Art Journaling with Rice Paper: Simple Techniques for Stunning Pages

Are you looking for a simple yet effective way to kickstart your creative journey? In this blog post, we'll dive into the world of rice paper and explore how to use it to create stunning and easy art journal pages. This technique is accessible to all levels of crafters.

Link to the accompanying YouTube step by step is further down the blog post.

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Quick & creative techniques using rice paper

Materials used:

Ciao Bella Paper Je t'aime rice papers
Ciao Bella Paper stencil - Love Engraved
Mod Podge Matt
Own art journal (was a present)
Brushes
White acrylic paint
scrap card
archival ink pad (or similar)

• As I am using an art journal which has kraft card pages, I decided to paint a layer of white acrylic paint first where I wanted the images to go. You could also use gesso too. A layer of white helps the rice paper images stand out more. However working on a coloured background can be a way to add quick shading or change the colour of the rice paper. 

• There are many ways to layer your rice paper and I think each of us have different techniques. I like to take a damp paint brush and draw around the image on the reverse of the paper. I find it is quicker as the water can get working quicker. Using a paint brush with water creates those wonderful feathering you see on the edges which helps blend the rice paper into your background. 
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• Once you have all your different pieces of rice paper, begin by adding the background layers first. I have used Mod Podge for these pages but something similar ie: Cadence Bond & Seal, would work too.
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• Once these layers are in place, begin adding your focal images, Don't worry about the pieces underneath showing through as this is what we want. Adds subtle texture and layering. 
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• I want to add more details and using a stencil and a white pigment ink, I added subtle bits to my pages. I did not want these to stand out but appear as if they were meant to be there all along.

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• Next, I looked through my ephemera pieces from Ciao Bella Paper je t'aime A4 creative pad, cutting out the pieces I think would work. These too were stuck in place using Mod Podge.

• I then used a gold sparkle ink to add subtle touches of colour under the umbrella image to highlight the couple and give the illusion that they were indeed standing under a lit lampost.

• Finally, I add some white paint splats. I know this is something people either love or dislike but for me, I'm saying that they give the illusion of falling snow!

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YouTube step by step video

If you'd like a more visual guide to these techniques, you can watch the accompanying video here.

Click on image above to be taken to the video or in case that does not work, click HERE.

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I hope this blog post inspires you to create with your rice paper or even try rice paper for the first time! Plus, working in journals, 3D objects or even wood when the background is not white!

Until next time, take care,

Lou

xxx