Art Journal “If Animals Could Talk”

I’m sure most of you are happy it’s Friday…I however am feeling the crunch!   I have much to do and so little time to get it all done.  Does anyone have a few hours to lend?  Ah well can’t blame a girl for trying!  This week at TOFF our challenge is “Animals”.  What’s not to love about that?  Lily’s fun and quirky animal images are what drew me to the Octopode Factory in the first place, so I was more than happy for the opportunity to showcase some of my faves in The Octopode Factory Storybook.

This Art Journal is turning out to be a well oiled machine.  As I’ve said before it’s almost as if it’s creating itself while I am holding the paint brush.  Once again everything has come together in perfect harmony much like the age-old tale of the “Kingdom of the Lion” in Aesop’s Fables.

In this case it’s Gordon the Lion and many of his friends.  Walter the rabbit must be crying tears of joy that everyone is getting along so well in the land of The Octopode Factory.

How did these animals come to be in this magical place?  Allow me to show you the way…

I started with a light wash of white acrylic paint to allow some of the text and images from the original book to show through.  Next I used the Marbled Stains technique from Tim Holtz’s Compendium of Curiosities 2.  This is the same technique used on the Rainbow Connection page.  While the ink was still wet I sprinkled some Ranger Holographic embossing powder over my pages.  I think I’m in love with this embossing powder by the way

Here we have a prime example of how this creation has developed a mind of its own.  Last week, while working on the Fairytale page I discovered this amazing greeting card in my vintage card collection with the stitched hills and clouds.  Although I couldn’t fit it into last weeks page I set it aside to use as a background for this weeks page.   Even when unfolded the vintage card was not long enough to fit across both pages leaving me wondering how to fill in the gaps.  I didn’t need to wonder very long.  While purchasing my Grandmother’s Mother’s day gift at a store that offers gift wrapping I spied this lovely double-sided paisley paper.  Not only did it make a lovely gift I knew she would give it to me to use in my art journal.  She even crumpled it up before I could stop her which adds some nice texture don’t you think?  Quite the role reversal I might add.  Isn’t it Grandma’s who are known for saving gift wrap and not the other way around?

Once I had clipped the paisley, swirls, medallions for the clouds, and lined up the green polka dots and blue portions with the edges of the greeting card I opened a fresh jar of Mod Podge.  It’s the little things that make life grand!

Ah Mod Podge how do I love thee!  Your shiny lustre and ability to multitask as a glue and sealant all in one.  I vow to “stick” with you for the rest of my creative days!  *Meanwhile aside from this tranquil scene the animals were being colored with Copic Markers, given detail with my latest obsession Gelly Roll Stardust pens and Mod Podged to Chipboard in preparation for their arrival into the land of The Octopode Factory. 

The animals were quite excited to be meeting each other and had lots to say.  If only I could find the words for them.  Ah ha!  How about the Hallmark bag that held my Mother’s day cards?  Oh horrors!  I BUY my cards from Hallmark it’s true.  I’m certainly not going to MAKE cards for people to toss in the round file.  Besides, Hallmark always has the words “I might say”…I’ll just sign my name right underneath and call it a day

These animals have come from all over to be here.  It appears Gordon the Lion has come from across the Pond…”Cheers” to that!

Gomez, Bambi and Tweet have arrived with a friendly “Hello!”

Stuart the Giraffe is one of my absolute favorite images from The Octopode Factory.  He’s saying “What’s up?” to the crew.  Stuart is very “Up” for sure.  By the way….the sparkly flowers were rescued from one of the Mother’s day cards I bought  before it landed in the trash

The medallions from the gift wrap worked wonderfully as whimsical clouds to fill this scene.  The quote is from ‘Charlotte’s Web’ and for lack of a better word a “Perfect” fit or as Charlotte might write in her web “Some Quote!”

“Perhaps, if people talked less animals would talk MORE.”   -Dr. Dorian

Well I certainly think so!  What about you?

Stop by TOFF this week and see what all the animals are talking about.  While you’re at it swing by Balzer Design’s for “Art Journal Everyday” for a healthy dose of inspiration!

Have a creative day!

Amy*

 

 

 

 

Tagged as: art journal, Copic Marker, distress stain, Mod Podge, Recycled Gift Wrap, Recycled Greeting Cards, The Octopode Factory, Up-cycle