Aug 3, 2017

Handmade One Page Watercolor Journal Tutorial


Hi everyone!  It's time for a new challenge at A Vintage Journey and our hostess Amanda has chosen the theme Watercolour.  She says, "There is so much versatility in watercolour making it possible to create art that can be gentle, washy and light, or bold, full of colour and with definite lines. And it comes in a variety of guises: pans, tubes, sticks, inks, markers. So for this challenge we would like your projects to include some form of watercoloring or watercoloring techniques and be in keeping with our favoured styles: vintage; shabby; mixed media; art journaling; industrial, timeworn or steampunk."


I was very inspired to play along with the current topic at PaperArtsy and create some dramatic light and dark contrast with a one sheet wonder mini album, as inspired by THIS album on the LSG blog and the beautiful background work by Emma Godfrey found HERE on the PA blog.


I just had to figure out how to make this album when I first saw it.  I started with a sheet of 12 x 18 watercolor paper and scored every 4 1/2" along the 18" side.  I then scored it at 6" on the 12" side.  I cut three of the sections apart as shown above.  The paper can then be flipped into book pages when some are glued together.


I stenciled a Tim Holtz stencil  on the seams of my pages.


Next I made little canvas covers for my album by cutting canvas material slightly larger than my matboard covers.  I kept the covers the same size as my book pages, 4 1/2 x 6.  I applied ModPodge to the front and smoothed down the fabric, then glued the corners up like shown and glued the sides up tightly.  When the covers were glued properly, I gessoed the canvas.  It takes a lot of gesso to do this, but the result is a firm, sturdy wrapped canvas.


I decided to do a canvas spine too, but thought it would be fun to add some crocheted lace.  I folded the edges of my canvas the exact length of my covers and glued in place, then glued down a strip of lace and gessoed it the same way.


Here you see my completed components.  I glued the spine to the front of each cover with about a 1/2" overlap.


Now the fun part!  Creating my watercolor background.  I pulled a few LSG and Glimmer Mist sprays together to create my palette.


I sprayed the full sheet laid flat with water, then my sprays and let the colors bleed.  Next I stenciled a geometric pattern with black gesso.


I embossed a variety of PaperArtsy flowers in white and highlighted with more sprays.


I stamped smaller elements in Abandoned Coral and Worn Lipstick DI.  I stamped a toilet paper tube in white gesso and then scribbled my journaling in two sized pens.  I stamped the PA tiny numerals and then doodled the borders of my pages.  When my pages were complete I glued them together and into my book like the video shows.  This is really wild for me and completely out of my comfort zone, but was a lot of fun!


Here's a shot of that amazing lace spine.  I used paste to stencil the same geometric stencil on my cover, then gave it a good spray.  I stamped a PA flower and tucked it beneath my 3D Prima flower with some bundled string and a sentiment sticker.  I embossed two black die cuts and tucked them in too, with a final splash of white and black gesso on everything.


I really hope you are inspired to play along with our Watercolour challenge for a chance to win a £20 gift certificate to Craft Obsessions.


I'm also sharing with:

49 comments:

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Just look at this wonderful colour way using those sprays. They look amazing amongst the texture paste. Another beautiful make Autumn. I think I may have to make one of these myself. Hugs Tracey xx

Astrid Maclean said...

This is soooo clever Autumn, it looks so fresh and wonderful with the black and white effect against that gorgeous colour combo. Very clverly constructed too and the cover with that lace on the spine looks fantastic!!! Lovely, lovely album, - thanks so much for the inspiration!

Maria Lillepruun said...

Wow, I love it! The contrasting colors look great together!

Margaret Mifsud said...

Wow!! This is stunning!!! I really love the colours you have used here Autumn and, with the black accents, it all looks absolutely amazing!! Such wonderful textures too! Beautiful work!! hugs xx

SD pooja said...

Wow..Its beautiful ! tbe pretty colors,bold black pattern n all the stamping looks fabulous !

sarascloset said...

Another amazing journal, my friend! You made beautiful art with your textures and sprays, and bits of stamping! Your scribbly script really adds that final fun touch--so bold and fresh, this entire album is a party on paper! And of course, that lace spine and luscious flower cluster on the front makes it all Autumn! Love this to bits! Hugs! PS Thank you for the tutorial!

Marjan said...

I missed a lot due to my (blog)vacation, but I'm back to see what you have made. Wow... I am in love with this creation, the texture, colours... everything!!

Unknown said...

Stunning,Love the journal and the orange colour in the pages, it gives the fresh feel to it. Love the work Autumn :)

StampsandScrapbooks.com said...

I love everything about this piece! The texture and watercoloring is especially beautiful!

Redanne said...

You really are the album Queen Autumn, I learn so much from you! This album is stunning, the colours are wonderful, the design is brilliant and that flower on the front is just superb! Love this! Hugs, Anne xx

Words and Pictures said...

