Transformations Meets Mixed Media

Welcome to the Club Scrap Tranformations Collection Blog Hop! You can return to the start of the blog hop Here.  This month is was my pleasure to be the guest artist for this months' Greeting to Go cards on the Club Scrap Blog. You can see all my card interpretations Here.  For today's Hop I'm going into give a tutorial for two the techniques from the GTG cards. 

Greeting to Go Card

The first technique is fake water coloring as used on the card above.  For this card I stamped the Bamboo background Stamp from the CS Transformations Collection stamped in Club Scrap Hybrid ink Sandstone onto watercolor paper 140# hot press finish. Then I heat set the ink to make it waterproof in preparation for water coloring. Next I outlined the image in Inktense Watercolor Pencils as shown below.

Stamped Image Outlined in Pencil

Next, I lightly colored in the green areas with the pencil. When I wet the area with my brush the Inktense pencil becomes much more vibrant. If you are using regular watercolor pencil note that the color will lighten when wet.  After the green I followed the brown outline with a wet fine tipped brush. Finally I colored in each background block lightly and used a wet bush to smooth the color over each rectangle.

Image Colored with Pencils and Water

For my final card I coating the image in a wash of Lindy's Stamp Gang (LSG) Starburst Rusty Lantern Lime and acrylic glaze to tone down the brightness as was fitting for the Transformation Collection colors.

Super Simple Version

If you really want to keep things simple try the technique above. I stamped the image in CS hybrid ink moss then heat set.  Next I colored in the background squares with the pencils and spray with water. Below is the card I made with this watercolor.

A Simple Watercolor Card

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Greeting to Go Card Detail

My Demo Card

The second technique is a salt watercolor adapted using colored sprays as shown in the cards above. I did not take pictures as I went so I made a couple of new items using the same technique.  I start by heat embossing the Nautilus Stamp from the CS Transformations Borders and Backgrounds in LSG Dessert Moon Copper Teal embossing powered using Versamark Ink on watercolor paper.

Heat Embossed Stamp Image

To start I wet the image and then brushed blobs of color all over the image using a lighter and darker colored LSG Starburst Sprays Cape Cod Coral and Wild Honeysuckle Coral.

Wet Paint Brush Drops of Colored Sprays

Next I added rock salt anywhere I wanted color to collect.  I add the salt and then dribbled on more color over the salt. The salt causes the color t collect and pool, so use a lot of color and water at this stage.  Then leave the paper to dry overnight! I know that is a long time but the technique just doesn't work if you use a heat tool to dry it.

Rock Salt added to Images

In the morning brush off the rock salt and buff off any spray on the embossing powered.  You'll have an image very much like this one, but each salt wash is unique.

Nautilus 1

Nautilus 2

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Here is a second panel using the salt watercolor technique.  This time I wanted to create the image of leaves floating on a pond.  I started with a raindrops stamp from the CS Serenity collection and CS hybrid ink in ash.  Again, I heat set the image before continuing. 

Heat Set Stamped Image background

 I used the two Ginkgo leaf images from the CS Transformations collection and CS Tranformations Borders and Backgrounds with Versamark ink and CS verdigris embossing powder from the 2012 Holiday WOW collection.  After heat setting this embossing powder has a wonder multicolored shine to it.

Embossed Leave Image Detail

Next I began layering water and sprays. I used three different LSG Starburst sprays from lightest to darkest: Ocean Breeze Blue, Blue Hawaiian Blue, and Azure Sea Asters.  I put steps, but really I just wanted to create puddles of color by alternating spray applied with a brush and water until the paper was the color I desired. Because the paper gets soaked a heavy paper specifically for mixed media or water coloring is needed. In addition, I taped down the paper to keep it from curling too much due to water addition.

Image Ready to Paint

Step 1 - Wash with Lightest Color

Step 2 - Add Darker Colors

Step 3 - Add Rock Salt Clustered at Edge of Leaves

Step 4 - Dribble Sprays Around Salt

Again wait until morning to brush off the rock salt and buff off any spray on the embossing. Then cross your fingers that this looks like the pond image that I wanted.

Leaf on Pond - Final Panel

Final Leaf Card

This one turned out as I hoped, but I made another that I did turn out so well. On that one I was not as careful about salt placement and used too dark of blues for my sprays. Not wanting to waste an art panel I made a card that did not focus on the pond effect. This card uses Retro Sketch #183 and I will link to the challenge site.  All supplies are from the Club Scrap Transformations Collection. 

Another Card RS#183, Made from my Rejected Leaf Panel

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope you try one of these two techniques.  Your set stop is with the artistic Cathy Grey at The Artful Gamut. To get back to the start of the Blog Hop click here. 

