Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Bonus - Marker misting

Tim's right, the misting tool has been out for years.  I don't know how old mine is but it still works so for now I'll continue to use it.  This one isn't as adjustable nor does it have the hole in the bulb which may make squeezing easier.  But still a fun toy to try out on this card.
Ingredients:  The Crafters Workshop stencil 'Mini Leaf Frame', distress markers, Inkworkx Spritzer, green card stock, Bazzill card stock, white card stock, Tim Holtz/Sizzix Mini Pinking & Scallop on the edge die, Stream Adirondack ink, Hero Arts sentiment

Do you every pull out your Adirondack inks?  I love the color palette!

What an amazing on-line class this has been!  Not only have I tried new things but I've used items that haven't seen the light of day for a long, long time.  And it got me out of my creative slump! 

Bonus - Ink blending

I created my own stencil and filled the Bell Jar with colorful candy balls!
Ingredients:  clear acetate, Tim Holtz/Sizzix Bell Jar with Pedestal die, distress inks, Tim Holtz 'Bubble' stencil, Studio 490 'Pricing Chart' stamp, created the price tag from Studio 490 'The Essence of Art', Jet Black Archival Ink, Tim Holtz 'Adverts', #8 tag

Day 4 - Stencil + paste + embossing powders

Next time I won't go for a striped effect on the leaves.  The pattern should have been more scattered like leaves are in reality.  Oh well.  But it was fun pouring off the extra powder and seeing the striped piles all lined up on the catch tray!

Ingredients:  Tim Holtz/Sizzix magnetic movers & shapers leaf die, Studio 490 white embossing paste, Adirondack embossing powders (Clay, Espresso), Antiquities embossing powder (Terra Cotta), clear embossing ink, Old Town Crafts Ultra Fine Copper Embossing powder, sentiment from Another Stamp Company, white card stock, Bazzill card stock

Once again I pulled out some older products to use.  This makes me happy!

Day 4 - stencils & gelli plates

I must confess, I don't own a gelli plate and didn't feel like making one so I tried this technique using a thick silicone mat.  Not bad but perhaps my choice of acrylic paint and stencils made this more difficult to achieve.
Ingredients:  Claudine Helmuth paint (Dab of Yellow, Modern Red, Altered Orange, Blank Canvas), Tim Holtz stencils (Splatters, Measured, Harlequin), white card stock, Bazzill card stock, QuicKutz lips dies, Tim Holz/Sizzix magnetic mover & shapers Tattered Florals die (= sun!), distress ink, Studio 490 'Never Enough Hearts' stencil, sentiment (Impression-Obsession), Crimson Archival Ink, vellum, fiber, Glossy Accents

Shhh...this will be my red-hot passion card for hubby this Valentine's Day!

Day 4 - Embossed stencil

This is one of my all-time favorite stencils by the fabulous Wendy Vecchi of Studio 490!  I guess because the natural colors of brick are my preferred color palette. 

Ingredients:  Studio 490 Brick Wall stencil, white card stock, Bazzill cardstock, Studio 490 'Residential Art' and 'Homemade Art' stamp sets, Tim Holtz 'Wood Planks' texture fade, Maya Road chipboard house, Jet Black Archival Ink, Antique Linen Distress Embossing Powder, Distress Embossing Ink

Another keeper!

Day 4 - card-sized stencil

What a clever idea!  I didn't have white StazOn so I used Picket Fence Distress Paint.  Just dabbed a bit on my craft sheet and using a foam blending tool just pounced it on.  Love it!

Ingredients:  Die-Namites 'Knobby Branch die, Picket Fence Distress Paint, clear acetate, Tim Holtz/Sizzix magnetic movers & shapers leaves dies, distress ink and markers, sentiment from Savvy Stamps, Jet Black Archival Ink, Glossy Accents, Tim Holtz/Sizzix 'Stacked Artful Words', white card stock

I impressed my self with the color of my leaves, the veining and the gradient coloring of the numbers.  This is a keeper!

