the CLASSroom

Hello, Monday 06.09.2014

(click on the pics to enbiggan)

The new Savvy Stamps release has arrived and they are so much FUN--I just adore their fresh, hand-drawn style!!!

I decided to go for a multi-colored effect using some pretty Avery Elle pigment inks--pigment inks work awesome for this technique because they are much slower drying than dye and you can blend them quite easily, right on the stamp.

The other trick with selective inking (a.k.a. ommitting) is to use Sponge Daubers--my personal favorites are the ones with the airtight caps--makes it so easy to store them without making a mess... or having to wash 'em. ;)

Enjoy the video here or on our YouTube Channel and thanks ever so much for watching and subscribing! Your comments are always so appreciated!

 

 

Happy Mundane!

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SUPPLIES: 

Savvy Stamps, Bloom	Savvy Stamps, Floral Jar	Avery Elle Ink Pad, Sea Glass	Avery Elle Ink Pad, Lemon Grass
Avery Elle Ink Pad, Raspberry	Avery Elle Ink Pad, Aquamarine	Avery Elle Ink Pad Set, Set of 15 Colors	Shape 'N Tape, Black
Studio Calico Classic Calico Vol. 2, Wood Veneer, Butterflies	Enamel Accents, Black and White	Sponge Applicator, Sponge Dauber w/ Airtight Cap	Sponge Applicator, Sponge Dauber 25 pk
Sponge Applicator, Sponge Dauber 3 pk	Teflon Bone Folder	Martha Stewart Scoring Board, Mini	A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 25 pack
A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Ream	Scotch Double-Sided Foam Mounting Tape	High Tack Double-Sided Foam Mounting Tape, 1/4"	3-D Foam Squares, Mixed
Kool Tak White Foam Adhesive, 1/4" Squares (1/16 Thick)	Accents, Mini Glossy	Accents, Glossy

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Copic Drip Background by Sharon Harnist

 

Hello, I have a fun new Copic technique to share with you today ... I'm calling it the Copic Drip!  This was a new experiment for me and I was happy with the results, so I thought I'd share how it's done.

1. Paint a #8 Manila Tag with Studio Gesso:

Let dry (it doesn't take that long -- by the time you have your paint brush cleaned, it should be dry, and the wet curled tag should flatten out by itself once it dries).

2. Next, take Copic Various Ink Refill of your choice (here, I'm using BG11) and holding the tag upright/vertical, start squeezing drops of Refill Ink along the top edge of the tag and letting it drip down the tag, creating various dripping patterns. You can rotate the tag, encouraging the Refill Ink to travel in the direction of your choice:

When you are pleased with the coverage and pattern of the dropped ink, set the tag aside to dry.  Some areas of the tag may not be covered with ink, and that's okay!

Meanwhile, prepare the ribbon accent:

3. Place a length of Tim Holtz Crinkle Ribbon into a snack-sized zip-lock baggie and squeeze in more of the BG11 Copic Various Ink Refill.  Knead the ribbon around in the bag, to distribute the ink all over the ribbon:

I also added darker BG13 Refill, to give the ribbon a little variagation and more depth of color. When you are pleased with the results of your hand-dyed ribbon, take the ribbon out of the bag and place it onto tissue or paper towel and squeeze the ribbon to remove the excess Copic ink and to help dry and wrinkle the ribbon.

4. Next, ink edges of tag, ribbon, and Sizzix Tim Holtz On The Edge Die Distressed Doily (cut from Bazzill Sour Lemon Card Shoppe Cardstock) with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink:

5. Machine stitch doily to tag.

6. Die cut Bazzill Vellum with MFT's Winged Beauties Die-namics, machine stitch two of the butterflies together and adhere to tag with rolled-up Glue Dot. Edges of the butterlies were also inked with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.

7. Tie ribbon around tag, then stamp Hero Arts Everyday Sayings sentiment with Ranger Coffee Archival ink.

I love the white-washed effect of this background and hope you'll have as much fun with it as I did!  ~ Sharon

Inkssentials Surfaces, Manila Tag #8	Studio Gesso, Mini	ClearDesign: Everyday Sayings	COPIC Various Ink Refill BG11, Moon White
Tim Holtz, Crinkle Ribbon	Copic Various Ink Refill, BG13	Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Sour Lemon, 10 pk	Sizzix Tim Holtz On The Edge Die, Distressed Doily
Bazzill 40 lb. Vellum, 25 pk	My Favorite Things Die-namics, Winged Beauties by Mona Pendleton	Distress Ink Pad, Brushed Corduroy	Ink Blending Tool, 1 Round
Glue Dots, 3/8"	Coffee Archival Ink	Sizzix Big Shot Machine, Powder Blue & Teal

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Hello, Monday 02.10.2014

(click on the pics to enbiggan)

As I mention in this week's "webisode" (ha ha!), watercolor is probably my most favorite coloring method--it just makes me happy to slop the color around, LOL!

When I first began stamping over 20 years ago, the first watercolor method I learned is one I still use today--it's kind of a cheat, but on the other hand, I love multi-uses of any supply or tool (in this case, the new Distress Mini Ink Pads) I have in my arsenal, don't you?! 

I also made a recent discovery that has me bouncing off my chair--I can watercolor on Bazzill Basics Card Shoppe Marshmallow Card Stock.  I was already in love with the weight and surface texture of this paper, and now??!! Um, pardon me while I fist pump. Majorly. *grin*

DISCLAIMER: Card Shoppe card stock is not a watercolor paper; it is a smooth, 100# weight card stock. As I mention in the video, if your brush is too wet or you over saturate the paper with water, it will pill.

In most cases, I prefer to work with a waterbrush--I tend to have more control, and they are perfect for a girl who tends to be a bit clumsy in the studio *sheepish grin*, but you could just as easily use a nice brush (I love this set) and a small jar of water.

Enjoy the video here or over on our YouTube channel, and thanks for watching and subscribing! You can always select 720p for best viewing quality, as well!

 

 

Happy Mundane!

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SUPPLIES:

Claudine Hellmuth Clear Stamps, So Retro	Avery Elle Clear Stamps, Framed Fonts	Hero Arts ClearDesign: Typewriter Letters (Retiring)	Distress Mini Ink Pad, Kit #1
Delicata Ink Pad, Golden Glitz	Hero Arts Shadow Ink, Soft: Granite	VersaMark Ink Pad	Distress Embossing Pad
Hero Arts Embossing Powder, Gold	Hero Arts Embossing Gun	Heat It Craft Tool	Zig Wink of Stella Glitter Brush Tip Marker, Gold
Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Marshmallow, 10 pk	Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Marshmallow, 25 pk	A3 Cardstock, Neenah Environment Desert Storm, 25 pk	A3 Cardstock, Neenah Environment Desert Storm, 250 Sheet Ream
Tim Holtz Water Brush, Broad Brush Nib	Tim Holtz Water Brush, Detailer Brush Nib	Waterbrush, Small	Studio Artist Brushes
Tonic Paper Trimmer Guillotine, 8.5"

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12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist 2013 - Day 12 by Ellen Hutson

Thank you for joining us for our last day of this years tag series! Huge THANKS goes out to the talented, generous ladies who shared their creativity with us during our 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist 2013! Thank you Jennifer, Julie, Ronda, Kittie, Kelly, Julia, Paula, Sharon, Teri, Jill, and Heather for the fabulous tags you shared with all of us this year!!!

THANK YOU also to all those of you who have shared your tags with us on our challenge post. You still have time to join in the fun by continuing to add your projects until Monday, December 16th! Each of your twists is an inspiration and we thank you for sharing your versions of our 12 tags series! We would also like to thank all those of you who have left comments for each of the designers! Your enthusiasm spurs us on and brings us joy - thank you for taking the time to do so. If you haven't yet had the chance there is still time before we host our drawings for the gift certificates we are giving away :)

It has been a VERY long time since I have had the opportunity to create and it was with a sense of trepidation that I began the process for creating the tag I am sharing with you today. Being out of touch with what the current trends are I googled 2013 Christmas Trends and found a beautiful pastel Christmas inspiration using soft pinks, pools and gold. Being that I am fascinated by the techniques and process involved in stamping I decided to use a couple of "new to me" products - the Gelli Arts Printing Plates and Tim Holtz Frosted Film. 

In August my dear friend Lisa came for a "play date." I am so blessed to have such a dear friend who is also an amazing teacher! It was at that time that she shared the "ins and outs" of the Gelli Art printing process. You can also see the fabulous tutorial using Gelli Plates that Julie created showcasing this fun mono-printing process here.

To begin label the protective sheets of the Gelli Arts plates using a Sharpie. This will help ensure the correct storage of the Gelli plates so that you can reuse them many times. Once labelled remove the protective sheets and place the Gelli plate on a piece of acetate or plastic. This keeps the bottom side of the plate clean and protected while allowing you to easily move your plate from place to place as you work. Store the original sheets in the packaging for storing your Gelli plate after you have completed your project. I use hand sanitizer to help remove all little tidbits of paint from the printing plate before rinsing with clean water, allowing the plates to dry and then replacing the protective sheets and putting the plate back into the original packaging for storage.

Die cut a pine branch out of cardstock and cover both sides with gesso - allow to dry. This creates a much sturdier piece that will work wonderfully for printing on your Gelli plate. Just think of all the many stencils and print making supplies you already have in your "stash" when you use your dies to create these fun tools!

Squeeze small amounts of Studio Paint on to a non-stick craft sheet - I used three different reds - Dash of Red, Modern Red, and Painterly Pink. Use an ink blending tool to sponge the different colors on to the branch.

"Bokeh" is another huge trend this year. Create a bokeh effect on your printing plate by randomly dotting Adirondack Metallic Pearl and Gold Acrylic Paint Dabbers on the Gelli Plate. Allow to fully dry.

Randomly "stamp" the painted pine branch on the Gelli plate. I was able to get two branches stamped before reapplying paint to the branch. Allow to fully dry before proceeding.

If you work quickly you can easily use Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabbers and Studio Semi-Gloss Acrylic Paint to create your mono prints. If you work more slowly all you need to do is add some Extra Time to your paints before proceeding. Julie's Bristol cardstock is ideal for creating monoprints. Be certain to have all supplies at the ready when you create your final print for pulling.

To create the ombre effect with the paint work light to dark from the top left corner down to the bottom right. Remove the caps from the dabbers and drizzle a small amount of Juniper in the top right corner, Pool diagonally through the center and Studio Sky Blue in the lower right corner of the 8x10 Gelli Plate. You need very little paint - less is definitely more when it comes to monoprinting. Use a brayer to spread the paint evenly and lightly over the plate surface. 

Immediately place your 8 1/2"x11" sheet of Bristol to the surface and rub your hands or brayer evenly over the entire surface. Lift a corner to ensure that you are pulling all layers of paint. Pull your first print.

Pull a second "ghost print" by immediately placing a second sheet of Bristol to the surface. Once again rub your hands over or brayer the entire surface. For this print I rub several times to ensure pulling as much of the final paint as possible. You will notice that the upper right hand side is not well defined. One of two things happened here - perhaps my remaining paint had dried too much or perhaps I didn't rub the surface evenly enough. The fabulous thing about monoprints is that each is unique and showcases a unique beauty. This piece ended up having a more snowy effect and is stunning in person. I could have easily chosen it for my final tag, but I wanted a little more striking color scheme so I went with my first pull for the final tag. 

To create the ornament portion of my tag I wanted to experiment with a technique that I saw showcased on the Gelli Arts YouTube channel where they used packing tape. Tim Holtz has always inspired me and when I saw the tag he did for December using his Frosted Film this idea hit. Would the Frosted Film work as a suitable replacement for packing tape? It has a fabulous crystal like surface and would easily cover the Gelli plate! Yes, it was a monkey-clapping experience when the idea struck and was successfully completed!!

I once again used the non-stick craft sheet to "ink" my brayer with a multitude of paint colors to create my ombre colored ornament. For this portion of the project I once again used Studio Dash of Red, Modern Red, Painterly Pink and Adirondack Pearl.

Create a mask by diecutting two strips of Reynolds Freezer Paper using the Vintage Lace die. I place the shiny side of the Freezer Paper against the Gelli Plate and gently rub it into place. Brayer directly over the Freezer Paper masks and immediately pull the lace strips away from the surface showcasing the bold "lace" strips.

Once again think of the incredible number of masks/stencils you can create by cutting Freezer Paper with your dies!!! 

As you can see I diecut the shape of my ornament as a reference before beginning so that I would get exact placement of paint colors and strip location.

Allow to fully dry before proceeding.

"Ink" the stamp using Adirondack Gold Metallic Paint Dabber and stamp over the ombre colors. Allow to fully dry before proceeding. It is essential that all paint is completely dry before you being the next step!

To cut the Frosted Film I like to work with the steel-edged Tim Holtz Design Ruler and the Fiskars FingerTip Craft Knife. To hold the Film in place I use the Basic Grey Magnetic Precision Mat - the magnets make this a much easier process!

Remove the backing from the Frosted Film and smooth the Film (sticky surface to Gelli painted surface) over the painted surface. Rub evenly over the entire surface several times. Slowly pull back the film and admire your beautiful film. If little bits of paint still remain on your Gelli plate simply allow the film to go back into place and rub again gently with your fingertip until the paint sticks to the film.

Lay the film flat on your work surface sticky side up. On the sticky back side brush Perfect Pearls to the open areas. I brush Perfect Pearls over the entire back surface to ensure that no stickiness remains.

Turn over and apply a piece of Be Creative Tape to the front side of the Frosted Film. Remove the tape backing, apply and burnish Sahara MicroFine glitter to create the beautiful glittered stripe shown above.

To determine the best use of my monoprint I created a guide by simply diecutting a piece of copy paper and moving it around on my monoprint until I found the precise piece of the print I wanted to showcase. Diecut the tag from your monoprint.

Diecut the ornament shape from the tag and apply the Frosted Film print to the back side using Be Creative tape to hold it in place.

Apply gesso to the pine branch used for printing, dab with Pearl Adirondack Metallic Paint and apply a little of the Sahara glitter to the branch. Complete the tag with a Sahara glittered reinforcement and ornament cap and a silk ribbon.

Now it's your turn! Create a trendy colored tag, use a Gelli Plate, stamp using paint, add a Bokeh effect to a tag - the choice is yours - just come and join in the fun! I can tell you that it felt amazing to finally create a project once again! I am so excited to see what you create using this tag as your inspiration :)

Once again thank you for joining us for the 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist!! 

Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate, 8x10	Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate, 6x6	Hero Arts Cling: Collage Music Background	Sizzix, Tim Holtz, Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die, Tag & Bookplates
Dee's Distinctively Dies, Ornament 2	Impression Obsession Dies, Pine Branch	Sizzix Tim Holtz Sizzlits Deco Strip Die, Vintage Lace	Essentials by Ellen, Julie's Smooth Bristol, 10pc- 8.0 x 11
Tim Holtz, Frosted Film	A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 25 pack	Studio Gesso	Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber, Pearl
Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber, Gold	Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber, Juniper	Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber, Pool	Studio Acrylic Paint Mini, Sky Blue
Studio Acrylic Paint Mini, Dash of Red	Studio Acrylic Paint Mini, Modern Red	Studio Acrylic Paint Mini, Painterly Pink	Inky Roller Brayer, Medium, 3 5/16"
Studio Artist Brushes	Ink Blending Tool	Non-Stick Craft Sheet	Glitter Ritz Microfine, Sahara
Be Creative Tape, 5mm (1/4")	Craft Knife, Fingertip	Ruler, Tim Holtz Design	Magnetic Precision Mat Kit
Silk Ribbon, White 1 1/4" by the Yard

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And that completes our 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist! I hope you have enjoyed this series as much as we have - Christmas is such an inspiring time of year! This is your last opportunity to win a chance at a gift certirficate to our store so be certain to leave your comment below to be eligible for the random drawing of the $25 gift certificate to our store www.ellenhutson.com - be certain to do so before noon on December 13th to be eligible (one comment per person please.) Remember to leave comments on all 12 tags for a chance at each day's blog candy! Your words are appreciated so much! Winners will be announced soon - it could be you! Wishing you much happiness and many joyful moments this holiday season - Merry Christmas!

