Heat Embossing on Wood!

Hi friends! Today’s technique is a fun and useful one that can be used to make embellishments, gift tags or even Christmas ornaments!

We are going to emboss on wood!Are you ready to get inky? Than watch today’s video!

Tutorial sponsored by Top Flight Stamps Use coupon code thefrugalcrafter10 to save 10% on your order! They also have free USA Shipping over $50!

Supplies:

• Stamps
• Paint
• Wood shapes
• Cardstock (heavy)
• Black Eyelets
• Wire
• Beads
• Watercolor crayons (I used Lyra and Caran D’Ache)
• Small flat paintbrush
• 1/2″ flat paintbrush
• Craft Mat (or waxed paper)
• Dies  Honeycomb and poppies, butterflies and grids
• Scrapbook paper *Make envelopes first and then cut shapes from scraps.
• Black embossing powder
• Black embossing ink
• Heat tool

Tips!

1. If you have leftover paint, brush it over cardstock to make matching decorative paper!
2. Make an envelope first from 12″x12″ scrapbook paper and use the scraps to die cut embellishments.
3. Make a batch: It only takes a little more time to make multiple cards while your supplies are all out. As a bonus you’ll have less to file away when you are done. Use up those scraps now because they may never get used if you file them away. (At least that is the case in my experience.)
4. Be careful when heat embossing your small wood tiles so you don’t burn your hands off.
5. If mailing these thick cards place them (envelope and all) in a bubble mailer to prevent snags in post office machinery.

I hope you give this project a try, and til next time happy crafting!

Lot’s Of Mixed Media Card Techniques! {X-Mas Card Idea!)

Hi Friends! Over the past few months I have adopted the idea of doing things today that make tomorrow easier. For instance taking 5 minutes to wash up the few dishes left in the sink and setting up my coffee pot before I go to bed saves me at least 20 minutes the next morning. It’s the old “Stitch in time saves 9” routine. It’s true though. So with that in mind I decided to share some techniques and apply them to a Christmas card. You can use these techniques to make any kind of card you need though (but I bet you will be happy to have a few Christmas cards already done come December!) 😀

Watch the video to see these fun techniques!

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry!  Use coupon code: FRUGALAUGUST17 – 10% off everything in the store. Coupon expires August 31, 2017. Become a Peg Stamp VIP & get an instant coupon for 20% off RST stamps here plus the deepest weekly discounts available! Offer expires August 31, 2017.

Supplies from Rubber Stamp Tapestry:

• Peg stamp sets: Poinsettia Flourish, Holiday Garden, Christmas Garland 
  *For the background texture you can use the above stamps or any other peg stamps you have, just secure them together with a rubber band!
• Ink blending brush
• Make up sponge (or baby wipe)
• Dye based ink
• Foam tape

Other Supplies:

• Heavy white cardstock
• Pattern paper (optional for matt layers-I used the teal color from Timeless Texture Stack)
• Embossing paste (pearl/iridescent)
• Gelatos
• Seam Binding
• Pearls
• Label die  *Part of a larger set
• ATG double-sided adhesive
• Stencils (Kite & DCWV)
• Palette knife or old credit card to spread embossing paste
• Non stick mat (cheap oven mats are the same as expensive craft mats and you get 5 for less than the price of 1 LOL)
• Other: Spray bottle, rubber bands, scrap paper
  *note the large wood stamp I used on the inside of my card is by Inkadinkado

Finished Card Size: 5 1/2″x4 1/4″ (A2)
Trim mixed media layer to 3 1/2″x4 3/4″
Trim patterned paper mat to 4″x5 1/4″

Directions:
1. Add a pattern to cardstock with a stencil, inkpad and blending brush.
2. Scribble gelatos over cardstock and blend with a damp sponge or baby wipe.
3. Gather pegstamps together with a rubber band and stamp as one large background randomly over the paper. Partial images are fine.
4. Mix gelatos and embossing paste and trowel on paper over a stencil. Let dry completely.
5. Die cut labels from white and pattern paper. Stamp poinsettia motif on white and adhere to patterned paper with foam tape.
6. Use inkpads and water to dye seam binding. Let dry.
7. Trim mixed media and pattered paper panels and adhere together. Tie ribbon in a bow around panels and adhere to cardbase.
8. Adhere labels and pearls to card.
9. Stamp sentiment inside if desired.

Don’t fret if you don’t have the same supplies as I do, use what you have and make it your own! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Mixed Media with Limited Supplies!

Hi friends! Have you ever created with supplies someone else picked for you? It can be fun to challenge yourself to use a limited amount of colors and supplies because then your creativity can soar. It can also keep you from getting overwhelmed with too many options.

