Neon Lights Technique

They say necessity is the mother of invention.

Last week, Jac, Lori and I were in Novi, MI, for the Great Lakes Mega Meet. We had a booth and I taught two classes each day. The booth was stocked with past monthly and special edition kits, as well as our Neon Ink Dabbers, Neon Inkpads, and Neon Doodles unmounted stamps. Jac enthusiastically demonstrated the "Neon" line for passers-by, until doing the same thing over and over got kind of dull. It was time to get creative.

Having the freedom to "play" can lead to discoveries, and that's what happened on Saturday. Jac's "play" time with the Big Deal stencil (from one of my classes) and neon inks led to a fun new technique I couldn't wait to share with you!

Neon Lights Technique
Supplies:
Neon Inkpad(s)
Ink Applicator(s)
White Gel Pen (Graffiti CS Gel Pen or Graffiti Lite 3-D Souffle Pen*)
Black or dark-colored cardstock
CS Stencil (we used Big Deal)

Trace stencil images onto black cardstock with white pen. 

Add scribbles/doodles inside traced area until desired look is achieved.

Re-align stencil; use applicator tool and Neon Ink to color artwork.

Artwork "lights up" with color from the Neon Inks.

Add sentiment stamped with white pigment ink; add matte to create card.

Here are more of Jac's demo samples to inspire you:

Same technique as above on Big Deal Gray Plain.

Try on other colors, too: Big Deal Yellow Plain.

White Plain (from HPOP stash).

Add hand-written greeting to create a quick card.

3D Neon Lights Technique

For a fun twist, add a three dimensional element to your stenciled artwork.

Color stencil with neon inks onto Big Deal Tan Plain. Shift stencil slightly, then trace image with white gel pen.
Resulting "offset image" creates a 3D effect, making the image pop off the page.

I hope you'll try this fun technique with your favorite Club Scrap stencils. We'd love to see what you create!

*The Graffiti Lite 3-D Souffle pen works very well with this technique; however, this ink formula goes on nearly clear and must be allowed to dry completely to a bright white before adding Neon inks.

Creatively yours,

Karen

Graffiti's Club Stamp 12-pack Colorbomb

Hi, Stamping Friends!

With the 4-up text weight prints and two additional 8.5x11 prints in the Club Stamp Graffiti paper collection, I had all sorts of colorful card making options this month. And between our polar vortex and the Alberta clipper, I'm so glad we had something cheerful to help us survive the month of January!

Here are your cutting instructions to make a total of fifteen standard-sized (A2) cards:

1. Trim both 8.5x11 White Text Prints vertically at 4.5 and 4". Cut each 4x11 horizontally at 5.75 and 5.25".

2. Score each of the seven papers listed in the diagram below vertically at 4.25". Cut horizontally at 5.5" and fold in half to make fourteen card bases.

3. Trim the 8.5x11 Black Smooth Plain horizontally at 10.5, 8.25 and 5.5". Trim the 2.75x8.5 horizontally at 8 and 4". Cut the 2.25x8.5 and .5x8.5 horizontally at 4.25". Score and fold the 5.5x8.5 horizontally at 4.25".

4. Trim the 8.5x11 White Smooth Plain horizontally at 9.25, 6.75 and 4". Cut the 4x8.5 horizontally at 6.75, 4.75 and 2.75". Trim the 2.75x8.5 and 2.5x8.5 horizontally at 7.5 and 3.75". Cut the 1.75x8.5 horizontally at 6.5 and 3.25".

5. Trim the 8.5x11 Black Smooth Plain vertically at 8 and 4". Cut each 4x11 horizontally at 10.5 and 5.25". Trim the .5x11 horizontally at 5.5".

I incorporated all sorts of techniques into the cards. I'll try to touch on just a few . . .

The rainbow on the left card panel was made with swipes of ink directly from the Neon Ink Pads. The panel on the right was done with the Neon Dabbers. Two great looks!

One 8.5x11 Black Smooth was trimmed into four 4x5.25" panels (see photo below). I brushed a coat of white acrylic paint onto each of them and used it as a stamping surface. The teens in my life are going to be so jazzed when they receive these lively cards.

Such a quick set of cards . . . I used the 8.5x11 White Smooth Print as the card base and layered strips of washi tape behind the panels on the two cards on the left.

The White Smooth panels are trimmed to fit quotes from the unmounted stamps in the collection. Each panel was edged with a Neon Dabber. Neon inks were used to alter the black/white panel in the card at right.

The quad printed panels make it so easy!

Check out the addition of the printed sequins included in the set!

I hope you enjoy making your version of the cards. Have an artful day!
Tricia

Graffiti Gallery

The new Graffiti Kit shipped yesterday, so many of you will have it in your hands soon! Today I'd like to show a few things Tricia and I created with this collection.

