For the LOVE of Stencils & The Crafters Workshop:)

I have a great collection of TCW stencils. I use them almost every week, so when I read that they were having a design team call I couldn’t wait to apply.

One of the things I love about The Crafters Workshop Products is the door they open to new and “old’ artists alike.  As a teacher, it is important for me to be able to provide tools for my students to use that will help them achieve success.  I often have lovely women in class who have been intimidated to “create,” assuming they did not have enough talent due to their lack of drawing skills.  …Put a stencil in their hands, and the walls come down!  They begin to see that creation comes in many forms and as they are “freed-up” from their past fears; they become open to experiment and grow in ways they didn’t know they could. That is very rewarding for me to see!  For my own art, stencils often provide me with inspiration…a jumping off point.  When I have “artists block,”  it helps me find focus when I begin with a stencil.

With all this thinking about stencils…I decided I would pull out a tool that I’ve had for years and NEVER tried!

I also had a package of blank stencil sheets…so I was all set.

Above are the two designs I came up with.

    

I drew my idea on a plain piece of computer paper, then traced the design on the blank stencil sheet with a sharpie, then cut them out with my old, never been used, stencil cutter.

The Background was made with TCW stencils, Lindy’s Sprays, and my Gelli Plate.

The above alphabet was stenciled with white acrylic paint.

The hearts below were stenciled with Heavy Body Gesso, then colored with Pan Pastels.

Below I stenciled the hearts by spraying Beetle Black Glimmer Mist Spray.

Check out the HUGE selection of The Crafters Workshop stencils HERE!

HOpe you feel inspired to stencil today!

Thanks for reading!

Sue

 

Mixed Media Canvas Tutorial

I’ve been working on a lot of projects…mostly for Frog Dog Studio, but today, I had a WHOLE day to create a canvas that I’ll use as an example in my upcoming Mixed Media Collage class.

The products used are below

18 X 24 stretched canvas

12 x 12 Diamond stencil

old book pages (torn)

White & Cream acrylic paint

Liquitex Super Heavy Gesso

Pinata black ink

Bubble wrap

Tim Holtz “burlap” stencil

The Crafter’s Workshop ledger stencil

Pan Pastels (Permanent red ex dark & black)

Black gelato

Pitt multi liner pen xs

Baby wipes

First, I covered the canvas with Gesso and used Matte Medium to adhere torn book pages.

Next, I added random “swipes” with Heavy Gesso using an old insurance card.

I applied the same heavy gesso to the diamond stencil using the same card. Build up the thickness to your liking by adding more gesso...it will take longer to dry the thicker you apply.

Once the gesso was dry, I added some black paint go random areas.

Below you can see where I squeezed it directly on top of the stenciled diamonds.

Next, I spread it out with a brush, then quickly wiped it off with a baby wipe, leaving traces of black

to the edges of the design.

See below.

I did the same black paint smear above, but spritzed on some water and tipped the canvas so that the paint dripped.

Later, added a bit of cream colored paint in this corner to better balance the color on the canvas.

I drew these circley swirls directly out of the bottle – Pinata black ink.  It flows so smoothly and is very “vibrant” even for the color black:)  I then took a wadded up piece of tissue paper (just happened to have it sitting next to me, so I grabbed it) and dabbed the wet ink…just wanted to “mess it up” a little.

I added some uniform black “dots”  by brushing black paint onto a piece of bubble wrap

I also added a few number stamps, the Tim Holtz burlap stencil and TCW Ledger stencil, using black acrylic paint.

I knew I wanted to write on the canvas in bold letters.  The busy background required them to be big and fat in order to stand out enough on a background with so many elements.

I used a large round brush (size 8) dipped in the Pinata ink to write the words “You are Loved”

I wanted to write more about WHO we are loved by…

So the small writing (Ephesians 1) is done with a Pitt multi liner xs pen

I added the heart last, loading up a small brush with the red Pan Pastel, then outlining with black using a Q-tip.

I filled in the heart with color by using my finger and the Q-tip.  After that, I used a baby wipe, rubbing in a circular motion to blend the color from the edge into the center.

Black Gelato finished off the edge of the canvas creating a border.

You cannot see the side of the canvas, but some of the book pages wrap around the sides as well as some of the lettering.

To show you some detail…

Journal Swap Cover Tutorial

I am having so much fun participating in a journal swap with a group of very talented artists!

It was organized just as I received my March kit, and I DEFINITELY

wanted to use some of these fun new products from Frog Dog Studio.

I used the products above, along with Lindy’s Magicals 

in the same Starburst shades that came in our March Limited Edition Kit.

Both sets are called  “Industrial Chic”

 

…and can be used interchangeably. 

