Category Archives: Mixed Media

Learn How To Color Glass For A Valentines Gift

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by Iris Rodriguez

The idea of sending a message in a bottle has been around since 310 B.C. The Greek philosopher Theophrastus used to plop sealed bottles in the sea to prove that the Mediterranean was formed by the inflowing Atlantic. In the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I of England believed that some bottles might contain secret messages sent home by British spies or fleet. As a result, she appointed an “Uncorker of Ocean Bottles”; making it a capital crime for anyone else to open one.

Today the idea of message in a bottle is more of fun romantic notion, thanks to literature and Hollywood movies. Show some love with this heart shaped glass bottle containing a custom stamped message, on a ribbon, using StazOn ink. Embellish the bottle with StazOn Studio Glaze and other adornments.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 Hour

Directions


Step 1

Begin by selecting a heart shaped bottle. I found this wonderful bottle at my local craft store. Working on glass can be a little tricky. For instance, getting some things to stick, getting an even texture (e.g. brush strokes) and color. It helps to prime the glass. For this project the glass is primed with on GlazOn. It is added to the glass; and in between the StazOn Studio Glaze layers. The Studio Glaze is a pigment ink medium. Start by brushing the GlazeOn onto the bottle. Brush using a crosshatch pattern; create X patterns without washing the brush. By doing a crosshatch pattern, allows you build up the GlazeOn evenly and eliminates brushstrokes. Brush on a section at a time. Let the glass dry completely. This product dries fast. Wash your brush in water right away. Dry the brush before using with the GlazeOn again. If you have water, it will active the GlazeOn or Studio Glaze and you will remove any medium you may have on the glass and get uneven surface.


Step 2

Squeeze out a small drop of the St. Valentine Studio Glaze on your grey craft mat. Using an Inkblusher sponge on the StazOn Studio Glaze, sponge one section at a time. Only place a few drops of the Studio Glaze at a time, then sponge. To increase color intensity, keep adding layers. Sponge one layer at a time, and allow each layer to completely dry. Brush on a thin layer of the GlazeOn in a crosshatch pattern. Ensure your brush is dry. Allow this layer to completely dry.


Step 3

Sponge on the Jet Black StazOn Studio Glaze on the sides and bottom of the heart. This adds dimension and interest. Allow the layer to completely dry. Brush on a thin layer of the GlazeOn in a crosshatch pattern. Ensure that the brush is dry. Allow this layer to completely dry.


Step 4

Squeeze a few drops of the Shimmer IrRESISTible Pico Embellisher, then sponge. This gives the bottle a slight shimmer. If not adding the Shimmer brush on a final layer of GlazeOn. Allow the layer to completely dry.


Step 5

The bottle is complete at this point. For added measure, once all layers have dried, seal the glass with a final sealer to protect the beautiful finish. Brush on a thin layer of Indoor water based Polyurethane. Any brand will do. Polyurethane is great for sealing art work on just about any surface. It comes in matte, satin, and gloss. It has a nice strong, but soft finish (does not have that plastic feel, looks natural.


Step 6

Stamp the message on the ribbon. This can be done while you wait for the products to dry on the glass. First a little about ribbons. Recommend using a Grosgrain ribbon. I tried stamping on satin and polyester ribbons, but the ink bled. The Grosgrain ribbon performed better due to its design; it’s heavy and tightly woven. This type of ribbon is widely available and comes in many colors and widths. Choose a size that will fit your alphabet stamps. I liked the one inch ribbon; it filled up the glass nicely and it fit my larger alphabet stamps as well.

This sounds silly to even say it, but before you begin to stamp your message, write it out on a piece of paper. There is something about concentrating on the stamping that makes you miss a letter here and there, if you’re not careful. You don’t want to send the wrong message (pun intended, lol!). Stamp the message while the ribbon is on the roll, you don’t know exactly how much ribbon your will need. Cut the ribbon after you finish stamping the message; leave a little extra ribbon at the end of the message.Singe the end of the ribbon with a cigarette lighter or it will unravel over time. The ribbon is flammable; singe by quickly running a cigarette lighter across the edge.


Step 7

Using heavy clear glue, adhere the ribbon to the center of the cork. Glue about ¼ inch of the ribbon.


Step 8

Allow the glue to dry. Use a piece of piece of tape or place something light on the cork to hold it in place while the glue dries.


Step 9

Place the cork and ribbon in the bottle and embellish.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Heart shaped glass bottle
  • Embellishments
  • Grosgrain red ribbon- between ½ to 1 inch width
  • Alphabet rubber stamp
  • Varathane indoor water based Polyurathane

Learn How To Create A Grungy Heart Notebook For Valentines

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by Lori Warren

This project is all about making something out of nothing.  At least, nothing as in a piece of corrugated cardboard from a discarded box and lined paper from an old notebook.  These reuse items, paired with a few Imagine Fireworks sprays, create a beautiful notebook that would be a great gift for friends or family.  In the tip video, I will show you how to use Fireworks sprays with a liquid varnish to create a permanent finish.  This is a helpful tip especially if you are into Mixed Media.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 2 hours

Directions

 


Step 1

Start by drawing a heart shape (approximately 4 1/4” x 4” in size) onto a piece of corrugated cardboard. Cut out shape.


