Fragile for Visible Image

I've created a simple (but I hope effective) journal page for Visible Image today. How Fragile... is one of the newest releases. I only got my mitts on it on Saturday but I was eager to have a play straight away. This whole spread uses a very minimal amount of supplies - basicially one stamp set, three spray inks and some clear embossing powder.

Here's how I created it:

1 Heat emboss the cracked glass stamp several times in clear embossing powder - I worked straight onto my journal paper because I am working with water-based sprays and gesso would resist them.

2 Lightly spray over the page with Broken China Distress Spray Stain, blot and dry.

3 Spray Faded Jeans and Hickory Smoke sprays close to the paper, concentrating on the centres of the stamped images. Push the wet sprays outwards towards the edges of the stamped images with a paintbrush. Blot and dry. Repeat if desired.

4 Spray the Broken China here and there to eliminate any harsh brush lines or obviously blocks of colour.

5 Rub over the embossing gently with a cloth to remove some of the ink and make the white pop more.

6 Stamp the phrase onto cardstock, spray very lightly and from some distance with the Hickory Smoke ink to get a light splatter of ink on the words. Cut out and add to your page.

Thanks for visiting today!

Katy x

This is the stamp I used -  How Fragile we Are

Dancing Dragonflies

Today I am sharing my latest DT piece for Visible Image, using one of their fab MDF Monoliths and the dragonfly image, which is one of my favourite stamps. Although I don't get to see dragonflies often I adore watching them dart and swoop over the water, especially on a bright day when their wings glow and shimmer in the sunlight. Here I've tried to recreate some of that effect using Silks mica-based paints to make the wings catch the light.

I didn't take any process shots for this piece, but here's how I made it:

1) Cover a monolith with book pages then paint over with watered-down cream paint. Add some light brown tones of Distress Ink to create some subtle warmth.

2) Add Dreamweaver gold texture paste through a stencil (Tim Holtz), leaving a gap to stamp the sentiment.

3) When dry stamp around the edges using  just a part of each of the Edgy stamps - first in Archival Tree Branch and then black. Run a fold calligraphy pen around the edges,

4) Stamp the greeting in Archival Garden Patina ink and then again, but slightly offset, in black.

5) Stamp six dragonflies and colour with ColourArte Silks to give them a gorgeous shimmer (I used colours Teal Zircon and Pretty Peridot). Layer two sets of wings per dragonfly then add a body. Glue to the monolith and raise the wings to finish.

I think this makes a really pretty piece of home decor - hope you do too.

Katy x

Here are the stamps I used today:

Live in the Moment

Edgy

Imagine Journal Page

If you love art journaling then don't miss out on stamps from Visible Image. They have some fantastic mark-making images and some amazing quotes too. Perfect for art journals!

My basis for this page is DecoArt Media paints again - my go-to product for my journals. It stamps over really well too :).

I've got a complete step-out for you today - enjoy!

1 Colour a page loosely with DecoArt Media paints - I used Primary Yellow, Cobalt Turquoise Hue and Green Gold. I mixed the paints with Tinting Base to create softer colours. Apply with a paintbrush and try not to over-mix.

2 Add some areas of 'neat' Cobalt Turquoise Hue once the first layer is dry - I used my finger for this.

3 Use the Orbital stamp to add some circles - use a permanent ink.

4 Go over the circles with white gesso to create an opaque base.

5 Colour the circles with a mix of Cadmium Red Hue and Pyrrole Orange.

6 Use a stencil (Andy Skinner) and white gesso to add more detail.

7 Re-stamp the circles again over the painted areas in black permanent ink.

8 Outline the circles with a Stabilo All pencil and blend out with water and your finger. This just adds depth and helps the circles to pop off the background.

9  Stamp the phrases into place with black ink. Add some stamping to the edges using blue ink and the Edgy stamp.

10 Add more detail with bottle lids dipped in gesso.

11 Finish the page by adding some small areas of black stenciling and smudges of black paint on the edges.

Hope you like my colourful page today - here are the stamps I used.

Katy x

Imagine Dream Inspire Stamp Set

Edgy Stamp Set

Orbital Stamp Set

Shine!

Today's my Visible Image DT day and I've created a clean, fresh card using the Shine Bright stamp set.

I've used simple masking to make one bulb the focal point on my card - the images at the back are stamped in grey to make the focal image pop even more. After stamping the greeting, I drew the cords on the bulbs by hand using a black marker pen.

The bulb is coloured with three shades of Distress Ink - Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed and Wild Honey, getting darker in tone towards the outside. The ink is applied and blended with a wet paintbrush. I also highlighted the greeting with a quick wash of Mustard Seed ink.

I think this card is suitable for any kind of occasion where someone has made an achievement - a new job, graduation or even overcoming an obstacle in their life. This stamp is also great as it's totally gender neutral.

Hope you've enjoyed today's make - see you very soon :).

Katy x

Shine Bright Stamp Set

Dancing Dragonflies

I love mixed media but I also love a clean and simple card too. Sometimes when a stamp is as nice as this one from Visible Image you just want to let it speak for itself.

I simply stamped the dragonflies and sentiment with black Archival Ink and then coloured them with Distress Inks and a water brush - I used Peacock Feathers and Twisted Citron - love that combo!

