Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft

How To Create Ornamental Boxes!

Hi everyone! Faber-Castell USA and I are back with another tutorial! This time, I'm going to walk you through creating simple ornamental boxes for journal!

I’m here to tell you that while some of bullet journaling looks complex, it can actually be pretty simple if you break it down into steps! Starting with a simple rectangle, you can create an interesting space in your bujo for lists, notes, or even quotes!

Tip: Use a pencil first! (Word on the street... Faber-Castell has some pretty sweet supplies if you’re interested... just sayin’) 

Try out each step shown here on these 4 simple boxes! As you can tell, I wasn’t sure what to call them, so forgive the names... I just can't help myself!

Once you’ve completed the three steps, it’s time to push it (...push it real good!) Add flourishes, shadows, florals, and metallic elements to help elevate your boxes, and then use them in your journal! How many other ornamental boxes can you create from a simple rectangle? Experiment and make it your own!

If you'd love to use ornamental boxes in your journal, but aren't ready to take the plunge, check out this free printable here! Download

Thanks, everyone! Keep creating!

Tutorial: How To Create Art Deco Header Boxes!

Hi there, old sport! I’ve shown you a few ways to make header boxes before, that's nothing new - BUT since you are all so kind and supportive of my Art Deco posts, I figured I’d show you some simple ways to make your header boxes with a little 1920s flare! ✨

A lot of Art Deco is built upon symmetry, angles, and line work, which makes them easy to create step by step, and easy to apply to any dot grid journal. The dots create the perfect canvas for this style!

Using the simple steps above, and some fantastic Faber-Castell pens, you are able to bring a little glam to your days! Did you know they make metallic pens as well? In MORE than just silver and gold? You heard me correctly! I'm such a fan!

Want to give these tutorials a try and share it? Be sure to tag @fabercastellusa and @plansthatblossom so we can take a peek! If you’re interested in this style, but can’t master the technique, we've created a fun printable with many different art deco styles to use in your own journal! I've left them blank so you can use them for months, days, lists - whatever you choose! Jazz them up with some fabulous pitt artist pens as well! Download the printable HERE.

Thanks so much! Keep creating!

DIY Celebration Card

Is there anything better than celebrating friends and family? Adding a personal touch, and a heartfelt note is always a good idea. 

To make this card you'll need:

• A blank card/envelope
• Faber-Castell gelatos in your choice of colors, here i have metallic mint and metallic blueberry
• Faber-Castell gelato tool kit
• A stencil
• Faber-Castell Pitt Artist pen in blue metallic 292
• Faber-Castell Pitt Artist brush pen in black

 

Start by scribbling a little bit of the gelato onto a palette (any smooth surface would work).

 

 

Pick up some of the color using the larger of the sponges from your tool kit and start coloring over top of the stencil.

 

Once you've colored in the whole picture, take your metallic pitt pen and write your greeting on the front of the card!

 

Use the Pitt Artist brush pen for the envelope. You can write their name or a congratulatory message, whatever you'd like!

 

Finish up with a nice note on the inside, and you've just made a wonderful, personal gift for your friends!

  

Chelsea has a not-so-slight obsession with all things lettering. Watching lettering videos is what got her started, and you can usually find her posting videos using every art supply she can get her hands on! From brush pens to watercolors, and everything in between!

 

 

 

 

 

Negative Space Painting with Gelatos

Diana Trout here today with Negative Space Painting. If you're scratching your head right now, read on. NSP is easier to demonstrate than explain.

The supplies I used for this piece

Canvas board 6" x 8"
Pastel Gelatos
Glaze
Metallic Gelatos
Texture Gems
Awl (or other tool for scratching)
Paint Brush 
Pottery Sponge (or cosmetic wedge)

Begin by creating a patchy background. I'm using the lightest of the Pastel Gelatos because I was thinking of a Fire Opal. No need to make a pattern on the background. Fill the canvas (or page) with color. I spread the color out with a damp sponge. For the best results, fill in the entire canvas. I added marks by scratching through the Gelatos with an awl.

You might use stencils as well. 

You can see the scratches above. Let this dry and then put a couple of coats of Glaze over it. While Gelatos remain re-wettable, they do dry to the touch. Let the Glaze layer dry thoroughly.