When I opened my Smart Art kit this month I was pleased to see items I was familiar with in colors I did not have. The color palette was very limited so I put my thinking cap on as to what I could create with it. Working with a color palette of bright yellow, bright orange, grey, black and pale aqua was tricky to say the least. Watch the video to see what I created!

Sponsored by Smart Art. Past kits available here.

Supplies:

• Gelatos (50’s diner colors with brush and blender stick)
• Watercolor paper
• Stencils
• Stampers Big Brush Pen in Black
• Additional brushes
• Other supplies not it kit: Water bucket and credit card scraper

I always found whenever I traveled anywhere to create that I got more done the less I brought. I also had to be more creative and stretch my supplies. You don’t have to subscribe to an art subscription box (although Smart Art Box is a great option if you do) to enjoy working from a limited supply. You can easily box up a few supplies from your stash and make your own DIY kit to create from! It works even better it you bring the box outside of your craft area to create as you won’t be tempted to reach for other supplies. It’s funny how using LESS can make you MORE creative! So, look in your art stash and find something that you haven’t used yet (or used in a while) and make yourself an art kit! It is so fun! Or if you want someone else to do the work for you check out Smart Art Box, they ship to many countries worldwide. Let me know in the comments below what unloved product you would add to your kit and til next time happy crafting!

Better Late Than Never {Mixed Media Vineyard Grapes}

Hi friends! I am so sorry that I couldn’t get this blog post up before the live stream today. I just remembered yesterday that I scheduled my last kids art class at the library at the same time as my friday live stream and it had been advertised in the local paper so I couldn’t move it so instead of cancelling my live stream I decided to do it earlier. One of these days I’ll have my act together (probably not this summer though!) 😉 I did notify folks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so if you want to make sure you hear about any breaking art live streams be sure to follow me there as well. The best thing is to subscribe on YouTube and click the notification bell to make sure you get updates when I am about to go live.  Here is what we did today!

Here is the replay!

Supplies can be purchased from our sponsor Jerry’s Artarama. Use coupon code: frugal20FS49 for 20% off $49 + Free Shipping (Excludes: Sale, Super Sale, Egift Cards, Buy It Try It’s and Vendor restricted items. Look for the green coupon eligible icon on the product listing.

Supplies:

• Qor Watercolors:  (Magenta, violet, sap green, Quin Gold, Pthalo Blue, Transparent brown)
• 140# CP 100% cotton watercolor paper
• Mimik Synthetic Squirrel brushes (Value set)
• Mungyo water soluble oil pastels
• Other: Stencils, tape, pencil, water buckets, paper towels
• Reference photo

Have a great weekend and try to make some time for art and creativity! Happy crafting!

 

Mixed Media Mess {what to do when a painting goes wrong!}

Hi friends! This painting started out OK but soon was a frustrating mess. Instead of tossing a painting when it hits the hot mess stage why not persevere? After all you’ve got nothing to lose!

I had a reader ask about negative painting techniques and that is what I started to do here but struggled with the watercolors I used and realized that I did not pick the best supplies for that technique. Rather than force my paint and paper to do something it didn’t want I chose to let go of expectations and just play. Even grown up artists need to play and like I said, what have you got to lose? Grab those mixed media supplies you have been collection and give new life to a bummer of a painting!

Productpalooza! I must say it is strangely satisfying to grab those supplies that “I HAD to have” but rarely get used and give them a workout. If you are curious about any of the stuff I used on this piece I have linked them below. Affiliate links used.

• Fluid 8″x 8″ watercolor Easy Block #140 CP
• Viviva Colorsheet watercolors
• Sennelier La Petite Aquarelle watercolors 24 set (love these!)
• Prima watercolor confections “Pastel Dreams”
• Princeton Neptune #16 round brush
• Royal Aqualon brushRoyal Aqualon brush
• Distress Crayons
• Mungyo pearl watersoluble oil pastels
• Prima Watersoluble oil pastels
• White liquatex gesso
• Derwent coloursoft wax based pencils
• Stencils
• Metallic watercolors (Twinkling H2Os)
• Mermaid Markers *Finally on Amazon!

This was kinda crazy at times, I thought it might be fun to see how I get out of trouble in a painting LOL:) This painting took 45 minutes in real-time, you could probably do it faster if you set out to do a mixed media piece from the beginning. I wanted to share some info from viewers of this video on YouTube, I asked them about Prismacolor Pencils, they have been so cheap on Amazon lately and I was considering getting a set but I had heard the quality had gone downhill. I have, and love, prismacolors but mine are all older and I was thinking of replenishing my set. The results were hot and cold, I have 11 viewers say they recently bought Prismacolors and they were great and 5 said they were very disappointed and 2 people said they seemed less pigmented than the older versions. I am not sure what to think, but I wanted to pass that on to you and if you have recent Prismacolor pencils and want to let us know what you think leave a comment:)

I also wanted to mention that if you make a bad watercolor you can always cut it up and make bookmarks or gesso over it and use it for pastel, acrylics or oils too! There is no need to cry over a failed attempt, we succeed or we learn! Have a great night and til next time happy crafting!