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Day 3 - Stencils & embossing powder

Now this was definitely a new one for me.  And one I'll certainly try again with a smaller stencil and maybe a metallic embossing powder. 
Ingredients:  Studio 490 'Seriously Art' and 'Visions of Art' stamp sets, Adirondack markers, Tim Holtz Eye Chart stencil, Studio 490 white embossing paste, Comotion Bright Blue Lagoon embossing powder, EKSuccess corner punch, Jet Black Archival Ink, recycled packaging material

The classes have been so informational and have helped me stretch my creativity. I've used products I haven't used in a very long time.  Seriously, Moss Adirondack embossing Powder?  Adirondack markers?  Does anyone even have any of these any more?  Do you use them? 

Day 3 - Stencil resist

As soon as I saw the lesson's video I knew immediately I wanted to use this stencil.  I love it when a plan comes together all by itself!

Ingredients:  Studio 490 Translucent embossing paste, watercolor paper, Dylusions stencil, Cornflower Blue Archival Ink, Tim Holtz/Sizzix mini baroque label, blue distress inks, Tim Holtz/Sizzix snowflakes movers & shapers dies, Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles, Hero Arts sentiment

Day 3 - Translucent paste

I love the tone-on-tone look!
 
Ingredients:  Dylusions stencil, translucent embossing paste, green card stock, Spellbinders dies, Sugar Cookie Bazzill card stock, distress inks, Crackle Accents, Renaissance Art Stamps, Fern Green Archival Ink, Moss Adirondack Embossing Powder, vellum

Yes, the one leaf in the lower left hand corner just wouldn't dry.  Sigh.

Day 3 - Partial stencil

I've tried this before but not with this much success.  I also colored the Studio 490 white embossing paste with a few drops of Espresso Color Wash - gorgeous khaki color!

Ingredients:  Tsukineko Fireworks! sprays in Danube Blue and Bahama Blue, Tim Holtz/Sizzix dressform and spool movers & shapers dies, Studio 490 white embossing paste, Tim Holtz Bubble stencil, Colorwash Spray, brown distress ink, River City Rubber Works sentiment, Jet Black Archival Ink, fabric ribbon, Martha Stewart button punch, thread, white card stock

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Sticker stencils

Who'd of thunk it?  I don't use stickers so I had to really root around to find one..let alone one that had a negative and positive.  Sheesh, I thought my art room had everything!

The sticker sheet I found had 3 butterfly stickers in a row; rather than move them all around on the card I opted to make a bookmark to showcase the technique.

Ingredients:  butterfly sticker sheet (unknown), Tim Holtz 'Birds & Baubles' stamp set, Jet Black Archival Ink, Spiced Marmalade & Mustard Seed distress inks, white card stock, ribbon

Let's try tracing a stencil

Honestly, this technique never occurred to me.  But I know I'll use it again.  A word of caution:  pencils tend to leave shavings behind and can smear (ugh!).  I found that a large, fluffy brush was just the thing to keep this from happening.

Ingredients:  Tim Holtz Stars stencil, Prismacolor pencils, white & black card stock, Studio 490 'Art Comforts' stamp set, Jet Black Archival Ink, Tim Holtz/Sizzix mini pinking on-the-edge die, black Micron marker

Create your own stencil

I love creating my own stencils and masks from dies! 

Ingredients:  Tim Holtz/Sizzix Writing Desk die, white & green cardstock, Iced Spruce distress ink, Pine Needles & Black Soot distress markers, sentiment is from Ann-ticipations

Watercolor over a stencil

It took me awhile to find my paint palette...next time I'll remember to check my class bag...it often holds things I'm missing.  lol

Ingredients:  Studio 490 Brick Wall stencil, Koh-i-nor watercolor wheel, Studio 490 'Graffiti Art' & 'She Spoke Of Art' stamp sets, Jet Black Archival Ink, distress ink, watercolor paper, Bazzill card stock, Tim Holtz/Sizzix window & window box die

Stamping over a stencil

Sometimes the things people present are so simple and easy (and gosh darned clever!) that you ask yourself why you hadn't come up with that idea before.  Today was one of those.  I've done a little bit of most of the techniques shared today but the one using stickers was one that I hadn't.  As a rule I don't use stickers so maybe that explains it.

