Diana Trout's blog

Altering a Disc Bound Art Journal

I recently purchased a Joggles Disc Bound journal because it's such a smart idea and I wanted to share it with you. I've been using the disc binding system for organizing classes, color swatches and making sketchbooks for some years and love the flexibility. 

My latest Joggles Haul

First the haul. I picked up a few more Oxide inks. Joggles has the best prices on them and I'm slowly collecting and filling in holes in my palette. There were a few more bits and bobs such as Dina Wakely journal clips, Jane Davenport stickers and yet another package of Tim Holtz paper clippings. Links are below. 

Joggles Disc Bound journal is a very handy idea. I want to start a new YouTube series for art journaling with stamps and other cardmaking techniques, This is a type of art journaling that will be more planned. I can pull out the pages to work on them, I can die cut, ink smoosh, etc. 

Watch today's video on YouTube here. Subscribe, Like, Comment and Share. (I'm a broken record)
Supplies are linked below. 

Affiliate links. I get a commission on sales with no cost to you. These commissions help me defray costs from my blog and YouTube. 

Joggles Disc Bound Art Journal (extra pages and discs are also available there)
From Amazon
MAMBI (Me and My Big Ideas) Punch 
ARC Punch
Royal Sovereign Laminating Pouches 
Royal Sovereign Laminating Machine
MAMBI discsARC discs https://amzn.to/2GiGrgs

Links from my Joggles Haul

• Joggles Disc Bound Watercolor Journal - 6" x 6" [57340]
• 
• Price: $11.48

• Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink Pad - Squeezed Lemonade
• 
• Price: $5.09

• Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink Pad - Forest Moss
• 
• Price: $5.09

• Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink Pad - Evergreen Bough
• 
• Price: $5.09

• Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink Pad - Carved Pumpkin
• 
• Price: $5.09

• Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink Pad - Blueprint Sketch
• 
• Price: $5.09

• Dina Wakley Media Journal Clips - Small [MDA60291]
• 
• Price: $3.39

• Dina Wakley Ranger SMALL JOURNAL CLIPS Media mda60291
• 
• Price: $3.99

• Ranger Inkssentials Mini Ink Blending Replacement Foam [40972]
• 
• Price: $5.94

• Jane Davenport Mixed Media 2 Confettissue [320575]
• 
• Price: $5.09

 

 

Daniel Smith PrimaTek Watercolor & Brushes Haul Video from DickBlick

I am pretty jazzed about these new watercolors and brushes so wanted to share this haul with you. 

The Prima Tek watercolors from Daniel Smith (and Blick) are the stars of this show. Mined from minerals and stone, they are textured and glittery (some) and scrumptious. You can read more technical info here. 

I was noticing that adding more water, pigment or picking up color with a damp brush creates even more texture. I think you can see that in these photos but will doing more playing and sharing. 



I played with the brushes some while we were away visiting friends in Vermont and Massachusetts. Working mostly with the Silver Black Velvet brushes. I was alarmed when a couple of hairs came out of one of them while I was swatching in today's video but haven't had any trouble since. They are very soft brushes and hold a good amount of water. 

You can watch today's video here on YouTube. Like, Subscribe, Comment, Share. Thanks, it helps my YouTube channel.  

Here is a list of what I purchased at DickBlick. You can use my affiliate link, here. There are pictures with links below. I get a commission on sales with no cost to you.

Liquitex Gesso
Liquitex Matte Medium
Archival Ink, Black refill
Color Wheel!
Princeton Neptune Quill No. 6
Princeton Neptune Oval Wash 1"
Silver Black Velvet 2, 4, 10 & 16
Escoda Versatil 22
#4 Watercolor Sable Rigger

Daniel Smith Watercolors
French Ultramarine
New Gamboge
Sap Green
Perylene
Moonglow (Swatched)

Prima Tek Colors Swatched
Green Appatite
Sapphire

Strathmore Series 400 Watercolor paper

 

• Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors
• 
• Price: $7.16

• Liquitex Basics Acrylic Gesso
• 
• Price: $5.15

• Escoda Versatil Brushes
• 
• Price: $9.59

• Silver Brush Black Velvet Brushes
• 
• Price: $14.40

 

 

How I Fell in Love with Quinacridone Coral

It's true. I fell hard.

Oh PR 209! Where have you been all of my life. LOL. My decision not to buy any more paint until I swatched all my paints out went right out the window when I found this tube at a local art supply (Artist & Craftsman in Chestnut Hill). 