It's time to begin the negative space painting. I used the Metallic Gelatos. They are super shiny and fun! (See my video linked at the end of this post for a swatch test.) You can use any shape you'd like or draw anything at all: leaves, flowers, house. I started with the Metallic Mint Gelatos and then, since I wanted the pastel shapes to really POP! I used darker colored Gelatos, like the Gold Champagne and Iced Chai.  

You can use various tools to spread the Metallic Gelatos around: a potter's sponge, paintbrush, the dense foam sponge and your fingers (just make sure to keep them clean). You'll have no problem retaining the pastel shapes since they've been preserved with the Glaze.

A range of values and most importantly Dark and Light make your piece really sparkle. I used a PITT Artist Brush Pen to draw around around the circles. I didn't want a solid line so I followed the pen with a wet brush. PITT pens are permanent but if you catch them while they are wet, they will run. Yum

Finally, I chose a Texture Gem in Pearl to create some more shiny light by creating dots all around each circle. 

Negative Space painting is a different way to think and create. I hope you'll try this and see for yourself. Enjoy!

Snow Birds Art Journal Page (Gelatos Color of the Week: Metallic Blueberry)

This week the Gelatos^{® Color of the Week is Metallic Blueberry} and that beautiful shimmery blue color reminds me of winter so I went through my Gelatos stash and found some great colors that go with it to use for an art journaling page. Besides Metallic Blueberry, I choose Elderberry and Metallic Grape. 

 

First off, here's how the page turned out:

Supplies: Gelatos - Metallic Blueberry, Elderberry, Metallic Grape; Glass Bead Glitter Gel, Gel Medium, Gesso, PITT Artist Pens - Raw Umber #180, Black #199, Tag, White Cardstock, Patterned Papers, Wreath Diecut, Sewing Machine Stitching, Brush, Palette Knife, Bird Stamp, Ribbon

 

Here's what I did to create it.

I collaged some papers onto the page using Gel Medium. Once it was dry I scribbled my Metallic Blueberry Gelatos over it.

 

I sprayed on a spritz of water and used a foam brush to move the Gelatos over the page.

 

Next, I mixed together some Glass Bead Glitter Gel and Metallic Blueberry Gelatos.

I applied it with a palette knife randomly all over the page.

 

Then I mixed the Glass Bead Glitter Gel with Elderberry Gelatos and applied it to the page as well.

 

Then I did the same thing with  Glass Bead Glitter Gel and Metallic Grape Gelatos.

Doesn't that look so yummy!! I added a touch of just plain  Glass Bead Glitter Gel and let the whole page dry.

 

Next, I diecut a wreath out of wood veneer paper, white washed it with some diluted Gesso, and then added a bit of  Glass Bead Glitter Gel all over it.

 

Next, I took one of my favorite bird stamps and rubbed the Metallic Blueberry Gelatos over it. Then (and this is where the magic happens) I huffed on it a few times.  You know, the way you do to fog up your glasses or a window. Then I stamped it onto a piece of white cardstock.  If the image wasn't dark enough I'd repeat the same process on top of it.

 

I used a Raw Umber #180 PITT Artist Pen to color the bird's legs on the stamp and then stamped them onto the paper.

 

I repeated that process to create 3 birds.

 

Next, I took an XS tip Black #199 PITT Artist Pen and made sketch marks around the birds.

 

And lastly, I printed out a nice winter saying onto a tag and added the left over  Glass Bead Glitter Gel + Elderberry mixture around the edges.  After everything was dry I assembled it all together, adding some stitching on the bottom of the tag.

Wishing you many creative days this New Year!

 

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Easy Holiday Card Ideas

Hi Loves. Tiare here.  I love this time of year.  It gives me the opportunity to get creative and try fun and unique ideas.  One of my traditions, that I hold dear is to create non-traditional holiday cards.  I love to use unique colors and items.  I do not always keep it "Christmasy" but I keep it fun.  One thing is for sure, my cards get the attention of the recipient and often is a topic of conversation for us.  So much fun. 

Today, I share my cards using this week's color  Gelatos® Metallic Mint.  Perfect for making non-traditional holiday cards with a lot of shine!  Here's what I did...

 

For my first card, I grabbed this stencil from the Mixed Media Stencils 101 Set.  Be sure to cover card with Gesso first for even smoother blending and spreading.  Place over 1/2 of card.  Use Gelatos® Metallic Mint and Metallic Blueberry to add color by simply rubbing over stencil and spreading with finger.  Add one color first and then add a little of the second color on top and blend with finger.  They blend easily and beautifully. 

