting, heat embossing, paint and stamping. 

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

I had one of the die cuts from Sizzix Seth Apter Tracks on my desk and turned it vertically. It looked like a rickety ladder which gave the idea for this tag. I paired it up with some words and die cut one word with alphabet stamps. 

Start by die cutting five ladders using Seth Apter's set. I die cut from Tim Holtz Kraft Stock and a wood grain paper. 

Glue them together with Simon Says Stamp craft glue, off setting the back layer slightly to create a shadow. The top layer is the woodgrain paper.

Coat a tag with white gesso and press patterns with a palette knife. When dry, paint with Distress Paint. Mist with water to blend.

When the tag is almost dry, wipe off some of the paint. 

Silver emboss Simon Says Stamp Swiss Dots in some areas. Add a little silver powder along the edges too.

Stamp the background with Tim Holtz School Desk alphabet stamp and birds from Mini Ornates.

Add a little Black Soot around the edges.

The clouds were die cut from Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Velvet paper using Tim Holtz Vault World Travel.

This sentiment was die cut from silver kraft stock and black cardstock using Tim Holtz Sizzix Handwritten Journey. The stamped sentiment is from Tim's Tiny Text.

Gesso in the background can give very interesting textures.

This sentiment was die cut with Tim Holtz Vault World Travel, using the same combination of papers as for 'explore'. The sentiment is a Small Talk sticker.

By layering many die cut, you can get a more dimensional ladder. The edges were inked slightly with Scorched Timber. 

Thank you for stopping by here today! Have fun crafting!

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

Faceted Hearts Tag

Hi friends! Yesterday we went to look at the Sakura trees flowering, which is always a sign of spring. And today I have a pink and purple tag to share.

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

This week we have a Use more than one stencil theme at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog. I hope you will take out those stencils and join us! Don't miss the project by our April guest designer Thom Santilla.  

I made a tag with five dimensional faceted hearts and used two different stencils for the background. I used Tim Holtz Vault Rosettes for the hearts and the two stencils are Tim Holtz Sparkle Fade and Simon Says Stamp Snowfall and Banks.

Start with a tag cut from watercolor paper and build up layers of Distress Ink. Smear ink on craft sheet, mist with water and press the paper into the ink. Let dry and repeat. Use a little Distress Oxide ink at the end.

Ink Simon Says Stamp Pepita Background with Wilted Violet. Mist with water 3-4 times and stamp.

Apply paint with a sponge through Simon Says Stamp Snowfall and Banks.

Die cut hearts using Tim Holtz Vault Rosettes. I used papers from Tim Holtz Pink Palette and Red Palette 8x8 in paper packs.

Fold and score the lines. Ink with Distress Ink.

Mist the tag with Distress Spritz Saltwater Taffy through Tim Holtz Sparkle Fade stencil. It will give a beautiful shimmer. Also mist the hearts. 

Assemble the hearts.

I added Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Dazzling Opal Gems to the tag, and three Tim Holtz Small Talk stickers for sentiments.

Distress the edge of the tag and add a line with a white gel pen.

When die cutting the hearts, place the die so that the text on the front of the heart is the right way around. Test on scrap paper first. 

I added a little bit of cheese cloth under each heart.

Here you can see the shimmer from the Distress Spritz better.

Each heart has a different pattern and a different shade of pink.

You can of course also use the techniques for a card.

Here you can see the Distress Spritz better.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

Join us this week in our Use more than one stencil challenge! You have a chance to win a $25 gift voucher to do some fun shopping at Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in.

Do you use Instagram? If so please add #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too.

Thank you so much for visiting today! 

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.