VIDEO: Easy watercolor mixed media flower art

Watercolor and gel medium don't mix, right? Well, oddly enough I love working with gel medium and watercolor together, you just get the most amazing textures and effects. Take for instance my video this week. It's a super easy, mixed media flower art tutorial that uses glass bead gel and watercolor. I know, crazy! But look how much fun it is! And all that amazing texture.

But I have a confession, I made a totally rookie mistake! Got a bit too excited and threw caution to the wind when I really should have been patient and waited. Be patient? Yeah, that word is so not in my vocabulary! Anyway, I won't spoil the fun, you can watch what mistake I made and how I fixed it too in the video!

Before we start the video, go grab your popcorn, or maybe that should be go grab your paper and paints! Because, I just wanted to let you know that at the end I have a special shout out to one of my YouTube channel subscribers!



VIDEO: Easy watercolor mixed media flower art



[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]

Supplies
Daler and Rowney Mixed Media Paper:
     Buy Daler Rowney in the UK;  Buy Daler Rowney in the US
Newspaper
Golden Regular gel (gloss):
     Buy Regular Gel UK; Buy Regular Gel US
Plastic card
Flat brush
PaperArtsy Kim Dellow Stencil PS046:
     Buy PaperArtsy Stencil UK; Buy PaperArtsy Stencil US
Golden Glass Bead Gel:
     Buy Bead gel UK; Buy Bead gel US
Palette knife
Dr PH. Martin's Hydrus (set 1):
     Buy Hydrus UK; Buy Hydrus US  (Hail Hydrus! - Sorry, bad geek reference - hail hydra - Marvel - get it? *Sigh, just me then!)
water spray
Round brush
Kitchen towel
Holbein Gouache Brilliant gold
     Buy Holbein gold UK; Buy Holbein gold US
PaperArtsy Kim Dellow Stamps EKD05 (pre-decorated see my butterfly art slice video)
     Buy PaperArtsy Stamps UK; Buy PaperArtsy Stamps US (UK);

Did you spot the shout out? It is a massive thank you to Diane Zureski and you can see the project that she shared with us at the end of the video.

Diane tried out the technique I used in my 'Technique: PaperArtsy Infusions Coloured Gel Medium' video and we are now both fans of this technique! Thank you so much for sharing your project with us Diane! You can find Diane over on pinterest so go and say 'hi' and let her know how much you liked her project!


If you would like to have a shout out in one of my videos then please do share something you made inspired by one of my videos, tag me in social media (links below) so that I can see it and perhaps the next shout out will be yours!

And to make sure that you know exactly when one of my videos uploads, subscribe to my YouTube channel and click on the notifications so you can stay in the know!


I shall catch you all later! Happy creating.
Kim


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VIDEO: Try This Easy Way To Add Texture To An Art Journal Page

Yay! It is video time and I have a new video on my YouTube Channel! This week it is all about texture, with a super easy technique for adding texture to an art journal page, mixed media or painting project and how to really make the most of that texture as you add to the page layer by layer. I'm also sharing some fun techniques for making the most out of your colouring materials like a simple method for tinting gesso with your crayons like the Faber-Castell Gelatos and a heads-up on a great gold paint that is actually sparkly like the metal itself.

This is one of my organic pages today and I had no plan for it when I started out, however, I was inspired on how to finish it by Julie Kirk from 'Notes On Paper' and her lovely book 'Snipped Tales', which makes me smile every time I dip into it and is worth checking out if you enjoy the art of mini-story telling!


VIDEO: Try This Easy Way To Add Texture To An Art Journal Page



[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]

Supplies:
Junk Journal
Winsor and Newton Galeria Gesso
Faber-Castell Gelato Bubble Gum
Palette Knife
Plastic card
Liquitex Heavy Body Muted Turquoise
Waffle Flower Doily Circle
Flat brush
Round brush medium
Golden Regular Gel (gloss)
Heat tool
Holbein Artists Gouache Brilliant Gold
Old book pages
scissors

My little abstract, ephemera story says:

'Beautiful living creature about to speak,
take care of the mountain,
as it is belonging to me.'

