Monday, January 9, 2012

inspiration monday


hello blog buddies......and happy new year to you!!
after a long holiday break, i've been trying to get back into the creative swing of things, 
so i decided to open my favorite little moleskine journal and just play.  
here's a simple way to create a "painted background" without having to get your paintbrush out......all you need is your journal, your favorite water-soluble markers (i use tombow brush pens), an acrylic block, and a mini mister.




first, brush your marker across the acrylic block several times 
until you have a good amount of ink on the block.





using your mini mister,  spray the ink using a very light touch.....
you just want to add enough water to make the ink "spreadable".





now "stamp" your paper with the acrylic block, and swipe the ink across the page.
for a multi-painted look, add as many colors and layers as you like!





and now that we have a background, let's take this page one step further!
paint a large square of slightly diluted gesso onto the page......





and write a fun message using your favorite pen (i used a pitt pen).





then add some shading, lines, doodle dots,
and all your other favorite little touches!

here's to 2012:  a big, beautiful, blank, new canvas!!


{supplies used:  moleskine journal, tombow brush markers, mini mister,
acrylic block, gesso, 3B pencil,  faber-castell pitt pens}






57 comments:

Mary said...

Lori you can take a few simple supplies and transform them into a beautiful work of art.

may 2012 be full of all the things you love!

xxoo

rachel awes said...

the possibilities are amazing!
loooove to all your pages. xox

Janie Husband said...

welcome back, lori.....beautiful inspiration as usual....

Tammie Lee said...

wonderful! thank you for sharing this technique!

Beth said...

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I hope your 2012 is full of such beauty :)

Nancy said...

As always, your creativity is endless.....Such good tips you share with us.....

Have an amazing day....

Jeanette said...

Lori! Welcome Back! And, Happy New Year!!! I love this new (to me) technique. I will certainly give it a try - the possibilites are endless. Your embellishments are what make it so unique and wonderful. Here's to a fabulous 2012! Hugs, Jeanette

Eden said...

Happy New Year to you too! Boy, can you make art and cool calligraphy from such a simple start! I covet your letterforms!!

Dymphie said...

Happy New Year and welcome back! You've been missed :)

Love this new page, you always manage to take a technique to a whole new level, superb!

MarveLes Art Studios said...

Sweet! Love the STYLE you have!

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oooh! definitely going to try this - although I wish my letters were more consistent .....I know....more practice, perhaps that should be a resolution!!?? Chrisx

LuckyDog said...

Awesome! Missed you!

Katie Cannon said...

Welcome back and Happy New Year. I love this idea with the Tombow markers, thank for sharing this great idea.

rrARTz said...

happy new year! i can't wait to see what you will create!

rebecca trump said...

This is gorgeous! I'm glad you are back :)

fran pascazio said...

Happy New Year! Glad you are back - you were missed. Love this little tutorial you shared. Going to give this a try....of course, your lettering is perfect; mine is sort of "hen scratching" ... maybe I'll cheat and stamp the lettering!

Can I ask you what type of Moleskin are you using?

mauihumv@gmail.com said...

What a great technique...love your page:)

Jessie May said...

It's amazing what you can do with a blank piece of paper Lori!! Glad you're back blogging, giving us lots of inspiration. Happy 2012!!

Cathy Bueti said...

Hi Lori!

Happy New Year!

This looks like too much fun not to try it! Love it!!

xo

Eulalia said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Eulalia said...

I love moleskine.
I love Tombow colours.
I love your alchemy of them.
I love your drawings Lori... as always!!
Aha, I wish you a great 2012, full of creativity and joy... sorry for my delay!
xoxoxo Eulalia

Primitives By The Light of The Moon said...

Awesome...thanks for the inspiration!

Atticelf said...

Look at you! What a great technique.

Martha Lever said...