I swatched it with : 

Quin Gold PO 48, PY150, QoR
Cobalt Yellow PY 40 Daniel Smitih
Quin Rose PV 19 Daniel Smith
Permanent Red PR 170 Daniel Smith
Lemon Yellow PY 175 Daniel Smith
Rich Green Gold PY129 Daniel Smith
Phthalo Green PG 7
Cobalt Teal PG 50
Phthalo Blue GS PB15:3
Ultramarine Violet PV 15

Green Gold PY129 and Phthalo Green PG7 were two surprise fav mixes. 

Watch today's video on YouTube here: Like, Subscribe, Share, Comment.  

You can get all of these colors at
DickBlick.com (Affiliate link; I get a commission on sales with no cost to you.)
Porcelain Mixing dishes from Amazon here

I'll be on vacation for the next week (!). We're driving north because we're crazy. Also people we love live in Massachusetts and Vermont. I'll be back a week from Thursday with another post and video. In the meantime .... 

I placed my order at Dick Blick after sweating over it for a couple of weeks. Here is a sneak peek. These are Daniel Smith's Prima Tek colors, made from minerals so no P #'s. I was squealing as I swatched. Granulation, mica glitter. That first one is Piemonite. All of the separation and color shifting just ... happens. Swoon. 

You can get all of these colors at
DickBlick.com (Affiliate link; I get a commission on sales with no cost to you.)
Porcelain Mixing dishes from Amazon here

Color Mixing in My Art Journal

I had some leftover paints out in my porcelain mixing cups and figured I'd turn on the camera and use them up!  In my Dina Wakely Art Journal: 

In my Chunky. By the way, I've had many requests for a tutorial on making a Chunky journal. I am putting a class together. 



Watch today's video on YouTube here. (Like, Subscribe, Comment, Share)

Supplies: Affiliate Links. I get a commission on sales with no cost to you.

From DickBlick : http://shrsl.com/s8jq
Daniel Smith:
Lemon Yellow
Pyrrole Red
French Ultramarine Blue:
Burnt Umber
Ultramarine Violet
Pyrrole Orange
Teal
New Gamboge
Nickel Azo Yellow

Sepia (QoR)
Yellow Ochre (M Graham)

Fusion Mijello Palette http://amzn.to/2Eub6KT
Porcelain Mixing Dishes http://amzn.to/2EJnZQv

Dina Wakely Journal: http://amzn.to/2HiHiyy

Journal with Me: Tea with Teddy

Hey Gang, Here is another video and post with my mini daily journal. 

"Daily" is a generous adjective but who cares, really? I'm cool with "a lot." This page (and several following pages) were washed with watercolor. I have fallen into the habit of having my journal out to accept bits and pieces of whatever other project is going on. I had teeny scraps of the Shizen paper from the Hero Arts Card Kit and glued them down. 

Next came the Poppy dies (aren't they great?). Thanks Amy :).  

Pan Pastels (or regular old cheap pastels) are great for adding shadows. I use a brush for this as the spongey applicators drive me crazy. How do you clean them between colors? 

A rummage through odds and ends in my collage box ... 

A bit of a doodle.

And a couple more pages as reminders to enjoy myself. 


I'm curious. Do you work in your art journal with a plan in mind?

Watch today's video on YouTube (Like, Subscribe, Comment, Share). 

Just to clarify, I don't have tea parties with my kitty. I do sometimes have a cuppa and he's nearby. I can't really account for some of the things I say while recording.

Supplies:

Poppy Die from Savvy Stamps:
From Impress: http://bit.ly/2nKd0Mf
From Frantic Stamper http://bit.ly/2E40jqr
You can just use any flower die or free hand cut flowers. Put some holes in the centers with an awl.

The following are affiliate links (I get a commission with no cost to you)

Dick Blick:
Watercolors From DickBlick
If you want to get started with watercolor, I highly recommend the Danield Smith Extra Fine Essentials Set. It's a perfect set for beginners at a very decent price: 6http://shrsl.com/rpmx

Prang Watercolors http://shrsl.com/rpn6
Plastic Paint Palette http://shrsl.com/rpnj

Faber Castell Pastel http://shrsl.com/rpnk
Pan Pastels: http://shrsl.com/rpnp

Foil
Scrapbook.com: http://shrsl.com/rpmf
Joggles: : http://shrsl.com/rpmk

Glossy Accents is my favorite glue for sequins and glitter. You can find it at either Scrapbook.com or Joggles

I really like Tacky Glue for most anything else.

