Monday, March 9, 2015

Steampunk Owl



This A7 size card is a "thank you" I made for my aunt.  Stamps used are "Steampunk Owl" by Stampendous, and Floral Tattoo by Stampers Anonymous.  

Owlie is inked in Memento Tuxedo Black and painted using Derwent Watercolor pencils and a waterbrush.  Background inks are Milled Lavender, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Grape, and Peeled Paint Distress ink.  There's also probably some Walnut Stain Distress ink on there, I can't imagine stamping without it. 

The Background paper is from the Idea-ology "Lost and Found" paper stash, and cut with the largest Nestabilities Label Fourteen die.

The adorable file folder pattern can be downloaded from the Stampendous site: 

Enjoy!

Sunday, March 8, 2015

March Tag!




It's March!  Tim has a fun tag for this month, and I have made a version of the tag using the same techniques and my own favorite colors and stamps.
You can check out Tim's blog at 






First, I created a collage on a #8 Manila tag using Idea-ology "Sketchbook" tissue tape.



Next, I smeared Distress Paint onto my craft sheet and misted it with water.  The colors here are: Tarnished Brass (my favorite for the week!), Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Pumice Stone, Crushed Olive and Wild Honey.

 Press the tag into the paint, mist again to blend colors, and dry with a heat tool.  


Quick product review:  Cracked Pistachio is a bold green color with a slight blue undertone.  In the Distress palate it is brighter and yellower than Evergreen Bough (deep green-blue) but bluer than Mowed Lawn (bright grass-green).



Here was a chance to use one of my favorite stamps:  the face of Michaelangelo's David from "Artful Artifacts" CMS 080 by Stampers Anonymous.  I'm fond of David stamps because I have a son by that name.  And Michaelangelo was super awesome.   It is stamped in archival black ink and heat set with clear embossing powder over the top.





Mask the main image - I used the old-fashioned technique of stamping the image on blank printer paper and cutting it out.   Then I used the "Dot Fade" layering stencil by Stampers Anonymous (THS 006) and smeared texture paste over it using a palate knife.  The key to this is choosing a stencil that has more negative space (stencil) than positive space (openings).  The look works best with a smaller amount of paste going through so you can see the awesome background color.  Trying this with the clear texture paste could be a fun option, too.



Sprinkle gold embossing powder over the wet texture paste, shake off excess, and allow to dry.  Definitely use lots of embossing powder.  This happens to be Stampin' Up's gold embossing powder.  This takes 15-20 minutes to air dry.   Set it aside and be patient, using a heat tool makes it bubble. 



Once it is dry, you can gently brush off any excess and set with a heat tool. 



For embellishments, I wanted to use some Ideology paper twine, but didn't want it white.  Using a blending tool, I smudged Crushed Olive over the twine.  It works easiest if you load up the tool with ink, place it on top of the twine, and pull the twine through.  It only takes a couple of passes on each side.



A couple wraps of twine secured with the Tiny Attacher, plus some Idea-ology game spinners, a Philolophy Tag, and Foliage finish it off.  The Crinkle Ribbon is dyed with Cracked Pistachio ink and Tarnished Bronze stain. 




Here's the collection thus far!