And it's as (very) simple as that but I think this is a really effective and pretty card, especially if you are in a hurry!

Katy x

Live in the Moment Stamp Set 

Dragonfly Monolith for Visible Image

For my DT post today I've been playing with the new MDF monoliths from Visible Image again in combination with this lovely new dragonfly stamp.

Here's how I made it:

1 Add a layer of crackle paint (I used DecoArt) to the monolith, in a few places only. When dry, paint over with washes of acrylic paint (I used DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics). When working steps one and two make sure you leave room to stamp the sentiment cleanly.

2 Add some stencilling with modeling paste to give your background additional texture.

3 Add additional stamping in blue and yellow with a bottle lid and some bubble wrap.

4 Stamp the sentiment in black the wording around the edges, also in black,

5 Stamp the dragonfly twice, cut out and colour with paint washes. Stamp the body oneot the background - this is so the legs can show. Layer the cut out images on top.

6 To finish simply embellish with painted flowers and die cut leaves.

Thanks for stopping by today! You can find the Visible Image shop here.

Katy x

Live in the Moment

Imagine Dream Inspire

Sparkle in the Rain for Visible Image

I have a card to share with you today using another of the new stamp releases (you may have seen them on Create & Craft recently). This card uses Sparkle in the Rain from the new releases and some old favourites too.

I've got a short video for you on how I made it:

Thanks for visiting today:)

Katy x

I used these Visible Image stamps:

Sparkle in the Rain

Ink Splats

Edgy

Shine for Visible Image

Hello there! My make for the Visible Image DT today uses two of their BRAND NEW releases which are now available to pre-order. As soon as I saw the Shine Bright stamp I knew I wanted it. Something that little bit different...

Also new are the MDF monoliths which are perfect for making pieces for display and also for practical makes (more on that from some of my teamies to come). I've created something purely decorative today.

Here's how I made it:

1) To create the background I layered scrunched tissue paper over cardstock (you could also work straight onto the MDF if you prefer). I added a die cut clock and some string before painting the whole thing with black gesso,

2) When the gesso had dried, I dry-brushed all over with paint in purple and blue shades (I used DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics). After that, I dry-brushed a very small amount of white gesso onto some of the raised areas.

3) I painted some die cut cogs with silver metallic paint (also DecoArt Media) and added them to the background along with some washers and nuts from the DIY store.

4) I stamped the light bulb onto white card and coloured it with Distress Inks (Mustard Seed and Wild Honey). I added silver Sakura Gelly Roll metallic pen to the lower parts.

5) I then stamped the lightbulb again onto Dura-Lar film using StazOn (you could use acetate instead). The Dura-Lar can be heated and gently shaped and here it's curved gently to resemble a 'real' lightbulb. Apply more silver pen to the back of the film light bulb and glue it over the card one, just adding the glue towards the base where the black stamping will hide it.

6) Stamp a portion of the 'inspire' dictionary stamp onto a scrap of card, swipe lightly with Distress Ink in Mustard Seed before securing behind a bookplate.

Hope you LOVE this stamp as much as me!

Katy x

I used these fabulous Visible Image products:

Monoliths

Shine Bright stamp set

Imagine Dream Inspire stamp set

Create your Future for Visible Image

Today's make for Visible Image is a clean and simple tag card. I'm often asked what I do with the tags I create and they make great cards - simply cut another tag, fold a small flap at the top and adhere the flap to the back of the decorated tag to allow it to stand.

I stamped the overlapping circles in black Archival then coloured each one with Distress Ink - I used Twisted Citron, Abandoned Coral and Cracked Pistachio. I stamped a splat in black inside each circle to add detail. I stamped the words and cut them out individually before mounting to the card on 3D foam pads. I matted the tag onto black card and created a back as described above to allow it to stand.

This card really highlights how brilliantly words can work as a focal point when combined with abstract or background images. Hope you like it!

Warm wishes,

Katy x

I used these stamps on my card:

Create Your Future

Orbital

Ink Splats

Visible Image Debut!

It's my first post as a member of the Visible Image Design Team today! I found out about the team before Christmas and I've been dying to make a start! My stamps arrived on Monday so I haven't had a lot of time to make - hence I've just done a clean and simple card for today. I'm calling it 'Winter Butterfly' because I think the colours are really seasonal.

I stamped the Edgy image in Pumice Stone Distress Ink onto a panel of card, then stamped the butterfly and sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black. I stamped the butterfly again onto card and coloured it with Distress Stains in Peacock Feathers and Tumbled Glass, finishing with a few dots of white gel pen. I glued just the centre of the painted butterfly to the card panel so the wings are raised up. I added the panel to a white card blank with 3D foam tape - love this white-on-white layering; I think it looks really classy.

I don't often work with clear stamps but I have to say these stamp really nicely and they are SO thick and heavy-duty!

There's inspiration almost every day on the Visible Image blog and if you want to check out more work with Visible Image stamps or share your own, they have a Facebook Group too.

You can find the stamps I used via the links below:

Large Butterfly

Edgy

Imagine Dream Inspire

Thanks for stopping by :).
Katy x

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