Irresistable Techniques using "Invisibles by Heidi Swapp"

Invisibles - what are they? This is the line of paper products that Heidi Swapp introduced at Winter 2009 CHA. It was one of the most innovative products at the show and I could hardly wait to have the opportunity to play with it. The fabulous design on these products is hard to see when unaltered, so why is it that I am so excited about these products? As an individual who likes to explore and create I find this product so much fun to work with. It allows me to fully customize the texture and color of my final piece without having to go to the work of creating the intricate resist background!

Today I am going to share a handful of different ways that you can alter or color this collection of paper, chipboard, chipboard shapes and alphabet letters. To do so I took one 12"x12" page and cut it in to 12-3"x3" squares. I then used different products to create each set of colored squares.

So what does one do with all the little test squares? I opted to turn them in to a paper quilt and then use that paper to cover an inexpensive mirror from IKEA. A girl's gotta love all the inexpensive alterables IKEA offers! (insert big grin) This would also make an amazing Scrapbook page background, or if you cut smaller squares to begin with and then piece them together, they would make an awesome card front. So many options, so little time!

 

Below I will explain how each square was colored. You will notice that each square above has a deeper color sponged around the outside edges. I did this to unite the individual feel of the squares, making them meld together more evenly. I also added additional color to some of the lighter test samples to bring balance as well.

So let's begin - what can you use to alter Invisibiles by Heidi Swapp collection?

Be certain to double click on any picture below to see it in the full size view. The details will show up so much better, but due to the large number of pictures I have used in this post I tried to keep them small and save on room.

STUDIO PAINT (or other Acrylic Paints will work as well)

 

The buttery consistency of the Studio line of products makes this a go to for many of my projects. As you can see from my containers they are well loved. I am sharing this series of photos so that you can see how it is that I mix the colors and create custom colors to coordinate with a particular product line. I really didn't have a vision for what I was going to do with my squares and so I decided to match the entire collection of squares to the Basic Grey Urban Collection. In doing so I knew that I would have so many paper options, buttons, brads, and more to use on my final piece - whatever it was going to be.

I use toothpicks, a little watercolor tray, and a small scoop-like spoon for adding water to my paints to create more of a wash (sorry I just can't remember where I found the scoop). By dipping the toothpick in to my individual paint pots and scooping a small amount in to my tray, as shown in the first picture it saves me a ton of cleanup time - no more cleaning my paint brush with each addition of a new color. The color charts that Claudine provides are SO very helpful in helping me know which colors to begin with.

Download Claudine Hellmuth Studio Line Color Mixing Guide

As you can see I added a fourth color, the traditional tan, after realizing that my color was just too intense and needed to be slightly dulled down.

The first square I painted I allowed to dry without touching it. The second yellow square was painted and then wiped with a paper towel. I loved the different effects that were created with this option. When completing my project I wanted them to be a little more even and so I dampened a paper towel and then lightly wiped the surface of the first dry square. Voila - more white appeared where the resist is applied, without impacting the remaining yellow background!

COPIC MARKERS

 

Being that I love Copic markers I had to see what results could be achieved with the markers. The first square on the left was airbrushed. As expected it covered the resist surface, as well as the paper background. BUT when I applied colorless blender solution to my paper towel and wiped the project again the alcohol ink immediately lifted from the resist area. It left a bit of a streaky background based on the way that I wiped the surface, but I know that with further testing and a little finessing some very interested effects will result.

I then wondered what it would look like when coloredwith a Copic marker and so I quickly colored one square with my R83 or perhaps it was R85. I should have taken a picture with the marker visible so that it would make it easier to remember these little details, but... alas I just have to guess now. Again I needed to wipe this square with a Colorless Blender Solution dampened paper towel.

Now that I had proven to myself that indeed the "resist section" would take on the alcohol ink color I came back and did a little removal with my colorless blender marker and added some deeper tones with the coordinating darker tones of this Copic color family. The idea of coloring these papers in multiple color tones appeals to me and so I hope that I have the opportunity to try that some day.

I also wanted to see how the Inkssentials White Opaque Pen would work with the Invisibles. WAY cool - love the addition of the white dots and with more time I can easily see myself doodling on these resist products to add additional pop and depth.

DISTRESS CRACKLE PAINT

 

In addition to the Studio Line of paints I wanted to try another type of paint and so I reached for my Distress Crackle paints. I did use water to thin down the consistency of this paint. As you can see the resist immediately started to repel the watered down paint. The view on the right shows what these squares look like after completion. The one on the left was left to almost fully dry before wiping it with a paper towel and the one on the right was wiped immediately after painting. 

I wish that I would have had more time. I would like to still test this product and cover it with a much thicker layer of the Distress Crackle Paint. I wonder if it will move from the resist areas and if it will dry and crack in the typical manner that Tim and Ranger intended. Time was ticking and so I will leave that for another day.

CHALK

 

To begin I used my trusty old set of Stampin' Up chalks. Simply using a sponge dauber I applied the chalk evenly to the entire surface. I then selected a darker color tone from my Pebbles Pearlescent chalks and added some dimension to the piece using the small pom poms provided in their kit. The effect was soft an subtle.

DYE INK

 

The easiest method to apply color to the Invisibles products is to use the ink blending tool and dye ink. I tested both the Distress Ink (the peachy pink squares above were inked using Tattered Rose)and the Adirondack Dye Inks that we carry in the store. Absolutely delicious looking! and SO very easy.

