If you’re craving a playful, creative session that blends texture, color, and meaningful words, this easy art journal project is for you! In this tutorial, we’re building a mixed media spread around one powerful word – JOY – with gesso texture, DecoArt media paints, a stamped word, and a cute button embellishment.
Prep your art journal page by taping off the edges with painter’s tape. Start with a layer of gesso to get your mixed media surface ready. Use a flat brush to cover the center, leaving some of the deckled edges visible for that beautiful handmade look.
Grab your favorite leafy stencil and apply more gesso through it along the edges of the page to build up textured borders. You can use a palette knife or just swipe it on with your fingers. You can also use modeling paste for this if you would like.
Use a heat tool (or air dry if you have time) to fully dry the gesso so it’s ready for paint. If the surface feels cool to the touch, it’s still damp.
Using a dry brush and very little paint, softly blend Titan Buff, Titanium White, and a touch of Cobalt Turquoise Hue and Quin Gold over the gessoed area and textured edges.
You’re aiming for a subtle, dreamy background, so don’t overdo it. Dry brushing or wiping excess paint off your brush is key.
Next, we’ll stamp the word JOY! Pick your foam alphabet stamps and spell out your word of the year (or just the word “joy” like me!). Load your stamp with DecoArt paint. I used a rich red like Quin Gold and stamped it off-center for some playful imperfection.
Use white gesso to roughly paint a five-petal flower shape wherever you would like! After the gesso dries, paint the petals teal or turquoise, then outline them with black acrylic paint using a liner brush.
Once the flower is dry, glue a small button into the center using Zip Dry or tacky glue. Bonus points if it’s a fun, vintage-looking button!
Use a liner brush and Extreme Sheen Gold to highlight the textured areas and leaf patterns. You can also add a touch of shimmer around the stamped word or flower petals for a little extra magic.
Protect your piece with a coat of satin varnish. If your button is already glued down, carefully seal around it.
Peel off your tape border (if you used one), sign your name, and admire your joyful creation!
Watch the replay below!
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Supply List:
- Indigo Mixed Media Journal
- DecoArt Extreme Sheen: 24K Gold
- Painter’s Tape
- Decoart Media Acrylic Paints: Cobalt Turquoise Hue, Quin Gold, Titanium White, Titan Buff, Carbon Black
- Stencil: Leaves
- Decoart Gesso (White)
- Brushes: Tracy Weinzapfel Sets
- Adhesive: Zip Dry
- Other: Button and Foam Stamps
Check out Tracy’s Art Journal Starter Kit!
Tracy’s Resources Page and visit Tracy’s Shop