Stamp Giveaway & Metallic Look 3 Ways! Use Your Stash!

Edit: Contest closed, the winner has been notified in the comments below and by email. Thanks for playing!

Hi friends! Today I have 3 ways for you to get a metallic look on your cards without ink! So many times we think that ink is the only game in town when it comes to stamping but that is not the case at all! When I first starting stamping I was overwhelmed at the cost of all the inkpads I would need to make the cards I wanted so I used the acrylic paint I already had instead and it worked great. In today’s tutorial I will show you how to use acrylic paint, mica powder and water-soluble crayons/pastels to get fabulous metallic looks! Make sure you leave a comment for a chance to win the stamps I showcased from ArtNeko. This giveaway is open worldwide and winner will be notified via email in a week.

Are you ready to get messy? Watch the video and get started!

Sponsored by Art Neko *Save 10% off your next order of any size or get free shipping on orders over $50 (whichever discount is greater you get!) just by mentioning thefrugalcrafter!

Supplies:

• Peacock stamps (ArtNeko)
• Black and white cardstock (Recollections #110)
• Metallic gel sticks or Gelatos
• Mungyo Pearl water-soluble oil pastels
• Metallic acrylic paint
• Soft rubber brayer *Tip: Clean it after each use and it will last decades!
• Pearl Ex powder
• Versamark ink pad
• *OR this perfect pearls kit has the inkpad and 4 powder colors as well as the brushes. This is the best deal if you don’t have any powder and ink and want to try the technique.
• Metallic thread
• Notch punch (the Marvy punch I used in the video is unavailable but this Fiskars Heritage one has a corner notch plus 2 other designs)
• Adhesive ATG gun
• Chinese game piece
• Stamp mounts and soft brush

About the embellishment I used: A couple of years ago I purchased an inexpensive children’s game from a store in Chinatown. I think it is a travel Mahjong game. During a recent declutter I came across it in my “Random game piece drawer” and I noticed how the tiles wanted to come apart, so I took them apart and put the flat tile tops in my cardmaking stash and I used one on this card. The bottoms of the tiles I ended up spray painting white so I can use them when I need a watercolor pan. I often like to put magnets on the bottoms of pans and use them in reclaimed tins as custom palettes. I think these might actually fit my metal palettes as well because they are about the same width as a half pan.

Tips for picking the right metallic medium:

1. Use acrylics if you want a durable surface that won’t need to be sealed and can take handling such as a postcard or even crafts and furniture. The sky’s the limit with acrylic!
2. Use Gelatos/Gel Sticks/Watercolor Crayons when you want a painterly look! If you are using them with water or rubbing them into your cardstock they won’t require sealing but if you are using them thickly you will want to seal them because they will smudge.
3. If you want a crisp and perfect design use clear ink and Pearl EX/Perfect Pearls (or Mica based eyeshadow.) Keep in mind that Pearl Ex (what I used) may smudge if not sealed with fixative or hairspray.

Will you try any of these techniques? Let me know which one in the comments below! Your comment will enter you in the prize draw to win these stamps too! Please note some comments require moderation so if you don’t see your comment live immediately please be patient, I will approve it shortly:) Good luck in the giveaway and til next time happy crafting!

Animate ANY Stamp & SVG Freebie!

Hi friends! Today I have a super fun tutorial that will allow you to animate the stamps you already have using a analog lenticular animation technique!

I have seen 2 companies come out with animated stamps and that’s pretty cool but you can also get the same effect using supplies you already have! You can use whatever colors you like to make this but black seems to show off the effect the most. Watch the video too see how!

Supplies:

• Dragonfly or butterfly clear stamp *The set I used is from Inkadinkado but I could not find it anywhere, this one is close.  Clear stamps work better than rubber only because they are squisher.
• Clear stamp blocks
• Lightweight cardstock (white and color of your choice)
• Craft knife *I love the new easy change knives from Fiskars!
• Metal edge ruler
• 1/8″ Scor-Tape 
• 1″ circle punch
• Cutting mat
• White pen *my favorite white pens!
• Low tack painters tape, masking tape or washi tape for securing you paper.
• Ink pad to match your colored cardstock
• Marker to make your colored cardstock

Time: Plan on spending 20 minutes on this project.

