Tag Archives: DIY home decor

Create a Beautiful Lavender Mosaic with Ink and Stencils

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by Roni Johnson

Create a Beautiful Lavender Mosaic with Ink and Stencils

There are so many fun techniques that you can use with stencils. So many techniques that I couldn’t decide which one to use so I decided to see how many I could incorporate into a single creation! Of course, these don’t include everything you could do with a stencil but it’s a pretty good start to get the creative juices flowing. Try the entire project or perhaps just a few stenciling techniques!

Skill: Beginner
Time: Individual Techniques 2-15 minutes each or Entire Canvas 2 hours

Directions


Step 1

Beginning with the easiest technique, sponge a single color of ink through the stencil.


Step 2

Randomly sponge 2 or more inks through a stencil. Here I used Memento which is a dye ink and VersaMagic which is a pigment ink.


Step 3

Sponge a pigment ink over a stencil; remove the stencil; sprinkle with embossing powder and heat to set. The second example was made by flipping the inked stencil onto a piece of cardstock to transfer the excess pigment ink. It was then sprinkled with embossing powder as well.


Step 4

Spray Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray in Lulu Lavender over a stencil. Flip the wet stencil onto a fresh sheet of cardstock for a reverse impression.


Step 5

Spread Creative Medium over a stencil using a palette knife and carefully remove the stencil; set aside to dry. Before the medium dries press the stencil over onto a fresh sheet of cardstock to remove the excess Creative Medium from the stencil. This makes a grungy reverse image of the stencil.


Step 6

Use a pen or marker to trace the stencil onto cardstock. Doodle inside of the traced image. Sponge ink overall or select areas of the stenciled image for added interest.


Step 7

Position stencil over cardstock. Stamp the desired image over the stencil and smudge the excess ink off the stencil into the individual sections of the image.


Step 8

Sponge or brayer ink onto a sheet of cardstock. Place stencil over inked cardstock wet a sponge dauber with Ink Potion No.9 and pounce the dauber over the stencil. Remove the stencil and heat to speed drying.


Step 9

Sponge a dark color of ink over a stencil. Slightly shift the stencil to one side, ink with a lighter color of ink. Close up of the shifted stenciled pattern.


Step 10

Sponge dark ink over a piece of cardstock. Position the stencil over the inked cardstock and sponge white ink over the surface. Heat emboss with white embossing powder for a more pronounced difference.


Step 11

Brayer ink through a stencil, use a Kaleidacolor ink pad for a fun, vibrant look.


Step 12

Pounce desired colors of ink on craft mat; spritz with water or Ink Potion No.9. Create a monoprint by pressing the cardstock into the ink mixture, set aside to dry. Once the monoprint has dried, brayer ink over a stencil, press the inked stencil over the monoprint for an interesting contrast.


Step 13

To create the canvas, trim the stenciled samples into 2” x 2”; 2” x 3” and 2” x 4” pieces. Ink the edges with VersaFine Clair Fantasia and a sponge dauber. Adhere each piece in a random pattern onto a piece of thick book board or cardboard. Embellish as desired.

Supplies

Imagine
Other

Project Swap: Inspire with Herringbone Art

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Project Swap: Inspire with Herringbone Art

Welcome to another set for our Artist Project Swap with Nadine and Roni. For the Month of May, we challenged our artists to exchange tutorials and create each other’s designs in order to see how each of our artists interprets style and choices. The receiving artist did not know who designed the project, nor did they receive any images! In today’s post, Roni gives the directions and recommended supplies list and Nadine created the project.

Inked Herringbone Background by Nadine Carlier

Herringbone Background by Nadine Carlier

I absolutely loved swapping projects with Roni Johnson! This project was not something I would have ever thought of making on my own but I really enjoyed making it. I didn’t have all the exact same products that she used but was able to improvise with no problem. Besides, I prefer not to copy something exactly and put my own twist on it.

I made a video showing how I created my project. Watch it below!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Supplies

Imagine
Other

Visit our YouTube Channel for more inspirational videos and subscribe to get updates when we post new videos.

