GPP Street Team Crusade #38 - Grab A Tissue

So I am working on a slide show of my lasted art journal - March 2009 through March 2010. The thing is, creating a slide show is very time consuming and means lots of computer time. It is too beautiful and springy to be stuck doing anything too taxing ! I am making other art, getting out with some pals and soaking up the sweet sunshine as much as possible while I have lots of energy. This spring feels so good to me !

I did want to complete the black covers of my spiral book (from Barnes and Noble - Canson All-Media Book - beautiful watercolor type paper that takes a beating but looks gorgeous !). I decided to include a piece from within as the front cover. I framed it with bits and pieces of paper scraps.

The back cover has another scrap paper frame, a piece of fancy card stock and a photo of the artist...

I liked how they turned out but I definitely needed a title.

I have also been wanting to try out the fun challenge that Michelle Ward proposed in her GPP Street Team Crusade this month - "Grab a Tissue".

I have played with tissue paper before - especially using it to add texture to a page - the wrinkles can be great. Michelle changed things up though and encouraged us to paint on the tissue paper.

It doesn't really matter what color you are using for this part as the first step is to add some gesso to the paper. This is best done as dry as possible as the tissue or course tears and bunches when wet in any way. I has this dark burgundy paper and gave it a thin coat of white gesso with a dry brush.

After it was dry, I went to town with the painting techniques. I dry brushed, rubber stamped, used stencils with acrylic paint and a make up sponge, etc...again all trying to keep it relatively dry.

This shot doesn't do the paper justice ! The tissue holds the paint beautifully and has this strong yet so flexible feel to it when the acrylics and gesso dry. I like that it is thin enough to add to any collage and not stick up off the page in spite of multiple layers of paint.

Michelle used this great rubber stamp alphabet to stamp on her painted tissue papers, and creates gorgeous letters to serve as titles on her pages. Most of my alphabets were too dainty or small for that but I did use my favorite alphabet stencil and a make up sponge to create some letters.

(sorry for the lousy color in this shot too - it was too sunny in the studio ! ;) )

Then I cut them out, added them to black rectangles of card stock...

and added them to my cover page on the front...

and on the back...

I think the tissue paper letters were just what I needed to finish the pages off.

I am now working in my new journal - feels strange to have so many blank pages to fill. I have lots of other wonderful pieces of tissue that will serve me well in the new book too, I am sure !

Today is another beautiful Spring day in NH. In the mid to high 60's and sunny ! Woo hoo ! I am off to take a drive down to Ikea in Stoughton, MA - about an hour and a half drive. My pal Sonia and I are sure to have fun on our Friday afternoon girl time.

I hope you have lots of play time scheduled too. Nothing better !

Happy Friday, Lovely Ones !

PS - Head over to the GPP Street Team Crusade page and see what other great things Michelle and the Crusaders are creating with toys and tissues ! Cheers, Crusaders !