If you want to see the easier store-bought animated stamp sets you can find them here.

I also made an SVG template so I could cut them quickly with my electronic die cutter, you can grab it here. Directions: arrange in your die cut software so it will cut 3/8″ in from the top and left hand side of the mat and then place a 5.5″x8.5″ (half sheet) of cardstock vertically on the left side of the real cutting mat making sure it is aligned at 0″ in the upper LH corner.

You could also print a striped transparency like Uchi designs sells or use their kits for a very easy version!

If you like this tutorial please share it with a friend using one of the handy sharing buttons below! It really helps my channel grow and inspire more crafters! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Gel Printing Workshop & Stamp Giveaway!

Announcement: Contest is closed, congrats to Lee Kendel who won this contest!

Hi freinds! Today I have an indepth gel printing and cardmaking workshop for you! I will also give away the rubber stamps I am using from ArtNeko to one lucky reader so make sure to leave a comment for a chance to win. This contest is open worldwide.

I love making gelatin prints and I really like the synthetic options on the market today as they are vegan and durable and need no refrigeration. You can make your own though and I have a tutorial here on how to do that. I also have a tutorial on making a permanent one but after you buy the gelatin and glycerin for that recipe it might be cheaper to buy one. The main reason I don’t make prints more often is that I end up with a bunch of prints that I don’t know what to do with so they sit in a folder and get forgotten. Today though, we will print on 5″x7″ cards and envelopes. then we will finish them off with some stamping and embellishing so when we are done we have 6 finished cards ready to send and no stack of unused prints to be forgotten. Win Win!

Watch the video to see how!

Tutorial sponsored by Art Neko  *Save 10% off your next order of any size or get free shipping on orders over $50 (whichever discount is greater you get!) just by mentioning thefrugalcrafter! *Visit my blog and enter to win the rubber stamps I used from ArtNeko!

Supplies:

• Stamp sets (artneko.com) Dragonfly Moon, Steampunk Dragonfly & Gears, Shells
• Gelli Arts (TM) Plate and Strathmore Printmaking Cards Value Pack
• *Individual Gel printing plates
• *Individual 5″x7″ card packs (these are thinner but still fun to use!)
• Acrylic Craft Paint
• Silicone Tipped Tools
• Stencils
• **Embossing folders $2 at Consumer Crafts Through 5/30/17 *Big thanks to Consumer Crafts for extending the sale because my video was late! I didn’t want you guys to miss out:)
• Soft Rubber Brayer
• Foam Stamps
• Craft foam (funfoam)
• Deco scissors (To make scraper tools with fun foam)
• Embossing paste
• Metal Wave Stencil *I used this with texture paste
• ATG adhesive
• Hot Glue gun and sticks
• NIJI pearl watercolor set at Consumer crafts or Amazon
• Mizuhiki Cord
• Brads 
• Gelatos  or GEl sticks
• Versamark in pad
• Pearl ex pigment powder *OR Perfect Pearls and this comes with a mini versamark pad
• Ranger Archival Black ink pad
• Hairspray or fixative
• Copper tape (stained glass supply)

Please note that you do not need all of these supplies, they are just the things I used:)

Directions:
1. Place your Gel printing plate on a piece of paper, this will keep your table clean. Squirt a couple dabs of acrylic paint on the pate and spread out with a brayer.

2. There are many ways to make an impression on the plate: You can press a stencil on the plate, you can press an embossed piece of paper on the plate, you can use found objects like mesh bags, leaves or string to make a cool impression too. I like to pull one print with the objects still on the plate and another after you have removed the stencil. You can also draw on the plate with foam and silicon tools. Just be sure not to use sharp objects as they can scratch the plate.

3. Press paper on the plate, rub the back of the paper to ensure the paper completely contacts the plate and remove and set aside to dry.

You can layer as many prints as you like for intersting effects!

4. When you are done be sure to clean your gelli plate, brayer and other tools with soapy water and let dry before storing. I recommend you save the packaging that comes with your Gelli Arts (TM) printing plate for storage.