Day 2 and the first share features stamping over or through a stencil.  Mine is a lot more subtle than the one on the class site but I am still in love with it.


 Ingredients:  Studio 490 'Sentimental Art' stamp set, Studio 490 '3 Fresh Flowers' stencil, distress ink (mowed lawn, mustard seed, worn lipstick, spiced marmalade), Tim Holtz 'Mixed Media' stamp set, clear embossing ink, white embossing powder, pumice stone distress marker, white card stock, Marmalade Bazzill card stock, Glam Pink & Orange Peel Stickles



Friday, January 24, 2014

Stencil class - Day 1 - part 6

Last, but not least, another version of masking & layering.  This time I had to really move the stencil around as well as flip it over to make this work like I wanted.  I'm torn...does this look more like a basket weave or a snake skin?  And yet it's just diamonds. 

Ingredients:  Studio 490 stencil (Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend), distress ink, Styled Labels Sizzix die, Tim Holtz stamp from 'Nature's Moments', Jet Black Archival Ink, white and black card stock

Stencil class - Day 1 - part 5

More layering & masking

Ingredients:  Christy Tomlinson Vintage Doily stencil, distress ink, Perfect Pearls Mist in Heirloom Gold, Silver Fox Stamp in Jet Black Archival Ink, flower stamp is Hero Arts, white card stock

Stencil class - Day 1 - part 4

Now we're going to make some cards by layering and masking with the stencils.  More bang for your buck from your stencils!

 Ingredients:  Studio 490 Yikes...Stripes stencil, distress ink, Bazzill card stock, white & black card card stock, Studio 490 Heirloom Art sentiment in Jet Black Archival Ink


Stencil class - Day 1 - part 3

And now for some heat embossing...
Ingredients:  Tim Holtz Splatters stencil, embossing ink, embossing powder, stamps by Stampington & Co./Inkadinkado/Judith, archival inks (Jet Black, Potting Soil), distress markers, distress ink, coffee filter, white & black cardstock

Stencil class - Day 1 - part 2

How about misting through a stencil?
Ingredients:  Studio 490 stencil (Polka Dotty), Fireworks! sprays by Tsukineko, Sizzix pointing finger mini mover & shaper die, Penny Black stamp, black & white card stock, corner punch, Jet Black Archival Ink

Stencils, stencils and more stencils! Day 1

I'm taking an on-line card class with some super teachers...you can find out more about it here.  I figured the timing was perfect...it's snowing, blowing, polar vortex, and no football.  What's a girl to do?  And who doesn't enjoy spending more time in their art room, playing with stencils, trying new things, etc.?  I made 6 cards to go with each bit of today's lesson.  However, rather than sharing them all at once I'll do separate posts...all brief.  And you want to know the best part about this class?  The fee is great and you'll have lifetime access to the class!

First up is a card that I sponged through the mask. 
Ingredients:  white card stock, Dylusions stencil, distress ink, vellum, Ann-ticipation stamp, embossing ink, white embossing powder, jute, black thread, red mitten buttons, foam dots

Monday, January 20, 2014

Technique attempts

Have you seen the video of Wendy Vecchi's latest technique featuring re-inkers, metal mixative, rubbing alcohol and Ranger's specialty stamping paper?  I think this link will take you to it.

I couldn't find my package of specialty stamping paper at first so I tried it on glossy cardstock using Cornflower Blue and Orange Blossom re-inkers and Copper Mixative.




After some searching later in the day I found a package of ATCs cut from specialty stamping paper.  I used the same color palette as above.  These are the 3 generations I was able to create just by adding a bit more alcohol for versions 2 and 3.
You'd never know they were the same technique and same color palette.  IRL, the mixative shows up much better on the glossy cardstock.