Imagine Paris Tag by Julia Stainton

I seem to be hooked on tags these days. Last time I was in the CLASSroom I went the art journaling route with a bunch of tags to make a mini album for my daughter. Today's post uses a tag as well. Inspired by a big beautiful black tag and the chalkboard trend, I've gone vintage collage style with them.

There are many ways to stamp on dark surfaces. You can use embossing powder,or a pigment ink, but I've found that paint always works really well. I've been a fan of stamping with paint for years. The interesting thing with stamping with paint is that it never turns out exactly the same each time. I think that adds to much to the vintage style. That perfectly beautiful imperfection.

I love using the Adirondack Paint Dabbers for inking up a stamp with paint. You can use a foam brush with any acrylic paint and brush it on the stamp, but the paint dabbers make it so easy and there is no cleanup. Simply dab the paint with the foam applicator onto the stamp and then press onto your surface. These dabbers also work really well for "inking" the edges of your paper to define them.

• step one - stamp the ATC and apply paint to the edges of the ATC and the Tag

Tip: Wash your stamps off immediately as the acrylic paint is extremely difficult to get off if you allow it to dry. This is the voice of experience and it was painful.

• step two - stamp postage marks onto the black tag
• step three - adhere torn coffee filter paper with Multi-Medium...wrinkle the paper when applying it for added texture

Note: Multi-Medium is a fabulous adhesive and and essential mixed media product. Just brush it on the back to adhere or on the front to add a glaze.

• step four - adhere adhesive lace and then stamped ATC
• step five - tie tag with twine and tie on button

• step six - adhere flowers and insert trinket pins
• step seven - pin metal tag to flower

Tip: When creating a black and white project, add one pop of color to brighten it up.

Thanks so much for joining me today in the CLASSroom! I hope you'll give stamping with paint a try. Have a fabulous weekend!

Supplies:

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Spring Canvas by Sharon Harnist

I was feeling extra Spring-y this week, with all the pretty sunshine (preceeded by a few nice days of rain!) and all the Texas Bluebonnets starting to bloom along the road sides, so I wanted to capture that feeling on canvas and here are the results:

After a few trial and error attempts, I came up with this successful method when wanting to stamp and color with Copic markers onto a stretched canvas frame. Sometimes a detailed stamp like this one is difficult to get a crisply stamped image when trying to stamp onto a stretched canvas over a wood frame.

To begin, I stamped the Hero Arts DesignBlock Flower Text (measuring a nice 6" x 4-1/2") with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Sticky Back Natural Canvas-8-1/2" x 11" 

Then I started coloring . . . Here are the step-out photos of each flower and its corresponding Copic Sketch colors used:

1. I feather blended together Y18 and YR16 (start by coloring with the lighter Y18, then flick the YR16 from the center of the flower outward):

2. YG25 and G17 for the the leaves:

3. V04 and V06 for the purple flower:

4. The same greens and yellow from the first flower:

5. For the center flower, I used B02 & B05 for the flowers and a little bit lighter green combo of YG03 & G05 for the leaves, just for a little variation:

6. As a final coloring step, I decided to go back over the stamped lines and deepen the color with a Copic Multiliner 0.8 (from the Broad 4pc Set). This was just personal preference -- I really like how it made the flower colors pop! The right two flowers below have already been outlined, but you could skip this step if you wanted a more natural flower look like the purple flower on the left that still had not been outlined -- it has a more "painterly" look:

The final step was to trim the Sticky Back canvas to the size of my 5 x 7 Chunky Stretched Natural Canvas (the Sticky Back canvas trims very easily with your paper trimmer or scissors), peel off the backing and stick the colored canvas to the front of the stretched canvas frame (ahem -- thus covering up a previous non-successful stamping attempt!):

The finishing touch was to tie on some pretty Springy May Arts Parrot Green Crochet Ribbon around the left side:

I hope this project helps put you in the Spring spirit and encourages you to get crafting this weekend!

~ Sharon

{Supplies}

Edited 4/9/13: I see you all scooped up the remaining supply of of this great Hero Arts large DesignBlock stamp! If you are looking for a similar stamp, I recently found these while browsing through the Warehouse Sale section of the store (which means great prices!):

Hero Arts Words & Flowers (set of 4):

Three Quirky Flowers:

I hope that helps! ~ Sharon

Hero Arts DesignBlock, Flower Text	Memento Ink Pad, Tuxedo Black	Natural Studio Sticky Back Canvas 8.5x11	Copic Sketch Markers
Copic Multiliner 4pc Set, Broad	Canvas Corp Chunky Stretched Natural Canvas, 5x7	May Arts Crochet Ribbon, Parrot Green

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Hello, Monday 04.01.2013

(click on the pic to enbiggan)

Some simple but beautiful tags on Pinterest caught my eye and I wanted to recreate the look... When we think of shipping tags, we tend to think of them in white, or cream and sometimes kraft... But the tags I had seen were in bold bright colors, and had boldly colored imagery on them. So striking!

I wanted to re-create that look to make some tags I could use to dress up ordinary white cards. As I mention in the video, ink can take on a whole different look when stamped onto COLORED papers--what you see on white or cream may end up very different! So, pull out your scraps and experiment before you begin on your project, just to be sure you like the results you're getting.

ETA: Not quite sure whether or not Neon is for you? Hero Arts' new cubes are a great way to dabble before taking the plunge with full-size pads! The cubes also come in other assortments of pretty color palettes!

The layouts I did were very spontaneous (!)--I just cut and layered snippets of pretty patterns from a variety of paper pads (6x6, 8x8) in combinations that seemed to compliment the stamped tags nicely... A little bit of twine, a little bit of bling and before I knew it, I had an assortment of cards that, hopefully, would brighten anyone's day!

You can enjoy the video here, or in HD over on YouTube--thanks for subscribing to our channel and I sure hope the ideas inspire!

Thanks for joining me this Mundane! ;) 

 

 SUPPLIES & MATERIALS:

Wise Bird	Claudine Hellmuth Clear Stamps, Spring Garden	Savvy Stamps, Puddles	Three Artistic Butterflies
Savvy Stamps, Blossom Flower, Lg	Savvy Stamps, Thank You	Savvy Stamps, Outline Tile Pattern	Savvy Stamps, Thank You Flag
Huckleberry Branch	Hero Arts Neon Ink Pad, Neon Pink	Hero Arts Neon Ink Pad, Neon Orange	Chalk Ink, Cerulean
Shadow Ink: Mid-Tone, Pale Tomato	Chalk Ink, Grass	Glue Glider Pro	B2 Cardstock, Bubblegum
EEE3 Cardstock, Pool	EE4 Cardstock, Meadow	D5 Cardstock, Sunflower	Hero Arts, Layering Paper, Mandarin
A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 25 pack	A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Ream	Crate Paper Maggie Holmes Signature 6x6 Paper Pad	Studio Calico Sundrifter 6x6 Paper Pad
Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm 6x6 Paper Pad	Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper Tool, Angle & Photo Corner	Crop-A-Dile Eyelet & Snap Punch	EK Paper Shapers Punch, 1/2 Circle
Gemstones, Black Crystals	Essentials by Ellen: Sequins, Glossy Black	My Mind's Eye Enamel Dots, Boy Crazy	My Mind's Eye Enamel Dots, Cute from Collectable-Notable by Jen Allyson
Bamboo Cord Spool, Black	Lawn Fawn Clear Stamps, Lime Single Cord	Sew Easy Baker's Twine, Black	Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, .88 oz
3D-Dots, 1/8" Thick	3D-Dots, 1/16" Thick	Paper Trimmer, Tonic Guillotine 8 1/2"	Tweezer Bee
Tweezers, Stainless	Honey Bee Non Stick Scissors

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12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist 2012 - Day 2 by Claudine Hellmuth

Today I have the absolute joy of sharing Claudine Hellmuth's whimsical collage tag with you! Four years ago I had the pleasure of being introduced to Claudine and having dinner with her and some friends. Her vivacious spirit and warmth are two of the things I treasure most about her. These traits are evident in every product that she creates! Claudine Hellmuth stamps, paints and embroidery kits have "cheerful" written all over them - they just make me smile from ear to ear!

Claudine also designs THE best printable kits - they bring me back to my days as a child when I would cut out and cloth paper dolls. The hours of joy you will receive from cutting and putting together these little treasures will bring back happy moments from your childhood, or even better provide a gift to a child you know by allowing them the joy of working on these kits!

I have to share this adorable free printable tree with you - I encourage you to give it a try or share it with your child or grandchildren!

You can find more of Claudine's quirky, retro style on each of the projects she shares on her blog Claudine Hellmuth. Psst - I have a little secret - if you head over there now she is giving away one of her fabulous stamp sets, so don't delay visiting her blog!!!

Thank you Claudine for sharing your creativity with us here in the CLASSroom and even more importantly - thank you for sharing your sweet spirit and friendship with me!  -Ellen

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The completed whimsical and quirky retro-inspired Christmas tag!

Paint a tag using Claudine Hellmuth Studio Painterly Pink. Squeeze the paint directly onto the tag

Then brush out paint using a brush (Claudine Hellmuth studio brushes)

Dry with Heat it Craft Tool

Glue music paper to the bottom 2/3 of your tag using Multi Medium

Now we are going to stamp some images using the Claudine Hellmuth Studio Christmas stamp set by Stamper Anonymous

Stamp the car using black Ranger archival ink onto red scrapbook paper.

Stamp the little tree onto decorative green paper also using Archival ink

Cut out both the car and the tree. Cut off the presents from the roof of the car and cut the tree in ½ so it looks like it could be riding on the roof of the car.

Glue both to the tag using Multi Medium

Glue on a decorative strip of scrapbook paper using multi medium

Stamp a frame and the words “so merry” from the Words and Frames Stamp set

Cut out and glue to your tag, then dry with the Heat It Craft tool to speed drying

As a finishing touch you can add snow by making tiny dimensional dots using the tip of the Claudine Hellmuth Studio mini paints in Blank Canvas.

Add extra trim to the bottom of your tag. Enjoy!!

Claudine Hellmuth Clear Stamps, Christmas	Claudine Hellmuth Clear Stamps, Words and Frames 1	Studio Acrylic Paint Mini, Painterly Pink	Studio Acrylic Paint Mini, Blank Canvas
Studio Multi-Medium, Matte Mini	Studio Artist Brushes	NEW Archival Ink Pad, Jet Black	Heat It Craft Tool
Non-Stick Craft Sheet	Claudine Hellmuth, Rock-A-Blocks	Inkssentials Surfaces, Manila Tag #8

InLinkz.com

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Please help us say thank you to Claudine for joining us and sharing how to create this adorable, quirky and whimsical style Christmas tag! Simply leave your comment below and you will be eligible for the random drawing of the $25 gift certificate to our store www.ellenhutson.com. Leave your comment before noon on December 13th to be eligible (one comment per person please.) Be certain to return again tomorrow for Day 3 of our feminine tags. Let's just say you love this ladies sweet charm - don't miss it ;-D

Tissue Paper and Die Cuts - Part 1, Collage

It is hard to believe that fall is in the air! The air is crisp now in the evenings and mornings and the leaves are beginning to turn. This time of year brings SO much inspiration!

It was while putting together a birthday package that this idea came to mind and I really think that it is going to trigger something fun in each of your minds. This is the first of a couple of different ideas I am sharing using tissue paper and die cuts, so let the fun begin!

Claudine's video on how to use Studio Multi-Medium (find it at this link) will come in handy when creating a project similar to this. The beauty of tissue paper is that it is semi-transparent one wet and when it dries the pattern of the stamped image below shows through.

Die cut various colors of tissue paper - I was able to cut through at least 6 sheets of tissue paper at one time. You will need to carefully pull the sheets apart once they are removed.

I began by stamping through a circular mask on to linen cardstock using the Hero Arts woodgrain stamp - LOVE this stamp! Be certain to use a waterproof ink such as Archival ink.

Apply a thin layer of Multi-medium to the cardstock surface and place your tissue paper leaf in the wet area and paint over the entire leaf using more Multi-medium.

If you are uncertain of leaf placement allow the first piece to dry, or if you are confident in your layout just keep working. Add a leaf at a time until your project is complete.

To adhere the letters I held each one using a pair of tweezers and applied Multi-medium to the back side of each letter. Multi-medium dries clear and is a phenomenal adhesive. I liked using it for this project because it allowed me to scotch the letters around on the wet surface until I had them perfectly straight. Tweezers are an absolute must for crafting in my opinion!

I hope to see loads of projects using die cuts and tissue paper from each of you - let's see how long this idea takes to catch on :-D My hope is that I have planted a new seed and I can hardly wait to see it sprout (or leaf out - ha, ha!)

Memory Box Dies, Maple Leaf	Memory Box Dies, Parker Lower Alphabet	Sizzix Big Shot Machine, Black & Pink	Memory Box Die, Metal Adaptor Plate
Hero Arts Designer Woodgrain	Archival Ink Pad, Sepia	Essentials by Ellen, White Linen Cardstock, 25 pk	Studio Multi-Medium, Matte
Studio Artist Brushes

InLinkz.com

Dog Day Thanks by Sharon Harnist

What better way to say thanks, happy birthday or just thinking of you than with a personalized greeting card.  Of course, it helps to have a wonderful personalized photo!

So on your next visit to a friend or relative's home, wedding, reunion, anniversary or birthday party, or special outing, be sure to take along your camera to capture just the right (or unexpected!) shot.  I'm sure glad I did, on a New Year's Eve out-of-town visit to a close family friend's house . . . their sweet dogs' faces were just about all this notecard needed! But please excuse the low-light fuzzy camera shake blurriness that occured on my photo (no, it's not your eyes!) -- I still couldn't resist using the photo of these sweet faces!

Then here's all you need to do:

1. Print photo 5" x 3.50" onto Natural Sticky-Back Canvas.
2. Trim with pinking shears.
3. Remove backing from canvas and stick to notecard. 
4. Stamp greeting with white chalk ink onto notecard. 
5. Send! 

I LOVE the texture of the natural colored sticky-backed canvas, it's such an unusual texture and so unexpected!  I hope you'll give these personalized notecards a try! ~ Sharon

Stamps: Hero Arts Poly Clear-Everyday Sayings; 
Paper: Ranger Claudine Hellmuth Natural Studio Sticky-Back Canvas; Memory Box Vanilla Bean Notecards & Envelopes; 
Ink: Hero Arts Hero Hues-Snow Chalk Ink; 
Other: Photo, printer, pinking shears

12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist 2011 - Day 12 by Ellen

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house...

