Art journal Page: Mark making cheat for those who don't like their marks

[@PaulWalesArt]

I’m lost for words…. Love this “cheat” and the pages came together beautifully!

[@LoveOfArt87]

I watch tons of video like this one and I swear I’ve never seen one page where I love it as it is in all the steps. Like if you would have stopped at varies steps you would have had a completely different and unique pages which were all equally beautiful! Absolutely gorgeous!!

[@sandrafisherhayes3219]

Hi Niamh 👋 I am in awe of your talent to utilise different art media and materials! I actually bought some neon paints yesterday and realised I already have the same colours in my stash lol 😆 well we can never have too much when it comes to paints, pens etc because they all run out...eventually. Love your pages as always ❤ happy journalling everyone ❤

[@DeBorahPalmerUnicorn]

I'm really enjoying watching you create this artwork I don't know why but it came to mind my grandmother Eva Gordon Palmer who was born in 1891 when I was a little girl my grandmother made me a quilt quilting was a big thing at the time you know she came along during the great depression world war I world war II so people just didn't run off to the store and before my grandmother got married she was also a milliner and in the back of my mind I can still see the quilt of course I don't have it anymore I'm 62 years old but I still remember that my grandmother evil Gordon Palmer made a quilt for me and one day if I can remember that pattern perhaps I'll recreate it in a piece of my own artwork once again thank you for your beautiful wonderful excellent channel God bless.

[@NiamhBaly]

What a beautiful memories to have x

[@prympammi]

This is just gorgeous!! I’ve learned things just watching this!! Thanks so much for sharing 💗💗 I’m just starting to do this art journaling and I just absolutely love this!!

[@NiamhBaly]

Thank you and welcome to journaling and mixed media xxx

[@mixedupmargie]

At first it looked like a big mess but then magi happened, ,love the pages 💙💜💚💜💙💚

[@beccogiallo]

I love your exciting backgrounds!

[@sugansugan56]

So cheerful and great one to get a lot on the pages

[@evehamer3490]

All I can say is “WOW!!! Thank you. xx

[@24stepsartanddesign66]

Love this page xx 🌸🌼🌺

[@penniecampbell1182]

Great colours I love busy

[@normajefferson6683]

Stunning

[@zoraidahernandez1738]

Just beautiful thank you.

[@shonasutley4420]

😍 Fantastic!!

[@wendydunkin8047]

Love this. I am new watch your art.

[@aliceadler4569]

Love the application of those stencils!!!

[@maryregan4099]

Love all your scrap paper and gold paper just put all over your journal beautiful colors

[@elfincrafter]

Gorgeous background. It just goes to show that we don't need tons of stuff to create something beautiful. Scraps painted over to look uniform. I should do it more.😊❤

[@maxinelundbek2814]

Love Love this page

[@NiamhBaly]

Thank you so much

[@toniscott1029]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@jabas3647]

Quite a busy page but I like it! 😊

[@lindaharris2607]

Always love your techniques and this page is just beautiful! You pack in so many great suggestions in a brief tutorial. Love it!

[@NiamhBaly]

Thank you so much - I'm glad you find them helpful x

[@artsmigi2250]

Amazing. I have really enjoyed your art in this video.

[@MsPandora93]

I don't do art journaling well.. I am critical of how it looks. The page of yours is awesome. The colours drew me right in to watch the video. I am going to sub your channel and maybe I can get more ideas to tackle more pages. tfs

[@NiamhBaly]

Thank you. I understand about being critical. I just play in my journals and explore media. Most of the times I love the pages in the end (most go through an ugly phase) but occasionally I don’t like the end result. However the ugly phases and the pages I don’t like give me an opportunity to problem solve and practice on something I don’t ‘like’ which makes it easier to be brave and do something drastic - like paint over with black and then remove some of the paint with a stencil and wet wipe. Usually- it ends up being one of my favourite pages!

[@heretohelpable]

Amazing work! I got goosebumps watching..... the colors thrilled me!!!! I'm inspired!!

