Do Good, Be Good, Art Journal Page

One of my teachers once said that the essence of yoga is "do good, be good."  Just be motivated by kindness to others.  Little by little, the world will change as your actions inspire those around you to live in kindness too.

Pam Carriker was kind enough to send me some samples of her new paints and inks to try.

Pam's products (which are available at Jerry's Artarama) were perfect for this art journal page, which started out with an old map.  I am in love with the sheer, highly pigmented quality of these paints.  They are like watercolors in acrylic form and I truly enjoyed using them.  Check out the Youtube video where I created this page, using Pam's paints, Mary Nasser's Latitude and Longitude Stencil, and my Horned Owl Stencil  from Stencil Girl Products.  

You can also watch Art Journal Page using Pam Carriker Paints on Youtube here.

UPDATE:  Vicki Ross asked me if Pam's paints are like Golden Hi Flow Acrylics.  Here's my answer:  

Good question Vicki - they are even more watery.  I love my goldens, and won't be giving them up -- but they have more body and adhesiveness (?) than Pam's paints -- and so I think for certain colors, like the yellow especially, there's reason for having both.  They are also truly matte - no sheen -- which is great for art journal pages.  Once they dry, your pages won't stick to each other.  

Need stencils?  There's a big sale this Cyber Monday at Stencil Girl, with deep discounts (like 33% off!) PLUS super bonuses for the first 50 orders and all orders over $100!  See the details below or read all about it over at StencilGirl Talk!

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Gratitude for the Joy of Teaching

In this season of gratitude, I am so grateful for the all of you who trust me to be your "mixed media guide."

My 6th - 8th students at the Montclair Cooperative School recently finished a session making journals out of cereal boxes, duct tape and lots of Stencil Girl Stencils.  

Our theme was "become your own hero."  Here are some of their awesome pages:

You can watch me make one of these handmade journals in this video:

Or watch "Handmade Journal with Jessica Sporn" here! 

I'm also super grateful for my "Jessica Sporn Designs Meetup Group." At our last meet up, two ladies, Amy Birch and her lovely daughter Sam, drove over an hour from Connecticut to my NJ studio!  And Linda came up from Pennsylvania!  So grateful for every single one of you who make the trip from near or far to my home studio.

Here are pics from our most recent class, in which we altered cigar boxes.  Here's my sample:

And all the fab creations:

Book pages stenciled with embossing paste, set out to dry...

Much loved stencils - works of art themselves!

 Five Fabulous Boxes:

And some closeups:

The awesome group:

You can see all my teaching posts here.  

THANK YOU to each of you who read this blog and encourage my artistic journey!  

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Holiday Creating with the Three Trees Stencil from Stencil Girl

I'm on the Stencil Girl Talk Blog today showing how I made this accordion book using envelopes and the Three Trees Stencil from Stencil Girl.  

To see more photos and a video of the project from start to finish, hop on over to Stencil Girl Talk and take a look!  

Here are some other ways I've been playing with the stencil -- all part of my current obsession with Stenciling and Stitching!

I stenciled the trees and some of Carolyn Dube's words on fabric:

 and made gift bags:

For the background fabrics, I also used Terri Stegmiller's Broken Circles, Kae Pea's Tribal Leaves, and my Retro Flowers and Circles Stencils. 

I made some wine gift bags using Mary Nasser's Longitude and Latitude, and Seth Apter's Timeless Stencils in the background:

A patchwork runner for my sideboard:

And a gift card holder!

 

It's going to be a colorful holiday for sure!  

In addition to the Three Trees Stencil, I also used:

Buildings, Teacups and Teapot, Hebrew Calligraphy and Hamsa, Garden Flowers and Leaves, and Dots and Dashes.  

I hope this post and the video on Stencil Girl Talk give you lots of ideas for how to use the Three Trees Stencil.  If you use it, please share your designs with me! I'd love to see them.

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Stenciling and Stitching

When I was at Art is You, I took a class with Kecia Deveney and Linda Willis called Flags of Affirmation.  

Here is one of Kecia's and Linda's project pics - it had me at "hello!"

Kecia Deveney and Linda Willis' class picture for "Flags of Affirmation."

It was one of those classes that opened up a whole new world for me.  Since taking it, I have been designing my own fabrics using my stencils, and stitching up a storm.  I finally hung a valance made of all the flags I've been working on!  I love it!

The painting on the right is one I worked on in Sue Pelletier's class, and the one on the left (mostly obscured, sorry) is from Tracy Verdugo's class -- all from Art is You.  So I guess my living room is a bit of an altar to the wonderful community Sal and Ellen have created.  (The walls are Benjamin Moore 708 if you're wondering.)

Here are some detail pictures:

And closeups:

Using the "Namaste Stencil" from Stencil Girl

Using the Doors and Windows Stencil (top fabric) and Hebrew Calligraphy and Hamsa Stencil (background fabric)

Five Hamsas Stencil (top fabric), and Garden Flowers and Leaves Stencil (background fabric)

Namaste Stencil

Random Squares Stencil

Five Hamsas Stencil (foreground), Flying Tulips Stencil (Background Fabric)

Creating your own fabric is so easy!  I just use tea towels or napkins I bought at yard sales.  After washing them, I stencil with acrylic paint and a cosmetic sponge, just as I would do with paper.  I've washed these again, and the paint stays put and retains its vibrancy.   I love being able to create my own fabrics!

Stencils used:  Bubbles Girl, Garden Flowers and Leaves, Namaste, Flying Tulips

Then I just give a little cut and rip up the fabric and layer it as I please.  I love this style of sewing.  Not being a sewer by nature,  I love not worrying about straight lines, loose threads, and ironing!  It's mixed media, art journaling and sewing all rolled up in one, and I'm hooked.  Look who else is a fan:

Hope you have a wonderful day doing what you love.  Linking to Art Journal Every Day.  

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!