Embellish your printed cards as desired! I hope you enjoyed this productive workshop. I love to make prints but I don’t like having a bunch of leftover prints I don’t know what to do with, that is why I love to print directly on card bases. This would also be a great way to use up bulk packs of cards, they are often not as thick as we would like but they still would make great notecards if they had a cool print plus the layers of paint will add a bit of thickness to them. Let me know what you think of this project and workshop style videos in the comments below and don’t forget to comment to win the rubber stamps I used from ArtNeko! The other links in this post are affiliate links and I earn a small commission on any sales generated through the links without costing you anything extra, it is a way to support the free tutorials on my blog as you shop and I thank you for your support. Good luck in the contest, I will pick a winner at random in one week, and til next time happy crafting!

Huge Coloring Media Giveaway & Marker/Pencil Gel Pen Layering Technique!

Hi friends, the lovely folks at ColorIt are having a free instructor lead coloring party AND giving away over $500 in prizes! Below is the loot going to one of my lucky subscribers!

Sign up for a chance to win the coloring supply bundle I showed you ( including 50 Markers, 72 Pencils, 48 Gel Pens, Colors of Nature and Around The World) here If you live in the USA. Links to the international giveaways are on the right hand side of the giveaway page. You can sign up for the free live coloring party here, it will be Thursday at May 11th at 9pm eastern time and they have a coloring page for you to download and print so you can follow along with the professional instructor who is leading the free tutorial.

In today’s video you can see the prizes up for grabs and I will show you how layering media in your coloring books or stamped images for cardmaking can yield beautiful results. I have linked all the supplies I used below the video but feel free to use the supplies you already have:)

Here are the butterflies from the book that I showed in the video. I really love the paper in the Color It books, my markers and pens lay down smoothly but there is still enough tooth for pencil. I really love the depth of marker plus colored pencil as illustrated on the large butterfly but I also love the shimmer from over-layering the gel pen. So many options!

Supplies: (Refills are available for all Colorit coloring products! Save 10% with coupon code: frugal10)

• ColorIt Set of 50 Markers 
• Color it Set of 72 Pencils
• Color it Set of 48 Gel Pens 
• Colors of Nature and Around The World Coloring Books 
• Silicone tipped tool (for gel pen blending)

Techniques:

Example 1-Marker + Colored pencil: Color image with marker, let dry and shade and highlight with colored pencil to build richness

Example 2-Marker + Gel Pen: Color with marker, let dry, apply a small amount of dark gel pen to shadow area and blend with silicon tipped tool. Repeat with light shades until satisfied. Works well with glitter gel pens.

Example 3 – Colored Pencil + Gel Pen: Color with colored pencils and then add gel pen over top and blend with silicone tipped tool. The gel pen will stay wetter over the wax pencil so you have more time to blend.

I hope you try some of these techniques and make sure you head over to the Color It website to sign up for the giveaway and Free coloring party! Happy Crafting & Coloring!

Sponsored by ColorIt

Stamp Giveaway! Heat Embossong Tips & Watercolor Sheets! Stamp School!

5/5/17 Edit: Congrats to Sally Walden who won the stamps! Please check your email for instructions on claiming your prize.

Hi friends! Today  I have some really fun stuff for you! First, Artneko is giving a lucky winner the stamps I used in today’s card, just leave a comment on this post for a chance to win. I will draw a winner in one week and notify the winner via email.

Secondly I am playing with a brand new watercolor product called Viviva watercolor sheets. I was contacted by the designer of these watercolor booklets last year and have used a couple different prototypes and provided feedback and I am really proud of the final booklets they created, you can find out more here. Of course you can use whatever watercolors you already have. We will watercolor over a heat embossed image, it is a great way to get into coloring with watercolor as the heat embossing creates raised partitions for the paint. Don’t worry if you have struggled with heat embossing in the past because I have some tips and tricks in today’s video!

Video sponsored by ArtNeko!  *Save 10% off your next order of any size or get free shipping on orders over $50 (whichever discount is greater you get!) just by mentioning thefrugalcrafter!

