A to Z Techniques- X for X-Acto Cutwork

The latest letter for the A-Z techniques is X. I thought of doing something like an X-Ray type background, but two other people are going in that direction. I even spent  time looking at websites and books, but there are very few techniques that start with the letter X, so I wracked my brain to come up with something else.

First I stamped a stained glass stamp on white card stock cut to size. I took a sharp X-Acto knife and started cutting out areas on the stamped image, being careful that they did not join, as the piece would come apart. After I was satisfied with the "cut-work" I cut some sheets of Sookwang tape to size and attached it to the ATC base. I removed the tape cover sheet from the ATC base and very carefully attached the cut-work image to it. This was definitely the hardest part, as the tape grabs fast and I ended up having to redo a couple as I got them on the base a bit "wonky".

I then used different colours of Stampa Rosa Ultra Glitter on the pieces. I covered the centre area with the tape backing and covered the cutouts with one colour, rubbing it in, then brushed it off to remove the excess, then added the second colour. The reason I chose to use this particular glitter is because the colour palette is so vibrant.

The last addition was to stamp a tiny X and attach it in the corner.

Stains and Dry Embossed Tags

On AFTCM we are doing a swap using some type of stains and dry embossing.

For my first one I dabbed Distress Stains across the page then spritzed some water over them. It did not blend as well as I would have liked but still happy with it. I then ran it through one of the Texture Fades embossing folders (clock faces). Added some script with a Tim Holtz stamp.

 I had a little image from moonlightjourney.com sitting on my desk so I added a page pebble over it and placed on one of the embossed clocks.

I took some grunge board letters and did Tim's technique where you put the Rock Candy Crackle Distress paint on the surface and allow it to dry, then add different colours of stains. I attached them to the tag with some Glossy Accents. I had another stamped piece on my desk from a Magenta (Crafty Individuals) stamp that I liked so I added it to the bottom of the tag.

The second tag was also using Distress Stains with Tim's technique were you apply Picket Fences stain on a mat and add various colours of stains around it then drag the tag through it. For some reason this did not turn out the way it did when I took his Chemistry 101 class, so I am thinking it may be the tag I used, which did not seem to let the colours blend together. However, I am pleased with the end result as it has a bit of a shabby look to the background.

I stamped this tag with a Hero Arts stamp then lined up the matching embossing folder and put it through the embossing machine. I added more colour to some of the flowers with Distress markers, and used a glitter gel pen to colour the centres.

I stamped a Tim Holtz stamp on a piece of scrap paper coloured with the stamps and inserted inside the embossed area. To finish it I added a little butterfly die (which I received from a friend), ran it through an embossing folder and added a piece of wire to simulate the antennas. I used the same gel pen to highlight the embossing on the butterfly.

Artist Trading Cards

These two ATC's were ones I was really pleased with for the Mad Crafters Attic swaps.

The first one was the theme of triangles. I had some pieces of embossed cardstock that I had put aside from another project. I cut them into triangles and coloured them with different colours of pigment ink and embossed them with clear embossing powder and then rubbed them with dye ink pads to hit the high spots.

I attached three of them to the ATC Lumiere paint background. I stamped two words with dye inks matching the colours of the background and adhered them to the ATC.

The second one was Time Flies. I had recently bought the Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers Alarm Clock and Camera mini Dies, so this was the perfect opportunity to use the clock die.

I cut the die out of grunge board then coloured it with black acrylic and copper paints. I had some clock faces already printed and one was the perfect size to fit in the die. I cut a circle out of acetate and attached it over the clock face and laid all the pieces aside.

I had some Tim Holtz grunge board pieces in my stash and found some wings. I coloured them first with Frost White daubber paint, let it dry, then added the Pearl dauber paint over the top. I manipulated the wings so they fit nicely under the clock and attached both pieces with Glossy Accents. To finish the piece I used my labler to print Tempus Fugit, which is Time Flees in Latin or as in todays world Time Flies.

Poets ATC

On A Mad Crafters Attic we are doing an ongoing swap featuring a poet. For this month the poet is Maya Angelou and the interpretation of the theme is up to us.

The first poem that came to mind was A Caged Bird, but I think it would be a popular one so I chose "Touched by an Angel". I started with a background that I made with various colours of Lumiere paints and attached a picture of Maya Angelou. Then I stamped a coloured a little Magenta Angel and attached it to the card just barely touching the picture, then added a die cut star. To complete it I added her name and the name of the poem.

Altered Book

One of the latest swaps on AFTCM was to alter a book with drawers with the theme "Romantic Era".

I had a bunch of empty matchboxes on hand so I used them for the drawers.

The hardest part of this project was cutting and gluing the pages for the little drawers. I made four niches and used four of the little match boxes to which I attached tassels with heart shaped brads.

I also decorated a few pages at the front of the book and left some blank for the recipient to alter. I painted the whole book with black acrylic ink.

