Craft Stamper Challenge::Favorite Technique Half-Way Point!

This is a reminder post that it is the half way point of the Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge.  The challenge is to make something using your favorite technique shown in the CS magazine over the course of this year.  Personally, I still love the embossing powder resist technique shown by Anna-Karin Evaldsson shown in the August 2014 issue of Craft Stamper.  I used it here with a Balzer Designs stencil called Mini Chunky Chevron.  I've included a tutorial to show how I made this 6" by 6" canvas.

I began by placing my stencil over a piece of 6" by 6" watercolor paper.  I used the direct to paper method of applying my VersaMark embossing ink.  After gently lifting the stencil straight up I applied clear embossing powder and melted the powder with my heat gun.  Then I applied Tsukineko Radiant Neon Electric inks in Pink, Purple and Blue.  I applied the inks direct to paper and then wiped them off with a baby wipe to expose the embossed chevron design.

It almost has the coloring of an opal!  I just kept applying and wiping it off until I liked the color.  I set that aside and stamped the Dyan Reavely image called Dependable Dotty on a separate sheet of paper.  I colored her in with Memento Markers and Copic pens, cut off her wings and cut her legs off since she was too tall to fit on the canvas.  I stamped and cut out one of Dyan's phrases and set that aside.

I glued all of my elements to the water color panel and distressed the edges with Jet Black StazOn ink to frame it.  I highlighted certain parts like the phrase, her hat, shoes, tie, etc. with GooseBumps and a paint brush.  When this is dry it leaves a high gloss finish behind and adds more texture to the piece.

I let the panel sit until it was completely dry and then glued it on to a 6" by 6" plain white canvas that I bought on sale at my local craft store.

Just put this little canvas in your office cubicle or your work area at home and that is the end of the discussion, right?

  If you can I would encourage you to visit the Take It Make It challenge and share your submission of your favorite technique shown in the magazine over the past eight months.  There are a lot of inspirational projects made by the design team in the event that you can't choose just one technique.  There are some great prizes to be won, as usual.  Thanks for stopping by today, I appreciate your visits.  I hope you're having a great summer!  Hugs ~ Renee xxx

Artistcellar Stencil Postcard

Today I'll be using one of the stencils out of the new Quasicrystals Series stencil collection from Artistcellar to create a postcard or an all occasion card, whichever you choose.  This is what the finished card looks like and if you want to see how it is created just keep reading the mini tutorial.

To make this type of card I start first with a piece of watercolor paper that measures 6" by 4" and coat it with a thin layer of gesso, then let it dry.  I began with a stencil called Bodacious Pods made by Artistcellar.  I placed the stencil over my watercolor paper and applied Tsukineko's Radiant Neon Pigment Inks in Electric Pink and Electric Orange using a stencil brush.

After I had enough ink on the background I dried it with a heat gun.  Then I stamped my image, phase and some random background stamps with StazOn permanent ink in the new Spiced Chai color.  The image is Lonely Girl by Dina Wakley and the phrase is from Dyan Reaveley.  I applied clear embossing powder to this and melted it with my heat gun.

The top coat of aqua was done with acrylic paint using the Fibo stencil and a small sponge.

After I applied the paint and let it dry I matted the postcard on aqua paper, black paper and then glued the panel to a blank card.  It doesn't take long to make these postcards and you could do several at one time decorating them all differently.

I hope you'll give the new Quasicrystals series stencils a try, they are so versatile.   I use all of my stencils with ink, paint and chalk.  They work well layered on top of each other, too.

Thanks for stopping by, please leave a comment if you have time.  I always enjoy hearing your thoughts on my projects.  Take care, talk to you soon ~ Renee

Snowed in! But that's okay......

Yes, we're snowed in but that's okay.  Yesterday I received a care package in the mail from my BFF John Petersen at IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko and boy did I need it!  John sent me the latest releases from IC/T namely the newest colored GooseBumps called "irRESISTibles" and the amazing Radiant NEON Pigment Inks in the following colors:   Electric Blue, Electric Green, Electric Pink, Electric Purple, E. Yellow, E. Coral and E.Orange.  All "Electric" colors in these new ink pads and that is not an exaggeration.  Just the thing for a day that looks like this from my window.

It started snowing around 8am and here it is almost 4pm with no signs of stopping any time soon.  But as I said that's okay since I have Electric Colors in my studio.  I thought I'd make a Master Board using the new NEON inks and the new colored GooseBumps called "irRESISTibles", and they are in a word that, irresistible.  I started with a large sheet of watercolor paper.  I stamped with an old favorite "Carte Postal" large stamp from Stampers Anonymous putting several colors on the stamp at one time and then spraying a light mist on the stamp.  The inks get activated this way and start blending like watercolors.  I stamped multiple times all over the paper, dried it completely, then put a TCW stencil on top.  I used the Julie Balzer stencil with a profile face covered in script.  I used several colors of irRESISTibles then lifted the stencil and allowed it to dry before cutting it up.
For the image on the post cards I used Dina Wakley's grunge girl stamps, my fave.  The heads are from Coffee Break Design, Inc and are pre-cut, which is fabulous.  Here's what I came up with:

Next time your day needs a little brightening try the NEON inks, they're really fun!  Take care, stay warm and as always, thanks for stopping by.  I always appreciate the visit, leave me a comment if you have time.  See you soon ~ Renee