Altered Pages Two for Tuesday

Hello everyone, and welcome back for this month's Two for Tuesday with Altered Pages.  Featured products this month are Gelatos, Dylusions, and of course, Altered Pages' collage images.  We are also cross promoting with Niji Waterbrushes this month.  So, here goes.  Here's my finished project.

I began with a simple, small, heart-shaped paper maché box.  

I next selected my collage image from AP-2015 Angelic Hearts collage sheet, then began painting my strip of corrugated card stock.  For this job, I used my Niji water brush and Niji Pearlescent Watercolors.  I added a bit of aqua blue Gelato on the high spots, and with my water brush, I was able to blend the colors nicely. 

Now that I knew which colors were needed to achieve a good color match with my collage image, I painted the box and lid, and adhered the corrugated card stock around the bottom of the box.

Next, I fussy cut my collage image and edged it with a very creamy mixture of the gold Niji Pearlescent Watercolors, wiping the edge of the paper with the excess paint on my brush as I went around.  This left some really cool texture, and looked a lot like I had heat embossed the edges with gold embossing powder.  When it dried, I then adhered this to the center of the box lid.

I then used my metallic rub-ons to change the colors on each of my German Scrap pieces.  These rub-ons are awesome to use on all of your paper craft projects.  They go on so smoothly, and you can mix colors to get new colors without any muddying.  They really add a vintage feel to just about any project.  

Metallic Rub-ons Kit #2-Deep Gold, Nubian

Metallic Rub-ons Kit #3-Cameo Pink, Walnut

Metallic Rub-ons Kit #2-Nubian

I adhered the black-turned-golden copper German Scrap around the top, and the white-turned-peachy pink around the sides of the box lid.

The bright gold ornate German Scrap piece-turned-antique gold was then adhered to the front box side, as shown in the photo.

I wanted a bit more dimension on the top, and found this petite little flower trim that I was able to change the color of with my Niji Pearlescent Watercolors.   The top strip is the original color, and the two strips beneath are the ones I colored to match.

I cut each tiny flower apart and glued them randomly over the collage image, then adhered tiny pearls to the center of each flower.  I also added this metallic blue crown German Scrap piece atop the cherub's head.

The photo below shows a bit more dimension that the flowers are giving to the piece.

This box is very tiny and would make a really beautiful presentation for a piece of jewelry, or in this case, I decided to fill it with some beautiful seam binding ribbons that I colored with Dylusions Ink Spray and spritzed with water to soften the color so I could match my collage image.  (See photo of finished piece above.)  

Altered Pages Supplies used:

Dylusions Ink Spray 

Metallic Rub-on Sets (Kit #3-Cameo Pink, Walnut) (Kit #2-Deep Gold, Nubian)

German Scrap

Gelatos

Niji Waterbrushes

Niji Pearlescent Watercolors

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Two for Tuesday, and be sure to visit the Altered Pages Blog for direct links to each of the design team member's blog.  There you will find more creative inspiration from each of the designers as they, too, show you their projects using fabulous products from Altered Pages.  So hop on over to the Altered Pages online store to get all of your mixed media supplies.  

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week.

Barbara

The Niji Water Brush Tips

Happy Monday all!  I hope your week is getting off to a good start.  Today, I want to share a few observations I've made recently using some fabulous products from Altered Pages.  This month, we are cross-promoting with Niji water brushes.    If you have any, then you know how fabulous they are.  If you have no idea what they are, I am going to share with you the wonders of the water brush!

Niji Water brush, Niji pearlescent watercolors, AP collage image

While working on my upcoming Two for Tuesday post (will be available tomorrow), I really got into some cool techniques while using my Niji water brushes .  A full tutorial and supply list for my project will be available then, but for now, I just want to discuss some of my fun discoveries.

One of the products I used with my water brushes was also made by the same company, Yasutomo.  It is their Niji pearlescent watercolors.  These are a translucent, but pearlized, watercolor with a tiny bit of beautiful shimmer.  I first squeezed some water from my brush into each paint pan.  I let it sit and soak into the paints.  Then, I could use my water brushes to make the paint very creamy to apply a larger amount to my project.  At the same time, with a simple squeeze of the handle. I could expel water from my water brush to increase the blending ability of my colors.  I actually used five, yes, five, colors to achieve a color match with my collage image.  I could re-hydrate my paints, as needed, without ever going to a water jar and trying to adjust the amount of water I needed.  It was right there in the brush.  Awesome!