Happy Creating,

Debby

National Parks Touring Canvas

Welcome to the National Parks Blog Hop! Return to the start of the hop HERE.  Using the National Parks Deluxe Kit and stuff from my stash I made a layered style 12 x 12 canvas centered around a favorite photo.  

I haven't been to any national parks in a while, so I was at a loss as to what to make this month. Then I happened to actually look at my dresser and this picture of my great aunt that has been sitting there for years. I just loved the retro and outdoorsy style of this picture with this kit. As a child she was my substitute grandmother since my own lived so far away. In this picture she is touring Mount Rainier park sometime in the late 1940's. (And just to make sure there is no confusion, this was way before I was born.) 

I started by photographing the original picture and printing it along with the National Parks digital kit camera and wilderness country elements for embellishments. 

Next I created a the base color on the canvas. First, I used a diecut to make a disposable stencil.  The harlequin pattern was applied with embossing paste. Second, I covered over the canvas with Lindy's Stamp Gang (LSG) sprays with lots of water for a soft washed look. You can't really see it in the picture, but it has lots of shine. 

Next I used a text stamp (from CS Trees collection) with some Club Scrap Hybrid ink in burgundy to add some texture to the background. You can see where I flubbed some of the stamping, but it just adds to overall feel of the canvas in the end. Next I started mounting the die cuts. The treeline was cut from a piece of mixed media paper and colored with LSG sprays (again the shine is great in person). The globe is cut from a bronze paper, but all other papers are from the National Parks Deluxe kit. 

Next came the layering of paper. I think I drove my friends crazy at my scrapbooking weekend asking for input on the layering. After I was happy with the layout I used my phone to photograph the positions and started building up the layers. This is my first layer where I used the maize print in two ways. I tore the slopping tree line out of the paper and used LSG sprays on it (of course).  Then I used a lighter piece for a layer on top of it.  I added a bit of creme lace behind the edge punched in brown.

The second layer of die cuts includes more pieces from the kit along with a gold paper. Each part is either distressed or stamped (all CS stamps) to add texture. 

Finally we get to the picture and accents all added. I really like the way the large gem embellishments look with this earthy kit.  Here is a close-up showing the dimension. 

So did you notice that some was missing from the canvas two pictures above?  This canvas has a secret. The picture hides a small 1/4 inch deep shelf that houses a mini-scrapbook that can be removed.

The mini-album is a simple fold over card cut with a die cut. Inside is another picture of my great aunt, re-sized on the computer with the details documented. 

  
The supplies used are listed below:

• Club Scrap 'National Parks' Deluxe kit including printed and solid papers, cut aparts, stickers, ribbon, stamps, and gems.
• Club Scrap 'National Parks' digital kit
• Club Scrap Hybrid Ink - Earth, Burgundy 
• Distressing Ink - Vintage Photo
• Ranger embossing paste
• Mixed Media paper
• Metallic paper in bronze and gold
• White pigment ink
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Sprays 
• Cape Cod Coral
• Clam Bake Beige
• Cowabunga Copper
• Creme Brulee Cream
• Glory of the Seas Gold
• Maidenhair Fern Green
• My Mojito Green
• Shabby Turbine Teal
• Wild Honeysuckle Coral
• Vagabond die cut machine and dies: 
• Stampin' Up top note die
• Sizzix Alternations vintage cabinet card die
• Sizzix Alternations framework trellis die
• Sizzix Alternations brackets on the edge die
• Sizzix Alternations Globe thinlits die
• Sizzix Alternations mixed media thinlits die
• Stampin' Up apothecary accents thinlits die
• Punches: 
• Stampin' Up mosaic punch
• Stampin' Up decorative label punch
• Martha Stewart eyelet lace edge punch
• Creme lace and burgundy Twine from my stash

Thank you for reading and I appreciate getting comments. Your next stop is with the artistic Wendy at Life, Paper & Soul and the beginning of the hop is at the Club Scrap Blog here.


Happy Crafting,
 Debby H

Mixed Media Blues Panel

Welcome to the The Blues Blog Hop! To return to the start of the hop here.  This month I'm continuing my mixed media spree with a panel commentating my son's time in Jazz band, a perfect match with this collection.

The background is a patterned paper from 'The Blues' collection.  I mounted on a piece of chipboard.  I distressed the edges and splattered it with Lindy's Stamp Gang (LSG) Creme Brulee Creme spray for some color and shine.  

I printed the black and white picture on card stock. First I coated the picture with clear gesso using a coarse brush to add texture. Then, I sprayed the picture with LSG Hydrangea Blue. Finally I edged it with the gold metallic. 

