Tag Archives: Palette Knives

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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Share the Best Love with Lapis Lazuli Color Inspiration

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For the month of April, we are celebrating the beautiful blue Lapis as color of the month. We love what we have seen so far from our Artist in Residence who took on this color with enthusiasm. For Elina’s project, she creates a monochromatic palette with a blue bird centerpiece and fabric for texture. Gorgeous! For Alison’s project, she took it a step further using the gemstone Lapis Lazuli directly incorporating the stone’s veins of black and gold running through it as inspiration. Both projects create a luster to drool over.

bluebird with illustrated feathers, cheesecloth texture and acyrlic paste. circle stencil. sentiment says adopt the pace of nature her secret is patience.

Blue Feathers by Elina Stromberg

I love working with Fireworks Shimmery Craft Sprays. The colors contain not just a beautiful shimmer but lots of pigment, giving a beautiful, vivid finish even when mixed with water. When spraying entire project backgrounds, I like to use a heavy watercolor paper that tolerates wet media well. I often start with misting the paper with plain water before spraying one or several Fireworks colors on the paper. For mixing the colors even further, I add more water, dry the paper with my heat gun and push the wet colors around the paper. This creates beautiful patterns in a watercolor style.

On this project, I added even more metallic shimmer by applying Metallic Silver Creative Medium through a stencil. Creative Mediums are easy to work with and the stenciled patterns air-dry quickly. When using Fireworks Craft Sprays, I often use a large piece of paper and cut the background to size. The leftover pieces can be used for embellishing the inside of the card, or for creating a panel for the stamped sentiment.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Watercolor paper
  • Carabelle Studio – Concentric Circles stencil
  • Spellbinders – Sparrow stamp and die cut
  • Simon Says Stamp– One With Nature stamp
  • Water spray bottle
  • White card base
  • 3D foam stickers
  • Cheese cloth
  • Glue
  • Scissors

gold poppy flowers embossed. watercolor splatter effect with Fireworks shimmer spray ink.

Lapis Lazuli Color Inspiration by Alison Heikkila

I start with spritzing Paris Dusk Fireworks spray across watercolor paper at an angle. This created that outward spray effect I wanted. Then I spritzed Desert Sand Fireworks directly above. Next, I stamped the Pretty Poppies set by Stampendous with VersaMark in the lower left corner and heat embossed with Gold embossing powder. While my heat tool was still on, I carefully sprinkled black embossing powder in a few areas. Using Wedding White irRESISTables Pico Embellisher, I colored in a few areas of the poppy to highlight them. After it dried, I applied a second coat to give it more opacity.

My card base was cut out of a deep blue cardstock, and I edged all 4 sides with Golden Glitz Delicata ink for extra gold shimmer. Gold is a perfect compliment to this rich blue and ties this design together very nicely.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Stampendous – Cling Pretty Poppies Stamp Set
  • Cardstock
  • Watercolor paper

How to Create an Absolutely Bombastic Mixed Media Journal

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 by Mischelle Smith

Art journal featuring a sailboat and ocean waves.

When it comes to journaling, I’m a beginner. It’s been a fun transition going from die-hard stamper to the mixed media world and now into journaling. I’ve been able to bring many of my skills with me and I’m learning new skills daily. I wanted to do a spread in my journal that used Imagine’s color of the month Greenery and the artist challenge “You Feeling Me?” If you happen to be new to journaling, like me, then I’d recommend starting with a simple spread like this. I’ve discovered that my Memento Markers are the best journaling pens I have and they coordinate with the ink pads what I’ve used on my pages … LOVE that!

Directions


Step 1

Stamp Pear Tart onto Imagine’s mat several times. Using a palette knife, add shimmer Creative Medium to the ink and mix gently. Do not mix the entire color so several shades of Pear Tart show through the Creative Medium.


Step 2

Stamp Bahama Blue onto the craft mat and add into the Creative Medium mix. Again, don’t over work the mix.

Step 3

Adhere stencil to journal page with washi tape. Use a palette knife to apply the Creative Medium mixture. Apply the mixture onto the left page at the bottom and top. Set aside and let dry completely. Adhere Travel Notes stencil to page and color with Bahama Blue Memento. Repeat using a mottled circle stencil. Stamp randomly on the pages using VersaFine with travel theme stamps.

