A new AIRs Challenge: Greenery

The color challenge for Imagine's Artists in Residence for this month is:  Greenery.  I thought I like to show an old classic, Mona, green with envy.  Here's a sneak peek, the instructions can be found on Imagine's blog.

You can see the huge effect Prima has had on me recently, lots of flowers and glitter.  I used the new product "On Point Glue" to attach very tiny, fine elements.  More about that on the Imagine site.

Thanks for stopping by ~ hugs ~ Renee

Make a practical little gift box

 Well, my 2015 term as a DT member with IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko is nearing its end.  It has been a fun year creating projects for them 3 times a month but there's a new team in place for 2016 and it's time for me to move on.  I will always love their products, I do believe they are exceptional and I will continue to use them.  This project is a gift box and is great for holding completed Zentangle tiles or even coasters.  Here is how I made it.

Supply list

IC/T supplies

Delicata 4 ink pad

irRESISTible Pico Embellishers:  Bronze, Copper

Memento Markers:  Pistachio, Pear Tart, Bamboo Leaves, Love Letter

StazOn:  Jet Black ink pad

Miscellaneous supplies

Old book paper, Stabilo All pencil, Golden Self Leveling Gel Medium, watercolor paper, Idea-o-logy metal feet and pull knob, card board cardstock, Chalkboard Paint, The Groove Tool with sandpaper tip, adhesive

DIRECTIONS:

1.       Choose a card board box, new or recycled and paint it inside and out with black Chalkboard paint.  Use the Groove Tool with the sandpaper tip to rough up the edges and apply a small amount of red marker to distressed edges.  When dry attach metal feet to the bottom of box with a strong adhesive and begin working on the lid.

2.        Cut a piece of background paper, this one is from a previous master board.  Cut a flower basket out of old book paper and adhere it to the background panel.

3.        Stamp flowers and cut them out using old book paper.  Glue the flowers to the panel, color in the flowers and leaves with Memento Markers.  Use a stencil and some gesso to make a tablecloth at the bottom of the basket.  Allow to dry.

4.        Use the irRESISTible Pico Embellishers to outline the flowers.  Screw the handle onto the middle of the arrangement.  Add metallic colors from the Delicata 4 ink pad.

5.        Adhere panel to a piece of card board cardstock, glue with a strong adhesive to the box.

6.        Apply dots with Copper irRESISTible Pico Embellisher; when dry apply a coat of Golden Self Leveling Gel to seal.  This can be filled with coasters, photos, candy, etc.  Whatever fits.

Thanks for stopping by!  Leave a comment if you have a moment, I love reading what you think.  Take care, hugs ~ Renee

"Thinking outside the box" project

For a fun project to do with a nice sturdy box that you want to recycle take a look at this project on the IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko AIRs blog.  Here's the link.  Sneak peek below!

I hope your having a great weekend.  Thanks for stopping by.   Hugs ~ Renee

A Technique using Amplify! to create an aged metal look

Today on the AIRs blog at IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko I will be sharing a technique used to make the product Amplify! and ink look like aged metal.  I used one of Seth Apter's fantastic stencils and IC/T products to create this master board.  I share on their blog some of the projects you can create with this master board that are really fun!  Check it out by clicking HERE.

Did you leave a comment on yesterday's post for the give-away next week?  I hope you do.  ~ hugs ~Renee

Amplify! your creativity

Check out the blog at IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko to see one of my latest projects using the product Amplify!  It is a wonderful product to gain more texture.

I hope you're having a beautiful weekend!  Hugs ~ Renee

Girl Power Cards

 As soon as I heard one of the themes for my IMAGINE Crafts assignments as an Artist in Residence this month was "Girl Power" I knew right away what I wanted to do.  I love all the images Dyan Reaveley created called "Strength" and some of the phrases Dina Wakely has created with this same type of theme.  I decided to do a series of strong women cards the first one I'll share today.  The step by step directions can be found on the IMAGINE Crafts blog for the first one.  The rest were done pretty much the same way.  Take a look if you're interested in making your own set.