I thought it was cute and I hope it sparks your own story around words. Let me know what it makes you think of in the comments!

Finally, before I go I just wanted to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who has subscribed to my YouTube Channel or even if you aren't a subscriber but still watch my videos regularly. I really do appreciate it, it is amazing the response I have been getting and I am so glad you are enjoying them! I am quite surprised that I have doubled my subscription number and increased my watch time considerably since January. So really, a huge THANK YOU!

I am just over 110 people away from my 1000 subscribers milestone so I was wondering if I should do something special to mark it? Do you have any ideas on what you might like for the 1000 subscriber video? Let me know if you do!

And as always share any work you are inspired to make from my creative shares and videos by linking me up to it in social media as I would love to see it!

Kim


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VIDEO: Make Your Own Paint Splatter Art

Hey Pineapple, how are you doing? Well we are all splatter here in my studio at the moment with some paint splatter art fun! Want to join in? I have a video all about it today and sharing some tips and tricks for getting the most out of this fun technique. Now I'm thinking that this is a pretty fun technique to use in art journals and on painting projects for texture but it can easily be used for card making too. But wait! How about using the initials of your loved ones names to make some bespoke monogram art?! Now that sounds like a fab idea to me!

For my Pineapple art I've used paint markers but I run through some other materials you might want to try this technique with in my video. You can make this one as easy or as complex as you want. Try layering it up on your mixed media projects, art journals or how about on old book pages? Have a play and see what effects you can come up with and I'm pretty sure that each one you do will be unique!


VIDEO: Make Your Own Paint Splatter Art



[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]

Supplies:
Derwent Graphik Line Painter: Brick Road, Tickled Pink, Herring, Blood
Strathmore Mixed Media Journal
Cardboard (from Packaging)
Paper 160gsm
water spray
craft knife
cutting mat
pencil

If you are looking for some other ways to add texture to your art than try out my recent watercolor painting texture video share. And whilst you are over on my YouTube Channel don't forget to subscribe and click for notifications so that you can see my videos as they upload.

So what shape are you going to try out? And what do you think you are going to make? Let me know in the comments either here or on YouTube and tag me in to your projects on social media as I would love to see them and you never know I might give your work a shout out in one of my videos! All my social media links are below.

Kim


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VIDEO: Watercolor Art Journal Page Project Start To Finish

Hey Guys, how are you all doing? Are you have a lovely creative week? I do hope you are and if you are looking for some inspiration to get you fired up and ready for some painting fun or for a bit of art journal creating then I have a watercolor project video to share with you today that might be just what you are looking for.

But I am doubly excited to share this project with you today as it uses some of Tracy Evans new stamps with AALL And Create. I've known Tracy for years via blogging and design teams, which by the way is one of the things that I love about this job, you do get to meet some lovely people, like Tracy. I am excited to see her starting on this new art venture, so when I saw these fab stamps I knew I had to play with them. She has two stamp sets at the moment, this gorgeous one with the birds and sentiments and a grungy circle, heart and star set which is also right up my street!

So in my video today I'm covering lots techniques: from how to stamp on watercolor paper to layering and adding texture with watercolor. Sit back and enjoy!


 VIDEO: Watercolor Art Journal Page Project Start To Finish



[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]

Supplies:
AALL and Create Stamp Set #6 Tracy Evans
MISTI Stamping Tool
PaperArtsy Stencil {by Kim Dellow} 048
Ranger Archival Ink Jet black
Bockingford Watercolour paper 300gsm Cold Press
Dr PH. Martin's Hydrus (set1)
Hake Brush (or flat brush or mop brush will work well too)
Jackson's Art Raven Mop Brush
Ceramic palette
Scissors
spare paper
kitchen towel

Yeah, you might have noticed that I am kind of loving watercolor at the moment! Oh and loving trying out different video formats too! Hope you have been enjoying them.

So don't forget to pop on over to Tracy Evans' blog and let her know which of her two new stamp sets you like the best. You can find plenty more inspiration with them on her blog.

