Book Study - Journaled Cards

On NGS group, we are continuing to do a study of Bernie Berlin's book "Artist Trading Card Workshop", this week's section is "Journaled Cards". Bernie says if you've never journaled consider this an exercise to get a taste of journaling with little commitment. If you already keep and art journal, consider scanning and reducing some of your favorite pages to create ATCs.
I'm not a journaler, but when I glanced at the grand kids hand prints on my window, I knew what I'd write. Took a picture of the window, and couldn't focus well and the prints. Printed the picture on brochure paper, cut to size and then stamped hand prints with Moonlight White Brilliance ink. Colored the edges with black VersaFine ink and wrote my thoughts with a black permanent marker. Fun! The variations to this are endless.

Gate-fold Guide to Glue & Gesso Backgrounds

I'm continuing with the Alphabet Swap on Art-Venturers, we are up to the letter "G", so I made a Gate fold Guide to Glue and Gesso Backgrounds". I made the cover out of thin cardboard and covered it with some of the Gesso & Tissue Paper background I made yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised how sturdy and pliable this paper is, great for covering books. Also used this paper to cover the back board sleeve.
Kept the outside simple, added decorative border strips, large brand for knobs and tied gold leaf charms.

Used Zutter Bind-It-All to bind the glue and gesso background samples I made in two parts with a cardboard back page for each side that slips into the back board sleeve. While making the gesso & tissue paper background, I spread some of the extra gesso and copper Lumiere paint on to an old map page, cut out two pieces to line the inside front of the book and added the title using a label maker.

On the back of each sample background, I've included the instructions of what I did and added the swap details to the back board sleeve.

Will be sending this off to Autumn!

Gesso & Tissue Paper Background

I found this technique here. She has lots of great tips in doing this technique.

Use wax, butcher or parchment paper under your tissue paper. Spread gesso over the tissue paper with a brayer and let it dry. Wash the gesso off the brayer immediately.

Flip the tissue paper over and spread more gesso over the back side with a brayer. (I think this is to strengthen the paper.) Let dry.

Dilute acrylic paint with acrylic glazing liquid and spread over the gesso on one side with the brayer. Leave some areas uncovered. Let dry.

Repeat with one or more additional colors, letting dry in between layers. I used silver then patina.

Here's a close up:

I did the same thing with black gesso over tissue paper and the same layers of paint.

Close up:

Did another one with black gesso, then layers of gold, patina and copper paints.

close up:

G is for acrylic Gesso wash

Another technique from the Technique Junkies Newsletter. Use a sponge to cover watercolor paper with gesso and let dry.

Daub acrylic paint over the gesso and lightly spray with water. Used p. blue on this one.

Used copper on this one.

Use sponge to cover over the gesso and let dry.

Decided to rub some Distress ink over these to add some depth.

G is for pearlized Gesso

Another technique from the Technique Junkies Newsletter.
Dry brush gesso onto card stock that is off white, similar to the gesso whitewash technique.
While the brush is still wet, pick up some Pearl Ex powders and brush onto the card stock. Use a couple of colors.

Here is one:

This one was done with pink and russet Pearl Ex powders.

Decided to try this technique with black gesso over dark card stock and interference Pearl Ex powders.

I like how this turned out:

A couple more, with the powders brushed on in different directions.

G is for sanded Gesso Whitewash.

Another technique from the Technique Junkie Newsletter. Dry brush gesso (or white acrylic paint) over colored card stock. Similar to the gesso whitewash technique shown in the post below, only covering more of the card stock. Let dry.

Run piece through an embossing folder of your choice. Sand off some or all of the gesso off of the raised area.

Here's my finished background.

G is for Gesso Whitewash

This is a very easy technique that can also be done with white acrylic paint instead of the gesso. Using a dry brush, pick up a small amount of gesso

and brush over a piece of colored card stock in one direction.

Repeat in the cross wise direction, and let dry.

Here are a couple of samples.