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}