I'll share more cards like this later in the week.  Thanks for stopping by ~ hugs ~ Renee

A Masculine Card

There are so many occasions to make and give masculine cards.  A friend of ours recently had a baby and the new Dad would certainly enjoy knowing he was not forgotten in all of the excitement!  You don't have to look far for an reason to use some wonderful masculine colors in card making.

If you would like to see the step by step tutorial just pop on over to the IMAGINE Crafts blog.  I hope you're planning a great weekend!  Hugs ~ Renee

A Mixed Media Bridal Shower Card

This month I created a mixed media card for a bride who prefers things a little out of the ordinary.  If you'd like to see the step by step instructions you can check it out on the IMAGINE Crafts Blog, here's the link.

There are several projects created by different Artists in Residence on the IC/T blog for you to enjoy.  I hope you're having a great weekend!  Take care, Renee xxx

Fashion Faux Gelli Plate card

Check out my short tutorial found on the Imagine Crafts blog today.  This card was made from my faux gelli plate masterboard, the directions are posted on the IC blog.  Enjoy!

I hope you are all well and happy, take care!  Hugs ~ Renee

Earth Day Treasure Box

Check out my Earth Day Treasure Box project on the Imagine Crafts blog.  This shows how you can recycle an old shoe box with scraps from other projects.  It is a great project to do with kids!

I hope you're enjoying this wonderful Spring weather!  Hugs ~ Renee

AIRs Challenge::Themed Project

Today my AIRs (Artists in Residence) challenge for Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko is to take my spring colored products and make something original and interesting out of them using the theme of "Self Portrait".  I had to think of a project that represented me and my personality.  One thing I know about myself is that I LOVE to read.  I also LOVE to give gifts to others, though they might be small gifts, all through the year.  I don't believe in waiting necessarily for a particular day or occasion to show someone that I love them or that I just happened to be thinking of them.

 When I think of a project that would reflect my personality but would be a useful item to others I think of a book marker.  Summer is right around the corner, summer reading goes along with that.  What better thing to make than a book marker?Personally I love to read historical books, which makes me think of historical figures that were larger than life and that inspired me to think of Marie-Antoinette as being the person that I would like to put on my book markers.    In a way I have multiple themes going on here......items that reflect my personality, Spring Colors, Marie-Antoinette and book markers.  Here is what I came up with.

Did I hear someone scream "group photo"?  All of these images are by Alpha Stamps and are from their digital art collection called "Young Marie".  I will show you a tutorial for the pink one but the same techniques apply to all of the book markers just using different colors.
To start I cut a piece of 140# Strathmore water color paper into strips that measure 2" by 9".  You can cut the strips shorter if you like or change the width, it depends on the measurements of the book you are creating it for.  After cutting the strips I used a large stamp by Magenta, you can use whatever stamps you have on hand,.  I covered the stamp with IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko Memento Luxe Wedding Dress ink which is a lovely shade of white, then covered the stamping with embossing powder.  I heated the embossing powder and then allowed it to cool.

I love the IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment Ink in the Pink Petunia color so I started applying that all over the marker, right over the embossed areas.

One of my all time favorite products to use for blending inks and removing inks are baby wipes and this project is no exception.  I coated it with the Pink Petunia ink first and then sprayed the ink covered book marker with IMAGINE Crafts Fireworks! Craft Spray in the Angel Pink color.  I let it run down the marker and then wiped the entire marker down with the baby wipe.

I could continue to add more color if I wanted to at this point and just keep removing portions with the baby wipe until it is just the color I had in mind.  Next I edged the book marker with IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko Memento Dye Ink in  Espresso Truffle to distress it a little.

Now it it ready to decorate.  I emptied my stash of trim on the table to see what would work with this project.  I know I can change the color of trims with ink pads and Fireworks! sprays so they match the inks I've chosen.

