S is for Sgraffito and Oil Pastels

While looking at different web sites on oil pastels, I found one (here) that discussed this technique, using water based oil pastels, called Sgraffito, which is Italian for scratch away. Sgraffito can also be used with paints and pottery.

Color blocks of color (in any shape) with "light" colors of water based oil pastels on watercolor paper. I dipped the pastels in water, which intensifies the colors. 

 Completely cover the surface with black water based oil pastel.

 Use tools of various width to scratch a design through the black layer.

 Here is my doodles sgraffito sample. I added a rhinestone to the center of the larger flower.

"O" Technique ATC

I used the Oil Pastels & Oil background I made earlier for my "O" technique ATC for the ArtVentures group. Stamped a woman's image, "omitting" the lower half of the image, and "ooh!" with midnight blue StazOn ink. Stamped a large "O" with gold Lumiere paint (wash acrylic paints off your stamps right away), to create a frame. 

 Decided to also stamp the words "one and only". Added a small gold brad to the hat of the image. Trimmed the background, outlined edges with gold metal leaf pen, and layered on black card stock.

O is for Oil Pastels and Oil Background

There is a good video on this technique at Verses Rubber Stamps.

I used water based oil pastels on watercolor paper. It's important to use similar colors so the background doesn't become muddy.

 The instructions say to use baby oil on a cotton ball or piece of gauze to blend the colors. I didn't have any baby oil, so I used vegetable oil and it worked fine. Use heat tool to set colors.

 I love the vibrancy of these colors:

O is for Oil Pastels and Gesso Cuttlebug Backgrounds

 I found this technique on Melstampz.blogspot.


Emboss watercolor or other non coated paper in an embossing folder and run through a Cuttlebug or other similar machine. I like this new folder I got from Sizzix.

Color the raised areas with oil pastels.

 Paint over the entire surface with gesso and let dry. I'm not sure if it's the brand of oil pastels I used, or that I used a thick application of the oil pastels, but the gesso turned light green when I painted over the pastels.

 Sand the raised areas as much or as little as you desire to reveal the oil pastels colors underneath.

 A fun shabby chic look.

Faux Porcelain Flower

Since I had my Melting Pot out, and I loved the look of the faux porcelain flowers on Tim Holtz's May 2012 tag, I had to make one!!!! I found a larger paper flower in my stash, inked the edges of the white petals with shaded lilac Distress Ink and the tips of the leaves with peeled paint Distress Ink.

 Dipped the flower face down in the melted clear embossing enamel that was melted in the Melting Pot. Scroll down Tim's blog post for the step by steps on how to do this technique.

 Here is how my flower turned out. What an awesome technique!!!

ATC Inspired by Tim's May 2012 Tag

I love being inspired by Tim Holtz's techniques and products!!!! He has several fab techniques in his May 2012 tag. He used a bland area of a sewing pattern piece to stamp a small dress pattern image on it (kraft colored tissue paper would also work). I don't have sewing related stamps, but wanted to play with the idea of creative stamping with tissue paper. It finally dawned on me to stamp a technical image on dark blue tissue paper to get the look of blue print paper. I tried picket fence Distress Stain on the left for a blurred image, and snow cap acrylic paint on the right for a crisp image (always wash acrylic paint off your stamps right away). Depending on the look you're going for, they both work great.

 I choose the image stamped with acrylic paint. Lightly rubbed a glue stick over card stock and quickly placed down the tissue paper, wrinkling it a bit as I laid it down. Then trimmed of the excess tissue paper with scissors.

 Inked the edges with vintage photo Distress ink with a blending tool, then used a distressing tool to roughen up the edges.

 Stamped vintage men image with black Archival Ink and the pointing hand with sepia Archival Ink. Taped on some of the ruler ribbon.

 Tim made fabulous faux porcelain flowers on his May tag. I didn't think flowers were the thing with this atc, so I thought why not continue experimenting. I tied red ribbon into bow tie shapes and dipped them in embossing enamel melted in the Melting Pot.

 The bow ties are a bit funky, but I added them to the atc anyway. Also used red ribbon through a metal finding an attached with a dark blue staple.

I had fun today!

Compendium of Curiosities 2 Challenge - Brushless Watercolor

The 7th Challenge from Tim Holtz's book "Compendium of Curiosities 2" is up on Linda's blog. This time the technique is Brushless Watercolor on pg. 49 of the book. As an added bonus, eclectic Paperie is offering a 425 gift certificate to one lucky participant in this week's challenge.

I love this brushless watercolor technique. I used chipped sapphire Distress Stain and tilted the paper to let the color run to the left and bottom of my paper.

 To turn this into an atc, I stamped flourishes using silver Encore! Ink and used this ink to color the edges.

 Stamped a saying with black India Ink and added a ballerina image.

