Studying the masters is a great way to learn.  Who are the masters that I study? Kids!  For this week’s Let’s Play video, I am going to act like a kid by getting my fingers in the paint.  I’m going to dip my hands right into the jar of paint and some sparkling goodness too!

What is Let’s Play?  It’s all about rediscovering the ability to play. Each month I share a specific strategy that helped me recapture the freedom and fun of play.  This month’s theme is act like a kid. You can see more of the Let’s Play series here.

In the video, you’ll see my master plan to keep from making mud as I get my fingers in the blues and orange.  Good thing I have 2 hands!

Watch How to Finger Paint to Create an Art Journal Background on YouTube.

Not only was I using paint on my fingers, I was using Glitter Paste.  That sparkly goodness was smeared with my fingers to add a bit of sparkle to the background.

Where will I go with this next?  It may be a bit because I am loving this background just as it is.  I’ll enjoy it in this state for a while, and when the muse thinks I am ready, I’ll add more to it.  Want to see where it goes?  Get signed up for my newsletter and you’ll be in the know!

Now you’ve seen my play, let’s see yours!  Share what you’re creating with us all in the Facebook group and be inspired by what others are creating! And be sure to leave a comment here to get entered in the monthly $50 gift certificate giveaway!

Want to see more Let’s Play videos? You can find all the weekly posts here.

Congrats to Kristiina, last month’s winner!

I loved the background that started today’s play.  Loved it so much I wouldn’t use it.  That love kept me stuck.  I didn’t want to ruin it so I wouldn’t use it.  Enough was enough. We had to break up. The affair was over. The love had to end.  But how?

I threw the entire studio at the canvas.   Scraps of paper on my counter, bits of ribbon, glitters, pico embellishers, paint, paint, and more paint all added with abandon.

If it was within reach it was fair game…including the kitchen sink.   Well, that is just because I actually knocked it into the sink. Turns out when you let things pile up on the counters it is really easy to knock things over.

But after adding all that, the canvas called for more.  So I added bits of stenciling here and there with stencils like Mixed Media Mail.

The relationship with this canvas had been going on for a long time.  So long that I don’t remember when I made that green background.  All the time it has been in my studio means we had a lot of history together.

Now that I’ve changed it, this canvas and I are getting to know each other again.  A whole new affair, this time with more colors and glitter too!

Is it finished now?  Nope!  There is still plenty of fun and layers to come for this canvas!