Watch Video, Make Journal Page

My friend Lorraine sent me a link for this video posted by Pam Thorburn on YouTube.  I watched it today and then got busy making my own journal page using Pam's easy to follow, simple and very effective techniques. 

I watched the video all the way through first, then played it again as I made my journal page.  It took me a little longer than the 11 minute video to make my page, probably about 20 minutes altogether, as I first had to grab my supplies (which I did quickly and without too much thought - thinking about which paper or stamp to use just slowed me down, so I had to tell myself to stop thinking and just do!).  Then as I played the video, I would stop it from time to time while I did the various steps.  It probably would have been quicker and easier if I had everything on the table in front of me while I played the video but this is what happened when I tried that:

Yup, all four kittens wanted to help out!  So I would watch the video in the dining room where my laptop is, then step in to the kitchen to do the page while standing at the counter.  Where there's a will, there's a way!

First I glued down bits of paper.

Then I added a strip of striped wrapping paper with circles punched out (I love that part! Great idea, Pam!!)

After I stamped over the paper, I was sure I had ruined my page.  I used a stamp that looks like a sheet of music and it seemed wayyy too busy. 

But I persevered.  As Pam says on her video, just keep going. She also suggests that you could gesso over if you don't like the way something looks but I didn't bother.  As she says, it doesn't matter if it's not perfect, you learn from your mistakes for future reference. Almost every teacher of every class I have ever taken has said this and it is so true!

I added a picture stamp from a group of Artistic Outpost stamps that I had bought ages ago and had yet to use (so glad to finally put one of them in action!) as well as a tree and birds stamp in the bottom corner. Used my Inktense pencils to add some colour, finished off with a quote that Dina Wakley gave us in class last weekend and voila, here is the finished page:

Click on picture to enlarge

As you can see, for this first page, I followed Pam's video pretty closely, even using similar stamps, mostly because I loved the look of her little page but also, when you're learning something new, it helps to have a guide to follow - thank you, Pam!  I also love her idea about using paint sample strips - must get me some of those.  Next time, of course, I'll be just a little braver and more experimental with my page.  I already know there will be many next times.  I love these techniques and the quickness of getting a finished page. I also like the idea of using (mostly) dry mediums to do a journal page, sometimes you just don't have the time or the inclination to get out the paints and wait for them to dry, etc.  Plus I used a brand new, 6 x 9 inch journal to make this page, so I'll need to get busy filling up the rest of the pages! :)

Now if I could just find where the kittens put the lid to the glue stick...