Favorite Techniques for Take It Make It Challenge

For the Take It Make It Challenge this month we were asked to choose our favorite technique featured in the Craft Stamper magazine over the course of this year.  My favorite technique is the embossing powder resist.  It always takes me back to when I first began rubber stamping and is usually my go-to technique for backgrounds.  This technique, along with others, was featured in the August 2014 issue by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.  I decided to make a card featuring this technique in the background with one of Dyan Reaveley's girls glued on top of it.  Here is my card, a short tutorial will follow.

I began with a piece of 140# water color paper.  I use this type of paper quite often since I'm going to soak it with inks and distress it in other ways so I need a piece of paper that can stand up to this kind of treatment without falling apart.  I cut the paper to measure 5" by 7" so it will fit on the face of a blank white card.  I stamped my image, a Stampers Anonymous post card stamp, with embossing ink and followed it with Detail White embossing powder.  Then I watched the powder melt under the heat of my heat gun.

When the melted powder had cooled I sprayed Dylusions Spray Inks in different colors all over the paper.  For this I used Calypso Teal, Cut Grass and Lemon Zest.  I blotted this with a paper towel roll, allowed it to dry and then did a ghosting effect with Dina Wakley's word stencil and a spritz of water.  When this was completely dry I started gluing on my image and words.

I stamped Pondering Petunia on a separate piece of lovely (translates "pricey") Hot Press Finish 140# water color paper using StazOn Jet Black ink.  I stamped the word phrase from Dyan's Dylusions "Say It How It Is" on the same sheet of  water color paper and then trimmed them out.

I wanted to give her funky hair so I turned the octopus from Dyan's "Under the Sea" collection upside down, stamped it and then trimmed off the part that didn't fit on her head.  Since I had such lovely paper to work on I decided to use my DERWENT watercolour pencils.  They don't get out to play near often enough and they were perfect for this little lady; the colors stayed very intense.

I used the pencils to color the word phrase, too, and then cut it into sections to break it up and spread it out on the page.  I glued everything in place with a strong adhesive, Beacon 3-in-1 works well for me when using heavy papers.

After I inked the edges of the panel with Jet Black ink I adhered it to a blank white 5" by 7" card.

That was my favorite technique from the recent Craft Stamper magazine.  How about you?  Don't forget that this is an ongoing challenge on the Take It Make It Challenge site.  Show us your favorite technique and enter the challenge with the opportunity to win prizes and the possibility of  your work being displayed in an upcoming issue of the Craft Stamper magazine.  I hope to see your project there!  Have a great weekend. ~ Hugs~ Renee xxx

Special requests for artwork

My studio has been full of color this week!  That's a good thing since it has been as white as SNOW outside.  Oh yeah, that is snow and there is more coming our way soon.  We've been nice and warm inside, great weather to do some artwork.  Oddly enough I had three requests this week.  One person wanted a special card, another a purple art journal type page and the third requested something made out of one of my masterboard pages.  I'm still working on the third request but this is what I came up with for the other two.

A special card for a very special friend who has been suffering with illness.  I thought a pretty card would be nice to look at if you're in bed for a week or so.  Marie Antoinette came to mind.

Now to come up with a purple background with an archery theme.  This is what I did for another friend using Dylusions spray inks, stencils and gesso.

Can't miss that target!  I hope you've all had a wonderful week and have great weekend plans.  Take care, stay warm and thanks for stopping by. ~ Renee

Saturday's Class

Well, I had a lovely class yesterday for my monthly Art Journal Calendar pages.  I teach in Westford, MA at "Ink About It" which has a wonderful workshop area with all kinds of good stuff in it and plenty of room.  I wanted to share with you some of my students work since I'm always blown away by what they come up with, all using the same products.

We just noticed she matched the inks.  No, it wasn't planned.  But yes, it does look very nice!

TaaaDaaah!

 

Some are finished in the photos and a few are still works in progress.  I had a great time and I hope they did too.  We used Dyan Reaveley's Dylusions Spray inks on Un-gessoed paper.  Nothing like making an inky mess!  See you next time, thanks for stopping by.