Book of Whispers - an Altered Vintage Book Cover for Finnabair

As much as I love creating art journals, I do adore the moment I can concentrate on the cover and make it look like a gate to a secret world. I only do it after the actual journal, to be able to make the cover tell the same story that’ll be in the inside. However, now I needed to make an exception: I had an altered vintage book project on the making but the vintage leather cover leaked colour badly and stained everything. Why not to create something as my Creative Team project, I thought, and simply started filming the process!

  

I started with covering the vintage book covers with tissue papers, to prevent the crumbling leather to leak through badly, and attached it with Soft Matte Gel, making sure the tissue paper crinkled nicely to make an interesting background. Then I primed the covers with white Heavy Gesso to give a sort of blank starting point to work with.

 

I used the gorgeous new Machinery stencil with Modeling paste to create a patterned look for the front cover. (The back cover I left without stencil; the crinkled tissue paper itself is such a beautifully simplified effect.) Next, I chose the embellishments and ended up using only the simplest of composition: a large Grungy Frames mould frame and a Scrapyard Dragonfly attached with Heavy Body Gel, and a tiny amount of Mini Art Stones scattered around the frame with Soft Matte Gel.

 

 

 

Painting is one of my favourite things in the whole wide world, so of course I painted several layers, first mixing Impastos Snow White, Linen, and Manor Blue with a tiniest hint of Dark Chocolate, to give the cover a light stormy sky grey wash, and then using Dark Chocolate and Pitch Black adding shadowing to the cover edges and around the frame. And, because I love layers, I mixed Liquid Acrylics Ink Black, Umber, and Burnt Sienna for more vintage-ish distressing effect, and with a baby wipe and spray bottle added a gentle paint layer to the covers, highlighting the stencil pattern and Mini Art Stones.

With a hint of Ochre and Vintage Silk Waxes, I highlighted the frame and the cover edges, and splattered some white acrylic paint for the cover as a finishing touch.

 

And that was it. It was a quick project, a fun one. The new Machinery stencil has such a beautiful, airy light and versatile pattern that it does not need much else to make a lovely, harmonious composition and I can already see this is going to be my favourite stencil for all kind of projects!

 

Here’s a link to my tutorial video: https://youtu.be/uFUSClBAUik

 

Thank you for popping by!

Emilia

 

 

MATERIALS USED:

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-basics-heavy-gesso-white

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-basics-soft-matte-gel

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-basics-heavy-body-gel

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-basics-modeling-paste

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-finnabair-tissue-paper-notes

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-finnabair-stencil-machinery

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-ingredients-art-stones-mini

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-impasto-paint-dark-chocolate

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-impasto-paint-pitch-black

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-impasto-paint-linen

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-impasto-paint-snow-white

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-impasto-paint-manor-blue

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-ink-black

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-burnt-sienna

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-umber

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-mechanicals-scrapyard-dragonflies

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-finnabair-mould-grungy-frames

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-opal-magic-wax-vintage-silk

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-matte-wax-ochre

 

 

 

 

 

Captured Memories - Tags for Finnabair

 

Creating tags is always fun, but when you create tags using brand new products, it is double fun. I wanted to test the new Finnabair stencils and waxes and decided to make a quick & light mixed media tag collage, using salvaged and foraged tidal treasures.

 

Here’s the how.

 

 

The basic idea of each of the 6 tag is the same, the only slight alteration is, beside the trinkets, in the colour of the paints, because I wanted a series of tags that I could use either individually or as a tag collage of 6.

 

I had two hard cardboard tags and cut more similarish sized ones, and covered each with a different Finnabair tissue paper, using Soft Matte Gel for attaching and a light layer of white Heavy Gesso for priming.

 

 

Next, I painted the tags with Snow White Impasto paint, heavier layer on the edges and only a slightest touch to the middle. Then I mixed Impastos Pitch Black and Dark Chocolate and shadowed the edges using a wet brush and a sprayed, making the tags look worn out.

 

 

For the new stencils I used Paper texture Paste that brought out the stencil patterns beautifully and intricately and added just a hint of the black-brown Impasto mixture here and there, using spray and baby wipes to give only a soft darkening effect. Now I had 6 tag bases to start creating collages with.

 

 

 

I created the collages for each tag using Finnabair mechanicals, seashells, and driftwood, with moulds for most of them, too, attaching all with Heavy Body Gel. Next, I added some Mini and Mega Art Stones here and there around the nooks and crevices of the collages, using Soft Matte Gel as glue, and glued some Art Pebbles here and there, too. 

 

 

Next step was to prime the collages with a light layer of gesso, and then paint them. Here’s where the alteration begun. I wanted to test how to achieve different colour worlds that would still fit together if I decided to put them all in my wall to make a memory collage; after all there are driftwood and seashells from our summer travels in each tag!

 

 

For the soft greyish blue ones (with new stencils Ghostwriter and Machinery as the background) I used a mixture of Impastos Snow White, Manor Blue, and Victorian Green to create a soft, misty morning beach look, when the storm clouds are rolling in and the tidal waves are revealing their treasures. I then added Liquid Acrylics Ink Black and Burnt Sienna for light shadowing. As a finishing touch, I added a hint of the new wax Ochre with waxes Vintage Silk and Vintage Gold here and there for highlighting and sprinkled some white acrylic paint on top.