This is the theme of my last tag of the year. Day 12, Tag 12 - the end of our 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist for the year 2011. We hope you enjoyed the twists that we shared here in the CLASSroom this year. Yes, it is a labor of love that pushes us through each year. It is a "mission" each day just to get these completed in a manner that we hope inspires you.

Today it is my desire to share several more ways for you to use tissue paper in your projects, as well as share one more resist technique with you!

Don't you find these contemporary, yet rustic little dwellings, sitting in a snowbank with Santa flying overhead simply cute!

Adhering tissue paper to a surface can be done in ways atypical to the usual glues and adhesives. If you would like to add color to your project Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Line is the PERFECT way to add your tissue paper! First cut the dwellings from Craft-a-Board. Apply a layer of Studio Paint.

For variation and interest I added a second color in a streaky manner. You could stamp patterns or use stencils to add variation as well. I was trying to keep today's projects simple and colorful.

Immediately, while the paint is still wet, attach your tissue paper to your project by placing it on the painted surface and applying pressure evenly over the entire surface. Magically the color appears through the tissue paper in a wonderful muted way.

Aren't these just the sweetest mix of colors - right now I am picturing myself in a tranquil setting on the Italian coastline where their homes are so magically colored. How divine!

To add snow to the rooftops follow the same technique I showed a few days ago. Using Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint apply along the roofline and drag a piercing tool through the paint for a random appearance. Sprinkle silver and clear glass glitter (Twinklets Diamond Dust) into the wet paint. Allow to dry.

Streak Picket Fence Distress Stain randomly over a manila tag.

Add "icicles" to the manila tag surface by randomly streaking Rock Candy Distress Crackle paint on the surface. Apply enough so that you get random cracking. The more you apply, the larger the cracks, with thinner layers providing smaller cracks. Allow to dry.

This surface is absolutely fabulous and very "icy" looking, but I had more to show you ;-D

Using an ink blending tool, in a circular motion, add both Tumbled Glass and Stormy Sky distress ink at random to your surface.

Stamp snowflakes in both Stormy Sky and Tumbled Glass.

Make a corner of a soft towel or paper towel damp and wipe the excess ink from the surface where the Rock Candy Crackle paint is applied. Your snowflakes will start disappearing into the night sky.

To create your snowbank use a piece of tissue that has the tiny pinked edge formed by the cutting blade on the packaging on one side and a haphazardly torn edge on the other side. Crumple your tissue paper and then straighten back out. Apply Tumbled Glass distress stain in a random way and dry with a heat tool.

Cut a piece of manila cardstock to fit the width of the tag from the edges of the houses. Tear a random pattern in the top of this snowbank.

On the side opposite of the Distress Stained tissue paper, apply a layer of Gloss Multi-Medium.

Pleat, crumple, and mash the tissue paper to fit and adhere to the manila cardstock snowbank you created above.

Apply another layer of Gloss Multi-Medium to the surface by pouncing with a paintbrush. Sprinkle with both silver and clear glass glitter. Allow to dry.

I love having both 1/16" and 1/8" dimensional squares for adding depth to projects. When you need to layer items one on top of another you can achieve a "flat" look by combining the adhesive squares dependent upon where it is being attached to your project.

As you can see, one of the edges of my blue house is mounted on the tag and the other is mounted on top of the other dwelling. By placing the thicker dimensional on the side that is mounted directly to the tag it keeps my house level. Yes, the perfectionist in my is always coming out and I thought I would share this little trick with you in hopes that it will help other perfectionists out here in cyberville - LOL!

Tip: Create a more unifed balance by spacing these dwellings of different sizes and shapes in an assymetrical way. In other words, don't center the red house or it will not look right. It's all about breaking up your space into thirds and fifths - the Roman mean. Yep, that puts me right back in Italy and I'm going back to the Cinque Terre - ha, ha!

I needed to use my second set of hands, my self-closing tweezers, to knot my baker's twine and add the little jingle bell.

Since it is Christmas Eve I decided to add one simple "window" to my dwelling, but needed to alter the color ever so slightly to coordinate with the house on the left and Santa's face - Delicata Gold ink to the rescue!

One last parting shot of our last tag of the season. We hope that you have enjoyed your time here with us and with that we would like to close with... Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

stamps: Tim Holtz Winter Sketchbook 

ink: Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass and Stormy Sky, Distress Stain - Picket Fence and Tumbled Glass

paper: Manila Cardstock, Craft-a-board, Terminology Tissue Wrap

accessories: Studio Line - Dab of Yellow, Yellow Pastel, Modern Red, Dash of Red, Sky Blue, Landscape Green, Glossy Multi-Medium; Off White Twill, Silver Tinsel, Santa Christmas Ornament (these are absolutely darling and the size is perfect for crafting!), Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint, Silver Glitter Glass, Twinklets Diamond Dust, Bakers Twine, Jingle Bell, Game Pieces

---

It's our last day of blog candy, but the party is far from over! Be certain to join us again tomorrow as we get our Hero Arts preview party started. Due to the "inconveniences" of today (yes, my studio is in complete disarray as the neighbors flooded toilet made an amazing mess in our office and warehouse - who would have thought a toilet contains that much water!) I am not certain when we will be able to get our first post up, but it is on to Plan B for the short term as I try to wade through this - ha, ha! Gotta laugh about it or I just might be sitting in a puddle crying - double ha, ha!

To be eligible for the random drawing of the goodies shown above please leave a comment here on this post by noon Pacific Time, Wednesday, December 14th. 

One last reminder that the goodies in the 12 Days Tag Time will be on sale until tomorrow morning at 9:00am, so if you have been inspired to try something new and different please head over to take advantage of the savings.

Thank you all once again for joining us here in the CLASSroom. We sincerely hope that we have brought a bright spot to your holiday season, that you have been inspired, and hopefully, have picked up a couple of new ideas to use in your creating!

La Blanche Stamps - Paper, Ink and Coloring Options

There has been a steady "hum" surrounding the La Blanche stamps and being one who loves to try new things I decided to venture into the mix and explore these beautiful stamps. I had never seen or used a silicone stamp before and when they arrived in the warehouse on Friday I knew I just had to "test" them. Isn't it wonderful that I have a valid excuse for needing to stamp?!? :-D

Today I would like to share my discoveries with you in hopes of answering some of the questions you might have about these stamps.

The amazing detail in these stamps is what struck me most!

There was a bit of a learning curve for me with these images, due to the way they are designed. I hope that by sharing my findings with you it might help you stamp a beautiful image without a lot of need to experiment.

The backing on this stamp is foam, with white silicone covering the entire base. I found it very important to do my best to keep ink off the edges of the perimeter of the base. I seemed to transfer the ink to my paper if I was not careful when inking the image.

The easiest method of applying the ink was to place the stamp - image side up on my work surface and then tap my ink pad to the surface of the stamp as shown above.

As you can see there is an ink spot on the lower right hand corner in the photo above. It is this ink that I seemed to transfer to my stamped image, so it is best to make certain your base is clean around the edges before you stamp.

 

You want your surface to be evenly inked with no ink around the edges. I kept a paper towel handy to remove any excess ink that strayed onto the base once I realized I was not going to be able to stamp cleanly otherwise.

ETA: To clean my stamp I have been using Ranger's CleansIt and fresh water.

To evenly distribute the ink on my paper and capture all the detail I carefully "walked" my fingers over all the details of the image as shown above. 

Yes, it is the detail in these images that is incredible! 

 

There has been a lot of talk about paper - which one is best, what should I use, etc. I have shared two examples above - the image on the left is stamped with Jet Black Archival on Neenah and the one of the right is Jet Black Archival on X-Press. X-Press is definitely a smoother paper and so the detail reads differently on this smooth surface, but I must share that they both are absolutely lovely! My opinion is that I LOVE the different looks that different papers can provide - so try them on all your favorite papers - I don't think that it makes that much difference.

 

I decided to also test different inks. In the video I observed the beautiful work created by using Distress Ink Pads and Cut n' Dry nibs so I wanted to try that, but I also wanted to see how Copic Markers would work and so I tried both Archival ink and Memento inks. Archival inks work fabulously with watercolor products and techniques, whereas I prefer Memento ink when coloring with Copics. The hardest part was taking a photo that would be accurate - LOL! As you can see the results are all beautiful and I can hardly wait to have more time to do entire images with various coloring methods!

Below I am sharing my version of the Distress Inks and Cut n' Dry nibs coloring process.

 

Utilizing the lightest selection of green I colored in the entire leaf.

 

Following the "shading" of the stamp I then added a more citrusy ink color for the highlights and a darker, mossy green in the shadows. This helped to add dimension to the coloring.

 

One of the perks of the colored images on the website is the ability to refer to them as a guide. To add warmth and dimension to the sparrows I opted to utilize a little pink in addition to the browns. I love how they turned out.

 

To create the soft, blue sky-like background I used a foam ink blending tool and the beautiful Soap Powder ink pad.

Due to the intricacy of the design I wanted to keep the card simple. I decided to create a stucco like wall and die-cut a window to look out on this gorgeous natural scene.

I first painted some Neenah Solar White paper with a combination of Painterly Pink and Altered Orange allowing it to dry.

To create the "stucco" I simply mixed some Gesso together with Studio Paints as shown in the picture above.

Adding a little Rust reinker helped to add intensity to the color. 

 

Place a template, in this case I used the Crafter's Workshop harlequin pattern, over the painted background and use a Craft Scraper to add the gesso.

 

My mixture was a little more liquid than I had initially thought and so it oozed out beneath the stencil, but I have to admit that I love the effect and so rather than rework it I just went with it. Allow the gesso and paint mixture to fully dry and then cut the window. Distressing this image slightly with an ink blending tool and Vintage Photo distress ink helps to age it even further.

Stamp, color and fussy cut the birds, then pop them up off the image to create a striking focal point.

My opinion is that you will be able to use these images with many different types of papers and inks --- it all depends on the type of look you would like to create! Experiment and play with the different colors and textures of papers and inks.
 

stamps: La Blanche Two Sparrows

ink: Archival Jet Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Ink Pads - Bundled Sage, Shabby Shutters, Forest Moss, Spun Sugar, Antique Linen, and Brushed Corduroy; Jenni Bowlin Soap Powder

paper: Neenah Solar White, X-press Blending Card, Memory Box Meadow Cardstock

accessories: Studio Line - Gesso, Painterly Pink, Altered Orange and Traditional Tan; Adirondack Rust Reinker; Crafter's Workshop Harlequin Template, Craft Scraper, Tim Holtz Mini Cabinet Card together with Base Tray, Cut n' Dry Nibs, Ink Blending Tool

Back-to-School Canvas Tags by Sharon Harnist

It’s Back-to-School time once again, so I thought I would make some cute personalized canvas tags my girls could use either on their backpacks or lunch bags.  Here’s what I came up with:

I started with this 6” x 3” Maya Road 3-Ring Rectangle Canvas Album and removed two of the “pages” to use for the base of the tags:

Next, I opened Ellen’s Seasonal Alphabet Download (letter A -- both of my girls’ first name initials) in Photoshop and changed the colors … one to a bright pink & green combo, the other to orange & green.  I added the monogram letters to each of my girls photographs and then printed them (approximately 2” x 2.5”) onto Claudine Hellmuth’s 8.5” x 11” Studio Sticky-Back Canvas.

I trimmed the photos, removed the backing from them, and stuck them to the canvas tags.  After machine stitching the photos to the canvas tags, I chose some Prima Iron On Butterflies and Iron On Daisies to add to the tags and ironed them on the fronts as well as the backs of the tags:

Lastly, I finished the fronts of the tags with some pretty natural colored lace, pom-pom, and tiny rose trims (either machine stitched on or held with Fabri-Tac).  Two of the three binder rings that came with the album will be used to attach the tags to whatever my girls would like to use them on.  I like that the holes in the tags are sturdy and reinforced with metal -- they should last a long time and I don’t think their backpacks or lunch bags will be mistaken for anyone else’s now!

I hope you’ll try some of the great canvas and iron-on items Ellen carries -- they can make some very unique, fun projects!  ~Sharon

Paper: Ranger Claudine Hellmuth’s 8.5” x 11” Studio Sticky-Back Canvas, 
Accessories: Maya Road 3-Ring Rectangle Canvas Album, Prima Donna Downey Iron On Butterflies and Iron On Daisies, Ellen’s Seasonal Alphabet Download, Prima Cream Crocheted Lace, Maya Road Ecru Pom-Pom and Small Organza Cream Roses, Beacon Adhesives Fabri-Tac,

The Painted Gate by Julia Stainton

When I was a teenager, I loved to paint. As the years pass, my free time seems to shrink and while I've wanted to get back to painting for awhile now, I just don't have the time or I admit, the confidence to do it. This brought an idea to my mind. Why not paint over a stamped image using acrylic paints so that it looks more like a painting than a stamped image.

Using the stamp as a guide, I've created my own mini painting to use on a card or piece of altered art. It's a fun and unique approach to using a stamped image and I hope you'll enjoy it.

To start off with, I've stamped my image onto some Sticky Back Canvas and then heat set it. I'm using one of the latest Lockhart stamps here, Petunias on the Gate, and stamped it in Jet Black Archival Ink. This is a great ink that is permanent when heat set making it perfect for adding liquid paints to.

You can see that this stamp is quite detailed and beautiful and could be colored with Copic Markers, colored pencils, watercolored or whatever medium you wish. Today's project uses a more loosely interpreted approach where you use the stamp as a guide and then cover it up totally with paint. You'll be able to see how closely the final painting follows the stamp but is not a slave to it.

Acrylic paints are wonderful things and I love how you can apply them thick like an oil painting or thin them to a wash to resemble watercolors. To create the background apply water to the area you want to "wash" with paint and then pick up a small amount of color with a wet brush and put in a thin transparent coat of paint to form the background.

After your wash is dry, begin adding thicker coats of Studio Line Acrylic Paint to build up color and totally cover the stamped image. Feel free to add in your own highlights and greenery. Above is a photo of my painting midway through.

I've added in my flowers randomly. By the time you get to the flowers, most of your ink should be covered so add them where you wish. I love adding dots of colors to resemble flowers. An easy way to get lovely dots is to turn your brush upside-down and dab the paint on with the end of your brush.

I used the Ranger Non-Stick Craft Sheet as a worksurface for my canvas and also to mix colors directly on. Get variations of colors by mixing two or more paints directly on the mat. It simply wipes off or the paint will peel off if you allow it to dry.

These are the Studio Line paint colors I used.

This is my final painting while drying. You can see that some of the flower dots are still wet.

Finally a detail shot of the finished image. Don't worry if the painting isn't perfect. It just adds to the charm of the project. One last thing to note...the smaller the stamp detail is, the harder it will be to recreate. If you're looking for extreme detail, Copic Markers or watercoloring may be a better coloring method for you.

Thanks for stopping by the CLASSroom and happy creating!

Supplies: Petunias on the Gate stamp by Lockhart Stamp Company, Find Joy Stamp set by Hero Arts, Jet Black Archival Ink by Ranger, Sticky Back Canvas by Ranger, Non-Stick Craft Sheet by Ranger, Smidge of Blue, Sable Brown, Blank Canvas, Sky Blue, Landscape Green, Yellow Pastel and Dash of Red Studio Line Paints by Ranger, Studio Artist Brushes, Pink Vintage Button by Jenni Bowlin, twine, sewing machine, Mini Pin by Tim Holtz, Solar White cardstock by Neenah, Mocha Cardstock by Memory Box

Father's Day Card Using The Metallic Foil Multi-Medium Transfer Technique

Do bells and whistles ever go off in your head when you see a technique? Claudine recently shared a fun video showcasing a Multi-Medium Transfer Technique and bells and whistles went off in my head - this technique would be PERFECT for creating a masculine themed card for the men in your life! 