The difference between the two squares above is almost imperceptible. The square on the left was inked and left alone, the square on the right was inked and then wiped with a paper towel. A little of the Pool ink did come off on the paper towel leaving the resist covered areas a brighter white then those left completely alone. It is almost as though wiping with the paper towel is like polishing a mirror - it just brightens the resist surface.

PERFECT PEARLS GLIMMER GLITZ

 

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist is all the rage right now, but I do not own any. How odd is that?!? I just haven't found a need to purchase the many different colors, because I do own the entire Perfect Pearls collection and many dye reinkers. It has been several years since CHA when I had the opportunity to meet Tim and talk to him about these products. I was hooked! So I guess you could say that I have been making my own "glimmer mist" since that time, well before Glimmer Mist existed.

Today I will share how simple it is to make your own little custom colored bottle of Glimmer Mist. As you can see I opened an Urban Prairie tablet to a new page - a green/blue combination. Using a green base (Shabby Shutters Distress Reinker) with a blue sparkle (Turquoise Perfect Pearls) I mixed my ingredients in a Mini Mister.

I follow Tim's "recipe" of using one dropper full (NOT one drop, but the entire dropper full) of ink, add one of my little "tea" spoons of Perfect Pearls (My girls no longer use the little "Dora" tea set these came with, so I have confiscated all the spoons - LOL!) and then fill the remaining portion of the mister to within 1/2" of the top. Do not fill it completely because you do need to leave room to shake the mixture. You will need to put on some good music and shake girls! Shake, shake, shake! When you are ready to spritz your project then shake again.

Spritz your project. The sample on the left was left to dry completely. The sample on the right I let sit for about half a minute and then I wiped it with a paper towel. I then needed to add additional color using my ink blending tool and Shabby Shutters ink pad. I love how even and subtle the shimmer is when created in this manner. It was hard to capture in a photo, but is so subtle and elegant in person.

COMPLETING THE PROJECT

 

It was when I saw all my beautiful little finished squares sitting on the table in front of me that it occured to me to make a "quilt" with them. I thought that I would share a brief series of photos to help anyone else who might want to make something similar.

Due to the fact that I wanted to have my square return to it's original 12x12 size I cut strips of typing paper to use as my base. By applying a strip of adhesive on the outside edge of this paper using my Glue Glider I was able to avoid putting glue on the area that would need to be stitched. I tell you this so that you do not inadvertantly put glue directly beneath the area that you will stitch. Adhesive will "GUM" up your sewing machine. I have learned through experience that putting adhesive in an area that will be sewed is NOT a good idea - LOL! Putting adhesive BESIDE the stitching area is a "good thing".

Attach four squares and then stitch. Repeat three more times. Then attach these four long strips together and voila - a perfect quilt. You could alter the positioning and create all sorts of intricate quilt-like patterns! Let the creating begin!

 

Following are a few additional tips for covering this mirror:

• Measure the mirror precisely and score your "quilt" along the lines that will be folded around the mirror. This will provide clean, crisp edges.
• Cut out the center mirror section using an X cut. Be certain that the paper fits the mirror well BEFORE applying any adhesive!
• Paint the unfinished wood with Gesso before applying the Matte Medium. This will keep your adhesive from soaking in to the wood.
• Apply Matte Medium to both the top wood surface, as well as to the surface of the paper that will adhere to it.
• Apply Matte Medium to the edges and back of the frame, as well as the coordinating paper surfaces.
• Lastly, apply Matte Medium to the interior edge of the mirror and to the coordinating paper surface.
• Use a teflon bone folder to press your project in to place firmly. Remove any air bubbles while still wet.

 

I then embellished the frame using coordinating chipboard accents, flowers, pearls, butterfly and corner accent pieces. The corner pieces were shiny and just did not fit the look, yet I knew that they would be the pièce de résistance. Gesso to the rescue! Gesso adheres to metal and is white - it is the perfect tool to "shabify" any metal piece!

If you are looking for something new to perk up your creativity then I would like to recommend that you get some of these products to play and experiment with! If you are in need to alphabet stickers in a myriad of colors then I would like to suggest that you purchase a set and alter them using your ink pads - you will have any coordinating color letter, or multi-colored letters for all of your projects!

Get out your masks and add distinct patterns to this paper - the opportunities for exploration are huge!!! So stimulate your creativity today with the Invisibles line of products.

SUPPLIES USED:

Invisibles (located in the Alterables and Specialty Papers section of our store) - Classic Vintage, Ornate Frames, Shapes

Studio Line by Claudine Hellmuth- Dab of Yellow, Painterly Pink, Blank Canvas, Traditional Tan, Gesso, Multi Medium, Brushes

Copic Markers and Airbrush System - R83, R85, RV34, Colorless Blender Marker, Colorless Blender Solution, Airbrush System

Adirondack Ink Pads: Pool, Stream, Butterscotch, Caramel, Shell Pink, Watermelon, Mountain Rose

Distress Ink Pads: Shabby Shutters, Tattered Rose

Embellishments: Webster's Pages Classic Trim Collection, 12" White Strip Pearls, Snow Pearls, Prima Butterfly C,

Other Supplies:Inkssentials White Opaque Pen, Broken China Distress Crackle Paint, Stampin' Up and Pebbles Pearlescent Chalks, Ink Blending Tool, Turquoise Perfect Pearls, Shabby Shutters Distress Reinker,  1" Metal Corners

Comments

[Sharon Harnist]

What great techniques and a wonderful product, Ellen -- thanks for showing all the fabulous ways these can be used! Beautiful mirror!

[KathyN]

Ellen, this is beautiful! Thanks for your tutorial and tips. I couldn't figure out what exactly the invisibles were or what you would do with them. Love the sewing and quilt look!