Neutral Shadows ATC Updated

After trying different "N" techniques, I decided I wanted to use the Neutral Shadows one for the swap on ArtVentures group. Of course, once I had the backgrounds done, I realized I didn't have enough of the silver heart brads or the boxy heart charm. Oh, well, I was sure I'd find something just as good.
I used jewelry bits for the body over a Prima butterfly (I love the script and color of this butterfly) and used a heart shaped charm in the girl's hand. Another change was to stamp the saying both on the ATC background and on a piece of bamboo colored paper, then cut out the WISH & HEART bits and adhere them in the appropriate place. I also colored the edges of the background with a bamboo colored marker (Same ink as used to create the background) and mounted the ATCs on black card stock. I like this better than the original one I did. Hope the swap participants like it as well!

Doodled "D" ATC

Wanted to do something different for my Doodled "D" ATC for the swap on ArtVentures group. Thinking something "harder" (not meaning more difficult lol, but not as soft and flowing as the ones I've done so far). Started with a picture I took of some steel doors and printed on matte paper. Drew a thick D with a red dye ink marker. Outlined the D and wrote words with a silver metallic Sharpie marker.

 Added another outline of the D and outlined the words with a black glaze Sakura pen.

 Created a border with the pens/markers I've already used on this ATC. Mounted on black card stock.

I'm ready to send these off to the swap participants, excited to see what "A-B-C-D" ATCs they have created!

Dion Dior's Silk Acrylic Glaze Giveaway

Quick, go to Dion Dior's blog for a chance to win her new online class with these amazing shimmering acrylics and a $40 gift certificate to buy them!!!! These is a peek of what you'll see on Dion's blog, isn't it fabulous!!!!! And the art you'll see on her video is amazing. Hope I win as I'm currently enjoying her Mastering Twinks class. Dion is a wonderful teacher.

Compendium of Curiosities 2 - Challenge 3 - Marbled Stains

Today, Linda posted the 3rd challenge from Tim Holtz's book "Compendium of Curiosities 2", the Marbled Stains technique on p.46. For participants in the challenge, there is a drawing for a $25 gift certificate from eclectic Paperie. Fun!!!

I used picket fence, broken china and aged mahogany Distress Stains for my colors on Manila card stock, following the instructions in the book. I'm not sure what I'm not doing, as my background doesn't look marbled, but I like it.

 The one on the left, is the above sample with a second layer of Marbled Stains technique. The two one the right are the same technique with a third color of stain added: chipped sapphire.

 I made an ATC with the marbled stain background on the far right above. Stamped on some TH stamps. Flourishes in faded denim Distress Ink, the numbers in aged mahogany Distress Ink, the hand and diamonds with black India Ink. Colored the edges with chipped sapphire Distress Ink.

 Lightened the hand by coloring it with a picket fence Distress Marker, when dry, used permanent black fine tip marker to outline the hand. Stamped a TH saying with black India Ink. Painted the top of a silver metal word tag with black acrylic paint, heat set with a heat tool, then rubbed some of the paint off the edges, attached with a blue floral brad. Colored in the letters on the metal tag and two words in the saying with a blue Souffle pen. Added a clown image.

Remember to check out Linda's blog and play along!

N is for Newsprint Reveal Technique

More fun from the Technique Junkie Newsletter, for members, the deluxe version of this technique is shown on video on the website.

Using cheap white glue, glue torn newsprint over a light colored card stock. Make sure to get edges glued down. Use brayer to flatten down the newsprint. Tear or trim off the excess newsprint.

 Stamp an image on the newsprint with VersaMark or embossing ink, cover with clear embossing powder and heat set.

 Use sponge to add ink colors to the newsprint. The embossed areas will resist the ink.

 I did the same technique with a stamp that was a solid background with the letters "cut away". This made the letters inked.

 Made an ATC with the first background. Trimmed, inked the edges with the festive berries Distress Ink. Added a vintage image and some puffed word stickers.

N is for Negative - Positive Technique

Another fun technique from the technique Junkies Newsletter. If you have a subscription to this newsletter, there are fabulous step by step photos of the techniques and lots of artwork samples. 

Stamp a detailed image that covers the entire card stock with permanent ink.

 Cut card in half and color one side only. I used dye ink markers.

 Reattach two sides with tape on the back. If desired, mount on other card. I added a white "pearl" on the positive side and a red "pearl" on the negative side.

Tim Holtz themed card

For stamp club this month, we're to make a card with the theme of Tim Holtz, meaning use his products, or technique or style. I'm using several of Tim's products and am doing the Kissed Impression technique. Inked the front of one of Tim's embossing folders with tea dye Distress Ink and stamped on some flourishes on the same side with vintage photo Distress Ink, then ran it through a Cuttlebug.

 I like the vintage, shabby chic look of this:

 Stamped the word "dream" and the saying (both Tim's stamps) with walnut stain Distress Ink. Used this ink to color the edges of the front of the card and the edges of a butterfly sticker.

More "M" Technique ATCs

Turning more of the "M" background techniques I've done into ATCs to add to my ABCs of Techniques Album. Started with a marbled rainbow background, stamped on a flourish with picket fence Distress Stain, let dry, then sponged on diluted white acrylic paint over the same stamp, slightly off set and stamped on to same background, let dry.