[@lkerro29]

Love the neon paints on the page, just makes the pages pop

[@lindaclarke9249]

This is sooo good

[@davejencowan9163]

Utterly glorious - now all I want to do is create busier backgrounds!! Thank you so much for all your hints and tips, too - you’re a star!! Jen❤️❤️

[@KittieStrode-c9l]

NIAMH Your work is just beautiful those ones with the two ladies that you just got finished that background is gorgeous. I’m trying to follow you. Haven’t got there yet. I just started though this past week. God bless and hope you know Jesus.

[@kathleenstrode8445]

nice,nice,nice and bold keep on creating!!

[@sandrawheeler2295]

Love your techniques, colours, ideas and everything else. Gorgeous 🥰

[@NiamhBaly]

Thanks x

[@kayrabey1344]

Brilliant!

[@morgendittburner5103]

So beautiful. Love ❤️ these pages. Thank you for sharing and for the inspiration. 😁

[@kittiestrode9041]

VERY PRETTY COLORS

[@smchalk3535]

loved this, especially the gold foil in the back ground, going over the stamps, and how you got the two ladies to "go together". Great job. I am now a new subscriber.

[@NiamhBaly]

Welcome :)

[@annapritchard4629]

Loved it....the colors are phenomanal

[@coreenalbertsen1764]

Fabulous! Busy is beautiful~ love your color choices!! 🌼

[@oneeyeopen5044]

Absolutely amazing!! I throughly enjoyed watching the process 😀

[@penniecampbell1182]

I love busy and colour

[@9liveslisa]

Really love your work! Thanks for sharing!

[@merrydooley7978]

Love love love this!!!

[@denisesmith4034]

Great artist/Awesome art teacher

[@alisoncouzens3736]

Fabulous page , I luv bright colours and this one is certainly that it’s a wow page , xx

[@jennahygelund2405]

Beautiful background! I love both pages. You are a wonderful artist.

[@valerieb8006]

very good tutorial! I think the results are fabulous!

[@kaarinponsford1136]

Stunning!

[@annierodenberg2327]

Love the art journal layout. Lovely!

[@catherinegoldie3432]

I like your style of Art💕

[@syrenawhitefeathers8620]

These turned out Super beautiful! I love the way that you made this Collage look like original artwork, and really it turned out to be original. I Love it! Thanks so much for sharing! Pure inspiration!

[@youngeclecticimages]

Love your bright colorful busy backgrounds. Excellent explanation of your process💗

[@TheJanestarling]

As a newbie art journal-er, mark making terrifies me. Your cheat makes me feel much better. I loved the way you added your own colour to your focal images.

[@NiamhBaly]

Jane Starling welcome:) thank you

[@janybunschoten2025]

Really beautiful!!!

[@MCher2]

Amazing background, it’s absolutely gorgeous! I had to subscribe and see your other projects. Thx4sharing!

[@NiamhBaly]

Thank you and Welcome :)

[@gbear768]

i just love every one of your videos, always great ideas, thanks!

[@NiamhBaly]

Bluebear Artz thank you

[@marydavis-santa6427]

Love love love everything!!

[@kayforder3337]

Love your background 😊

[@circlewoman]

Thanks! Very inspiring. Wish I had foil. Some great ideas.

[@hellooutthere8956]

I'm wanting to bring out my artist. side if I have one. ran across you and subscribed. impressed the way you brought it all together.l

[@bonneeley5670]

I am going to try this. I can't doodle in a doodle book. Love your pages.

[@cardsandcraftcottage]

Lovely pages Niamh. Wondering if you have a list of the stamps that you used in this video. I would like to track them down.

