Hi everyone, today I would like to show you how to create this art journal page using some Spectrum Noir Metallic and Sparkle products. My finished page is sized 14,5 x 20,5 cm and the paper is smooth with a yellowish undertone (Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface paper).
Step 1:
I started by testing my Spectrum Noir Liquid Metallic Inks in combination with my calligraphy pen (nib size 2 mm). I add the ink to my calligraphy nib using a brush. I found that the metallic ink will dry relatively quick, so when you notice that the ink is no longer flowing, swirl the nib around in a bowl of water, dry the nib on some tissue paper/kitchen paper, and you’re good to go again.
The metallic inks don’t mix as easily as the Spectrum Noir Sparkle inks, so for this page in the end I choose one colour of metallic ink for my quote: I picked “Ancient Bronze”.
These metallic inks are marked as water-reactive on the bottle so I tested that out as well. I found that once dry they are no longer water-reactive, but wet they are. I also tried out writing with a darker colour over a background created with a lighter pre-wetted colour of metallic ink. Didn’t liked the result so didn’t went for that for my final project.
By testing out your products in different ways you can also create idea’s for future projects!
Step 2:
Now that I know how my metallic ink will respond I picked a quote and added it to my final project (size mentioned above). I also created some splatters with the same ink and let them dry.
Make sure that each line of words is dry (you can dry with you heat tool) before starting the next one to prevent smudging. Once dry everything that is on the paper is permanent.
Step 3:
Next I distressed the edges using my scissors and added some Spectrum Noir Harmony Water-Reactive ink in “Sandstorm” to the edges using a blending tool. Later on I also added some black ink as well, in some area’s, in the same way to create a bit more contrast.
Step 4:
For my floral element I picked a the Crafter’s Companion stamp set called “Perfect Peony”. I stamped the two flowers images onto the same paper that I used for my background, using black ink, and I heat embossed afterwards using clear embossing powder. This way my stamped lines stay black and crisp. I also fussy the images leaving a small border.
Than I coloured the flower images using the following colours of Spectrum Noir Sparkle Inks: “Olive Jade”, “Candlelight” and “Log Fire” in combination with water and a small brush. These sparkle inks are intense, you can water them down on a palette using water, to create a lighter colour, before adding them to your project. You can add more layers while you go to intensify the shadow parts (I always pretend my light source is in the top left hand corner). I first added the yellow colour and later on added some of the orange. When the colouring is done and dry I added some highlights using a white gel pen.
Step 5:
To create a bit more interest in my background I next splattered with the yellow and green Sparkle ink, dried them with my heat tool and then sprayed with my water bottle and immediately dabbed of the excess water using a clean piece of paper kitchen towel. This will create these harsher spots with a lighter area around it.
Step 6:
And to finish my project I only have to adhere the flower images to the page using one millimetre thick foam tape.
Detail pictures:
And that’s it for today’s project! I wish you a creative day!