I love how you created this and it turned out Lori-licious...as always!!!! You are amazing with your darling ideas. Ok, here's your first book and yes, the name of your book is, "Lori-licious" where you will include all of your Monday inspirations. I will reserve a copy right now. Ok now, go get started on that...:))

Unknown said...

I LOVE it- in fact, I'm going to go try it right now!! Thank you for the creative kick- I needed it today, I've been feeling a little rough around the edges... <3

Jennifer DeDonato said...

I agree with Mary you make it look simple!

Createology said...

Welcome back. Great new inspiration art. Blissful and creative 2012 dear.

Claire M said...

So glad you're back! Happy 2012! I've missed your clever posts and endless enthusiasm!! Yippee, she's back!!

Unknown said...

so glad to come over to see that you are back. I really enjoy your tips and , gah! this one is terrific!! So simple to do but what results! HNY to you, Lori!
Let's all make it a good one:)

Becky Shander said...

Such bright and beautiful thoughts...happy many wonderful possibilities to you in 2012!

Charmingdesigns said...

Love it. Oh how I wish I could get my lettering not so boxy...I'm trying. You are such an inspiration

Kelly Warren said...

Wow! what a fun technique! always inspiring as usual!

Andria said...

Welcome back! I've been doing some random spreading of paint like this, but I appreciate the idea for new tools to use (such as the acrylic block). I also really like how you created a "canvas" in the middle for your message with gesso...a great idea!

PrairiePeasant said...

That looks like fun! Great idea!

Jancalligrapher said...

Hi, great ideas and color to brighten our winter. Thanks for sharing.

Alexandra MacVean said...

You are the queen of simple and the impossible! :) This is SO cool!

Alicia C said...

What a great tip!!! Did you come up with it? And definitely appreciate your posting it - how great to dedicate the effort of photoing and describing to the rest of us..

earthen-magic said...

...such simple awesome elegance! ~ thankyoU sO much for the inspiring share! ~ blessed be!...

ellie said...

the simplicity of your work adds to its stunning beauty. you rock! for stampers out there, you can also do that great technique with ink pads instead of markers.
fun, fun, fun. thanks for the, as always, beautiful inspiration.

Jane Farr said...

Loved this tutorial. Thank you, Lori.
....and Happy New Year!! I hope you are well and content. :)

Kerri said...

Very cool technique! might have to try it on a scrap page!
Thanks for sharing!!

Kathy McCreedy said...

Lori,
Love! the background effect!!! I would've NEVER thought of this process on my own... really simple and really effective, just my kind of project! Just love your blog, thank you for all your hard work!

La Creative Latina Diva said...

Amazing and very creative. I found you on Pinterest. Love your style.

Laney said...

Nice!

Gisela said...

Fantastic!! I had seen it with Copic Markers but like the water effect.

Dorota said...

fantastic!

Abbott said...

the possibilities are amazing! loooove to all your pages. xox

Unknown said...

I like it! Very fun way to add texture

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

Amazing Lori how you make everything look so simple and then you break it down using your great teaching skills so I can actually do it! ♥

Anonymous said...

Cool Technique. Thanks

Dragon Egg Designs said...

Blown away with such a cool simple technique turned into an amazing page.

Thanks for sharing :-)
Juanita

Luvcreatincards said...

THANK YOU Lori for sharing this brilliant technique - I loved your tutorial - it is such a fun and easy technique to produce great backgrounds. I really like how you took it on a step further with the 'notice board' style text on this darling page in your journal. You make your images pop off the page with your wonderful ability to add so much depth to your doodles with your darling little details.

Florencia Gonzalez Bazzano said...

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!

HeARTworks said...

Fantastic!!! patsy

Mohamed Nassar said...

Nice

Suzi said...

This just came to my mail box in a pinterest email. I love it! It's brand new to me. And I can't wait to try it! Thanks!

accidentalpinner said...

possible life saver.. I been looking at masters and agonizing for months wondering where they found the time and strength to do what they did. I've never heard of acrylic blocks until today. bless you

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...