Paper Waves fill a journal page

Step 4

Sketch a boat onto kraft paper and cut out. Wade pieces up and then flatten out. Distress boat with VersaMark ink. Set aside. Place a hard craft mat behind the right-hand page. Cut along the edges of the waves to create a niche for the boat. Place the boat in between the waves. Attach with On Point Glue. Use Tear It Tape to attach the right-hand page to the page behind it. Hiding the cut in the page and the back of the boat. Use Memento Markers to doodle and journal around the pages. Use Memento Markers to doodle and journal around the pages. Flick New Sprout and Bahama Blue Fireworks on pages. Spray pages with Frost Shimmer Spray.

 

The steps above can serve as dozens of variations on the inside pages of a journal. One could stay busy with these ideas for days! To transition to thinking of the front cover, I thought I’d break it up a bit. I love green and as soon as I sprayed a touch of New Sprout Fireworks on leftover canvas I knew I wanted to make a journal. The combination of green with aqua blue’s is a favorite of mine so adding Bahama Blue Fireworks with the New Sprout worked perfectly. Creating this cover was super easy … filling up the pages is what takes time and thought.

Directions


Step 1

Spray canvas scraps with New Sprout and Bahama Blue Fireworks. Let dry. Tear pages from old books, hymnals and dictionaries to add as pages. Modpodge the front and back of each page. Let dry.

journal page cover

Step 2

Lay canvas and pages in the order you like. Secure the center with a pin. Stitch the album together with a needle and thread. Draw a line down the center with a ruler and stitch on this line. Decorate the cover with washi tape, stamped sentiments, and hand-drawn elements. Personalize with your favorite quotes and phrases. Add any additional items. In the photo above, I included a butterfly stencil. Finish by flicking Fireworks onto canvas to match the base.

Supplies

Imagine

Memento Luxe – Pear Tart, Bahama Blue
Creative Medium – Shimmer
VersaFine – Tuxedo Black
Memento Marker – Tuxedo Black, Sky Blue, Rich Cocoa, Bahama Blue, Teal Zeal, Nautical Blue, Pear Tart, Danube Blue
VersaMark 
Fireworks! – New Sprout, Bahama Blue
Sheer Shimmer Spray – Frost
Daubers – Sponge and Jumbo
On Point Glue
Tear It! Tape
Palette Knives
Craft Mat

Other

Stencil Girl – Whimsical Waves, Travel Notes Mini
Close To My Heart – Stamps
Cardstock
Mottled Circle Stencil
Craft knife
Washi tape
Journal
Canvas Scraps
Old book pages
Modpodge
Foam Brush
Adhesive
Scissors
Needle
Thread
Ruler
Pencil

 

Embossed Celtic Knot Card

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by Roni Johnson


Happy St Patrick’s Day! On this day, many are wearing green, eating corned beef and (if you are of drinking age) having a green beer! I decided to make a card featuring a Celtic knot, texture, 4-leaf clovers and a gold ribbon. It is so much fun to experiment with the supplies I had on hand which is exactly what I did to create this highly textured card. I had never heated the Creative Medium but I thought it would be worth a shot to see how it performed under high heat. As you can see from the photo it looks amazing and bubbles through the embossing powders to create a lovely hammered texture look. Perfect for Gold Embossing!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours + cool-down time

Directions

Step 1

Tape black cardstock panel to work surface. Position stencil and tape in place. Use a spatula to spread Gold Creative Medium over the entire card panel.

Step 2

Carefully peel off the stencil. Wash the excess Creative Medium off immediately (very important).

Step 3

Sprinkle Verdigris and Gold Embossing Powders over the Creative Medium. Shake off excess.

Step 4

Heat the embossing powder and Creative Medium until the embossing powders melt and the Creative Medium begins to bubble up. You may continue to heat until satisfied with the texture. Set aside to cool. Do not touch until cool!  The Embossing Powder and Creative Medium will be extremely hot at this point.

Step 5

Die-cut pieces to be added to the card.

Step 6

Use Sponge Dauber to color the clover with Pear Tart, Bamboo Stalk, and Ivy Cottage Memento Ink. Sponge Delicata Golden Glitz on the leafy branches. Bend the small hearts in half and affix to the darker clover pieces using On Point Glue.

 

Step 7

Bend the small hearts in half and affix to the darker clover pieces using On Point Glue.  Mount bubble embossed panel on a plain black card. To finish the overall design, affix the ribbon to the card using Tear It Tape and glue on die-cuts on the embossed panel using On Point Glue.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • ClubScrap.com – Stencil
  • Ribbon
  • Die cuts
  • Cardstock – black, copper

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How to Make a Beautiful Teal Dream Card for Someone Special

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by Mischelle Smith

Mischelle Smith creates a handmade Dream card. teal, green, red, butterflies, birds, texture, flowers, washi tape.