With Father's Day right around the corner I felt the combination of October Afternoon's Rocket Age would make the perfect fit with this fab technique!

 

I also wanted to show you the goodies that come "Inside the Package" in the Miscellany kits from October Afternoon. It was so much fun to select the ticket and rocket from this collection to add to my card today. I am hoping to create some additional pieces in the next few days to show you some other options - there are so many items (buttons, ribbon, tickets, cards & chipboard) to select from in these fabulous collections!

 

With Claudine's permission we are sharing her video here today. Her blog is filled with magical techniques using her fabulous line of products! Claudine is also teaching an on-line class covering "Composition" which is open for enrollment right now - so head over to Claudine's blog to learn more about it and enroll today!

 

I thought I would also show a few step-by-step photos to share my little "twist" on this technique. Rather than using actual tin I opted for something I had right here in my studio - the new Inkssentials Foil tape. I printed a picture on my laser printer (it is my understanding that inkjet printing does not work the same) of a moon using the mirror image mode since there is writing on the picture I used.

Apply multi-medium directly to the Metallic Foil as shown in Claudine's video.

 

It is absolutely critical that you allow your sample to dry completely. I left mine overnight and found it in this curled up state this morning. No worries... it works just fine!

Spritz to wet thoroughly. 

Using your pointer finger gently rub the paper fibers until your image is revealed. Continue to spritz and gently rub until your image is fiber free. 
 

When working with the foil you will need to hold down the edges as you work and be careful not to bend wrinkles into it.

Cut out a piece of Craft-a-Board to fit the moon. Use a Silver Paint Dabber to create a metallic edge on the Craft-a-Board. Simply remove the backing and the self-adhesive foil can be adhered to this more sturdy base.

You will also use this same Dabber to paint the chipboard rocket. While the paint is still wet simply take a large Artist Brush and smooth the paint for a wonderful "space-age look."

The picture above is one I have wanted to share for some time. I love using adhesive dimensionals when I add embellishments to my cardfronts. The two depths of these dimensionals (1/16" 3-D Dots and 1/8" 3-D Dots) allows me to have varying heights and create a more interesting look overall.

Jenni Bowlin's Spice Tin ink pad is a fabulous navy color and works together with so many of the Navy papers we carry. I couldn't believe I did not have a "dad" stamp in my stash! A ClearDesign alphabet saved the day!

 

Tiny Type stickers and 7 Gypsy studs were the final touches to this masculine look.

Creating for men is always a bit tricky, but I think that this technique will blast you into the stratosphere with the men in your life - ha! ha!

 
stamps: Hero Arts ClearDesign Typewriter Letters

ink: Jenni Bowlin Spice Tin Ink Pad

paper: October Afternoon Rocket Age 8x8 Paper Pad and Miscellany Kit, Memory Box Parchment Cardstock

accessories: Studio Matte Multi-Medium & Artist Brush, Inkssentials Metal Foil Tape, Cosmo Cricket Red Tiny Type, Tiny Attacher, 7 Gypsies Display Trim Studs

Photo Tinting Using Studio Line Products

Today a beautiful woman from "across the pond" is celebrating her 70th birthday! We LOVE you sweet Miss Judy and wish you a healthy and happy year ahead --- now go grab your "cuppa" and revel in this special day!

 

Claudine shared a super easy photo tinting video tutorial on her blog along with this fabulous blossom. I decided to try my hand at this technique. I kid you not when I tell you that trying to take the photo was MUCH harder than creating the card - LOL! Trying to capture the soft beauty is almost impossible.

 

Print the photo on Glossy Cardstock. Mix Extra Time with Studio Paint - in this case I used Painterly Pink and Purple Palette.

The more Extra Time you use the more translucent the mix. Paint the petals of the blossom with this mixture.

 

You know me - I must experiment as I learn - LOL! I wanted to add a little more depth in the color in some places and so you can see how I added a little additional paint to my first mix. Oh how I love a good experiment when it turns out :-D As you add more paint it becomes a little more opaque. Don't overdo it though because you still want to see the photo details peek through from beneath.

 

Again it is so hard to capture the lovely mix of the glossy cardstock and the change in texture that is created when you tint your photo. I hope this photo gives you a little idea of this beautiful combination.

 

To create the background strip I used one of the new Memory Box dies. To hold it in position use Tim's Tissue Tape. It holds it perfectly and is super easy to remove without damaging your cardstock.

 

I like to align it first as shown above.

 

For the second cut I will measure. The old adage measure twice, cut once is an appropriate attitude when it comes to cutting borders. :-D

 

One last try at photographing this pretty little blossom. Note the "pearl" embossed words --- the effect was to play off the subtle sheen provided by the exposed Glossy Cardstock. This technique adds subtle beauty to any of your black and white photos. My head is now running through some of the photos I have taken - hmmm perhaps I should turn them into digital images to use on cardfronts, altered projects or even scrapbook pages.

Once again happy, happy, happy 70th birthday my sweet Australian friend!

 
stamps: Hero Arts/Basic Grey Life of the Party Birthdays

ink: Distress Embossing Pad

paper: Ranger White Glossy Cardstock, Memory Box Cherry Blossom and Dove Gray Cardstock, Neenah Solar White, White Twinchie Square

accessories: Studio Line - Extra Time, Painterly Pink, Purple Palette, Artist Brushes; Silver Pearl Embossing Powder, Memory Box Bitty Scallop Die 

Life Canvas Wall Art by Julia Stainton

Art is everywhere. It's in nature. In design. Essentially any thing of beauty is a work of art.

As a child we love art. We love painting. We love creating. It brings us joy.

Somewhere along the way, something happens.

We start to critique ourselves. We start to decide that art is only for "real" artists and we just don't compare.

I'm more often than not stuck in this mindset too.

Today I have a challenge for you. To believe that you can create art. To feel the freedom of getting messy with some paint and canvas. To explore. To enjoy.

This is my little foray into an altered art wall hanging. It's not perfect but that's OK. I'm not either.

I have to admit this was all a bit of a trial and error project. If we don't take the chance to try things out, we don't learn. I encourage you to dare.

To start my project, I cut a piece of Sticky-Back Canvas to 7x7" square and placed it on a plastic mat. I roughly painted mine with two colors of Studio Line paint from Claudine Hellmuth.

Studio Gloss Multi-Medium is a fabulous product for adhering paper and especially tissue. This new 7 Gypsies Tissue is just stunning and there are a few different prints of it available. To adhere the tissue, brush the entire surface with Glossy Medium and then apply some torn tissue. You'll want to apply another coat of it over the tissue as well to really seal it. If you like a more matte finish, the Studio Matte Multi-medium works in exactly the same way. I've purposely added in some creases in the tissue to add texture to the finished design.

You can layer tissue over tissue and it's a great way to add a stamped sentiment or quote. Here I've stamped my sentiment on plain white tissue with Jet Black Archival ink and then heat set it.

Apply a fresh coat of Multi-Medium to the surface and then layer on the tissue. Brush another coat over the top to seal it.

After your canvas layers are dry, you are then able to embellish it. I've used Glimmer Mist, a Prima Canvas bird, ink, Jenni Bowlin Chipboard Buttons and a beautiful Webster's Pages Designer Threads Doily.

Here's a closeup of all the great texture you get with painting on the canvas and also with the tissue.

To finish off my project, I've stamped various areas of the canvas and tissue to tie the design together.

Please feel free to click on the above images for an enlarged image to see better detail.

As spring is the season for all things new, I encourage you to try something new and explore your creativity! Thanks so much for joining me in the CLASSroom today!

Have a beautiful Easter,

Julia

Supplies: Claudine Hellmuth Sticky Back Canvas, Studio Line  Paint Sky Blue & Studio Line Paint Landscape Green by Ranger,  Studio Line Multi-Medium Gloss by Ranger, Designer Threads Doilies by Webster's Pages, Tiny Attacher by Advantus, Birdsong Collage Tissue by 7 Gypsies, Coffee Shop Glimmer Mist & Sweet Clover Glimmer Mist  by Tattered Angels, flower by Prima, Vintage Green Pearl Trinket Pins by Maya Road, Raw Canvas Chipboard by Prima Marketing, Jet Black Archival Ink by Ranger, Shabby French stamp set & Stuff to Say Stamp Set by Stampers Anonymous, Sketchbook Tissue Tape by TIm Holtz, Chipboard Buttons by Jenni Bowlin, Avignon Clear Stamps by 7 Gypsies

ATC Fun and Random Drawing for Ellen's ATC

ATC's have always intrigued me, but I must admit this is a new adventure for me - I cannot remember ever creating one before (insert big eyes!) I had no idea what the "requirements" are for an ATC and so I began with what I know. I know that Claudine has ATC sized Sticky Back Canvas, so I went and grabbed one to use for this project :-D

So what is an ATC? I decided I'd best figure that out and there is NO better resource than the CLASSroom - right?!? Note the wonderful categories on the side index - yes sir, ATC or Altered Trading Cards are right there amongst the mix. A little reading was in order - I encourage you to follow this link and read more about ATC's if you have never created one and are intrigued. 

 

With Sticky Back in hand I decided to do a transfer, but what could I try that might be an interesting lesson. I decided to test the punched edge to see what type of interest this would add to a project.

 

Apply a generous amount of Matte Multi-Medium to the canvas face and then a small amount to the printed side of the patterned Prima paper. Rub the paper firmly to affix to the canvas and let it dry. Yes, this is the hardest part --- allowing it to fully dry is imperative!

 

Once completely dry mist the paper until you see the paper change color. In the photo above you will note how the paper in the center is not moist enough - this will not rub off easily. Once again use the flat part of your finger as I showed in the Transparency transfer to remove the excess paper. You will notice how the top edge does not have the decorative paper transfered to the canvas - this is because there just wasn't enough adhesive in that location to affix the decorative paper properly. I love that random look and so when applying the adhesive to my canvas I allow some portions to be drier than others to get this random application. You will also note that I really did try and define that punched edge by applying plenty of adhesive to that area before the drying process began.

 

Remove as much of the paper "fuzzies" as possible. If you would like to get rid of that white cast brush a very light coating of matte multi-medium over the finished piece. The part on the left is still not covered so that you can see a comparison.

 

I knew I wanted to add some fairly heavy embellishments to my ATC and so I decided to use Craft-a-Board as my base. Craft-a-Board and Color Wash are a match made in heaven! In my spray box I misted the surface with Stream Color Wash and some plain water until the surface was soaked. Using a brayer I then went over the surface. This grabbed a little of the color from previous sprayings and achieved the most gorgeous color mix. Hopefully soon I will have the time to do a "Use Your Spray Box To It's Full Advantage" post. :-D

 

Inking one of my favorite Hero Arts backgrounds with Walnut Ink was the finishing touch for my ATC backing.

 

I don't know if you recall my foray into Shimmer Sheetz the other day, but the flower shown above is one of those experiments :-D I simply punched the flower from the Shimmer Sheet and then heated it, curling the petals while it was warm. Susan, who happened to be in my studio that day (yes, I'm a lucky lady!) grabbed an embossing stylus and put a vein down the center of each petal. We then used the Crafter's Pick to add a hole. This flower turned out to be THE perfect color embellishment for this project - I love when a happy coincidence occurs! Using a Tim Holtz foliage piece together with a brad I attached the flower as shown above.

Remember that you can alter the length of chain on most of these embellishments. Simply removing a few of the links made the length much more appropriate.

 

What could be more perfect for an ATC than an Odds and Ends ticket (using a Stamp-a-ma-jig helps me get these tickets in the best position on my ticket strip), together with a mini paper clip and a bird for that little bird house?!?

 

Yes, my little ATC is REALLY lonely in this adorable Mini Library Drawer. If you collect ATC's then this little drawer is THE perfect place to store your collection.

I believe that the point of ATC's is to just create for art's sake and then trade them, so with that I will be giving my lonely little ATC to someone who might enjoy having this lonely little character - LOL! I know that there is absolutely no way I can make enough to trade but I can give the one away that I did make... if you would like to be included in a random drawing for this little ATC you must show me your ATC's! At the end of this post we would love for you to share one of your ATC projects! Link us up and inspire other's to just create art for arts sake :-D

 

stamps: Hero Arts Cling Fabric Design Background, Tim Holtz Odds and Ends

ink: Distress Walnut Stain Ink, Archival Coffee, Stream Color Wash

paper: Memory Box Bayou CS, Prima 6x6 Madeline, Craft-a-Board

accessories: Studio Line Natural ATC Sized Sticky Back Canvas and Matte Multi-Medium, Prima Vintage Bird Trinkets, Tim Holtz Crafter's Pick, Ticket Strip Die, Foliage, Mini Paper Clips, Swivel Clasp; Hero Arts Self-Adhesive Cream Ribbon Strip, EK Success Deco Scallop Punch, Iridescent Black Shimmer Sheetz, Martha Stewart Flower Punch and Stamp, 7 Gypsy Antique Brass Reinforcer and Mini Library Drawer

You have until March 2nd to create an ATC and share it with us here to be included in a random drawing for my ATC. I would love to hear from you --- tell me if you create and trade ATC's. If so how many do you typically create? Thank you and have a wonderful day!

ETA: Please feel free to add your ATC to the Gallery and link to it there!

Love is in the Air #4 - Shabby Dabbers and See Through Transfers

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!! Today is the last day of my little Love is in the Air Tag Technique mini-series. My hope is that once again you are simply inspired to just create and try new things - tags are such an easy format in which to do this!

With this thought I am going to challenge you - using any technique from this series or our 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist (just click on the following links to see your choices and find directions for the different technique options) you have one week to create a tag using one of these techniques and share it in the Gallery. Please be certain to contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions or are having trouble uploading your project!

ETA: As noted in the Gallery you have until Midnight Pacific Time on Sunday, February 21st 2011 to join in our challenge.

Following are a list of techniques to select from:

1. Shabby Dabbers - directions included in this post
2. See Through Transfers - directions included in this post
3. Copic Stained Glitter
4. Nostalgic Blended Batik
5. Shimmer Sheetz Texture
6. Colorwashed Craft-a-Board
7. Studio Paints and Transparencies
8. Studio Line "Decoupage"
9. Shabby Grungeboard
10. Studio Line Stamped Texture
11. Copic Airbrushed Graffiti
12. Alcohol Ink Holograms
13. Bigz and or Movers and Shapers Die Foam Stamps (create your own stamp)
14. Transparency Accents
15. Hot Glue Embellishments
16. Pattern Play (use a tissue paper pattern or pattern directions in your creation)
17. Magnetic Masks or Stencils
18. Sticky Back Canvas Flowers
19. Inky Texture Folders
20. Enameled Metal Embellishments
21. Dabber Resist
22. Metallic Dabber and Alcohol Ink Magic
23. Glossy Accents and Stickle Glue for Clear Embellishments
24. Clear Embossed Resist
25. Tissue Tape and Alcohol Ink
26. Create your own Custom Felt Stamp Pad

We will be selecting a random winner from all those who participate - that winner will receive a $50 certificate to shop in our store!

