Textured Flexibility in Art Pages

by Karen Bearse

This is a page out of one of my book journals. I started with modeling paste and a stencil.


The key to this technique in a book is using a flexible modeling paste. When your book is handled a normal paste will eventually crack and pieces, or all of it, will fall out. The flexible paste is able to move with the pages and stays true, holding it's shape.

Holding the stencil down I liberally glob on the paste with a pallet knife or old credit card. I then either smooth the top of the paste carefully, (trying not to push it down) or create designs with my knife just in the top surface. Lift the stencil straight up to take it off when desired effect is reached.

 Wash the stencil immediately to remove product before it dries. After letting the paste dry thoroughly as per directions on the bottle, I added my picture which was printed on paper and covered it with decoupage glue to seal and protect it.

Then, it was time for color! I started with a wash of distress stain and dried this before adding metallic acrylic paint to the raised areas of the paste with my finger or brush.


Using a smaller brush, I painted a lighter application of the same color between the raised areas. Misting the page with Glimmer Mist gave it a nice shimmer and added another dimension of color.  I wiped off my picture with a paper towel to keep it clear. Some random stamping around the edges was done with Archival Ink to prevent smearing. I added a different metallic acrylic paint to bump up the distress stain. I wanted to embed my picture into the page so using a stencil, I dabbed on random colors of the paint around and onto the picture. A piece of make-up foam is the perfect tool to apply the paint.


If you are like me you have a stash of supplies waiting desperately to be used. Your art journal page is the perfect place for this. Stash Rub-ons were added which help create movement.


By now the page was heavily painted. There really wasn't a spot to journal, so this problem was solved with a wash of gesso. A stamp created the lines and now the words were ready to be written.

The final touches were a few more stamps and my title. Lastly, I distressed both my edges of the page and the raised areas to make the stenciled area more defined.

I randomly added Glimmer Glam in Hay Ride to give it that golden shimmer that Gustav Klimt is so well known for. The next time you are stuck for inspiration, grab one of your favorite paintings. Let the colors & the style inspire you!

Supply List

Lumiere paint, Distress Stain, Glimmer Mist, Archival Ink, Stamps by Tim Holtz, Dylusions, & My Minds Eye, Crafters Workshop stencils, Rub-On's by Fancy Pants & Creative Imaginations, Alphabet -Creative Imaginations.

Karen Bearse is an art journal/ mix media/scrapbook teacher. She currently teaches at 3 locations in the DC/Baltimore area as well as being a member of her local store design team. Last year, Karen was a  finalist last year for Graphic 45 design team (the only team I have tried out for to date). I love, love taking classes & am a technique junky. 

 Find more of Karen's art at her blog - Scrap Owl.