Step 2

Trace the heart onto a piece of heavy weight cardstock and cut out.


Step 3

Line up the corrugated and cardstock heart shapes and punch a hole in the upper left hand corner.


Step 4

Tear off sections from top layer of paper on the corrugated heart, exposing he corrugated layer underneath.


Step 5

Paint a layer of Gesso over the front and back sides of the corrugated heart. Lay a stencil down over the corrugated heart and apply modeling paste. Only apply in small sections around the heart.


Step 6

On your craft mat, mix Rhubarb Stalk Fireworks with a liquid varnish (2 parts fireworks to 1 part varnish).


Step 7

With a paint brush, add puddles of the Fireworks/varnish mixture to the top of the corrugated heart. Add/spray water onto the puddles of Fireworks mixture. Allow the mixture to run and drip down the heart.  Blot with a paper towel to stop run. Add more Fireworks mixture and repeat, as needed. Allow to dry in between layers.


Step 8

Repeat inking with Desert Sand Fireworks. Once the Fireworks mixture is completely dry, seal with a coat of liquid varnish. Stamp a script stamp randomly across the corrugated heart with Jet Black StazOn ink.


Step 9

Add splatters to the heart with some watered down black acrylic paint.


Step 10

Spray a few resin roses with Rhubarb Stalk Fireworks and heat set. Repeat, a needed. Fireworks can also be applied with a paint brush, if preferred.


Step 11

Once the Fireworks ink (on the resin roses) is completely dry, edge the roses with Jet Black StazOn inkpad and a dauber.


Step 12

Edge the circumference of the corrugated heart with StazOn and a dauber as well. Deconstruct twine into individual threads and shred the fibers to create a “bed” for the resin hearts to sit on. Adhere the shreds of twine down into the upper left corner of the heart (be sure not to cover the punched hole). Then adhere the roses over the shredded twine.


Step 13

Stamp a title word onto the upper center portion of the heart with Jet Black StazOn ink. Trace the heart shape onto lined paper and cut out. To keep the paper from moving, staple about 4 to 5 sheets together prior to cutting. Repeat for more sheets, as needed (keep in mind the size of book binder ring that you are using). Line up the 3 booklet elements (front = corrugated heart piece, center = lined paper, back = cardstock heart) and attach a book binder ring. Finished!

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Corrugated Cardboard
  • Lined paper from old notebook
  • DecoArt Acrylic Paint – Americana Jet black, DuraClear Matte Varnish
  • Tim Holtz Idea-ology – Heirloom Roses
  • TCW – Stencil, TCW437, White Gesso, Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste
  • Lori’s Cards & Creations – Inspire background stamp set
  • White Cardstock
  • Book Ring
  • Twine
  • Crop a Dile Eyelet & Snap Punch

See How to Make Layers of Hearts for Valentines

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by Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

See How to Make a Layers of Hearts for Valentines

Make a layered dimensional love frame using a 5 x 7 deep picture frame and a bold red colored heart painted with All-Purpose Ink Poppy Red. This project centers around a simple concept—create layers of hearts and floating like sense with a background that allows light to pass through too. The Vertigo sheets create a blur effect without dominating the picture. The bold red heart stands out from all decorations used, enhancing the purpose of the frame.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Directions


Step 1

Make the hearts with a heart shaped mold and paper clay. After you cast the heart and let dry fully, color with the All-Purpose in Ink Poppy Red color. All-Purpose Ink works beautifully on all types of surfaces such as fabric and wood, so it is a natural fit for the paper clay.


Step 2

Cut a 2 ½ x 7-inch long piece of the white cardstock and fold in a border about ½ inches on the short edges. Adjust the folding to the inner dimension of your frame if different.


Step 3

Stamp the Valentine theme words from the stamp set with the VersaFine Clair Nocturne.


Step 4

Die cut Vertigo sheets in heart shapes (or cut with scissors).


Step 5

Place Tear It! Tape on the folded edges of the cardstock piece at the non-stamped side.


Step 6

Set the cardstock piece in the frame with the Tear It! Tape previously placed on the top and bottom sides of the frame.


Step 7

Glue the red heart in place as shown in the photo above.


Step 8

Twist pieces of wire (as springs) to use holders for the Vertigo hearts.


Step 9

Glue on the side to the inner bottom of the frame and place the Vertigo heart.


Step 10

Stamp the cupid design with the VersaFine Clair Nocturne on a piece of Vertigo sheet and set it on a heart inside the frame.

