DigiStamps4Joy ~ Circles, Art Journal & Tutorial

Hello my friends! I'm back again to share with you a new challenge is up at DigiStamps4Joy this fortnight. I am happy to announce that it's my turn to host a challenge and I have chosen CIRCLES for the theme. You can do any type of paper project and the 

must have is make any type of circle(s) made from papers on your creations.

The design team have created wonderful 'circle' projects to inspire you. Hop over to DigiStamps4Joy blog to have a see and link up your project.

I have made a mixed media art journal using Rain Dance. Click here to get her. 

Supplies: DS4J digi image, Copic Sketch, Kaisercraft template, Tattered Angel Glimmer Mist, Gesso, Modelling Paste, Mod Podge, VersaFine ink pad, watercolor, drywall tape and

sentiment from Ginger's House

 Some up close photos:

I thought you would like to know how I made these pages so here's sharing step by step tutorial.

Please make yourself a cuppa, sit back and enjoy this lengthy post {smile}.

 Before bed time on Sunday night, I cut strips of scraps and adhered on the pages in the recycle book with mod podge. 

The next morning I resumed my project by adding drywall tape (from hardware)...

  ..and pressed Gesso from the tube but oh man I did it again...oopssie...don't ask me how it happens but it happens, lol.

I use my old Bonuslink card to apply Gesso. I find this and credit cards often works best for me.

 My preschool daughter was off school that day and she kept me company with endless blab questions (nice).

I applied two layers of Gesso and didn't really cover up the whole pages because I will splash paint and do stamping next.

Meanwhile, it started to pour heavily so I brought in the laundry, sighhh. The weather is quite unpredictable the past two months. Nevertheless it's comfy indoor and the rain does match my journal pages {chuckle}.  

 I continued with dropping watercolors on the page randomly and spritz with water to let it run and create pattern on its own...

 ...and dab with kitchen tissue when I find certain parts are somewhat watery as well as leaving patches of tissue glued naturally to the gessoed pages for texture.

 If you use recycle old book for art journal like me, be sure you have adhered number of pages together before you start the project. Don't be like me...pfft...I was working on the page and realized it was so light. Only then I noticed that I didn't glue up the pages underneath for durability. If you wonder, no I don't use Mod Podge for the purpose but homemade one (equal parts of pva glue and water) which is less expensive but very effective as well. 

 Once the messy part is done and satisfied (so far)...

 ...I dry it up with heat gun. The noise attracted my little daughter who came forward to help (lovely). Normally I prefer to dry up my work under the sun but the rain hid the sun this time...

 ...plus I couldn't wait to use my new Kaisercraft template. I'm a brick lover and have been aiming for a brick template so when Spotlight had her grand opening in Ampang Point in July {sadly I couldn't be there}, my sister Lili (had been anxiously waiting with excitement) didn't miss the opportunity. She even bought me one giant Spotlight shopping bag of Kaisercraft supplies!! For the past years we shopped online via Lili's good friend Kelly-ann Oosterbeek (a designer for Kaisercraft). We are really big fan of Kaisercraft products and my supplies have almost dwindle now. Thank you Spotlight for bringing in Kaisercraft to Ampang Point. I believe when my sister found Kaisercraft section, my guess is she left Spotlight with big hole in her wallet, teeheehee.

 A kid's pencil you ask? I can't find my drawing pencil to highlight the strips of scraps so anything goes huh?

Next up I distress the edges with VersaFine ink pad within reach...as always, anything goes :-) After all, this is mixed media.

 Bottle cap is perfect for stamping circles. I also cut out some circles from cardstock and ink them up with watercolor plus misting. 

Here's the finished project once again. I have stamped up the edges with bubble wrap for depth. I also highlight some bricks and the image with Copic.

I hope my creation will inspire you to use digi images in art journal and DigiStamps4Joy has a lot of beautiful images in the shop. 

I can hardly wait to see your circles paper project in my challenge. You have two weeks from now so start creating.

Here are the challenges I'm taking part this time:
1. Clear It Out : Theme Anything Goes Stash Anything Goes (1/3)
2. Fan-Tastic Tuesday : Anything Goes
3. Oldie But A Goodie : Anything But A Card (use very old scrap of papers)
4. Crafty Catz : Recycle It (I recycled old book to be my Art Journal book)
5. Party Time Tuesdays : Water Coloring
6. Try it on Tuesday : Use Your Stash (1/5)
7. Craft My Life : Anything But A Card
8. Artistic Inspirations : Anything Goes &/or Up Up And Away
9. Eclectic Ellapu : Anything Goes option Water Colors

Wishing you the best today and thank you for visiting and comments.

Hugs and smiles,