Graffiti White 12x12 Print

The first thing I wanted to do when getting my hands on this collection was to color the background of this layout. The coloring can be done with any art medium. I chose Faber-Castell's Big Brush Pens. Color as much or as little as you'd like!

Layout on 12x12 Graffiti White Print

Before and after of this fun 12x12 Graffiti Print

Tricia used the 12x12 White Smooth "Style" Print for her Green Bay Half Marathon Layout. The photo mattes really make the pictures pop.

12x12 Graffiti Color Print

Along with the colorful photo mattes and journaling cutapart, this layout features the Mini Chalkboard Goodie. Tricia pulled off the clip on the back so the chalkboard would lay flat on her page, then used the White Galaxy Marker Goodie for adding the page title. The marker is included right in your kit.

Don't forget the great cards this collection can make! Here, Tricia has whipped up some colorful greetings with the UM Art Nouveau sheet.

1. Use Neon Pink, Orange and Yellow Ink Dabbers to color a 4x5.25 White card panel.

2. Stamp wth the Art Nouveau noise image and India Black ink.
3. Attach ribbon and a 1.25x5.25" Black border strip.
4. Stamp "Love" from the Club Scrap Collection UM onto a White panel and fill letters with Neon Pink ink and the fill stencil.
5. Cut out letters and attach to the card front with mini foam squares.
6. Mount onto a 5.5x4.25" card base.

Tricia used the same Art Nouveau noise stamp for the background of this card, but got such different looking results, how fun!!

1. Stamp a 4x5.25 White panel with the noise image and Neon inks.
2. Stamp star image with India Black ink and attach to a 4.25x5.5 card base.
3. Stamp "ART" from the Collection UM onto a White panel with India Black ink. Color the image with the fill stencil and Neon Dabbers.
4. Cut out and attach to the card front with mini foam squares.
5. Stamp "is magic" from Collection UM onto the panel and layer the panel onto a 4.25x5.5 card base.
6. Embellish further with mini rhinestones.

Thanks for stopping by, and I'll see you soon with more Graffiti projects!
Kay at Club Scrap

It can't be winter yet...can it?

Well it sure felt like it last week on Cape Cod. We had a day filled with the big fluffy white stuff. I just don't know if I am ready for it yet. Ready or not it arrived, and I couldn't resist taking pictures. The snow looked so pretty covering all the brightly colored fall foliage still clinging to our trees. Dusty, our cat, wasn't too sure about it. She loves going out side with my hubby, but it was a bit too chilly on this day.

November 2013 Scrapbook PJ Party Sketch

iClassygirl aka Tiare, hosts a fun Scrapbooking PJ party once a month and features the current Club Scrap monthly kit.  This month's sketch featured a double page spread. My wintery photos were the perfect fit for the sketch.

Here are some of the ways I chose to make the sketch my own.

Tear the edges of the Pattern Basics Pastel dots paper. Add chipboard snowflakes painted with Creative Concoctions Gesso and clear glitter glue. A silver sequin and gemstone add interest to the centers. Use strips of rhinestones from the Spring Chorus kit for further embellishment.

Ink the outside edges of your layouts with WOW Red and Blue Neon Inks.  Mat your photos using HPOPS. Fossils orange and Avant Garde green were used on the double page spread. Choose quote and sentiment stamps for a title and added interest on the spread. 

Thanks again to Tiare for hosting this fun online get-together. It is always nice to share crafting time with folks, even if they are spread out all across the country.

Hope you will check out the video of her event and give this double page layout sketch a go!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.

Julie











Other products used in the layouts.

Club Scrap Fire & Ice Navy and Red cardstock - background papers
Club Scrap Fire & Ice UM Collection stamp sheet - "Enjoy change." quote
Club Scrap Holiday 2010 UM stamp sheet - Let it Snow sentiment

Stationer's Box Workshop

I had a blast teaching the two-part Stationer's Box Workshop. The idea was to spend the first portion experimenting with our new line of Neon Dabbers and Neon Ink Pads with the ultimate goal of making card panels for the nifty handmade gift box we'd make in round two.

How rare it is to have time to simply experiment and play! And play, we did. 

Results of just some of my play time . . . 

Then, making the gift box provided a practical way to showcase our creativity. I love how the materials for this project come from sheets of paper measuring 12" or smaller, making it very duplicatable with items from your stash. Even though the window in the box was a bit of a project, it gives it such a nice finishing touch.

Jac really "heard me" when I explained what I was looking for on the sheet of unmounted stamps we designed for this workshop. The images and colors complemented so well. We call it "Neon Doodles." The solid circles all fit into the open design circles perfectly. Love them!

Workshop videos for the Retreat-in-a-box folks air after the chat tonight. Can't wait to have you join us!

Do some doodling today!

Tricia