Supplies:

• Panda Stamp Set (Artneko)  Or in a small set
• Happy Birthday & Thank You stamp (ArtNeko)
• Viviva Watercolor sheets
• Rock a Block Stamp Mounts
• Hot press watercolor paper
• White Gel Pen
• Embossing folder: I used Oriental Weave folder by Cuddlebug but I think they are discontinued, this set of Asian themed embossing folders would also work well
• Embossing powder in white and black
• Scissors
• Die cut felt: I think this is discontinued but I found a few similar items here and here.
• Black cardstock
• 5″x7″ cards & envelope in white
• Black mini brads
• Waterbrush
• Black embossing ink
• Anti static pouch *or make your own with cornstarch in a fabric pouch
• Black embossing pen
• White Pigment ink
• 4” Soft Brayer
• Kaleidacolor ink pad
• Foam tape
• ATG adhesive

Directions:
1. Stamp panda scene with black pigment ink on hot press watercolor paper and heat emboss. Touch up any un inked spots with a black embossing pen and re emboss those areas.

2. Use a waterbrush and watercolor sheets to color the scene. Let dry and cut out oval leaving a 1/8″ border.

3. Emboss a 4.5″x6.5″ panel of white cardstock and brayer ink on top from a Kaleidacolor inkpad. Mount to a 4.75″x6.75″ black card.

4. Adhere die cut felt to embossed panel or wrap ribbon or string around the panel or glue down a lacy die cut for a similar effect.

5. Attach stamped panel with foam tape, stamp sentiment on black, cut out and adhere that too with foam tape.

6. Attach brads in the corners and adhere this panel to a 5″x7″ card using ATG adhesive or double stick tape.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and I hope it really helped beginners learn how to get really good heat embossed images. Thanks so much for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Disclosure: Affiliates links used

Stamp Giveaway & Sweet Sleepy Mouse Card!

Hi friends! Today I have another alcohol marker coloring tutorial and a chance to win the adorable stamp from Artneko that I used on this card!

Just leave a comment below for a chance to win, I will draw a name in one week and notify the winner by email. Watch the video below to learn how to color the image and make this easy card!

Sponsored by Art Neko *Save 10% off your next order of any size or get free shipping on orders over $50 (whichever discount is greater you get!) just by mentioning thefrugalcrafter!

Supplies:

• Stamps: Teapots, Teacups and Whimsical Mice (Artneko)
• Spectrum Noir Markers (on sale $5/6pack through 4/1/17)
  Colors used: CG4, CG2, DG3, GG3, GG2, GB4, LY3, PP4, TN1, FS4, BT1
• Paper: K& Company Madeline paper pad
• Cardstock: Kraft and White (Neenah classic crest for stamping)
• Raveled roses trim
• Buttons
• Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Tips!

1. You can mix alcohol markers from many brands, they all work together!
2. If your cardstock does not blend well first color an area with your lightest shade and then proceed dark to light as I showed in the video.
3. Pick your papers before you choose your marker colors so everything will coordinate.

Have fun and don’t forget to leave a comment for a change to win the stamp I used today from Artneko! Happy crafting!

Stamp Giveaway & Fun Shimmer Background!

Hi friends! Today we are going to get out the messy media and make some cards!

Watch the video to see how to make a shimmer background that you can use to enhance several cards! Be sure to leave a comment on this post for a chance to win the stamp I used!

Sponsored by Art Neko  *Save 10% off your next order of any size or get free shipping on orders over $50 (whichever discount is greater you get!) just by mentioning thefrugalcrafter!

I will post a giveaway tomorrow on my blog!

Supplies:

• Pigment powders: Color Burst, Brusho, Magenta Nuance, Magicals, Pearl Ex, Perfect Pearls, or Schminke Aqua bronze *Any can be used in combination with each other!
• Metallic ink: Precious Alloys
• Watercolor paper (you can use the back of a failed painting)
• Watercolor pens, markers, dye inks or watercolors (I used Mermaid Markers)
• Smooth cardstock, Bristol or watercolor paper for stamping
• Pigment ink
• Gold and black embossing powder
• Stamp: Framed flower from Art Neko
• Sheer gold webbed paper
• Adhesive: Foam squares and clear glue, atg
• Skeleton leaves
• Metallic thread
• Gold card base
• Embossing folders

Directions:

1. Spray and flick water onto watercolor paper. Shake on pigment powder. Spread with a brush if desired. Add metallic inks and Let dry.
2. Stamp and emboss framed flower and color with inks or watercolors. Trim.
3. Assemble card as shown embellish with sheep paper, thread, and a skeleton leaf.

Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win the beautiful stamp I used from Art Neko! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!