I had some white seam binding that could be dyed and crumpled for that old world look so I used IMAGINE Crafts Fireworks! Craft Spray in Angel Pink color with a tiny bit of Dandelion Fireworks!  too.  You can keep adjusting the color by spraying some water on the ribbon, wrapping it in a paper towel and drying it with the heat gun.  Just crumple it up while you do that if you want it to look aged.

I decided to use a large tattered lacy flower and give it the same treatment with a touch of IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment ink in the Aloe Vera green to mimic a leaf and the Angel Pink Fireworks! spray for the pink petals.

I attached the flower and ribbon with a strong adhesive and a light green brad in the center of the flower.  Now I just add Marie to the mix.

I trimmed out the image and adhered it to the back of the marker.  You could also cover the entire back with plain paper at this point in the event that you want it to look finished and also have an area to write book notes on.  I made several of these book markers since they are easy and pretty.  Every one has a different stamp design, is a different color and has a different image of Marie-Antoinette attached to the top.




IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment Ink in Pink Petunia

IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment Ink in Mango Madness and Imagine Crafts Fireworks! Craft Spray in Angel Pink edged with IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko Memento Dye Ink in Peanut Brittle color

IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment Ink in Spring Pansy and IMAGINE Crafts Fireworks! Craft Spray in Lulu Lavender edged with IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko StazOn Solvent Ink in Royal Purple color

IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment Ink in Mango Madness and IMAGINE Crafts Fireworks! Craft Spray in Bahama Blue edged with IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko StazOn Solvent Ink in Azure and Teal Blue colors

These are great gifts to give with a summer read.  I personally use a Kindle when I read at night but for some reason on a plane or a beach I prefer a real book so a book marker is always a handy way to mark the pages.  Imagine one of these with a Romance novel......hmmmm, love that idea.

Here's a list of all the products and tools that I used on this project.

Products

Strips of 140# Strathmore Water color paper
Miscellanious flowers, ribbons and trims
IMAGINE Crafts Embossing Powder
IMAGINE Crafts Fireworks! Craft Spray Inks in Dandelion, Angel Pink, Lulu Lavender, Summer Sky and Bahama Blue colors
IMAGINE Crafts InkBlushers
IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko Memento Dye Ink in Peanut Brittle and Espresso Truffle Colors
IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko StazOn Solvent Inks in Royal Purple, Teal Blue and Azure
IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment Ink in Dewdrop size pads:  Pink Petunia, Spring Pansy, Mango Madness
IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko Memento Luxe Mixed Media Pigment Ink in Wedding Dress White
adhesive
self adhesive rhinestone
Digital clip art from Alpha Stamps
baby wipes


Tools

Heat Gun
Paper trimmer
Water spray bottle
scissors
Stamps

Thanks for taking the time to stop by for a visit today, I really appreciate it.  I also appreciate any comments that you might have the time to leave.  Have a great day, I will talk to you soon!



Ten Minute Cards with a "Spring" theme

All of us are so pressed for time it seems.  I like to try to create some kind of art everyday and the ten minute card seems to be my answer to that challenge.  John at Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts sent me a box of Tsukineko's Versa Magic chalk inks and all kinds of wonderful sprays to use on my AIRs (Artists in Residence) projects for the month of April.  These chalk inks have a lovely, soft matte look when they dry.  You can heat emboss them with a clear powder if you want a shiny look to them.  I chose to keep the matte look except for one flower on each card.  The phrases at the top are inked with black StazOn ink and heat embossed with the clear powder. 

You could do several cards at one time, one right after the other, just keep inking up your stamp after each stamping.
First I stamped the Penny Black stamp with VersaMagic Aloe Vera green ink, using just the stems of the flowers and masking off the rest.  After heat drying the green ink I stamped the flower portion of the stamp.  I used Spring Pansy ink for this one.

