A-Z techniques Z For Zig-Zag

We are finally at the end of the alphabets for the A to Z techniques in ArtVentures.

The only Z techniques I could think of were Zentangles and Zetiology, but I don't really enjoy  doodling unless I happen to be on the phone and then I sometimes doodle.

I decided to do a zig-zag pattern using coloured text weight papers that I had on my table. I cut them into strips (trying to make sure they were all the same width), then braided them together. When each piece was long enough I glued them to an ATC blank.

I then cut out a frame from some coordinating coloured cardstock and stamped a line of Z's around the perimeter and embossed it with Queens Gold embossing powder.  I attached the frame to the base with Sookwang tape.

I then took some chipboard letters and embossed them with Stampendous Embossing Enamel. I used Aged Wine and Aged Rose. I was thinking of adding some other embellishments but decided against it.

I also decided to try another way of doing the Zig-Zag pattern and experimented with a photo corner stamp. I used pigment ink and stamped it in two different colours across the base, then embossed with clear embossing powder.

A-Z techniques Yellow Melted Crayons

We are now up to Y on the ArtVentures A to Z techniques.

This round I decided to do a wax crayon background and was going to do the usual technique where you rub the crayons on a hot iron then onto the cardstock. To be honest I am not crazy about that method as you have to be sure to clean the iron thoroughly in case you need to iron clothes and the dyes seem to be hard to remove.

While browsing for something else I came across a tutorial for the crayon background which is incredibly easy.

I cut a piece of wax paper large enough to fold over the ATC blank. I placed the cardstock piece on it using a crayon sharpener, shaved several shades of yellow crayons, including a pearlized one on to the ATC. I then sprinkled some Sunflower Yellow Perfect Pearls on top.

I folded the wax paper over the top and heated it till the wax paper and crayons melted. While heating it I moved the cardstock around so the wax spread.  I used a scrap of folded cardstock and pushed it over the top of the wax paper to  move the wax into areas where there were gaps. The Perfect Pearls add a nice dimension to the background.

I stamped a large Hero Arts Y stamp on embossable acetate and embossed it with black embossing powder, then cut it out leaving a small halo so the embossing doesn't rub off.  Rather than leaving it clear I stamped the embossed side with clear embossing powder, added Stamp and Stick embossing powder, (this is a sticky embossing powder which acts like a glue) then added Yellow Glitter Ritz. I adhered this to the background with some Judikins Diamond Glaze.

I then stamped a Stampendous Image on the acetate and coloured the embossed side with markers, cut it out and attached it beside the Y with the Diamond Glaze. The stamp is actually Queen Ann's Lace but I am calling it Yarrow for this technique as it looks close enough!!

To complete the ATC I added a little gem embellishment to the Alphabet.

This ATC is Y for Yellow Melted Crayon with Sunflower Yellow Perfect Pearls and Yarrow.

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.

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

A-Z techniques- S

The next letter for the A-Z techniques on ArtVentures is S. I decided to do the Stamp Smoosh and Sparkle Marble which I learned from the wonderful Cathie Allan.

I used Lipstick Red, Lime Pastel, and Yellow Citrus fluid chalk inks to stamp smoosh the background and for the Sparkle Marble technique I used Siren, Luscious Lime and Gold Lame Smooch ink.

I decided to add a Cuttlebug die-cut star for the central image. I added some Sookwang tape to cardstock and ran it through my die-cutting machine. I removed the backing from the largest die-cut and covered it with some gold Stampa Rosa glitter. On the smallest star, removed the backing and covered it with Clearsnap's Cherry Pie Designer foil.

I decided not to add anything further as the background is so sparkly, although the picture does not show it very well.

A-Z techniques- R

The current letter for the A-Z techniques on ArtVentures is R. For this one I chose to do the Rusted Metal background.

I took some heavy weight cardstock and applied strips of crumpled tinfoil randomly over it, then applied a layer of gesso and sprinkled salt and sand over it. They were left to dry over night.

Normally I used acrylic paints for this, but decided to try reinkers instead. I used Ranger archival inks and Marvy inks, painted over the background. The only drawback to this is that they took a long time to dry, but that could be due to the fact that is was very humid here when I was making them.

To complete them I cut out a leaves from a Cuttlebug die on gold metallic paper, and embossed a Tim Holtz R die with gold embossing powder.

A-Z techniques

The upcoming ArtVentures technique is Q and I chose to do the Quink ink technique that my friend Adrienne shared with us.

