Wednesday, July 30, 2014

A little late on birthday greetings?  Why not use the Alice's Rabbit from Stampotique? 
This belated birthday card also uses splatter circle and 2 nuages.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Modern Woman; Clean and simple


After the mess I made last week I have something clean and simple.  As much as I love getting funky and messy, I am a huge fan of negative white space in a composition . 

For todays clean and simple card I use portions of two Stampotioque stamps;

modern woman - Janet Klein
splattered mug - France Papillon

I used post-it notes to mask off half of the modern woman image and stamped with black dye ink.  I used Bic markers to color the image.  A piece of scrap paper matched the colors chosen for an offset stamping of "splattered mug" with coffee Archival Ink.   I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in brushed corduroy around the edges of the paper scrap.

I was pleased that gluing the cellophane wrapper (from flowers) with a UHU stick did the trick!  For balance, I added a harmonious piece of scrap to anchor the composition.  If you don't have and printed cellophane masking the area and stamping with a text block would do the trick. Stampotique has so many nice text stamps that would do the trick!

The woman in the stamp is Leah Klein.  I told her story in an earlier post using another stamp created in her image.  Find the story here.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Collage Box



 Last week I had crazy fun with one of my little art students.  I gave her a choice of things to do and she chose to learn the Gelli Plate.  We made so many papers and they are so fun to look at.  I made some more when she left and found myself with yet another pile of fun papers.
 
If you are like me you have boxes of your collage and printed papers that are put away.  You really need to see what you have, right?  When I used to teach elementary art I created collage boxes for the kids.  They were wildly painted and Mod Podged with scraps.  Real random, real fun. So I decided I needed to make one for myself. Then I thought, what a great gift idea for an arty friend!  I immediately knew to grab my Collage Definition and made the hang tag.  I brushed the edges of the tag with a damp brush and Inktense color blocks.  Then I added some tiny scraps, doodled some and added a ribbon.
 
The box was covered quickly with random layers.  I even enhanced some papers with my Random Acts Alphabet.  I stamped individual letters on the printed papers and cut some out for future projects.  I'll know where to look for them in my funky collage box.
 
After my box was dry, I added a decorative draw pull to the front of the box.  What a fun gift!  I'm so glad I made it.  I'm gonna make more.  And I think the little hang tag just tops it!





 

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

SDC 155 magazines and newspaper


 Happy Thursday.

I have a fun project for you NEXT WEEK.  Why NEXT WEEK?  Because I had to jump in on the (Stampotique) SDC 155 challenge that began yesterday. 
Magda is our hostess this week and I could not resist her challenge to use newspaper or magazine.  Since I have a little obsession with type I thought I'd share one of my very favorite techniques!

Daniel Torrente's Hunk is here to help, along with Amy Wellenstein's love and be loved quote.  My background shows a hint of text for added interest and texture.  Here is how I did it.

Materials:

Cardstock
Gesso
Used gift/ credit card
acrylic paint
work surface
newspaper
flat paint brush (or fingertip will do)
Modge Podge
baby wipes


1. You can begin with a sturdy sheet of cardstock, watercolor paper, or even scrapbook paper with a pattern. 
Add a few drops of acrylic paint to your gesso and scrape across your paper surface as desired.  Sometimes I like to leave ridges (right) from the credit card and not smooth out. Let dry and add another color layer if desired.

2. When prepared surface is dry, apply Modge Podge generously with flat brush or finger.  Immediately place and gently press newsprint face down on Modge Podge. Use the brush to gently burnish the image without moving it.

3. By the time you are done washing out your brush you are ready to remove the newspaper with the credit card. The backwards type is left behind.

4.  If you want to remove some areas to create a more distressed look, wrap a baby wipe around your finger and work away the area you wish to remove.

I even added a little type in Hunk's head. 

I colored Hunk with Peerless watercolors and a waterbrush.  He's raised on the surface with a little silicone glue and there is a bit of washi tape just to keep him grounded.

The randomness of the text is really fun.  I hope you try it!

Come back next week because I have a fun project that you will want to make!

Janet




Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Bike ride for the birds

A simple little ATC for you today. 

I was the lucky recipient of a bee sting and my eyes have an uncanny resemblance to Mr. Magoo.   Since my designing eyes are challenged I had to resort to a little ATC I had previously made and tucked away.

The background is Dylusions spray with a tad of old book page.  I thought this little illustrated bird needed to be perched on top on the bike seat of Stampotique's bicycle. "Bike ride" is an excerpt from bike ride text

Hope to be back on track next week! 

For all of those in the USA, have a happy fourth of July!

Janet