Add a ribbon, veneer Christmas Tree, a little gem and handwrite your sentiment using the Journaling Pitt®Artist Pens Medium Nib to finish. 

For the 2nd card,  cover card with Gesso.  Next, use Stamper’s Big Brush Pens:  Skyblue 146 and Cobalt Green 156 to create your background.  Draw color onto craft sheet, spritz with water and drag the  card through color.  Do this one color at a time.

Next, use this stencil from the Mixed Media Stencils 101 collection  to create cute, floral images.  I simply layered the circles one at a time on top of each other to create this look.  Use Gelatos® Metallic Mint and Metallic Blueberry to add color by simply rubbing over stencil and spreading with finger, one circle at a time. Next add a gem to the center of each flower.  Draw on a vase using Stamper’s Big Brush Pens Walnut  and doodle stems with  Journaling Pitt®Artist Pens Medium Nib

Finish it off by adding a bit more shimmer by scribbling all over the card with  Texture Gems™ Gold

So fun!

Supplies Used: 

• Stamper’s Big Brush Pens:  Skyblue 146, Cobalt Green 156 and Walnut
  
• Journaling Pitt®Artist Pens Medium Nib
• Gesso
• Gelatos® Metallic Mint and Metallic Blueberry

• Texture Gems™ Gold

• Mixed Media Stencils 101 

 

Tiare Smith is a mixed media/art journal artist and instructor. 

She hosts a variety of online, mixed media workshops, challenges and more. 

Join her for more creative fun at http://www.tiaresmith.com

 

 

Metallic Grape Ornament

For my family, now that Thanksgiving has passed in North America we have moved our focus onto Christmas.  In preparation for creating some new ornaments this year I picked up a package of these Styrofoam balls from the craft store and I decided to decorate each of them differently, and this is the first ornament.

Now this week our Gelatos^® color is Metallic Grape, which isn't necessarily the first color you think about when you think of holiday colors, but I don't believe you have to stick to traditional rules in art! 

To create this ornament I dug through my fabric stash for some white background fabric and came up with these three patterned fabrics: houndstooth, polka-dot, and a light cream with some screen printed white flowers on it.

Supplies-

• Gelatos^®: Metallic Grape
• Craft Mat
• Fabric
• Styrofoam =ball
• Spatula
• Water
• Hot Glue Gun & Glue

I started off by ripping my fabric into about 1" strips. 

 

I took my Gelatos and scribbled it all over my craft mat, not minding the little chunks that were there.

 

Next, I sprayed a lot of water onto the Gelatos and used my spatula to blend it together as I smashed out the chunks. I also gave the fabric strips a good spritz.

 

I then took all of the fabric strips and kneaded them into the diluted Gelatos to dye them.

 

I then let all the strips dry by tossing them on my craft mat as I used my heat gun on them.

 

I love how all of them turned out, but the fabric with the flowers on it was my favorite since the screen printing acted as a resist to the diluted Gelatos.

 

After heating up my glue gun I began wrapping the Styrofoam ball with the dyed fabric alternating the patterns and directions I wrapped.

 

I also hot glued a ribbon onto it as well so I could hang it on my tree.

 

You can stay tuned to my blog for how I decorated the remaining ornaments in the weeks leading up to Christmas!

 

 

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Happy Fall With Raspberry Gelatos and Jamie Dougherty

Hello everyone and Happy Friday. I have a fun mixed media project for you that will get you into the mood for Fall. This project would be perfect for place-cards on Thanksgiving, personal card fronts, or journal inserts. The warm fall leaves as they turn , hold such rich and enchanting colors. Our Raspberry Gelatos is the perfect accent color. The bold purple color blends nicely with the yellows, oranges, and reds that Mother Nature provides us.

(For the best results, press your leaves in a book for a few days prior to beginning)

Take a look at my video below to see how I created this colorful fall piece. Also a couple of quick techniques to try out with your Gelatos and leaves as well.

Supplies Used:

Gelatos® Rasberry, PITT Artist Pen Ruby Metallic 290*, PITT Artist Big Brush pen Green Gold 268**, Glaze, paint brush, watercolor paper 5x7"

 

 

 

We would love to see your inspired creations. Please share with us on Facebook and Instagram, your beautiful Design Memory Craft work.