Tag #4... how does time pass so quickly?!? I have wanted to play with the Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime collection since it arrived and even though it is filled with flowers and fairies I felt that it was so very Valentiney (is that even a word?) in feel and knew that one of my tags was going to incorporate it. 

To begin I cut a grungeboard heart using the Heart Wingz die. I love how this heart is lopsided! Now if you don't like an assymetrical look you can cut out the coordinating "scrollwork" heart and flip it, layering it to make a symetrical heart! I should have taken a picture to share this concept and if I get time I'll come back in and show you, but because I am working from home on a Sunday evening I don't have all my tools - bummer. 

 

Place your grungeboard element in a texture folder and run it through your machine. I am loving my new Vagabond - all I have to do is push a button! SO easy! It really is a very strong machine - Erica and Julia here at work have their own little story. They actually embedded a die in the cutting plate due to an incorrect sandwich --- now that's power! bwahaha!

Paint the entire surface of the embellishment with a light colored paint dabber and allow to fully dry.

Once completely dry, sand the surface - this will remove most of the paint from that top raised layer. Then use an ink blending tool and Distress ink to add color to the sanded surface. Result... instant shabby delight!

 

This next technique was a bit of an experiment. I have created transfers now on numerous occasions by using my Multi-medium to affix inkjet prints or patterned paper to transparencies, but I have never tried mixing it with color before.

I place a very small amount of Studio Line paint on my non-stick craft sheet and mixed it together with a generous amount of Glossy Multi-medium.
 

Paint this mixture onto your plastic or acetate sheet. As you can see I started with clear glossy multi-medium at one end and the special mix with paint on the other end. Yes, the scientist in me had to experiment - ha! ha!

Place a piece of decorative paper on top of this mixture and brayer or rub in place. This next step is critical - you MUST allow it to dry completely! Don't be tempted to start the next step until it is completely dry.

 

Once it is completely dry you will then soak the patterned paper and peel off the top layer.

 

Then gently use the flat portion of your finger to rub the remaining fibers from the surface. Work slowly and carefully so that the transferred image remains in place. If you rub too hard you will remove the transfer.

You may need to wet your surface from time to time with a mini mister to keep the fibers moist and workable. Continue working until you feel the fibers are gone.

To get rid of the last little fuzzy bits, simply apply additional multi-medium to the surface.
 

For the next step I attached the decorative paper, text side up to a Craft-a-board tag and allowed it to dry.

I then used glossy multi-medium to affix my transparency to my tag. As you can see the text shows through the transparency completely in the areas where I used only multi-medium. In the areas where I had mixed Studio Paint and Gloss Multi-medium the transparency has a slight opacity to it, but you can still see through it. I love this combination - it makes for a very interesting final look.

 

Fussy cut out a fairy and add Rock Candy stickles to her wings.
 

Add embellishments and ribbon - keys, pearls, whimsy flowers - such pretty little pieces! I have to admit that I have found a new glue that I am REALLY like for attaching my ribbon. It is Beacon's Fabritac. It is a little stringy, but it dries so quickly and I am able to use it easily each time without having to unclog my bottle tip - HUGE yeah for that :-D
 

ink: Distress Ink - Tea Dye and Walnut Stain

paper: Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime Frames and Primrose Cottage, Craft-a-Board

accessories: Shell Pink Dabber, Grungeboard, Rock Candy Stickles, Baubles, Prima Flower, Printable Transparency, Studio Line Gloss Multi-Medium and Painterly Pink Paint, Antique Brass Key, Antique Brass Reinforcer, Silk Ribbon - Mauve and Olive

Love is in the Air #3 - Copic Stained Glitter Hero Heart

Today's tag takes yet another totally different twist! What is more perfect than a VERY glittery heart for Valentine's day? I have been wanting to try this for some time now and I can hardly wait to share this idea with you, so here goes...

 

You all know how much I love my Copic markers - LOL! This particular technique has been brewing in my head, but hadn't been realized on paper and so I am excited to share it with you today.

This is a perfectly girly project --- I hope you enjoy it :-D

Begin by applying Be Creative (Sookwang) tape to Neenah Solar White cardstock. Remove the lining from the tape and cover the entire sticky surface with warm highlights glitter. Use your finger to burnish the glitter into the surface of the adhesive. As you burnish, the glitter becomes firmly embedded, and it will not come off onto your marker when you color --- so be certain to firmly burnish the entire surface!

 

Because I wanted my stamped image to have a slightly raised, glossy embossed surface I removed the stickiness and static from my surface with the Puff Static Away before proceeding.

This next step is one that I had to try several different inks before determining the best way to stamp my image on to the glittery surface. I tried a wide range of ink pads with lack-lustre success before deciding to try the Studio Line of paints. I placed a small dollop of black paint on my non-stick craft sheet and then used my ink blending tool as an applicator. Simply dab the foam surface on the ink blending tool into your paint until the foam is completely covered. Transfer the paint to your stamp by simply dabbing on the stamp image surface.

While the paint is still wet immediately cover the image with clear embossing powder. Heat until the powder melts and becomes shiny and clear. The awesome thing about the Be Creative tape is that heat does NOT affect it - yeah!!!

 

Begin by coloring with your lightest Copic colors - the result is almost ethereal. When coloring on the glitter I used a VERY light touch, working carefully so that I would not damage the tip of my marker on this slightly rough surface. When burnished well the surface does become incredibly smooth and velvety, so be certain to burnish well before starting.

 

Add deeper colors and come back in over top with your lighter colors to blend. The gemstones add that final special, sparkly touch!

 

Copic colors used: RV00, RV17, BG11, BG15, BV02, BV04, YG00, YG23, 100

 

The next step is to develop the accent strip. Once again I am using a Burnished Velvet masking technique. Begin by punching a design in the Be Creative (Sookwang) tape backing as shown above. Apply a strip of 1/2" tape and remove the backing. Place the mask over the exposed surface and using another piece of backing affix mask as shown below.

 

Apply Warm Highlights glitter and remove excess. Burnish glitter before removing mask.

 

Apply a second mask as shown above - this mask was added to define the letters shown above. I could have cut out each letter and applied them with tweezers, but by doing this in two steps it was SO much easier. Apply Warm Highlights glitter on exposed edge and burnish in place.

 

Remove mask and apply glitter to exposed sticky surface (this will highlight the "x & o"). Remove excess glitter and burnish.

 

Color one pin with Copic marker RV17 - I just love how easy it is to make coordinating embellishments with my Copic markers!

 

So there you have it - one VERY sparkley love tag. This technique almost has the appearance of stained glass, therefore the title "stained glitter."

Tomorrow is the last tag in our mini-series... I can tell you that you WILL want to join us on Valentine's for the last of our Love is in the Air series and you may just want to share your thoughts between now and then ;-D

 
stamps: Hero Arts Cling Hearts and Flowers

ink: Copic Markers - RV00, RV17, BG11, BG15, BV02, BV04, YG00, YG23, 100

paper: Memory Box Taffy CS and Pixie 6x6 Paper Pack, Neenah Solar White CS

accessories: Tim Holtz Tag and Bookplate Die, Be Creative (Sookwang) Tape Sheets and 1/2" (12mm), Warm Highlights and Ice Blue Microfine Glitter Ritz, EK Success Arrow Border Edger Punches, Martha Stewart Hugs and Kisses Edger Punch, Studio Charcoal Black Paint, Ink Blending Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Adelaide Seam Binding, Heart Trinket Pin

12 Days of Christmas: Day 7 - One Little Word

One little word... Ali Edwards has shared this idea for the past several years. Ali has suggested that, "one little word can make a big impact in your life." This year I decided I would select a word. I thought about what word would be most appropriate for my life right now and settled on the word "purpose."
 

I decided to create a "purpose" book that I can work on throughout the year and so today as we celebrate the seventh day of Christmas with an "altered project" I completed my title page and first tag.

 

To make the background for the tag I wiped Pool Adirondack dye ink on my non-stick craft sheet. I then put a small dab of Stream Dimensional Pearls on the mat beside my ink and added water. Using my paint brush I then splattered the Dimensional Pearl mixture over the Pool ink as shown above.

I then laid my tag into this mixture and allowed it to dry.

 

To paint the foam layer of my image I went with a similar approach. This time I mixed a tiny amount of Modern Red Studio paint together with Red Pepper Dimensional Pearls. I inked my non-stick craft sheet with Red Pepper Adirondack dye ink and my paint mixture.

 

For the leaf I used Lettuce Adirondack Dye ink, a little Peeled Paint Distress Ink and Lettuce Dimensional Pearls. The sheen is so very pretty!

 

I wanted to add additional dimension to my painted surface and so I allowed the acrylic paints to dry. I then colored over the top of my acrylic painted images with Copic Markers. Isn't the additional depth fabulous!?!

 

To complete the tag I wanted to create a striped appearance to make journaling easier. Using tissue tape (it is SO easy to remove after inking!) I masked the bottom portion of the tag and used an ink blending tool and Pool ink to create tone-on-tone stripes.

 

Journaling was added by first lightly printing my words using a pencil and then using my 0.3 Copic Multiliner to finalize the words.
 

I was laughing at myself tonight as I shared this project with my family. I told them that it was a rather "cerebral" project, probably due to my exhaustion factor - LOL! They looked at me oddly and so I explained. I used the mirror as I "reflected" on why I had selected the word "purpose," and added the Eye Chart to help bring the year ahead into "focus."

I would like to encourage you to select a word that might help you move forward in the new year ahead. Then create some type of journal or art project that allows you to explore your word. My hope is to "live my life with purpose" in the year ahead. Thank you for once again joining me in this brand new year and decade.
 

stamps: Claudine Hellmuth Creative Layers Clear and Foam - Decor and Nature

ink: Adirondack Dye Ink Pads - Pool, Red Pepper, Lettuce, Butterscotch, Slate; Peeled Paint Distress Ink Pad; Jet Black Archival Ink; Copic Multiliner .3 Black, Copic Markers - YG25, YG95, R43, R46

paper: October Afternoon 8x8 Schoolhouse Paper Pad

accessories: Melissa Frances Envelope and Tag Book, Studio Line - Modern Red, Basic Black and Traditional Tag; Dimensional Pearls - Red Pepper, Stream, Lettuce, Butterscotch; Mini Mister, Ranger Inkssentials Opaque White Pen, Red Bakers Twine, 7 Gypsies Word Binding Rings, Facets

On the seventh day of Christmas (and the first day of the New Year - Happy New Year everyone!) by alterable items could be:

• 7 Gypsies 5x7 Ruban Book Cover
• Essentials by Ellen: Assorted Doilies
• Substrates, Board Book 8"
• Essentials by Ellen: Craft-a-Board
• Tim Holtz Configurations, 5.5 x 5.5
• Tim Holtz Traveler Tissue Tape
• Adirondack Color Wash, Lettuce

 

To participate in this random drawing please leave your answer to the following question as a comment to this post. Please limit yourself to one comment only for each goodie package. The last day to submit a comment to this post will be January 6th at Midnight. We will post the winners (which will be drawn using a Random Number Generator) for all twelve days on January 7th.

I would love to hear what word you have chosen, or might choose as the one word that will inspire you this coming year. Please share your word and if you would like you can share why you selected your word.

Remember to visit the following 12 Days of Christmas blog candy drawings --- be certain to post a comment to the question on each individual post to be included in that drawing!

• One Stampin' Treasure
• Two Melting Tools
• Three Copic Goodies
• 3 Stamps + 1 Color Sampler = Four Memory Box Treats
• Five treats from Claudine's Lines
• Six Sizzix Goodies

12 Days of Christmas: Day 5 - Stamping with Paint By Becky Olsen

I have to admit that sometimes I feel a little intimidated by larger sized projects. Am I alone in that, I sure hope not! Filling a larger space takes more planning and preparation for me and I can find the process overwhelming. Maybe that I why I love card making so much. Whatever the reason may be, I am not going to let it stop me from trying new techniques, or media. A 4" x 4" canvas can be a terrific starting place for playing, and if you are like me, you might find an entirely new way to express yourself! After creating this tiny masterpiece, I have plans to make a couple more that will compliment it and give them to my mom for her birthday in a few weeks. She is a seamstress, and I think she would really enjoy a little art cluster for her sewing room.
It simplified my decision making process to use a few products that are all meant to work together, with the stress of decision making gone, I was free to play and enjoy!

What I used:

4" x 4" Canvas, the Claudine Hellmuth Studio Line paints, Paint brushes and Sticky back Canvas, Claudine's Stamps, Archival ink in black, Hero Arts Friend Definition Cling stamp, a Mini-Mister, and of course my handy-dandy Non-stick Craft mat!

The first thing I did was get my Painterly Pink Studio Paint onto the mat and loosened it up with water from the Mini-Mister. This let me put a nice light color onto the canvas.

I did the same thing with Modern Red, but didn't loosen it quite as much so that the coverage would be a little more opaque. I used the stamp from the Domestic Foam stamp set to get a fun background pattern. I also stamped the scallops from that set onto each of the sides of the canvas.

While that was drying I worked on my top layers.

First I stamped the dress form from the Domestic Foam set with Landscape green onto some Sticky Back Canvas, then stamped the Hero Arts Friend Definition with Archival ink over the top. To add a little punch I used the little dots from the Domestic Foam set in the Modern Red over the top of the definition stamp. When it was dry, I stamped it with the Domestic Clear and then fussy cut it out and set it aside. I then stamped the little birds in Sky Blue over the top of the definition and when it was dry stamped the outline from the Domestic Clear set around them and then cut them out as well. I stamped the birdcage in the Modern Red as well and after it was dry stamped the outline in Archival on it as well.

When the base canvas was dry I stamped the thick and thin rectangles in Yellow Pastel, I let that layer dry and then stamped the Domestic Clear outline over it and the scallops on all the sides as well. Then I peeled the protective backing from the Sticky Back pieces and adhered them in place.

There it is! A finished canvas that is as cute as can be! I learned a few things while playing, and the most important of those was to relax, have fun and don't be afraid to make a mess!  :o)

So what do you think? Are you ready to give these little gems a try? A great size for a quick project, and there is always room for something so tiny and cute!

B-

On the fifth day of Christmas my goodie box could be:

• Creative Layers Dwelling Clear Stamps
• Creative Layers Dwelling Foam Stamps
• Studio Line Brushes
• Studio Line 8 1/2" x 11" Natural Sticky Back Canvas
• Studio Matte Multi-Medium

To participate in this random drawing please leave your answer to the following question as a comment to this post. Please limit yourself to one comment only for each goodie package. The last day to submit a comment to this post will be January 6th at Midnight. We will post the winners (which will be drawn using a Random Number Generator) for all twelve days on January 7th.

Please share your 2011 crafting resolution - if you don't have one then make one up :-D 

Remember to visit the following 12 Days of Christmas blog candy drawings --- be certain to post a comment to the question on each individual post to be included in that drawing!

• One Stampin' Treasure
• Two Melting Tools
• Three Copic Goodies
• 3 Stamps + 1 Color Sampler = Four Memory Box Treats

12 Days of Christmas: Day 3 - Copic Airbrushed Graffiti Style Cards

Watching trends is something I really enjoy. This past year I have noticed that there are a ton of "tattoo art" shows on TV, as well as airbrushed looks being shared in some of the graphic design magazines I enjoy. I haven't brought myself to watch any of the shows yet, but was thinking that it would have been handy for this post - LOL!