The colours are so lovely over the texture, and the black gives everything such a sharp, zingy look. Gorgeous lacy spine and a great step-out of your process. Thanks for sharing it all.
Alison x

Grá O'Neill said...

Gorgeous project, love all the texture & dreamy watercolouring :)

Mac Mable said...

I have now completely run out of marvellous things to say...Amazing Autumn, beautiful colours and textures and so much to look at and be stunned by! x

Debbie Mageed said...

Woah!! This is incredible! Lots of gorgeous details that I love! Thanks for the inspiration!!

Mo said...

Wow..., this is absolutely beautiful dear Autumn - love it !!!
Hugs,
Mo

Lisa said...

Wow, this is stunning, Autumn!! You truly make the most gorgeous albums!! I love the colors and the texture!! Your tutorial is fabulous, too!! Love this, my friend!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Flo Langley said...

Stunning project :)

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Wow your journal is gorgeous, I love the colours. Thank you for the great tutorial as well ! xxx

Sue said...

This is both clever and beautiful Autumn, really lovely! Have a fun weekend, Sue xx

Lys said...

A great tutorial for inspiration, and a gorgeous journal! I love the colours enhanced by the black.

froebelsternchen said...

This is absolutely ADORABLE made - I am thrilled about this beautiful booklet Autumn!
Happy weekend!

creationsnz said...

Wow, fabulous project. So glad you joined us at the Crafters Cafe, CarolG

Tee said...

Stunning journal!

Karla Yungwirth said...

Beautiful! Love the tutorial and gorgeous journal!!

aussie aNNie said...

Incredible. Fabulous creativity here and love the gorgeous colours.xxHave a lovely weekend.♥
[aNNie]

Marjut said...

This is so beautiful!

Amelia Breytenbach said...

Stunning journal Autumn! Fantastic colors and texture.

A Pink said...

Absolutely love your one page journal! Autumn . Such a fantastic idea and there's no one better than you, the 'Queen album/ journal maker ' to create such a beauty. Fabulous use of colour ,texture and detail. Really love the drama the black brings to the party and you have most certainly created a project that shows contrasts between light and dark.
Thank you so much for joining in this challenge and for creating such a gorgeous project .
have a lovely weekend
x

Barbetka said...

wow - amazing, beautiful colours and texture. You made really great piece of art. :))

The Crafty Bat said...

wow wow wow stunning journal piece.
Thank you for joining us at Day Dreamer Challenges
Kelly (DT)

Marina said...

This is beautiful. Love the string and the touches of black.

Craftyfield said...

Cover to cover it's a brilliant album, Autumn! I am so tempted to break out my sprays and have a go NOW...

Marty F said...

This is beautiful, Autumn! I love the colors and textures and how you use so many different things and can pull it all together. I really like the design of the album - thank you for your tutorial and I plan to watch that video. Hugs!!

Jackie PN said...

Absolutely Stunning!! the color palette with the pop of black in dynamite! Super beautiful Autumn! You are such a talent dear friend!! xo

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is amazing, Autumn, I love the design and the colours you have used,

Lucy x

Corrie Herriman said...

Gorgeous !

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous little journal, love the colours and textures and a gorgeous cover.
Avril xx

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

I really like the idea of the canvas covers and the lace for the spine is ace too! A stunning little book - it must be a joy to touch and handle!

Julia Aston said...

What a wonderful design for your journal Autumn - love all the texture and colors - a beautiful watercoloring project! Julia xx

Nikki Acton said...

Will you stop it! This is another out of this world creation Autumn... I just want to see it and touch it. Stunning design, composition, colours (amazing) and balance. I could keep going with superlatives but will just say PERFECT! xxx

Annie said...

such a stunning journal cover autumn in beautiful and fresh colours xxxx Wonderful details inside and out ...a fantastic make for Amanda's challenge theme. Thank You so much for sharing
Sending my best wishes
Annie xx

debby4000 said...

Oh WOW what a stunning journal cover love that stencil.
Thank you for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.
luv
Debby

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Brilliant Autumn, absolutely gorgeous. Happy crafty week, Angela xXx

Ela said...

Hi Autumn,

wow, what a wonderful idea. So many details, it's adorable!


Hugs
Ela

cass said...

Wonderful little album, have to try this one. Thank you for entering your wonderful creation at The Crafter's Cafe this fortnight for our "More than one fold" challenge.

Deb said...

What a gorgeous little book Autumn, love the textures you created with the stenciled texture paste and fabric and lace and the colour contrasts are very striking. Thank you so much for sharing it, Deb xo

HeatherB said...

Gorgeous! And great tutorial to go along with it. Thanks for playing with us at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog!

Evelyn Walter said...

Gorgeous journal, Autumn! I love the colors and all the texture and embellishing you made!
xxx Evelyn

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Amazing journal!!!! Love all of them, expecially that gorgous lace on the spine and the fabulous flower with the string! Awesome colours and the inside looks wonderful!

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