Your Own Sparkle AJ Page

Animals, Art Journaling, Mixed Media, Other Than a Card, Seasons, Summer, Taylored Expressions

*This is a scheduled post as I’m away for my son’s wedding and don’t have access to Internet at this time*

Hello friends!  Here we are towards the end of June already and in full Summer mode now!  Time has went by so fast!  I do hope you’re all doing well, staying safe and enjoying your time however you’re spending it.

The end of the month also brings the monthly AJ page collaboration with my crafty friend, Carol (from Crafty-Stamper), so please check out her blog for more inspiration too!  We’re trying to get creative by using up our never-ending stash piles!  So here’s my Art Journal inspiration with the “SMASH OUR STASH” June prompt of: “buttons/sequins/gems.“

So who doesn’t have oodles of sequins in their stash?  (I probably had enough to cover the entire page, but left it strictly for the fish scales and “bubbles”.😄)  I was inspired by the Art Journal Journey challenge prompt this month of “FISH” and with the stash prompt in mind, it had me thinking of a book I had gotten for the kids years ago, perhaps you’re familiar with “The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister? 

In the book, the fish’s scales were very shimmery, and it made me think to add the sequins to a fish, so I actually found a fun and free “coloring page” fish image to print out and color for my page!  I used Copic markers to color that fish and the sequins are a glittery silver sequin that were topped with some silver Stickles as well as the “lines” on his fins.  I also added some clear iridescent sequins for the “bubbles” above him.

For my background – Since the goal is to use my stash, I pulled out my set of gelatos that I’ve had for a few years to create my background.  I found it fun to blend them and smudge them with my finger. I also used a piece of punchella trim for stenciling with them too.  Of course, since they’re water soluble, I needed to cover it with some matte medium using a spatula rather than a brush.  Once the matte medium dried, I added some printed vellum pieces ripped up over it and then used some white and silver paint for splatters and stamping an empty roll circle.  I also went around the edges a bit with the silver paint for shimmer.  For a little bit more texture, I took some Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE) and heated up a few “piles” of the crystals and melted them…I haven’t used that in a long time either!  I needed to be VERY careful with my heat gun because of the matte medium…it started to smoke a bit! 😮

For the background fish – I had a few extra cut out fish pieces from a previous project I made using the Taylored Expressions Hook, Line & Sinker Stamp & Stencil Combo with dies and adding them to the scene.  I also added some sparkly fish that was die cut from the TE Little Bits-Fish dies. (I haven’t posted this project yet, but I will later on!)  I took a micron pen to add a fishing line coming down from the top with a hook. 

Here’s a closer view of the fish as well as some of the details in the background.

For the sentiment – it was printed out along with the fish and then I just ripped around it and then using the same ink colors as the background fish, I blended over this piece.  I also used the same UTEE on it as the background.  I took a white Big Brush marker to highlight the letters and underline.  I also used it for highlights on the fish. I used different colors of the Big Brush markers to add some shading details around the fish.

All of the sequins and silver Stickles were added very last to the page.

Challenges:

  1. Art Journal Journey – Fish (will have to link later when I get back!)

Published by *Vicki*

I'm so happy you found me! I love to share smiles with my handmade cards! I also enjoy papercrafts through art journaling, scrapooking and mixed media projects too! Thanks for stopping by!

Published

22 thoughts on “Your Own Sparkle AJ Page”

  2. Gorgeous background and great colouring of the fishes.
    Congrats on you son’s wedding and enjoy your time.
    xxx Margreet

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  3. First of all, I hope you’re having a fantastic time at your son’s wedding! I can’t wait to see some photos of that wonderful occasion! And onto the page, can I just say WOW!? I LOVE the whole concept with all those great fish, and the fabulous underwater scene! I love how you used the sequins on the fish to add sparkle too, and it’s a great take from the book you mentioned! Once again, a fabulous creation from you and I love it! Have a great week ahead!

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  4. Hope all had a wonderful time at your son’s wedding congrats the happy couple.
    A beautiful fun filled page Vickiq

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  5. Love the added shiner and sparkle! Fun card. Hope your son’s wedding is wonderful!

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  6. WOW absolutely brilliant journal page Vicki I love how you always make a scene mine always just look thrown together(maybe because they are lol) Fabulous textured background and love the beautiful sparkly fish,love the little fishing line and hook too.Hope you are having a brilliant time at your Sons wedding
    Carol x

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  7. Wow! This is ‘smokin hot’! Lol…love reading your descriptions, you are always so helpful and honest! What a fun page – who can resist a bit of sparkle? Speaking of sparkle, I’m so eager to see photos when you get home! Hope you’re having a wonderful time with family and friends!

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  9. How wonderful, a wedding, hope you are having a great time and the weather is kind Vicki..I love your art journal page with the fabulous background of colours and textures and the sparkle on the fish..awesome page..

    Luv CHRISSYxx

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  11. Bet you are tired after all of the wedding celebrations. What a fun weekend.
    Love your fish journal page – sparkle, gelatos, vellum, sequins, you name it this page has it. AJ is not my greatest skill but always love seeing yours. Great job.

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  13. It’s so comforting to see your work on here, thanks for arranging this in advance. Your process and choices for your work is always so amazing. You used so many mediums to accomplish this beautiful look, and I think it is so pretty and fresh. How precious the memory of reading your children the book “Rainbow Fish” when they were young. Preserving our memories is so important. I join all the others in sending congratulations to your son and wishes for a wonderful bonding time as family!

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  14. Oh I love the Rainbow Fish book. My daughter used to love it, and in fact, we still own it. And your page is not only some beautiful fish but a perfect tribute to this book. I’m glad you joined us Vicki. And I hope June has been going well for you. Hugs-Erika

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  16. Such a gorgeous page! Loving your underwater scene with the sparkly fish and those sequins finish it so beautifully – perfect 😀. I hope you’re having a lovely week! Hugs Jo x

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  17. A fantastic under the sea scene journal page. Those fish look amazing. Thank you for linking with ud for Mia’s theme at AJJ.
    Yvonne

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  18. Congratulations to your son and spouse and many blessings. What a thoroughly sparkly and lovely page, how fun to use the gelatos and the UTEE. I will try to remember the spatula trick, xoxo

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  19. WOW, what great colors, sparkle and glitz! Loving the fish and all your details.
    Mother of the groom too, Hope you share pictures soon.

    Hugs
    Sue

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  20. Great take on the book inspiring your page. Yes I have oodles of sequins. Thankfully I pull them out regularly and use them unlike some of my other goodies. This is just so cute and beautifully designed.

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  21. Super pretty! I actually thought about doing a page with that book as inspiration. You actually did it. Lovely and it may actually be my favorite AJJ page from last month’s challenge. I didn’t get to see them all but I saw 90%. Lovely colors and details. Hugz to you sweet friend.

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