Friday, March 7, 2014

March "Take It, Make It Challenge" ~ Mono Printing with Acrylic Blocks

Hello to all and welcome to any who are visiting my blog for the first time.  This is my first posting as a member of the Craft Stamper's Take It, Make it Challenge  design team.     The monthly challenge for March is Mono printing with Acrylic Blocks.  First I will show you my finished project, a small art journal filled with tags to write personal thoughts on.  If you are interested in seeing how the technique is done, read further as I have included a mini tutorial.  I hope you enjoy it!



I began with several sizes of acrylic blocks that I normally use for cling stamps and a large sheet of 140# watercolor paper.  You can use whatever type of paper you prefer for this technique.


I am using TCW stencils and acrylic paints to make the background paper.


I place the stencil on top of the acrylic block and apply the paint to the stencil.  I used a foam brush to move the paint around on the stencil onto the acrylic block. 


Then the stencil is carefully removed from the block and the block is placed paint side down onto the paper.




I used other stencils the same way to add some yellow highlights to the paper; then allowed it to dry.


When the paint was dry I folded the 11" by 15" piece of paper in half lengthwise, folded it again to make the four sections of my book.  I cut the center section and pushed the sections together to make the book.


I wanted to close off some off the open edges and decided to use sticky back canvas that had been colored with ink and stamped.



That canvas sealed off the edges very nicely.  The book seemed to need a little feminine touch so I glued Tim Holtz's rose ribbon to the front and back edges.


When you open the book it is full of stamped phrases and ATCs.  I added a few of TH's idea-ology Remnant Rubs here and there.  Wendy Vecchi's stamps by Stampers Anonymous seemed to fit the theme perfectly.





This is a photo of the front and back of the book when opened up.


The openings at the bottom edges were closed off with the canvas tape but the openings at the top were left open to add tags.  These tags were cut with a Sizzix die and colored to match with the same acrylic block technique.  Personal journaling could be done in the book or on the backs of the small tags.




This is the small finished art journal, just one of the many projects that could be made with the paper from today's challenge. 



  What kind of idea can you come up with using acrylic blocks for mono printing?  Please play with this idea and share it with us at the Craft Stamper site.  The challenge is open for the entire month of March.  Play along with us and post your creation on their site.  We'd love to see what you do!

Thanks for stopping by, if you have a moment please leave a comment, you know I love to hear from you!  Take care, I'll talk to you soon ~ Renee

13 comments:

  1. Renee, this is such a great idea and incredibly inspiring! This little journal is awesome. What a great little travel/vacation journal these would make!

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  2. I am swooning here Renee...gorgeous detail...love it all!!!
    Big hugs
    Tracy
    xoxox

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  3. Hi Renee, wow...so clever! I really looove the tags with their inspirational sayings - all different but bought together with the colours. Great tutorial too x
    Dot x

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  4. Just gorgeous Renee, love the bright colours. Morning from North Wales, Elizabeth xxx

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  5. Hi, Renee, this is an amazing project. I love the results you have attained by using the acrylic blocks (like you, I have several sizes!). I promise to try this! Thanks so much for not only sharing your brilliant works, but the "how to" is priceless!

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  6. An incredible creation.
    The yellow reminds me of daffodils, so fresh and zingy and what stunning use of the blocks in conjunction with stencils.
    Bravo to your first DT sample.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  7. Wow, Renee, what a fabulous project! I love the way you folded your papers to to make your little journal book, and the mono printing is brill!

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  8. Stunning project Renee...I love the colours and dimension! Thank you for sharing the process with us! And congratulation on your design spot, you are just the right person...very creative and unique! Big hug from Slovenia

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  9. Fabulous first project Renee, love all on this!!!!! and thank you for your great step by step as usual! xoxo Coco

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  10. Wow! Stunning first project .... great backgrounds and super tutorial too. xx

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  11. How crazy cool! What a fabulous design, and using the stamping blocks is pure GENIUS!!! This rocks! PINNING!!!

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  12. This is absolutely, positively incredible!!! I love everything!

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