Watercolor Stencil Technique

The large masking stencil included in the Club Scrap Oopsie Daisy kit can help bring out your inner artist. Just follow these simple steps to make a fun, custom paper for a layout or card . . .

1. Place the masking stencil onto a protected work surface and mist with water. (Make sure etched label side is facing down.)

2. Color the moist surface of the stencil with Faber-Castell Gelatos.

3. Press a plain sheet of paper onto the colored stencil. Re-mist and color the stencil as needed and repeat. Heat set the layout or allow the paper to dry completely before going to the next step. (If you're saying to yourself, "That's horrid," please withhold your final judgement until completing the project!)

4. Cover the watercolored area with the stencil and sponge Earth ink around the edges with an ink applicator.

5. Repeat for each daisy. This step defines the edges and adds a drop shadow.

6. Use a fine tip black pen to outline each daisy leaf with a double line. For best results, work quickly and casually with long pen strokes.

7. Add small circles to fill in the center of each flower.

8. Stamp the splatter image from the Borders & Backgrounds UM sheet onto the paper with Earth and Topaz inks. The image is a new favorite because it creates an authentically random look without the mess.

9. Trim the artwork to 11x11". Scoot the paper past the edge of your work surface and rub Earth ink around the perimeter to frame the piece.

10. Select papers to matte the art panel. I went a little nutty here with three mattes, but I couldn't resist.

11. Stamp the "daisy" definition from the Collection UM with Earth ink.

12. Finish the layout with a matted photo and embellishments from the collection.

Give it a try. It will be fun!

Tricia

Father's Day Gift Ideas

With Father's Day approaching quickly, it was time to put my thinking cap on! I scoured Pinterest and found a candy-filled mason jar. Since my hubby loves M&M's, I decided to load up a jar for him and make a custom neck tie with my new Picnic kit.

Here is how it all came together.

For the Tie:

1. Follow the step-by-step tutorial here to create a wax paper resist with the embossing folder included in your kit. (Run the wax paper through the machine twice, rotating the paper to create a cross hatch effect.)

2. Rub ink directly onto to the glossy papers to reveal the resist. This is my favorite part . . . MAGIC!

Apply Fuschia hybrid ink with a sponge applicator.

Wipe off ink with dry cloth to reveal wax resist.

Apply ink directly from the Lagoon hybrid ink pad.

Wipe away ink with dry cloth to reveal wax resist.

For the Mason Jar Assembly:

1. Download Christy's template for the collar and tie. Trace the collar template onto the back of the dark green Picnic paper and the tie shape onto the back of the blue wax paper resist paper. Cut out the shapes. * Note: Small mason jars work best for this project. I used a larger size jar and needed to add a bit of paper to the collar piece as it wouldn't fit around the circumference of the jar.

2. Attach the tie to the Dark Green shirt collar and wrap around the jar; secure with your favorite adhesive.

Ink the edges of the collar and tie for added dimension.

3. Use the Picnic Digital Kit with your photo editing software program of choice to create a lid topper.

4. Print the image on matte photo paper and cut a circled sized to fit the lid of the mason jar.

I just love the Picnic digital font! 

Additional card idea:

I was inspired by this fun card from the Splitcoast Stampers gallery. 

Follow these steps to create the card:

1. Use a 1.25x6” piece of from the wax resist technique to create a bow with an Envelope Punch Board and the steps found HERE.

The center of the bow tie measured .25x1" and I inked the edges of both the center and the bow tie. 

2. Layer the dark pink and dark blue papers onto a white card base. To create the collars, mark the center of each piece of paper and then cut a slit. The slit in the blue shirt is slightly shorter than the slit in the pink sweater. Fold the collars over at similar angles.

I just love the texture of the dark pink paper. 

3. Adhere two buttons from your stash to the pink sweater. Tip: Create faux thread by cutting a very thin strip of white paper and thread it through the buttons.

What are your Father's Day gifting ideas?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Julie

Branching Out with Trees

I thought I'd experiment with some techniques to create backgrounds for the beautiful stamp images this month. It's my way of "branching out" and trying something different! So I gathered a few supplies and got started.

Gelatos create a great watercolor effect. Choose three coordinating colors and blend with a waterbrush.

I learned this next technique a number of years ago: Use an ink applicator tool to apply three shades of Distress Ink to a plain white panel. Sprinkle droplets of water onto the ink. It will act as a resist and leave a cool pattern behind.

Next, grab a spare panel of smooth-finish white paper and apply four colors of CS Hybrid Inks direct-to-paper. Blend with a paper towel.

I finally booked some play time with my new Gelli Arts Printing Plate! To mimic my examples, apply three Adirondack Metallic Acrylic paints, blend onto the gel plate with a brayer. Press plain white panels onto the plate to get several "generations" of imprints. I also tried stamping the dotty texture stamp into the paint, and stamped off the excess onto yet another panel. I have a lot to learn, but I was pretty happy with my first try!

After play time is done, select some favorites to turn into completed cards. 

Collection UM stamp on Hybrid ink panel.

Left card is Gelli Plate with B&B stamps. Right card is Gelatos with Art Nouveau UM.

Two different "generations" from the Gelli Plate with Greeting UM sentiment.

The Distress ink "droplet" panel made a cute gift tag!

I hope you'll branch out and try a few different techniques with this versatile collection!

Creatively yours,

Karen