Blog Header for Fall

I don't have an art journal but when I am inclined to create my blog header backgrounds I pretend that I am creating a page in my journal. :) 

This is my project:

                 click on picture to enlarge

I was inspired by an article in the Martha Stewart Living magazine this month.  They talked about the old technique we used to do in school with taking real leaves and placing them under paper and then rubbing a crayon over the top of the paper to capture the outline and veins of the leaf. 

I went around the yard pulling various leaves from different trees and bushes.  I took one of the leaves and placed it under my cardstock and pulled out my white crayon.  I rubbed it over the surface and was pleased to see that it grabbed the outline and leaf.  I did end up with a little extra crayon in spots but I didn't mind the effect.

I then grabbed Ranger Distress Inks (Rusty Hinge, Peacock Feather, Seedless Preserves)  I started sponging the colors on randomly in various areas.  Repeat multiple times increasing in color and blending.  The white crayon is the resist and gave such a pretty effect.  After that was complete I added a little water splotching by flicking water over the surface.  I finished off my main effect with a misting of Perfect Pearls Mister.

After all that had dried, I stamped over the entire surface using the Seedless Preserves and the Hero Arts Kanji Poem stamp.  I came back and added berries using a Chapel Road stamp.  I tried the lovely Verses Rubber Stamps sentiment in vellum in the corner but decided not to use it on my blog header and instead used Picasa to type in my blog name and a little fall ramblings.

This was very fun to play with and is what my art journal page would look like if I had a journal. :)

Have a beautiful day!

Suzz