Some other uses for these water brushes is to scribble Gelatos onto your craft sheet, squeeze a bit of water into the bristles of the brush to liquify them into a watercolor paint, and color even the smallest details on your image.

Try picking up colors from your stamp pads, your spray mists, like Dylusions, or blend any water-based inks with the brush.  I would, however, tap my stamp pads onto my craft sheet first and pick the color from the craft sheet, rather than directly from the pad.  It won't hurt your pad, but it can water down the color on the pad if you squeeze too much water into the bristles.  You may not want that effect the next time you go to use your ink pad.

Another fun idea is to have a set of them, filled with a mixture of water and some of your favorite reinkers.  A few drops or less of a reinker and water gives you an instant colored water brush.  Can you just imagine the ease of coloring with a set of these, all to your own specifications?  And being able to refill them is a real money saver right there.

Then, there is the advantage of having a brush and water without all the mess while you travel, whether it is to a crop, a get-together with your friends, or travel by plane, train, or car.  These brushes simply cannot be beat.

I hope I have inspired you to check out this must-have tool.  No artist's tool box should be without one, two, three, or more of these.  Oh, and they do come in different sizes and brush tips.  So, be sure to visit Altered Pages online shop for all your mixed media needs.

Thanks for stopping by today, and be sure to come back tomorrow to see, not only my Two for Tuesday project showing more fun with these awesome brushes, but the entire design team's projects, as well.  There will be lots of inspiration to keep your creative juices flowing for quite awhile.

Have a wonderful, creative week!

Barbara

Mixed Media Tag

Hello everyone!  Today I am sharing a mixed media project over on the Sin City Stamps blog using more products from our sponsor, Frog Dog Studio.  Is it a tag, or a card?  Well, it can be both.  

Just add your sentiment to the back and you have a wonderful card to give that special someone. 

I have a complete list of supplies and a tutorial on the Sin City Stamps blog, so I hope you will visit me there as well.  Be sure to check out all the new stamps and fun products in their online store, and while you are shopping around, check out these awesome kits and products at Frog Dog Studio. 

Did you know that Sin City Stamps has some new page layouts for all the scrapbookers out there, too?  Here is a small sample of what is coming.  These are available in the store NOW!  Aren't they gorgeous?  So hop on over and see all the new, fabulous products in store now!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend.

Barbara

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!  So glad you stopped by.  I want to share this card I made for my sweet husband.  I tried to keep it more masculine.  What do you think?

Supplies used:

Pre-printed, pre-folded Kraft card (Hobby Lobby) (Herringbone design) (A2 size)
Corrugated cardboard
Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shopped print paper
Sizzix Funky Hearts die (Original)
Gears embossing folder (Tim Holtz)
Vintage text pages (Altered Pages)
Mix'd Media Inx (Schoolhouse Red, Leather) (Altered Pages)
Sin City Stamps Romance stamp plate
Stampin Up label punch
Metal sheet
Metal brad and metal studs
Metal spinner (Tim Holtz)
Distress stain (Gathered Twig) (Tim Holtz)

Directions:

I used a pre-printed Kraft card (4-1/4" x 5-1/2") for the base of my card.  Distress edges of  3-3/4" x 5" piece of Graphic 45 print paper and ink with Gathered Twig distress stain.  Curl three edges, as shown. Adhere to base card.

Cut out clock face from reverse of Graphic 45 paper, attach black metal Fleur de Lys brad through center and adhere.

Clear emboss a portion of vintage text pages then tear a small piece and adhere to card.  It will look like you used Ice Resin on the paper without the wait.

Die cut three funky hearts from corrugated cardboard.  The smallest piece was cut from metal sheet that had been embossed with gears embossing folder and inked with alcohol inks.  I also hit the high spots of the embossing with black archival ink to bring out the design.

