Stacy's Paper Crafts

Watercolor Digital Stamp Images Two Ways!

Hey Everyone! I have a fun technique to share with you all today. If you've been following my blog for awhile you know that I enjoy using digital stamp images. There are pro's and con's to using digital stamps compared to using rubber or photopolymer stamps. The biggest con for me when it comes to digital stamps is not being able to utilize techniques like heat embossing or being limited to certain types of coloring mediums because I print my images using an Ink Jet printer.

I spent some time experimenting and I found two easy methods that allow me to use digital stamped images printed using a standard Ink Jet printer that can be colored using water based coloring mediums! For both methods I printed my images onto 80lb. Neenah Solar White Cardstock using an Epson Eco-Tank 2850 printer using the standard print setting. I also tested these methods using a very old printer, a Canon Pixma iP2760 and achieved the same great results, crisp bleed-free images! The image I used for my card today are part of the Iris Fantasy Digital Stamp Set from Pickled Potpourri Designs.

 

The first method is to apply a fixative to your digital stamped images after printing. I used Krylon Workable Fixative, but I believe there may be other sprays on the market that work similarly. This method is easy and allows you to use your image with very little wait time. The only downside to this method is that this particular fixative spray has a strong odor and it lingers for more than a few days. It always triggers a headache or migraine for me, but I suffer chronic headaches & migraines so I might just be more sensitive. I always wear a mask and spray it outside, and then I leave my sprayed pieces in my garage for a few days. It dries very quickly so if you aren't sensitive to the odor, you can work with the images within a few minutes after spraying.

 

 

The second method I used requires a little more drying time but it's also super easy! After printing your image wait a few minutes to ensure the printer ink is completely dry. Then apply a thin even coat of Fluid Matte Medium over the top of the image. Allow it to dry completely before coloring your image. You can apply a second coat of Matte Medium if you need to. I find that applying the first coat using upward and downward strokes, and then applying a second coat left to right gives me a nice even application. I allowed my images to dry overnight and then I ran them through my laminator because some of the edges of the paper curled. You could also use a hot iron without steam to flatten them out. Be sure to sandwich your paper between a few sheets of regular printer paper to protect the surface of your iron. If you have a mini Cricut heat press or something similar that would work well too!

 

 

I used Neocolor II Water-Soluble Pastels & Dylusions Spray Ink to color the image. I am not a skilled watercolorer but I'm so very excited about having the option to use water based coloring mediums with my digital stamps! During my experimenting I also played with rice paper, a new to me substrate. That text panel behind the iris was created by stamping on rice paper using Versafine ink. I ended up with some very cool results that left me beyond giddy and deserves an entire blog post of it's own so stay tuned!

 

*Some affiliate links were used in this blog post.

 

WCMD Card Kit inspiration

I'm back today to share a card that I created using the stencil and some other supplies in the kit. I wanted to offer a jar of Perfect Pearls with the kit but I wasn't able to find it sold individually so I substituted it with Lindy's Bayou Boogie Gold Magicals and it's THE PERFECT alternative! Although I think the Perfect Pearls might be slightly more vibrant. I mixed a small amount of water with the pigment to create a paste and then splattered it over the stenciled pattern and I'm in LOVE! That little touch of gold is perfect!

I blended a heavy application of Stampin' up' Cajun Craze over the stencil on a sheet of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I then removed the stencil and applied the same ink with a much lighter hand over the entire surface of the cardstock. I used a scalloped edge rectangle die to cut down the panel, and adhered several layers of cardstock to the back in place of foam tape to give it a little dimension. I often use cardstock instead of foam tape because foam tape is sometimes too thick for the look that I'm going for. I know that there are some thinner foam tapes on the market but using cardstock is often more convenient for me.

