I tried a new technique on my art journal page for the Something New challenge that I’m hosting this month over at Art Journal Journey.

The new technique was for the background and involved watercolour paints and sea salt crystals; I have to say it was a fun and easy technique to do (grin!).

I flooded the page with water and added Indigo, Ultramarine, Turquoise Blue, Cobalt Violet and White Kuretake watercolour paints, graduating the colours down the page to white at the bottom. Then while the paint was still wet I sprinkled coarse sea salt crystals over the top and left it to dry.

When dry I brushed the salt crystals off the page and a beautiful mottled effect was left where the crystals had reacted with the paint.

Next I fussy cut the owl sitting on a bench from an old Christmas card and arranged him onto the page so it looked like the bench was disappearing under a bank of snow. The snowflakes were die cut using my new Thinlet Set by Tim Holtz from white linen textured paper and some glittery blue/purple coloured papers. I added some wording from a sticker book by Tim Holtz which reads “a wondrous sight”, “the wintry landscape” and “covered with snow”. I die cut two labels from the blue/purple and also from white linen paper using a Tim Holtz tag die set. Then I cut the white paper label slightly smaller, stamped “warm winter wishes” using Ground Espresso Distress Archival Ink and an alphabet stamp set and layered the two labels together before sticking them in place, which finished the page.

Whilst on a winter walk around Glasson Dock we saw a strange shape in a tree and took some pictures, to our surprise when we looked through our camera lens there was this Little Owl sat there looking at us. My hubby took this picture before he flew away – isn’t he adorable (grin!).
Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.
Challenges
I’m joining in the Something New challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge with the new technique and Snowflake Thinlet set that I used on this page.
I’m so happy to join the #109 – Sketch challenge over at Paperbabe Stamps; the “paperbabe stamps” is represented by the “a wondrous sight” wording and the “flower” by the “owl” image, also the snow bank divides the page into two.
I’m also pleased to join the Snowflakes challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday with all the snowflakes that I added to my page.
Don’t forget that you still have over a week to join our What a cutie/Make someone smile challenge over at Try it on Tuesday too, it would be lovely to see you there!
Here is a list of all the materials used to create this art journal page:
- Kuretake Gansai Tambi Japanese Watercolour Paint set (Indigo No.67, Ultramarine No.64, Turquoise Blue No.62, Cobalt Violet No. 139, White No.10)
- Course Sea Salt Crystals
- Old Christmas Card
- Pritt Stick
- Sizzix Thinlets Tim Holtz (Paper Snowflakes, Mini 661599)
- Craft Sensations (Luxury Cardstock with Linen Texture – White CRO240/GE)
- The Works M&C Boutique (Paper Pad)
- Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Cold Grey IV 233)
- Zig Memory System 2-way Glue (Dual Action Glue Pen)
- Sizzix Framelits Tim Holtz (Tag Collection 658784)
- Ranger Distress Archival Ink (Ground Espresso)
- Dovecraft Essentials Alphabet Stamp Set (WDN ALPHA STMP DCVW0050)
- X-Press double-sided tape
It’s amazing how you make the snowy background looks so glowing and contrasted with the cute owl! Have a glowing day, Jo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Mel! You too 😁. Hugs, Jo x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous page with a wonderful background. Owls are always so pretty. You got a great pic, too. I hear the owls calling every night, but haven’t seen one yet this year. Have a great day, hugs, Valerie
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just love this page. You obviously had more luck with this technique than I have in the past (when I brush the salt off it sort of fades into the background). Did you use watercolour paper? It just looks a little textured. Anyway, love the technique and the subtle colours are gorgeous. I am impressed with the chair back reaching up through the clouds which provides the perfect perch for that adorable owl. Such a lovely page – very ethereal, very calming.
Hugs, Neet xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! I used Daler Rowney mixed media paper which is quite textured 😁. Hugs, Jo x
LikeLike
The salt crystal technique is fun. The poor, little owl on your page looks cold. Oh, wait, that’s just me. Very cool seeing the owl in the trees.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your wintry page Jo, especially the owl! Fantastic photo too!
Alison xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your piece Jo and thank you for sharing the technique-I have used the salt on hand dyed pieces to get this effect-so now I just learned I can do this with paint too-thanks How fun and I have watercolor and acrylic paints too and when shopping yesterday I picked up some brushes-fun! hugs Kathy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks very much Kathy! I wonder what other techniques are transferable from your hand dyed pieces, I found this technique lots of fun 😁. Enjoy using those new brushes 😁. Hugs, Jo x
LikeLike
Cool! I like these larger salt crystals. The first time I did this I used regular table salt lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous page, Jo! I feel like I am snuggled in for winter. Your watercolor and salt background is awesome, and I love the feel of this page with the owl and colors. hugs, Maura
LikeLiked by 1 person
Once again, life imitates art. Lovely photo of the owl.
I have tried that technique using different types of salt. Sea salt crystals are bigger and make more predominant mottling, while table salt looks like a spray. I remember the first time I did this technique, after the salt was dry, I removed it to my trash bin. I’ll never forget my friend Halle said I should have saved it and reused it the next time I wanted to create the technique. For being the Queen of Free, I really DID fall down on my job. I hope you saved your salt so you can use it again, too.
Regardless, this is a fabulous journal page. It certainly inspired me to find my “used” sea salt. Thank you for this latest entry using your theme at Art Journal Journey AND thank you for being such an inspirational host this month.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The salt trick looks very good also the whole page with the nice snow chrystals and the cute owl.
The owl on your photo looks very cute too.
Have a good, healthy and creative New Year dear Jo.
Big Hugs
Sabine
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow Jo this is a fabulous page and thank you for reminding me about using sea salt, its ages .
You created a super background. and the owl looks so cute, it must have been a surprise to get a photo of small owl on the branch.. Another gorgeous page for your theme at Art Journal Journey.
Yvonne xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great background technique and page, Jo. I love the little fussy cut owl. I also love how you find inspiration everywhere. The baby owl is adorable! Eileen xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I definitely have to try the “salt” technique, Jo. Your page is gorgeous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is beautiful! I love owls and weee, so many techniques you used, amazing!
Very cute. The owl, I mean 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
very nice owl journal, cool the painted background!!!
wonderful photo from owl !!
Greetings Elke
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love playing with salty watercolours, and they’ve worked beautifully for you here. Such pretty, delicate colours to create your wintry sky, and the owl is enchanting!
Alison x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh brrrrrr! What a marvellously cold painting. The little owl thinks so too.
That’s a great trick with the salt and the bench buried in snow, and the snowflakes complete the coldness. I’m off to switch the central heating on.
Imagine seeing the little owl, what a marvellous experience.
Happy New Year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a delightful page, Jo! The salt does give a fab snow effect, I don’t think I have used this techniques in years… x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jo, your wc-salt technique produced the perfect effect for your wintry page. I’m shivering a bit just looking at it. Love how you used an owl from a holiday card. Just lovely. XOX
LikeLiked by 1 person