Available from any of the above sources.
Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's Balzer Bits Stencils
Cobalt Teal from QoR
Indigo Blue from Daniel Smith
Strathmore Mixed Media Paper

Joggles Unboxing + Quick Tip for Your Handmade Journal

It's Bonus Friday* and I have a video to share with you. I love Joggles. They have excellent sales, service and support. 

I decided to donate most of my acrylic paints and go with the craftier brand. I'm loving Dina Wakely's Media paints in the small bottle. The Marabu acrylic spray inks are also wonderful since they don't move when dry. The dye based inks from Ranger are wonderful but they are re-wettable and it's good to have a choice.


I nabbed a couple of little stamps that have been on my wish list for some time.

Watch the video here on YouTube (Like, Share, Comment, Subscribe. This is a little thing that you can do for me. It helps my channel and videos rank higher in the YouTube analytics.) 

Here are links to the products I purchased. (Affiliate links, I get a commission on sales with no cost to you.) 

NOTE: TODAY (2/2/18) is the last day of the Glitter giveaway. I've linked another glitter below for you.

Joggles.com: New items are 18% off http://shrsl.com/rjae
Dina Wakely Paints http://shrsl.com/rjag
Media Tape.(and accessories) http://shrsl.com/rjah
These stamps are all 50% off
Swirly The Cat Stamp: http://shrsl.com/rjak
The Trio of Vintage Bulbs http://shrsl.com/rjaj
You're a Tool (no, not really). The Tool Stamp: http://shrsl.com/rjam
Marabu Fashion Spray: http://shrsl.com/rjar
Art Glitter. This isn't the one I got but it's really nice stuff! http://shrsl.com/rjbp

 

New Distress Oxide Ink on Sale at Joggles

Woot! New colors from Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks. Joggles has them on sale for $4.91 (that's 18% off MSRP. Thanks Barbara!) I fell in love with these inks last year. The fusion of pigment and dye makes for some very interesting color separation when you use them for techniques and they are a dream to stamp with.

Here is a link to the new colors. I have the Blueprint Sketch, Hickory Smoke and Evergreen Bough in my cart. Still waiting for Mustard Seed. The entire range of 60 colors will be available by the end of this year. 

Here are a few painterly pieces I created using the Oxides. I have a few videos using these inks. (linked below)





The Wrinkle Free Technique here (Like Share Comment Subscribe

 

There are more techniques (spraying and stamping) here on ta card I did for Joggles.

Here is an introductory video where I'm playing with tags and the three primaries colors of Oxides. 

I've had these inks for a while now and they are still going strong. I may start picking up re-inkers this year though. 

My Favorite Art Supplies: Gelli Arts Printing

Today I kick off a series of My Favorite Art Supplies with Gelli Arts. They are offering free shipping for the holidays. Lou Ann and Joan are the best. I love their products and they've introduce monoprinting to so many of us.  

I had a student (Tony, you know who you are) and we were trouble-shooting ways to lengthen the open time of the paints. That led me to GelliArts website (coupon code "DianaT"/10% off). 

The Cardmaking Kit is perfect. This kit comes boxed in a permanent storage container with a 5" square Gelli Plate, 6 folded cards (5.25" sq when folded), several sheets of tissue type paper (deli wrap). a brayer, 3 GelliArts paints (red, yellow, blue), sequin waste, a fluff of fiber and bubble wrap. Perfect for experimenting.

I made several papers using items from the kit (I added  black paint). The video is below and there's a bunch of info in there for trouble shooting possible problems with printing.

After allowing the prints to dry, and they did take a little bit of time (yeah!), I pulled out a couple of die cuts and had some fun creating a mixed media holiday card. 

Such fun to play. Check out the video below or here on YouTube. I have loads of links if you watch it on YouTube. 

Here are the deals with Gelli Arts

Save 20% on Gelli Arts paints by using the promo code SAVEONPAINT17 

Save 10% by using my coupon code DTrout (I get a commission too).

Free shipping through the holidays at Gelli Arts! Yeah :)

Here are some additional affiliate links ( get a commission) for your convenience. Remember that Dick Blick now has free shipping for orders over $35! 