I used the sheer orange ribbon included in the kit to create a bow, and wrapped it around the panel. I adhered a panel of Cajun Craze cardstock that I embossed using SU's Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to the card front. I then adhered the stenciled background panel at an angle on to the card front. The sentiment was stamped on vellum, heat embossed using gold embossing powder, and adhered to a white oval die cut. I framed the sentiment using Cajun Craze cardstock. I think this is my favorite burnt orange! I adhered the sentiment to the card front, threaded a button using Scrappers Floss and adhered it to the center of the bow.

As always, you can click on the photos for a close up view.

It's not too late to enter to win this card kit WCMD Card Kit Giveaway

 

Supplies:

Stamps: Red Rubber Designs' Joyful Notes & Every Leaf

Paper: Neenah Solar White Smooth Cardstock, SU Cajun Craze Cardstock, Vellum

Inks: SU Cajun Craze Ink, Versamark Ink

Other: Lindy's Bayou Boogie Gold Magicals, Lindy's Stamp Gang Gimme Five Gold Embossing Powder, SU Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, orange sheer ribbon,  Brown Button, & White Scrappers Floss

 

Make Good Trouble

 

 

"Never be afraid to make some noise

and get into good trouble,

necessary trouble."

^{- John Lewis}

 

Those words were often spoken by the late John Lewis. It is one of my favorite quotes and it is especially relevant today, perhaps even more so just as it was when he first shared it in a commencement speech given at Emory University in 2014.

Though his words were spoken about the work he did during the civil rights movement, I think he would agree that those words could also be spoken about his life and the work he did campaigning on behalf of marginalized citizens. He fought to ensure their ability to exercise their right to vote and their right to live a life with freedom and dignity. You can view a a snippet of that speech above. Here's a link to his address in its' entirety...

John Lewis: Emory Commencement Keynote Address 2014

 

I've been wanting to create some art cards featuring great words to live by, and had to include this quote. These 3x5 in. cards were inspired by the ICAD challenge, aka Index Card a Day Challenge started by Tammy over at Daisy Yellow Art.

 

I find Mixed Media Art to be so interesting and creatively thrilling! I often have an idea in mind when I sit down to create, but by the time my project is finished I end up with a completely different outcome. Somewhere along the line I decide I'd rather do A versus B, and then I add some stamping here and there, and some stenciling, and on, and on, and on!

 

These cards started out as heavy weight white cardstock. I added some black & several shades of grey archival inks, some heavy white gesso, some stenciling, stamping, alphabet die cuts, some dies from SU's Love of leaves bundle, and some metallic thread. I also used some white gouache and a white Posca paint pen. I love how they turned out, only I wish that I would have chosen a 4x6 card instead so that I could have included the entire quote. Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you?

If you're interested in swapping ICADS or ATC's let me know!

 

Vintage Birdie

Hello everyone! I have a vintage/shabby chic inspired project to share with you today. This project may not look like much to you, but it was a bit of a creative stretch for me. I'm not sure I've ever created a true vintage inspired project, but I love how this turned out. 

I started out by applying a watercolor wash to an A2 card base using a shade of turquoise dye ink. I then tore some book pages into random pieces, inked the edges using Vintage Photo Distress, Ground Espresso Archival distress, and Fallen Leaves Versafine Clair inks, and used an edge distresser to add some extra texture to the edges of the papers. I layered and adhered them to my card base, along with a piece of embossed wood grain cardstock. I then inked the edges of the card base using the Ground Espresso Archival distress ink. I then spritzed and splattered them with Lindy's Stamp Gang Spray inks in Sandra Dee Sepia & Tilt-a-Wheel Teal. 

I've had some Deco Foil Adhesive glue and foil sheets in my stash for quite awhile that I decided to put to use. I applied the glue directly to the stamp, the smallest image in the So Splattered stamp set, using a makeup sponge and stamped randomly over my card. After allowing the adhesive to dry completely, I used a gold foil sheet to transfer some of the foiling to the card. I love the subtle effect it gives the card. 

