AIRs Challenge::Themed Project

Today my AIRs (Artists in Residence) challenge for Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko is to take my spring colored products and make something original and interesting out of them using the theme of "Self Portrait".  I had to think of a project that represented me and my personality.  One thing I know about myself is that I LOVE to read.  I also LOVE to give gifts to others, though they might be small gifts, all through the year.  I don't believe in waiting necessarily for a particular day or occasion to show someone that I love them or that I just happened to be thinking of them.

 When I think of a project that would reflect my personality but would be a useful item to others I think of a book marker.  Summer is right around the corner, summer reading goes along with that.  What better thing to make than a book marker?Personally I love to read historical books, which makes me think of historical figures that were larger than life and that inspired me to think of Marie-Antoinette as being the person that I would like to put on my book markers.    In a way I have multiple themes going on here......items that reflect my personality, Spring Colors, Marie-Antoinette and book markers.  Here is what I came up with.

Did I hear someone scream "group photo"?  All of these images are by Alpha Stamps and are from their digital art collection called "Young Marie".  I will show you a tutorial for the pink one but the same techniques apply to all of the book markers just using different colors.
To start I cut a piece of 140# Strathmore water color paper into strips that measure 2" by 9".  You can cut the strips shorter if you like or change the width, it depends on the measurements of the book you are creating it for.  After cutting the strips I used a large stamp by Magenta, you can use whatever stamps you have on hand,.  I covered the stamp with IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko Memento Luxe Wedding Dress ink which is a lovely shade of white, then covered the stamping with embossing powder.  I heated the embossing powder and then allowed it to cool.

I love the IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment Ink in the Pink Petunia color so I started applying that all over the marker, right over the embossed areas.

One of my all time favorite products to use for blending inks and removing inks are baby wipes and this project is no exception.  I coated it with the Pink Petunia ink first and then sprayed the ink covered book marker with IMAGINE Crafts Fireworks! Craft Spray in the Angel Pink color.  I let it run down the marker and then wiped the entire marker down with the baby wipe.

I could continue to add more color if I wanted to at this point and just keep removing portions with the baby wipe until it is just the color I had in mind.  Next I edged the book marker with IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko Memento Dye Ink in  Espresso Truffle to distress it a little.

Now it it ready to decorate.  I emptied my stash of trim on the table to see what would work with this project.  I know I can change the color of trims with ink pads and Fireworks! sprays so they match the inks I've chosen.

I had some white seam binding that could be dyed and crumpled for that old world look so I used IMAGINE Crafts Fireworks! Craft Spray in Angel Pink color with a tiny bit of Dandelion Fireworks!  too.  You can keep adjusting the color by spraying some water on the ribbon, wrapping it in a paper towel and drying it with the heat gun.  Just crumple it up while you do that if you want it to look aged.

I decided to use a large tattered lacy flower and give it the same treatment with a touch of IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment ink in the Aloe Vera green to mimic a leaf and the Angel Pink Fireworks! spray for the pink petals.

I attached the flower and ribbon with a strong adhesive and a light green brad in the center of the flower.  Now I just add Marie to the mix.

I trimmed out the image and adhered it to the back of the marker.  You could also cover the entire back with plain paper at this point in the event that you want it to look finished and also have an area to write book notes on.  I made several of these book markers since they are easy and pretty.  Every one has a different stamp design, is a different color and has a different image of Marie-Antoinette attached to the top.




IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment Ink in Pink Petunia

IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment Ink in Mango Madness and Imagine Crafts Fireworks! Craft Spray in Angel Pink edged with IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko Memento Dye Ink in Peanut Brittle color

IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment Ink in Spring Pansy and IMAGINE Crafts Fireworks! Craft Spray in Lulu Lavender edged with IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko StazOn Solvent Ink in Royal Purple color

IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment Ink in Mango Madness and IMAGINE Crafts Fireworks! Craft Spray in Bahama Blue edged with IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko StazOn Solvent Ink in Azure and Teal Blue colors

These are great gifts to give with a summer read.  I personally use a Kindle when I read at night but for some reason on a plane or a beach I prefer a real book so a book marker is always a handy way to mark the pages.  Imagine one of these with a Romance novel......hmmmm, love that idea.

Here's a list of all the products and tools that I used on this project.

Products

Strips of 140# Strathmore Water color paper
Miscellanious flowers, ribbons and trims
IMAGINE Crafts Embossing Powder
IMAGINE Crafts Fireworks! Craft Spray Inks in Dandelion, Angel Pink, Lulu Lavender, Summer Sky and Bahama Blue colors
IMAGINE Crafts InkBlushers
IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko Memento Dye Ink in Peanut Brittle and Espresso Truffle Colors
IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko StazOn Solvent Inks in Royal Purple, Teal Blue and Azure
IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment Ink in Dewdrop size pads:  Pink Petunia, Spring Pansy, Mango Madness
IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko Memento Luxe Mixed Media Pigment Ink in Wedding Dress White
adhesive
self adhesive rhinestone
Digital clip art from Alpha Stamps
baby wipes


Tools

Heat Gun
Paper trimmer
Water spray bottle
scissors
Stamps

Thanks for taking the time to stop by for a visit today, I really appreciate it.  I also appreciate any comments that you might have the time to leave.  Have a great day, I will talk to you soon!



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