As you know, sometimes I just like to try out stamps and see what happens. I recently played with this Pink Persimmon “Mermaid pearls” stamp and coloring it with Distress markers (onto specialty stamping paper)…
Um, but then what to do?! I decided I needed to add some pearls, and make a card of it:
Newsflash: it doesn’t always have to be tricky and you don’t have to re-invent the wheel. You can just play and enjoy. My card background was made by coating with distress stain, flicking with water (drying), and then stamping with another Pink Persimmon stamp in the same color. I also stamped in black the “notes” stamp.
I really like the idea of stamping and coloring a special image and saving it, then later figuring out what project to use it on. So often I can think of a cool idea, or just want to color, but don’t have a finished project in me.
I hope you’ve liked today’s project – here are the supplies used:
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Things get a bit wild when I have assignment and I am told “no rules”… That is the challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp and Show, and oh yes I’m up for it. Here’s what I made:
Uh, did I really use a coloring book page to create my project?
OH YES, YES I DID!
Let me tell you something – this is a project I’ve been trying to figure out logistics for – and finally did. It is SO EASY. I can’t believe it. If you’ve got some paint, ink, and you have to use Claudine Hellmuth multi medium in matte finish – you can do this project. I have a lot of plans for future installments too. More on those later. Right now to tell you how to do a image transfer I made a video:
LET IT DRY OVERNIGHT. Honestly. Just wait. Ok, so here are some “in process” photos of my canvas…
Tips:
Dab a tiny bit of paint onto your craft mat, then squirt with water, then apply to area with a small brush for a watercolor look.
Don’t have the right color? Mix a bit of white paint + mist, ink, or other medium and make it!
Work one color at a time, let it dry between colors
don’t over think this. Just color it!
You can always add layers. For me, texture and detail around the edge was my finishing touch.
Did I mention that you need to let it dry overnight? Please do.
Pick an image you want to color that looks like a scene and isn’t totally random.
Do a bit of planning first. You could do some decorating of the canvas, then
Think about water reactive product. I use acrylic paint as my base for almost all color on here because once dry it won’t react to getting wet again. Mixing a bit of distress reinker or stain in with the paint works by the way. Then you can use those colors without worry.
If you want to add layers, use matte finish.
Honestly. once the hard part (doing the transfer, which really isn’t hard) is done… you could do ANYTHING here. My tips are just starting points. Actually, before you do the transfer you could layer on paper, paints, whatever! I can tell you that I had NO CLUE what I was doing, or if it would even work. Any depth or shading or anything I got was by putting paint on, wiping it off, putting other paint on, watering it down… and just, well, having fun!
This is a no pressure project because if all else fails you can simply coat with a nice thick layer of gesso and completely start again from scratch. But if it does work, I think it’s fun to paint the edges (as you see above), but also to apply some type of texture or molding paste around the edges to add dimension and texture to the piece.
Once dry, you can stamp, paint, ink, or otherwise color over the paste. You can also add colorant while wet, but I prefer some of that white to show through.
As a final magical touch on my piece, I misted with perfect pearls mist so that in the right light, it shimmers and sparkles in places. LOVE that.
My favorite part? Definitely Angus the horse. For his varied color I just kept adding water to my black paint to make more of a wash – but also I used straight black paint to paint thin lines once that was done for definition. If things got too dark, I added water. too wet? just dab a paper towel on it. Here is a photo when it was still in progress…
I can’t express to you how much FUN this was to make. It is already hanging in my daughter’s room, and I hope to make more. I will also be doing a pair of images on totally blank canvases, that my daughters can then paint themselves and I can hang. How great will that be? A more long-term art project that will keep much better than if I’d left the coloring book page alone.
I hope you’ve liked my project and these looks at my “anything goes” for the Stamp and Show challenge. I challenge YOU to create absolutely ANYTHING and post it yourself this week. If you do? Be sure to hop on over and enter at www.simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com – because doing so could win you a $50 voucher to Simon Says Stamp!! Oh yes, they sponsor the challenge blog and they generously give away a prize to a randomly selected challenge entrant each and every week.
PS – if you’re wondering what happened with that tiny canvas from the video, this is the result:
I’m a bit stuck on Disney Princesses I admit, but soooo much possibility here!
Today’s post is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp– and they are offering up a discount code just for my readers here as a part of my Camp Scrap extravaganza as well.
They are offering 10% off any order valid today through 7/31/12. Just enter code: CSMF10 when you are checking out.
I am really excited to be working with Simon Says Stamp now as the coordinator of the Stamp & Show challenge blog, especially because it has been one of my absolute favorite sources for all things inky, and so many fantastic crafting treasures. Their shipping is fast and a great rate – and their service is awesome. They have a facebook page here, you can follow them on twitter, and of course you’ll want to visit the shop itself.
Happy Friday! Today I’ve got three projects all featuring doilies to end the week.
Yes, I believe my favorite non-scrapbooking item that I use are doilies. I buy them frequently – most often from the cake section of my local craft store. Oh, sometimes I get lucky and I score some pretty or fancy ones someplace random or at a party shop… but for the bulk of my usage it is plain standard doilies from Michaels.
