Art Impressions Challenge-Anything Goes

This week's Art Impressions Blog challenge is  Anything Goes.

 I saw this really cool technique for a background at Roni's blog, here.   

I stared with with metallic gelatos on black cardstock. I scribbled the colors onto the arcrylic block, spritzed with water and "stamped" onto the cardstock. I moved the the block around to spread and blend the color. I had put quite a bit of blue and there were a few chunky pieces so I blended them in with my finger. 

Of course, I had to make several. :o)  I tried different combinations of colors, different brands of cardstock, and also different amounts of water. 

I also tried the 'smash, swish' technique that I learned from Dee Gruenig years ago - with inks on glossy cardstock. I scribbled the gelatos directly onto a piece of semi-glossy cardstock, spritzed with water and then smashed and swished with another piece of semi-glossy. 

 So many possibilities!

I chose the first black background to create a finished card. I turned it upside down and used the blue I blended with my finger as a mountain. I stamped Sm. Forest (Sku#E692) in white and used a watermark pen to draw a circle for a moon. I sprinkled white emboss powder over both.

I heat set and layered the scene on white base card.

Please pop over to the Art Impressions challenge for this week to see a bunch of inspirational ideas!  You can enter for a chance to win a coupon!!

Thanks for visiting!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

InLinkz.com

Rich Sprayed Background

This week I'm working on a variety of backgrounds - looking for ways to blend color and create something unique. I learned today's technique from Tim Holtz - Tim has great ideas for different ways to use ink.  I made little bottles of sparkling color in a spray form. I created several different colors by mixing re-inkers with Perfect Pearls and water.

I sprayed the background and dried it with a heat gun.

I looked for the perfect image with lots of detail and character - I found it! I stamped Covered Bridge (Sku#P1212) with a rich black ink so it would really pop.  NOTE: I used a stamp positioner to get the image in exact spot I wanted it to.  Iintroduced life into the scene by adding Flying Ducks (Sku#I3256), and trimmed the scene down to fit on a square card.

I used the extra background I had trimmed on the inside.

Thanks for visiting!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

InLinkz.com

Party Paws - Sneak Peek with Texture

My design today was inspired by two of my stampin' sisters who love coloring as much as I do. :o)  I'm featuring one of the new adorable Party Paw pandas coming out next week at Crafter's Companion.

My color selection was inspired by a card my DT Sister Khristen did. You can see her cute, cute card here.  I'm also using a coloring method inspired by a video Jennie just did - you can see that here.

I started by coloring the present.   I layered color starting with the lightest shade and ending with the darkest - just filled in color completely. Next, I tapped a very light shade CR3 randomly to move, or pull out, some of the color creating a pattern or texture on the wrapping paper. I repeated with the blender.

Next, I used the coloring method I learned from Jennie in her video.  After it dried, I laid a piece of fabric that had been sprayed with alcohol over each area of the panda where is fur was to create a furry look.

I cut him out an pop him up on a wobble so he could dance with his present.

On the inside, I used a sentiment that came with the set layered on a piece of the design paper.

Crafter's Companion has had several new beautiful images. For more ideas, be sure to pop over to the Crafter's Companion Information Blog, as well as visit the Crafter's Companion DT members. Their latest designs are showing on the side of my blog. 

Thank you for visiting!!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

InLinkz.com

Spectrum Noir Inks on Glass

I've been wanting to try this technique for a while now! You know how you get an idea and you keep thinking about it at time when you can't get into to it? ... Like when you're driving, or in the middle of the night when you're trying to go back to sleep...I suppose I could get up...mmmm...nah. :o)

I picked up this little glass vase from Hobby Lobby for only $0.77.  I cleaned it with alcohol first - inside and outside.   Next I stamped these lovely flowers from Sheena's A Little Bit Sketchy EZMount Stamp Set - Flower Power on the outside of the glass with a permanent ink. Since the stamping area was on a curved surface, I did not mount them on an acrylic block.   I found if I held one side of the image in place, I could walk my fingers around the image to make contact on the glass. For any small areas I missed, I used a fine liner pen to draw in. I also kept a paper towel and ink cleaner handy for when I needed to start over. :o) Which, I did have to a couple times. I allowed the images to dry completely.

I dropped colors onto a plastic pallet - only the colors I was working with.  I used a paint brush to practice painting with them first on glass to see which combos I liked.  I cleaned the practice area with alcohol right away.   Once I had chosen my final colors, I painted on the inside of the glass - dabbing the color in so the colors would mix and blend.  By coloring on the inside, I didn't have to worry about coloring precisely to edge - I could go slightly over. Because the line is on the outside, it's on top of the color and looks crisp. For any areas where I did go outside the outer line, I used a small amount of alcohol on a cotton tip to clean up - making sure it was not too wet.

I like the rich color of the darker inks on glass. For the pedals I used: DR3 & DR7 and CT3 & OR1.  For the center of the flowers, I used LG3 & CT3.  I highly recommend that you just play and see how the colors work together until you like what you get. That's what I did. 

I planned to fill the vase with with pebbles so I wanted to protect the coloring on the inside. After it dried I painted clear finger nail polish over all my color.  There may be some art or craft sealant that's just for this type of sealing, but I didn't have any. I always have finger nail polish :o) A small amount of color came off. I just cleaned the brush on paper in between colors and before I dipped back in.


NOTES:

• Be sure to work in a well ventilated area when working with alcohol and alcohol inks.  The smell can sometimes be strong.
• You only need a small amount of ink to color a large area. 
• Alcohol inks do dry relatively fast - so once you start you'll want to finish the area you are coloring. No running to put cloths in the dryer or washing dishes. The good news is it does not take long to create lovely, vivid glassware.

Crafter's Companion has had several new beautiful images. For more ideas, be sure to pop over to the Crafter's Companion Information Blog, as well as visit the Crafter's Companion DT members. Their latest designs are showing on the side of my blog. 

Thanks for visiting!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

InLinkz.com