Build Christmas in Your Heart

I couldn't have Christmas without Christmas Carols. Last Sunday I visited the Pyhtää medieval church for a Christmas Carol singing event. The church was full and singing along was lovely. I wanted to preserve something of the feeling in my art journal and decided on a quote from a newer Finnish Christmas Song.

I build Christmas in my heart

and into a quiet mind

the baby Jesus is born again

Not calling myself a translator, but you can get the idea :) I'm posting this spread for the Country View challenge (Create a Scene), the Our Creative Corner challenge (Wish Upon a Star), the Show Your Face -linkup and Paint Party Friday.

I sketched the image and text into my art journal, glued text from the pamflet we received when we were singing, added a mixture of clear and white gesso. I love the way watercolours work on the gesso! My painting skills go just so far, and I added detail with Rubber Dance stamps and dots and detail with a Sharpie pen. I'm not happy with the baby's face, but otherwise this turned out better than I thought at some point! Here are some pictures of the process. Sorry the light shifts :)

Just a sketch, using Dina Wakleys principals for building a face.
Couldn't find the link to her tutorial, sorry.

Paper collage. I like the stars showing on her face.

Clear gesso and some white too. Didn't think that the gesso seals my sketch
so I couldn't erase the lines between the text anymore...

Used water colours to add colour. 

Stamps to add texture and detail. Also more colour with Inktense pencils and water.

More stamping and detail with acrylic paints and pens.
Got carried away and forgot to take process pictures :)

I have used the music background stamp and stamps from Weed Love, ATC backgrounds 1, sew Sweet and Winter Wishes. All were stamped using Stazon inks, they dry so fast that they don't disperse into the structure of the gesso (which I have found Archival to do). I also used the Star Crescent and Lily stencils from Imagination Crafts. The text and the stencilling have been done with white acrylic paints and shaded with a golden Zig pen. I especially love what the snowy swirl did to Mary's cape. Here are some closeups.