For today's post I thought I would try and create something that has quite a different look for me and create a project that might appeal to a teen in your life. Maddi offered her arm as a spot to try a temporary alcohol ink tattoo, but I thought it would probably be best to just create a card :-D

 

Most "heart" tattoos I have seen have been a combination of red, pink and purple and so I used that as my guide to start this project.

 

To begin I stamped the new Hero Arts fabric background (LUV IT!!!) using Pearl Paint Dabber as my "ink." Remember how I shared that acrylic ink can act as a resist when used with dye ink, well I wanted to see what would happen when alcohol ink was added. Since I was going for a rather ethereal look I felt this would be a fun combination.

 
To get the image to pop I used an ink blending tool, with Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick Distress Ink.

As you can see I don't always go with my first choice - LOL! To stamp over the acrylic paint I prefer to use Archival Ink. You need to select a permanent ink for this to work. I snapped the photo and then realized that this text would not be ideal for the look I had in mind, so I started over and used the new "friend" dictionary stamp. Rather than take photos all over again I thought I'd just admit that I changed my mind part way through :-D

 

Using the Winged Heart die I cut masks from the Art Magnetic Masking material.

I then positioned my heart and wings and pulled out my airbrush system. The airbrush is PERFECT for creating a graffiti look and the best way to control the spray pattern is by using it in conjunction with masks. Someday I hope to do an entire article (or two, or...) on creating masks to control your airbrush spray but today I thought I would once again share how wonderful these magnetic masks are. The air from the spray does not move a magnetic mask :-D They are so very easy to place and relocate until you get them into the position of your choice. AND they are reusable!

The Craft Assistant was placed on my work surface, then my stamped cardfront and the magnetic masks snapped into position atop my cardfront.

I began by spraying around my mask with the darkest purple, V17.

 

I then removed the wings and airbrushed using V15 for a slight contrast in color next to the heart.

 

As you can see the look is quite striking! The Copic ink is translucent enough to see through, yet adds more depth than regular ink because it does "stick" to the acrylic paint.

To add emphasis I free-handed additional detail using a Copic Brush Multiliner.

 

A teen card would never be complete without glitter!

For added depth and sparkle I cut the "scrolly" heart, from the same die, out of Craft-a-Board which had Be Creative (Sookwang) tape adhered to the surface. I removed the tape backing and sprinkled with Burgundy Microfine Glitter, burnishing the glitter into place.

 

The last little trick I would like to share is one I learned from Claudine. To ink up regular stamps you can put a little Studio Paint on your non-stick craft sheet and use an ink blending tool saturated with paint to "ink" your stamp. I figured if you can ink a stamp that way, why not just stamp with it?!? I love the little block design that resulted :-D Hmmm - what other shapes could one cut these little sponges into?

 

I felt it was still lacking something and so I grabbed the Ranger White Opaque Essentials pen and added even more contrast to the wing outline. The crown was completed by painting Pearl Dabber on the Craft-a-Board die cut, embellishing it with black gemstones. A little sewing to outline the focal image and this graffiti style card was complete.
 

stamps: Hero Arts Dictionary Greeting, Cling Fabric Design

ink: Archival Jet Black, Distress Ink Pads - Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick, Copic V15 and V17, Brush Multiliner

paper: Neenah Solar White, Craft-a-Board

accessories: Tim Holtz Heart Wingz Die, Pearl Paint Dabber, Air Compressor, Air Brush System, Be Creative (Sookwang) Tape Sheet, Burgundy Microfine Glitter, White Opaque Pen, Black Crystal Gemstones, Craft Assistant, Art Magnetic Masking Material

On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me (OK, so perhaps we are not your true love, but maybe crafting is - LOL!)...

• a Copic Airbrush System,
• a DVD showing how to use the Airbrush System,
• and a Copic Multiliner .03

To participate in this random drawing please leave your answer to the following question as a comment to this post. Please limit yourself to one comment only for each goodie package. The last day to submit a comment to this post will be January 6th at Midnight. We will post the winners (which will be drawn using a Random Number Generator) for all twelve days on January 7th.

It so very easy to participate in our 12 Days of Christmas. Today all you need to do is leave a comment telling us what your favorite part of stamping is, or what your favorite technique is. I'll start - my favorite part of stamping is coloring... it is SO relaxing! :-D

Don't forget the following 12 Days of Christmas blog candy drawings --- be certain to post a comment to the question on each individual post to be included in that drawing!

• One Stampin' Treasure
• Two Melting Tools

Claudine Hellmuth Creative Layers Stamping

I have been wanting to play with Claudine's new stamps for several weeks now and I knew that today just had to be that day! I had watched the video she produced and so had seen how she used the stamps and now it was my turn to give it a try.

I love the off registration printing technique that Claudine used for these designs and felt that a very simple layout would show this off in a fantastic way.

As I sat at Breakfast this morning I noticed the latest Chico's catalog peaking at me. I just had to open it and look ;-D. I was totally taken with some of the new colors for this season. Fig, pink and gray/silver - I like it a LOT! I have been stuck in a "green phase" for a very long time, but I decided this color combination was one I just have to explore :-D

The delightful thing about paint is that you can mix ANY color. By combining Sky Blue and Modern Red (yes, trust the chart :-D) I was able to quickly mix the color above.

Next I mixed the fig color by combining Modern Red and Purple Palette. Delicious! To make it darker I could have added a tiny speck of black, but I was satisfied with the current value.

Initially I was a little concerned about clean-up, but after viewing Claudine's video I decided her clean-up method looked tried and true. I placed a Rub It Scrub It pad in a Rubbermaid container and added just enough water to cover the pad. It worked like a charm!

The other must-have tool in my opinion is a Non-stick Craft sheet. Use this sheet as your stamp pad, then simply allow the paint to dry and it scrapes off in a jiffy.

One important tip is to allow the paint to dry before adding the next color. I cheat and use my Heat It tool to speed up the dry time.

So paint was totally cool, but I was also curious what other types of products would work with the foam stamps. As you can see in the photo above the Perfect Medium pad combined with Perfect Pearls made a gorgeous silver backdrop.

I stamped the dress using the Shell Pink Pigment ink pad. I also tried stamping with a dye ink pad and it worked well also. SO if you are afraid of paint then simply use one of the other inking products you already own.

 

A little "bling" around the neckline to add that silver sparkle and my project was completed. Super quick and easy!

I would love to hear what you think of this "newest" color trend or share what colors you are currently loving. Thank you for stopping by the CLASSroom again today!

stamps: Claudine Hellmuth Creative Layers Domestic Clear and Foam, Studio 490 Be Happy Make Art

ink: Adirondack Shell Pink Pigment Ink Pad, Archival Jet Black, Perfect Medium

paper: Neenah Solar White Classic Crest, Memory Box Cotton Candy and Dove Gray accents.

accessories: Studio Paints - Modern Red, Sky Blue and Purple Palette, Memory Box Sparkling Diamond Gemstones, Pewter Perfect Pearls, Perfect Pearls Brush Pair, RubIt ScrubIt Pad

Creating a Picture Pennant by Ellen Hutson

As I thought about what my kids might enjoy creating one of the first things that came to mind was figuring out a way to display pictures of their friends and family. When I first saw this fun canvas pennant from Maya Road I wanted to create with it.

The start to Trina's summer has been a rough one - how she came down with pneumonia we don't know, but needless to say it hasn't been easy. I created this special pennant especially for her in hopes of cheering her up just a little by sharing pictures of those who love her. There is room for so many more, but I ran out of time to add to it before completing this post. The tails have been left long so that we can continue to add to it :-D

The first technique I want to share is the photo transfer I used for the picture of her and Jasper. Jasper is the sweetest, most loving little guy and absolutely loves to wake Trina each morning with wet doggie kisses.

Print a color photo using an Inkjet printer. Cut to fit the pennant. Apply Matte Medium directly to the canvas triangle as shown.

Place your photo, color side down, and firmly press the image in to place. I like to use my Craft Scrapper and press it from the center out, removing any air bubbles that might be hiding.

Now is the hard part - allow this image to dry completely! I used my Heat It tool to speed up the process, but be careful not to remove your paper before the image is completely dry! 

Once completely dry use a mini mister to wet the copy paper. Then use your fingertips to remove the paper by rubbing it gently. The paper will pill as you rub off the excess. Keep working it gently until all paper pills are removed.

If you find that there are still little pieces of paper fuzz on your surface you can use a very thin layer of Matte Medium over the top. This does alter the appearance slightly, but it helps to remove any of the white fuzz that might be left on your project.

To add dimension to the two other pennants I used Tattered Angels Mist. I could have used my Copic Airbrush system as well, but the larger droplets lend a unique look to the canvas.

To dye the trim I placed it in a small ziplock bag and squirted a little Angel mist directly into the bag and then worked it into the trim. This was then taken out and allowed to dry.

Altering the E-line and Hero Arts flowers is also so very easy to do with the mist. As you can see the appearance of the flowers is altered by using a white base vs. an off-white base. Working on canvas I found that it was so much better to use off-white products to stay more in keeping with the warmth of the canvas. The blue flowers on the left showcase an off-white Hero Arts blossom on the left and a white E-line flower on the right.

I needed a larger size blossom in the purple tone and using the white e-line was just too vibrant. Copic markers to the rescue. First I colored the flower with my Y21 and Colorless blender and then spritzed it with Lilac mist. 

The mini chipboard sets from Maya Road are such a fabulous size. To alter these and turn them into the ever so popular glitter letters I first colored them with a Copic marker and then used my 2-way Glue pen to add adhesive. Holding the letters on the sides with my self-closing Tweezer Bees I was easily able to sprinkle the Ultrafine glitter over each letter, shaking off the excess.

To turn the pin into a dangling charm use a pair of jewelry pliers to bend the wire and then clip off the excess after you have insert the pin through the canvas.

I love this picture of my girls - they are so very sweet!

I was pleased with the result of the transfer. This technique could be fabulous on t-shirts, bags and more. Maddi suddenly took a huge interest in what I was doing and I think her mind is working on her "special" t-shirt ideas for the coming year.

And of course Trina's best friend - these two are so cute, and mischievous in a good way :-D 

If your teens and tweens are looking for crafty projects have them try making a photo pennant!
 
paper: Jenni Bowlin Calendar Cards, Maya Road Kraft Mini Tickets

ink: Tattered Angels Mist - Electric Blue, Sweet Clover, Timeless Lilac

accessories: Canvas Triangle Album, Noah Alphabet Mini Chipboard Set, Love Mini Chipboard Set, Green Leaf Trinket Pin, Olivia Buttons, Cream Art Flowers,  Bermuda Breeze E-line Flowers, Grasshopper Microfine Glitter, Melissa Francis Trim
  

Altered Camera Bag by Debbie Olson

 

Welcome to the Classroom! I recently replaced my camera and needed a larger bag for the new one and its lenses. When I saw the large Prima blank canvas camera bags, I chose one as the perfect new camera home; I was very pleased with the quality of the bag and the thickness of its padding when it arrived. As part of Ellen's Crafting with Your Kids week, this project is something that a teen might love. Think of the possibilities for expressing oneself! (The camera bag is also available in a smaller size too for cameras without multiple lenses.)

Altering canvas isn't quite as scary as it sounds. Keep in mind that if you really mess up, you can always gesso over it and start again. In fact, I can tell you all about that "starting again" part: more about that later. I had observed artist Traci Bautista demonstrate her art journaling at the Copic booth at last CHA and was amazed at how free and flowing her drawing motions were. In a positive way, she reminded me of how non-judgmental an elementary student doodling instead of taking notes in class can be--whatever happens on paper or in this case, on canvas, is good--better than notes, in any case! 

So when I stared at the blank bag, Copic Multiliner in hand, I was thinking "Traci. . ." Guess what? It's harder than it looks! I should have at least sketched on paper first to get an idea of where I was going. (Traci didn't do that. She just made cool art as naturally as breathing.) Of course, Traci has experience in freeform arts, and I--well, in spite of an art background, am one of those perfectionistic, uptight artisans. . . I need planning and structure. I want control of my medium. Here is my first try, with no underdrawing. I sketched freehand on the front of the camera bag with the Multiliner and then colored with my Copic markers.

 

Big Mistake. The flowers were all too close to the same height, and the type was atrocious--bad letterspacing, poor planning. . . On to Plan B, which I didn't have yet. 

I knew that I could gesso over the pocket and paint with acrylic paints. However, I really wanted to use my Copic markers to color my image, and Copics are not supposed to be used on top of acrylic paint. (If you do it, use them quickly, only over absolutely dry paint. Airbrushing is a much better idea; then you won't damage your marker tips.) 

So what was Plan B? I remembered having some of Claudine Helmuth's Sticky -Backed Canvas in my stash. Love that stuff! I used various widths of Copic Multiliners, an archival pigment ink pen compatible with Copic markers, to draw over my lightly penciled sketch lines. After the ink was completely dry, I used a gum eraser to remove my pencil lines and then made sure that ALL eraser particles were removed before I started to color.

 

Next, I started coloring with my Copic markers. Coloring canvas is different from coloring paper, but it is not hard to adjust if you know what to expect. Cloth is very absorbent and tends to wick the ink out of the lines. Rather than coloring around the perimeter and working your way into the shape, start in the center and work your way out, allowing time for that wicking action to spread the ink. It is important not to oversaturate the canvas since you will have a hard time getting rid of coloring overages. 

 

Here are the markers and pens that I used; the one that you can't see in the back is a Black Copic Multiliner SP BS (Brush Small). I really liked it, but you should be aware that it is more of a flexible brush tip--not a standard hard tip. You control the width of the line by hand pressure. It is perfect for doodling applications.

 

Here is my completed replacement panel. I stitched randomly around the edges before removing the paper backing from the sticky canvas. That made removing the backing a twenty-minute job, and I'm not sure I would recommend doing it that way again. (Aren't you glad that I made the mistakes so that you do have to? ;-}) I also sponged a bit of distress ink around the edges to make the panel tie in better with the creamier color of the natural canvas. Since I had filled in the rest of the panel with color, the edges were really the only place that stood out as noticeably white, but I certainly got more vibrant color when working on white as opposed to the natural canvas. The texture is a finer texture as well--a bit easier to color that the original front panel had been. Keep in mind that working on canvas is harder on your marker tips than working on paper, and uses more ink as well. Since replacement tips and ink refills (Copic Various Inks) are readily available, it was worth the extra wear on my marker tips, and the sticky backed canvas was a great surface since I was using fairly large Copic Multiliner point sizes.

 

I was happy with the pocket panel at this point, but I needed some cover for the rest of the bag. Please Note: rather than depending solely upon the sticky-backed canvas to stay put on something that would get quite a bit of wear and tear, I added some Helmar Gemstone Glue to the edges to make sure that the canvas would stay attached. This glue stays flexible and is washable too. I pulled out an assortment of masks and started airbrushing with my markers. Airbrushing is not recommended for cloth that will be washed since it does not soak into the cloth as far as it does when you color with your markers. I am not planning to wash this bag, so it should be fine.

Note: Not all of these masks are available in Ellen's store; in fact, the black masks have been discontinued, so if you want one of the patterns left in stock, you should get it. The Tim Holtz masks (such as the flourish) are still available, but the Heidi Swapp masks (Polka Dots) won't be available again that I'm aware of. The circles and stars were given to me by someone at CHA; they are manufactured by Crafter's Workshop. Also, the camera bag contains a long adjustable strap as well, but I haven't decorated it yet.  

