Coloring with 7Dots Paper

Viva Las VegaStamps! is having a swap with 7Dots Studio for the whole month of November!  For my post I decided  that instead of using pencil, pen or paint, I'd color my stamped images with 7Dots paper!

Supplies
VLVS! Stamps Used:
Split Globe - Item 6505 Plate 617 
Worn Clockface - Item 19039 Plate 918
Washi Chevron Background - Item 19072 Plate 917

7Dots Studio 'Love is in the Air' Scrapbook Paper

Sakura of America Gellyroll Silver Metallic pen

Miracle Tape
Stillman & Birn Zeta Sketchbook
Adhesive Paper Drywall Tape
Golden Clear Granular Gel
Golden Micaceous Iron Oxide
Golden Fluid Acrylics-Hansa Yellow Medium, Transparent Red Oxide
Adirondack Paint Dabbers- Willow, Juniper, Terracotta
Black steel-tipped pen
Alphabet Stencil
Palette Knife

So what do I mean--coloring with paper?  It's paper-piecing, in essence.  I stamped the same image on two or three different sheets of  7Dots Studio scrapbook paper, and cut the images out.

Then I paperclip the two images together, making sure they are perfectly aligned, and cut them at an angle or with curving lines.  I take half from each color of paper, and tape them together.

I place Miracle Tape all along the back, leaving the backing on the tape until I'm ready to use the piece.

I end up with two embellishments with subtle, yet dramatic coloration. (I only used one of my Worn Clockface in this project, so I have one to use later). I repeated this with the other stamped images I'd done.  

For my globes, I stamped the image on three pieces of 7Dots Studio paper.

And while I was at it, I stamped some Christmas images onto 7Dots Studio 'The Queen's Heart' for later use.

For my art journal page, I created a background by painting at random with Micaceous Iron Oxide. I left much of the paper uncovered and I painted the spread with fluid acrylics -- in some areas, Hansa Yellow Medium and, in other areas, with Transparent Red Oxide.  I taped strips of drywall adhesive paper here and there.

I peeled the backing off the Miracle Tape and added my images.  I used an alphabet stencil to add my saying, using a steel-tipped pen, because Micaceous Iron Oxide is abrasive.  I went around the words with silver metallic gellyroll pen, and used it to add some doodling as well.

To add some texture, I scraped on some clear granular gel with a palette knife, and let it dry overnight.  I dabbed Willow and Juniper acrylic paint over the granular gel.

My last step was to go over the words again.  The scan doesn't really show it, but they appear to be incised into the paper.

I like this method of coloring.  Creating embellishments like this will be a nice project for days when I want to create but don't have much oomph.  It will be nice to have a collection of these stamped images for use whenever I need them!

Don't forget to check out the VLVS! November Challenge for a chance to win (plus it's fun!).

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you've enjoyed sailing on Haunted Seas!For more of my work with Viva Las VegaStamps!, Amazing Mold Putty, zentangle-inspired art, and daily links to tangles, tutorials, and giveaways please visit my "Life Imitates Doodles" blog.   ~ Sandra Strait

Helpful Links: VLVS! Store for all your stamping needs; the  VLVS! Blog for new projects; VLVS! on  FaceBook,  Pinterest and Twitter

Bees Singing in Lavender

This summer I went to a lavender farm.  

There were bees everywhere.  Their humming a song in the air.  Their energy--bursts of flight, wings sparkling with light.  

I wanted to capture some of that in a painting.

Supplies
VLVS Stamps Used:
Large Bee Item 19013 Plate 893

Small Bee Item 19012 Plate 893 

Bee/Small Item 1896 Plate 472

Genuinely Jane Studios Wood Book page (Picket Fence)
Cray-Pas® Specialist® Oil Pastels: Sakura Of America-Dioxane Violet, Mauve, Cobalt Blue, Titanium White/ Cray-Pas® Expressionist® - Sakura Of America: Purple, Yellow-Green, Yellow, White

Clairefontaine Rouge Mer 300 lb Cold Press Watercolor paper
Faber-Castell Gelatos:Tangerine, Mango, Butter Cream
StazOn Inkpad: Jet Black
Golden Fluid Acrylic paint: Micaceous Iron Oxide
Golden Soft Gel medium
Clay-shaping tool
Plastic eraser

I prepared my wooden panel by priming it with Micaceous Iron Oxide, an acrylic paint with particles that produce a dark surface with a fine tooth, and sparkle.  It's a good surface for pastels, and light on dark painting.

I blocked out the areas where I wanted lavender. Layering purples and blues, I moved and blended the color with a clay-shaping tool and a plastic eraser.   Long strokes of yellow and green were added for grass.  I made sure to leave areas of the Micaceous Iron Oxide showing for contrast.  I just kept layering the colors, blending and pulling out details with the shaper until I was happy.

In the upper right, where I used mostly yellows and whites, I ran the plastic eraser over the color, blurring most of the detail, and then, lightly, laid in long strokes of yellow and white to get a strong impression of sunlight.

I sprayed the complete piece with hair spray and let it set overnight (this sets it so you can layer on a medium without disturbing the pastel, but it isn't enough to be permanent on it's own).

The bee images were stamped onto the watercolor paper that I had colored in yellows and oranges using gelatos. I added strokes of yellow and white oil pastel.  I cut the images out, and folded the legs and wings downward to get some dimension.

To seal the piece, and to glue down the bees, I used soft gel medium, covering the bees completely on both sides, and layering it heavily on the oil pastel.

I couldn't catch it as well as I hoped, but the Micaceous Iron Oxide glitters in the light giving the impression of dust motes sparkling in the sun.

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you've enjoyed my oil pastel painting.

There are still a few days left for you to enter the Viva Las VegaStamps! August challenge. It's great fun and a chance to share your projects with the world!

For more of my work with Viva Las VegaStamps!, Amazing Mold Putty, zentangle-inspired art, and daily links to tangles, tutorials, and giveaways please visit my "Life Imitates Doodles" blog.   ~ Sandra Strait

Helpful Links: VLVS! Store for all your stamping needs; the  VLVS! Blog for new projects; VLVS! on  FaceBook,  Pinterest and Twitter