I added a self adhesive dragonfly from K & Co for a little added interest and sponged the bottom portion of the card with some additional Aloe Vera ink.  Next I used Versa Magic chalk ink in the Aquatic Splash, which is a beautiful shade of blue.

On this one I stamped the phrase "Just a Note" and decided I liked it so much I would do one more with this phrase.  Here it is stamped  in Pink Petunia.

I did one more in a delicious Mango Madness color, which is either a bright yellow or a light orange color.  Very rich.

It is always great to have some all occasion type cards on hand and these really fit the bill.  They would also make a lovely hostess gift, packaged together and tied up with a nice piece of ribbon.



Products Used

Cream Colored Card stock/Blank Cards

Tsukineko Versa Magic Chalk Inks in Aquatic Splash, Pink Petunia, Mango Madness  & Spring Pansy colors
StazOn Black Ink

Clear Embossing Powder

Self Adhesive Dragonfly by K & Co

Tools

Heat Gun

Stamps by Penny Black, Hampton Art & Rubber Stampede

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit my blog, I really appreciate it!  If you have time please leave a comment.  Take care and have a great day!



AIRs Project of Choice::Mail Art

As an Artist in Residence with Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko my favorite monthly challenge is the "Project of Choice".  This is when I get the opportunity to use my favorite products that I've received for this month any way that I want to.  I love to make Mail Art, even if pieces like this one don't actually go through the mail.  Since it has so much dimension and ephemera added to it I'm sure it would get caught in the machinery.  But that's OK, sometimes you do have to hand deliver  items that can be placed in a large envelope like this one.  This envelope is a plain craft colored one that measures 9" by 12" and can be purchased at any office supply store.  When I get done stamping it, applying gesso, ink, Creative Medium, etc. this is what it looks like.

These are the products I started with for this project.

The first thing I do when designing  a piece of mail art is to use a stamp that fits with the size of the envelope.  Since I don't want my image to be floating around or look too small, I used my large Victorian lady stamp that I've had for years.  She is inked up with Black StazOn ink and I use a brayer on the reverse side to make sure that I get a good imprint.

Using flower stamps by Penny Black and others I stamped flowers randomly around her head.  I also colored in her eyes with the Versa Magic Aquatic Splash chalk ink and her lips and cheeks with Versa Magic Pink Petunia.  The Brushstix made by Imagine Crafts make it simple to apply just the right amount of ink to tiny areas like this.  Next I stamped some text randomly around the envelope.

I decided the title of this piece is "The Gardener" since it is Spring and I can't stop thinking about planting flowers. 

I applied Imagine Crafts Creative Medium in the Shimmer and Clear using stencils by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and Dina Wakley.  You can really see the texture and lacy detail of the stencil up close.

I had some leftovers from a Master Board that I had made with these spring colors so I cut the paper into ATC size, 3 1/2" by 2 1/2" and stamped some images on the cards with Black StazOn ink.  I later inked the edges of the cards with Versa Magic Spring Pansy Chalk ink.  I applied pop dots to the backs of these cards and set them aside for later.

Before I add my ATCs to the envelope I wanted to apply some gesso through a stencil by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer.  It leaves kind of honeycomb effect.  The gesso needs to thoroughly dry before adding any ephemera to the project.

When the gesso is dry I added some flowers that had been cut with my old Sizzix dies.  The paper used for the flowers is also leftover from a Masterboard made for another project using all the inks and sprays that coordinate with each other, this way all of the colors I'm using still compliment each other but not in a "matchy" way.  I found a stamped bee in my stash, the stamp is by Stampotique.  It was easy to color it with same chalk inks using a Brushstix.  Then I adhered the ATCs with some foam pop dots
.
The final touch was to ink or distress the edges with the Versa Magic Spring Pansy Chalk ink using an Imagine Crafts Ink Blusher sponge.  I applied a few dabs of Goosebumps to her lips to make them shine.  Finally  I raided my stash for some Queen & Co self adhesive white pearls to put in the center of a few flowers and she looks complete.