[@NiamhBaly]

The mark making leaf stamps are from stampers anonymous by Tim holtz I think from 2019/20 - I’ll have to watch the video again to see the otgers

[@ellenkletzkin1016]

I LOVE THIS! A newbie to collating. I want to do this on canvas though.... thoughts???? Thank you... Ellen

[@NiamhBaly]

It would be the same process. I’d definitely recommend a good coat of matt gel medium to glue down all your collage pieces first, and I would also gesso the canvas first

[@kimdaniel4539]

Great background for those images from Jane Davenport. Definitely no white space 😁

[@thenoncraftycrafter]

Love the result! And such a great idea to use up the foil. I have a box full of those scraps! :)

[@logimisscarina3398]

Where can I by the images, there lovely, lovely page

[@NiamhBaly]

These images are from a paper pad by Jane Davenport when she used to design for American crafts. I’m not sure if you will find them now- but maybe on eBay?

[@logimisscarina3398]

@@NiamhBaly thanks i al going tot look for it

[@stephfreame7895]

Love this and thanks for the doodle idea, I’m going to have a go!

[@prettyboy54321]

I watch a ton of these videos, but I think you are my favorite artist by far. I love your commentary. Could you tell me the names of the stencils that you used to remove paint in the beginning? I need to own those!

[@NiamhBaly]

Jennifer Tuschman thank you 😊 the stencils are both from tcw stencils and the dots is called microbial, the flowers is one by art by Marlene. They are my go to stencils at the moment

[@prettyboy54321]

@@NiamhBaly Thank you so much!

[@robindudleyhowes]

WOW! I'm so impressed I watched the whole video! Just found you in my feed, I have been creating mixed media art for years and I've never seen the ghost stenciling, how cool! You explain everything very well and are very talented. New subbie here.

[@NiamhBaly]

robindudleyhowes thank you and welcome to the channel. Hope you have a go at ghosting- it’s a fun technique

[@pollysime6967]

Do you gesso this first when you start with collage? Beautiful work as always 💕💕

[@NiamhBaly]

Thank you. No I rarely gesso and hardly ever if I’m collating as the gel medium seal the page anyway:)

[@kmdamron1]

Beautiful

[@debbiesjournals4550]

Hi, new subbie. Love the doodle idea, the laters and how you tied it all together! Thanks for sharing.

[@NiamhBaly]

Debbie's Journals welcome to the channel and thank you x

[@lisahoward1754]

nice art work

[@RecraftedByCarol]

Your video popped up as recommended, ♥️ your art style and subscribed to binge watch your ideas for scraps and collaging. Happy I found you xx

[@lisamorales3914]

I agree with you. I just can’t accept when beautiful ephemera is used to cover a page and then it’s almost completely covered in gesso, paint etc. Scraps are very much more to my liking.

[@blackitikatt533]

Where can I find that big flower wreath stencil you used?

[@NiamhBaly]

Blackiti Katt thank you. It is from tcw stencils: tcw-stencils.myshopify.com/products/tcw780-botanical-dream

[@kathyrossiter3445]

The neon at the end really made the whole thing pop, didn't it.

[@VintiquitiesNetOriginal]

Great look! Thanks for sharing. New sub

[@NiamhBaly]

Welcome and thanks :)

[@reginahagar7556]

How do you store your stencils

[@NiamhBaly]

In a metal large drawer in a3 mesh folders. But it’s not the best system yet.

[@plan4life]

What exactly is a gel medium? Does it have a brand name or anything?

[@NiamhBaly]

Celia Roseboom gel medium is a type of adhesive used in art. It dries clear and can come in gloss,semi gloss or matt (I use Matt mostly). It can also be more fluid (better for paper) or thicker/heavy bodied which is better for gluing down heavier embelishments such as metal charms. Most art brands have their own gel medium- some are expensive, others more reasonable. I use the Dina wakley one from ranger, the tcw brand one or the one from golden. But most work in the same way 😊

[@plan4life]

Niamh Baly Thanks for the info and quick reply! Can you tell me if gesso is a gel medium? I have that already but dont yet know much about its uses. I also have a varnish. Can either be used as, or are, a gel medium?

[@maricrafford7573]

@@plan4life Gesso is not an adhesive. It is used to prepare your surface for painting. You can also use it to tone down your paint colors if you find it too bright or intense.