The little bird is from the All Things of Nature stamp set. I stamped it using Fallen Leaves Versafine Clair ink, colored it using Copic markers, and then used a die cut to cut it out. I also applied some gold foiling along the edges of the die cut. I added a strip of watercolored paper, embossed vellum, and gold thread to create a little nest under birdie die cut, that I adhered to to the card base using chipboard pieces. For a final touch I added some ink splashes using white gauche.  

 

My project was inspired by the following crafty challenges...

Addicted To Stamps and More: Anything Goes

Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge Blog: Anything Goes Mixed Media

AAA Birthday: Game #13 Things with Wings

Krafty Chicks Challenge: All Occasions 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Red Rubber Designs stamps: All Things of Nature & So Splattered

Paper: Book pages &  white cardstock

Inks: Distress Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso Distress Archival, Fallen Leaves Versafine Clair

Embellishments: Gold Thread & Gold Foil

Other: Copic markers, Teal watercolor paint, Lindy's Stamp Gang Sprays- Sandra Dee Sepia & Tilt-a-Wheel Teal, & White Gauche

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Hi Everyone! I hope you all are well, I know that this conronavirus outbreak has many of us feeling anxious and overwhelmed. I've been trying to keep my mind busy by crafting, spring cleaning, and baking. I've mostly been baking bread but I got a sweet tooth and decided to make some carrot cake, one of my absolute favorite desserts! I used this recipe... Carrot Cake Cupcake Recipe. 

 

 

I recently took a free online class called The Layered Page by Kelley Wynne Studios, which is still available by the way for a limited time. It was such a great mixed media class that resulted in a several mini books/art journals/mini albums that I can't wait to create in. I shared some of the inside pages on my Instagram page... here and here.

 

I decided to use one of the books to document what I've been doing to keep busy this Spring, including baking these delicious cupcakes! I used the background image from the For Everything stamp set by Red Rubber Designs to create some additional subtle texture to the background paper. I also stamped the Speckle Background stamp randomly over the background using Versamark ink, and the heat embossed it using super fine white embossing powder.

 

To embellish my layout I used the carrot image from the Pickled Potpourri Designs digital stamp set called Flopsy Bunny. I created a little cluster and then printed them on 80lb. cardstock. I colored the carrots using Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils and then fussy cut them out. I added a flip out panel for my journaling and used some chipboard to pop up the carrots before adhering them to the journaling panel. I tucked my photo next to the carrots, inked the edges of my page using Vintage Photo Archival Distress ink, and used some alphabet stickers & a Tim Holtz sentiment sticker to create the title.

 

 

I used Ranger Distress Collage medium to adhere most items to the page including my journaling block. Unfortunately I didn't realize my ink pen wasn't permanent so it smeared a little and I was too lazy to rewrite it so I left it as is.

 

Thanks so much for looking!

*Supplies:

Pickled Potpourri Designs Digital Stamps: Flopsy Bunny

Red Rubber Designs Stamps: For Everything, & Speckle Background,

Inks: PTI Kraft Ink pad, Ranger Ink Mini Archival Distress ink pads: Vintage Photo, & Versamark Ink pad

Other: Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils, Ranger Ink White Super Fine Embossing powder,, Mono Multi Liquid Glue, Ranger Ink Matte Distress Collage Medium,

DYI mini album created using acrylic paints, Neocolor II crayons, stencils, text & gelli printed papers

 

*Some affiliate links used at no extra cost to you

 

 

Layered Heat Embossing

Happy First Day of Fall! It's my absolute most favorite season of the year! It's the time of year when my body feels fewer MS aches and pains, my muscles are less spastic, the humidity is more bearable, AND I can actually spend some time outdoors. It's also when I feel most creatively inspired! The changing colors and textures in nature around my community has a way of stirring my crafty mojo. 

 

My project today is a super textured card inspired by the sketch challenge over at Sunday Stamps.

