DLP 2015, Week 8 -- It's Worth Repeating

The Documented Life Project, February Theme: Layers You Will Love
Week 8 Art Challenge: Repeating Elements   Journal Prompt: It's Worth Repeating

I love patterns; I repeat design elements all the time. Mainly circles. So I decided to go a bit rectangular this week.

First, I dug out some of my favorite handmade stamps.

Some were carved on regular stamp carving material, three were carved on a pink eraser, one was carved on a wine cork, and one was cut, not carved from adhesive backed fun foam, and stuck to a piece of plastic. Nothing high tech here!

Then I took a piece of rice paper, large enough to cover my two page spread, and lightly penciled in a grid of differently sized squares and rectangles. I stamped different combinations of the above with a permanent black ink, let it dry, and then filled in each segement with color. This is what I used.

I generally (and this time) use the blocks like watercolors. I leave them in the box and just wet them with a brush. I like them because the colors are vivid and when dry, permanent. The rice paper is thin, but sturdy, and when it was completely dry I cut up the segments. I then arranged them in my journal, adhering them with matte medium. Last step.....adding another repeating pattern, dots. Lots and lots of dots.

So, I have a few repeats going on here: the grids, the stamps, the colors, and the dots. As for the journal prompt, what is worth repeating is the word BE. It's good to just be. Be happy. Be kind. Let it be. Just BE.

           

Brushless Watercolor

That's the technique for this week's Compendium of Curiosities 2 challenge, found on page 49 in Tim's book (CC, Vol. 2).  You might be surprised when you see what is used for the color; I know I was.  It's quick and easy and has a lovely misty sort of look.  Since I'll soon be in the need of a greeting card, I thought I'd trim my piece down, mount it on a card base and be ready for the next happy occasion.

The yellow/orange background was achieved with Derwent's Inktense blocks.  I like using them for a first layer because although they blend beautifully when wet, once dry they are permanent and will not react with future layers.  Wendy Vecchi's "weeds" stamp is what I used for the technique, and then (shamelessly) lifted Linda's idea of then overstamping with archival ink to make the images pop.  I added the smaller version of the weeds on the bottom, but not with the brushless watercolor technique.  There, I just stamped them with distress inks.  There is some detailing with distress markers and gel pens, and a bit of ribbon and some buttons to embellish. 

This week (and all future weeks) one lucky participant will be chosen at random to receive a $25 gift certificate from a very generous sponsor, eclectic Paperie.