Earlier in the week, I gave you a selection of cards to help you gather supplies for your own custom-made creative retreat. In today’s episode; Follow your Dreams.
I know not all dreams are possible, but some ARE. Take one small step toward your dreams and it could change your life. Dreams are important, follow your dreams, the small ones, the achievable ones. The ones that will lead you to the bigger ones you never thought possible.
Print out the next set of cards to help you find your dreams. Write them down and you will then see the smaller steps that take you towards them.
Staycation Turned Art Retreat: Part 3; Follow your Dreams
How to Use
Click on the Download image you want to print, to open the picture to full size.
Right Click with your mouse and choose ‘Save As’ from the list of options.
Once it is on your machine, you can print it as, is or open a Word Processing programme and insert the image. This will give you more control of the final size of the page.
Options
You can of course use the retreat concept for any kind of creative style not just art.
Print out the new page and gather your dreams for S.T.A.R.
Hope you are playing along with STAR, what are your dreams?
If like me you are staying at home this year, how about treating yourself to a creative retreat? Even better when its free. In the last episode we gathered our supplies, today lets explore Where to find Inspiration.You can find inspiration in the most unlikely of places and where you least expect to. Where do you find your inspiration?
Print out the next set of cards to help you find inspiration, useful when your mojo is a no-show
Staycation Turned Art Retreat: Part 2; Finding Inspiration
How to Use
Click on the Download image you want to print, to open the picture to full size.
Right Click with your mouse and choose ‘Save As’ from the list of options.
Once it is on your machine, you can print it as, is or open a Word Processing programme and insert the image. This will give you more control of the final size of the page.
Options
You can of course use the retreat concept for any kind of creative style not just art.
Print out the new page and gather your inspiration for S.T.A.R.
Hope you are playing along with STAR, where do you find your inspiration, what inspires you? Join me in Part three for Following your Dreams.
I was looking at Surface Treatment workshop book by Darlene Mc Elroy and Sandra Duran Wilson and they had a technique called pulled paper. In their technique, they were leaving traces of paper behind on a surface to make it look aged, but it gave me an idea for creating dimensional texture with texture paste.
This is a really simple technique but gives a pretty result that is random and interesting, I think it looks a little like that feathered kind of pattern you used to see on marbled paper. Perfect if you are new to texture paste.
You Will Need
Daler Rowney Texture Paste
Acrylic colour of your choice I’m using Winsor & Newton Galeria Acrylic paint as it has a flow formula
Plain Paper or plastic food bag (like you put sandwiches in)
Mount board
Flat Palette knife; I’m using Langnickel K4
Method
I’m including written instructions so that if you struggle with English, do use the Translate this site to have the instructions in your chosen language
Apply a thick layer of texture paste to the mount board, using the palette knife
Allow the paste to sit for a moment or two, just till the first sheen goes off it.
Lay a piece of paper over the texture paste and smooth over GENTLY just to make sure the paper is in full contact with the whole surface of the board.
Carefully peel the paper off the board, in one direction and preferably in a single take.
Tis will leave a feather like texture in the paste
Allow this to dry fully and then paint over with your chosen colours.
Options/Added Extras
As an alternative to pressing paper into the paste, try using a plastic bag. Smooth it on and peel it back, this one can be used repeatedly.
Try scrunching up your paper before you apply it to the paste for a different effect
Vary how long you leave the paste before you apply the paper.
Try scrunching the bag up while it’s on the paste before you remove it for another look again
For a coloured background, mix your chosen colour of paint into the paste before you apply it to the board. This will lighten your colours as the texture paste is opaque.
Have fun and experiment, it’s often through ‘happy accidents’ that you find new techniques Here’s a few that I found while experimenting with texture paste for the first time.
Just the beginning, a few samples made after only an afternoon with texture paste!
Texture paste is a fantastic way to add texture and dimension to art projects. Today’s tutorial will combine a variety of textures and colours in a simple but effective way to create a stone like effect. A great way to try texture paste for the first time.
You Will Need
Daler Rowney: Texture Paste
Embossed cardstock (I used 300 gsm card embossed in a Cuttlebug with my favorite folder)
You will need a piece of dark embossed cardstock. I used a piece of 300 gsm card, which I embossed using a Cuttlebug die cutting machine and my favorite embossing folder. You could also use textured wall paper if you wish. (see my other videos for how to emboss cardstock. I’ll add link at the end).
Apply a layer of texture paste over the whole of the embossed surface of the card. You don’t need too heavy an application, you still want to be able to see the embossing through it.
While the paste is still wet, apply bubble wrap over the card stock and pull it up off the piece, this adds light texture. For a less uniform pattern, you could also use plastic bag to dab on to the surface.
Allow the paste to dry overnight. Drying time may be faster if you have a thin application or are in a warm climate. Do not force the paste dry with a heat gun. (Oh ok, just a little but only if you have a gentle one and DON’T over heat it.)
