Art Journaling with Gelatos

I've been doing a lot of art journaling lately, so I've been trying to expand my horizons with some new products. I've had this set of Quartet Alphacolor Water Crayons for awhile now, but they are not my favorite. You have to wet your paper pretty good to get them to blend and get a nice water color effect. They are good for some things though, like outlining or shadowing.

I just discovered Faber-Castel's Gelatos and I've fallen in love! They are mess free, easy to use, and you can create a variety of effects. Plus, they are like drawing with a tube of lip stick-how much fun is that! I thought I'd take you through a journal page I've started using only Gelatos, Water Crayons and gesso.

For Valentine's Day we made these Pintrest inspired heart shaped crayons, and this color combo was my favorite. It was the inspiration for my journal page.

I started by drawing some random shapes with the Gelatos (pinks and reds) and Watercrayons (green and yellow)

I started blending the colors with a very wet brush with firm bristles. 

Next, I added some white gesso and blended more. This toned down the colors a bit, and gave it a more creamy texture.

I added some stencils prints with thin white gesso. I stenciled over the color blocks to soften the edges.

More drips, stamps and details...

Some shading...

Lettering with white gesso.

And shading on the letters.

I outlined my letters with a thin black sharpie marker. I'm still looking for a good liner pen if anyone has any suggestions.

I'm not done yet, but this was my stopping point. The best part is, I did this all at my kitchen table with very little mess to clean up. The Gelato sticks are so convenient! I purchased the red Gelatos set at Michaels. I went back today and purchased the blue set. Unfortunately, at my Michaels, they don't have a big selection of these. I have a feeling I will be find a place online where I can order a set with more colors.

I will be posting more journal pages in the upcoming weeks.

Gelli Prints

I recently purchased a Gelli Art Printing Plate and have become obsessed with all the colorful, beautiful layers that you can create with it. It's been a super easy way to get some beautiful backgrounds for fun art projects for the kids, and for my art journal pages.

My kids love using the Gelli plate also. It's so fun experimenting with different textures to see how the print turns out.

We made some Valentine cards by printing onto paper grocery bags…

Some cute toppers for our Pintrest inspired Valentine treats...

And some gift tag/book marks.

I'll be showing some of my journal pages soon.

Follow me on Facebook to see more art!

Valentine Gift Ideas

This year for Valentine's Day, give the gift of art. It lasts a lot longer than flowers or a box of chocolates. Here's the new art I have available for your special someone. Inbox me through facebook if you are interested in purchasing. I also have additional pieces available at Scallions and Reinvented Vintage. 

This 10 x 8 bouquet is done in a heavy impasto style in acrylic on a stretched natural burlap canvas. $50

This is a 5 x 7 on a stretched gallery wrapped canvas with finished edges. It is mixed media with a heavy impasto style. It is $40.

This 12 x 12 mixed media piece is on a stretched traditional canvas with finished edges. It is $65.

These 4x4 inch mixed media pieces are on thick gallery wrapped canvas cubes with finished edges. $25 each

These 6 x 6 canvases feature hand painted papers and are on stretched canvas cubes with finished edges. $35 each.

This 6 x 8 mixed media piece is on a natural burlap canvas. $35

This 5x7 mixed media piece is in heavy impasto style on a thick gallery wrapped canvas with finished edges. $40

In box me through Facebook if you would like to inquire about any of these pieces. Payment accepted through PayPal-a shipping fee will be in addition to listed price. All small canvases will be specially wrapped and ready for you to give to your valentine. After this week, these pieces can be found at Scallions and ReInvented Vintage. You can see all my art at www.stacyspanglerart.comwww.stacyspanglerart.com.

Merry Christmas!

Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour fourth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. (Psalm 19:1-4)

I love the song "Indescribable" by Chris Tomlin. The lyrics to his song inspired the painting above. 

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

I am so thankful that God continued to pursue me, even when I choose to do life my way. He is faithful even when I am not. God has gracefully taught me that I am in desperate need of a Savior.

     "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  

Luke 2:8-14

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:15-20

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:22-23

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. " John 3:16

^"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve." 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

"For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed." Romans 8:19

"Even the sparrow has found a home,

    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
    Lord Almighty, my King and my God." Psalm 84:3

Revelation 21: 1-6 says, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”  And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. 

Thank you Lord for sending Jesus. Thank you for teaching me your truths, and lighting my path. 

If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, I pray this Christmas you will discover the risen Christ!

Embossed Christmas Ornaments

Here's an old post, but a fun craft to get you ready for Christmas-only 30 days!

Well the kids are out of school and bored already. What's a mom to do??? At our house it's project time-I try to keep 'em busy. And since everything I do with the kids is pretty easy and inexpensive, I thought I'd share what we did today so maybe you moms, grandmas or friends out there might try it over the holidays. You'll need some medium weight aluminum (I ordered mine from DickBlick awhile back, it's called Art Emboss Aluminum Sheets from Amaco Craft, but I think you can get aluminum sheets in craft or hardware stores), Sharpie permanent markers and scissors. You can also use heavy duty regular aluminum foil but you will need to glue it to a cardboard backing of some sort for support.

It's a pretty simple, so I'll let the pics explain the process. Be sure though to emboss the design with a blunt pencil on a piece or cardboard and then flip the ornament over before you color in with the Sharpie.

You know I like me some fun, funky colors, but I was thinking the gold and brown sharpies would look gorgeous for those of you who have the more neutral color palettes.