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Source: Unknown
Need something for layering? You can color a used dryer sheet (recycle) and use it as" mulberry paper." I use a brayer, I have heard too to put it in a baggie with ink and mix, mix, mix.
Source: Unknown
Use the brightly colored polyester cotton balls to add a little color to your work. They don't absorb ink like real cotton or like sponges. They can be tapped into ink pads and then tapped, swirled, or rubbed onto card stock to add faint or heavy shading direct to the paper.
Put a slight color on edge
areas before you layer. Or use a punch like a stencil...punch your shape
on cardstock, lay in on the piece you want to color. Use the artificial
cotton balls in your ink pads then pounce color over the punched hole
and you have a very nice shaded area same shape as the punch.
My all time tip for using the poly balls or with everything you do...!
Practice it first. Better to do the thing two or three times then to do
it once and ruin your piece of art.
Source: Unknown
Need silver accent on your card? Use aluminum foil! It's inexpensive and almost everyone has it.
Source: Unknown
In a creative slump? Spend some time making hand-painted paper backgrounds. Get out your craft acrylics and start spattering and sponging and squishing them onto card or watercolor paper or anything you've got laying around. Experiment with color combinations and wild shapes. Use a big sheet of paper and get really abstract.
After it's dry cut/tear it into smaller pieces. You'll end up with some lovely papers that will be useful for layering and collage once the muse strikes again.
Source: Unknown:
Try using bubble wrap for a GREAT background. Cut a piece of bubble wrap to the size of your card. Use a brayer and apply ink to the bubble wrap (bubbles facing up). Try using multicolored ink pad and use dye based ink as it dries fast. Once ink is applied, place card front on top of bubble wrap. Press firmly, but be sure not to let it slide. I also use the brayer to roll over the paper AFTER it is cleaned. This gives a really great honeycomb effect background.
Source: Unknown
I have been experimenting with shoe polish to age paper and notice it is waterproof and acts as a resist. I decided to test clear shoe polish. Wow, what a great tool to use!! So this is my tip. Buy a container of clear shoe polish. You can stamp and color images with any inks that won;'t run when wet. You can then age the paper and the images look the same!! You can also use it as a sealer or to make an image or page shiney. I love the versatility of it. I bought a large tin for $2.00 and I can tell it will take a long time to use it as you only need a little bit. Also, when the tin is empty I plan to paint it and decorate it as I would an Altoid tin!!
Source: Unknown
Does anyone remember koosh balls? They are balls that look like they are made of thin rubber band strips. Anyway, I pounce them onto an ink pad and then pounce them onto cardstock for neat backgrounds. It is especially cool with the Big n Juicy rainbow ink pads - lots of cool colors. And since they are rubber, you can just rinse them out and they don't seem to get stained. They are hard to come by, though. I found some at an auto parts (Auto Zone, I think) store, of all places, a few months ago at $3 and bought 3 of them.
Source: Annette W.
This is an activity that can be done with children who are home for the summer and bored. Adult supervision is a good idea.
FAST and inexpensive Background paper Tip:
If you want fast and easy backgrounds, grab leaves off trees, roses, bushes, grasses or anything growing in your yard.
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Spread newspapers on the ground and lay various colors of cardstock on top. Do not overlap the cardstock. If there's a breeze, small rocks can keep the newspaper stable.
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Scatter the leaves and petals haphazardly on top of the cardstock. It matters not where they're placed. It's a serendipitous experience that always creates a surprise.
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Stand UPwind and spray paint the leaves. A distance of at least 12 inches is a good place to start. The overspray will create incredible patterns on the cardstock that can be used when you're indoors in winter and the leaves have all flown away. Use up leftover cans of spray paint. They're already paid for and taking up space, so use it and toss away the empty cans.
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Allow the leaves and cardstock to dry in the sun. Stack the cardstock to use later and once the leaves dry completely, you can use them as embellishments in your artwork. Press them in a phone book if you want the leaves and grasses to be flat.
I really like this idea because
it's FREE, fast, makes lots in an hour, uses up leftovers and the clean
up is instant. Just grab the newspapers and toss in the trash when you're
done.
Once the cardstock is dry, you can stamp, emboss and heat emboss, too.
