This is my page for the Craft Barn Alpha/Dictionary Challenge :
What I am finding most challenging at the moment is working with the very thin dictionary pages. For this attempt, I gave the pages a thin wash of gesso avoiding the definition on the page. I like the look of the words fading away in the background but it still does not strengthen the pages.
Taking a photo of this outside today also proved a challenge as it is still windy, the tail end of last night's storm, but I got it, ha! - just need to be patient.
Materials used:
White Gesso
Stencil : Any Skinner "Have Your Say" by Tando Creative
Distress inks : Blueprint Sketch, Dusty Concord, Weathered Wood
Stamp : Dreamer by Inkylicious
Tim Holtz Chit Chat stickers
Doodling with a black fineliner pen
So I will leave you with a question;
What do we talk about when there is nothing to talk about?
Fab page and great interpretation of the word :)
ReplyDeleteI like how your pages look. Love your stamped image for Question. My pages are a bit thin for stamping also. I stamp on tracing paper then spray glue the cut out image to the page. And in answer to your question, we just ramble on about nothing when there is nothing to talk about. I do not have that rambling gift, but I have a friend who does!
ReplyDeleteGood answer, Nothing better than a good ramble. I might try that tracing paper idea, thank you.
DeleteBeautiful relaxing page and great word to choose. I know some people stick a couple of pages together to give strength - maybe that would work!
ReplyDeleteThank you! That is another idea to try.
DeleteOh Julia, this is gorgeous. I really like it. It was my word, too, so great minds think alike. Although I have never tried it, or even seen it in the stores, there is a clear gesso that will not cover up the words. You can use it first, then your regular gesso over it, I'm told. It may help strengthen the pages in your book, since I suspect you want to keep the pages intact.
ReplyDeleteI don't have many stencils, but your very detailed one really impressed me. I am surprised you got it to stay without losing any definition. You must a really good way to tack it down without losing anything on the page.
BTW, I can ALWAYS find something to talk about. Just ask a question, and others will respond. It's a great ice breaker when meeting someone new, too! So, your word this time was very appropriate.
For the stencilling I only used the question mark which is tiny so I just held it down with my fingers and repeated it all over the pages with different colours. Good answer to the question too.
DeleteGreat page, love that stamped image. As for what to talk about - to be or not to be, that is the question! :D
ReplyDeleteI love your page. Last time I did the challenge straight into a dictionary and the pages were quite thin but I found a coat of white acrylic paint helped. The only problem I had was the letter X which only covered 1 page and the W word I used was on the page behind it. Luckily I photocopied the X page before my W word bled through.
ReplyDeleteMight be worth sticking some of the pages together Julia - I certainly love your creation this week!
ReplyDeleteCooler here today, no t-shirt & our first fire :-(
Sally xx
Gorgeous! Love the pondering figure and the tree, beautiful composition and colours :)
ReplyDeleteWhen there's nothing to talk about? Just like this project, we pluck a letter, a word, out of thin air, tell a story with it and then watch as the word takes us from one tale to the next. Much like our conversations at lunch!
Oh my, just love this. The silhouette image is the perfect choice for this page, not only for it's contemplative feeling, but for the balance of the layout. The gesso effect works very well & the doodle border grounds the whole piece.
ReplyDeleteGreat setting for the photograph too.
When working with thin book pages, you could also try inserting a thicker piece of paper/card under the page while you work on it.
Dina Wakley does a clear gesso now (Ranger product), but you should be able to find it in any art supply shop (I've had my bottle for years). It is more gritty than the white gesso, so it will give the pages more strength, but then as it is an uneven surface, it will be harder to get a clearly defined stamped image on it. Some people wait until the clear gesso has dried thoroughly, then give it a light sanding with fine sandpaper. Have you tried matte Mod Podge? This gives a clear coating which sets hard, which you could then paint or gesso over. I would suggest having a play with the various methods to see what works best for you.
Ramble over!
Thank you! Clear gesso sounds interesting and I have not tried matte Mod Podge. I may need to do some shopping.
DeleteA lovely page. I love the idea of him sitting under the tree answering the big questions in life xx
ReplyDeleteI like the monochromatic colour scheme, very restful, and the stamped image.
ReplyDeleteAs said in previous comments, the usual for dictionary pages is to glue a few together for strength. (Choose wisely or your word is gone!)
That's a beautiful creation, love the image.
ReplyDeleteHiya, thought i would pop over to see you, lovely idea.
ReplyDeleteCrafty hugs Pen x
Amazing page...Another beautiful interpretation of the word!
ReplyDeleteI usually glue some pages together to make them more strong. Lovely page and great, big, profound questions.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pages, I love the image - a great take on the theme.
ReplyDeletexxx Hazel.
Love this Julia :) makes me feel very peaceful, could happily be the person in the stamp under a tree with a good book! I think the classic thing to talk about I'd the weather isn't it?! After all it has been pretty awful recently! Lou x
ReplyDeleteFabulous pages, love the subtle way you have treated it.
ReplyDeleteI love this page, so relaxing! Yep when there is nothing to talk about then fall back on the one topic we Brits never tire of - the weather LOL
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely delightful - simple but oh-so-effective. This page makes me feel happy and calm - I love it.
ReplyDeleteAlison x
A lovely restful page and the image was the perfect choice.
ReplyDelete