My first decision was to use a favorite “trinket” I purchased at a local design store.

(It was the only cool thing I could afford at the time!)

 Above is a photo of the purchased item, and next to it, the reproduction made with

Amazing Crafting Products!

To make the mold…

TIP: To decide how much putty to use, start by using just one part (A or B) pressing it onto your piece to see how much it takes to cover, using enough to have a solid bottom…if it’s too thin on the bottom it won’t be sturdy. If I can almost thinly cover with one “side” (a or b)

Then add the equal amount of the other side…mixing until incorporated.

(1 min to mix, 1 min to mold)

 Make sense?

 Using equal parts A & B of Amazing Mold Putty, I pressed the putty over the top of the piece, then flipped it over to build up the sides.

 Leave for about 10 minutes, and then your mold is ready!

 I mixed up my Amazing Casting Resin (1 part A 1 part B) and added a few drops of

Alumilite Brown Dye. (If I didn’t add the dye, the cast would be white)

 Wait 10-15 min. and your cast is done!

Once the cast was ready, I applied a little Super Heavy Gesso (from a previous kit)

 to the center of the heart.

I did this, because I wanted to give the center a slight red cast, and without the light coat of gesso, another color would not show up on the dark brown base.

 

Above, see the rough edges?  It was easy to trim these with scissors! Yet, it looks like metal!

Next, I added some barn red distress stain.  A bit of trial an error here…I’ll know what I’m looking for when I see it! (later, I added some rusting powder)

 

Next, I covered my journal front cover with a collage of “ephemera” from our

Tim Holtz Salvage Stickers. 

 

Then I randomly “spritzed” and rubbed on the Lindy’s Starburst Spray in Moon Shadow Mist.

It has this wonderful blend of shimmer, brown, and a hint of gold & silver.

 I knew I wanted to add some chain I had in my stash to the piece that I cast.

 I wrapped the chain around it, before I loaded the mod podge on to the back, in order to adhere it to the front of the journal.  This journal is going to be traveling, so I wanted it to stay on!

 I added a few metal pieces I had on hand to the chain, along with the piece of metal screen with the word Grateful...the theme of my journal. (glued on with mod podge)

(Below)

In the top left hand corner I added the clock sticker (from the Salvage collection) and the Tim Holtz spinner. (also from our March kit) The almost rectangular piece under the spinner is actually a piece of mica, a layered mineral used to make Lindy’s Stamp Gang products!

Also added..a bit of doodling at the binder’s edge, and a few “postage” stamps applied at random.

As you can see above, I added a generous sprinkling of Dusty Attic’s Rusting Powder.

*along with the red I had previously added to the heart’s center…the rust gives it just the color I was after! yay! 

I think we (the design team members) are all out of this wonderous dust and are begging Tina for more!

I’ve used it on every one of my projects this month!

 To use the rusting powder:

1.) Apply liquid glue (craft glue, matte medium, mod podge, or even embossing liquid) to the areas you want to rust.

2.) Sprinkle rusting powder over those areas, tapping off excess onto a piece of paper.

3.) Pour excess back into jar (you’ll want to save every bit of this super cool product!!)

3.) Spray with a white vinegar.

4.) Let it dry for at least 30-60 min.  Rust deepens with time.

For the finishing touch…a few ribbons:)

 A peak at the inside…

 Look more Salvage stickers!!! There are tons!!

More Lindy’s and Rust Powder below.

Hope you feel inspired by all of these wonderful products!

Go create!!

It’s a joy sharing with you!

sue

Repurposed Discount Frame Tutorial

 Repurposed Discount Frame Tutorial

with FROG DOG STUDIO AND AMAZING CRAFTING PRODUCTS

Here’s what I used from our kit:

 Lindy’s Stamp Gang Moon Shadow Mist – Silhouette Silver

 Lindy’s Stamp Gang Moon Shadow Mist – Golden Doubloons

Dusty Attic Rusting Powder

 Dusty Attic Gear Chipboard Set

 Adirondack Paint Dabber – Pebble

 metal clip

AND…for the focal point of the frame…

A special piece “Re-created” with Amazing Crafting Products!

 My first decision was to use a favorite “trinket” I purchased at a local design store.

(It was the only cool thing I could afford at the time!)

 

 Above is a photo of the purchased item, and next to it, the reproduction made with

Amazing Crafting Products!

To make the mold…Mix equal parts of A and B Mold Putty 

                              

TIP: to decide how much putty to use, start by using just one part (either A or B)

Press it onto your piece to see how much it takes to cover, using enough to have a solid bottom…if it’s too thin on the bottom it won’t be sturdy. If I can almost thinly cover with one “side” (a or b) I then add the equal amount of the other side…mixing until incorporated.