Alcohol Ink Techniques on YUPO!

Hi friends! Today I have a really fun project using alcohol ink on YUPO paper! You can use either liquid alcohol ink or alcohol ink markers (BTW the sale links to snag the 24 packs of Spectrum Nior markers are now working! You can get the four original 24 marker packs for $20 each and the two NEW 24 marker packs for $24 each and there are NO Duplication between any of the 24 or 6 packs sets so you can build your collections budget allows.) Thanks to everyone letting me know there was a problem with the links yesterday and being so patient while it was resolved:) You are the best!

If you don’t have YUPO paper don’t despair! You can use vellum/parchment (modern vellum is not really vellum, it is a plasticized paper) you can also use glossy cardstock for a similar effect or if you are feeling brave try this on any light-colored non porous surface like tile coasters or white dominoes. Watch the video for full instruction!

Video!

Supplies:

• Alcohol markers: Spectrum Noir Markers 24 packs on sale for $20-$24 this week at Consumer Crafts. Also on Amazon,  and International viewers can purchase from Simon Says Stamp
• Liquid alcohol inks: Consumer Crafts, Also on Amazon, and Simon Says Stamp
• Hero Arts octopus Layering Stamp: Amazon, and Simon Says Stamp
• Yupo Paper
• White craft felt*Cheap acrylic craft store stuff is fine:) To make my ink blending tool I simply glued the hook side of Velcro to a small wooden block, the felt naturally sticks to it:)
• Alcohol or Alcohol ink Blending solution *The strongest you can get, I use denatured alcohol. SSS, Amazon
• Label die
• Spray ink, I make my own with liquid watercolor and water in a spray bottle but these from Lindy’s Stamp Gang are affordable if you don’t want to go through the trouble:)
• Clear “drops” for bubbles (get the clear ones and you can color them with alcohol markers or inks if you want other colors! You get a TON in a bag LOL!)
• Metallic gold crochet cotton
• Tombow liquid glue
• Foam tape adhesive
• Distress oxide ink: Amazon, SSS
• Ranger Archival Ink: Consumer crafts $4.27 a standard size pad, SSS $5.99 a pad but they also offer minis and sets, Amazon *Note, the ancient page ink I used in the video is the same kind of ink as ranger archival. I looked for these inks and the only place I found therm were really expensive on amazon, I think they are discontinued so I recommend getting Ranger Archival because you can get reinkers and they are more affordable.
• Foil anchor

I hope you enjoy experimenting with alcohol ink on yupo paper, if you don’t have Yupo try whatever glossy paper you have or even acetate sheets or vellum. Art is all about experimenting and having fun so make some time for arts and crafts today! This post contains affiliate links, when you shop via my special discount links you help support the free content on my channel and get great deals, thank you and happy crafting!

Colorful Cat Card {that was SO much fun to make!)

Hi friends! Today we are going to get inky and make a cheerful belated birthday card!

I am really loving playing with my new Distress Oxide inks but you don’t have to have them to make this card, use the inkpads you have and see how they work, even in the effect isn’t identical that’s part of the fun! Crafting would be pretty boring if we all made the exact same stuff. Watch the video to see how this card was put together then try some of the techniques for yourself:)

Supplies from Sponsor Top Flight Stamps (Use coupon code thefrugalcrafter10 to save 10% on your order!)

• Stamps: Katzelkraft Cats
• EZ Mount foam

Other Supplies:

• KAI Scissors for trimming stamps
• Cutter bee scissors for paper
• Bristol Board (Heavy cardstock for mixed media)
• Distress Oxide inks
• Distress ink
• White Gel Pen (Uniball Signo)
• Black Micron pen 03 and 08 size
• Chalk Markers (Crafty Croc)
• Rhinestones
• Brads (The tiara shaped ones I have are discontinued:(
• Double stick tape (ATG adhesive)
• Blending sponges: See tutorial here
• Spray bottle of water
• Black heavy cardstock (Recollections #110)
• Embossing folder from Nifty Fifties set (Cuttlebug)

The watercolor I used are not on the market yet but you can get more info here.

I have to admit I feel like a bit of a doofus giving a belated birthday card but the funny thing is I often get told that it’s better than an on-time birthday greeting because it is unexpected and it extends the celebration longer. At least we can still show someone we care even if being punctual is not out strong suit:) Do you send belated birthday cards? Let me know in the comments below and share any clever sayings you put on them, it will help us all out! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!