Hi and welcome back to the Chrissie Murphy Designs Blog. I have some Watercolour Bookmarks to share with you today. They are so quick to make and perfect for those times when you want to add a little something extra (and handmade) to a gift.
Now before we go any further – I have a disclaimer I’d like to share. I have recently signed up to be an Affiliate for Amazon Australia. It means that I get a small percentage from the sale of anything you may purchase through links I use in my blog. Just wanted to declare this before we get into today’s post.
The Expressive Bits
What inspired me to create these Watercolour Bookmarks?
I don’t know about you, but I regularly surf the internet and Youtube looking at different art and craft mediums. After buying my gel plate, I started to stumble on videos of people using Fabre-Castell Gelatos. Before I knew it, I was captivated!
I bought myself a set. I purchased the 33 piece Gift Set called “Trousse-Cadeau 1”. There are heaps of configurations and packs to choose from, so you’re bound to find one that suits you and your budget.
The gelatos have amazed me with their versatility. They are a medium that can be used wet or dry and by doing so produce very different results.
What techniques did I use for the Watercolour Bookmarks and why?
I wanted to try them out with water and Watercolour Bookmarks seemed the simplest and easiest way to do it.
Here’s a quick time lapse video I created of playing with the Fabre-Castell Gelatos for the very first time.
This is the technique I used. I just laid down some colour and pushed it around with water.
What does it mean in terms of my artistic work as a whole?
Authenticity is huge to me. I like it to ooze out of everything I do. I have shared a few times about the legacy of craftmanship in my family. My grandparents were makers, my parents were makers and where I can, I try to be a maker too.
As a child growing up, I cannot recall a single Christmas where I received a gift that was not handmade by my grandparents. And those handmade gifts mean the world to me 40 years later. My grandparents left such a powerful legacy!
Much of my artistic work as a whole is rooted in the handmade legacy. To me it’s authentic, because it’s who I was raised to be. I was raised and nurtured to be a maker, a craftsman, an artist, someone who works with her hands. It was modelled, taught and revered.
These simple little watercolour bookmarks add a touch of the handmade to any gift I give. That’s something that’s very important to me.
How can you take this idea and be more Expressive?
You can use this week’s idea to inspire you to add your own touch of authenticity to the gifts you give.
What speaks deeply to you? What resonates with who you are? How can these things be expressed in your giving?
For me it’s adding that touch of handmade, but for you it might be something different. This is another opportunity where we can express ourselves.
The Factual Bits
The materials used
- Strips of Quill Card Stock in White
- Fabre-Castell Gelato’s in varying colours. Note: Amazon doesn’t have the same 33 piece set I purchased available in Australia. I have linked to another much smaller set that’s available now.
- Versa Magic Dew Drop Inks in varying colours (first time using these inks and I love them!!)
- Distress Inks in varying colours
- Darkroom Door Sentiment Stamp called “Make Art”
- Metal eyelets
- Ribbons for decoration.
How big are the Watercolour Bookmarks?
The are 21cm x 4cm.
Want to be more Expressive?
Join the Expressive’s List to begin to learn ways you can start to express yourself creatively. With the Lord there are no moulds or limits, just possibilities, and the promise of unearthing who you were created to be.
Expressive Subscribers receive an email each month that contains creative inspiration and ideas, links to helpful resources and a month’s worth of journal prompts to stimulate creative expression. These prompts are a great way of learning to express yourself when you’ve never really tried it before. Fill in your details below to sign up.
Until next time, listen to your heart and sharpen your coloured pencils. A masterpiece awaits!
Bless you my friend
Chrissie xx