(1 min to mix, 1 min to mold)

Hope that makes sense to you:)

 Using equal parts A & B of Amazing Mold Putty, I pressed the putty over the top of the piece, then flipped it over to build up the sides.

 Leave the mold to set for about 10-15 min.

 

 

 To create an aged copper appearance, I used a dry brush to brush on Alumilite Copper Metallic Powder right onto the mold.

 Next, I mixed equal parts A & B of Amazing Casting Resin, adding a few drops of Brown Alumilite Dye. It doesn’t take much!

Once the Resin is poured into the mold, it is set in just 10-15 minutes!

(without the dye, the cast would be white)

 

The right is the cast, left the original.  I made several casts of this piece (once you make a mold you can use it over and over!)  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of the one that had the Copper Metallic Powder added…but you can see how it came out in the finished frame piece.

The cast is thin enough, that I was able to trim some of the rough edges with scissors.

I made gear molds with the same steps as above using the Dusty Attic Gear Chipboard.

 When the gear casts were finished, I used a wet brush to brush on

Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magicals in “Steampunk Sepia ” 

(The Magicals achieve the same color as the Starburst Spray in our March Limited Edition Kit.)

 Next, I created the background for my photo using the Adirondack Dabber in “Pebble”

from our kit on my Gelli Plate.

I dabbed the paint onto the Gelli Plate, misted a few spritz of water over the paint and then rolled the paint with a brayer.

Once the paint was spread on the gelli, I pressed the Tim Holtz stencil (burlap) onto the gelli plate, lifted it up and pressed a blank piece of white card stock on top.

 

For this project, I used Magicals instead of the sprays in our March Limited Edition Kit, because I had them on hand before I received my sprays in the mail.

The Industrial Chic Magicals produce the same colors as the Industrial Chic Starburst Sprays,

but they allow you to create a specific “concentration” of color as you go, because you can mix small portions, varying the amount of intensity by the ratio of powder to water.

The Sprays offer the advantage of having the color already mixed and ready to spray.

When using the magicals as a spray, you must mix with warm water in a separate spray bottle.

 I often “grab” a bit of the Magical powder with a dry brush, placing it in the lid of the container.

Then, I add a little warm water to my brush and stir, until I get the color I want.

This is the technique I used to add color to my photo’s background page.

Brushing the mixed powder onto a wedge foam, I applied the color over the gear stencil.

I highlighted parts of the stencil image using other Lindy colors.

(Time Travel Teal and Steampunk Sepia)

I applied the color with a small round paint brush.

I also used a sponge brush with a more diluted (more water than powder) Time Travel Teal 

to add more color and interest.

 Above you can see the gold I added by dipping a dry brush into the Lindy’s Stamp Gang Moon Shadow Mist -Golden Doubloons from our March kit.

 The darker Teal was achieved by using a heavier concentration of Time Travel Teal powder to water.

 The Lindy’s colors are so vibrant and rich.

On to the frame…

  I purchased this for half off the clearance price of $5.10…about $2.50!

I knew I would be covering up the writing, and I did this with Liquitex Super Heavy Gesso 

from our January Limited Edition Kit. 

Do you have any old frames you’d like to re-invent?!! Grab that Gesso!

(MANY of our kit products last for months!!) 

Once the Gesso was dry, I applied color using the Lindy’s Magical in Time Travel Teal, using the same techniques from above.

 Next, I applied “patches” of Matte Medium (you could use any liquid glue/adhesive)

randomly to the frame.

Then, sprinkled Dusty Attic’s Rusting Powder on top, tapping off the excess onto a sheet of card stock so I could put what was not needed back in the jar.

 

To activate the rust powder, spray with white vinegar and allow it to dry.  It will take 15-30 min to see the rust appear… the rust color will deepen a bit after more time.

 I found that I could go back and spritz with a little more vinegar to deepen the rust color even further.

 To rust the metal clip from our kit, I applied Glossy Accents (for a little thicker coat) and sprinkled with Rusting Powder…then activated it with white vinegar.

 I added some chain that I had in my “stash” along with the sentiment tag from our March kit and the gears I molded and cast with Amazing Crafting Products.

Below, you can see that I added a hint of Tim Holtz Distress Ink in walnut to the center of the heart.

Our children and grandchildren are an extension of us…

Part of what “Life is about!”

 A friend of mine was looking at this piece, and didn’t believe the cast wasn’t metal!

 I used a lot techniques in this project and would welcome any questions you might have!

I so hope you feel inspired to create yourself!

 It is a joy to share with you,

sue