Original Design by Roni Johnson

See How to Make Illustrious Lapis Blue Napkin Rings

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by Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

Bright Blue StazOn ink used to cover metal.

Spring has arrived and flowers are at their peak! Bring a stylish touch of spring to the table with handmade napkin rings that are full of blooming flowers. This Lapis blue arrangement will perfectly contrast any set of white napkins or compliment a blue dish set. Learn how to craft this super cute table decor for any special occasion.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour + drying time

Directions

Step 1

Cover a 1 ¾ inch tube with a non-stick surface (or wax paper). Wrap around it the cotton cord in a width of 1 ½ inch and cover it with acrylic texture paste (alternatively a PVC glue will work well). Repeat to the number of napkin rings required and let them dry well before removing them.

Step 2

Die cut aluminum flowers using the medium and small flower dies. 1 medium and 4 small for each ring.

StazOn Ultramarine

Step 3

Cover the medium and half of the small flowers with the StazOn Ultramarine ink pad with the help of a sponge dauber.

Step 4

Create lines on the petals of the flowers with the Wedding Dress irRESISTible Pico embellisher and the Danube Blue irRESISTibles on the aluminium-colored flowers.

Step 5

Place dots in the center of the flowers with Amplify! White and heat activate for the puffing effect. Amplify is a unique texture paint that will change shape with heat activation.

Step 6

Arrange the position of flowers to be used on the ring and attach them on petals sides with On Point Glue.

Step 7

Cut a 25-inch cotton cord and make a couple of loops. Glue on the cotton ring and then place the flowers. I decided to end the project here, but if you have any other embellishments, sentiments or decoration in mind you can allow your creativity to flow! Creating the structure for the rings is one of the most important to get right and from there you can experiment and play. With a little further planning, Nadine’s Best Wishes card could be used as an invitation to a spring dinner party. Enjoy!

Supplies

Imagine
Other

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Using BIG Words in Your Art, Literally

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Making something bigger can sometimes enhance a seemingly ordinary project into something unique. A word or name is plain when written on a piece of paper but if those letters were suddenly enlarged 100x then it creates a whole new character. Today, we have two projects by Neva Cole and Roni Johnson that do just that.

 

Art paper mache project. handmade using chipboard, gesso and tsukineko inks.

Papier Mache Art by Roni Johnson

The bigger the better! What comes to mind is larger than the norm, but it also conjures up the idea of something a bit over the top! A project a bit larger, brighter, with more techniques, more products, and more goodness piled on. That is what inspired my “Art” that I’d like to share with you today. This is a hand constructed papier mache project that is not only larger than the norm but it is also styled in my own handwriting. I’ve not seen a project like this done before which just adds to my “more” theory of the bigger the better. Here’s a quick look at how it was made…

art lettering handwritten

I started with drawing the word “art” then transferred the text onto a large piece of chipboard. I trimmed away the excess chipboard and made a second copy by using the first piece as a template.

crafting a paper mache project

Next, I decided to make the depth 2.5” and trim several strips of chipboard to the same size. I simply taped these sides to one piece and taped the second piece to create the backside. I used tape here with these materials. I am certain a glue gun or adhesive of choice can be used instead.

inking a paper mache project with tsukineko ink

To create a proper ground for this 3-D project, I used strips of newspaper and cover the entire piece with a thinned down glue (of your choice) and let dry. I found that mine was sturdy enough after the first layer to proceed and painted the entire piece with white acrylic paint (or gesso). Since I work hard to set up a solid foundation it was not time to go crazy! And I finished the overall look with stamped images over the front of the piece, Onyx Black VersaFine ink, various colors of Creative Medium over several different stencils, and several colors of Fireworks Spray. Once my colors and texture were laid down I finished with adding vintage-looking items such as old paint brushes, pencils, and calligraphy nibs. Yes, it is easier to just buy individually manufactured papier mache letters, but this was worth it to have a one of a kind piece in your very own handwriting. Enjoy!

