no rules, just happy crafting
I want to tell you that there is some deep meaning for this one. Truth is I went to clean up the last session and this song the Girl Scouts were doing at camp… something about “hey girl, do your thing…” well it was stuck in my head. So I threw it and some paint down.
And sometimes, when it’s my journal, that is that.
affiliate links used when possible in this post, at no additional cost to you – it just helps keep the blog running…
Just a quick share today – a card featuring Hero Arts Ombre ink pads.
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Want a closer look at the ink pads? Here is a link to YouTube video that I recently posted.
When I make a big creative mess there is just one thing to do: Use what I have on the desk only! It lets me clean up, challenges me to mix and match, and is so much fun. Alright then, let’s have some fun!
First up are some banners I have. I made myself a custom banner file with my ScanNCut and these banners are samples from that creative session. Which, by the way I filmed for Scrapbook Soup coming to PBS and online this fall! So that was my inspiration and I dug around the desk for more.
Some random die cuts that keep not making it onto the page, a new ink pad, some stamps…. we can work with this! Let’s stitch it up!
As you know I create with the Brother ScanNCut (independent consultant/creative contract). I’ve been asked “Why ScanNCut?” and I’ll tell you. It requires no computer AND it lets me run with my crazy ideas. It’s high tech that is fast and low fuss. Also? Brother is the maker of “Tex” aka my long trusted and totally amazing sewing machine.
Tex is my mostly unseen hero. Adding texture, holding things together, and switching from fabric to paper to more paper without a blink. I’ve never had a jam, never had a problem, never EVER been frustrated this machine takes care of this novice so well! It is because of my deep love of this sewing machine and knowledge of what quality products they make that I decided to give ScanNCut a shot (and I do love it!) and work with Brother.
Just in case you were wondering! back to that card…
Here it is finished. Super quick and easy, and from the doily to the one random button all things I wanted cleaned off my desk. I challenge you to go “clean your desk” creatively as I have!
One of my favorite things to do with the ScanNCut is to cut out a shape from a tag and use everything but the shape I cut out. What do I mean? I will show you today in this full tutorial! I prefer to do this with my ScanNCut machine – it makes it so quick and easy!
Supplies needed: ScanNCut, manila tags (2), dye ink, gold paint, gold and green mist, background stamps, ribbon, leaves and buttons (or other embellishments), word stickers (or handwrite/type your own)
The first step is to figure out what image you want to use. At first I thought this intricate doily image was a good idea. Ah but there is a problem! The design would simply cut a semi-circle out of my tag leaving a lovely border that looked more like someone bit my tag than the beautiful image it was. So- that’s not the image I want for this project.
One of my favorite features of this machine is that I can scan the cutting mat (with paper on it) so that I can see exactly what I’m getting into. It is going to be light (my tag is a light color, after all, but clear enough so that I can view and place my image over the tag and get a feel for what it will look like. Love that!
After selecting a botanical image I adjusted the height and the position -both things I can do while seeing the image on top of my tag which is so great- no guessing what it will look like! Once satisfied there’s only one thing to do: let the machine cut!
Now that the technical part is done, it’s time for inky fun!
Above you can see the image and the tag left behind. We’ll be focusing on the tag today. First, I placed the image down onto the tag and lightly inked with pink ink. I love this shadow/masking effect!
I felt like going more bold though – and also heading purple instead of pink. How to accomplish this? I first ran my pink ink pad over the image, and then I took a foam tool and blended a rich blue over the top! The result is that all the pink ink turned lovely shades of purple.
Next up, to add some texture I applied gold paint to a background stamp.
For this kind of project I like to leave the stamp on my table, and press the tag onto the stamp. This tag is pretty delicate around all those intricate cuts – so this lets me press it down with the best results.
I love the look of a nice dot stamp then combined with a few splatters of mist! I let the random nature of mist act as a way to add to the funky factor of my tag – and I’m loving it! Now that the background is rich and lovely, there’s just a few more things to do. First back the tag with manila cardstock or a cardstock of your choice. I waited until now because I didn’t want to ink up that clean paper. I love the contrast!
To add even more contrast, I added a few more touches listed below. Here’s my finished project:
Finishing touches:
I have so much making tags like these – in fact I’m going to be doing ten background/technique tags with full video tutorials in my upcoming Camp Scrap class on my site! I can never get enough of how my ScanNCut makes getting one of these fun inky creations started- and I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial!
Disclosure: I am a paid consultant for Brother International Corporation and have received a ScanNCut from Brother to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely my own and based on my use of the product.
Still playing with the Dina Wakley paint + applicator combined with the Dylusions paints. REALLY love this combo so far! In my art journaling classes I always tell my students that I never write in fear- I write exactly what I think. let it ALL OUT…. then I can cover it up I part or fully with art.
In this case I was ranting. Angry as heck about a situation that came across my desk. I circled the one part “happy life” and pretty much covered up the rest. It got a little rant-y and long winded and random. But that’s ok! It let me vent harmlessly into my journal, and then I played.
I love the contrast of writing about something painful or negative and turning that into something pretty. In this case a big bold flower full of life. Also in play are some stamps I should use more and my white Faber Castell pen (the white dots) – simple and fun play.
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