Join Brian as he shows you how to build a mini accordion-folded journal out of playing cards. When the deck seems stacked against you, you might be glad to have these “marked cards” handy for a little pick-me-up!
supplies used:
- 12 standard sized playing cards
- White gesso
- GOLDEN Matte medium
- Heavy-Body Acrylic Paint
- Cadmium red medium hue
- Medium magenta
- Cobalt blue hue
- Light blue permanent
- Titanium white
- Lindy's Stamp Gang spray inks
- Queen of Hearts Red
- Cheshire Cat Cherry
- Delphinium Turquoise
- Oil pastels
- Stencils
- Donna Downey Signature Stencil – Alphabet Rerun
- 6” x 6” “Fly Away” (Crafter’s Workshop – available at Donna Downey Studios)
- Fish scales
- Sequin Waste (“punchinella”)
- A small piece of cloth (such as a quilter’s fat quarter)
- Tissue paper (white and colored)
- Archival Permanent Waterproof Ink Pad (Black)
- Rubber stamps
- Plastic Pallet Knife
- Roller (Brayer)
- Masking Tape
- Ruler/Straight Edge
- Cutting mat
- Xacto Knife
- Scissors
- Old credit card or key card
Bonus: Special Abandoned Art Project
(at the end of the video)
I’m all about making art accessible to everyone. It doesn’t matter if a person considers themselves creative or doesn’t care a thing about the visual arts, everyone’s life is richer when surprised by beauty. So I was excited to find out about the Abandoned Art movement, where people create “random acts of art” for the fun of it then leave them in public places to be discovered and enjoyed by others. Use the left-over cards from the Marked Card Journal Project to create your own Random Acts of Art. Interested in seeing more Abandoned Art? Check out Michael DeMeng’s Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtAbandonment/ or get his book: The Art Abandonment Project.
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love this project Brian..fabulous technique! thanks for sharing your art and style.. you did a great job of showing your process..off to the studio! thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: renee | March 17, 2015 at 07:56 AM
Fabulous! Wonderful project and FUN! thanks for sharing :)
Posted by: Jane Reiter | March 17, 2015 at 08:28 AM
Very cool little book! Love the "abandoned art" idea!
Posted by: Faith | March 17, 2015 at 09:23 AM
That was a great project! I loved it! Thanks for sharing!!!
Posted by: cindy | March 17, 2015 at 09:36 AM
THAT was awesome!!! Great video and tutorial!!! Looking forward to more and now my upcoming trip to Orlando... ;)
Posted by: Krista | March 17, 2015 at 09:40 AM
Love the whole thing—thanks, Brian! (your website's cool too; high fives!!)
Posted by: Paula | March 17, 2015 at 09:57 AM
This is so fun and creative, love it! Thanks for the great tutorial.
Posted by: Victoria H. | March 17, 2015 at 10:14 AM
Brian, I love your card book. Thanks for sharing your creativity with us. I can't wait to make a little book!
Posted by: Pat Healey | March 17, 2015 at 10:19 AM
VERY Inspiring project!!! Thanks for sharing.....can't wait to get my fingers inky!!
Posted by: Rita | March 17, 2015 at 10:32 AM
I love this. I was going to make one of those 52 things I love about you books to send to my deployed husband and you just made it 6,000 times cooler. Thanks for the inspiration, Brian!
Posted by: Elizabeth/Boomer | March 17, 2015 at 10:37 AM
WoW !! .... I love this little book .... now where are those cards I put aside lol ... Thank you :)
Posted by: Sue | March 17, 2015 at 12:15 PM
Amazing tutorial. Love the idea of leaving little bits of art around for others. Brighten someone's day. Thanks, Brian.
Posted by: Perri | March 17, 2015 at 01:09 PM
Cool project and loved the abandoned art idea. Not only blesses someone else, but gives us a good way to "use" some of the art we have hanging around our studios! I loved the squirrel who "found" yours at the end, made me laugh!
Posted by: Maureen Hayes | March 17, 2015 at 02:10 PM
Great project Brian. I can tell you are happy doing art :) TFS
Posted by: Linda K | March 17, 2015 at 02:21 PM
I love your project and am totally freaking over your Random Abandoned Art! I love this idea and want to start making some of this so I can leave some around now! Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: L Johnston | March 17, 2015 at 03:30 PM
Really nice project. Loved how you made it look so doable. The stencils and stamps are so fun.
Posted by: Denise Spillane | March 17, 2015 at 03:36 PM
Wow what a great video, I love the idea!! Also the abandon art...how cool. Going to do that!!
Posted by: Mary Harris | March 17, 2015 at 05:43 PM
love it! Thanks for the great tutorial.
Posted by: nanou49 | March 17, 2015 at 06:04 PM
Cool Journal thanks for sharing
Posted by: Vanessa | March 17, 2015 at 06:25 PM
I really like the binding technique. It was simple and added a nice contrast. Thank you!
Posted by: Krista | March 17, 2015 at 07:21 PM
Great video! I'm going to make one of those little journals! I like the idea of leaving a piece of art out in the world for someone else to enjoy! Wish I lived closer so I could find one of yours! Thank you!
Posted by: Michelle T | March 17, 2015 at 07:49 PM
SPECTACULAR....THANK YOU BRIAN!!!
Posted by: wanda miller | March 17, 2015 at 08:42 PM
what great fun thanks for sharing love the little journal
Posted by: Barb Housner | March 17, 2015 at 09:15 PM
Great video, thanks so much for sharing!!
Posted by: Nancy S | March 17, 2015 at 10:51 PM
The bit at the end just cracked me up!!! Thanks for the great video!
Posted by: Angela Weber | March 17, 2015 at 11:09 PM
Absolutely loved this! So fun!
Posted by: Liz rowe | March 18, 2015 at 09:05 AM
Love it Brian. I have tons of cards, you inspired me to do a little book. xoxo
Posted by: Micki | March 18, 2015 at 03:45 PM
This was absolutely wonderful .... have to say .... this is my most favorite so far !!!!!
Posted by: Annie Lou Ricci | March 18, 2015 at 09:34 PM
Just did this project Brian...and loved it. Made one where I adhered watercolor paper centered on each gessoed/painted card so I could use it as a field watercolor sketchbook. Also approved your membership to Art Abandonment group. We're so happy to have you join us! Cheers-Darlene
Posted by: Darlene Campbell | July 23, 2015 at 02:30 PM