 

 

My bag is an ongoing project. I think it needs some black ink on the airbrushed body of the bag as well, but I thought I might save that either for doodling when the mood strikes, or for autographs. I bet Marianne would draw on my bag if I asked nicely! 

Thanks for stopping by the Classroom today, and I hope that perhaps you will consider altering a blank canvas piece as well. If you are not feeling brave, hand the bag to your teen along with a multiliner!

Sticky Back Canvas Bracelet

Ranger U was an incredible experience! One of the techniques that I learned from Claudine Hellmuth has been in my head bursting to get out. As soon as she shared this technique I had to run up to her and share how much I was looking forward to creating a bracelet with this idea! Finally three months later here I am with my bracelet :-D

I hope you enjoy this incredible technique as much as I have!

 

To begin I cut a strip of canvas that was 8 1/2" x 2 1/2". I really wasn't certain where I would be going with this project. Yes, I do create by the seat of my pants - LOL!

I removed the backing and placed my Glimmer Screen against the sticky surface as shown below.

 
Press the screen firmly in place, using the backing from the Be Creative tape or the backing you just removed to avoid getting finger prints all over the adhesive. It is important to keep your fingers away from the adhesive to avoid damaging it and making it more difficult for the embossing powder to stick.

Pour the embossing powder over the entire surface.

Remove excess by tipping it off and gently blowing off any excess.

Now using the teflon coated tweezer bees carefully remove the screen.

As you can see I hold my sticky back firmly down along the edges as I carefully peel the screen off.

A small amount of embossing powder may get into your white area, but if you have selected a darker color for this area it will disappear when you heat set the powders.

Now pour the Walnut Stain embossing powder over the exposed adhesive.

This is how it will appear when you gently remove the excess powder and gently blow the excess powder from the surface into a garbage can.

Heat set your powders and then punch a 1/8" hole into each end with a crop-a-dile and set an eyelet into each end.

I needed an oval jump ring and so I used the antique brass chain that we carry and used several rings together with a lobster clasp to complete my closure. You will want this piece to fit fairly snug. My gorgeous model has a smaller wrist than I do and so it appears a little large on her wrist. Having it fit correctly will keep it from twisting and banging on your wrist.

I then needed to finish my piece by sewing my gorgeous embellishment in place. Alas I did not have the correct color thread. Copics to the rescue as usual - LOL! Simply coloring with a BG78 made my white thread the perfect color.

I added a few sticky-back pearls. I'm not certain how well these will hold in place, but I just couldn't resist trying :-D 

Other embellishments that I think would be fabulous in the center of this beauty are resin pieces, brass pieces, and flowers (can't you just see a beautiful wrist corsage?!?)

 

Julia was my gracious model because I have a very difficult time snapping photos of items if I happen to be wearing them - LOL! Her nail polish coordinated perfectly with this piece. I picked a very trendy color combination in hopes that it would coordinate with today's outfits. The good news is that it will be so very easy to change the background canvas piece because it is so inexpensive. You can then repurpose these items when the color trends change.

I look forward to hearing about your adventures with Sticky Back Canvas and embossing powder - it is a perfect combination! Now it's time to try it with glitter - LOL!

 
  
Sticky Back Canvas, Adirondack Stream Embossing Powder, Walnut Stain Distress Embossing Powder, Tattered Angels Fanciful Stencils Starter Kit, Jill Schwartz Vintage Groove Mosaic Shell Charm, Antique Brass Chain Extension and Brass Clasps, Chino Pearls, Crop-a-dile

  

Masked Canvas Card by Julia Stainton

One of my favorite products to play around with is Sticky Back Canvas. The texture is fabulous and there are so many things you can do with it. The canvas can be inked, stamped, sprayed, printed on or painted on.

For this project I decided to try a masked and painted background. A great way to alter your Sticky Back Canvas is to start by adhering it to a Non-Stick Craft Sheet. You can mix your paint right on the sheet and protect your work surface and then simply wipe it clean when you are done. Before adhering your canvas, I like to distress the edges to get that fabric look with a Paper Distresser.

I first painted the canvas with a light coat of Landscape Green Studio Paint and thinned it out with some water spritzed in with a Mini Mister.

 

After this coat dried, I then placed a Floral Mask over the canvas and then repeated the process with Sky Blue Studio Paint.

 

Here's what it looks like dry. I love the soft look and the beautiful texture. The Tim Holtz Mini Cirque Alpha stamps are a really cool font and I love the style of these stamps. I can't wait to use them again and try out all the possibilities. They are stamped on this project in Jet Black Archival Ink. I really love this ink for a deep solid image and for stamping on difficult surfaces such as this canvas.

 

I was really excited to find that these Basic Grey Bling It On Alpha Series Rub-ons transferred so well onto the painted canvas. These are fabulous rub-ons and I love how Basic Grey coordinates the rhinestones for each sheet on a clear plastic over each rub-on for easy placement.

 

To add a really unique touch to your embellishments, try altering them to make them your own. Here one of the rub-on flowers is placed onto a Canvas Button by Prima.

 

After applying the rub-on I combined the button with a Black Silk Ribbon bow and finished it off with a Pewter Jenni Bowlin Stick Pin.

Have fun playing with your crafting products and I hope this will give you a few new ideas to try. Thanks for stopping by the CLASSroom and have a wonderful weekend!

Summer Canvas by Sharon Harnist

 

Summer is definitely in full swing here in Texas and I realized I didn't have any summer "refrigerator art" for my fridge!  So I decided to remedy that with this 6" x 6" Summer canvas.  I began by printing my 4" x 6" photo on Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Sticky Back Canvas.  This was the first time I tried printing a photo on the canvas and was pleasantly surprised at the photo quality:

 

(These were my girls, ready to hit the swimming pool on the first day of Summer!)  Then I adhered the canvas to a 6" x 6" piece of Ellen's Craft-a-Board, to give it stability.  Next, I painted the Stamper's Anonymous Tim Holtz-Floral Tattoo stamp with Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Paint in Classic Teal and stamped onto the canvas:

 

Then I painted the top and lower edges of the canvas and Craft-a-Board with Yellow Pastel Studio Paint (the color is really a prettier soft yellow in person -- my camera was just having trouble with it!):

 

I was pleasantly surprised at how well Ellen's Craft-a-Board took the paint along the lower edge, without peeling or buckling -- this was the first time I had tried paint on it!

Next, Maya Road's Mini Alphabet Chipboard-Noah "summer" letters were painted with Sky Blue Studio Paint and then sprinkled with turquoise Martha Stewart glitter while the paint was still wet:

 

Ranger's Glossy Accents was used to adhere the sparkly chipboard letters to the top of the canvas:

 

To finish the bottom of the canvas, I airbrushed white Prima Tamera lace with Copic BG45 Sketch marker (I thought the lace resembled water waves!): 

 

and added a Zva crystal swirl:

 

This canvas has magnets on the back and as I said, will decorate my refrigerator this summer with my two cuties!  You could also display this canvas on an easel in your home or attach a ribbon hanger to it and either hang it on a wall or doorknob.  When you are finished displaying it, it can then be tucked into a scrapbook album.  I hope you'll have fun with this technique of printing your photos on the Sticky Back Canvas ... it was lots of fun to play with!

 
Stamps: Stamper's Anonymous Tim Holtz-Floral Tattoo
Paper: Claudine Hellmuth Studio Sticky Back Canvas 8-1/2"x11"
Ink: Copic BG45 Sketch marker
Accessories: Essentials by Ellen Craft-a-Board; Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paint-Classic Teal, Sky Blue & Yellow Pastel; Maya Road Mini Alphabet Chipboard-Noah; Martha Stewart Essential Colors Glitter Set-Turquoise; Ranger Glossy Accents; Prima Tamera Lace; Copic Airbrush System; Zva crystal swirl
Other: HP inkjet printer

a mini masterpiece by Kim Hughes

Stamps and paint makes it easy to create a "painted picture".  What would take hours painting by hand can take minutes to create by layering various stamps.

 

Supplies:

Studio Acrylic Paint, Traditional Tan, Studio Acrylic Paint, Sable Brown, Studio Acrylic Paint, Dab of Yellow, Studio Acrylic Paint, Dash of Red, Studio Sticky Back Canvas, 8.5" x 11"

Making Memories, Findings, Buttons, Silver

Glitter, Multi Ultra Fine Crystal

Adirondack Dye Ink Pad, Espresso

Studio 490, Art Rules, Studio 490, Art from the Heart, Studio 490, Well Worn Art

Collage painting is fun to do!  Set up the stamps you like, and keep the lighter colors in the background and get darker as you add each layer.  Start with the base.  Paint a script stamp with tan and press it onto canvas paper.

 

Punch some holes in scrap card stock to use as a mask.  Add red paint to a weave pattern stamp and press over each circle

Next, stamp the flowers with brown paint to the right.

Create a frame by adding yellow paint to a houndstooth pattern stamp.  Add paint to the stamp after you stamp each side.

 

Crop around the picture and add a border along the bottom with the same tan paint as the base script pattern.  This will help to tie the colors in.
 

stamp sentiment with brown ink
 

add glue over the stamped heart and sprinkle red glitter over it...allow to dry.
 

add a final border along the bottom to tie in the brown.
 

to protect the painted canvas panel, place it under a clear plastic sheet.  Grab a mouse pad and poke a hole in each corner with a paper piercer or tack.

create custom glittered brads by adding glue to the brad tops and dipping them into brown glitter...allow to dry before poking them through the pierced holes in each corner

 

embellish with 3 clear buttons.

You can leave off the sentiment and display this mini masterpiece on your wall.  It would also make a sweet gift to hang on a front door...just add "welcome"where the sentiment is.

Thansk so much for stopping by today :)

Collage with Graphic 45 and Stampers Anonymous by Lisa Strahl

Hello ladies!  Did anyone get to enjoy the sunshine on their face like I did this weekend?  The vitamin D does a girl good I tell ya.  ;^)

I put together two projects for you that flow out of Bek's AWESOME collage article that was featured in the In Touch newsletter last week.  First up is a collaged Artist Trading Card using only stamps and featuring none other than the Mona Lisa.  I want to share a few tips that I find helpful when creating collages:

The very first order of business is to stamp all of the images I want to work with. Why do I do this, especially since I have a index on the storage sheet?  Even though I am a visual person, there is something organic about the stamped image.  I suppose I am getting to know my images better.  I began my stamping all of the images from the Mini Classics set (Stamper's Anonymous) on Classic Cream Cardstock (Neenah).

The first step helped me to decide which images I wanted to use.  Stamp the flourish image in a random pattern using Mountain Rose Adirondack Ink (Ranger).  I also have to give a shout out to the round acrylic blocks holding the stamp - they make positioning my images so much easier!  They come in three sizes: 2.5 inches, 3.5 inches and 4.25 inches.

The flourishes are pretty, but a little bit to stark against the cream paper so I sponged the same color ink over the entire surface using Cut 'n Dry Foam in a circular motion.  Now it's soft and pretty!

Next up is stamping the Mona Lisa in Coffee Archival Ink (Ranger).  I chose and dark and bold ink so that Mona did not get lost against the background of flourishes.

I finished the collage as follows:  stamp the Imagine sentiment from Just Word Art Studio 490 (Stamper's Anon) in Stream Adirondack Ink; stamp the same flourish again but this time in Pool Adirondack Ink (which is a tone lighter than Stream), stamp the distressed checker pattern from the Ultimate Grunge stamp set in Terra Cotta Adirondack Ink.  Finally, frame the ATC by sponging Pool ink around the image and then a frame closer to the edge with Stream ink.

The second project features Graphic 45 paper and more Stamper's Anonymous images.  I created a special gift for someone that comes in it's very own coordinating box.

Apply Copper Adirondack Paintusing the dabber top to this ginormous flourish stamp from the Fabulous Flourishesset.  It measures 4x7 inches so chances are that you don't have a block and in this case that is just fine! 

 

I wanted to share a tip about cling mount stamps that you might not have considered.  There are occasions where I do not put my stamps on a block at all.  In this case, I was stamping on a very uneven surface and the flexibility of the rubber allowed me to press the stamp unevenly, there by getting in all of the nooks and crannies where the chipboard is scored between the pages.

Details and Product Info:

-background paper on the left is the reverse side of Around the World(Transatlantique) and was applied to the chipboard with Matte Multi Medium (Ranger); the right side is painted with Traditional Tan Studio Line Paint (Ranger)

-the image of the two women is from the Haute Couturepaper (Fashionista)

-stamps include Fabulous Flourishes as mentioned above, sentiment is from the Paisley Prints stamp set stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink, and the pen nibs from the Mini Classics stamped in Cranberry Adirondack Paint

-Black Banner ribbon lace(Prima), Cosmos flower punch (Martha Stewart) sponged with Caramel and Jet Black ink, black brad from the Eerie Collection (Basic Grey)

-backgrounds prepared the same as above

-image of the woman from the Fashionista Tags Sheet

-stamps include sentiment from the Mona's Sketchbook set and Fabulous Flourishes again - this time stamped in Denim Adirondack Paint Dabber

-Metallic Copper Crochet Ribbon (May Arts), Donegal Lace(Prima), black jewels (Hero Arts)

 

Last but not least this cute little oval box was decorated with Globe Trotter and Around the Worldpapers (Transatlantique).

I hope you inspired to try a collage project this week!

Cheers, Lisa

Wearable Canvas Blossoms by Julia Stainton

Spring is finally here and blossoms are everywhere. Wearing them is a sweet way to personalize an outfit and add a fun touch to brighten your day. Loving this trend, I decided to experiment with creating my own from some Sticky Back Canvas paint and other embellishments I had on hand. Here's how I did it.

Stickyback Canvas is such a fabulous art and craft product. I'm amazed at all the things you can create with it. By using the Canvas instead of paper to create this blossom, it makes it a flexible fabric accent that is easily worn. The Canvas is sturdy compared to paper and you'll be able to enjoy this project for many times to come. You can use either size of the Sticky Back Canvas for this project, 8.5x 11 or 12x12. I've paired it up with the Nested Dahlia die which is one of my favorites. This project uses the largest four dies in this set to make a large flower. If you wish to make a smaller one, simply use the smallest sizes instead.

Die cut 2 flowers in each of the four sizes as you'll be adhering them together.

Getting crafty with paint is always one of the most fun parts of a project. By mixing colors and blending, you can create any color you wish to get the look you want. For this flower I worked with two different color blends. Painterly Pink Studio Paint and Dab of Yellow mixed with Blank Canvas Studio Paint. The Claudine Hellmuth brushes are great for mixing and blending and well as applying the paint. 

I wanted a watercolor look for the paint application so I spritzed the paint withe water from my Mini Mister to thin it out.

Each layer is a little different...a mix of pink and yellows brushed on together. If you apply the paint thinner is some places than other, I think this enhances the fabric and artistic feel to the project.

After allowing the canvas flowers to dry, the backing was peeled off the adhesive and the layers adhered together sticky side to sticky side. Match up the largest size with the largest size and so on. It will be difficult to get them to line up perfectly so just trim as needed.

The Hero Art Speckled Elements stamp set has a gorgeous damask stamp that I used to add depth to the canvas. I stamped it on the layers in Worn Lipstick and Dried Marigold Distress Inks.