This is a great way to share your art with others by hand delivering it.  It is also a good way to use or trade some of your ATCs that need to go to a new home.  I invite you to give Mail Art a try, like art journaling there is no right or wrong.  Here is a list of the products I used to make this.

Products

Black StazOn ink

Tsukineko Versa Magic Chalk Inks:  Spring Pansy, Aquatic Splash, Pink Petunia, Thatched Straw, Aloe Vera and Mango Madness

Tsukineko StazOn Opaque Cotton White ink

Gesso

Creative Medium Clear and Shimmer Artist's Medium by Imagine Crafts

Imagine Crafts Goosebumps with a top dauber

Master Board paper scraps from project shown on April 3, 2013

One 9" by 12" craft colored envelope

Glue Pop Dots

Tools

Brayer

Imagine Crafts Ink Blushers

Imagine Crafts Brushstix

Sizzix Flower Dies

Heat Gun

Stencils

Flower Stamps

Face Stamp

StazOn All Purpose Cleaner



AIRs Artist Challenge/ATCs

This is one of those LONG postings that require a beverage of your choice suited to your time zone and a snack.  I decided to make a Master Board using all the wonderful products recently sent to me by John at Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko for the April AIRs projects.  As "Artists in Residence" we have three project assignments every month, one of them being a challenge to use all of the products in the box.  Fun, fun, fun!  When you make a Master Board or the equivalent of your own custom designed background paper, that task is really simplified since anything goes.  Take a look at my product choices!

Here's my finished project.



I started with a 12" by 12" piece of Strathmore Acrylic paper with a linen finish (246 lb paper).  I pulled out several stencils from my collection and started building my layers of color and texture on the blank piece of paper.  I decided that a lot of stenciling would come into play with the chalk inks, Fireworks! sprays and my Imagine Crafts Ink Blusher sponges which I use for stenciling.  After I get done with all the colors on the paper I will make sure it is dry and before cutting it up to make multiple ATCs and a little book for them to fit into.  My theme for the book is "Don't Forget to Give Yourself a Hug" and it is based on a cast of characters from Stampotique who look like they could use a hug.  The first color I apply is Angel Pink Fireworks! spray, followed quickly with Lulu Lavender and Summer Sky Fireworks! sprays.

For that lovely dark blue color, almost purple, I use Imagine Crafts Paris Dusk Fireworks! spray which is sprayed through a lacy stencil.  Dry with the heat gun.  I arranged several other stencils on the paper and sprayed water lightly through them, then I carefully lifted off the stencils.  I blotted off the water by rolling a paper towel roll over the paper, this is a ghosting technique that lifts off some of the inks and leaves light colored impressions from the stencils.  I took the lid off of the Paris Dusk Fireworks! spray ink bottle and used the pump attachment to fling some splatters of the ink across the page. 

Now to make my own stamp with recycled  materials.  In the box was a product called "Tack 'n Peel Cling Sheet".  Since I am first and foremost a rubber stamper I have a lot of flat stamps that usually need to be mounted on some type of rubber foam backing.  I do like to make my own stamps out of "found" items, like bubble wrap, whenever I can.  This can get messy and I generally throw the bubble wrap away after the first use since it moves around and gets all over the place.  I decided to make my own "bubble wrap" stamp with my Tack 'n Peel cling sheet.  (You could also use rubber bands, toothpicks, etc., whatever you want to attach to the sticky mat for your own unique look.)

I attached some bubble wrap to my TsukinekoTack 'n Peel cling sheet that had been mounted on an acrylic block, inked it up with all of my spring colored Versa Magic Chalk Inks and got some really nice textured stamping on my page.  It's like getting a FREE stamp.  After using it I just pulled it off the Tack 'n Peel and tossed the bubble wrap.  I can reuse the Tack 'n Peel over and over, I just rinse off any residual ink or bits of paper that might get on it.  I run it under the tap and rinse off anything I don't want to stick to it, no soap required, just water.  It is really great to use with those unmounted stamps that I never got around to attaching the foam sticky stuff to.  It can be cut to any size you desire and you don't have scissors covered with gunk when you're done.