As always let me know if you have any questions and don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the notifications option so that you know as soon as I have new video content! And I would love to see anything you make that is inspired by what I share so tag me in on social media, you can find all my social media links below!

Kim


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VIDEO: 5 Ways To Use Stencils With StencilGirl

Have you seen the StencilGirl Alpha Drips and Number Drips stencils designed by Seth Apter? I recently got my hands on these thanks to the lovely StencilGirl for a guest post over on the StencilGirl Talk blog today and I thought that I would challenge myself to come up with 5 ways to use these two stencils to make a background.

Do you want to see the techniques I used? Well I have a video with the five ways I used these two stencils and I am also sharing how I put the whole page together too. But I am totally interested to know what techniques you would use? Have a watch of the video, have a think about it and then read on!


VIDEO: 5 Ways To Use Stencils With StencilGirl




[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]

Supplies:
StencilGirl Seth Apter Alpha Drips Stencil
StencilGirl Seth Apter Number Drips Stencil
Strathmore Mixed Media Art Journal page
Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic paint Cadmium Red Medium Hue, Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue, Light Blue Permanent
Brayer
Spray bottle water
Plastic palette (piece of old packaging)
Kitchen Sponge
Golden Regular gel medium (gloss)
plastic card spreader
Ranger Dylusions Ink Spray Bubblegum Pink
Pipette (eye dropper)
Uni Pin Fineline Marker
Sharpie Paint pen (water-based)

If you pop on over to the StencilGirl blog today then you can see some close-ups of the details and all of the texture. And whilst you are there take some time to check out their blog as it is just full of inspiration for using your stencils and well worth a visit for all stencilling fans!

Both StencilGirl and I would love to know what your favourite techniques with stencils are and what techniques you would use to make a background, so let us know! You can find StencilGirl on Instagram @stencilgirl_products or Facebook StencilGirl Products and of course on their blog StencilGirl Talk so go and tell them and tag me in because I would like to know too! Even better, grab these stencils and make something then tag us both in to see it. You can find all my social media links below!

Can't wait to see what you make or hear all your great ideas!

Kim


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VIDEO: Try This Watercolor Painting Texture Technique

I love playing around with watercolor painting textures! There are lots of different ways to make really interesting watercolor textured backgrounds and features for your art journal pages, painting projects and even for cardmaking too, it is the medium that just keeps on giving!

So today I am sharing a painting texture that I have been experimenting with and I have a video showing all the steps that you need to get the texture yourself. I've used both a drawing ink and watercolor paint for my textures but feel free to play with what you have in your stash and let me know how it goes and which products work and which don't!


VIDEO: Try This Watercolor Painting Texture Technique




[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]

Supplies:
Winsor and Newton Drawing Ink: Canary Yellow, Ultramarine
Dr PH. Martin's Hydrus: Ultramarine
Winsor and Newton Watercolour: Violet
Hake Brush (or flat brush or mop brush will work well too)
Jackson's Art Raven Mop Brush
Water
Bockingford Watercolour paper 300gsm Cold Press
Fabriano Watercolour paper 300gsm Hot Press

Once you have learnt this technique you can use it in your art and I can not wait to see what projects you come up with so do tag me in on your social media shares as I would love to see it, all my social media links are below. You never know, I might feature your work in one of my videos too!

So I thought I would make my Dad his Father's Day card from one of the texture swatches using the Dr Ph. Martin's watercolor paint as I particularly loved how the texture came out on this piece and I thought he would like it too!

Enjoy making your textures and I look forward to seeing what projects you come up with using this technique!

Kim


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VIDEO: 5 Ways With Background Dies

What are your favourite background dies at the moment and how do you use them? Do tell in the comments below, I would love to hear because today I have a video with my five favourite ways to use background dies. The ideas that I am sharing today are perfect for mixed media, art journaling and painting techniques but also card making too. So whilst you are at it, let me know which projects you love to do - mixed media, art journaling, cardmaking or something else? I would really love to know.