For the book cover I took a piece of 130 LB cardstock and did the stamp smoosh technique with reds, blues and pink pigment inks. I then added various colours of Opal embossing powders and then some blue iridescent pearl embossing powder, heated well and stamped over it with my favourite Hero Arts Flourish stamp.
I added a picture of a couple from Lisa Vollrath, which I printed in black and white and coloured with artist grade chalks. I covered the picture with some acetate and then added lace around the outside and some gold rose trim on the inside edge.
The little shoe is a charm that I had in my stash and coloured with permanent markers. I thought it was a perfect addition to the cover. I added it over some netting and a decorated hat pin.

To complete the book I coloured some chipboard letters and spelled out romantic on the spine.

A to Z Techniques W for Walnut Distress

For the  W I found a technique using walnut inks and decided to try it. Not sure where I found it  and not sure what is was called so I have given it my own name.

I started with watercolour paper sprayed with water and applied Tsukineko Walnut ink Spray over the surface. Then I dabbed clear embossing ink over the top and sprinkled on Distress embossing powder.

The instructions said to add Sparkle Pro Copper but I have no idea what it is so I used an artist grade copper mica powder and sprinkled it randomly over the surface and spritzed the ATC with water. I heat set it then removed some of the embossing powder to let the walnut ink show through.

I added a picture of a woman (moonlightjourney.com) on each one layered on a glittered punched circle. and then attached some words on each corner. Each one is a bit different as I am out of ink in my printer and used what I had printed previously.

A to Z techniques- V for Vellum-tous

A- to Z on Art-Ventures I used a technique that I learned from Cathie Allan a number of years ago called Vellum-tous.

The technique was originally done on a card but it worked for the ATC.
I cut a piece of White vellum a bit larger than the ATC base and stamped and embossed an open image with white pigment ink and embossing powder. I coloured the image with markers on the front of the vellum,  colouring the portions that I wished to be dominant.

I flipped the vellum over and took a  background stamp and stamped it with with a clear embossing pad and embossed with clear embossing powder. Make sure you hold the vellum up while heating, as the embossing on the other side gets hot and melts.

Using a stipple brush and dye ink colours I stippled around the stamped image on the back of the vellum. If you also want to colour the open areas of the stamp as it could change the colour tones that you used with the markers.
When satisfied with the stippling, I bent the edges over and attached the vellum  to a white ATC base with vellum tape. ( You could also use glossy accents). You can also try it with pastel coloured bases for a different effect. I stamped a V on Vellum scraps using white pigment ink and embossing powder and glued it to the ATC.

I chose different colours of Dye ink for each of the ATC's, to show the different looks. I forgot to scan the other two which were done in yellow and blue.

A to Z Techniques U for Used Postage Stamps

Continuing on with the Art-Ventures techniques for each month the next one was U. I decided to try something different other than just using UTEE. I have a bunch of used postage stamps that I saved  and decided to use them.

I glued different ones to the cardstock., then went over it with Umber coloured Twinkling H2O's. I covered the whole piece with clear embossing ink and one layer of UTEE. I then stamped into it while hot, using a background stamp. I finished it off by adding a picture of a Unicorn.

T for Tapestry-A to Z Techniques

For the T I chose to use the Tapestry Technique and discovered two different versions for it.

The first one I found on Split Coast stampers. On cream coloured cardstock I applied two different colours of Fluid Chalk inks and blended them together. You can also use distress or pigment inks and of course more than two complimentary colours.

I chose a floral stamp and stamped over the dry background with white pigment in and set it aside to let it dry well. You can heat set it by placing a piece of newsprint paper over it and iron it with a dry iron, or heat set with a heat gun.

If you want you can emboss the whole piece with clear embossing powder, but I decided to  leave it as is.
I used a Tim Holtz ticket stamp and sentiment to complete the card. Linlnk for this variation:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/tapestry/http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/tapestry/

The second variation I found on Youtube. Tapestry Paper Vintage technique

I stamped a text stamp on off white cardstock in a light brown dye ink.

Using a wadded/crinkled piece of plastic wrap and shimmer paint, dab off some of the paint them dab over the surface. You want subtle areas, not big blobs. I don’t have shimmer paint, and used scribbles and some of the Tim Holtz Dabber Pearl paint. You could probably experiment with other paints which have a shimmery effect.

Brayer a light coat of a pink toned dye ink over the surface. (I used Marvy Rose Pink).

Clean brayer and add a tan or light brown dye ink over the pink. (I used Old Paper Distress Ink).

Make sure the inks are completely dry and if necessary use an anti-static pad such as SU embossing buddy, then ink a stamp with pigment ink and embossing powder of your choice. I used Merlot pigment ink and Terra Cota embossing powder.

Here is a link to the technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnXAOMmMIZw&feature=player_detailpage