knowledge

I found this quote from Einstein: "Imagination is more important than knowlegde" and just had to make another page for the Q&L challenge. It has been a while since I did a catch-up page in my dictionary and K was still missing so the perfect opportunity.
At first I wanted to make something really imagitive, surreal even.
But it became something totally different.
The background is black gesso and  mathematical formula's from E=mc², this ressembles a schoolbord.
then wrote the quote on torn out dictionary pages:

gelliclopedia - gradient colors

I wanted to see what happens when you use 2 colors in 1 layer instead of layer upon layer.
I experimented with mixing 2 colors and placing 2 colors next to each other:

• shades of the same color, in this instance green:

• contrasting colors:

I like the blots of color in the first column of prints.

The second column has a gradient effect,

I elaborated on the gradient style by applying 3 stripes of paint: 

 I really enjoy this experimenting, it's just playtime, no overthinking, just painting up the plate and making prints, great to clear my head and get rid of any stress.
What do you do to relax?

Birthday calendar - May

Just a quick post (too tired after a long bike ride this morning and a swim this afternoon, it is a national holiday in Belgium so spent some quality time with the family) with this months' birthday calendar.

I was inspired to make this page after watching a video from Samie Harding on how to create a spray ink textured page.

As you can see no birthdays on here yet, if it's anyone's birthday let me know :-)

Hurt

Last week I ordered some supplies at The Craft Bran with my gift voucher which I received for being selected first place with my up page

Friday the postman came to deliver the package but as I was at work he left a note that I could pick it up after the weekend, aaaarghh.

So yesterday I went and got my package and was as happy as a little kid on their birthday, I got a white pen from Rangers, white embossing powder, baroque stencil from Andy Skinner, black gesso, a craft mat and a speedball brayer.

Of course I needed to test everything right away and what better way then making a spread for this forthnights’ Q&L challenge , check out what other fantastic art is made with these words here.

The background I already made last week using a blue watercolor and a border with a stencil and some black acrylic paint.

The  woman’s face on Andy Skinners’ stencil  was just perfect for the quote:

nobody can hurt me without my permission.

I embossed the corners with the ornament on the stencil and the white embossing powder and painted in some gold detail.

I love the stencil, not that happy with the pen, I would like it to be more opaque, finding a good white pen is turning out to be hard, if anyone has a suggestion/recommandation, always welcome.

gelliclopedia part1

It has been a while since I played around with my gelli plate, shame on me, urgently got to change that.

In Carolyne Dube’s community A colorful playground over on google+  there are so many talented gelli printers, I am not wowed by my own results so decided to start experimenting some more to improve myself. I want to put together kind of a manual for myself ( a gelliclopedia) with what works and what doesn’t.

I started with exploring colors, color combo’s, paint types…

My key learning's thus far are:

1.      I prefer the more translucent paints
2.     A print gets more interesting by adding different elements to one      print ( I tend to make prints with only one stencil, one texture, but when combining several together suddenly it becomes more intriguing)
3.  Layering (best to start with the darkest color, when you use shades of the same color you create a nice shadow effect)

Here are some examples of my first run

first play with this homemade stencil, LOVING it!

2 prints with the other 2 stencils

flower coasters as stencil, combo of warm colors

fern as mask

detail of a print where I used
 an embossed paper as texture,
love the different shades of green

there is also something like too much layering

.

junk journal page #14

YES, page #14 is finished (I think) J

It all started out with some randomly glued leftover letters on a cereal box

Then some stenciling (the pink is actually a fluo pink but this doesn't scan at all)

And then I was stuck,I liked what I had with the circles but it definitely needed something more.

BUT WHAT???
I started by adding some chunky journaling (something I've never done before and must say I'm not overwhelmed with my result aka handwriting, probably need some practice), 
Added a silhouette, still not quite there yet however.
Added another silhoutte, getting there.
But the silhouettes didn't really pop because of all of the color, so I wanted to mute that a bit down, first sprayed some black through a stencil but for whatever reason it didn't stick to the page, so I decided to stencil it with white acrylic paint.
Then some final finishing touches: the leave die cuts, some masking tape and some magical fibres.

This page was definitely a case of keep on layering until I was satisfied. Normally I like each step and am afraid of adding but not in this case, so I kept on going until something half decent came up.

junk used: cereal box, leftover letters, die cuts and magical fibres.

change

It’s so inspiring each time to see all the other great designs in the Q&L Challenge over at the Craft Barn (click here to see for yourself) and to receive honest and motivating comments.

Thanks to all who take the time to visit my blogspot and leave a comment, truly appreciated.

For challenge #7 we were given the words change and/or truth, I came across this quote: "if nothing changes there would be no butterflies"
No doubt possible that that was the quote for me.

Recently I bought these coasters

I didn't buy them to put glasses on however, but to use them as stencils.
And this works very well indeed.

I added some stamping, also using the coasters this time as a stamp. 

Last week me and my 4-year old son did some stamping with corks, and I discovered I liked the texture, so I made these acrylic flowers with them.

Added a flock of butterflies and then I just needed to add the quote, I had cleaned of the coasters after spraying on a piece of scrap and believe it or not but the petals were just the right amount for the words of the quote. As finishing touch a button in the centre  of the flower and done.