I first inked the two corrugated cardboard hearts with Schoolhouse Red Inx, then edged with Leather Inx.  Next, layer the hearts onto the card, as shown.

I wanted to simulate an arrow through the heart, so I cut one of the largest spinners in half and adhered to the largest heart, as shown.

Next, I stamped "Two Hearts One Love" in black archival ink on the reverse side of the Graphic 45 paper and punched it out with the label punch.  I adhered it to the front with foam dots for added dimension.  Adding metal studs at each corner of the label and the card added a bit more interest.

This photo shows the embossed metal heart a bit clearer. It really does look pretty on the front.

For the sentiment inside, I stamped the "Love is a burning desire" poem onto a separate piece of specialty paper and cut to size.  Then adhered that to the card inside.  I also stamped the pink lips near the bottom right.  Now my card is "sealed with a kiss".  

I hope you enjoyed my masculine Valentine's Day card! 

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I wish each and every one of you a wonderful, sweet Valentine's Day, and much love in your life always.  

Barbara

Leslie Rahye's Very Steampunk Valentine Blog Hop 2♥14

Hello everyone, and welcome to Leslie Rahye's 3rd annual Very Valentine Steampunk Blog Hop.  A complete, albeit short, list of blog participants is below, but you can start the hop with Leslie Rahye's blog .  As always, we are going to share some fun steampunk projects with you today, but along the theme of Valentine's.  So grab a cuppa, sit back, relax, and enjoy the fun.  There are just a few of us playing along today, but I am sure you will enjoy it all the same.  

I started my project with this empty button jar.

What do you see when you look at it upside down?  I saw a light bulb.  Well, there you have it, a light bulb it is going to be, steampunk style, of course.

Cut a 1" wide strip of corrugated cardboard long enough to wrap around the base.  You want the corrugations to run horizontally, just like a light bulb.

Paint both sides of corrugated cardboard with Silver paint dabber.  

When dry, adhere around bottom of jar lid.

Paint base of white tea light with Silver paint dabber.  

To finish off the tea light (battery operated), I added a small piece of metal mesh over the bulb and twisted the end at the top.  I added a bit of very thin gauge wire around the bulb, as well.  Then I glued on a couple of metal gears, as shown.  This will sit inside the bottom of the lid, so it can be easily turned on and off.

I made the hanging embellishment by first gluing two pieces of a broken charm to the key.  On the reverse side, I added a small metal gear to not only hide the glue, but to add a bit of strength to it.  I also used a jump ring to attach it to a small screw eye.

Front

Back

Next, I pierced a tiny hole in the top of the button jar (it is only plastic) and inserted the screw eye through it.  If you make the hole very tiny, you can twist the screw eye into the plastic, and it will hold. I did not mind that the screw eye protruded through the top because I will cover it later.

Cut out the middle size gear from the die using grunge board and heat emboss both sides with the rust embossing powder.

I glued the gear and a #14 plaque to the side where there was a flat spot on the jar.  I covered the screw eye with a larger metal gear and a metal flower.  On the front (see photo above) I embossed a Vintaj brass heart, added Vintaj Crimson patina over it, and sanded the high spots.  Then I adhered that to the front with another diamond studded gear, placing it along the side of the jar.

Here is a view from the back of my steampunk light bulb.

Supplies:

Adirondack Silver acrylic paint dabber (Tim Holtz)

Grunge board (Tim Holtz)

Corrugated cardboard

Sizzix Gadget Gears Bigz die (Tim Holtz)

Clear embossing ink

Rust Tapestry embossing powder

Metal charms, gears, findings

Vintaj brass heart

Vintaj embossing plate

Dollar Store battery operated tea light

There you have it, a fun, steampunk style light bulb for your Valentine.  You can always tell them that they "light up your life".  

I hope you enjoyed my project today, and be sure to visit the other fine artists in today's blog hop.  I am always happy that you stopped by, and I hope you will return soon to see what else I get into.
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Happy Valentine's Day to everyone, and have a wonderful week!!!