I started out by cutting a leaf die cut using my Silhouette. I inked the surface of it using Versamark ink and then heat embossed it using copper embossing powder. I then stamped the background stamp from the Here I Am stamp set by Red Rubber Designs using Versamark ink. I then heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. I also sponged a little black ink along the edges of the leaf.

Although the crisp stamped pattern is lost, the second layer of embossing powder gives the leaf a fun subtle texture. Heat embossing the second application of embossing powder also caused the first layer to become "over embossed," which made the embossing powder bubble up creating additional texture! It's difficult to capture it in a still image, but I encourage you to try this this layered embossing technique. Your results will vary depending on your stamped image design and the type and coarse of embossing powder that you use. My embossing gun only has one setting, if yours has multiple settings, experiment with them! They may give you some varied textures.

I used patterned paper from the Robyn Digital Paper Collection by Pickled Potpourri Designs. I applied Distress Crazing Medium to a piece of the the brighter pink patterned pattern, and inked over it using Ground Espresso Archival Distress ink. I'm still experimenting with the best way to apply the Crazing Medium, but I really like it! It gives your project a slight crackled appearance without the texture of a traditional crackle medium. I then adhered the panel to a layer of chipboard to give it some depth. 

I cut a piece of the houndstooth patterned paper, distressed and inked the edges using more of the Ground Espresso ink. I adhered it to the card base, and layered the pink inked panel on top. I tore a piece of corrugated paper, applied a bit of Ground Espresso ink to it, and adhered it on top. To embellish the card I added some gold thread layered behind the leaf, applied some copper wax to a little chipboard heart and adhered it on top of the leaf. I stamped a partial sentiment from one of the sentiments in the Ever So Thankful stamp set on cream cardstock, adhered it on a strip of chipboard, and then inked the edges before adhering it to the card. I cut it a little wonky but figured it works with all the distressing on the rest of the card! LOL

As always you can click on the photos for a more detailed view. A supply list is provided below. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

 

^Supplies:

^{Stamps: Red Rubber Designs: Here I am & Ever So Thankful}

^{Paper: Pickled Potpourri Designs: Robyn Digital Paper Collection, Kraft & Cream Cardstock, chipboard}

^{Ink: Ranger Ink Archival Distress Ink Ground Espresso & Black Soot}

^{Other: Ranger Ink Copper & Gold Superfine embossing powders, Ranger Crazing Medium, Finnabair Metallique Wax Rich Copper, Mini Chipboard Heart, & Gold Thread}

 

An Artist Trading Coin

Hi Everyone! I have a sassy project to share with you today, an Artist Trading Coin also known as an ATC Coin. I believe ATC Coins were created by Joanne AKA CraftyHodges. She created a video outlining the specifics and she also shares some fun samples that you can check out here, ATC Coin Tutorial. After watching her video I knew exactly which stamp set in my stash that would be perfect for this type of project, "Working Women" from Red Rubber Designs. The sassy sentiments crack me up!

To create the base I layered medium weight chipboard circles to make the coin nice and sturdy. The background started off as a Gelli Print that I embellished using the Speckle background stamp and one of the stamps from the Showy Strips stamp set. I added some additional splatters using white acrylic paint. The main image was colored using Copic markers. I fussy cut the image and sentiment pieces, inked the edges, and adhered them to the coin base.

 

I love how it turned out, I think it would be perfect as a magnet!

Thanks for looking, a supply list is listed below.

 

Supplies:

Stamps: Red Rubber Designs: Working Women, Speckle Background, & Showy Strips

Paper: Gelli Printed paper, white cardstock, & medium weight chipboard

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Archival Shadow Grey, & white pigment ink

Other: Copic Markers & White Acrylic Paint

 

 

Paper Pumpkins

I've been making paper pumpkins since September, they are so fun to create! The orange, teal, and white geometric pumpkins are from SVGCuts. For the teal and white pumpkins, I removed the cut lines to create a solid pumpkin. It was a little tricky assembling it, but I love how they turned out! I used Bazzill Smoothie cardstock for all of the pumpkins. Click the photos for a closeup view. 