I started by covering a piece of matte cardstock with gesso then stamped into it with a detailed stamp. Sprinkled it with salt then sprayed watered-down black Quink ink . When it dried I brushed off some of the salt and highlighted it with some Goldfinger metallic paste.

I stamped one of the heads from a Diane Reavely stamp set, coloured it and attached it to the ATC, I then stamped the Inkadinkado word stamp "quirky".cut around it and added it. The heart is a sequin.

After looking at the ATC for a while I thought the Blue Heart drew the eye away from the rest of the card so I decided to take it off and added a stamped letter Q instead.

A-Z techniques - P for Polished Stone

Continuing on with the A-Z techniques, this month is P. I chose to do the polished stone technique. Instead of using the dye inks and metallic acrylic paint, I used alcohol inks and Lumiere paints. The other "P's" are parrot and paint pen.

I covered a piece of glossy cardstock with some rubbing alcohol then dabbed three colours of alcohol ink over the surface. I then dabbed on some copper coloured Lumiere paint.

For the P image I used a parrot from Dover publications, printed it, cut around it and pasted it on the ATC.

I used a chipboard alphabet P and coloured it with a Marvy Metallic paint pen.

To complete it I die cut a Cuttlebug Corner die and embossed it with copper embossing powder.

A-Z Techniques - Alphabet O

On ArtVentures we are doing Alphabet O techniques for the upcoming swap and my ATC represents Opalite Infusion, Oleander and Opals embossing powders.


I remembered a technique called Opalite Infusion and decided that would be my background technique. I can't remember where I originally came across this technique (thought I saved the site in my favourites), but I did have the instructions written down.

I started by stamping an image in permanent ink on white cardstock. When completely dry I applied two colours of Opalite ink, using well inked pads.. When that layer was dry I sponged on dye inks in the same colour family.

I then cut out some Cuttlebug corner dies and coloured them first with clear embossing ink and purple opals embossing powder. Because the ink pad was not inked well the whole die cut was not covered. So I decided to use that to my advantage, and tapped a Versamark pad over the bare areas and embossed those portions with a pink Opals embossing powder.  I did four of these for each ATC (Artist Trading Card).

I applied the corners to each ATC, then I printed some pictures of an Oleander using photo paper.

I attached the picture with double-sided foam tape.

A-Z Techniques Alphabet N

This month the Alphabet technique is the letter N. I chose to do the Northern Lights Technique.

I  used black cardstock as the base. I diluted Gold, Raspberry Sparkle and True Blue perfect pearls with a bit of water then brushed it on in lines across the cardstock. I spritzed it with water and let the colours run together.

I chose an image of a Nutcracker bird and printed it on glossy photo paper, cut it out, and attached it with double-sided foam tape. To complete the ATC's I used a die cut N and some punchie flowers. I inked them with Versamark and "Heat and Stick " embossing powder which becomes sticky after heating, then applied Navy Glitter Ritz over the top.

A-Z techniques Alphabet M

Finished my M for the ArtVentures A-Z techniques. For this month I decided on doing a metallic ink background. I tried doing it with the marbling technique but for some reason the inks kept sinking to the bottom of the pan of water, no matter how full or empty it was. So I reverted to dipping the glossy cardstock in the water and adding inks  while it was wet

To complete the M theme, I used a music stamp on the background and stamped a young boy for masculine and finally added a piece of Mica Tile over the image.

L technique in A-Z techniques

Continuing on with the A-Z techniques in ArtVentures the latest is L. Initially I had made some ATC's using the Lumiere paint scraping technique, a lattice border and a love stamp. I was not entirely happy with them so I made another set using a different technique and I can use the original ones for RAKS.

The technique that  I decided to use for the L technique to send out to the participants is the layered background technique from Hero Arts and some Graphic 45 lady images.

I cut my watercolour paper to size and stamped embossed a small  Hero Arts  stamp in white. I added the Old Paper distress ink on a clear acrylic block, spritzed with water and placed it on the paper allowing the colour to seep into the paper.

I then stamped a Magenta background stamp over the top (I stamped off a couple of times to make it lighter). I added several colours of distress ink to a craft sheet and wiggled a Penny Black stamp over the inks, spritzed it with water and stamped onto the background.

To complete the cards I cut out some ladies from Graphics 45 paper.

K technique for A-Z techniques

This month is the K technique on ArtVentures. I was going to do the "kissing" technique but decided instead to use the Kaleidoscope stamping technique which I "winged" since I could not find any tutorials.

I started off by not being happy with my prototype using a tiny stamp so I went over the image with some pigment inks to create a background. After heating setting them, I took these pieces and lightly drew lines horizontally and diagonally to create 8 triangle areas on the ATC.