[@lucylushedoe3090]

where do u sell pls?! 🙋💐💃💙

[@zajournals]

What stencil is the one with all the circles?

[@NiamhBaly]

It’s from the crafters workshop (tcw) and it’s microbiobial

[@zajournals]

@@NiamhBaly thanks, I'll Google it. 👍

[@gilmac9950]

Love this tutorial. I have a question.. do you find your pages sticking together since you used gel medium? That’s a problem I’ve had, or did the paint over it mute that a bit?

[@NiamhBaly]

Hi, I've had this question a lot in the last few days. Its never been a problem for me. I use matt gel medium mostly and a heat tool, so my pages are very dry when I am finished. But even when I have used gloss gel medium they haven't stuck together. Thought it looks like I am using a lot over the top - it is actually quite thin layers put down with a brush. Perhaps it is a certain brand of medium that is more sticky? I tend to use Dina Wakley's from Ranger ink

[@TheUltimateFox3103]

I like this! What's the gel medium glue you use? You put it down first. Is it like mod podge?

[@calia386]

I use Golden Matte Medium myself. I lay it down first and put the paper over it. Often wetting the papers I put down as well, making sure not to lay it on too thick. I use a heat gun to dry before adding paints on top.

[@sandraludwig1546]

I know someone already asked you about the paint pen tips but for some reason I can't see your reply. Could you please tell me which tips they are? Thanks!

[@NiamhBaly]

Sandra Ludwig hi there- I use the posca paint pens with a bullet tip- the thicker one is pc -m5 I think and the fine one is pc -m1? Make sure you don’t get the pin tip- it seems to block more easily over mixed media than the bullet

[@clb9980]

Love, love, love! New subbi here 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@NiamhBaly]

Welcome and thanks :)

[@cindybell3227]

Beautiful page. So the foil still shows thru the acrylic layers?

[@NiamhBaly]

Cindy Bell thank you. Yes it does- you can see glimpses through the diddling. I also used liquid acrylic over the top which is a transparent layer. This helots you see the collage underneath

[@Akin467]

Love watching you create. Where did you find the mark making stamps? Marking making is something that I am less than confident with. Thanks !

[@NiamhBaly]

Thank you 😊 the mark making stamps I use here are the January 2019 release by Tim holtz for stampers anonymous. You can get them anywhere that sticks Tim holtz products. They are a great tool to have if you’re not confident with mark making. However- many stamp companies sell mark making stamps these days 😊

[@Akin467]

Niamh Baly thank you!

[@someassemblyrequired22]

Where are the two fabulous women from, please? Are your paint pens fine or medium point? Cheers! Mary

[@NiamhBaly]

Mary Simet thank you. The ladies are from a discontinued paper pad from Jane Davenport for American crafts. You may be lucky and still find some on line. I use the posca m-5 which is a bullet point in a medium thickness (used on this page). I also use a m-3 Buller point for fine work

[@magnoliabird]

What’s the journal you use?

[@NiamhBaly]

This is a large dylusions journal. I use either this or the Dina wakley journals, both from ranger ink

[@Movie-cr7xp]

Love your vibrant art. Do you have an Amazon link for the large stencils? New subscriber. Thanks.

[@NiamhBaly]

Maria Folk thank you. I don’t sorry, but they come from tcw stencils (the crafters workshop) and are widely available .

[@thechubbyhiker4142]

Love this!!

[@lisajacob6349]

Where do you get your focal points?

[@NiamhBaly]

Thank you 😊 I get them from all over, magazines, collage papers etc. these images came from a scrapbook paper pad by Jane Davenport for American crafts. It is a discontinued product now, but you may still see it in some shops or on line

[@angel-oh6of]

superbe merci

[@andreamuller8468]

It is so much fun to watch you :))) Thats amazing!!!

[@فاطمةعيجو]

😍😍😍🌷🌿

[@JoanneOwens1943]

❤️

[@ShelleyCarlson]

🙂

[@joyfulldolphin7326]

Not turned out very excellent I really like that is beautiful Amen😁😎