Make a practical little gift box

 Well, my 2015 term as a DT member with IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko is nearing its end.  It has been a fun year creating projects for them 3 times a month but there's a new team in place for 2016 and it's time for me to move on.  I will always love their products, I do believe they are exceptional and I will continue to use them.  This project is a gift box and is great for holding completed Zentangle tiles or even coasters.  Here is how I made it.

Supply list

IC/T supplies

Delicata 4 ink pad

irRESISTible Pico Embellishers:  Bronze, Copper

Memento Markers:  Pistachio, Pear Tart, Bamboo Leaves, Love Letter

StazOn:  Jet Black ink pad

Miscellaneous supplies

Old book paper, Stabilo All pencil, Golden Self Leveling Gel Medium, watercolor paper, Idea-o-logy metal feet and pull knob, card board cardstock, Chalkboard Paint, The Groove Tool with sandpaper tip, adhesive

DIRECTIONS:

1.       Choose a card board box, new or recycled and paint it inside and out with black Chalkboard paint.  Use the Groove Tool with the sandpaper tip to rough up the edges and apply a small amount of red marker to distressed edges.  When dry attach metal feet to the bottom of box with a strong adhesive and begin working on the lid.

2.        Cut a piece of background paper, this one is from a previous master board.  Cut a flower basket out of old book paper and adhere it to the background panel.

3.        Stamp flowers and cut them out using old book paper.  Glue the flowers to the panel, color in the flowers and leaves with Memento Markers.  Use a stencil and some gesso to make a tablecloth at the bottom of the basket.  Allow to dry.

4.        Use the irRESISTible Pico Embellishers to outline the flowers.  Screw the handle onto the middle of the arrangement.  Add metallic colors from the Delicata 4 ink pad.

5.        Adhere panel to a piece of card board cardstock, glue with a strong adhesive to the box.

6.        Apply dots with Copper irRESISTible Pico Embellisher; when dry apply a coat of Golden Self Leveling Gel to seal.  This can be filled with coasters, photos, candy, etc.  Whatever fits.

Thanks for stopping by!  Leave a comment if you have a moment, I love reading what you think.  Take care, hugs ~ Renee

Got your coloring book? Now what......

Once you purchase a coloring book you may wonder....now what do I do with it?  Why, color in the pages, of course!  What can you color it with?  Anything you've got on hand.  I started coloring in some of the pages in my copy of The Coloring Studio, it took longer than I expected.  Each page is unique in its representation of the artist who created it.  It is more like a workbook to me since there are so many instructions and hints throughout the entire book.  I started with one of my favorites, Mou Saha, on page 100.  I used Pan Pastels, Memento Markers, gesso, stencils, Micron pens and an irRESISTible Pico Embellisher.  It was a meditative, fun, relaxing experience.  You are not facing a blank page and have the liberty to do whatever floats your boat.  This is what my first page looks like now.

Next I thought it only fair that I color my own design on page 60.  The beauty of the book is that you can add even more doodling to the pages or add stamps, etc. to the pages.  Remember the quote that says "art is never finished, just abandoned".  Play with the pages until you feel like abandoning them.  Here's my page.

I couldn't seem to stop adding tangles, color, stamps, etc. to the page.  Finally abandoned.

Whatever coloring book you choose I hope you're having some relaxing moments with it!  Later down the road I'm sure I'll be tearing out pages and doing other projects with them but for now I'll leave them in the book.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you're having a good one.  Hugs ~ Renee

Stampotique Challenge ~ SDC # 198

There is a challenge going on this week over at Stampotique.  If you want to enter it is simple:  go to their site, read the rules/follow them, show your image off.  The Challenge is from Gez Butterworth and it is a simple one, use your favorite stamp.  My favorite stamp is usually my newest stamp.  This one is by Kate Crane called Angel Squared.

To make this I started with a postcard piece of watercolor paper, 6" by 4", that had a layer of gesso on it.  I do sheets of watercolor paper with an application of gesso on them, let them dry and then set them aside for future creations.  I applied StazOn Studio glaze on the paper with a baby wipe for the background, using Orange Zest and Spiced Chai to tone it down.  When this was dry I stamped off some other stamps randomly and then stamped my angel image with StazOn Jet Black ink and Kate's stamp.  I heat set this with my heat gun and then started coloring in areas with a Memento marker called Angel Pink.

The wings, shoelaces, band on the robe & the heart are edged with Bronze irRESISTible Pico Embellisher and allowed to dry.  For the gold dots, heart and shoes I used Gold StazOn Studio Glaze directly to the image and allowed it to dry.  I love the way the Studio Glaze can be watered down or used for a 3D effect.

When everything had dried completely I used a couple of Artistcellar stencils and some gesso to add more texture on top of everything.  Finally I edged the card with  Jet Black StazOn ink.

This could be used as a postcard or matted on some black cardstock and used for whatever.

Thanks for stopping by today, I really appreciate your visits and comments during this difficult transition period for me.  It looks like it will still be a couple of months before we're actually moved in and settled in our new location.  But it's okay, I travel with all sorts of art supplies!  Take care ~ hugs to you all~ 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