Splashes of Watercolor

This month the challenge on Splitcoaststampers for the present and alumni Dirty Dozen was to create a inspiration journal using the photo below from BH&G 100 Decorating Ideas Under $100 magazine as inspiration. We were also restricted against using any markers at all.

The restriction of not using any markers was really a hard one for me and I’m sure for some of the other ladies as well. I’ve come to depend on my Copics for most of my coloring, especially if I’m under a time constraint. So I decided to use my papers as the basic design element and not to use any images that needed to be colored.

The first thing that grabbed my attention about the room in the inspiration photo was the soft blues, white, and browns with just a touch of the tangerine color. Fresh! I used this to guide my choice of papers.

One of the elements I wanted to include in my journal was the use of graph paper as pages so I would be able to easily jot down sketch ideas to scale without having to redraw them later. This lead me to start with a package of Canson Graph & Layout paper, cutting the paper and the heavy cardboard backing in half to a size of 8″ x 5 1/2″. Then I cut down the pages an additional 1/4″ on 1 long side and 1 short side to make them a bit smaller than the covers. After the covers were decorated, I used my Zutter Bind-It-All to assemble the journal.

As you can see, there is very little stamping – just the 2 flourishes and the word Art. The entire front cover of the journal was assembled before being attached to the hardboard cover with sticky strip tape. I simply layered the papers I had chosen until I achieved what I considered to be the right mix of colors and textures. As I was layering the brown, blue, tangerine, then patterned paper I realized there was no white! So what I ended up doing was simply folding back a corner of the patterned paper instead of cutting it along the line of the tangerine layer.

I brushed some Robin’s Egg Blue acrylic paint on the patterned paper and stamped my flourish here and then again without reinking on the blue background slightly below the line where the tangerine textured paper would cross the blue. I attached a narrow blue satin ribbon across the patterned paper with some large brown brads. The flower is a piece of the tangerine paper punched with the Stampin’ Up! scallop circle punch, then cut into the flower shape. I punched an 1″ circle to layer on top of the flower and rubbed the edges slightly with my ink pad. Then a clear button tied with a piece of Singer hand stitching thread was attached.

The “Art” was stamped twice – once with Adirondack Espresso, then again slightly to the left with Ranger Distress ink in Spiced Marmalade.

That’s it! I’m really excited to begin using this journal. I have a folder full of scraps of paper with sketches and ideas which I will transfer into this journal. It’ll definitely be nice to have it all organized finally. I’m so glad that Jami came up with this fun challenge!

To see all of the creations for this challenge just click here: DCI408

Thanks for visiting and if you read this entire lengthly post I commend you and thank you again!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

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Stamps: Art – Rubbernecker KK Originals sentiment, flourish – Rhonna Farrer Swirls v:I for Autumn Leaves

Paper: textured brown, blue and tangerine; Flea Market Floral – Curry from Daisy D’s

Inks: Adirondack Espresso, Ranger Distress – spiced marmalade

Accessories: Canson Graph & Layout paper package, Craft Smart acrylic paint – Robin’s Egg Blue, foam brush, SU – scallop punch & 1″ punch, brown brads, ribbon, clear button, sticky strip tape, Singer hand stitching thread, Zutter Bind-It-All