Gesso!

Good Tuesday morning to you!  Guess what?  We're home again.  Yep, another snow day here.  Not sure how much snow we got because it's still snowing...  I'm hoping to get the house picked up this morning, start a load of laundry and then work on a couple of cards and maybe Project Life.

Awhile back, like maybe a year ago, STEPH and I wanted to art journal.  Then we roped TRACY into it.  I started out with the best of intentions, really wanting to art journal and broaden my horizons.  We were playing along with The Greeting Farm Heart Journal Challenge and I know I made it two weeks.  I'm not sure about Steph, but Tracy finished her journal and it was awesome!  I don't know if a weekly challenge is something that I can do, I think I need a more "go at your own pace" kind of a thing.  But I've been thinking a lot about art journaling lately and would like to give it another shot.  Maybe.  Haha.

So this weekend when I was at Michael's, I picked up some gesso.  There were so many different kinds, and colors!  I had no idea.  I'm not sure if I got the right kind or not, but I brought it home anyway and got to play with it on Sunday.  I watched a couple of videos on techniques and off I went.

This is the cover of my journal.  I did multiple coats of gesso and acrylic paint.  I used my heat tool to dry in between coats.

This shot is to try and show you the texture.  I used a tissue and baby wipe to blot the gesso while it was wet to give it a lumpy bumpy look.  After I was happy with the texture, coats, paint, etc I stamped on the cover and added a flower and some thread.  Was the gesso messy?  Yes.  Was it fun?  Yes.  Will I do it again?  Yes!

I'm usually such a slacker crafter, taking the easy way out a lot of the time.  This felt really good, to get my fingers painty and messy!  Good for the soul, right?

Okay, I'm outta here for the day!  Thank you for stopping by today and I'll be back tomorrow.  Until then, have a safe and happy Tuesday!