I also used the Imagine Crafts Creative Medium with stencils to top off all the inky goodness on my page.  Now I have a lot of texture and color.  When I applied Imagine Crafts Goosebumps I got some additional sheen here and there.  There is a tremendous amount of color, shine and texture, bumpy & smooth stuff, going on here!

 I make sure this page is really dry before I start cutting it up, in addition to drying everything between each layer I usually dry it a little more at the end with my heat gun.  I'm going to use this for the base of  ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) and a card or two.  For the ATCs I need to cut my pieces to measure 2 1/2" by 3 1/2", the standard measurement.  Each of them with be matted on a piece of black card stock that will measure 2 3/4" by 3 3/4".  All of my characters and phrases will be Stampotique images with the exception of the stamped image on the cover of the little book.

After making all of the ATCs that I wanted for the project I made an accordion style book to hold them in.  I cut this from the same type of paper that I used for the other parts of the project, Strathmore Acrylic paper with a linen finish (246 lb paper).   This strip measures 4 inches high by 24" long.  I just folded the paper every three inches, sharpening the fold with a bone folder and then added to the book by gluing extensions onto it until I had enough for all of my cards, which ended up being eight ATCs.

The front and back covers measure 3 1/2 inches by 4 1/2" each and the front cover has an additional ATC adhered to it.

I continued to stencil on the accordion book strip with inks and sprays until it looked like this, just in case there were any bare spots on the front side and in addition to that, now the back is ready for me to add any more ATCs in the future that might be a part of this grouping.

Using a strong adhesive I attached all of the ATCs first, then the covers and finally cut a yard and half of grape and white bakers twine to keep it closed by wrapping it around and then tying it in a loose bow.  Here is a close up of the first four.

 This is a close up photo of the second four ATCs.  I still have this much room on the back to add more at a later date.

The finished line up of my cast of odd characters.

When I'm done looking at them or if I ever give them away I'll  just fold up the little book and tie it up with twine to keep it closed.

Next time you go crazy making ATCs that you can't bear to trade or give away think about making a small but durable         3 1/2" by 4 1/2" accordion book and keeping them for yourself.....for a while at least!  Here is a list of all the products and tools I used on this project.

Products

Tsukineko's Versa Magic Chalk Inks:  Spring Pansy, Thatched Straw, Mango Madness, Aquatic Splash, Aloe Vera & Pink Petunia

Imagine Crafts Ink Blusher Sponge Applicators

Imagine Crafts Goosebumps

Imagine Crafts Creative Medium Vintage, Clear and Shimmer

Tsukineko Black StazOn Ink

Tsukineko StazOn Cleaner

Imagine Crafts Fireworks! Spray Inks:  Angel Pink, Summer Sky, Lulu Lavender, Paris Dusk

Tsukineko Tack 'n Peel Cling Sheet

Bakers Twine

Clear Embossing Powder

Black Card Stock

Adhesive

Paper Cutter

Tsukineko StazOn Opaque Ivory Black & Cotton White Inkers
Tsukineko Memento Markers

Tools

Rubber Stamps by Stampotique, Dina Wakley & Magenta

Clear stamps

Old Credit Card

Bubble Wrap

acrylic block

Stencils by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer & Michaels

Imagine Craft Ink Blushers/sponge applicators

Heat Gun

Bone Folder

Ruler

My thanks to Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko for sending me products that I can challenge myself with and then share with all of you.  My thanks to everyone who stopped by to visit my blog and to take a look at my little book!  I hope you'll make your own Master Boards and have fun cutting up your very own uniquely decorated paper to make fun projects.  Have a great day, I'll talk to you soon!