Hello, creative souls! Welcome to my creative space in Lindy’s!
It’s Priss BlaFu (@artful.layers), and I’m so excited to show you my latest Art Journal page. I just received a delicious package from Lindy’s, and let me tell you, it’s packed with color magic! Inside were the new Go Girl sets by Natalie May – a gorgeous collection that has me absolutely obsessed. These sets come in all the fabulous finishes we love: flat, shimmer, and sprays. So, you can already imagine the depth and dimension these colors add to my art.
As a little extra goody, Natalie also included some of her own products, like stunning stencils and dreamy papers. One design I couldn’t resist was her ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ paper collection, inspired by Alice in Wonderland – perfect for adding a touch of whimsy and charm to any page. The moment I saw the Mad Hatter illustration, I knew he was going to be the star of this piece. So, get ready to follow me down the rabbit hole into this fun, colorful, and empowering project!
Step 1: Creating the Background
I began by getting in touch with my new colors, I prepared the sprays by adding warm water up to the indicated line and once they had settled, I sprayed them on my watercolor paper, letting those vibrant tones flow and mix. The sprays are flat, so I wanted to reveal the shimmers on the other side of my paper.
For my taste, the colors match perfectly on the page, and together with the shiny effect, they create a dreamy base that really makes you dream of Wonderland.
Step 2: Softening with Stencils
Next, I took one of Natalie’s stencils with a lovely leafy mask and applied a light wash of white to soften certain areas of the background, first with a little gesso and then sprayed with Frozen Jack Frost shimmer spray, creating a dreamy look. The perfect base where I’ll later paste my main image, providing backlight to the paper. The contrast between the colorful background and the white details adds interest and lightens the page.
Then with a permanent marker, I traced the edge of the mask, to highlight the detail of the branches with leaves.
Step 3: Adding the Mad Hatter
Now comes the fun part! I gently ripped the edge of the Mad Hatter and the cake from Natalie’s ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ paper collection and glued him onto the background. He’s got so much personality, and adding him here makes him the clear focal point. I left a little extra space around him to add additional textures and layers.
Step 4: Stamping for Extra Depth
With my background and elements ready, I went in with some little stamps to add a subtle touch of texture. I used various patterns around the edges and behind the Mad Hatter, keeping it light but dynamic. These stamped details blend into the background while giving it that “finished” look we love in mixed media.
Step 5: Textured Paste for 3D Effect
To bring some dimension, I applied textured paste over another Natlie’s stencil, using Fierce Female Flush to color it. The texture paste I chose has a lovely, rough feel that makes the whole piece look more tactile. It catches the light beautifully and adds a real sense of depth to the page by easily integrating the designs of Natallie’s paper.
Step 6: Adding Final Details
For the finishing touches, I went in with some extra embellishments: a mini tag with text and silk ribbons, die-cut eyelets, stickers, and of course, some highlights and splatters with white acrylic to bring it all together. I also added the sentiment: “Be yourself. Accept yourself. Love yourself. Empower yourself.” It’s a reminder that, just like the Mad Hatter, we all have a unique magic within us!
Remember, we have an absolutely incredible Color Challenge this month featuring one of the sets I used for my page. If you’re eager for a burst of inspiration check it out, and don’t forget to share your awesome projects with us in our Facebook group.
Until next, happy creating time!
Hugs, Priss
Lindy’s Products
- Shimmer Magicals Sets: Go Girl! Shimmer Shaker Set by Natalie May
- Flat Magical Spray Set: Go Girl! Flat Fabio Spray Set by Natalie May
- Shimmer Magical Spray: Frozen Jack Frost Shimmer Spray