Punch holes in the middle of each flower layer. I used a Crop-a-dile but you can also use an anywhere hold punch or a paper piercer to make the holes.

 

To hold the flower together, I've inserted a Green at Heart Stitched Brad by Basic Grey.To embellish further I tied it with some Celery Silk Ribbon and added a beautiful Jenni Bowlin Stick Pin.

To wear this flower, stitch or hot glue a metal pin back to the back of your flower and enjoy.

For alternative ideas for this flower, try stitching it to a headband or pinning to a purse, or giving as a friendship or Mother's Day gift. And of course, you can always add it to a card or layout if you desire. 

Thanks for joining me today in the CLASSroom!

Have a beautiful weekend!

Craft-a-Board and Wood Paper Shapes by Lisa Strahl

Good Monday morning friends!

I had much to much fun die cutting this week!  I spent an entire evening just playing with different papers and dies and cut dozens of fun elements to create with in the future.  I encourage you to try it.

My focus today is to share some of the newest Spellbinders dies and some products you may not have used with them such as Craft-a-Board and Real Wood Paper.

Die cut  and emboss the Lotus Pendant from Craft-a-board.  If you need help with die cutting use the low profile Spellbinders dies, please click here.  For more information regarding Craft-a-board, click here.

 

Apply Dries Clear Adhesive (Art Institute) to the back side of the Lotus with a paint brush and press it to the light green grid sheet from the Origins 6x6 Paper Pack (Basic Grey).  Allow it to fully dry.

 

Trim the excess paper from around the edge with Fingertip Craft Knife on the Precision Mat (Basic Grey).  This is a self healing mat is a great size and heavy duty enough to handle the abuse it gets in my studio.

 

Apply thin lines of Antique Linen Distress Sticklesto every other petal.  It's actually quite easy to use Stickles in a very precise way because they hold their form.

 

If you have any areas that are uneven you can make it smoother with a piercing tool or I like to use the head of a pin.

More details about this card:

-tie a knot in the Ivory Eyelet ribbon (Webster's Pages); adhere it to a large button from the Black Line Collection(Jenni Bowlin) with Memory Glue Dots

-base card is Licorice which comes with a matching black envelope (Memory Box)

-bird image mini paper from the Vintage Black Line(Jenni Bowlin); the bird was colored with E31 Brick Beige, the leaves where colored with YG06 Yellowish Green

-Enjoy (Lockhart) sentiment stamped with Jet Black Archival Ink

-Medium Accent Pearls (Hero Arts)

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Next I'd like to share a little about a new product that I am completely in love with.  It was the "one thing" I just had to see at CHA Winter in Anaheim - Real Wood by Creative Imaginations.  Real Wood  paper is printable, embossable, die-cuttable, stampable, and paintable. Great for cardmaking, custom embellishments, custom borders, mixed media, veneering, wood constructions. Real Wood comes in 8.5"x11" sheet and is available in 2 thicknesses.  I am using Thin Cherry Real Wood today.

I began by die cutting the Labels 13 die - you can see how crisp and clean it cut. 

Paint the front of the wood shape with Matte Multi Medium making sure to get full coverage.

Press the wood shape to this sheet of paper from the Origins 6x6 Paper Pad (Basic Grey) and burnish with the Teflon Bone Folder to ensure that the paper is completely adhered.

Once it was completely dry, I trimmed the excess pattered paper around the shape with the Finger Tip Craft Knife, again on the Precision Mat.  I wanted my piece to have a little more substance, so I die cut the same image from Craft-a-Board, adhered it and trimmed around the edge.

 

I had never noticed that Basic Grey put a clever little quote in the middle of this mat!  "Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything."  Mark Twain  So true.

Score the back side of the patterned paper that was adhered with the Multi Medium and then paint the surface with a Niji Waterbrush.  The water will disappear inside the scored marks.

 

Begin rolling the wet paper away with your finger.

 

Continue this process until all of the white paper is removed.

 

You may still have a few areas where the image looks hazy with white...or you are just in a hurry like me!  Rub some Mutli Medium with your finger into the paper to reduce the haze.

 

A few final details:

-stamped sentiment from Motivational Centers (Cornish Heritage Farms)

-Jet Black Archival Ink (Ranger)

-Night Clematis Bling It Rhinestones (Basic Grey)

-Midnight Black Crystals (Hero Arts)

-Origins 6x6 Paper Pack (Basic Grey)

-Moss Green Twill (May Arts)

-Dill Note Card and Envelope (Memory Box)

The mad scientist in me has been testing all sorts of ink and paint on the Real Wood product and I hope to share a more in depth tutorial on that soon.  I promise you will see a lot more wood from me!

Thank you so much for spending a few minutes with me today in the CLASSroom.

Cheers, Lisa

Tattered Webster's Birdcage by Sharon Harnist

 

I couldn't believe how large this Maya Road Birdcage Chipboard Book was when I received it -- it's 6" x 7"!  So I thought it would be a good size to make it into a Spring home decor piece.

To start this project, I covered the front chipboard birdcage piece with Webster's Petite Papers Life's Portrait, using Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Multi-Medium in Gloss.  Amongst its many uses, the multi-medium is a great all-purpose glue and works in the same manner as decoupage glue.  I also brushed it on top of the papers, to give them a slightly glossy finish. 

For the back chipboard piece, I first applied a couple of coats of Claudine Hellmuth's Gesso and let it dry.  The Gesso primes the chipboard (since it is a semi-dark color), so that it takes fewer coats of paint color to cover it (especially when using a lighter color of paint). Then I used Claudine's Color Mixing Chart and Studio Paints in Yellow Pastel & Painterly Pink to mix up a close match of Studio Paint to the patterned papers and painted the back chipboard birdcage piece.

 

Once dry, I attached a piece of Webster's Pages paper to the back of the painted birdcage chipboard piece. 

The bird is a piece from Maya Road's Song Bird Coaster Book, which was the perfect size to fit inside the birdcage!  What a great value this book is -- at just $2.20, you get 6 birds to use either all together as a book/album, or separately as accents on any number of projects!  I covered the bird in more Webster's paper (notice the bird and cage theme of the paper?!!), and gave her a beak with a Copic N5 marker. 

 

The Bird's eye is a KaiserCraft Latte Pearl.  I accented her with Maya Road white zig-zag vintage crochet trim that was sprayed with Tattered Angels Old Lace Glimmer Mist.  In the photo below, you can tell a subtle difference between the original white color of the lace (top) and how pretty the Glimmer Mist aged it and made it match the papers better:

The lace also now has a pretty shimmer to it (which, of course, I had trouble showing in a photo).  While I've had the opportunity to experiment with many different colors of Glimmer Mist, I only had Old Lace on hand to use on this project.  So while my examples may not be very dramatic, you can imagine the possibilities with all the gorgeous Glimmer Mist colors Ellen carries!  A GREAT example of how pretty these colors can be mixed, is Becky's Trend Watch Tuesday post this week -- in her layout at the bottom of that post.

I have a few good tips for working with Tattered Angels' Glimmer Mist --

How to use Glimmer Mist:

• #1 Tip - make sure the bottle is shaken up very well so that the glimmer, which settles in the bottom of the bottle (as in the photo above), is distributed throughout.  That being said, don't shake it SO vigorously that all you have are air bubbles inside the bottle -- these will cause splattering!  So after the bottle is shaken well, gently swirl the bottle for a minute (tilting it back and forth), allowing any air bubbles to settle, while keeping the glimmer evenly dispersed in the bottle.  Not only will this give you better results, but it prevents the nozzle from becoming clogged.
• For a light, evenly misted look, hold Glimmer Mist away from your project and spray such as you would when applying hairspray.
• For a thicker, raindrop application, hold Glimmer Mist closer to your project while spraying. Do not move the sprayer too much, or too fast.
• For a pooling effect, which gives intense color, spray Glimmer Mist very closely and directly on your project.

You can let Glimmer Mist air dry or use a heat tool to speed up the drying process. While Glimmer Mist is attractive when just using one color, layering multiple colors also adds a beautiful richness to your projects!  It is acid-free.

Can be used on: 
-Wood, cardstock, patterned paper, metal, glass, fabric or paper flowers, felt
-Cardboard, Grungeboard, Craft-A-Board 
-Adds a gorgeous sheen to lace, ribbon, twill and fabrics (will wash out!)
-Pools on plastic to create a stained glass effect
-Makes your stickers shimmer 

To avoid sprayer dribbles/drips:
When you spray, make sure your finger is not hanging over the front edge of the sprayer. When the Glimmer Mist disburses it will hit your finger and dribble back down onto the rim of the sprayer. The next time you shake it or tip it, it will dribble out. If your finger is pulled back the Glimmer Mist will spray out in the pattern it was intended to and it won't go back onto the cap.

If the sprayer gets clogged:
-To prevent it getting clogged - Make sure you shake the bottle of Glimmer Mist really well before you spray it. The glimmer part settles at the bottom and if the bottle isn't shaken really well, the sprayer will suck up too much glimmer for the sprayer to handle.
-To clear out the sprayer - Take off sprayer top, put canned air (without the spray straw) directly on sprayer opening. Apply canned air in short spurts 1-3 times until clear.

If you don’t like the spray pattern:
-If you want a fine mist - Push the sprayer down quickly and move it across the surface of your project like you’re applying hairspray. You want to keep your hand moving quickly and evenly across your project. Bear in mind the nature of the product is that it may take you several tries to get a completely even spray pattern. Practice spraying before you do your final project.
-If you want a “splotchy” look – Push sprayer down half way while aiming at your project. Don’t move the sprayer too much or too fast.

If your paper is curling:
Glimmer Mist is a water-based spray that can make lightweight mediums (like tags and paper) curl as it dries. There are a number of ways you can correct this:
-Use a heat tool on both sides of your paper
-Iron your paper
-After it’s dry, place a heavy object on it for a few minutes

Will it stain my hands and/or clothes?
As with any arts and crafts project, messes happen. Glimmer Mist will come out of your clothes in almost all circumstances. It may take a couple of washings so make sure you check before you put it in the dryer. Glimmer Mist on your hands comes off best with shampoo, so once you’re out of the shower it should be gone! It will also come off with several washings with soap.

Will it fade in the sun?
Yes, Glimmer Mist will fade if left in the sun. You may be able to resist fading if you use a UV protective coating over your project.

Is Glimmer Mist water resistant?
No, Glimmer Mist is water-based and does not use pigment dye. Therefore, it will run if exposed to moisture. If you’re planning on using Glimmer Mist in a humid environment (bathroom décor, for example) put a protective coating over it.

My stamped images get blurry after being sprayed:
There are two ways to use Glimmer Mist with stamped images: If you’re using archival ink, you can spray Glimmer Mist on top of your stamped image and it won’t run. If you don’t use archival ink, spray the Glimmer Mist first and stamp your image over it, after it’s dry.

To finish up my birdcage decor, I suspended the bird to the top of the birdcage with narrow silk ribbon and then tied up the top with wide ivory silk ribbon.  I also Glimmer Misted white Prima 4-Petal Flowers and (I think) managed to capture the glimmer in this photo (click on it for a larger view):

I added a tag with the "Live, Love, Bloom" sentiment from one of my all-time favorite Cornish Heritage Farms' stamp sets -- Kim Hughes' Silhouette Blooms II; it is cut with Spellbinders Tags Trio die and also Glimmer Misted.  You can see below where I attached two strips of patterned paper to the bottoms of the chipboard birdcage pieces, so that it would stand up:

I hope you'll have fun with all these wonderful new Maya Road chipboard pieces Ellen is now carrying, along with my favorite Webster's Pages papers!
  

 
Stamps: CHF-Kim Hughes Silhouette Blooms II
Paper: Webster's Petite Papers Lullaby Lane/Life's Portrait 6x6
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad, Ranger Antique Linen Distress, Copic marker N5
Accessories: Maya Road Birdcage Chipboard Book & Song Bird Coaster, Tattered Angels Old Lace Glimmer Mist. Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Multi-Medium (Gloss), Studio Paints in Yellow Pastel & Painterly Pink, and Gesso. Prima 4-Petal Flowers, Hero Arts Spring Fancy Felt Flowers, May Arts wide ivory silk ribbon and narrow white silk ribbon, KaiserCraft Latte Pearl, Spellbinders Tags Trio die, Sanding Block,  

On the Boardwalk Canvas Wall Hanging by Julia Stainton

I don't know about you but right now, I am dreaming of summer. It's about time for a season change is it not?

While I'm still stuck in the snow, the new Graphic 45 On the Boardwalk line has perfectly captured the timeless joy of summer on the shore. Bliss! I thought I would combine it with another idea I've had spinning in my head for a while...creating a wall hanging from an 8x8 Prima Canvas Album page. You can take one right out of your album if you don't mind losing a page or they can also be purchased in a separate package in both 6x6" page and 8x8" page sizes. For this project, I've used the 8x8 page size.

 

To create this wall hanging I simply used a canvas page at set it with the grommets at the top of the project. Roughly lay out your design by cutting out images from the Graphic 45 On the Boardwalk line. I used the Coney Island and High Style Holiday papers. If you look at the above photo and my finished project, you'll notice that the images are transferred in reverse. Because of this, I only used images without text with the image transfer technique. The others were stitched or adhered in other ways.

 

The image transfer is a really fabulous technique to try and much easier than it looks. I especially love images transferred onto fabric like this canvas album page. To transfer the pattered paper images right onto the fabric, simply brush the areas that you wish to cover with a good coat of Studio Gloss Multi-Medium. Press the images face down into the wet medium and smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles. Allow to dry thoroughly.

You can also find other tutorials using this technique at these links.... Photo Transfer Album Page and Sticky Back Canvas Image Transfer.

 

Once your transfer medium is totally dry, you can then start removing the paper layers. I like to use a Mini Mister filled with water to spritz the paper and soften it. Rub away the layers gently with your finger. If needed, apply more water and work at it until all the paper is removed, revealing the image transfer. Don't worry if the transfer isn't perfect. Mine weren't and I think it adds to the vintage charm of the project.

Adding a few different elements to a design is always a great idea for a collage design. Here I've stamped right onto some spaces on the canvas using these postal images from the On the Desk stamp set by Cornish Heritage Farms. Black Archival Ink by Ranger is a wonderful ink for stamping on canvas and other surfaces. Heat set for a permanent finish.

 

As I mentioned above, images with words were added without the image transfer. The Twinchie Squares, Assorted made a great surface to create an accent. The paper elements were trimmed to 1 7/8" square and the edges sanded with the Tim Holtz Sanding Block.

 

You can see in this photo that I stitched right through the Twinchies to my canvas base. This secures them on tightly. If you don't want to stitch, simply adhere them with more of the Studio Multi-Medium brushed on the reverse. You can also see in this photo that I zig zag stitched around each transferred image for definition. The large Beach square was stitched onto the project as well as the main title element of the project.

To hang up this wall hanging, twill tape was threaded through the grommets and knotted. I adore these new Jenni Bowlin Vintage Style Buttons. They are gorgeous and add some texture interest to the project.

 

To finish things off, I added in a little Adage Ticket pinned with a Trinket Pin that says Memento on it. A Game Spinner points to the Beach for an additional vintage element.

Have fun trying out this unique decor piece or make your own variation. A little creative time is always great for beating the late winter blues. Thanks for stopping by the CLASSroom!