I didn't have any teal cardstock, so I used white, and then painted the pieces using Dylusions Vibrant Turquoise Paint before assembling it. After doing so I decided that it would have easier to just paint it after I assembled it. I like the texture the paint provides, it almost feels like plastic. 

This orange pumpkin is also an SVGCuts file, from the Harvest Sunset Kit. I told you in my last post, I'm obsessed! This was actually the first SVGCuts file that I purchased. I always layer up my pieces when creating 3D designs, but I didn't need to with this one. The extra layers made it a little wonky looking but I'm keeping it LOL! I inked the pieces of this pumpkin using Ranger Archival ink in the colors Monarch Orange and Coffee before assembling it. That little pumpkin is a Lori Whitlock design called 3D Pumpkin Box Short that I reduced in size. I can't recall how much, but he's tiny :) It was a little cumbersome to assemble but he's so cute! 

The gold geometric pumpkin is covered with gold glitter & Mod Podge. I haven't used Mod Podge in a long time, but it's my new best friend to use with glitter! It really seals it in, so there is very little if any glitter fall out as long as you give it a few coats. I think the easiest way to do this is to apply a coat of Mod Podge, sprinkle on your glitter then allow it to dry. Repeat these steps and allow it to dry between layers until you achieve your desired coverage. Let your project dry completely and then add a coat or two of only the Mod Podge to seal the glitter.

By the way, in case you didn't know SVGCuts offers tons of FREE cut files! Check 'em out  SVG Free Cut Files

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

#100daysofgelliprintcreations 6/100

 

This little 4x4 collage was so fun to create! I heat embossed the background using clear embossing powder and Red Rubber Designs' Background Stripes stamp. I love the subtle texture this creates! 

 

 

I layered and adhered some torn gelli printed deli papers, masked & stamped "Blessed" from a sentiment in the Here I am Stamp set also from Red Rubber Designs.

 

 

I stapled that to the kraft label die cut and layered it on a piece of that yellow gelli printed paper I still had out on my desk from yesterday's card. I like the the extra pop of color it adds.

 

Supplies:

8x10 Gelli Plate

Background Stripes Stamp

Here I Am Stamp Set

Dylusions London Blue Paint

Liquitex Basics Cadmium Yellow Deep Hue

Liquitex Basic Prism Violet

Liquitex Basic Light Blue Permanent

Heavy Weight white cardstock

Kraft Cardstock 

 

#100daysofgelliprintcreations 1/100

Last month's Gelli Printing challenge really stirred up my mojo! I decided to take part in another challenge

The 100 Day Project

I decided to spend 100 days creating art using my stack of gelli prints. If I'm completely honest, this challenge will probably take me more than 100 days, but I'm committed to creating 100 pieces of art. The most important thing for me is to enjoy the process of creating without the stress.

Most of my creations will be cards, collage pieces, and art journal layouts, but I may try a few other project ideas as well. 

Here's what I created for day 1/100.

I wanted to try my hand at creating some collage pieces in a variety of sizes. This one measures 6x6 inches. I adhered gelli printed text & deli papers to a white cardstock base. I Added a few flicks of black acrylic paint, adhered a butterfly die cut, some Tim Holtz stickers, and stamped a few stitched lines. 

You can use the hashtag #100daysofgelliprintcreations to see my latest update on Instagram. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Mixed Media Play: Determination

Hi Everyone! It's been a little while since I've updated... life has just been busy. I haven't had a chance to spend much time in my craft room. Although I've been working on an art journal page for a few weeks, adding a bit here and there. I feel like I want to add more layers to this but I'm calling it done...

This layout is a part of an art journal I started earlier this year. I really love the bold colors against the black background so most of the layouts in this particular journal features the color black with some pop of color. 

