Everything is better with black. Well, at least this month....because it's going to be Halloween! What a great excuse to Come Over to the Dark Side and try doing a journal page on a black background. If you don't have black pages you can paint yours black. I've always enjoyed changing up the backgrounds I use. It helps fend off Creative Block when you start on something non-white. Things look different on black. And sometimes you might even get new ideas by starting with a black background. Problem solving takes a different twist. Supplies work differently. Try it!
On these two samples I started with a little bit of gesso because it helps make color pop when used on black. Colors can seep into a black surface and look like nothing, so I monoprinted and brushstroked on a little white gesso before adding color. {For a reminder, see Crusade No. 25 ~ Properties of Gesso, and Crusade No. 29 ~ Brush Effects}
You have probably already discovered this, but metallics (acrylic, spray, or ink) all show up better when used over a dark surface. Silver spray paint is dynamite on black paper or black painted page.
A few more samples that show how the green and purple really show up when there is a little gesso under it. Of course I'm just winking when I say "come over to the dark side", and journaling on black doesn't have to be goth and sinister....but why not? It's Halloween month!
Here are some of my Evidence pages of new supplies this season.
Using stencils and masks.....from Crusade No. 19 ~ Cut It Out II
That's it. Super simple. Make a journal page on a black background, blog about it and come back over here to share your link with the team in the comment section below. I will add the links as they come in, newest at top. Be sure to visit the other crsuaders and leave your words of encouragement. I will be away for a week beginning 10/7 so I won't be posting during that time but I'll get you listed upon my return. Due November 1st.
Thanks to all who played last month with Back to School. I hope you found it inspiring to consider what you have already done this year, and motivating to take on more before the year is over.
THIS IS OUR THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! It's been interesting to see who comes to play - new friends are finding us, old friends have moved on but check in from time to time. The highest number of participants at one time was 120! The thing that is most rewarding to me is observing the friendships that have been made through this community, and to see so many people excited about staying plugged in to making stuff. *HIGH FIVES and SMOOCHES*
EDIT: Archived links have been moved from sidebar to here.
CRUSADE No. 34
- Aimeslee W
- Becky New
- Belinda Schneider
- Carmen Nessman
- Carmen Nessman (more)
- Cath Sheard
- Chris Miser
- Darlene
- Dawn
- Dawn (C19)
- Dawn Smith
- Gaby Bee
- Gilvania Jussara
- Hanna Andersson
- Hanna Andersson (more)
- Helen Goudsmit
- Jane Royal
- Jane Royal (more)
- Jennifer Lorton
- Jessica Loughrey
- Johanna Goisser
- Julie Prichard
- Kate Robertson
- Kathryn Antyr
- Kathryn Antyr (more)
- Kim Mailhot
- Lorraine
- Lyle Baxter
- Michelle Ward
- Michelle Ward (more)
- Pam Carriker
- Paula Long
- Regina Rooks
- Susan Sager Brown
- Wanda Miller
- Wanda Miller (more)