Using the stamp that looks like a wing from the Stampscapes Butterflies (sheet 3) unmounted set I inked it with Kaleidacolor Dye Ink and stamped it around the ATC background in each triangle.

I then inked some scrap card stock with the same colours of pigment inks used on the backgrounds and embossed it with Kaleidoscope embossing powder. I punched out a shape from these scraps and attached them to the centre with a glue dot.

For the ATC I am keeping for myself I used a background piece made with fluid chalk inks and Dr PH Martin iridescent gold ink and the same technique as the others just to see how it would look on a different background.

I decided not to add anything further and let the techniqe show through.

J technique

Continuing on with the ArtVentures A-Z techniques for the J technique I decided to do the Jenny's Coat.

This is similar to the Joseph's Coat but instead you start with a piece of decorative scrapbook paper. ( I would recommend using something with a lot of colour). I used a piece of Magenta Style paper which had blocks of colour but the main one was an ochre, with greens and maroon throughout.

I attached the paper to a piece of card stock cut to ATC size, then stamped and embossed a background stamp with clear embossing ink and embossing powder. After that I brayered over the piece with black Versafine ink, then buffed it with a paper towel, which removes the ink from the embossed areas revealing the coloured decorative paper.

I stamped a Hero Arts Jewel shape from a coordinating colour of card stock and added glossy accents to give it dimension and the look of a jewel. I then stamped a Hero Arts J and a sentiment from the same stamp set. Attached all of these to the ATC when dried.

I is for

This month's alphabet for our A-Z techniques on the ArtVentures group is I. I could not think of anything so just got some supplies out and played around. I am calling this technique, Irridescent interference.

I started with watercolour paper and and stamped a Hero Arts stamp with Versamark. I coloured the image with Perfect Pearls. I then painted the piece with Dr. PH Martin’s Radiant watercolor inks, and heat set it.

When it was dry I stamped the image again with Tsukineko Opalite ink and applied interference Pearl-ex over the image.

To complete the ATC I added a flower and a leaf which I die cut, embossed with pigment inks and embossing powders, then stamped onto it while still hot to make a pattern.

Because I was experimenting, I made several different cards. For each one I started with the same colour family of Perfect Pearls and watercolor ink, then the same palette of Opalite ink and tried to used the same interference Pearl-ex, however with that I only had red, green, blue an violet.

The interference background is hard to see in the pictures, but it is really nice when held up to the light and the original Perfect Pearls also shows up through the inked background.

A-Z techniques

This month's technique is H. I could not find anything new so decided to do a heat embossing technique which I learned in a class a few years ago.

The main image is a sticker and it is masked off on the outside edges, clear embossing ink and embossing powder is applied and heated. A stencil is placed over the piece and clear embossing ink is dabbed on, embossed with clear embossing powder.

The piece is coloured with fluid chalk inks, then sprayed with Adirondack sprays. The embossing is then removed by placing another piece of cardstock over it and ironing with a hot iron. The word saying was embossed with pigment ink and pearlized embossing powder.

The sticker was masked with a post it note, anti-static powder applied, then clear embossing ink and then covered with sparkle embossing powder, and heat set.

Each one varies as I used some Christmas stickers by Magenta Style and they were all different and I chose ink and spray colours to compliment the stickers.

Note: Should you decide to try this make sure you do not use the see-through stickers. They have to be good quality ones which are durable and can take the heat of the embossing gun.

G is for .....

Continuing on with the ATC ( artist trading cards) A-Z techniques in ArtVentures, the next one is G, and I chose Gesso Newspaper Transfer for my technique.

I started with laying down a coat of gesso on some watercolour paper. The technique tutorial uses hot press, but I only had cold press so that is what I used. I tore up some scraps of newspaper and applied it over the gesso, waited a bit then pulled it off; continued doing this placing the newsprint in different ways, until the piece was covered. Note:This is really a "trial and error" to determine how much gesso to apply and how long to leave the newsprint on the surface.

I then applied various colours of Dr. PH Martin watercolours over the paper after the gesso dried, (the tutorial uses fluid acrylics, but again I had none so I substituted the watercolours).

After the pieces were dry I cut out an black and white image which is a freebie on Elizabeths blog, then coloured it with damp paintbrush and distress inks and attached it to the ATC.

To complete the card I edged it with a gold marker, applied some gems and German Scraps trim. I did not have any gold, so I coloured some black pieces with a Krylon gold paint pen. I also did not have enough of one pattern, so used two different styles, therefore a couple are a bit different.