Apply paynes grey gently over the high areas of the embossing, this will bring out the pattern and also the texture.
Allow each colour to dry before you add the next or they will blend rather than layer
In a few places add some Burnt Sienna
In a few places add some Raw umber, this is also useful to tone down any overly bright areas.
When you are happy with the look, allow all the layers to dry fully and then glue the finished piece onto sturdy card such as mount board or chip board.
Options/Added Extras
For a more distressed darker look, add extra Raw Umber around the edges of the board.
If you find it gets out of control and you have heavier applications of colours that you don’t like (yes this happened to me! when I tried this on a larger piece). Water down your Paynes Grey on the palette and apply a light colour wash over the piece. Dab into it using the rag, to vary the depth of tone.
Here’s what that does to your piece.
Grunged version of embossed stone
Experiment with different tools to apply your texture paste and different mark making items to vary the textures you get. It’s so much fun to put a layer down and see what you can do with it. The texture paste is quite forgiving as long as you put it onto a sturdy surface. Use it on mountboard to have more ‘fiddle’ time, without the tearing the card apart. I do sometimes experiment till a card gives up (not always intentionally) but that’s a great way to learn.
Here’s the book I made with my panel to store my sketches in.
Embossed stone book
Have fun experimenting and I’d love to see what you create with texture paste, do leave me a comment and show me what you have made.
If you love the texture of crackle but would like a fuss free way to create it, check out this video tutorial for creating texture with gesso. This is a dimensional paint effect so not one to stamp or journal over, but it makes a fantastic tactile finish.
Faux Crackle paint effect. The really EASY way
You Will Need
Daler Rowney Gesso; White
Broad Palette knife. I’m using Langnickel K4
Rag
Jar of water
Non stick craft sheet
Palette
Paint colours of your choice
Method
I’ve included a written version of the instructions so those who need to can use the translate this site, to have the instruction in your chosen language.
Apply a generous layer of gesso to your mount board using the palette knife.
Using the flat face of the knife pat/dab into the gesso, this will leave a texture in the surface. Vary the pressure for different sizes of texture.
Continue until you have an effect you like and allow to dry.
For a coloured background add a light wash, then use a rag or sponge to apply colour just to the raised areas of the texture.
Options/Added Extras
For a coloured background texture, mix your colour into the gesso, bear in mind the colour will appear lighter as gesso is opaque.
Put a small amount of gesso in a separate container and add particles of sand or glass beads for a different more textured result.
This is a technique that I discovered by accident when playing experimenting with my new Interference acrylic colours. This paint works best over dark colours so I created a dark background and was layering the interference colour and really liked the effect. With a little practice you can make it look like brushed metal.
Brushed Metal Paint effect, perfect for art journaling and surface decoration
You Will Need
Winsor & Newton Galeria Acrylic Paint: Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna
Use the palette knife to apply a layer of Burnt Umber over the whole mount board panel, allow this layer to dry.
With a rag apply interference gold in ‘grain direction’ as seen in the video and previously in the weathered wood tutorial. Allow this layer to dry.
With a rag, apply some Burnt Sienna in ‘grain direction’ like you did with the gold. Burnt sienna is semi transparent and will let earlier layers show through but this will warm the colours up and tone down any areas that are looking too bright. Allow this layer to dry.
Continue to build your layer till you have an effect that you like, if you like a darker tone go back in with some Burnt Umber with the rag to deepen some areas or perhaps create a frame to the piece.
Like with the other techniques, to get the best results it’s all about the blending. Build up the layers gradually for the best results and allow each layer to dry before you apply the next.
Options/Added Extras
Winsor & Newton Galeria is a flow formula acrylic paint, so the finished result will be flat. This makes it ideal for art journals, ATC and pieces you wish to write or stamp over. If you want a more dimensional effect use a heavy bodied acrylic paint such as Daler Rowney Cryla which will add more dimension to the piece.
Experiment with different base colours and mixes for other effects.
Hope you have enjoyed the video and will give the technique a try, do let me know how you get on. I’d love to see what you create using this technique.
As part of the Adventures in Acrylics online workshop series, I’d like to share a way to spice up your existing colour palette, with the help of Interference colours. If you are a colour magpie like me, and would love all your favourite colours as metallic or interference colours, there is an affordable way to do this. In today’s tutorial I’ll share just one way to achieve this.
This is just one way to make your palette metallic and later in the series I’ll share another option.
Interference Colours; So many possibilities
You Will Need
Method
Options/Added Extras
Experiment with different coloured base surfaces
Experiment with the difference between mixing the interference colours with your palette and using it over the top of colours.
Get dimensional. Try it over embossed and textured surfaces for some stunning results.
New projects have been added to the tabs across the top of the blog.
Check out the 'About' tab, listing of The Virtual Crafting Challenge themes and downloadable calendar pages are now on there too. Now you can access these all year long.
Have fun
Billie :)
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