Not sure how I'll use these pieces; for now I think I'll just ogle them!  lol

Monday, January 6, 2014

Frozen in a winter wonderland

So, how about that polar vortex?  It smacked us right in the face...-13 air temp with a windchill of -37 this morning at 7.  I swear the house was even shuddering last night with the howling wind and saying 'Brrrr!'  The 7-8" of snow that fell became drifts of several feet.  And it didn't warm up much during the day nor did the winds die down.  It even stopped the US Postal Service dead in it's tracks.  And tomorrow will bring more of the same.  All area interstates, local roads, businesses, etc. closed.  Frostbite can occur within 5 minutes.  I think I'll hibernate in my art space!

All this to say that it was a big part of my inspiration while recreating Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2014 - January. 
I followed Tim's instructions, making a few changes here and there.  Okay, lots of here and there!  lol

I used the pocket watch mover & shaper die instead of the bigz die and the rub-on in the type charm resembled a snowflake (creative license!).  The watch face I created from clear packaging, coating with Glue 'N Seal and then a layer of Clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint.  When all was dry I pounced some blue distress ink onto the surface so you could see some of the texture.  Instead of making little banners I applied the rub-on to some sheer ribbon for the snowman's scarf.  Yes, I carefully planned the snowflake embossing on Frosty...looks like the perfect hat embellishment, doesn't it?

Have you played with Tim's Linen Ribbon?  I pulled and stretched a small section of it then wondered what would happen if I got it wet.   Hmmmm...it curled, or more appropriately coiled like a rope, and shrunk back to it's original state!  Well, I'll be.

Here are some of the items I used to create my tag:
distress inks, distress stains, distress paints, Inkssentials foil tape sheet,  Glue 'N Seal, archival ink, Tim's stencil, grungeboard, clear packaging, type charm, Worn Text stamp set, watch face from the Curiosities stamp set, remnant rubs, crinkle ribbon, linen ribbon, sheer ribbon, pocket watch die, snowman die from Winter Wonder, snowflurries texture fade, cracked texture fade, mini pin, jump ring, ticket

Hope you'll find time to play along with Tim's challenge.  I've seen some people making ATCs instead of tags...what a great idea!  No matter what size your art, just get in there and have fun!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Happy New Year!

Wow, 2014...here you are!  I welcome you with open arms and hope that our journey is fabulous!  Today's tag was created by mostly leftovers (I hate throwing stuff away as my craft room shows!) that I drop into a large plastic bag that I can paw through when looking for just that right element.  The only new piece was the sentiment on the grungeboard box (it was already colored, just not bordered).

I'll tell you what I do know about the leftovers...the gentleman is from Studio 490's Gentleman's Art...the clock is from Studio 490's Rose Art Part 2.  I have no idea where I got the black piece that was stamped using Studio 490's Quality Art in Brass Distress Stain but when I put the clock face on it I was reminded of a grandfather's clock.  '2014' were left over numbers, probably not all the same font, but most likely Sizzix/Tim Holtz dies.  'Happy New Year' is by Jody Poesy (no longer in business) and stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink.  I ran a bead of Black Enamel Accents around it.  Now the gentleman can step on the box and note the hands chiming midnight and 'Happy New Year!'

The tag had already been colored with distress inks so I don't know the color palette.  I did stamp the stars (Celestial Art in Brushed Pewter Distress Stain)  over the top as well as use the Studio 490 stencil Layered Flower where I colored 3 flowers using yellow, orange and red distress inks.  They also reminded me of the fireworks you might see New Year's eve.

This has been posted on Facebook but I'll repeat it here...
 
I wish you all a magical New Year.  May we all face the challenges & gifts we receive in 2014 with a positive approach.  May we love & support each other through the good times, as well as the sad times and most of all.....laugh out loud & have fun!  Humor is a wonderful drug.   While, there have been a lot of life lessons learned this year for me including loss, changes in friendships, lessons in acceptance, patience, forgiveness and faith, this pretty much sums it all up.