We have been having so much over at CatScrap with our Art Journal Challenge. This is an 8 week challenge with each week having a different theme and a different gorgeous freebie created by the CatScrap designers. The idea is to get your feet wet with digital art journaling and at the end of the 8 weeks, you will have a finished album filled with your Hopes, Dreams, Goals & Schemes! Along the way, you can post your pages in our Art Journal gallery at CatScrap!
Last week, the challenge started over at Fiddlette's blog with her wonderful freebie! This week, I have a new art journal set for you! The theme is also Hope. You can grab the kit in the shoppe for free.
Creating a digital art journal is so much fun! The best part is there are no rules and if you don't like getting messy, making an art journal page in Photoshop is great because all the paint, brushes and grunge are virtual. Of course, there is always the UNDO button and eraser, unlike traditional art journaling! Ready to have some fun? Let's go!
I've created some extra grunge and paint brushes for you to use along with this tutorial. You can download them here. This is an .abr brush set in Pshop.
First open up the beautiful background that Christine created in her freebie last week. Then open up the blue painted background that was included in my download. Drag the blue background underneath Christine's journal background. Flip it so the flowers are on the bottom and adjust it.
Next, using your magic wand, select the bottom petals from the middle flower, copy and paste, then rotate and place it at the top so you get a whole flower.
Add a layer mask. Using one of the grungy brushes I gave you and with your color set to black, "erase" the doodly parts away from the edges and any other parts from the bottom background to give it your own look.
If you want to change the color of the background blue layer or saturate it a bit, now is a good time! I changed the hue and lightness to make my blue background a bit more vibrant.
Now, using some more of the brushes, add some stems to your flowers, painted circles, and some text, with the text bruhes. Have fun! Remember, you don't have to do it exactly like I've done below. Add your own flair!
Adding different kinds of accents to your journal page truly makes it your own. It can also be a fun and healing process! You have two good friends when digital art journaling, your ERASER and CMD Z! (UNDO!)
Once you've got a look that you like, add the word hope, that is included in the download.
Next open up the envelope that came in the download, the one with the bird on it. Drag it over to your working file, but underneath group of flowers and elements we've created. Between the colored layer and bottom blue layer.
Next, using one of the acrylic paint brushes and some white "paint", let's paint over the bird in the envelope so it looks like we just slapped some gesso on there for real! I created a layer above my bird layer and "painted" around the bird and erased bits so just his head and some of his tail was peeking out!
To finish up, feel free to break out even more "brushes" and paint some more brush strokes or accents in varying colors to make this your own personal art journal! You can even add some journaling to this page as well.
Here is my finished piece.
This is my second page in my art journal and it makes me happy! I "HOPE" it does the same for you! tee hee!
Hugs!
Nan
Thanks so much for the lesson. I love your end result with the blending. I will defitely be trying this.
Posted by: Carolyn (Amson) | May 14, 2011 at 01:02 AM
Thanks Carolyn! I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'd love to see what you create! xoxo N
Posted by: Nancie | May 14, 2011 at 03:07 PM
ooooooooh that birdie!! i love it!!! thanks for the freebie nan :)
Posted by: Michelle | May 14, 2011 at 06:02 PM
thanks for the tutorial Nan! I am off to try some of this :)
Posted by: stampin_rachel | May 16, 2011 at 03:23 PM
Ooh, you are so welcome! Can't wait to see what you guys create! xoxo
Posted by: Nancie | May 17, 2011 at 11:34 AM
Absolutely love, love, love! Thank you so much :D.
Posted by: lvdesigner | May 17, 2011 at 02:08 PM
Lovely page - thank you so much for the detailed tutorial! And thanks for the great mini set.
Posted by: Sandy_in_MD | May 18, 2011 at 08:05 AM
This is gorgeous, Nancie and what a wonderful tutorial!
Posted by: Roben-Marie | May 23, 2011 at 04:17 PM
Thank you.. I just discovered this, and would really like to give it a go.
So downloading the 3 weeks and going to try catch up with everyone..
Again thank you for the gifts, and the tutorial...
Posted by: Mozz | May 25, 2011 at 05:33 AM
Thank you for this amazing tutorial. I have just discovered this and am keen to take part.
Posted by: Alison | June 07, 2011 at 11:42 AM
This is so pretty. Thank you! This is fun!
Su
Posted by: Su Hall | June 14, 2011 at 11:07 PM