Books and Reading Art Journal Page

Hello crafters and welcome to my blog! We have had sunny, snowy and cold weather this weekend. Finally a bit of winter.

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

This week we have a Bookmark/Inspired by books theme at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog. Don't miss the bookmark created by our February guest designer Cassie Lynch aka mk_knits.

Books and reading is the theme of this art journal page. I love to read, and I am also very fond of reading-, alphabet- and word-themed stamps, stencils and dies. The page was done in my new Stamperia Create Happiness Mixed Media 4x8.5 Journal, which has a great tall shape, reminding me of both bookmarks and tags. I also like that the pages are watercolor paper.

Start by stamping the stack of books from Tim Holtz Stamper's Anonymous Schoolhouse Blueprint set. 

Paint with watercolors, dropping in darker shades before the first layer is dry.

Paint the background with watercolors.

When dry, add some marks with a black pen, such as the edge of the table, and darken some of the shadow areas.

Ink through Simon Says Stamp ABC stencil with first Salvaged Patina and then just a hint of Frayed Burlap.

Ink through Tim Holtz Sparke Fade. 

Stamp the background here and there with Tim Holtz School Desk alphabet stamp. This is one of my all time favorite stamps. 

Splatter watercolor paint on the background.

Stamp labels and a ticket from Simon Says Stamp Mixed Labels with Archival Cobalt ink. Die cut with the coordinating dies and stamp sentiments on the labels with black ink. The labels were stamped on watercolor paper which had been painted with the same paint as used in the background of the page.

Note: this ink pad is one of my oldest, reinked many times. 

Ink the edges of the labels. I also stamped a circle stamp from Simon Says Stamp Mix and Match Circles stamp set with Cobalt ink in a few places on the background.

Some of the sentiments were stamped right on the background.

Shadows add dimension and can also give a distressed look to the project, such as here with the books.

I really like the Blueprint stamps and they are fun to color. 

The main sentiment was placed at the bottom of the page. 

Join us this week in our Make a Bookmark/Inspired by books challenge! You have a chance to win a $25 gift voucher to do some fun shopping at Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in.

Do you use Instagram? If so please add #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too.

Thank you so much for visiting today! 

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.