So if you are going to tell me which is your favourite background die at the moment then let me tell you mine! I mentioned it in my heart and star shaped cards blog post a month ago, it is the Apple Blossom Hexagon Panel Die from Craft stash. Have you seen it? It's pretty huge and super versatile.


[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]


VIDEO: 5 Ways With Background Dies



Supplies:
Apple Blossom Hexagon Panel Die
Cricut Cuttlebug Die-cutting machine
Cricut Cuttlebug Spacer Plate A
Cricut Cuttlebug Replacement Cutting Plate B
Cricut Cuttlebug Thin Die Adaptor Plate C
Creative Dies Plus Stitched and Pierced Nesting Heart dies
MFT Die-namics Stitched Circle STAX dies
Corrugated cardboard
white cardstock
Craft foam
Brayer
Golden Regular gel
Ranger Archival Ink Viridian
Liquitex Heavy body paint Medium Magenta
Ranger Dylusions Ink Spray Vibrant Turquoise
Palette
craft knife

As always if you are inspired to make something using the techniques and ideas that I share then link me up in social media as I would love to see it. You can find links to all my feeds below or you can leave a comment here or on my YouTube channel.

Kim



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VIDEO: Art Journal Page With Patterned Paper And Brush Pen

Cast your mind back to two weeks ago... I shared an art journal page video called 'Abstract Shapes Art Journal Page Tutorial', yeah, I know I REALLY need to work on my titles! Well in that video I mentioned that I made a whole bunch of art journal pages on the same day. Do you remember?

Ok, don't worry, it isn't a test! I am sure you don't remember, but I do and here is another one of those art journal pages from that day of filming. It's a double spread art journal page using patterned paper and a brush pen and even though I did it on the same day as the Abstract shapes video and it has some elements in common with it, like the using pattern paper, cutting out shapes, using acrylic paint, the results are very different.

And that is the main reason why I wanted to remind you about that other video and link the two videos together: to share some inspiration for different ways you can use your same stash to get different results.


VIDEO: Art Journal Page With Patterned Paper And Brush Pen




Supplies

[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]

Junk Journal
Liquitex Acrylic paint (heavy Body) Brilliant Yellow Green
Liquitex Acrylic paint (soft body) Cerulean Blue Hue
Daler Rowney Systems 3 Acrylic paint Titanium White
DecoArt Media Modeling Paste Black
Golden Regular Gel (Gloss)
Patterned paper (Studio Calico Brighten pier)
StencilGirl Loopy Ladders Stencil
punchinella
Palette
Palette knife
Tombow Fude pen (soft)
Mixing tin
plastic card scraper

I've shared a full view of the whole double spread in the video and also explained why I did the pages together, but if I missed anything, or you have some questions or tips on how you use your same stash to get different results in your art journal pages. I would love to hear, So leave me a comment either here or on my YouTube channel!

Kim



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VIDEO: Using Stencils With Watercolours in Your Art Journal Or Sketchbook

My video share today is all about using stencils and watercolours. I really enjoy using watercolours with stencils and today's video shares a fun technique you might want to try out. I've gone for a very stylised, almost illustrative look with my design today, because I am really loving that look at the moment, but you can adapt the techniques to other styles too and use them in your art journal or your sketchbook.

I've used two stencils from StencilGirl, the lovely feathers designed by Rae Missigman and matched them up with one of my own DIY stencils that I made based on a Moroccan tile design. I think the three designs work really well together, what do you think?

There are lots of tips in the video as well as how to correct mistakes with watercolours! Oops!

VIDEO: Using Stencils With Watercolours in Your Art Journal Or Sketchbook




Hope you enjoy the video and as always if you are inspired to make something after seeing my work then let me know! Leave a note here or better still come over to my YouTube channel and leave me a comment, I could always do with the thumbs up and subscribes too! Thanks!