I used a combination of gelatos, acrylic paint, white gel pen, dye inks, distress inks, and Copic Markers to apply color to this layout. I also used a butterfly image from a Pickled Potpourri Designs set called Nature's Greetings Butterfly as well as alphabet stamps from one of my favorite sets, Distressed Typewriterbet from Red Rubber Designs.

I die-cut a vellum circle and wrote my journaling on it. I adhered some enamel dots and scrappers floss to create the butterfly antennae to embellish.

I'm entering this layout into the current Path of Positivity Challenge, which focuses on the theme of determination. My journaling speaks to the challenges that life throws our way and how they can sometimes set us off balance. This theme is so timely for me because a couple of weeks ago I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This diagnosis has literally set me teetering.

As I was journaling I thought about the challenges I've been having with walking and with my balance and recalled how some days it just feels like I have to work so hard to just make it from point A to point B... but how I always manage to do so!

Even if you have to crawl or waddle to accomplish something in your life, keep moving forward, stay focused, be determined, you will do it!

That's my motto these days :) Thanks so much for looking! 

Nature's Greetings Butterfly

Distressed Typewriter Bet

InLinkz.com

Mixed Media Mondays with Tracy Weinzapfel

Yep, it's my second post for today.

I wanted to share a mixed media project I've been working on this week.

Tracy Weinzapfel is a talented mixed media artist who hosts a live stream every Monday night.  It's about an hour long painting/mixed media class that she conducts live from her studio.  At the end of the hour she magically presents a beautiful masterpiece!

{Photo Credit: Tracy Weinzapfel}

Last week was my second time watching live, and while I didn't paint along with her, I did create a piece that was inspired by her painting. I did not have all of the supplies that Tracy used, but I think I pulled it off pretty well!

I love mixed media art... the only thing that I hate about it is not knowing what all I did to create my piece when I'm finished! It's sort of a whirlwind of a process for me. Especially this time around because I wasn't all that familiar with how to use some of the supplies that I used.

I used watercolors for most of it, but being a novice working with preschool grade watercolors forced me to have to improvise a LOT. One tip I can share with you is that a workable fixative is your best friend when it comes to working with multiple mediums that react to water differently. I ended adding acrylic paint over the hearts, and used matte medium to adhere the sentiment. I also applied matte medium onto the entire surface to seal everything.

I'm still trying to decide if I like watercolors, I definitely find acrylics easier to work with, but I may give watercoloring another chance. I'll just have to get a better quality to see if it behaves differently.

You'll find a list of some of the products I used below, thanks for looking!

 

Words of Imagination	RRD Dotty Flowers	Script Background	Mixed Media Paper
Caran d'Ache Classic Neocolor II Water-Soluble Pastels	Black Spray Mist	Dylusions White Linen Spray Mist	Archival Ink
Pitt Artist Pen	Matte Medium	Krylon Workable Fixatif	Liquitex

InLinkz.com

Gelli Print Art

Hi All!

I'm hosting a challenge over at Two Peas in a Bucket for their annual Winterfest Stamping Event. My Challenge is called A Little of this & A Little of That. I'd like to encourage you to explore Mixed Media art, and incorporate your stamps in your design whether they are traditional stamps or digital stamps. The premise behind the challenge is to use multiple types of product or mediums on your design. You can create something that is clean & simple, something really artsy, or something that falls somewhere in between. I hope you'll join in on the festivities.

When I starting planning this challenge I knew that I wanted to use at least one of the mono-prints that I made to go with my Counterfeit Kit this month...

I love the power of words and inspirational quotes. I have quite a few "Pinned," but the only time I read them is when I'm logged onto Pinterest, so I decided to incorporate some of them into a little art journal, something that is a little more accessible. This is the cover...

 

I used versamark ink to stamp the floral images from Dotty Flowers and Gift of Friendship, both sets are by Red Rubber Designs. I applied white embossing powder over them, although after being heat set, the embossing powder looks more like a cream color. I've had it for a very long time, I might need to replace it! LOL If you know of a "true white' embossing powder please let me know. 