Thank You Tim & Mario!

I was one of the lucky winners for participating in the April 12 Tags of 2012 post on Tim Holtz's blog. It didn't matter that I made an atc instead of a tag. Mario sent me the new Spring Distress Inks. I love the colors!!!!!

Sudoku Round 2 - Step 8 on Bev's backgrounds

Today's mail also brought the final atc in this sudoku round. Bev painted the backgrounds, Margaret added the cording, Mary added the "pearls", Chrissy stamped the large flower, Jan added white puffed flowers, Maggi highlighted the stems with a gold pen and Kathy added the bird.

I stamped the word "bliss" in black India Ink and used this ink to color the edges of the ATC. On Tuesday, I will send out one of these ATCs to each participant in this swap.

Thrilled to hear, we are going to have a round 3 Sudoku ATC swap soon!!!

Sudoku 2 - Step 7 on Margaret's background

Good mail day, I received two sudoku atc swaps to play with today. Margaret made the backgrounds, Mary added the Teesha Moore stamp, Chrissy embellished the hat, Jan added the pencil legs, Maggi added the wings and Kathy stamped the checkerboard corner.

 I used a die to cut out the letter "A" from a brayered pearl background and colored the edges with a black sharpie pen. (What a difference the time of day/light makes to the colors! the photo above was taken in the early afternoon, and the one below in the early evening).

Now they will be sent to Bev to add a finishing touch.

Red & Black Quilt

A quick quilt for comfort quilts. Used cut 5" squares for the 4 patches, the sashing was cut 2-1/2' wide.

Compendium of Curiosities 2 Challenge 6 Tissue Wrap Collage

Linda posted the 6th Challenge from Tim Holtz's book "A Compendium of Curiosities 2" - Tissue Wrap Collage p. 38. This week, the sponsor is The Funkie Junkie Boutique! and they are offering a $25 gift certificate to the winner of this week's challenge.

Here is my ATC sized background using the Tissue Wrap Collage technique from Tim's book. For colors I used butterscotch Dabber and the new Spring Distress Ink colors (which I received as a prize from Tim for by April ATC).

 I sprayed some heirloom gold Perfect Pearls Mists over the background, hard to see the sparkle in this photo.

 To finish the ATC I colored the edges of the atc with eggplant dauber, also to color the pen nib and the letters in the metal word strip. Attached the metal word strip and the typeset letter with blue brads.

This is a fun technique!

Blue ATCs

The theme for the 9ATC group is "BLUE". Started by making a mottled paper background, from Julia Andrus' book "Paper Transformed". I rubbed a blue Kaleidacolor rainbow ink pad over coated paper.

 Sprayed water over the surface (not a fine mist, regular squirt bottle).

 Place paper towel down on wet surface and press down, do not rub.

 Lift off paper towel, looks great!

 Stamped image with midnight blue StazOn Ink, covered with clear embossing powder and heat set.

 Stamped numbers over background with stormy sky Distress Ink. Added a dance foot step ribbon to the bottom of the card.

 Added 3 small black rhinestones above the umbrella. Made letters D-A-N-C-E with a Dymo Label Maker and punched out with a regular hole punch. Covered letters with Glossy Accents.

Decorations

My sister asked my to make simple decorations for my nephew's rehearsal luncheon. Placed white cotton net over black tablecloths. Made a tri-fold picture holder with photos of the couple on decorative paper for each table, and made paper flowers and cut out hearts and added tea lights.

 Used the Tim Holtz mini heart die, to cut out the heats from decorative paper and either added buttons or stamped appropriate words. The larger flowers were made with Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers die and a black button.

 Smaller purple flowers were made with a Sizzix die and frosted stickler applied to the petals. White button was glued to the center.

Everyone was happy with the decorations. Whew! (Not my usual grungy style.)

On the Road

My nephew is getting married tomorrow. We spent the day in Yosemite yesterday, fabulous! This was the first time I was in a National Park with my sisters since Yellowstone in '67. We had fun!

Compendium of Curiosities 2 Challenge 5 Shattered Stains

Linda has posted the 5th Challenge from Tim Holtz's book "A Compendium of Curiosities 2" - Shattered Stains p. 48. It's a gorgeous technique!!!! There is also a prize for one of the participants: $25 gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp!

This is a flower I made using Tim's Shattered Stains technique! Love how this looks!

 Made an atc to highlight this flower. Chose a  Kissing with Depth background.

 Stamped script with aged mahogany Distress Ink, butterflies in chipped sapphire Distress Ink, and colored the edges with walnut stain Distress Ink.

 Added some glitz to the butterflies with some gel pens.

 Added the Shattered Stains flower to the atc with a large decorative brad. And added words from Tim's chitchat stickers.

Spring has finally come to my neck of the woods, it's bright & sunny and it certainly influenced my creation!