That said, the craft industry has stepped it up many notches with all kinds of fabulous doily products. Here are some of my favorites:
Paper Cottage is a new line from Basic Grey – and I was thrilled to see a lot of lacy, doily inspired elements in it. Today I’m going to focus on that line + doilies from my doily drawer (yep, I have a drawer) and see what I come up with.
Using a doily as a mat is an excellent thing! Here I’ve made a card with a core’dinations cardstock base, and let my heart shaped doily frame up my sentiment sticker and other details. I do love a good 5min or less card! The doily adds texture, contrast, frames things up, and is an interesting layer as well.
Here’s another card with Paper Cottage. This time I edged with Victorian Velvet distress ink – including coloring my doily. You can totally color ‘boring’ white doilies all kinds of colors! Mists, inks – just be gentle and let them dry before handling them.
I absolutely adore them in my scrapbook layouts as well. Here are some ways you tend to see me use them on my pages:
As base for journaling
tucked under a patterned paper, just edge peeking out
base for title
under corner of photo to add accent detail
folded around edge so 1/2 or 1/3 or other % of doily shows
as added layer of paper
to accent/enhance/help another element stand out
In short, you will mostly see a doily as more of a base layer or in a small amount as a finishing touch. Don’t be afraid to cut them apart either! I do this sometimes with small ones to make a scalloped effect.
Another thing I want to bring up is that while I made a layout about tea (what could be more doily-deserving?!) – it doesn’t have to be about something super feminine, especially if you pick a simple doily, grunge it up with ink or paint, or just use a little bit more for texture than actual doily look.
For the record, I’m loving the doily elements (oh yes, there are some) in this new line from Basic Grey. So much to like! Secret tip? I’ll be giving away a collection pack VERY soon so do stay tuned!
I strongly endorse all things Shimelle, especially when it comes to crafting. This self-paced class available at 2peas is loaded with inspiration:
Are you drowning in a sea of scrapbook supplies and a plethora of photos, but wish things just came together easily? Then The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Scrapbooking is just what you need: your guide to life, the universe and pretty paper! Join Garden Girl Shimelle Laine for this self-paced workshop you can use any time. Over five chapters, she’ll share forty-two brand new scrapbook pages and easy-to-follow advice on choosing supplies, designing pages, embellishing your work and writing your memories. Each chapter includes a printable PDF and coordinating video, plus the guide’s bonus reference section includes sketches, supply lists and other handy hints. Designed for scrapping at home or at a crop, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Scrapbooking reminds you: Don’t Panic – get crafting!
1. cover watercolor paper with dylusions in both greens
2. use water + stencil on background
3. stamp in black archival ink (leaves), apply water brush to them (to lighten)
4. stamp with perfect medium, then brush on perfect pearls (some leaves)
5. on separate piece of watercolor paper stamp in black archival ink leaves and flowers. Color with dylusions ink, cut out, adhere to card with foam tape.
6. spritz with perfect pearls mist
Here is the second project as seen in the video-
If you have questions – please feel free to leave a comment here! you’ll be seeing more with them here on my blog for sure.
With new items coming in all the time, fast service, and free shipping (within 48 states of USA) for all orders over $50 – they’re one of my favorite spots to shop! You can find the supplies I used today there, as well as lots of new products coming in all the time. You can check out their selection of Dylusions products here.
Happy Wednesday everyone! Today I want you to just get out some coordinating paper, and play!
I made a layout made with the July Scrap Room kit. Their kits are unique – instead of one big cohesive kit you get smaller bite sized kits, and I love that variety not to mention how easy it makes it to create and incorporate into my own stash. For today’s post I chose to stick with the kit that had a beautiful grey cardstock and Pink Paislee Prairie Hill collection dimensional stickers and paper.
As I went over in my kit series a few weeks back, the first thing I do is think about “well, what do I want to do with this?” My answer was almost immediately “something from Colorado…” and I flipped through to see what I’d like with that aqua, orange, and grey [a combo that I’m surprised to find that I ADORE]
Instead of getting super into what supplies I’d need from my own stash, I first figured out what I’d actually be making, and how I’d utilize the paper and stickers in front of me.
Then, after I had my photos + papers all settled I figured out I just needed some ink, gold paint, a pen, and some kind of alphabet stickers for my title.
Here’s my finished page:
I have to tell you – this page wins the prize for being my favorite page made in recent memory. Something about it… I just LOVE how it turned out!! It was not my intention to crop down my 4×6 photos to pictures that were more like 4×4 1/2 (and 4×3, in the center) but they were croppable, it worked, and I love it!
I definitely give credit to Scrap Room for picking a great assortment of goodies for me – and I thank them for being today’s sponsor too. Such a unique take on kits, and the small size is really great for getting creativity going.
Yes- today’s post is sponsored by The ScrapRoom, and I used their July kit in the above project. They are generously offering that if you join The ScrapRoom for the first time and mention “CampScrap” in the comments section of your order to receive a FREE Layout kit in your first shipment!