The sentiment is from a digital stamp set called Words of Imagination by Pickled Potpourri Designs, I printed it out on laser jet paper. I had a slight mishap when I went to adhere it. I used liquid matte medium, and it smudged the printer ink. I remembered that I had a bottle of Krylon Workable Fixatif, so I sprayed a little of that over the text and allowed it to dry. When I went to adhere it the second time around it didn't smudge, so yay for that! Be sure to spray it in a well ventilated area, preferably outside.

I added a few scribbles using a black pen, and red & black water soluable oil pastels, scribbled a little of the red oil pastel on the mono print background, and finally added a few domed glitter enamel dots.

I used quite a few items for my art journal cover...

Laser jet paper

Acrylic paints

Rubber stamped images

Digital stamped quote

Versamark Ink

Embossing powder

Matte medium

Glitter enamel dots

Water soluable oil pastels

Black ink pen

Mixed media heavy weight paper

I love how this turned out and can't wait to start creating additional pages. I hope you'll check out the other Winterfest Challenges. Thanks so much for looking!

 

 

Words of Imagination	RRD Dotty Flowers	Gift of Friendship	Mixed Media Paper
Liquitex	Caran d'Ache Classic Neocolor II Water-Soluble Pastels	Krylon Workable Fixatif	Matte Medium
Pitt Artist Pen	Versamark

InLinkz.com

Gelli Plate ♥

A couple of months ago I went to a crop hosted by my friend Valerie. She shared with us her DIY Gelli Plate and I fell in love! That little jello sheet was so much fun to play with!

Last week I made my own using unflavored gelatin and had fun playing with it. After that, I was convinced that I needed a real one. The DIY works just a well as the "real" Gelli Plate in my opinion, but the draw back is that it needs to be refrigerated. I just don't have room in my fridge to store it so I decided to get a "real" Gelli Plate.

What I love most about the Gelli plate & creating monoprints is that each time you apply your paint, you'll achieve a different result. I experimented with acrylic paint and dye ink pads and loved both equally. Here are a few of the prints I created using acrylic paint and stencils.

I chose colors that I would use on a layout, and I knew that I wanted to use some of the prints for some masculine Valentine's Day cards, but I didn't have a plan otherwise. I love how CAS these turned out compared to some of the monoprints that inspired me to create my own. I'll be sure to share with you how I used them. Have you tried using the Gelli Plate or creating monoprints? What are your favorite color combinations?

Thanks for stopping by today!

 

 

Mixed Media Coasters

On Saturday I hosted a group of ladies for a fun day of mixed media art play. It was such a fun day. It really re-enforced the power of connecting with others for me. I usually craft alone, I really hate to pack up my things to go to a crop because it's so hard to get organized! LOL It really requires a lot of planning for me, but one of my goals for this year was to get out from my craft room and go to a few crops, and invite other crafters to craft with me in my home. 

I planned a spring themed mixed media project to share with my fellow crafters. Most of them like me, are new to mixed media art. I think we all learned a lot from each other and I can't wait until our next gathering :)

So here's my project...

The idea behind it was to gather things we already owned, share what we could, and experiment with a few techniques... collage, incorporating stamped images, and stenciling  were a few of the ones that we used. I used a coaster, but some of the ladies used large and small canvases, chipboard albums, and mixed media paper. 

We started out by applying acrylic paint to build the background. Then we began adding texture to the base by stamping and stenciling layers of paint using stamps and some rather unconventional items... corrugated cardstock scraps & plastic canvas circles! 

We stamped the butterfly and sentiment on tissue paper and adhered it using matte gel medium. If you cut around your images when using tissue paper, it almost becomes transparent when using gel medium. Just be sure to apply the gel medium liberally, and then smooth the tissue paper, adding thin layers of gel medium on top. This technique is perfect for me because I do NOT have a steady hand when it comes to cutting. LOL

Thanks for stopping by today!