Hot Foiling with Thermoweb

Oh Joy. A new computer. I still have lots of odds and ends to attend to. I'll worry about that tomorrow (or the next day). After spilling a full cup of (perfectly good!) tea into my computer last week, I was forced to deal with getting a new computer set up. Luckily, I had a hand me down Mac. Newer than the wet one.

For now, let's have a little Foiling Fun. Check out the video for some details.  

Thermoweb asked if they could send me some product. This was an easy question to answer, their products are top drawer. Ever since I opened my first jar of glitter a couple of years ago, I haven't looked back and foiling is just delicious. I have a Royal Sovereign laminator (geek) and that's the laminator Thermoweb uses to test their products.

These are some of Gina K's products (above) I was really in love with the bright happy colors. The Rebekah Meir line is more subdued - perhaps a bit more to my tastes but since I make cards for so many friends and family members, it's really nice to have stuff that's out of my box. 

Things you need to hot foil:

Toner Photocopy Prints. The toner heats up and that's what the foil sticks to. 
Foil
Parchment Paper or printer paper
Laminator - I would try whatever you have (or have access to). If it laminates, it should foil. (Ways to justify buying a laminator are numerous. I actually use it a fair amount for my little business and things around the house. They aren't very expensive.)

You can get toner copies made at Fed Ex, Kinko's, etc. And they have nice heavy cardstock. 

Watch video on YouTube

I didn't show the laminator in the video. It's a simple process 

Preheat your Laminator for about 15 minutes.

Fold the carrier sheet in half and open
Lay the toner copy (art) to be foiled on the right side of the fold
Lay the foil on top of the art with the PRETTY side UP, yes. Pretty side up, because you want the pretty side up when it's stuck to your artwork.
Refold the paper. 
Now you have a sandwich with a folded on the left.

(Wow, LOOK! A bonus shot of my beautiful toes.)

 

Insert the folded edge into the laminator. It will suck the sandwich and roll it out the other end. 

Let it cool for a moment and open your package!!! Oh my. All ready to be colored in with markers. 

Here's a card I made using one of Gina K's Foil Mates. They are a pretty cool product that has loads of papers and sentiments, etc. You'll see more in the video. 


I think my Aunt Betty will really like this card. 

Here are a couple of drawings that you can print out on cardstock and either print or copy with toner.

View this photo Single Flower

View this photo Acorn

I hope you enjoyed this project today. You can use these images but, naturally, they are not for resale. I know that I should have some copyright info but darn PicMonkey isn't working. So, right. Don't sell them, OK? Thanks

Check out my online foiling class here. None of the techniques in the class need a laminator. 

Here are some affiliate links. If you do any holiday crafts, this is a good time to try some foiling. I'm making placecards for Thanksgiving with the acorn. (Love acorns).

Affiliate Links (I get a percentage of the sale and thank you.)

 

Exploring Gelatos

Good day, my friends,

I've been exploring Gelatos thoroughly. For instance, Gelatos are made from lightfast pigment. They are creamy and are more like oil pastels than other crayon-type materials out there. Gelatos are water-soluble and that means you can use them as watercolor. It's great that these creamy sticks are pigment based and lightfast.

When swatching out new colors, use good paper! This makes a huge difference in how the materials will work for you. Lately I like the Canson XL Watercolor paper a little more than Strathmore. I prefer the surface which has a "sandy" feel rather than the texture of Strathmore. The surface is more akin to Arches (which I LOVE but is pretty expensive).

The Gelatos will feel dry to the touch on the surface of the paper. They remain liftable (to a degree). For finished work, such as a canvas, I use the Faber-Castell Glaze medium to coat it. I'll talk more about that in another post.

I'm just loving these crayons.

Swatch tests are the best tool you can create for yourself. I think of them as a first date. As I begin exploring, more ways to use the materials pop to mind. 

Try swatching out any new media and you'll develop an understanding. Enjoy today's video!  There are purchasing links below the video. PLEASE NOTE: The sets of Gelatos say (for instance) "15 Pieces." There are 12 Gelatos, 2 sponges and a brush included in that count. Some larger sets include stamps. Read carefully to see what you are getting.

Affililate links used. I get a commission on sales. A word about Simon Says Stamp: they are well stocked and great if you need a restocking. The prices are not the best and the service is slower than most other online stores. That said, it's a very convenient place to shop and the folks over there are always very nice and helpful so I do retain my affiliate with them.