 Inked a collage stamp with rainbow dye ink and stamped over background. Added an "artistic" postage stamp and colored the edges of the ATC with white acrylic paint.

 Used the tissue paper from creating the marbled rainbows technique. Stamped collage stamp with white acrylic paint and let dry.

 Mounted another "artistic" postage stamp on black card stock and layered on ATC, inked edges of ATC with black India Ink.

 Stamped an image with sepia Archival Ink over a Metallic Alcohol Roll background and let dry.

Outlined some areas with black permanent marker, added plastic "pebble" over compass area, and added some metal bits and black brads.

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Some "M" technique ATCs

I'm turning the various backgrounds I've been making into ATCs to add to my ABCs of Techniques Book. This one uses the Metallic Echo background.

 This one is the Misted Stencils background.

 And this one is the Madras background.

Compendium of Curiosities 2 - Challenge #2 Faux Patina

This week's challenge on Linda's blog is the Faux Patina technique from Tim Holtz's book Compendium of Curiosities 2. You can learn how to do this technique in his book on page 58. 

I used gold filigree charms for the wings in this ATC after doing the faux patina technique on them.
The background is the Lapis Lazuli background. I also added a vintage image with dimensional foam tape, metallic border stickers and the word "imagine" is a rub on.
Find out about this challenge and a chance to win a beautiful Idea-ology messenger bag, autographed by Tim, that is being donated by Angie (and more important see the fabulous art piece she created using this faux patina technique to inspire us)!!!

N is for Neutral Shadows

Another fun technique from the Technique Junkies Newsletter. 

Stamp image with embossing ink or Versamark on white card stock, cover with white embossing powder and heat set. 

 Use a stencil brush to stipple on a neutral color of ink over and around the edges of the stamped image.

 Use a paper towel or a soft cloth to wipe ink off of the embossed image. Love the look of this!

 Turned it into a sample ATC. Stamped flourishes with the same bamboo ink on the background (wiped ink off the embossed image with a paper towel). Stamped a saying and colored the edges with black Archival ink. Added a vintage image, a heart in a box charm and a heart brad over a cut flower bit to look like a butterfly.

N is for Non-Stick Color

A fun technique for the Technique Junkies Newsletter. I think it gets its name for applying the colored ink to the non-stick craft sheet. 

Press four colors of Distress Ink on a non-stick craft sheet so the four colors are touching in a 4 block square shape.

 Spritz the inks with water.

 Press stamp down into the wet Distress Inks.

 Then stamp wet inks onto card stock. Let dry (don't use a heat tool, for it well continue to spread the ink around and you'll lose the definition from the stamped image).

 Decided to use this for the "N" divider page in my ABC of Techniques ATC album. Used the wet inks on the craft sheet to add more color to the edges of my card. And placed a die cut N sticker on the sheet.

Doodled Book Covers

I needed to make another book to hold the ATCs from the 9ATC group. Great time to experiment. Started with four 12" x 12" worksheets. Sprayed coordinating colors of colors spray and let dry.

Used these papers to cover two 10" x 12" pieces of cardboard. I couldn't find my jar of Yes glue, so used something else, it left my paper loose and warped. Decided it would do for my book. As the paper wasn't larger than 12", used tissue taped to cover the top and bottom edges and to keep the edges down on the side that will be the inside covers.
Placed a large 12" x 12" paper doily over two pieces and sprayed with bronze Perfect Pearls mist, then flipped the doily over on the two other pieces and pressed down.As the paper on the covers wasn't flat, some areas didn't show off the stenciled design very well.

 Punched three holes in the side of the covers and inserted trading card plastic protective sheets. Decided to practice doodling with a variety of markers and gel pens. Front cover:

 Inside front cover:

 Inside back cover:

 For the back cover, painted the word play with white acrylic paint. Let dry then doodled on flowers with colored sharpie markers.

Now I have a bright colorful book to hold more ATCs from swaps and used up worksheets, instead of throwing them away.

Compendium of Curiosities 2 - Challenge #1 Custom Foam Stamps

Linda is hosting a challenge on the techniques from Tim Holtz's book "A Compendium of Curiosities 2". Simon Says Stamps is sponsoring this week's challenge. This week is making and using custom foam stamps. I made an ATC, the custom foam stamp was made from the row house on the edge die cut.

To make the ATC, I cut some of the paper made with the glimmering rainbows technique, a stamped a Tim Holtz ATC stamp for the background with ripe persimmon Distress Ink.

 Inked my custom foam stamp with sepia Archival ink, then stamped the numbers reflection stamp with black Archival ink on to the foam stamp,

 and stamped it all on the bottom of my ATC. The foam stamp doesn't ink the same way a rubber stamp does. The numbers aren't all clear, but I like the texture they add to the houses.

To complete the ATC, stamped a saying with black Archival Ink.  Inked the edges of the card with sepia Archival Ink. Stamped on birds in flight, coated with detail gold embossing powder and heat set. And added a gold bird charm to the top.

 This was fun, excited for the next challenge! Remember to go to Linda's blog to join in the fun!