 

 

For the lightly rusty beige ones (with new stencils Documented and Book of Numbers as the background) I tried to create a more dried look, like the salvaged objects would have been lying in the beach for some time, exposed for rain and salt and sunshine. For this, I added some Gold Metallic Flakes using Gilding Glue, and then painted the tags over with Impastos Linen, Dark Chocolate, and Pitch Black, with Rust Effect Pastes Brown and Red, and then added Liquid Acrylics Ink Black, Umber, Avocado Green, and Burnt Sienna. Again, for the finishing touches I used hint of the new waxes Ochre and Stained Wood, with Vintage Gold, Old White, and Vintage Silk, and sprinkled again some splashes of white and brownish paints and Sparks Chest of Gold on top.

 

For the sky-blue ones (with new stencils Bindweed Wallpaper and Victorian Tiles) I tried to get the look of calm evening at the sea, peaceful and majestic, seagulls flying low and waves rolling lazily to the shore. I painted the whole tag with all the trinkets and all with a mixture of Impastos Snow White, Manor Blue, Linen, and Cobalt, and highlighted and shadowed the collages with Liquid Acrylics Prussian Blue and Ink Black, with a hint of Burnt Sienna for warmth. As for the wax department, I used the new Ochre wax with Old White, Charcoal Black, Vintage Silk and Vintage Gold, to get the shimmering first or last rays of sun appearing in the horizon. And sprinkled again a bit of bluish and white splashes on top.

 

The tags took less time to create than it took time to write it all down. It was so fun to make them, as the new stencils are versatile and inspiring, and we had just got home from our summer beach wanderings with great hauls of driftwood and seashells for collage making! Have a go, too, and get inspired by the wonderful new stencils!

 

Emilia, xx

MATERIALS USED:

New Release Stencils

New Release Waxes

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-basics-heavy-gesso-white

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-basics-soft-matte-gel

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-basics-heavy-body-gel

 

https://www.primamarketinginc.com/product/art-extravagance-paper-paste-250-ml/

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-ink-black

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-umber

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-burnt-sienna

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-prussian-blue

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-avocado-green

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-ochre

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-impasto-paint-dark-chocolate

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-impasto-paint-linen

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-impasto-paint-pitch-black

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-impasto-paint-snow-white

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-impasto-paint-victorian-green

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-impasto-paint-manor-blue

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-impasto-paint-cobalt

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-extravagance-gilding-glue

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-ingredients-metallic-flakes-gold

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-finnabair-mould-vintage-portraits

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-finnabair-mould-machine-parts

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-finnabair-mould-nocturnal-elements

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-finnabair-mould-grungy-frames

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-sparks-chest-of-gold

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-metallique-wax-vintage-gold

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-opal-magic-wax-vintage-silk

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-matte-wax-old-white

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-matte-wax-charcoal-black

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-ingredients-art-stones-mini

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-ingredients-mega-art-stones

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-finnabair-tissue-paper-wilderness

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-finnabair-tissue-paper-moda

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-finnabair-tissue-paper-solar

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-finnabair-tissue-paper-flutter

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-finnabair-tissue-paper-musica

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-finnabair-tissue-paper-nautical

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-finnabair-mechanicals-woodland-ferns

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-mechanicals-clocks-watches-vintage-steampunk

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-mechanicals-metal-blooms

 

Rust Effect Paste: Brown Rust & Red Rust

 

 

 

A Vintage Art Journal Page for Finnabair - Dare to Be Powerful

The new Finnabair stencils are absolutely and tremendously fabulous for art journaling purposes, so of course I wanted to have a go immediately! Here’s the how.

 

First, I attached a vintage book page onto the Finnabair Art Daily Journal, using Soft Matte Gel, and then added a soft layer of white Heavy Gesso on top. With Modeling Paste and the gorgeous new Documented stencil, I then created a lovely background and painted the page using Liquid Acrylics Burnt Sienna, Ink Black, and Umber. Then I attached a pressed, dried fern leaf, some crinkled cardboard, and tiny bit of lace onto the page with Soft Matte Gel and added a Finnabair Sentiments and Vintage Photobooth stickers on top and painted them too to look old and distressed. As a finishing touch, I splashed some white gesso all over the page.

 

MATERIALS USED:

New Release Stencil Documented

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-basics-heavy-gesso-white

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-basics-soft-matte-gel

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-basics-modeling-paste

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-ink-black

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-umber

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-burnt-sienna

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-daily-sentiments

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-daily-vintage-photobooth

 

 

A Vintage Art Journal Page for Finnabair - No Plans Needed

The new Finnabair stencils and art journaling are a lovely match to be tested. Here’s how I made this journal page.

 

First, I attached a vintage book page onto the Finnabair Art Daily Journal, using Soft Matte Gel, and then added a soft layer of white Heavy Gesso on top. Then I created a dimensional background using Modeling Paste and the gorgeous new Ghostwriter stencil. I painted the page using Liquid Acrylics Burnt Sienna, Ink Black, and Crimson and attached a pressed, dried pink common yarrow flower together with some crinkled cardboard, lace, and used teabag material onto the page with Soft Matte Gel. Then I added a botanically hand dyed silk ribbon and a Words You Need photo sticker, and as a finishing touch, splashed some white gesso on the page.

 

 

MATERIALS USED:

New Release Stencil Ghostwriter

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-basics-heavy-gesso-white

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-basics-soft-matte-gel

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-basics-modeling-paste

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-ink-black

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-crimson

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-alchemy-liquid-acrylic-burnt-sienna

 

https://mixedmediaplace.com/prima-art-daily-words-you-need