Supplies:

[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]


Hand Book Journal Watercolour Natural Linen 5.25 x 8.25
...Buy from Amazon UK
...Buy from Amazon US
...Buy from Jackson's Art UK (Ships Worldwide)

StencilGirl Imaginary Bird Feather Stencil and Mask
...Buy from StencilGirl (Ships Worldwide)

StencilGirl Classic Feather Retake Stencil and Mask
...Buy from StencilGirl (Ships Worldwide)

Stencil Card
...Buy from Jackson's Art UK (Ships Worldwide)

Prima Marketing TROPICALS Watercolor Confections Set
...Buy from Amazon UK
...Buy from Amazon US

Prima Marketing DECADENT PIES Watercolor Confections Set
...Buy from Amazon UK
...Buy from Amazon US

Prima Marketing THE CLASSICS Watercolor Confections Watercolor Pans
...Buy from Amazon UK
...Buy from Amazon US

DA VINCI : NOVA SYNTHETIC HAIR BRUSH Round Size 4
...Buy from Amazon UK (long handle)
...Buy from Amazon US
...Buy from Jackson's Art UK (Ships Worldwide)

DA VINCI : COSMOTOP SPIN BRUSHES round Size 0
...Buy from Amazon UK
...Buy from Amazon US
...Buy from Jackson's Art UK (Ships Worldwide)

uni-ball Pin Drawing Pens
...Buy from Amazon UK
...Buy from Amazon US
...Buy from Jackson's Art UK (Ships Worldwide)

Frisk : Magic Watercolour Erasers Sponges
...Buy from Amazon UK
...Buy from Jackson's Art UK (Ships Worldwide)


More Ideas Using Watercolours and Stencils

I have some other techniques for using watercolour and stencils. Do you remember the textured and layered art journal page that I made using the products I designed for PaperArtsy? Well that page was started with a stencil and watercolour technique, one of my favourites actually.

Then there was a tutorial I wrote for Blitsy on how to make your on journaling cards using watercolours and stencils too. That was fun!

Click on the photos to see other tutorials using stencils and watercolours:




So what is your favourite technique for using watercolours with stencils?

Kim


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VIDEO: Abstract Shapes Art Journal Page Tutorial

I'm happy to say that I have a video to share today. I know it has been a while since my last video due to my little break, but last Friday I spent a day filming videos, and so here we are! New video time!

So this week I am sharing my start to finish process on this abstract shapes art journal page with some thoughts on how I go about creating what I call organic art journal pages, or pages where I don't have a plan or an idea in my head that I am working towards and I just let them develop how they want.

We've talked about this before here on my blog and I know some of you are more comfortable planning and some of you just like to let go. There is no right or wrong way to do it in my mind but I like to practice both and if you, like me are more comfortable with planning and want to break free and practice being more organic when it comes to art journaling then I have some tips in this week's video from one planner to another, just for you!


VIDEO: Abstract Shapes Art Journal Page Tutorial



Supplies:

[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]

Liquitex Heavy Body Professional Acrylic Color  (Cadmium Yellow, Brilliant Yellow Green, Medium Magenta, Cadmium Red Medium Hue, Yellow Orange Azo)
...Buy from Amazon UK
...Buy from Amazon US

Daler Rowney System 3 250 ml Titanium White
...Buy from Amazon UK
...Buy from Amazon US

Golden - Regular Gel - Gloss
...Buy from Amazon UK
...Buy from Amazon US

Caran D'Ache NeoColor II Water Soluble Wax
...Buy from Amazon UK
...Buy from Amazon US

Junk Journal
Patterned paper
Scissors
Spray bottle (water)
Brush

You can see the texture from the paint that was already on this page before I started in this close up picture above. I do love using acrylic paint to add this kind of texture.

So drop me a line if you have any questions or comments. Oh and don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel to see my videos as they go up. Catch you later.

Kim



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Making Shaped Cards With Creative Dies Plus

I've been making lots of cards this week. Article work has been keeping me busy but I have also had the opportunity to try out the Creative Dies Plus Stitched and Pierced nesting dies from Craft Stash. Have you seen these dies? I'm not sure how long they have been on the market for but they were new to me and it's totally perfect timing for me as I've been meaning to update some of my nesting dies.

