2: Happy Together...

Hello friends and happy Monday...

I can't quite believe that we're already in March!! Where did January and February go?!? It's crazy how time flies in lockdown but at least there has been some light at the end of this long road and this week, I'll be having my Covid vaccination.

But before then, it's time for the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week our theme is Art Journaling! The DT are showcasing Dyan Reaveley products within their projects, which is something you can do but it's not essential ~ you can join in whatever product you choose to use!

For my project, I used Dyan's Small Creative Journal to create a collaged, layered vintage journal layout using Tim Holtz ephemera. I love to create this style of art journaling, it's also a fabulous way of using up my offcuts and scraps of paper that sit in a box for "one of those days".  I also chose to use a photo from the Tim Holtz Found Relative photo set, but there's no reason as to why you can't use a precious photo from your own collection and create a page that is all about family!

So, let's get started and here's how I created my journal layout..

 

I started my layout by using a few of my scraps and offcuts of paper from the Abandoned Paper Stash and adhered these down the centre of the double pages, together with some strips of Tim's Remant Design Tape using Matte Collage Medium, which I also used to seal the papers. I then applied some Crackle Paste, around the paper edges and left this to do it's thing whilst I colour tinted my photo.

The photo that I used is from Tim's Found Relatives set and I just adore this photo of mother and child, it's so beautiful. To add colour to the image, I applied a coat of clear gesso to prime the surface and then used a damp fine detail water brush and Distress Crayons and basically watercolored the photo.

After adding some machine stitching around the edges, it was time to go back to my journal, where the crackle paste was now dry and crackly, and complete the background.

I used the Pumice Stone and Walnut Stain Distress Crayons to add a touch of vintage to the background and to accentuate the crackles that the paste has given. To blend the crayons and get rid of any harsh lines, I used a water brush and a semi dry baby wipe, and just applied this over the surface.

I completed the background by flicking a small amount of watered down Black Soot Distress Paint across the pages and allowed for everything to dry thoroughly and I also added some machine stitching. It wasn't the easiest of things to do...the book and my machine had a few hissy fits but I got there in the end and obtained the look I wanted.

Moving on, I gathered my supplies and used flowers, labels and a butterfly in flight, all taken from the Field Notes Ephemera and Snippets Ephemera sets. Once I had the ones I wanted to use, I arranged these, together with my photo onto my pages, adhering them directly onto the background using Matte Collage Medium.

I completed the arrangement with a tiny butterfly in flight, that I added to the top right hand corner of the photo and a vial label that I layered, buy placing it just underneath the photo.

I then added a small button, with pink thread stitched through the holes and a postmark that comes from the Specimen Remnant Rubs pack.

For the finishing touches to this layout, I added the large number 2 which is from the Urban Layers pack and adhered this to the left hand page. I then used one of the new products from Tim's idea-ology range, Metallic Stickers and I took the "Happy Together" sticker and placed this underneath my large number.

Finally, I added a Stitched Scrap in the top left hand corner, complete with a mini pin...

...and that is my journal layout complete and I hope you've enjoyed the walk through the process of how it was created.

As always, if you've been inspired by anything that you see here on my blog, please just tag me on my social media or leave a message so I can pop by to take a look ~ I always love to see your work!

Don't forget that every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $25 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp and you can join in up to 5 times, which means you could have 5 chances to win. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today ~ stay safe and keep well.

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Distress Paint: Black Soot

Distress Crayons: Pumice Stone and Walnut Stain

Distress Inks: Walnut Stain

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Abandoned Paper Stash, Metallic Sticker Book, Stitched Scraps 2, Field Notes Ephemera, Field Notes Snippets, Specimen Remnant Rubs, Found Relatives, Urban Layers, Remnants Design Tape, Mini Pins

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Crackle Paste

Surfaces: Dyan Reaveley Small Creative Journal

Glass Media Mat

Heat Gun

Button from my own stash