Toothless

Hi all, it is Mary-Ann here with you today.  Time has gotten away from me during these hot summer weeks with two vacations, vacation bible school, baseball camp and a pool.  I felt as though I lost my mo-jo until I got some ink spray in my hands again! (hehehe) I wanted to keep my layout simple, clean and bright.

I started with my picture placement, then built from there.  I added a small amount of detail using the circle template with gray ink and applicator, a circle punch and sprayed just enough of three different ink sprays.  I loved the white wash feel of the Authentique Be(you)tiful paper and the Fancy Pants Stencil Cards matched my color pallet perfectly.  I added a few Studio Calico tags, and wood veneer stars, vintage twine and some machine stitching.  Simple yet full of color.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you can find some time to create and be inspired.  

Here is a list of items used:

Authentique - Be(you)tiful 6x6 Paper Pad	Dylusions Ink Spray - Pure Sunshine	Dylusions Ink Spray - Lemon Zest	Dylusions Ink Spray - Squeezed Orange	Idea-ology Tiny Attacher Refills
Idea-ology Tiny Attacher	Fancy Pants - 5x3 Life Stencil Set	Tsukineko - Memento Gray Flannel	Ranger Felt Applicator Tool	Ranger Felt Applicator Refill
Scotch Foam Mounting Tape	Mono Adhesive Tape Runner - Permanent	Beacon - Zip Dry	TCW 6x6 Template - Tiny Circles

Trend Setter Explosion....Box!

Hi everyone!  I am SO sorry for the lateness of today's post!  Crazy weekend!  Anyway, today I am here with an explosion box!  Have you ever made one?  Well, this is my first one!  It was so easy to construct!  Then once you choose your papers, the decor just falls in line!

So, first you start with 2 pieces of 12" x 12" cardstock.  One for the base and one for the lid.  They can be whatever you have on hand, or whatever matches your paper and embellishments.

For the bottom, you are going to score 4" from each side. 

 Next, you're going to cut out the four squares in each corner, leaving you with this:

 For the lid, you're going to take the 12" x 12" and cut it down to 8" x 8" and score 2" from each side.
Then, you are going to cut diagonally from each score line to the other, creating a triangle in each corner.  This creates your flap.  Cut ONE side of the flap so that it can be adhered to the inside of the box lid.  I learned this the hard way! 

 And now you're ready to decorate!  After I took this picture, I thought it was pretty boring, so I added black cardstock layers to each of the squares, and sponged black ink to give it some uumph!

 Here's the finished product!  I added some Tim Holtz gears for the hardware.

Thanks for your patience today!

Have a wonderful evening!

Erin

List of products:
Trend Setter 6" x 6" stack by FancyPants Designs
Trend Setter 12" x 12" Corregated Paper in Mint

Tim Holtz Mini Blueprints #3 stamp set
Spun Sugar Distress Ink by Ranger

Toilet Paper Art

Good Morning Folks

Donna-Marie here to share a new technique with you that combines both paper and fiber art.

...Toilet Paper Art .

I know I promised  a video but here in the northeast we are in our 6th day of a heat wave...ugh!!!

I live in New England for a reason...I would rather be cold than hot.

Anyway my craft room is our sunroom with all windows...a beautiful place to create indeed until the heat and humidity rear their ugly heads.  I could only last a short time in my room so pictures will have to do today.

I have lots of photos so grab a comfy spot and enjoy:-)

Here is a close up of a completed piece

Here is the stamp I used.

Once this piece has dried it becomes a piece of fabric...flexible yet sturdy so I was able to include my fiber art and create this...

I added beads and embroidery along with some yummy wool fibers for a one of a kind piece...all from toilet paper!!!

Let's see how this works...

You will need 2ply toilet paper, a foam brush, watered down gel medium (one teaspoon to 1/2 cup of water) make sure the medium is well dissolved, spray bottle of water, a stamp and a brayer.

The stamp you choose is important.  It can be any variety...on a block, no block, clear, doesn't matter however what does matter is how deeply it is etched.  The stamp should have nice deep areas throughout the stamp for maximum benefit.

Get your gel mixture ready first

choose your stamp and let's go...

I chose an all around stamp background pattern this time...mist it heavily with water.

Lay your toilet paper down...you can see that I have overlapped the center and also have it hanging of the edge.  The overlapped part will not show on the final piece and the edges that hang over become "ruffly" like a lettuce leaf edge which is pretty when colored.

I spayed the piece down again after I laid down my paper.

Then I go over it with my foam brush loaded with the water/gel mixture.  Do not rub "dab" up and down releasing the liquid otherwise you will tear the paper.  No worries if it tears slightly with all the layers going down it will be fine.

After you have added the water/gel mix run over it with a brayer.  Not back and forth...only one direction!! Then continue with the layers in the exact same way: water, paper, mixture, brayer...I used 6 in all.

This is what it looks like when all 6 layers are down.

Now carefully peel up the entire paper piece off the stamp and flip it over...you will see the beautiful embossed image.   Because the image is fully saturated now is the time to color it especially if the medium you are using is water soluble...like Dylusions Inks :-)

I sprayed the piece with 4 colors of Dylusions Ink: Fresh Lime, London Blue, Vibrant Turquoise, and After Midnight.  The image looks very dark right now because it is saturated but when dry it lightens up quite a bit!!

It takes almost 48 hours for this to dry so I can not show you the final project but I have another piece done the same exact way with another stamp...

I added some embroidery, beads, and small mini flowers...look at the edges love the unfinished "ruffly" look.  I am working on a fabric book or these pieces...stay tuned :-)

And here is the piece used in my mixed media piece entered into the eP challenge see it in the frame.  I also used the extra pieces I cut off to fit it in the frame as part of the background.

 

I hope this inspires you to be creative and mix your love of the arts no matter which ones you enjoy the most :-)

Peace Out