Plain Jane Scraps

I created a decorative panel for the cover of my sketch journal. The panel measures 8″ x 5 1/4″.

I started with a piece of previously painted and stenciled light weight paper. I used the Butterflies stencil to outline the images with a fine tip Micron pen.

I then painted 2 layers of gesso around each butterfly and across the rest of the panel to exclude the background.

Once dry, I added color back into the background by sprinkling different shades of Nuance powders and adding water with a brush to spread and blend them.

I allowed the panel to dry thoroughly before stamping the Water Drops with Carnation Red Archival Ink and the Branch with Cobalt Archival Ink. Then I added a thick coat of matte medium over both sides of the entire panel to seal it and make the paper sturdier.

I created shadows around the butterflies by smudging the ink from a Pitt Pen with my finger. It makes them appear to “float” above the page.

I edged the panel with the Cobalt ink pad and with a Scarlet Red Pitt Pen, smudging the ink as before to blend it into the edges. I stamped the Life Is Beautiful sentiment onto paper with Jet Black Archival Ink and gave it a coat of matte medium. I colored it with Pitt Pens in Cadmium Yellow, Orange Glaze and Scarlet Red. I attached it to the panel and outlined it with the Micron pen.

Here are some close up shots:

For a complete list of products used, please go to the Magenta Blog and search Tranquil Tuesday with Jane or DT Jane Jones.