 

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Lightweight clay
  • Heart shaped mold
  • Heavy white cardstock
  • Penny Black – All about love stamp set
  • 5 x 7 deep white frame
  • Craft wire
  • Hot glue gun
  • Heart shape dies (optional)
  • Die cutting machine (optional)

How To Create A Dewlet Shape Flower Centerpiece In A Scrap Layout

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by Jowilna Nolte

How To Create A Dewlet Shape Flower Centerpiece In A Scrap Layout

With the new Dewlet die-cut making cute little elements using your Dew Drop ink pads have just become so much easier. I have always loved cutting them out to make flower petals, but now the job is so much easier thanks to this little cutie. There is a world of possibility with this clever die-cut just imagine all the effects you can create.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour

Directions


Step 1

Use your VersaMagic Dew Drop in Night Sky and stamp directly onto a smooth piece of white cardstock. Leave to dry or heat set using a heat gun.


Step 2

Use Brilliance Dew Drop in Starlight Silver and stamp directly over the first VersaMagic Dew Drop stamped shape.


Step 3

While the Brilliance ink is still wet sprinkle with Embossing Powder in Clear. Shake off the excess and return to the container. Heat set using a heat gun until fully melted.


Step 4

Use your Dewlet die cut shape and cut out the embossed shapes on your die-cutting machine.


Step 5

I used my Dewlet shapes on my layout to create a beautiful flower element rising out from above the photo matt. These Dewlet shapes are perfect as flower petals but can be used for so much more.


Step 6

Use Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray in Summer Sky to adds light blue splats to the background as well as Walnut Ink Crystals.

Supplies

Imagine 
Other
  • Cardstock
  • Patterned paper – Cocoa Vanilla
  • Heat gun
  • Circle punch
  • Sewing Machine
  • Embellishments
  • Scissors
  • Die Cut Machine
  • Paint brush

Learn How to Use Vertigo Surfaces to Create Ornaments

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by Roni Johnson

Learn How to Use Vertigo Surfaces to Create Ornaments

It’s almost time to start decorating the Christmas tree and in preparation for this fun family event, I have started making new ornaments. Inspired by the color of the month – Frosted Blue – I thought it would be fun to create an ornament or two using Imagine’s Vertigo film paired with Imagine’s various mediums in lovely shades of blue.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes + dry time

Directions


Step 1

Die-cut 3 hearts in 3 different sizes of any given shape. I am using Xcut hearts both in scallop and plain. I used 3 different styles of Vertigo film – (large to small) – Prism, Taffeta and Tilted.


Step 2

Rub a thin layer of Blue Hawaii StazOn Studio Glaze over the medium size shape and let dry.


Step 3

Once the glaze has dried, spread a second layer of Cotton White Studio Glaze over Blue Hawaii. Sprinkle a generous layer of Iridescent White Flitter Flakes over the glaze. Let the glaze dry then shake off the loose flitter.


Step 4

Affix the medium size heart to the large heart.


Step 5

Rub Blue Hawaii StazOn Ink to the outer edges of the small heart.


Step 6

Sponge Paradise, Blue Belle and Medieval Blue VersaFine Clair ink on a piece of white cardstock.


Step 7

Die-cut several small snowflakes from the inked cardstock.


Step 8

Use a brad to attach desired snowflakes to the center of the ornament.


Step 9

Attach jump-rings and any additional embellishments as desired. Make a hanger for the ornament from blue wire using jewelry tools.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Meyers Imports – Iridescent White Flitter Flakes
  • White Cardstock
  • Jewelry tools – wire, jump rings, pliers
  • Mini Bell
  • Decorative brad
  • Die-cut Machine

Learn How to Make a Silver Tree Christmas Card

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by Iris Rodriguez

Learn How to Make a Silver Tree Christmas Card

Make minimalist, truly handmade Christmas card with IrRESISTibles Pico Embellishers. This texture medium fitted with a fine-tipped applicator makes it easy to draw a Christmas tree or any other Christmas/Holiday doodles. Simply add embellishments and stamp a sentiment to arrange a unique design.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 30 minutes

Directions


Step 1

Spray water on the watercolor paper. Spray Fireworks Craft Shimmery Sprays in Summer Sky then spray Danube Blue.


Step 2

Using VersaFine Clair in Blue Belle with the Jumbo Dauber ink the paper in random sections, and along the edges. Then ink with VersaMagic Cloud White.


Step 3

Draw the Christmas tree with the irRESISTible Pico Embellisher in Silver by drawing a series of connected swirls.

I decided to paint some of the rhinestones with the StazOn ink in Blue Hawaii
Step 4

I have to admit I wanted to add blue and clear rhinestones to the tree to make it look like ornaments. However, I did not have blue rhinestones. So I decided to paint some of the rhinestones with the StazOn ink in Blue Hawaii. StazOn is permanent ink and it won’t rub off.

Adhere the rhinestones with On Point Glue
Step 5

Adhere the rhinestones with On Point Glue. Stamp the sentiment and mount to the card base.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Watercolor paper
  • Sentiment stamp
  • Rhinestones