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Chipboard
  • Newspaper
  • Collage Glue
  • Rayon Seam Binding
  • Microbeads
  • Glass glitter
  • Scissors
  • Old paint brushes
  • Old pen nibs
  • Old pencils

Bigger is Better Family Wall Décor by Neva Cole

This project is a perfect example of buying something with the full intent of completing a project but never actually getting around to working on it . . . I’ve had these letters for about 2 years, maybe even more. Insert a blush here! When the challenge to create something Bigger and Better came along it was finally time to decorate these 9.5″ letters that spell our family name–Cole. The Sierra Pacific Crafts Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) letters were painted with a mixture of Creative Medium mixed with VersaMagic Jumbo Java ink. This gives a nice glossy color in one coat that dries quickly. Several stencils and Creative Medium Metallic in Gold mixed with a small amount of Copper finish the look. The stenciling was completed in several steps with drying time in between to avoid smearing. This fun wall décor was easy to create in an afternoon and was ready to hang on the wall with small Velcro hangers. Our name is now proudly hanging above the coat rack my husband built in the entry way of our home.

Supplies

Imagine

Other

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Handcraft a DIY Arrow Tea Towel

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by Jessica Litman

Jessica Litman decorates a tea towel using Tsukineko's All Purpose Ink. green, blue, black, arrows, hipster, kitchen, food.

Changing out your kitchen décor can be as easy as swapping out tea towels! By using stencils, tea towels, and Tsukineko’s All-Purpose ink, you can create decorative and seasonal décor without spending a lot of time or money!

Skill: Beginner
Time: 10 minutes + dry time

Directions

Jessica Litman decorates a tea towel using Tsukineko's All Purpose Ink. green, blue, black, arrows, hipster, kitchen, food.

Step 1

Iron tea towels to remove wrinkles. Pour Blue Bayou, Celadon, and Cool Grey All-Purpose Ink into a paint palette.

Jessica Litman decorates a tea towel using Tsukineko's All Purpose Ink. green, blue, black, arrows, hipster, kitchen, food.

Step 2

Lay tea towel over craft mat. Set arrow stencil on top of the tea towel. Using Fantastix bullet tip pen, dip into paint palette and trace stencil.

Jessica Litman decorates a tea towel using Tsukineko's All Purpose Ink. green, blue, black, arrows, hipster, kitchen, food.

Step 3

Repeat until tea towel is covered with arrows. Let towel dry. Heat set with an iron to allow ink to bond permanently to the tea towel (very important).

Jessica Litman decorates a tea towel using Tsukineko's All Purpose Ink. green, blue, black, arrows, hipster, kitchen, food.
Step 4

Label the Fantastix used by wrapping Washi tape around the base. Write ink color used in permanent marker. Store Fantastix vertically.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • DecorArt – Arrows Stencil
  • White tea towels
  • Paint palette
  • Washi tape
  • Permanent marker
  • Scissors

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Explore How to Make the Mundane Sparkle!

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by Jessica Litman

Laundry sign on wood palette with Creative Medium, All Purpose Ink and Sheer Shimmer Spritz.

In an effort to add more sparkle to my home this year, I have been creating decorative signs. This decorative, glittery laundry sign has come about through many trial and errors! I love a more rustic look, but know that it can feel rather cold and industrial. By adding glitter to dark wood, I really feel like it creates an inviting appearance. For this project, mixing wood, Creative Medium, and glitter give this sign a lot of farmhouse sparkle!

Skill: Beginner
Time: 10 minutes + 2 hours for dry time

Directions

2017_jan_jl_glitterysign_step1

Step 1

Cover the wood sign with Turquoise Iridescent Creative Medium using the palette knife.

2017_jan_jl_glitterysign_step2

Step 2

Sprinkle on glitter.

2017_jan_jl_glitterysign_step3

Step 3

Let dry.

2017_jan_jl_glitterysign_step4

Step 4

Once dry, use the All-Purpose Ink and the Fantastix to write letters across the wood sign.

2017_jan_jl_glitterysign_step5

Step 5

Let dry. Spray corners and wood sign ribbon with Sheer Shimmer Spritz.

Hang and enjoy!

Supplies

Imagine

Creative Medium – Turquoise Iridescent
Palette Knives
Sheer Shimmer Spritz – Gold
All-Purpose Ink – Blue Bayou
Fantastix

Other

• Glitter
• Wood Sign

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