Suggested color combos:
- Black with copper or silver or gold
- White and any color
- Red and gold with black spray webbing
- Red and green for the holidays
You name it; it'll work.
Source: Fran Saperstein with Tim Holtz
Color Wash Batik
Tim showed us how to get a paper batik look with the Color Wash Inks. This can also be done on fabric. (see Tim's video for this!)
Materials:
Adirondack Color Wash Inks (Ranger)
White Mulberry Paper
Fern Rubber Stamp (Hero Arts)
Big Bossy Clear Embossing Ink (Ranger)
Clear Embossing Powder (Ranger)
Non-Stick Craft Sheet (Ranger)
Heat It Craft Tool (Ranger)
Metal Tray (Artist's Own)
Vinyl Gloves (Artist's Own)
Jet Black Archival Ink (Ranger)
Non-Stick Craft Iron (Product Performers)
Plain Newsprint
Ironing Pad
Take the white mulberry paper and stamp on it with the Fern using clear embossing ink.
Cover with clear embossing powder and heat set powder.
It is important to note that because of the thin nature of the mulberry paper you must use a non-stick craft sheet when heating the embossing powder. You will need to remove the paper from the craft sheet, and not using a craft sheet will make this nearly impossible.
Hot Tip: Tim recommends a condiment bottle to help get the embossing powder where you want it!
Put on gloves: Tim uses vinyl gloves he can buy at the local discount store. Tim could not express enough how important this is, as the Color Wash is permanent on skin, as well. It will eventually come off, but it takes time.
Place the mulberry paper onto the tray. Spray the lightest color of the Color Wash onto the Mulberry Paper.
A little Color Wash goes a
LONG way, so don't spray too much. Add additional colors as desired.
When you have all the colors you want on it, crumple the color washed
paper in your hands.
Open up the paper but do not completely flatten it. Take the Archival
Jet Black ink and rub it on the peaks created by rubbing. This will create
the look of batik.
Take the mulberry paper and place it between two sheets of newsprint. Place this on the ironing surface.
Ironing the embossing powder will remove it from the mulberry paper and transfer it onto the newsprint. The embossing powder acts as a resist, keeping the color wash off of the embossed areas.
The paper becomes transparent where there is no color wash. This is an exciting way to create layered collage behind the images.
Source: Unknown
When you create a background paper and are not sure if the stamp you want to use will look good on it, instead of ruining your background paper (don't ask) use either a stamp positioner with the clear acrylic piece or an acrylic block to stamp your image on. Then place it on top of your background paper to see how it will look. You can move it around to see where it will look best.
Source: Unknown
Cut an 8.5 sheet of cardstock in half lengthwise. Fold top end of cardstock down about 1/2 inch. Bring bottom end of cardstock up to fit inside the flap you just made. Then fold the bottom end up about 1/2 inch. When you unfold you will see 3 lines.
Accordion-pleat this fold and insert the top under the flap again. When you look at it from the side, it will look like a "w" on the bottom and will stand up alone. You can fill cello bags with stuff and insert it inside the gift package with a small strip of double sided tape.
To close, punch 2 1/8" holes at the top and close with ribbon pulled thru the top flap and top of front. These are really quick, fun and cheap to make. You can decorate the front however you desire.
Source: Linda Mazar
I was busily trying to make some cards for an Autumn Moon card swap I am in and I came across something that works. I was embossing on vellum and wanted to make the crane in my stamp show up (I am mounting the vellum against navy blue CS), so wanted to paint something on the back of the crane part of the image to make it stand out. I looked around and found some "Sneaker Whitener" by Kiwi (sold where they sell shoe polish - this is in a bottle and intended to be put on sneakers to make them whiter) and thought I'd give it a go.
I dug out some cheap paint brushes (was afraid it might not wash off) and then pressed the container of whitener down on a disposable plate until I had a little puddle of it. Then I painted it on the back of the image wherever I wanted it to show through white. It worked wonderfully!!!!!! Dried really fast too!