I have to keep my stash current with what is available on the market for my article work but unfortunately some of my Spellbinders dies are no longer easily available, well at least here in the UK. So, well it's great excuse to go shopping, right? Luckily, Craft Stash asked if I would try out some of their products so I jumped at the chance and picked some dies including these two nesting die sets (thank you Craft Stash!) but I might have also bought some other dies as well that I will share with you later (*wink).

[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]

I know! I could not resist, they have this amazing large Hexagon Panel die from the Apple Blossom collection that I have just fallen in love with, but more on that in another blog post!

I do have to admit I've never actually had a set of nested heart dies before as I usually cut my own heart shapes but check out the stitch and pierced dot details. Well, you've got me there, I can't do that easily so this set had to drop into my basket.

The stitched and dot details are a lovely touch that I really like but if you are looking for some plain nesting die shapes they also have a large collection of just shapes to choose from including some heavily discounted bundle deals worth looking at (just thought I would give you a heads-up in case you were looking for some!).

You guys know that stars and hearts are probably amongst my favourite go-to motifs, we have talked about our favourite motifs before here on my blog. I do use them again and again and I am naturally drawn to those shapes first but there were lots of other shapes in the Creative Dies Plus Stitched and Pierced range too including tags, scalloped shapes, circles, ovals, banners, rectangles and squares.

Both these cards, that I am sharing today, are shaped cards using Kraft and cream cardstock and some old papers from Studio Calico. It's the Brighton Pier collection in case you were curious but I expect you can't find them any more. Sorry! I've hand-written the sentiments and mixed and matched the die-cut shapes to make a matching pair of cards. 

The sentiment on the Stitched and Pierced Heart card says 'Wishes' and on the Stitched and Pierced Star card says 'Besties'. 

So thanks again to Craft Stash for sending me these dies to try out and you might have noticed that I am also an affiliate of theirs too as it just makes sense - I like their products, I am a big fan of their in-house designers and as they are part of Practical Publishing International they have most of the latest magazines that you can sometimes spot me in (*cheeky grin!).

By the way, if you are a new Craft Stash customer make sure that you join their newsletter as you can get 20% off your first order if you do.

So which are your favourite shapes in the Creative Plus Stitched and Pierced Nesting dies range? I'm curious as to which will be the most popular. What nesting die shapes do you use the most or what shape would you like to see but haven't yet?

Kim

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PaperArtsy Found Object Gel Skin

I was on the PaperArtsy blog recently with a project for their Found Objects theme, did you see it? I decided to go for a gel skin-based project using an old washer and a large grommet both found in the street, 'coz that is what I do, I find rubbish in the street and recycle it into art. Basically I am a Womble, except I don't live on Wimbledon Common. No the prices are too high in Wimbledon, I'm more an East London girl!

There is also an piece of old comic book in this project, found in my stash of old comic books for the purpose of art making and also I used some tissue paper found in some packaging of a parcel. So all of it is made from found objects. Well except the stamps, pencils and gel parts!

[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]

I love how the tissue paper has become practically invisible in the final project. To make it I placed a piece of comic book on some tissue paper and stamped the electro heart and border stamps that I designed for PaperArtsy EKD04. Then I used a mix of Prismacolor pencils and Faber-Castell Polychromo pencils to colour the heart. 

To make the gel skin and incorporate the image in it, I first added a layer of Liquitex Pouring Medium to an area the size of the tissue paper that I had marked off on an old plastic bag. Then I layered the tissue paper and comic book page on top of the gel and added the washer and grommet where I wanted them to be. Then I added another layer of Pouring medium over the top to cover the tissue paper and found objects and added some sprinkles of the Royal Blood Infusions, also from PaperArtsy. 

Once this was mostly dry I pealed the gel skin off of the plastic backing and let it dry completely. The skin with the tissue and  found pieces almost looks as if it is a resin piece doesn't it? Except it is quite flexible. 

To turn the washer and grommet into functional holes to hang the piece from I then just cut out the gel skin and tissue from the centre of each with a craft knife. then all that is left is deciding how to show it and for this I decided to use wire. Initially my idea was to hang it like a banner in the window so that you can see the light coming through and get the most out of the translucent effect but this proved harder to do as I don't have an appropriate hook to hang it from. So in the end I went for a wire stand held in a small jug.  

