Resketch Earth Day Blog Hop

Welcome to the StencilGirl® Products & Resketch Earth Day Blog Hop! 

I don't think I have ever officially celebrated Earth Day, so this feels so wonderful to be able to talk about some of the things I do to be mindful of how my art making impacts Mother Earth. So, to celebrate Earth Day, a few of us from the Team StencilGirl® crew are getting creative with Resketch products and StencilGirl® stencils!

Resketch creates unique journals and sketchbooks made of high-quality reclaimed paper. Why use reclaimed paper? Well, the folks over at Resketch say it like this: "We think it's tragic when paper that's otherwise perfectly fine to use is tossed in the garbage, or even the recycling bin. Let's take that paper and create something awesome with it."

I love this!! And I think many of you will too because, if you are like me, you probably have a stash of paper cuts, bits, and scraps that you've been planning to use in future art projects. What a great time to pull them out in celebration of Earth Day. 

Keep reading to see my take on this conversation. You’ll be inspired by all the lovely artwork that came out of this blog hop. AND for every comment you leave on each blog, you’ll earn a chance to win in the GIVEAWAY! YAY! Please be sure to share some feedback with all the artists who worked hard to celebrate the Earth!

My Resketch Journal

I was so happy when I received one of the Resketch Write journals. Of course I knew immediatedly that I would get to pull out my fountain pens and play with the lovely paper in the spiral bound journal. 

If you've been following me for any length of time, you probably already know that I am not typically a fan of spiral bound journals and notebooks, but guess what...I LOVE THIS ONE. The top edge binding makes this spiral unobtrusive and actually pretty nifty. And the size is just right for popping into my backpack when I'm out and about. And I discovered that the spiral is a pretty good pen holder in a pinch. :-)

Front Cover of the 4.5 x 7 Resketch Write
Photo from Resketchbook.com

Back Cover of the 4.5 x 7 Resketch Write
Photo from Resketchbook.com

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Setting Intentions

Once I opened the notebook, I was kinda in love. There are so many different papers to play with and to choose from. Everything from gridded paper to old school loose leaf paper and craft paper. I had a hard time deciding where I wanted to begin. So I just started like I start all of my journals -- I set intentions for this journal. 

A simple first page activity that I love to do in all of my journals. It helps me remember what I want to do with a journal since I typically have so many journals going at once. This helps me stay on track with each journal and gives me permission to leave a journal for months at a time if necessary. This way, I know that when I decide to revisit a journal, I'll know for sure what I had  originally planned.

I started with a simple alphabet stencil for my lettering, then used a water brush to fan out some of the color from the fountain pen ink. The stencil is the by Carolyn Dube and was a part of the Stencil Club set in April 2014.  ​

Embellish the Corners

Once I started, it was easy to get going. I grabbed a few stencils and started by doing some painty edges. I love this simple way of adding color to pages in preparation for writing or future art. 

EARTH FRIENDLY TIP: Put a piece of scrap paper under the pages as you're stenciling so that you can go off the edge of the corner for added interest. When you are done with your stenciling project, you'll have a lovely piece that you can reuse for collage!!

I used my TWSBI Eco fountain pen with Oxblood Ink by Diamine. It was a nice compliment to the Earthy brown and red combo of acrylic paint I used for my corner. I enjoy using the abstract stencils so this one from Suzi Dennis was perfect. 

EARTH FRIENDLY TIP: Fountain pens help reduce the waste that one-time-use plastic pens create here on the planet. Fountain pens are refillable with all sorts of wonderful inky colors and can be used for watercolor effects in your journal. 

Use Your Scraps

Next I moved on to one of the craft pages. I love that Earthy brown colored paper. I really wanted to bring in a stenciled element from one of my gelli plate printed pages so I scoured through my stash and spent a little time fussy cutting out the image so I could glue it into the journal. 

It was worth the time it took me to cut that piece out because I love the result. This is a great way to use up some of those scraps. I found a section of the print where I used Traci Bautista's Flower Party Stencil. Love the abstract style of this one. 

EARTH FRIENDLY TIP: Use your "throw-aways" as simple page embellishments. A little goes a long way and it keeps you from throwing out so much paper. 

Paint the Borders

When I can't think of anything to do right away in my journals or on my pages and canvases, I grab a stencil and just start with the borders of my substrate. So that's what I did to about 20 of my pages in this journal. I grabbed my stack of stencils and went for it. 

I love that I now have a journal waiting for me to document, play, and practice my lettering. Here are a few of my pre-planned pages!!!

Basket Stencil by Daniella Woolf

Seeds Stencil by Mary Beth Shaw

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Borderlines by Seth Apter

Cascading Feathers by Jessica Sporn

I really enjoyed creating all of these bordered pages and can't wait for you to see the final flip through of the completed journal once I have all the pages done and some of my lettering and documenting included. 

Be sure you are following me on Instagram and YouTube. That's where I'll share peeks at the pages and the final flip through. 

EARTH FRIENDLY TIP: Painting borders is a great way to use up that left over paint on your palette. Instead of throwing away paint or washing it down the sink (YIKES!!!) try stenciling the borders of pages in preparation for art making down the road. 

And of Course We Have a Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive both StencilGuts AND a Resketch Gift Pack! 

Enter to win by leaving a comment below telling me what ways you make art with the Earth on your mind. Then be sure to visit the other blogs in the hop and comment to win. The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to WIN! One winner will be chosen at random from all blog comments! (One comment per blog please.) 

Blog Hop Order
Mary C. Nasser
Tina Walker
Belen Sotelo
Debi Adams
Torrie Gass
Cindy Gilstrap
Kiala Givehand -- YOU ARE HERE
​Janet Joehlin

You have until Wednesday, April 25th at 11:59PM Central Time to leave your comments. Winner will be announced on StencilGirl®'s Facebook page on Thursday, April 26th.

If you don't already, we would LOVE if you would sign up for The Scoop HERE and join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and Bloglovin for more inspiration! 

Thank you for hopping with us and Happy Earth Day!