Gifts

This Bible jornaling page was once again coated with clear gesso before the illustrating was done.  I used my scroll & brush markers to stamp with a stamp from a set called "21 Vintage Christmas Stamps" that I got in a card making magazine. 

After creating a mask for the stamped image, I covered the margin with a VERY light coating of broken china distress ink using my blending tool (stamped on scrap paper before applying to keep the application light).  I then colored the gifts in with my scroll & brush markers. 

For the text, I used scroll & brush markers for the colored parts and Millennium pen for the black text.

In the Beginning

Here's an example of how much work can go into a simple-looking illustration.  Here's what I did:

• White Gesso (Art Basics) I started by clearing the top and side of the page of unwanted printing by covering it with white gesso.  It took about 7 thin coats - drying between each one with my heat tool - to get the coverage I wanted.
• Clear Gesso - Next, I put clear gesso over the whole page.  I was pleased to discover that by using the clear gesso over top, I could cut down on the "tooth" of the Art Basics white gesso (which matches my page color much better than the "Diana Wakely one that leaves a better surface).  
• Scroll & Brush Markers -Using the Scroll side of my marker I wrote "BEGINNING" across the top of the page - then added "IN THE" at the top using the brush side of the marker.
• Millennium Pen - Under the word BEGINNING, I added the words "GOD CREATED" with my Millennium pen.
• Pastel Chalks - Using a dark blue and a bright yellow, I created the light/dark pattern you see on the page.  I went over the pattern several times - rubbing it in with a paper towel and with a stiff bristled brush.  I loved what I had when I was done, but the color still wanted to come off, and I sure didn't want it getting all over everywhere.  Soooo I:
• Clear Gesso -  added clear gesso over the top of the pastel layer to protect it.  I applied it over just the yellow with one foam brush, and over just the blue with a second foam brush since I DIDN'T want everything to just blend together to some sort of green color.  Doing it this way kept the colors pretty separate, but still took color off, so they were not as vibrant as I had wanted.  Sooo I:
• Scroll & Brush Markers - went over the whole with scroll & brush markers.  I used a paper towel to wipe off the excess as I went along which worked pretty well.  Since they are not opaque, the words are still visible, and the texture I had worked up with the pastels is somewhat there too - though admittedly not quite as nice.

All in all, I'm happy with the page, despite it's lack of perfection.  I learned a LOT in the process of making it!

My Instructor

This started as a page from a coloring book ("Beautiful Psalms: Adult Coloring Book" from Christian Coloring Books) that I added to my Bible.  It started out as a full page, but I didn't care for the top part of it, so cut it off and covered the remaining bits I didn't like with white gesso.  

I colored the flowers, leaves & butterflies using my Scroll & Brush markers and the tip-to-tip blending technique.  Then I colored in the background with pastel chalks using a small stiff brush.  The letters looked a little faded after I was done, so I went over them with a black pen.  I finished off the flowers with some Jewel Dazzles for the centers.

I had originally planned to add it to my Bible with washi tape, but didn't like the way that looked because the tape is so see-through.  So, I added it to my Bible using Elizabeth Crafts double-sided adhesive - then decided to "frame" it on either side with washi tape. (After I took the picture, I added tape top and bottom as well.  Because I needed a very narrow strip at the bottom, I cut the tape lengthwise - about 1/4 of it for the bottom & the rest for the top.)

One Hand Full

This page is the first I've done using acrylic paint.  I didn't prep the page, though the paint probably could be seen as page prep as it probably wouldn't let much bleed through.  It's a bit hard to tell in the picture, but the paint is a pearlescent paint that I've had in my stash for some time.  

I applied the acrylic paint with a foam brush about 1" wide.  I started out just putting the color in the margin, but after I saw how well I could see the "header" words at the top of the page, I decided to just cover the bulk of the page with it.  The words are still VERY visible, and though you can see a bit of darkening of the page from the other side (shadowing) there is NO bleed through of the paint.

The lettering was made using stickers from my stash.  The flowers came with them so coordinate well.  I added a few stems & vines with my Scroll & brush markers.  I then outlined the letters with my Millennium pen and added a couple more words with it. That's it!  A very quick & easy page.