If you like gel skins then you might find my 'How To Make A Gel Skin Heart' tutorial over on the Blitsy blog interesting. Or you could revisit some of my experiments with different acrylic mediums and gels in my 'Art Journal Sharing Thursday - Acrylic Gel Skins' blog post if you want to get started with gel skins and have a play yourself with the products you have to hand.

Click on the photos below to go directly to the blog post you want to visit:

Have a super fun and creative week!

Kim

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Looking For Advice PLUS VIDEO: Art Slice Round-Up April 2017

So I have been a little bit quieter than usual on social media recently for a few reasons. One fun reason is that I am trying to redesign my blog and perhaps even my whole career at this point. But the not so fun reason is that this is kind of leading me to a total paralysing overload and burnout. Too many choices, too many decisions! Brain...Does Not Compute...It's illogical, Captain...Pufff. That was the noise of my head exploding in case you weren't sure. Yes, it was only a tiny puff of smoke, barely noticeable from my usual self, apart from a lack of social media presence perhaps.

Do you have any survival techniques for overload and burnout? I mean sitting on the couch in my pants drinking wine and eating chocolates can only take you so far! Ok, so I don't actually sit on the couch in my pants. Does a big fluffy dressing gown count? Well, it isn't really MY dressing gown, I time share it with the cats. They let me borrow it occasionally. If I am good.

Anyway, if you do have some survival techniques I would love to hear them! In the meantime here is a round-up of my April Art Slice videos in time for inspiring your creative weekend, I hope.



[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]



DIY Butterflies With Gelli Plate Prints And PaperArtsy Stamp



Supplies:
PaperArtsy Eclectica³ {Kim Dellow} Stamps EKD05
PaperArtsy Eclectica³ {Kim Dellow} Stencils
Ranger Archival ink Jet Black
Scissors
Gelli Plate


Gouache World



Supplies:
Turner Gouache paint
Strathmore mixed media journal
plastic sheet from old packaging
Sakura Pigma Micron pen
Kitchen towel
water spray


Gouache Poppy Flower



Supplies:
Turner Gouache
Sakura Pigma Micron pen
Strathmore Mixed Media journal


Gouache Paint Space Feather



Supplies: 
Turner gouache paint
Brushes
Sketchbook



But joking aside, I do feel I need to regroup, rethink and redesign so if I am a little quiet, then that is why. Watch this space! I honestly don't know what is going to happen next! Is that good or bad?

Hope you enjoyed the videos and are ready for making some art this weekend, I would love to see what you make so do link me up or shout out on any of the social media channels you use and I will come say hi!

Kim

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VIDEO: Easy Flower Painting Technique

Do you like getting your fingers covered in paint? Well if you do then I am sharing the perfect easy flower painting technique for your art journaling today in my video this week. Yep it is all finger painting this week. But never fear, if you don't like getting your fingers dirty then you can always use gloves for this one!

Finger painting is so much fun and a great way to get really into your painting! This page was actually just an experiment for me. I wanted to try out the Winsor and Newton Designer Gouache properly and see if I could use a pen over the top of them. So I used this quick flower painting technique to run the materials through their paces! And it is fun as well of course!


VIDEO: Easy Flower Painting Technique




[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]

Supplies:
Winsor and Newton Designer Gouache Paint (Permanent Yellow Deep, Primary Yellow, Spectrum Red, Primary Red, Ultramarine, Permanent Green Middle, Zinc White)
Tombow Brush Pen
Junk Journal
Ceramic palette
Heat tool
Kitchen towel
Water spray

Have fun with your art journal experimenting this week and let me know if you have been getting your fingers painty this week!

Oh and don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel to see my videos as they go up.

Kim

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7 Art and Craft Books To Read This Month

I love books, obviously I love the internet too, but I still love the physicality of books and I love being able to flick through art and craft books for reference, knowledge and inspiration. So back in January I shared the art books I was reading that month and now it is time for an update!

It's another mix of art business and inspiration books but I've also got some craft books in the list this month, oh, and a notebook too!