 

Hugs and Blessing

Jamie Dougherty

www.jamiedoughertydesigns.com

Beautiful Little Stick Girl

Hi Loves. Tiare here.  Back in my mixed media journal.  I have a thing for stick girls and this cutie is a new one I have been playing with.  Don't you just lover her?  She is decked out in her beautiful Gelatos® Iced Chai dress.  Here's what I did: 

 

Cover page with Gesso.  Next, use Stamper’s Big Brush Pens:  Walnut Brown 177, Chrome Yellow 268 and Orange Glaze113 to create your background.  Draw color onto craft sheet, spritz with water and drag page through color.  Do this one color at a time.

 

Doodle your stick girl using PITT® Artist Pen Black 199 and add a pretty dress using Gelatos® Iced Chai , just color and spread with the blender.

 

Use stencils to add colorful shapes and words to your page.  I used Gelatos®Iced Chai, Gold Champagne and Iced Coffee to add a variety of colors to the shapes and the word. I took the colors from darkest to lightest.  Just spread colors over stencil. 

 

Adhere a cute, dimensional flower to her dress and a few doodles around the page to finish it off, using your PITT® Artist Pen Black 199.

Tada!  So fun!

Supplies Used: 

• Stamper’s Big Brush Pens:  Walnut Brown 177, Chrome Yellow 268 and Orange Glaze113
• Journaling Pitt®Artist Pens Medium Nib
• Gesso
• Palette Knife
• Blender Stump
• Gelatos®Iced Chai, Gold Champagne, Iced Coffee
• Mixed Media Stencils 101

Tiare Smith is a mixed media/art journal artist and instructor. 

She hosts a weekly challenge: Embrace Your Art 2016: Journal About Me (JAM) Challenge, which features weekly prompts, creative challenges and process videos. 

She also hosts a variety of online, mixed media workshops, as well. 

Join her for more creative fun at http://www.tiaresmith.com

 

Halloween Art Journal

Autumn is my favorite time of year, even if in California it still feels like summer! Now, I'm not a big Halloween person, but I do love pumpkins, and cats, and crows, so I decided I'd create an art journal page fall and I used this week's Gelatos^® color of the week: Black Licorice.

 

 

I started off by sketching  my design...I wanted to keep it in more of a folk art style than a scarey Halloween one.

 

Next, I chopped off a bit of Mango Gelatos and a tiny bit of the Cinnamon. I mashed those up and combined the mixture with some Glass Bead Glitter Gel. 

 

I used the Glass Bead Glitter Gel and Gelatos mixture to "paint" in my pumpkin, leaving the features unpainted. 

 

Next,  I combined the Black Licorice Gelatos and the Glass Bead Glitter Gel and filled in the cat and the crow.

 

To make the marks on the crow's tail, the cat's whiskers, and mouth I just took a sharp pencil and drew through the Gelatos/Glass Bead Glitter Gel mixture while it was still wet.

 

I also mixed up a tiny bit of Watermelon Gelatos and Glass Bead Glitter Gel to fill in the ears and nose on the cat  and for the pumpkin stem I used Iced Chai Gelatos and Glass Bead Glitter Gel. Once it was all filled in I let the whole page dry completely before starting on the background. Now , I knew I wanted to have a darker background, but I also wanted to be able to see the cat and the crow so for the first layer I used the following Gelatos: Snow Cone, Boysenberry, and Metallic Grape.

 

I used a baby wipe that I had squeezed out as much of the liquid out of as possible to blend out the Gelatos.

 I allowed the backround to dry.

 I then outlined the cat and crow with a Black #199 PITT Artist Pen, and the pumpkin with a Dark Sepia #175.  I filled in all the details on the crow, cat, and pumpkin. I then got the idea to add some patterns to the background. Now, because of the waxy finish to the Gelatos you're not able to write on top of it with the finer tipped PITT Artist Pens very easily so I brushed on a thin layer of Gel Medium to seal it in so I could add those details.

 

I wish you could see the glitter and texture on this page "in real life!" It's really neat!

 

Supplies:

Gelatos - Mango, Cinnamon,Watermelon, Black Licorice, Snow Cone, Boysenberry, Metallic Grape

PITT Artist Pens - Orange Glaze #113, Black #199, Pale Geranium #12, Dark Chrome Yellow #109, May Green #170, Magenta #133

Gel Medium

Glass Bead Glitter Gel

Pencil & Eraser

 

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