Source: Annette
Take a piece of fusible webbing (purchase at fabric store) and cut it same size as the piece of cardstock you are going to use it on. Hold it down at one edge and use your heat gun to melt it a bit so it will stick to the cardstock. A few holes and patterns will begin to form. Don't melt it too much. Then sprinkle all over with embossing powder. You can use one color of embossing powder or several colors. Then heat again moving your heating gun around and around. Patterns and holes will begin to appear and be embossed on the cardstock. Don't hold the heat gun too close or in one place for too long or you will lose some of the nice patterns the webbing forms. Add a stamped image over this background for a pretty look.
Source: Unknown
When using a craft knife on
those "hard-to-cut" items, run your blade through a cheap candle.
It will lubricate the blade and help it cut better through foam core and
other heavier items.
To protect your artwork on an envelope or something that will be handled
a lot, rub a cheap white candle over your stamped images (after they have
completely dried). It will leave a thin, invisible coating that will protect
the image---even from rain!
Organic Mediums
Source: Oriental Stamp Art List
Sandy's Sand Technique Annette W.'s Sand Technique
Sandy's Sand Technique
Materials:
craft sand (any color will do but if you use a natural color it will look
like the beach)
clear embossing powder
clear embossing re-inker bottle
1) Mix equal parts of sand
and embossing powder
2) Using a brush apply clear embossing ink to your art work
3) pour on the sand/embossing powder mixture
4) emboss!
I recommend craft sand over beach sand because very frequently beach sand has tiny critters and small black particles in it. I have used this to make a beach on my beach scene cards.
Annette W's Sand Technique (Secret Recipe)
1. Take a tablespoon of table
salt (yes, table salt) and dump it into a plastic baggie or a plastic
bowl with a lid.
2. Drop in a drip of food color, any color.
3. Close the container. A very important step.
4. Now shake the living daylights out of it until the color
is fully mixed.
5. Spread the 'sand' out on a paper plate or newspaper overnight
to dry.
If you skip this step, you'll have hairy sand because the moisture in the salt will create 'life'.
When you want to add texture to your art, apply any kind of glue, liquid or glue stick, then pour on the 'sand'. That's it.
If you want a smoother look, put your colored sand into your kitchen blender on high until you have the texture you want. It really makes real looking sand. Oh, and you can add acrylic paint, a wee drop, instead of the food coloring. Very interesting embellishment and it's super duper cheap, too.
Source: Unknown
If you ever get bored with
backgrounds, here's a new idea that is easy and fun.
It's called Celery Stamping:
Secure a small bunch of celery together. Cut the ends to remove dry edges. Dip celery bunch into re-inkers in your choice of shades. Stamp all over white cardstock and allow to dry. It will dry lighter. You can use one color for a uniform look or use two to three for more color.
Alternate Sources
Source: Unknown
I love to check out the cosmetic
area in discount stores such as Big Lots to find items to use in my stamping.
I recently found the type of nail polish that you need for the water technique.
(the clear with the holographic colors that you drop into a pan of water
and swirl around and then lay a piece of cardstock on for neat background
paper) I also got some foam applicators (like for eyeshadow) that use
just one "handle" and the tips are exchangeable. I have purchased
several little spray bottles for only .48c each that hold my water, stamp
cleaner-simple green, alcohol, hairspray-for sealing chalks, ink pad refresher
etc... The foam wedges that you use to put your make up on with are like
88c for a big pack...these are great to make your own daubers for direct
to paper application from your ink pads.
Tonight I picked up a 2 pair pack of tweezers to use when I'm embossing for only .99c. Such great deals to be found!
Source: Margaret Meyers
Drywall mesh tape can be found at your local home improvement store for a fraction of the price of the "fancy" mesh rolls sold in craft stores. They are adhesive on one side so it can be applied right to your project. They accept inks and glues very well and look great when embossed or glittered.
Note: Some brands are not acid free, so test them with your acid tester before using them for scrapbooking.
Source: Unknown
However, I had a simple tip that others with small children might be able to benefit from. Mary Kay oil free eye makeup remover will remove Color Box chalk ink and Color Box pigment ink and Stampin up craft pad ink from the hands and face and even the hair of little children. Yesterday it removed Ballet Blue from light blond hair. I think I need to start putting all my ink pads in a lock box as my 2 year old loves to "play" and try to stamp with anything from her fingers to large popsicle sticks. The popsicle sticks made a unique design that I am going to try and tweak for a background.