[There are some affiliate links in this blog post, so if you buy through them I do get a small amount of money at no extra cost to yourself. Thanks for your support!]


Living The Creative Lifestyle And Art Business

This month I have the two Austin Kleon books on my list, Show Your Work and Steal Like An Artist, have you read them? These two books are inspirational self-help books on nurturing the creative lifestyle and making a living, or not (!), from your art. They work as motivational books with tips on how to be true to yourself, work on your art to improve it and get your artwork out there to sell it.

Every time I open one of these two books it is like 'oh yeah! That is so true!' and it reminds me of the things I frequently need reminding about as day to day life kicks in and I scrabble about trying to build my business and improve my art and all the thousands of things that go into those tasks. So if you are in the same boat I can recommend these books as grounding points and interesting reads!


Need Art Business Advice To Get Your Teeth Into?

But for something with a bit more umph and some nitty gritty about licensing, contracts, tax etc then try The Essential Guide to Business for Artists and Designers (Essential Guides) by Alison Branagan. What I find particularly useful for me about this book is that is is UK-centric. So many art/design business books are USA-based and having a book that is about working within the UK business rules and regulation, as that is where I am based, is very useful.

Just as an aside, when you do freelance work with clients based outside of your the country that you live in it is a good idea to do your research as best you can. Your clients can help and they may know what forms you need to fill in to comply with their countries rules or regulations. But you can also contact the various regulatory authorities within your own country for help. And of course finding other people on the internet who are in the same situation as you and have worked with clients in those countries helps too!

And of course if you run a blog and earn money from that blog there are lots of rules you need to be aware of across all territories, so research and joining blogging groups is great for that!

I've got the 2011 edition of The Essential Guide to Business for Artists and Designers (Essential Guides) but there is a new edition that came out in February 2017, so perfect timing if you are looking for a really useful resource for your art, craft or design business.

Get Designing!

For this month's designing inspiration I'm kicking off with Color + Pattern: 50 Playful Exercises for Exploring Pattern Design by Khristian Howell. This book has, as it says, lots of fun exercises and prompts to help focus your mind and build up your design skills. I like it because you can dip in and out of it as you want and there are even an occasional how-to for using software to build designs, although perhaps not as in depth as some of the fabric design books on my last reading list. There are also some mini meet the designer features in this book and lots and lots of image inspiration in the form of both photos and patterns, so a lot to get your designing mind whirling.

The next book on my list this month in the inspiration category is actually not a reading book, it is a notebook. It's the Everything You Can Imagine Is Real notebook designed by Helen Dardik. This notebook is super cute and has illustrated quotes in between the writing pages and I am using it to capture my illustration ideas and work at the moment.

How beautiful is that Unicorn? You can find Helen Dardik on Instagram and she is an artist and illustrator represented by the agent Lillia Rogers, whose art business book I Just Like to Make Things: Learn the Secrets to Making Money while Staying Passionate about your Art and Craft was on my January Reading List, if you missed it!



Get Your DIY And Craft On!

The final category on my reading list this month are some DIY craft books. So my studio is going through a bit of a re-organisation and I've been working through my art and craft books. It is fun to revisit them but also as part of this I am thinning them out and passing them on to new good homes. So if you are looking for art and craft bargains then pop on over to my Ebay where I have various items looking for people to love and use them!

So the books I have been re-reading this month, before I sell them on, are House Proud: Hip Craft for the Modern Homemaker by Danielle Proud, ReadyMade: How to Make (Almost) Everything by Shoshana Berger and Grace Hawthorne and Sew Quick, Sew Cute: 30 Simple, Speedy Projects by Fiona Goble.

House Proud and ReadyMade are great for any home decor or recycling and up-cycling inspiration you might be thinking of doing. They are full of some fabulous ideas and even some full-on furniture making projects, particularly in ReadyMade! The Sew Quick, Sew Cute book is full of cute sewing projects from soft furnishing, wearable items and home decor, I love the face cushions project, totally fun!

So that is my reading list this month, what is on yours?

Kim

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