Springtime is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate than a beautiful card to express the theme of renewal. This card uses Fireworks! Craft Spray, Creative Medium and a pattern paper series from KaiserCraft—all materials that can be used  to make different designs and layouts. See how Mischelle dreams up a card design!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Directions

Creative Medium and stencil to create texture.

Step 1

Stencil on Creative Medium at the corner of a 4 ¼” x 5 ½” card front. Cover the upper portion of the untouched card front with paper.

Creative Medium and Fireworks Craft Spray create color and texture on this dream card.

Step 2

Spritz New Sprout Fireworks! on top of the stencil. Remove the stencil. Carefully repeat steps at the top, left corner of the card front. If you’d like to add more Fireworks! remove the nozzle and flick on with spray pipe. Set aside card front to dry.

Birds, butterflies, pink, green, black.

Step 3

With scissors, cut bird and butterfly images for the card from a piece of UV coated pattern paper. Set aside.

Step 4

Punch out a scalloped border that comes with pattern paper. Set aside. Cut out the word ‘Dream’ from pattern paper word sheet. Set aside. Distress the edges of the stenciled card front (piece with Creative Medium and Fireworks!).

Step 5

Cut 3” x 4” rectangle from floral pattern paper and trim off the portion that overlaps the card.

Step 6

Distress the right side to match the card and attach dovetailed turquoise shimmer ribbon. With foam tape add scalloped border and ‘Dream’ sentiment, silver metallic thread and large bird. Arrange so that the thread is behind the bird. This will create a dynamic look.

Step 7

Attach butterflies, bitty sparkles and add finishing touches with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spritz.

finished Dream card. Birds, teal, pink, green, shimmer.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Close To My Heart – White Daisy cardstock, notecards, Bitty Sparkles, Turquoise Shimmer Ribbon
  • KaiserCraft – Fly Free 6 ½” Pad
  • Stencil
  • Washi tape
  • Metallic thread – Silver
  • Adhesive
  • Foam tape
  • Scissors
  • Paper trimmer
  • Tweezers

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Learn How to Make a Gorgeous Wintergreen Art Journal

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by Jowilna Nolte

2017_jan_jn_wintergreen_artjournal_main

New Year, New Beginnings and a New You bring with it so many possibilities. This year is a great year for new color combinations and new adventures. To celebrate, I created a fun art journaling page in Wintermint Green. It’s a fresh color with a myriad of opportunities to be creative and several reasons to be inspired.

 

Directions

2017_jan_jn_wintergreen_artjournal_step_1

Step 1

Paint art journal pages with wintermint green chalk based paint. Leave paint to dry and then stencil images on the background using Pearlescent Jade Brilliance ink and a sponge dauber.

2017_jan_jn_wintergreen_artjournal_step_3
Step 2

Add Mint Green All-Purpose ink drops onto the stenciled background. Lightly mist with water and let the ink run. Heat set with a heat gun.

2017_jan_jn_wintergreen_artjournal_step_4
Step 3

Mix a small amount of Pearlescent Jade Brilliance inker into embossing paste. Mix the paste until it has a consistent color and no more white is visible. Apply the colored paste through your stencil using a palette knife. TIP: Work in a single direction when applying paste to avoid the paste running underneath your stencil and causing smudges. Leave the stenciled images to dry completely. The Brilliance gives the paste a nice shimmer.

2017_jan_jn_wintergreen_artjournal_step_6
Step 4

Spray scrap white cardstock with Electric Green irRESISTible Texture Spray and leave to dry. Punch 5mm circles out of the cardstock.

2017_jan_jn_wintergreen_artjournal_step_7

Step 5

Adhere the textured dots to the center of your stenciled firework sprays. Unscrew the nozzle from the bottle and splatter small drops of irRESISTible onto the background. Leave to dry. Add definition to the stenciled fireworks images using a graphite pencil and White All-Purpose Ink applied with a small paintbrush.

2017_jan_jn_wintergreen_artjournal_step_8
Step 6

Splatter Copper irRESISTible onto the background. Unscrew the lids for the irRESISTible Texture Sprays and use the applicator tubes from the bottles to color in chipboard numbers and leave to dry. Adhere the numbers and patterned paper strips to the journal page.

wintergreen art journal page by Imagine Artist Jowilna Nolte

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Art Journal
  • Echo Park – Fireworks Stencil
  • Hole Punch
  • Paintbrush
  • Simple Stories – Patterned Paper
  • Anna Griffin – Embossing Paste
  • Chiswick – POP Paint
  • Hole Punch
  • Chipboard Letters
  • Adhesive
  • Heat tool

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