Source: Annette
Take a piece of fusible webbing (purchase at fabric store) and cut it same size as the piece of cardstock you are going to use it on. Hold it down at one edge and use your heat gun to melt it a bit so it will stick to the cardstock. A few holes and patterns will begin to form. Don't melt it too much. Then sprinkle all over with embossing powder. You can use one color of embossing powder or several colors. Then heat again moving your heating gun around and around. Patterns and holes will begin to appear and be embossed on the cardstock. Don't hold the heat gun too close or in one place for too long or you will lose some of the nice patterns the webbing forms. Add a stamped image over this background for a pretty look.
Source: Unknown
I learned this at a retreat I went to this weekend. It uses spackle compound and reinkers. Take 1 heaping tablespoon of the compound and add 8-10 drops of any colored reinkers. Stir up until completely colored. Take a stencil and lay over paper, tape if necessary.
Slather the compound over the entire area of stencil you want to use. Then take putty knife and scrape off excess so the compound is on inside of stencil only. Carefully remove stencil and let dry.
You have a raised, puffy image that is ready for use on a card.
To add to the tip, you can also add pigment powders like Pearl Ex to the compound. You should also have a container of water with Simple Green near by to put your stencil and knife in as soon at you remove it. I also use painters tape to hold down the stencil and frame it completely to keep the speckle from going over the edge of the stencil. It is important to put the first piece of tape at the top of the stencil to make a hinge so that it is the last piece of tape removed. This keeps the stencil from hitting the wet spackle when it is being removed.
Source: Bridget
Check out your town's Dollar Tree. They have lots of stuff for only $1.00! Wrapping paper in some awesome designs can be used as paper to cover cards and such. Ribbons, stickers, and sometimes even stamps. I've also found some awesome 12 x 12 papers - 5 for $1.00. Make sure to check out the toys section too. Cute stuff in the girls section like ribbons, gemstones, and feathers on boas. And....of course, Tupperware to hold all the stamping goodies. Also, remember to turn trash to treasure. Envelopes of junk mail sometimes have papers worth saving. Just the other day I got an thing for baby formula and it had a vellum envelope inside! Awesome! Doll house furniture also has some cute stuff that could be used for stamping.
Source: Nancy Dunahee
Here's a tip I learned from
Tim Holtz in the class I took from him recently. I was doing a collage
card and it looked choppy - needed something to tie it all together. I
asked for his help. He took my card and a regular stapler - added about
5 staples here and there, this way and that. It was just what my card
needed. A cheap and easy embellishment.
Source: Mari
Hi everyone! Here's my tip:
Don't limit your shopping experiences! I was dragged to a fishing/hunting/camping
store by my DH recently. Usually I would hate that, I'd rather be stamping
than camping! But I discovered that there are *ALL KINDS* of fun things
to be had. I found some really cool fibers in the fly tying section plus
some natural looking feathers for really cheap. Then there was all the
little plastic boxes to keep things separated, perfect for beads/brads/buttons/eyelets.
In the camping section I found a bunch of small containers that would
work well for embossing powder colors that I mixed myself. DH had to drag
me out! Oooh, WalMart is also a great place. I found a $1.50 non stick
cookie sheet that I can use under stuff that I'm embossing without having
to worry if it gets messed up. So remember to look for embellishments
even when you're someplace "boring"!
Source: Unknown
If your lucky enough to have a "dymo" label maker, use it with making your cards, college affects, scrapbooking. To soften the color of the plastic embossed ribbon, punch out your strip of lettering wanted, adhere a strip of white vellum, cut slightly larger then your embossed strip and glue vellum onto that lettered embossed strip. For cards; I just use a glue strip with something heavy put on it while it is drying, for scrapping; use acid-free glue. If you have the newer dymo label makers that have clear/white ribbon, you can cover with colored vellum.
Source: Unknown
Pegboard and an assortment
of different pegs from the hardware store makes a great storage area for
supplies. I use mine to hang scissors and rulers (most rulers have a hole
drilled in one end or the other).
I also have 2 pegs that are straight. I put my spools of thin ribbon on
a wooden dowel from the craft store and then lay the dowel across the
straight pegs. This is an easy way to store my ribbon and take what I
need from one or more spools at a time.
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