The quote circle was cut from a 'The Blues' patterned paper and 'The Blues'  music stamp.  I painted the trumpet image with three layers of LSG Glory of the Seas Gold spray. The small panel image is LSG Golden Angel Wings embossing with LSG Time Travel Teal spray.  

'The Blues' stamped images were heat embossed on mixed media paper and then sprayed to color each. The circular image is LSG Golden Angel Wings embossing with LSG Tibetan Poppy Teal and LSG Azure Sea Asters sprays.  

The Triple panel image is LSG Morning Glory Azure embossing with LSG Silent Night Silver spray.  

The quadruple panel image is LSG Morning Glory Azure embossing with LSG Glory of the Seas Gold spray.  Finally all images were matted and antiqued. 

The supplies used are listed below:

• Club Scrap Printed paper 'The Blues' 
• Club Scrap Ribbon 'The Blues', and 'Oopsie Daisy'
• Club Scrap Embellishments 'The Blues'
• Club Scrap Stamps 'The Blues' 
• Club Scrap Hybrid Ink - Sapphire
• Club Scrap solid papers 'The Blues', '50s kitchen' teal, and 'Oopsie Daisy' gold
• Distressing Ink - Vintage Photo, Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire, Broken China
• Distress Stain - Tarnished Brass, Black Soot
• Gold Metallic Paint Stick
• Signo White Gel Pen
• Clear Gesso
• Mixed Media paper
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Sprays - Creme Brulee Cream, Azure Sea Asters, Time Travel Teal, Hydrangea Blue, Silent Night Silver, Glory of the Seas Gold, Tibetan Poppy Teal
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Two Tone embossing powders - Morning Glory Azure, Golden Angel Wings

Thank you for reading. Your next stop is with the very creative Kay at Kay's Keepsakes and the beginning of the hop is at Club Scrap Blog here.


Happy Crafting,
 Debby H

Botanicals Mixed Media Panel

Welcome to the Botanicals Blog Hop! To return to the start of the hop here.  This month I was inspired by the Club Scrap Artist Team Challenge to make a mixed media panel.  

Botanicals Mixed Media Panel

It took a while to decide what to make after looking at all the great ideas from the Artist Team and Pinterest.  In the end I kept in small scale starting with a 6 inch x 6 inch mixed media album page.

Stamped Panel

I started by stamping flowers from the Botanicals UMs using Club Scrap Hybrid ink in amethyst, moss, leaf, carnation, and ruby.  Then I heat set the images to keep them from running in later steps.

Masking Panel to Spray Sky

Next, I added sprays to make the sky and ground.  A torn scrap paper was used for a mask before spraying the sky in Distress Spray Stain in Broken China and Lindy's Stamp Gang Spray in Azure Sea Asters. 

Added Sky and Ground with Sprays

Then using the other half of the mask I sprayed the ground in Lindy's Stamp Gang Sprays Ponderosa Pines Olive and My Mojito Green. Afterwards I added leaves from the Botanicals UMs. 

Added Swirl in Sky

To add some interest to the sky I added swirls with Club Scrap stencil (Serenity Collection) using with Distress Spray Stain in Brushed Pewter.  The swirls seemed to fade so I added highlights in white with a Signo Gel Pen, low lights in Faded Jeans Distress Marker, and mini pearls. To frame the whole panel I added distress ink in Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain to the outer edge. 

Vellum coated with clear gesso and sprays

I wanted to capture the translucent look of the delicate pink poppys that grow wild where I live. So I wanted to use vellum, but vellum is notorious for inks and sprays not sticking. To solve that problem I painted a sheet of vellum with clear gesso. Once dry I used Lindy's Stamp Gang Sprays in Cape Cod Coral, Poinsettia Red Gold, My Mojito Green, and Lucky Shamrock Green, One color I did not have was a coral. So I used my new Marion Smith Color Lab to make the color spray I needed.

Outlining Technique for Diecuts

I cut several different types of flowers and leaves out of the colored vellum using thin dies. As I mounted the leaves I noticed they seemed to fade into the background like on the far left above. I outline the leaves with the fine tipped Distress Marker in Forest Moss as shown in the center.  After outlining I used a water brush to blend the marker lines as shown in the far right. I did the same with the flowers using a Distress Marker in Fired Brick. 

Panel with flowers finished

I added the colored vellum flowers with adhesive. Some are attached with the Botanical colored brads. Others are covered with glossy accents to help them stand out. Botanical's Brown Ribbon was used with the three holes to create at hanging strap. The sentiment was stamped in Club Scrap Hybrid ink in amethyst and antiqued in distress ink in Vintage Photo and black soot. 

Finished Panel

Thank you for reading. Your next stop is with the very creative Kay at Kay's Keepsakes and the beginning of the hop is at Club Scrap Blog here.


Happy Crafting,
 Debby H