Barbara

Decorative Perfume Bottle for Valentine's Day

Hello everyone.  Since Valentine's Day is just a few days away, I made this lovely little perfume bottle and a cute little gift card to go with it using  some of my favorite things from Altered Pages and Niji/Yasutomo, who supplied us with their wonderful   Waterbrushes this month.

I started out with this simple clear bottle from my local craft store.

I first sprayed the mirror-like paint inside the bottle and let it dry.  Then I wrapped the jar with the black netting and glued it in place.  I colored a Vanilla paper flower with pink mist, cut the petals apart and glued them around the neck of the bottle.  I used the gold braid trim (around the bottom) and the ball fringe (around the bottle neck) to further adhere the netting.  Next, I chose the Childs label from the AP-779 Red ATC collage sheet and adhered it to a piece of grunge board.  I chose grunge board because it is flexible and would wrap around the jar easier than chipboard.

I inked the edges with brown distress ink and Ranger Blending Tool, then added a bit of gold Krylon pen.  I glued that over the netting seam.  I added a metal rose to the top, and cut a metal filigree charm in half, which I attached to each side of the collage image.  I also applied a bit of copper from the Metallic rub-ons set #1.  I found a crystal bead in my stash that just happened to fit inside the bottle opening.  Voila, a beautiful little bottle to give to your special someone for Valentine's Day.  

Now, I needed a small gift card to give to my special recipient, so I folded a piece of 3" x 6" Cream card stock in half and adhered a  torn piece of Vintage Text Page after distress inking the edges.  Then I tore a piece of paper joint tape and colored it with my Niji Pearlescent Watercolors and my Niji Waterbrush.  When dry, I tore it in half again and adhered the two pieces, as shown.

Again, I chose the Luxemborg couple from the AP-779 Red ATC collage sheet, adhered it to a scrap of thin cardboard, distress inked the edges, adding a bit of Krylon gold pen, and adhered to the front, as shown.  I added a bit of Red Wink of Stella pen to the roses on the image for that extra bit of sparkle.  A few pearls from my stash were just the right amount of bling.

Supplies used:

Altered Pages collage sheets:  AP-779 Red ATC

Vanilla paper flowers

Cream card stock

Red Wink of Stella pen

Vintage Text Pages

Niji Pearlescent Watercolors

Niji Waterbrushes

Metallic rub-ons 

Ranger Blending Tool

Ball fringe baby size

Clear bottle (approx. 4" tall)

Krylon Mirror-Like Paint 

Metal filigree charm and rose

And don't forget today is the last day of the SALE at ALTERED PAGES.  You will receive a 25% discount when you use CODE word SWEETHEART. Expires February 10, 2014. Shipping is not included in the discount. THANKS for choosing AlteredPages as your source for Art supplies.  Whlle you are at it, check out the fabulous Niji Waterbrushes and other products available from Yasutomo, too.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week, and a super sweet Valentine's Day!

Barbara

Faber-Castell Mixed Medial Mini Journal

Hello everyone and welcome back.  Today, I want to share a little preview of a fun mixed media project I made for the Sin City Stamps Design Team.  We also have the pleasure of using wonderful products supplied to us by our sponsor, Frog Dog Studio .  Included in this month's kit from Frog Dog Studio was this cute mini mixed media journal by Faber-Castell.  The book has six, heavy duty chipboard like pages, but I only finished two pages, front and back.  Here they are:

Front Page 1 and Page 2

Back Page 1 and Page 2

Supplies:

Sin City Stamps:   Romance; Rosette Hearts; Metal Madness; Clockworks Inspired

 by Terri Sproul; Art Journaling with Terri Sproul 2;

Frog Dog Studio:  Mixed Media kit containing Faber-Castell mini mixed media journal

       Pan Pastels Magenta, Permanent Green

         Sofft Art Sponge

     Collage sheet of Valentine images

          Domino love charms

          Faber-Castell Gelatos

I have a complete list of supplies and a tutorial on the Sin City Stamps blog, so I hope you will visit me there as well.  Be sure to check out all the new stamps and fun products in their online store, and while you are shopping around, check out these awesome kits and products at Frog Dog Studio.  And please come back to visit me here on my blog to see what I come up with for the rest of those pages.

Have a wonderful, warm and crafty weekend.

Barbara